Fun fact: In the scene where I choke on water, I actually did (not on purpose). Actually, I suppose that's not a very fun fact and I'd be lying if I said this wasn't the first time I've almost hurt myself filming for these videos. Not to worry though.. I will continue to stay diligent about keeping safe :) Games played: Donkey Kong (0:06 - via Super Game Boy), Mole Mania (0:17 - via Game Boy with backlight mod), Catrap (0:56 - via Game Boy with backlight mod), Tetris (5:32 - via Game Boy with backlight mod), Tetris (6:04 - via GBA SP), Wario Land (6:50 - via unmodded Game Boy Color), Castlevania II (8:06 - via Game Boy with backlight mod), Link's Awakening (10:17 - via GBA with backlight mod), Super Mario Land 2 (11:15 - via Game Boy with backlight mod)
Yeah, honestly, it was amazing that a quest so big was on the Game Boy! It absolutely was a masterpiece! That is one game that is essential for _any_ Game Boy fan to play!
I remember buying links awakening for my original Gameboy back when the game came out. I bought it for I think 40 or 50 dollars from Kay bee toy store.
the original Kirby's dreamland is one I play regularly. It only takes around an hour or so, so I can just jump into it and finish the game in one sitting when im in the mood.
Yes. One thing I love about it is the hard mode that unlocks after beating it. For anyone who says Kirby is too easy- try it. It is seriously challenging.
When I was a kid my regular rotation was Kirby's Dreamland 2, Warioland, Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong and that weird game that suddenly fell from heaven...Pokemon.
"Yoshi" on the Game Boy has always been one of my favorite puzzle games. There's something magical about making an egg from a column and seeing a Yoshi come out every time.
Ya, Yoshi is underrated. Never played the Gameboy version but the NES version is very nostalgic for me. It's not the kind of game you play for hours but it is very satisfying in short bursts.
Sometimes I feel the original Gameboy doesn't get enough love. Yes, the Gameboy Color is better but I can't help it but admire the original Gameboy. Its large and robust frame, the clean light gray look, the speaker is louder than the Color's and the presedent it set in the industry alongside giving birth to one of the biggest juggernaut in gaming history (Pokémon) I think the gray brick deserve some love from time to time.
As someone who has been almost completely disinterested in the Game Boy throughout my lifespan: holy shit, I think you're the first person to actually sell me on it successfully. Kudos and thanks.
Honestly, they're a lot better than you'd probably think. They suffer a bit now that battery life is largely a solved problem, but back in the day they were an amazing option due to the massive amount of gameplay that you could get out of AA batteries.
For me it shows what the NES could have been ~ the sound font sounds so much better, more 'musical', and game design at this point was more solidified, developers had the foundations for ideas of what to go for already laid. Designed for fun on the go, key word being 'fun', a difficult game on the GameBoy is typically nowhere near as unforgiving as a NES title, exceptions apply of course. You also had wonderful experiments you really don't see anymore, look no further than Qix by Taito for an interesting new take on what puzzles can be. I've never cared for puzzle games, but now at 26, honestly the GameBoy ones I'm falling for.
@@ahums16 I used to be in a similar position to OP (I am a Gen Z) I used to view the game boy as just a worse NES. But thanks to this guy and after actually playing some of these games I realized I might prefer it to the NES actually, there were a lot of lighthearted simple fun games on the Gameboy, and like you said they aren't nearly as punishing as the NES.
Love The Game Boy and what I love about this game was the 1st wave was done to make little kids do great on them! One of the main reasons why people do not like Castlevania The Adventure as it was easy to go far, not hard like the non-portable Castlevania Games out there. Also loved the original Super Mario Land as it was like the original one in that you could only go one direction & no going back. You don't get lost in any level you know where to go at all times, which made for total fun! The games on the Game Boy were there to be played and loved by everyone that is why it will always be close to my heart! Still play these two games each year and it still entertains me to this day.
Wario Land 2 gets my vote. Multiple paths through levels and you can't really die, so it's good for kids. For years I couldn't figure out how I'd gotten to a certain path in the game, because while I was playing my mom called me and when I looked at the gameboy again, there I was. Years later I found out that if you do nothing in the beginning and Wario stays asleep for a few seconds, and you don't press a button, you find a secret "exit" to the stage, where he slept through the whole thing.
Donkey Kong... best game on the system. First time I played it, I just assumed it was a straight port of the arcade game... when the game continued and became a completely new game, I was blown away. Rarely have I had a "surprise" moment like that in a video game that stuck with me forever.
I am still fascinated how fantastic graphics on the Gameboy look. I mean, they had a limited colour palette and keeping back in mind that the GameGear had more during that time, it is just mind blowing what the developers have reached on the Gameboy. My all-time favourite is my very first Gameboy game and that's WWF Superstars. I am a big Ultimate Warrior fan and listening to his entrance music was awesome. Other games that I count "all-time favourites" are: - TMNT: Fall of the Foot Clan - Kirby's Adventure - Double Dragon 2 - Kwirk - Mario Land 2 - Tiny Toon Adventures - Probotector (Aka as Contra) - Gargoyle's Quest What I love about most games, you can finish them in 1 hr. Yes, the Gameboy has a special place in my heart and how amazing it was to "upgrade" that big boy with all the accessories 😂. And at least a great "flashback journey" with your vid again. The questions on the end let your vid feel special, and not just consuming. And as much as I love the questions, I love other people responses here. It's like finding new treasures with your recommendations❤️👍. Ah, and BTW. of course I would have shared my Gameboy with you😊.
I've got both, and I've got a GBC on the way. The main issue with the Game Gear is that it took so many batteries, and rechargeable in that era were mostly not very good. The one time I got to borrow one from a friend for a trip, it was great in most other ways, especially the ability to play it in the dark without an external light source.
You can never go wrong with Mario, Zelda, Mega Man, Contra, pretty much the same classics on NES. The Gameboy versions are just as fun to play. Donkey Kong '94 is fantastic. Easily one of the best games on the system.
You haven't experienced gameboy heaven unless you owned a gameboy camera and printer back in the day. Only of the gameboy had internet back then, tick tock could eat sh*t!
I've got Super Mario Brothers in several different editions. The original SMB, the original SMB with duckhunt, Super Mario Allstars, Mario Deluxe and they all play great.
