Let me start off by saying that this is a good game, or more appropriately, a good Tony Hawk clone.  Unlike its 128-bit brother, Aggressive Inline GBA is not a whole lot different from Activision's best-selling extreme sports game.  In fact, almost everything about it is the same.

A time limit, which was nowhere to be found in the "true" versions of AI, has been added to the GBA version of the game.  Now instead of being able to play AI for as long as you want, you're kicked out of each level and must start all over again when the time runs out.  Only two minutes of game time are given, so you'll be re-starting a lot.  This frustrating challenge-increasing gimmick was eliminated in the console versions of AI.  Yet for some crazy reason, Full-Fat (the game's developer) felt the need to change the structure of the game and remove all of its best qualities in favor of creating something more familiar.

The time limit isn't the only thing that has been changed.  Those gigantic, fun-to-explore levels from the console versions are nowhere to be found in this game.  In their place is a set of new, super-small levels with very little room for exploration.  This is another change that baffles me.  Why would anyone do this?  If you have a good game idea, why change it?  I know the GBA can only handle so much, but Tony Hawk 2's levels were converted to the small screen without any significant problems.  It would not have been impossible for them to develop scaled-down versions of all the original levels from Aggressive Inline.

But wait, the changes don't stop there.  To top it all off, the level objectives have been degraded to simple (but not necessarily easy) item-collecting games.  In the first level, you have to jump through a few flashing circles (they're supposed to be flames).  The circles are located above ramps and other high places.  The objectives aren't boring, but they're a far cry from the extensive, variety-filled list of objectives featured in the console versions.

Not too long after playing this game for the first time, I realized that it is exactly what the original Aggressive Inline isn't: a Tony Hawk clone.  Every unique feature has been removed and replaced with something less impressive.

Even with all of its flaws, Aggressive Inline GBA isn't that bad of a game.  It's not at all what I expected, nor does it live up to the Aggressive Inline name, but the controls are pretty easy to use, and the levels -- although extremely small -- are not half bad.  I know that games are expected to be more than just a time-killer, but if you need something to help pass time in class--(ahem), I mean on the ride from school, Aggressive Inline is not a bad buy.

Amazingly, the game's best feature is its sound.  A nearly-complete version of Hoobastank's "Crawling in the Dark" plays during the first level of the game, complete with lyrics!  The song is immediately recognizable.  The sound quality isn't perfect (this is a cartridge game, remember?), but I'm still amazed by it.

Unfortunately, the other songs aren't nearly as entertaining.  They have voice-overs and all, but most of them are repetitive tracks from no-name artists.  The console versions of Aggressive Inline had more than six great songs to choose from, and yet this version only features ONE of them!

Without a doubt, this game is not for diehard Aggressive Inline fans.  Diehard fans will be disappointed by the loss of every cool feature, and wish that they had saved their money.  Tony Hawk fans, on the other hand, will likely enjoy this game.  The whole experience will be very familiar to them, and judging by the sales of THPS 1, 2 and 3, "more of the same" is exactly what they want.  To be safe though, rent it first.

Gameplay: 6.5
Aside from the fact that Aggressive Inline plays nothing like Aggressive Inline, it is a pretty decent game.  Of all of the Tony Hawk clones on the GBA, this one has the best controls.

Graphics: 5 
Aside from the polygon characters, Aggressive Inline's visuals are not at all praiseworthy.

Sound: 7
One great song is not enough to make a game worth listening to, but the technology is so cool, I suggest you rent it just to hear it for yourself.  You honestly won't believe your ears.  Finally, someone has come up with a way to put REAL music in a cartridge-based video game!

Difficulty: Medium
Most gamers will be able to beat Aggressive Inline pretty quickly.  It's much easier than Tony Hawk and Dave Mirra 2, but some of the objectives will keep you on your toes.

Concept: 3.5

Multiplayer: 5
Two cartridges and two GBA's are needed to play this game with a friend, but to be perfectly honest, the multiplayer mode isn't good enough to justify a purchase.

Overall: 6.5
At $30-$35, Aggressive Inline isn't meant for most gamers.  Only gamers who love the genre and all of its repetitive gameplay mechanics should consider buying Aggressive Inline.  The rest of you should try to play it if you can, but save your cash for something better, like the console version of Aggressive Inline.  If you haven't bought it already, pick up AI for Xbox, GameCube or PS2 ASAP.  It's worth every penny.