The Game Boy is easily one of the most iconic handhelds of all time.
The simplistic 4 color graphics and terrific sound hardware make for an awesome 8-bit experience.
Even better, games can be enjoyed with proper controllers and on a TV thanks to the Super
Game Boy and Game Boy Player peripherals.
To celebrate Nintendo’s little handheld that could, on today’s episode of 5 Games,
I present 5 Great, Game Boy Games.
Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins is my favorite of the Mario Land trilogy and really
shows the care and effort Nintendo put into their Game Boy line-up.
This isn’t some watered down Mario affair, but a fully realized, massive adventure.
The over world is littered with different zones for Mario to visit, and after clearing
all of the levels in a zone, you are rewarded with a coin.
The six coins are needed to unlock Wario’s castle, and are where the game’s title comes
from.
What makes Super Mario Land 2 so awesome is the gameplay.
First, Mario moves a bit slow but this helps alleviate the screen crunch introduced with
the tiny screen.
Next, there is just an insane amount of variety here.
Even within the same zone, levels can vary wildly from one to the next, and the game
never feels repetitive or stale.
There are plenty of secrets as well, and finding the secret exits should gave the game a bit
of replay value, and add some challenge to the otherwise easy game.
Super Mario Land 2 also introduces the carrot power-up, giving Mario an extra high jump,
and the ability float.
It’s an awesome power-up and many sections of the game are perfectly designed to take
advantage of this new feature.
Lastly, the music is simply sensational.
The compositions are some of the catchiest you’ll find on the system, and are the ultimate
earworms, sure to get stuck in your head for days to come.
If you’re looking for an entry point in the Game Boy's library, look no further than
Super Mario Land 2.
Kirby’s Pinball Land was not HAL Laboratory’s first pinball game, nor was it their last,
but it is the one I’ve had since I was a kid.
The game masterfully blends fantasy-styled pinball with the Kirby universe to create
a truly memorable game.
The three tables are each three screens high, and the main goal of the game is to reach
the top to fight a boss.
Making your way from the bottom to the top is a fairly straightforward affair, the goals
and requirements for reaching the next screen are well thought out while still challenging
to accomplish.
There is just something incredibly accessible about Kirby’s Pinball Land that is hard
to put into words.
Perhaps it’s the terrific graphics which manage to repurpose all sorts of items and
enemies from the platforming game and turns them into interesting pinball features.
The catchy music from Kirby’s Dream Land, as well as sound effects also returns, and
somehow works in the pinball environment.
Above all else, Kirby’s Pinball Land has some predictable flipper physics.
Kirby is a bit floaty for sure, but everything works within the confines of the tables and
really helps make this game an absolute blast.
If you’re looking for something familiar, yet unique, give Kirby’s Pinball Land
a spin.
Depending on when you’re watching this, you’re probably tired of me talking about
Dr. Mario.
But what can I say?
It’s one of my favorite puzzle game franchises of all times.
This Game Boy version manages to capture the spirit of the NES original with few, if any
sacrifices.
About the only thing I don’t care for is how one of the viruses is a checkerboard pattern,
instead of its own color.
It’s a strange decision, but perhaps necessary on the original green Game Boy screen.
In any case, the name of the game is simple; rotate the medicine capsules to the appropriate
virus.
Match a line of four, including the virus, and the virus dies and you’re one step closer
to beating the stage.
Upon completion, four more viruses are added and you begin again.
Something about managing all of the pieces, trying to set-up combos when viruses pop,
and clearing out safe areas to dump unwanted medicine capsules, really clicks with me.
Despite the NES version being arguably better in every way, Game Boy Dr. Mario still delivers
a great game of Dr. Mario.
The fantastic music and easy to learn, hard to master gameplay is still phenomenal, and
I highly recommend it.
Mega Man II, not to be confused with Mega Man 2, is a great addition to the Mega Man
franchise.
The first four stages are remixed versions of Mega Man 2, while the second four are from
Mega Man 3.
While the game is admittedly stripped down compared to the NES originals, this Game Boy
game is still worth a play.
First, the gameplay is just as tight as ever.
Mega Man’s trademark jumping and shooting feel spot on, and the slide kick is just as
useful as ever.
Rush even makes an appearance, and can be quite versatile when used correctly.
While the level design is a bit simplistic, and the bosses a bit underwhelming, Mega Man
II is still an immensely enjoyable experience.
The series has always represented a high point in action platforming, and all but the most
critical gamers should find themselves having a great time.
The developers did a great job cramming a full adventure onto the tiny screen, and with
few exceptions, things rarely feel cramped or haphazard.
The detailed graphics are some of my favorite on the system, and the remixed tunes range
from good to outstanding.
Whether you are a hardcore fan of the series, or just looking for a great Game Boy game,
Mega Man II, is worth a look.
And of course, you can’t talk about great Game Boy games without talking about The Legend
of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.
Again, I can’t stress enough how masterful Nintendo was at cramming a full console-sized
adventure onto a miniscule cart with extremely limited hardware.
But time and time again, Nintendo absolutely nailed it.
Link’s Awakening plays like a mix of the original NES Zelda and A Link to the Past.
To me, what makes Link’s Awakening so special is how perfectly the game is structured from
beginning to end.
With few items available initially, most of the Koholint Island is not accessible.
But as you make your way through the eights dungeons, gaining new items, new areas of
Koholint Island are slowly made available.
The pacing here is just outstanding, and can be appreciated by hardcore fans and newcomers
alike.
Also excellent are the gameplay mechanics.
Link’s Awakening seems fully aware of Link’s limited mobility and never asks anything ridiculous
of the player.
Combat is fluid and satisfying, and navigating the world, including the jumping, feels fairly
tight.
Again, there is a balance here few games ever achieve.
While the ending is mostly a let-down, the journey is still worthwhile and Link’s Awakening
remains my favorite game of the franchise.
Without a doubt, this is the quintessential Game Boy game, and a must-own.
So there you have it, 5 great games released for the Game Boy.
Now, this is not a definitive list, nor is it intended to be a best-of, and the Game
Boy has far more than 5 great games, so be sure to leave a comment and let me know which
Game Boy games, you enjoy.