I was that kid my freshman year who pulled out his Original Gameboy on the school bus at 6:30Am and proceeded to turn on the light and magnifying glass attachment. The original Nintendo DS had just came out that year to give you a timeframe. RetroBird your one of a kind and very awesome 😎 keep on moving up! Best wishes to you.
Link's Awakening is my all time favorite Game Boy game, but I'll admit, Donkey Kong blew me away. I was not expecting the intricate levels that followed the original four levels that start the game. Just plain wow. I highly recommend it to everyone......!!!!!
I agree I played the original Gameboy donkey Kong back when it came out. The level design and the ease of playability was awesome. I didn't expect it to open up after the first 4 levels. The fact that they added so many levels and worlds to the game made it very replayable. The sequel Mario vs donkey Kong on the game boy advance is also very very good and is worth a play.
Love how some game boy games still hold up really well. Links awakening is still one of my all time favorite games. Plus i could easily recommend to people gargoyles quest, operation C, Castlevania 2 and avenging spirit.
I can't pick one game. Here's my list of games I would recommend though. Pokemon Blue, Motocross Maniacs, Heiankyo Alien, Game & Watch Gallery, Final Fantasy Adventure and Pac-Man.
Don't forget that the Game Boy Advance plays regular Game Boy and Game Boy color games, so you can take advantage of a rechargeable battery and, on the SP, a backlit screen. The DS has the right cartridge slot, but it only supports Advance games.
Or ips screen. But not sure if it's 100 percent backwards compatible. I think it mentions that on wiki a handful of games that have issues because of certain things like accessories for the gameboy being needed
I'm old enough that the Game Boy came out while I was a senior in high school. Bought one, along with the rechargeable battery pack, and loved it. Spent much time between classes playing, especially once I started college. Didn't have too many games, though...money was tight. Got married, was broke, and had to sell it. So sad. Today I have a GPi Case and all the games I missed back when I couldn't afford them. And today all my gaming dollars go into the Switch. But playing those game boy games on an almost-Game Boy is still tons of fun!
The GameBoy was one of those cases where I didn't know I wanted one until I got it. It wasn't until my dad got me and my sister a GameBoy Color in the late 90's, and that led me to becoming obsessed with obtaining GameBoy and GameBoy Color games. Some of my favorites on the original is Operation C, Donkey Kong, Link's Awakening, Wario Blast and Super Mario Land 2!
Same, most of the people I knew with gaming gear at the time either had computers or consoles. I forget why my parents ultimately opted to buy it for us. By that time, you could buy them in different colors, and only a bit later they came out with the GB Pocket that was basically just the same thing in a smaller package and requiring one fewer battery.
For me it was my cousin, he got one for his birthday a few months ago. He let me hold it and I became obsessed and after the sleep over I told my dad about it, and sure enough we had one in our garage. As I type this it's right beside me right now.
I never had a Gameboy as a kid, but my mom and sister each had one, so I got to play it when I wanted. Ironically, my mom recently found our Super Gameboy and three games, which she gave me. I had the SNES, and have one again, but honestly don't recall ever having the Super Gameboy. Very odd, but I'm forty-three years old, and I've drank and done plenty of drugs, so I may have killed the brain cells associated with that memory. 😆
Pretty much agree with the choices here, they are classics. My top 3 is Link's Awakening, Wario Land 2 and Pokemon Gold/Silver if that count (technically a GB Color game but you can play on the original so..).
Thank you for introducing us to Catrap! It's been a while since I enjoyed a game so *immediately*, I'm hooked. I wish I had known about this one 20 years ago!
Donkey Kong 94' is THE best game boy game. So much content packed into a little cartridge. Gave Mario more moves in his kit that are still used in his modern games.
I was a Lynx kid but always coveted friends’ game boys due to the sheer volume and quality of the games (and battery life). Micro machines was a strong contender and since I got my own a few years ago Ghostbusters 2 is a great pick up and play. But for nostalgia can’t beat the first 2 Marios and Tetris
@@MattHorne1 🤣 oh no! There’s an odd number of you. Meaning when we get you out on stage one of you is still going to have no friend on the other end of their comlynx cable!
What a timely and fantastic video! I actually just recently have jumped back into my GameBoy collection to revisit some games in my collection. I think the only game I haven't played in your list was Catrap, but it sounds fun! I love the GameBoy games due to just their simple pick up and play style. You've already mentioned most of my favorites, but I'd add a few more like Kirby's Pinball Land, Pokémon (I will admit I prefer the remakes, though), Gargoyle's Quest, Metroid II (again, this one has some archaic design improved by the modern remakes, but still a good game), Adventure Island 1 & 2, and Duck Tales. The GameBoy was basically a portable monochrome NES and developers like Nintendo and Capcom knew how to shrink NES games down to port them to the Game Boy!
Mole Mania has a lot of memories for me. My first girlfriend Reba gave me her Mole Mania game for my 13th birthday. I played it going back to Disney World, and played it while at my sister's graduation.
I didn't know that, but it doesn't surprise me, the N64 was practically region free when released, the only issue was that the cart wouldn't fit, replacing the slot that it goes in with a region free version unlocks the ability. That was some pretty lazy design work on Nintendo's part. But, then again, there are a few NES games out there that are actually Famicom games with an adapter to make them work on the NES>
You got a genuine laugh out of me, followed by a thumbs up after the Tetris section about doing you personal harm, followed by the look into the camera. Perfect timing. Hilarious. Now follwing channel.
That's one of the pros of the gameboy library; most games are easy to hop in and play in short bursts. Easy, quick, fun. I can always go for some megaman 4 and 5, Link's Awakening, Tetris, Donkey Kong 94, Motocross Maniacs, Hammerin' Harry, Nemesis(Gradius), R-Type etc. Gameboy's kinda my thing.
I know a lot of people don't care for Mortal Kombat on the Game Boy, but it was the only version of the game I owned until I picked up MK vs DCU for PS3 about 20 years later, and I loved it...at least, I loved it when I didn't know it could be better!
I technically never owned an original Gameboy. My dad had one but never played it so I got to use it sometimes but it wasn't mine because he carved his entire name in the side of it. He was a little obsessed with put labels on everything but it was mostly tools and such. Why he needed to carve into it rather than just use a name label is an answer I never got.
