Nowadays we only look at the present, and the past brought us oh so beautiful games. The same goes for the old Game Boy. The gem of my Super-Mario game box that I had bought. Recently I decided to take the pocket pc out of the closet, which has now turned black. A block was in my hands that still worked, albeit with a yellow stripe across my screen. Thinking back to the past, I decided to put together a top 5 in my mind. What have I spent my time on in the past besides spending time with the LEGO.
5. Tetris – Who doesn’t know it. Is there any further explanation needed? Basically started on this platform and the addictive factor started to kick in too. Many players started with this game when they bought their Game Boy. Beautiful was the beginning of the multiplayer generation. With a link cable it was possible to compete against each other. It was the beginning of what has now become very normal and can no longer be imagined. It was of course special, although it seems as simple as anything these days.
4. Prince of Persia – The game I personally started with. The title has since become a trademark at Ubisoft. Chopping, sharp plates that crush you, 2D sword fights and jumping for your life. Fun was the time you got for the game. 1 hour to be exact, but it was fun for a long time given the addiction factor of the single player. It may sound strange, it was still fun to play that SP again, but now even faster. The secret events were also fun. An example that has always stuck with me is some kind of invisible warrior that ran past you during level 6 (?). Run after it quickly and you’ll notice something striking that makes the game a little more appealing again. A game with only a single player, not illogical at the time, and a kind of launch game that did well with the people at school and in the distant environments.
3. Super Mario Land 2 – Well, it’s not difficult to keep the Nintendo CEO out of this list. The first game was already a success and was undoubtedly on my 64-in-1 cartridge, but actually I was often jealous of those who owned Super Mario Land 2. The game was interesting, looked great graphically (unparalleled for a Game Boy at the time) and the gameplay is, of course, still fantastic. In various forms, of course, still on the SNES in a graphically polished and expanded form, but of course also a must-have on the Game Boy, a pity that money was not something to throw at that time.
2. dr. Franken – A Sinterklaas present that I wasn’t too fond of. What the **** kind of game is this? “Kemco, never heard of it.” In any case, one of the most challenging puzzle/question games the past has known. The game is actually simple. You are in a very strong 2D environment where all kinds of scum in the world are divided into rooms. You have to make sure that you track down your girlfriend’s body in parts to develop a whole. It takes many hours of time, quests and perseverance. Some think it’s ****, I thought it was more than great. The Moonlight Sonata soundtrack pushed the atmosphere in the game, which was still very impressive. So no Zelda for me, I know, but don’t attack me…
1. Wario Land – The best game without a doubt is also a game I’ve played to pieces but never owned. Wario Land undoubtedly managed to achieve some of the best graphics ever on the Game Boy. The bosses made the game a real hit and the upgrades that allowed you to pound, fly in the air for a while, or even shoot fire with a nice dragon cap were truly phenomenal. As far as I’m concerned, the best time Wario has ever had. Unfortunately, it has not yet managed to deliver a successor for, for example, the Dual Screen handheld. Who knows, maybe it will happen again, although the chance is more than minimal. The opponents, the atmosphere, the gameplay, the cool action and environments, it played very well and it gave me a special feeling. A feeling that I no longer get, a pity, but that is history and being a child. The game also got some sequels (eg on the GB-Color), although the first was of course still the most unique of all.
A striking top 5 you will think. No Zelda, Bomberman, sports game or anything to be found. The Game Boy was and still is a beautiful device. A handheld at a time when gaming was just getting started. No competition between developers and publishers, but just delivering great arcade. In itself always nice to take such an old object out of the closet and fill it in for a few hours useless. Hopefully everyone has their own feelings for a certain title, so let us know what you have in mind when we talk about ‘the best game for the Game Boy’.
