Compared to other companies' attempts at light/magnifying devices, Mad Catz pretty much nails the concept dead on with their version for the GBA. Unlike, say, Pelican's
Light Shield Advance, this one uses two AAA batteries instead of drawing power from the GBA itself. This can be a good or bad thing, depending on how much you use the light function. Running out of juice way sooner than expected just because of some power-hungry light accessory is never a fun experience; then again, you do have to purchase extra batteries for the lights, so it goes both ways. Regardless, the magnification function works better than most other products I've seen, with the lowest wobble factor yet. No complaints there.
As far as multiplayer performance, the Mad Catz Multi-Link Cable works about as well as its competitors. Simply plug it in and start gaming it up with your buddies, case closed. However, those smart folks over at Mad Catz have decided to attach an ever-so-useful Velcro loop to the cable to keep everything contained when not in use! You won't see this feature on any other GBA link cables, perhaps putting this one at the top of the heap. There's no GBA/GBC switch in the center, but the standard central hub allows for other link cables to connect up to four competitors if you don't have a 4-player link available.
Now, I've never had much use for a car charger since I'm usually the one driving during road trips, but if you run out of power and you're in a car, this'll help you out. The Car Adapter doesn't exactly put out as much power as one might expect, but it's enough to keep your system running all day. Just replace your AA batteries with the included battery pack, plug in the adapter, and you're ready to play again.