If I wanted to interest someone in the GameBoy who never saw it before, I’d definitely pick Super Mario Land 2 & 3. The puzzle games are of course a hallmark too, my favourite being Kwirk. So if I know the person in question digs that kind of thing, Keirk it is.
I'm so glad I found this channel! Tons of laughs and touching nostalgia. I'm currently working on making an original Gameboy game complete with an instruction manual and physical cartridge, so it's nice to know there are still some Gameboy fans out there!
I never had a Gameboy growing up. I know the OG Gameboy came out in 1989, 9 years before I was born. The Gameboy Light and Gameboy Color came out the year I was born so I was obs too young to play on a Gameboy given that I was a baby. That and the Gameboy Light only came out in Japan just to bring that up. I REALLY wanted a Gameboy as a kid. Years later, I got my wish. I have not one but two Gameboys. I have a yellow Gameboy Pocket and a lime green/kiwi Gameboy Color, both of which I had for a year. I got matching wormlights for both of my beloved handhelds. Seeing other people talk about the Gameboy always puts me in such a good mood. I have 40 OG Gameboy games and 14, soon to be 16, Gameboy Color games. That makes it a total of 56 games. I'm aiming for 60. I keep my GB and GBC games in a bag and as my collection grows, I upgrade my bags. I know I have my Nintendo DS Lite, 2DS and my Switch Lite but the Gameboy is what I was missing as a kid. Of course, I love all of them equally 💞
I would have shared bro…. I was the kid that didn’t own any system until I was old enough to purchase it myself!!! I had Nintendo’s and super nintendos but when big brother moved out, so did the systems!!!!
I started with Gameboy color and Warioland 3 was prob one of my favorite games on that thing...played it again last year (after 20+ years) and it was just as fun and it almost felt like a new game.
Ahhh, the Game Boy. What an important piece of my childhood! I've lost all my Game Boys long ago, but thanks to modern tech and smart people, I can take every fun GB game ever made with me anywhere and have lots of features that would've been super to have back then, like a BACKLIT SCREEN!!! And a night mode color palette, save states, fast-forward, screenshots, etc. If I was trying to sell someone on the GB, I would recommend Kirby's Block Ball. Secondary game I'd recommend is QIX. Fun fact: I didn't even grow up with those games. I found them in my late 20s. They're so good. If I was a kid making recommendations, I'd probably pick Battle Arena Toshinden and Kirby's Dream Land 2. Thanks for the laughs, RB! Your comedy is gold... like a golden banana from DK. :D
Kirby had a strong presence on the original Game Boy. And Kirby Star Stacker in particular is a lot of fun. It’s very Tetris-like, but easy to get obsessed, at least in my experience. Oh, also can’t forget Mario’s Picross.
I'm one of the few who neither had nor wanted a Game Boy back when it was a current system. The small screen limited viewing angles bothered me more than the portability impressed me. It wasn't until probably about 10 years ago I realized what I had been missing. Catrap is one game I still wasn't familiar with until this video. Looks like it's right up my alley. I might have to go out and buy a copy!
I did not have a Game Boy when I was a kid, nor did I want one. I had a Lynx and I was more than happy with that. My step-brother had one so I did play one fairly often. My favorites back then were Super Mario Land, Bubble Ghost, and Boxxle.
If you are a fan of Dig Dug, don't ignore the Game Boy version. It has the original game, but also you can select New Dig Dug, a huge new game with an excellent diversion from the original.
The first Batman game is one I return to regularly. Its not at all like any other Batman game, and is more of a mario style platformer. One of the Gameboys best I reckon!
The saddest day of my life was in primary school one day when another kid stole my Gameboy pocket out of my coat while we were in class...what made it worse is that it had my copy of Pokemon Blue in that I'd sunk easily hundreds of hours into, playing almost non-stop. I had to wait until December to get another replacement Gameboy with combined Christmas and Birthday money and I got another copy of Blue as a gift. I still at least had my other games, too, that I hadn't taken to school :(
I know how you feel. I didn't get a Gameboy until I was 11 in 1996, and it was a Gameboy Pocket. Many school bus rides were spent watching friends play their Gameboys or Game Gears (well until the Game Gear ran out of batteries before the field trip destination) in envy. But the Gameboy quickly became one of my favorite systems with Super Mario Land 2 and Pokémon being released 2 years after I got one.
I had to look on with wistful wanting at other kids' game boys growing up. But, I got a GBA in 2001 and my life changed forever. Man, that thing was like my non-human best friend for so many years. So much time was spent on games like Mario Land 2, Mario Advance 1, Crash Bandicoot the Huge Adventure, Metroid Fusion and the one I love the most, Metroid Zero Mission.
I recently replayed Pokemon Red. It still holds up. I forgot how much more the OG Pokemon games feel like true RPGs. The sense of adventure is greater with the more impact inventory control has and lack of information given through gameplay. There's limited EXP and money available so choices and battle outcomes matter more.
on gb i played Double dragon,double dribble, zelda,megman series, castlevania,bugs bunny crazy castles, these are all black and white version of the GB .
Tetris Plus. Basically Tetris, but a bit less stiffed. Another you can't forget is Pokémon Yellow. And also, for some reason I like the Gameboy version of Contra 3 🤔
I have my original Gameboy from the 90s. These were supposed for merchandise and should bring shops to buy more shampoo and so on. Somehow 4 of them landed bevor us for free. Long only with Tetris. I have all my games only Zelda came extra 3-4 years ago. I know also have a used GBC with backlight and SD cards and two Gameboy colours. Even a Japanese import. A Kirby game with build in gyro. But it's long ago when I played them the last time. Now the time has come
One of my favorites has always been Avenging Spirit. It's an action platformer where you play as a ghost that can possess every enemy, all of whom move and attack differently, giving you a lot of gameplay variety. I had it as a kid, got it again a few years back and still enjoy it as much as back then. Unfortunately it is way on the pricey side (pricecharting listing it loose at 149$ right now, which sounds ridiculous to me...), but retro 8bit just had preorders for a limited edition on original hardware (already closed, sadly), so hopefully the price drops a bit. Or, you know, emulation is a thing :) Anyway, I'd recommend checking it out.
