My old copy of SMB deluxe on the game boy color was my latest subject for battery replacement. Shame the file got wiped, as IIRC it had stickers or stationary or something that you could write messages on that middle school me probably messed around with.
edit: also this is in fact my original GBA from 2001. Yay for AA batteries!
Get an IPS upgrade. It’s relatively inexpensive off Ali. I bought one for SP with shell, it’s modified to fit the panel so no need for surgical changes to the original shell. Now, it’s so bright that my wife complains when I power it on at night in bed or while she drives. It drains the battery faster, but I just pause and charge. I supposed non-SP might want rechargeable port mods.
GBA is so sick. I kept my broken GBA for +10 years before I finally had disposable income to fix it up. Honestly, I regret not doing it sooner.
Oh man, you just made me remember i still have my GBA from back in the day saved after the screen got bashed while playing outside with the GBA in my pocket.
This will be my next project! Thanks!