Don't encourage developers to make bad games buy buying this garbage.
American Idol is a simplistic rhythm game. You need to hit the A and B buttons in time with the music.
On a console this might work slightly better, but with the limitations of the GBA, this game simply shouldn't have ben made.
To start, you need the create a character. You will use this performer to get through the entire game (assuming you make it that far.)
The game follows the show's format. You need to complete three auditions and several performances for the home audience to vote for you.
You are given the choice of 2 songs per performance, except for the last song and first audition, where you have 3 to choose from. After your performance the judges will tell you if you've done any good.
For the most part the gameplay is pretty easy, but the last performance is almost impossible. And even if you complete it, there probably isn't alot to look forward to. (I admit that I haven't beaten it yet.)
After the simplistic and lackluster gameplay you'll find a below average presentation.
To start with, the graphics are pitiful. The judges are absoulutely laughable. They are pixelated shapes that look very pasted on the background.
During your performance, you can see your character dancing around the stage. It's a nice idea but it distracts you from pressing the right buttons.
And for a game based on a music show, the sound should've been alot better. There aren't alot of songs. The game uses some sort of pitch shifter to change how you sound if you fail to press the right buttons on time. It does a decent job of making you sound good or bad, but it's really not the best.
The judges comments kill everything, though. They didn't record many of them, so you're likely to hear things be repeated several times per game.
The console versions of American Idol could be alot better than this, but if you want to play them, I would still recomend that you rent them. As for the GBA version, there's no doubt that it's not worth your time or money. There are better rhythm games out there, and the show is much better than this.