There must be a lot of people who want to be an old-school gangster and fill some wise guy chowderheads with lead. ;) Questionable box art aside, though, Avenging Spirit does sound like a cool game. Reminiscent of Space Station: Silicon Valley, maybe, or Geist? (I haven't played the latter, but SSSV is great!)
Game Boy was my first system and it was such a blast. Think I originally got Tetris, TMNT Fall of the Foot Clan, and Metroid II, and all of them still hold up when I play them today. Though my favorite game on the Game Boy was Battletoads, played that forever until I could do that motorcycle section first time every time. Really liked the Wizards and Warriors game on Game Boy too. Played the hell out of Dr Mario on it too. Thanks for the Cattrap recommendation BTW, that game looks awesome and I have never heard of it. Always pays off subscribing to this channel, especially after you got me turned on to Rocket Knight Adventures.
I never cared for the actual Game Boy (or any hand-held console for that matter) but I've loved my Super Game Boy ever since I got it as a kid (now I have a Super Game Boy 2 board inside a Super Game Boy 1 cart). My collection for it has always been the same 3 games: Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, Metroid II: Return of Samus, and the Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (my favorite of the 3).
@@RetroBirdGaming Those were the only 3 Game Boy games I ever really wanted to play...and I still play through Link's Awakening again every now and then.
Dragon Warrior Monsters on my blue Game Boy Pocket is easily one of my best gaming experiences. And also reaching Wario for the very first time in SML2.
I've gotten into collecting consoles lately and I got an original GB with the original color, and I've got a GBC coming. They're a lot of fun, even though I generally dump and play the roms on retropie so I don't have to anger my neck while doing so. For the most part it works out OK, but some of the NES to GBC ports are not pleasant to play due to the screen scrolling that's required to make it work.
Great video! I think the one thing that could have been explored was the ability to manipulate what the hardware was capable by way of the cartridge. Not just by per MEGS, you could argue that was just a compression decision. By the time the NG died, tech had shrunk to the point you could have practically squeezed the Neo Geo 2 into a cart.
I love the Game Boy...just not so much on the handheld. It's gotta be on a television with a controller for me! Since you mentioned import games I would like to nominate a couple Japanese exclusives for consideration - Chalvo 55 and Noobow are amazing GB games.
My favorite Game Boy titles (including Game Boy Color): 1. Final Fantasy Legend 2. Final Fantasy Legend 2 3. Final Fantasy Adventure 4. Link's Awakening DX 5. Final Fantasy Legend 3 6. Wario Land 3 7. Wario Land
I really like space ship shooter games. So definitely games like: Solar Striker Xenon 2 Sagaia But I also really like Kirby's Dreamland and Pokemon Gold and Tetris.
I'd add a couple, kid Icarus, amazing penguin, mole mania, which music you used funny enough, and Kirby pinball! Edit: just heard mole mania shout out at the end lol
I salute you for choosing some of the truly best games ever for the original Game Boy. It is my most beloved system of all time and all those games you chose are some of my all time favorites and indeed timeless classics. I liked this video so much! Well done!
Fun fact: In the scene where I choke on water, I actually did (not on purpose). Actually, I suppose that's not a very fun fact and I'd be lying if I said this wasn't the first time I've almost hurt myself filming for these videos. Not to worry though.. I will continue to stay diligent about keeping safe :) Games played: Donkey Kong (0:06 - via Super Game Boy), Mole Mania (0:17 - via Game Boy with backlight mod), Catrap (0:56 - via Game Boy with backlight mod), Tetris (5:32 - via Game Boy with backlight mod), Tetris (6:04 - via GBA SP), Wario Land (6:50 - via unmodded Game Boy Color), Castlevania II (8:06 - via Game Boy with backlight mod), Link's Awakening (10:17 - via GBA with backlight mod), Super Mario Land 2 (11:15 - via Game Boy with backlight mod)
Dang, pure dedication.
Careful there... water has been detected in more than 4 billion dead bodies. Dangerous stuff.
Oh wow. I hope you are alright. Please be careful next time in the future. Glad you are ok.
How about ninja turtles or double Dragon games. There fun too.
@@fidelsolis6070 Yeah as long as it's retro ones. Not the new ones.
It still amazes me that Link's Awakening was an original GB game. What a masterpiece.
An absolute powerhouse back in the day.
Still my favourite Zelda.
Yeah, honestly, it was amazing that a quest so big was on the Game Boy! It absolutely was a masterpiece! That is one game that is essential for _any_ Game Boy fan to play!
I remember buying links awakening for my original Gameboy back when the game came out. I bought it for I think 40 or 50 dollars from Kay bee toy store.
I really gotta play the original, loved playing the Switch remake.
the original Kirby's dreamland is one I play regularly. It only takes around an hour or so, so I can just jump into it and finish the game in one sitting when im in the mood.
Agreed, the length being "short" actually helps for a portable console.
Alongside Mario Land 2, Kirby's adventure is also my most played GB games for that exact reason. :)
I think Kirbys Dreamland took me 30 minutes. It is very short😄
Yes. One thing I love about it is the hard mode that unlocks after beating it. For anyone who says Kirby is too easy- try it. It is seriously challenging.
It looks great and plays great today!
If there's one channel guaranteed to cheer me up when I'm feeling down, it's this one.
Dude, i get such a chuckle out of these videos. Keep it up sir
Happy to hear it :)
Well spoken Matt ! 👍
When I was a kid my regular rotation was Kirby's Dreamland 2, Warioland, Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong and that weird game that suddenly fell from heaven...Pokemon.
"Yoshi" on the Game Boy has always been one of my favorite puzzle games. There's something magical about making an egg from a column and seeing a Yoshi come out every time.
Ya, Yoshi is underrated. Never played the Gameboy version but the NES version is very nostalgic for me. It's not the kind of game you play for hours but it is very satisfying in short bursts.
Sometimes I feel the original Gameboy doesn't get enough love. Yes, the Gameboy Color is better but I can't help it but admire the original Gameboy. Its large and robust frame, the clean light gray look, the speaker is louder than the Color's and the presedent it set in the industry alongside giving birth to one of the biggest juggernaut in gaming history (Pokémon) I think the gray brick deserve some love from time to time.
As someone who has been almost completely disinterested in the Game Boy throughout my lifespan: holy shit, I think you're the first person to actually sell me on it successfully. Kudos and thanks.
