Twin Kickers
Score: 55% Developer: Pelican
Function: Although the name may sound like a new Jackie Chan movie, the Twin Kickers from Pelican are actually a set of speakers for the GBA. It is no secret that the GBA is designed for stereo sound, however it is hard to get the full experience since the system only has one speaker. Until now, one of the only ways to get the full experience was a set of earphones. The Twin Kickers are designed to be an alternative to earphones, but a few problems keep them from being just that.
Performance: As far as performance goes - the Twin Kickers are excellent. It is amazing how much better Castlevania sounds when in stereo! The quality of sound these speakers put out is incredible. Loud, clean - it doesn't get any better. As an added bonus, the speakers swivel so you can get the sound just where you want it. They also run on two AAA batteries so they will not drain your GBA's power.
Features: High-powered dual speakers Independently swiveling speakers Runs on two AAA batteries Added volume, deeper bass, improved clarity
Drawbacks & Problems:: The disappointing thing is how poorly executed the idea is. For some reason, the designers decided to have them mount to the top of the GBA, not only blocking the link cable socket, but also giving you no place to mount a light. After all, who needs to see the screen if you have great sound? When I first saw that it mounted to the top I figured it fed off the GBA power supply, so I was surprised to see there wasn't at least a pass through. You can fix this problem by just plugging the cord into the earphone jack, but then it looks silly and you don't get quite the same effect as you would mounting them. In addition, the box fails to mention that you need two AAA batteries to work the thing. Since AAA batteries are not commonly found around the house, (at least every house I have lived in) I can see a few irritated parents. Audiophiles with great overhead lighting will love the Twin Kickers. The rest of the gaming public would probably do best to steer clear. Personally, I would rather see my games.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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