Happy to hear it! Each console is not always for everyone :)
Honestly, they're a lot better than you'd probably think. They suffer a bit now that battery life is largely a solved problem, but back in the day they were an amazing option due to the massive amount of gameplay that you could get out of AA batteries.
For me it shows what the NES could have been ~ the sound font sounds so much better, more 'musical', and game design at this point was more solidified, developers had the foundations for ideas of what to go for already laid. Designed for fun on the go, key word being 'fun', a difficult game on the GameBoy is typically nowhere near as unforgiving as a NES title, exceptions apply of course.
You also had wonderful experiments you really don't see anymore, look no further than Qix by Taito for an interesting new take on what puzzles can be.
I've never cared for puzzle games, but now at 26, honestly the GameBoy ones I'm falling for.
I recently discovered Megalit and found it a nice straightforward puzzle game
@@ahums16 I used to be in a similar position to OP (I am a Gen Z) I used to view the game boy as just a worse NES. But thanks to this guy and after actually playing some of these games I realized I might prefer it to the NES actually, there were a lot of lighthearted simple fun games on the Gameboy, and like you said they aren't nearly as punishing as the NES.
Love The Game Boy and what I love about this game was the 1st wave was done to make little kids do great on them! One of the main reasons why people do not like Castlevania The Adventure as it was easy to go far, not hard like the non-portable Castlevania Games out there. Also loved the original Super Mario Land as it was like the original one in that you could only go one direction & no going back. You don't get lost in any level you know where to go at all times, which made for total fun! The games on the Game Boy were there to be played and loved by everyone that is why it will always be close to my heart! Still play these two games each year and it still entertains me to this day.
Wario Land 2 gets my vote. Multiple paths through levels and you can't really die, so it's good for kids. For years I couldn't figure out how I'd gotten to a certain path in the game, because while I was playing my mom called me and when I looked at the gameboy again, there I was. Years later I found out that if you do nothing in the beginning and Wario stays asleep for a few seconds, and you don't press a button, you find a secret "exit" to the stage, where he slept through the whole thing.
While watching this video I was lik "nah - probably not gonna play" but now I'm interested!
Pokemon Red/Blue are my go to and always have been. I'm team yellow, but alas that's GBC. The Gameboy is so good
Donkey Kong... best game on the system. First time I played it, I just assumed it was a straight port of the arcade game... when the game continued and became a completely new game, I was blown away. Rarely have I had a "surprise" moment like that in a video game that stuck with me forever.
I am still fascinated how fantastic graphics on the Gameboy look. I mean, they had a limited colour palette and keeping back in mind that the GameGear had more during that time, it is just mind blowing what the developers have reached on the Gameboy.
My all-time favourite is my very first Gameboy game and that's WWF Superstars. I am a big Ultimate Warrior fan and listening to his entrance music was awesome.
Other games that I count "all-time favourites" are:
- TMNT: Fall of the Foot Clan
- Kirby's Adventure
- Double Dragon 2
- Kwirk
- Mario Land 2
- Tiny Toon Adventures
- Probotector (Aka as Contra)
- Gargoyle's Quest
What I love about most games, you can finish them in 1 hr. Yes, the Gameboy has a special place in my heart and how amazing it was to "upgrade" that big boy with all the accessories 😂.
And at least a great "flashback journey" with your vid again. The questions on the end let your vid feel special, and not just consuming. And as much as I love the questions, I love other people responses here. It's like finding new treasures with your recommendations❤️👍.
Ah, and BTW. of course I would have shared my Gameboy with you😊.
I agree. It's great reading everyone's responses. It provides me with so much perspective.
I've got both, and I've got a GBC on the way. The main issue with the Game Gear is that it took so many batteries, and rechargeable in that era were mostly not very good. The one time I got to borrow one from a friend for a trip, it was great in most other ways, especially the ability to play it in the dark without an external light source.
The most impressive graphics to me is Donkey Kong Land. Extremely detailed for a game boy.
You can never go wrong with Mario, Zelda, Mega Man, Contra, pretty much the same classics on NES. The Gameboy versions are just as fun to play. Donkey Kong '94 is fantastic. Easily one of the best games on the system.
Yep! They all have pretty solid entries on the Game Boy.
You haven't experienced gameboy heaven unless you owned a gameboy camera and printer back in the day. Only of the gameboy had internet back then, tick tock could eat sh*t!
@@TT-jl1qs I believe the Gameboy Camera was considered one of the first selfie devices.
I've got Super Mario Brothers in several different editions. The original SMB, the original SMB with duckhunt, Super Mario Allstars, Mario Deluxe and they all play great.
Final Fantasy Adventure is probably my favorite Game Boy game that doesn't tend to make short favorites lists.
Yeah it's basically the original sword of mana on gba which is also a good game. I love ff adventure tho I always play it a few times.
I was that kid my freshman year who pulled out his Original Gameboy on the school bus at 6:30Am and proceeded to turn on the light and magnifying glass attachment. The original Nintendo DS had just came out that year to give you a timeframe. RetroBird your one of a kind and very awesome 😎 keep on moving up! Best wishes to you.
Thank you! I appreciate the positivity!
Link's Awakening is my all time favorite Game Boy game, but I'll admit, Donkey Kong blew me away. I was not expecting the intricate levels that followed the original four levels that start the game. Just plain wow. I highly recommend it to everyone......!!!!!
I agree I played the original Gameboy donkey Kong back when it came out. The level design and the ease of playability was awesome.
I didn't expect it to open up after the first 4 levels. The fact that they added so many levels and worlds to the game made it very replayable.
The sequel Mario vs donkey Kong on the game boy advance is also very very good and is worth a play.
We literally picked up our very first OG gameboy about a month ago. This is a pretty timely video.
Hope you enjoy it!
Love how some game boy games still hold up really well. Links awakening is still one of my all time favorite games. Plus i could easily recommend to people gargoyles quest, operation C, Castlevania 2 and avenging spirit.
I can't pick one game. Here's my list of games I would recommend though. Pokemon Blue, Motocross Maniacs, Heiankyo Alien, Game & Watch Gallery, Final Fantasy Adventure and Pac-Man.
I never hear people mention Heiankyo Alien, it is a fun game. Dumb aliens can't even avoid holes.
Don't forget that the Game Boy Advance plays regular Game Boy and Game Boy color games, so you can take advantage of a rechargeable battery and, on the SP, a backlit screen. The DS has the right cartridge slot, but it only supports Advance games.
You don't need the SP. You can always buy the light accesory for the gameboy Color.
Or ips screen. But not sure if it's 100 percent backwards compatible. I think it mentions that on wiki a handful of games that have issues because of certain things like accessories for the gameboy being needed
I'm old enough that the Game Boy came out while I was a senior in high school. Bought one, along with the rechargeable battery pack, and loved it. Spent much time between classes playing, especially once I started college. Didn't have too many games, though...money was tight. Got married, was broke, and had to sell it. So sad. Today I have a GPi Case and all the games I missed back when I couldn't afford them. And today all my gaming dollars go into the Switch. But playing those game boy games on an almost-Game Boy is still tons of fun!
The GameBoy was one of those cases where I didn't know I wanted one until I got it. It wasn't until my dad got me and my sister a GameBoy Color in the late 90's, and that led me to becoming obsessed with obtaining GameBoy and GameBoy Color games. Some of my favorites on the original is Operation C, Donkey Kong, Link's Awakening, Wario Blast and Super Mario Land 2!
Same, most of the people I knew with gaming gear at the time either had computers or consoles. I forget why my parents ultimately opted to buy it for us. By that time, you could buy them in different colors, and only a bit later they came out with the GB Pocket that was basically just the same thing in a smaller package and requiring one fewer battery.
For me it was my cousin, he got one for his birthday a few months ago. He let me hold it and I became obsessed and after the sleep over I told my dad about it, and sure enough we had one in our garage. As I type this it's right beside me right now.
@@SmallSpoonBrigadenever knew the pocket needed one less battery.
I never had a Gameboy as a kid, but my mom and sister each had one, so I got to play it when I wanted. Ironically, my mom recently found our Super Gameboy and three games, which she gave me. I had the SNES, and have one again, but honestly don't recall ever having the Super Gameboy. Very odd, but I'm forty-three years old, and I've drank and done plenty of drugs, so I may have killed the brain cells associated with that memory. 😆
This guy is one of the funniest people I’ve seen
This video scratches me right where I itch!
Those screens are quality af
@@rmorus1 Nothing less than the best for RB!
You make Saturdays so much better. Like cartoons back in the '80s.
You certainly picked some good ones. I'd also have to recommend Pokemon, Super Mario Land 2, and Kirby's Dream Land 2.
Pretty much agree with the choices here, they are classics.
My top 3 is Link's Awakening, Wario Land 2 and Pokemon Gold/Silver if that count (technically a GB Color game but you can play on the original so..).
Amazing games
Thank you for introducing us to Catrap! It's been a while since I enjoyed a game so *immediately*, I'm hooked. I wish I had known about this one 20 years ago!
Great to hear!
Love the OG green game boy with the dark buttons, looks so put together. Same one I had as a kid, cheers
Finally, someone who understands the pain of watching someone else play Tetris! Excuse me while I go fish my Gameboy out and play a round or twelve
Came here just to recommend Picross. Welll, Picross 2 actually, which was Japan only but can be had cheap on eBay.
Donkey Kong 94' is THE best game boy game. So much content packed into a little cartridge. Gave Mario more moves in his kit that are still used in his modern games.
It really is loaded!
I was a Lynx kid but always coveted friends’ game boys due to the sheer volume and quality of the games (and battery life). Micro machines was a strong contender and since I got my own a few years ago Ghostbusters 2 is a great pick up and play. But for nostalgia can’t beat the first 2 Marios and Tetris
So you were the guy who owned a Lynx ! Hello!!!
@@benironside1264 yup, there was me just wandering round with my comlynx cable with no one to connect with
@@MattHorne1 😂🤣 I feel sad now. Like im compelled to put on a massive charity rock concert to help all the Lynx kids 😂
@@benironside1264 all three of us would appreciate that
@@MattHorne1 🤣 oh no! There’s an odd number of you. Meaning when we get you out on stage one of you is still going to have no friend on the other end of their comlynx cable!
What a timely and fantastic video! I actually just recently have jumped back into my GameBoy collection to revisit some games in my collection. I think the only game I haven't played in your list was Catrap, but it sounds fun! I love the GameBoy games due to just their simple pick up and play style.
You've already mentioned most of my favorites, but I'd add a few more like Kirby's Pinball Land, Pokémon (I will admit I prefer the remakes, though), Gargoyle's Quest, Metroid II (again, this one has some archaic design improved by the modern remakes, but still a good game), Adventure Island 1 & 2, and Duck Tales.
The GameBoy was basically a portable monochrome NES and developers like Nintendo and Capcom knew how to shrink NES games down to port them to the Game Boy!
Great games you mentioned. I own a number of those.
Dope video as always Bird, thanks for the recommendation about Catrap, I actually didn't know about that game.
Yeah, it's always the game I think of as far as an amazing game that not everyone knows about for the Game Boy.
So many great games on the gameboy mario/wario zelda Kirby donkey Kong Pokémon final fantasy castlevania mega man double dragon just to name a few
Mole Mania has a lot of memories for me. My first girlfriend Reba gave me her Mole Mania game for my 13th birthday. I played it going back to Disney World, and played it while at my sister's graduation.
I love Tetris on the GB and I like the fact that the GB is region free
I didn't know that, but it doesn't surprise me, the N64 was practically region free when released, the only issue was that the cart wouldn't fit, replacing the slot that it goes in with a region free version unlocks the ability. That was some pretty lazy design work on Nintendo's part. But, then again, there are a few NES games out there that are actually Famicom games with an adapter to make them work on the NES>
97. I used to play it before wrestling tournaments, in-between, on the ride there and the entire way back.
Yeah I remember wanting a gameboy soooooo badly in the 90's. Eventually ended up buying one in the early 2000's lol.
You got a genuine laugh out of me, followed by a thumbs up after the Tetris section about doing you personal harm, followed by the look into the camera. Perfect timing. Hilarious. Now follwing channel.
That's one of the pros of the gameboy library; most games are easy to hop in and play in short bursts. Easy, quick, fun. I can always go for some megaman 4 and 5, Link's Awakening, Tetris, Donkey Kong 94, Motocross Maniacs, Hammerin' Harry, Nemesis(Gradius), R-Type etc. Gameboy's kinda my thing.
It really is great for those quick little sessions.
I also have a green gameboy. Good times.
I'm very nostalgic about the Green DMG :)
97 was my year of Gameboy ownership. I still have it and it still works. Ice blue pocket edition. Killer instinct on gameboy was the best version ever
I know a lot of people don't care for Mortal Kombat on the Game Boy, but it was the only version of the game I owned until I picked up MK vs DCU for PS3 about 20 years later, and I loved it...at least, I loved it when I didn't know it could be better!
I technically never owned an original Gameboy. My dad had one but never played it so I got to use it sometimes but it wasn't mine because he carved his entire name in the side of it. He was a little obsessed with put labels on everything but it was mostly tools and such. Why he needed to carve into it rather than just use a name label is an answer I never got.
Was his name Timmy?
I've always loved gameboy but this video has inspired me to get more gameboy games, so many that I missed and need to play!
If I wanted to interest someone in the GameBoy who never saw it before, I’d definitely pick Super Mario Land 2 & 3.
The puzzle games are of course a hallmark too, my favourite being Kwirk. So if I know the person in question digs that kind of thing, Keirk it is.
Castelvania and wave race on original gameboy will always be fond memories
I'm so glad I found this channel! Tons of laughs and touching nostalgia. I'm currently working on making an original Gameboy game complete with an instruction manual and physical cartridge, so it's nice to know there are still some Gameboy fans out there!
I never had a Gameboy growing up. I know the OG Gameboy came out in 1989, 9 years before I was born. The Gameboy Light and Gameboy Color came out the year I was born so I was obs too young to play on a Gameboy given that I was a baby. That and the Gameboy Light only came out in Japan just to bring that up. I REALLY wanted a Gameboy as a kid.
Years later, I got my wish. I have not one but two Gameboys. I have a yellow Gameboy Pocket and a lime green/kiwi Gameboy Color, both of which I had for a year. I got matching wormlights for both of my beloved handhelds. Seeing other people talk about the Gameboy always puts me in such a good mood.
I have 40 OG Gameboy games and 14, soon to be 16, Gameboy Color games. That makes it a total of 56 games. I'm aiming for 60. I keep my GB and GBC games in a bag and as my collection grows, I upgrade my bags.
I know I have my Nintendo DS Lite, 2DS and my Switch Lite but the Gameboy is what I was missing as a kid. Of course, I love all of them equally 💞
I would have shared bro…. I was the kid that didn’t own any system until I was old enough to purchase it myself!!! I had Nintendo’s and super nintendos but when big brother moved out, so did the systems!!!!
I started with Gameboy color and Warioland 3 was prob one of my favorite games on that thing...played it again last year (after 20+ years) and it was just as fun and it almost felt like a new game.
Ahhh, the Game Boy. What an important piece of my childhood! I've lost all my Game Boys long ago, but thanks to modern tech and smart people, I can take every fun GB game ever made with me anywhere and have lots of features that would've been super to have back then, like a BACKLIT SCREEN!!! And a night mode color palette, save states, fast-forward, screenshots, etc.
If I was trying to sell someone on the GB, I would recommend Kirby's Block Ball. Secondary game I'd recommend is QIX. Fun fact: I didn't even grow up with those games. I found them in my late 20s. They're so good. If I was a kid making recommendations, I'd probably pick Battle Arena Toshinden and Kirby's Dream Land 2.
Thanks for the laughs, RB! Your comedy is gold... like a golden banana from DK. :D
Kirby had a strong presence on the original Game Boy. And Kirby Star Stacker in particular is a lot of fun. It’s very Tetris-like, but easy to get obsessed, at least in my experience. Oh, also can’t forget Mario’s Picross.
Yeah, Kirby is well-represented on most Nintendo handhelds and the Game Boy is no exception :)
I'm one of the few who neither had nor wanted a Game Boy back when it was a current system. The small screen limited viewing angles bothered me more than the portability impressed me. It wasn't until probably about 10 years ago I realized what I had been missing.
Catrap is one game I still wasn't familiar with until this video. Looks like it's right up my alley. I might have to go out and buy a copy!
I did not have a Game Boy when I was a kid, nor did I want one. I had a Lynx and I was more than happy with that. My step-brother had one so I did play one fairly often. My favorites back then were Super Mario Land, Bubble Ghost, and Boxxle.
CHOKING ON THE WATER WAS BRILLIANT
If you are a fan of Dig Dug, don't ignore the Game Boy version. It has the original game, but also you can select New Dig Dug, a huge new game with an excellent diversion from the original.
The first Batman game is one I return to regularly. Its not at all like any other Batman game, and is more of a mario style platformer. One of the Gameboys best I reckon!
The saddest day of my life was in primary school one day when another kid stole my Gameboy pocket out of my coat while we were in class...what made it worse is that it had my copy of Pokemon Blue in that I'd sunk easily hundreds of hours into, playing almost non-stop. I had to wait until December to get another replacement Gameboy with combined Christmas and Birthday money and I got another copy of Blue as a gift. I still at least had my other games, too, that I hadn't taken to school :(
That's a bummer.. but I am glad you were able to get a replacement.
Yoshi’s Tetris Attack is my go to. I like it better than the SNES version. Feels snappier.
Tecmo Bowl. Sports games don't get mentioned often, but if you like them then Tecmo Bowl is my recommend for best on the GB.
You deserve more recognition
Thank you!
I know how you feel. I didn't get a Gameboy until I was 11 in 1996, and it was a Gameboy Pocket. Many school bus rides were spent watching friends play their Gameboys or Game Gears (well until the Game Gear ran out of batteries before the field trip destination) in envy. But the Gameboy quickly became one of my favorite systems with Super Mario Land 2 and Pokémon being released 2 years after I got one.
Watch out for the Tetris jumpscare at 3:33
6:34 might be my favorite cut away gag of yours. I was not expecting it.
Metroid 2, Donkey Kong, and Zelda Link's Awakening are the golden trio for the gameboy.
I had to look on with wistful wanting at other kids' game boys growing up. But, I got a GBA in 2001 and my life changed forever. Man, that thing was like my non-human best friend for so many years. So much time was spent on games like Mario Land 2, Mario Advance 1, Crash Bandicoot the Huge Adventure, Metroid Fusion and the one I love the most, Metroid Zero Mission.
I recently replayed Pokemon Red. It still holds up. I forgot how much more the OG Pokemon games feel like true RPGs. The sense of adventure is greater with the more impact inventory control has and lack of information given through gameplay. There's limited EXP and money available so choices and battle outcomes matter more.
I didn't have a Game Boy until 1998. It was a Game Boy Pocket. My first game was "A Bug's Life."
ah Memories. 😁
on gb i played Double dragon,double dribble, zelda,megman series, castlevania,bugs bunny crazy castles, these are all black and white version of the GB .
Love the use of actual screens instead of streaming.
Tetris Plus. Basically Tetris, but a bit less stiffed. Another you can't forget is Pokémon Yellow. And also, for some reason I like the Gameboy version of Contra 3 🤔
I have my original Gameboy from the 90s. These were supposed for merchandise and should bring shops to buy more shampoo and so on. Somehow 4 of them landed bevor us for free. Long only with Tetris.
I have all my games only Zelda came extra 3-4 years ago.
I know also have a used GBC with backlight and SD cards and two Gameboy colours. Even a Japanese import. A Kirby game with build in gyro.
But it's long ago when I played them the last time. Now the time has come
I will still play a game of Kirby's Pinball every now and then. Best Kirby game in my opinion.
One of my favorites has always been Avenging Spirit. It's an action platformer where you play as a ghost that can possess every enemy, all of whom move and attack differently, giving you a lot of gameplay variety. I had it as a kid, got it again a few years back and still enjoy it as much as back then. Unfortunately it is way on the pricey side (pricecharting listing it loose at 149$ right now, which sounds ridiculous to me...), but retro 8bit just had preorders for a limited edition on original hardware (already closed, sadly), so hopefully the price drops a bit. Or, you know, emulation is a thing :)
Anyway, I'd recommend checking it out.
There must be a lot of people who want to be an old-school gangster and fill some wise guy chowderheads with lead. ;)
Questionable box art aside, though, Avenging Spirit does sound like a cool game. Reminiscent of Space Station: Silicon Valley, maybe, or Geist? (I haven't played the latter, but SSSV is great!)
Game Boy was my first system and it was such a blast. Think I originally got Tetris, TMNT Fall of the Foot Clan, and Metroid II, and all of them still hold up when I play them today. Though my favorite game on the Game Boy was Battletoads, played that forever until I could do that motorcycle section first time every time. Really liked the Wizards and Warriors game on Game Boy too. Played the hell out of Dr Mario on it too. Thanks for the Cattrap recommendation BTW, that game looks awesome and I have never heard of it. Always pays off subscribing to this channel, especially after you got me turned on to Rocket Knight Adventures.
I love how this video shows gameplay footage of Mole Mania. That is an underrated Nintendo game that deserves more attention.
Gameboy was cool. Phar-Mor had games to rent, pretty cheap. We rented a ton of them, and bought a lot too.
Donkey Kong for the Gameboy is pretty dang amazing.
Still play my original gameboy. I modded it with a rips v5 screen kit, a new speaker and amp, and brand new modern powerboard and recapped.
I never cared for the actual Game Boy (or any hand-held console for that matter) but I've loved my Super Game Boy ever since I got it as a kid (now I have a Super Game Boy 2 board inside a Super Game Boy 1 cart). My collection for it has always been the same 3 games: Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, Metroid II: Return of Samus, and the Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (my favorite of the 3).
A great solution!
@@RetroBirdGaming Those were the only 3 Game Boy games I ever really wanted to play...and I still play through Link's Awakening again every now and then.
Dragon Warrior Monsters on my blue Game Boy Pocket is easily one of my best gaming experiences. And also reaching Wario for the very first time in SML2.
I remember you having that game!
Loved Gameboy! Was the greatest thing when it came out! Still cool now!
Fun video 😃
I've gotten into collecting consoles lately and I got an original GB with the original color, and I've got a GBC coming. They're a lot of fun, even though I generally dump and play the roms on retropie so I don't have to anger my neck while doing so. For the most part it works out OK, but some of the NES to GBC ports are not pleasant to play due to the screen scrolling that's required to make it work.
Gameboy is my all time favorite console. I'd love to see a GB hidden gems video from you!
Great video! I think the one thing that could have been explored was the ability to manipulate what the hardware was capable by way of the cartridge. Not just by per MEGS, you could argue that was just a compression decision. By the time the NG died, tech had shrunk to the point you could have practically squeezed the Neo Geo 2 into a cart.
I love the Game Boy...just not so much on the handheld. It's gotta be on a television with a controller for me! Since you mentioned import games I would like to nominate a couple Japanese exclusives for consideration - Chalvo 55 and Noobow are amazing GB games.
Precisely 🙂. I play portable systems on my retropie. It's easy to see everything and you don't need batteries lol.
Then play them on the Super Gameboy or Gameboy player.
CATRAP is the name!
One of my fave childhood game, thank you for sharing 🙏🏼
My favorite Game Boy titles (including Game Boy Color):
1. Final Fantasy Legend
2. Final Fantasy Legend 2
3. Final Fantasy Adventure
4. Link's Awakening DX
5. Final Fantasy Legend 3
6. Wario Land 3
7. Wario Land
I really like space ship shooter games. So definitely games like:
Solar Striker
Xenon 2
Sagaia
But I also really like Kirby's Dreamland and Pokemon Gold and Tetris.
Try Trax, Zas and Vattle Guice for more great Shmups!
I'd add a couple, kid Icarus, amazing penguin, mole mania, which music you used funny enough, and Kirby pinball!
Edit: just heard mole mania shout out at the end lol
Dawg I would've shared my Gameboy, Gameboy Advanced, Gameboy Advanced SP and My DS dude. Your content rocks honestly ❤🔥
Thank you!
Him: The gameboy really shined when the games incorporated puzzle mechanics
Tetris: flashes on screen for a split second
Belmont's Revenge is so good. The OST is one of the best game soundtracks I've ever heard.
I salute you for choosing some of the truly best games ever for the original Game Boy. It is my most beloved system of all time and all those games you chose are some of my all time favorites and indeed timeless classics. I liked this video so much! Well done!
Hah my 3 year old LOVES Tetris. He even tries playing it. His favourite part is the special effects at the end - he loves watching the animations.