Gameboy - any recommendations?

[nil]

All this talk about gameplay and old school games has got me all nostalgic. When I was younger, I had a Gameboy (NOTE: original Gameboy, not Colour or Advanced), but had no money to pay for games, so I never really got to use it too much. Now that I have some money (and the games should be cheap by now), I'd like to break it out and get my old school on. I know I've got to get Zelda: Link's Awakening, and I'm looking at maybe Metroid II: Return of Samus. But really, I have no idea which games are good.

So, what games do you guys recommend? What were the legendary hits for GB??

[SJ Bennighof]

Old school rocks. I still had only my original GameBoy when the N64 was out, so I was forced to play it and I came to appreciate waht the designers did with the simplicity.

I know I've got to get Zelda: Link's Awakening, and I'm looking at DEFINITELY Metroid II: Return of Samus.

The best original GameBoy game ever made is still one of my favorite video games of all time. Link's Awakening is sadly lacking in difficulty. I mean, its appalling how easy that game is. Not so with MII. MII also features the best usages of the original GameBoy's sound. It pushed the envelope and made the sound immersive while not trying to sound realer than they could reasonably do.

Also do Wario Land I (technically Super Mario Land III: Wario Land). I know you're talking about original GameBoy here, but let me tell you that Wario Land III for the GameBoy Color is one of the finest platformers I have ever played. Hair-pullingly difficult without being unfair. Wario I is still excellent, and far better than both of the Marios. But you should give Super Mario Land I and II a run-through for old times' sake.

Hm... Ah yes, Kirby's Dream Land I and II, especially II. As well as Kirby's Pinball Land. Also the Pokemon games, if you like good RPGs and don't let the stigma of the franchise scare you away. The black-cartridge Pokemon Pinball is a must-play.

And then of course there's the immortal Tetris.

[oracrest]

Some good games that I know of

Gargoyles Quest - This games is sweet, the predecesor of "Demon's Crest" for SNES. It's set in the same universe as Ghosts and goblins, and you control one of those red demons. Some pretty sweet platforming action.

Super Mario Land - I actually just got this game for the first time a couple weeks back. I played it a lot when I was younger, but never owned it. I like it better than the ones that came after, cause it had something of a minimalist approach to the graphics, it felt "game boy" I guess.

Tetris - I had to. Just a perfect game.

TMNT Fall of the Foot Clan - this was one of my favorites when I first got gameboy, so I don't know how much fun it would be for the first time now, but it has tons of nostalgia value for me.

[SJ Bennighof]

TMNT Fall of the Foot Clan - this was one of my favorites when I first got gameboy, so I don't know how much fun it would be for the first time now, but it has tons of nostalgia value for me.

I used to have that game. I gave it to a friend, but I regretted it. Good game with tons of nostalgia attached.

Oh yeah, and here's a really neat thing about Super Mario Land I: if you can somehow manage to scrounge up an instruction booklet to it, it lists the enemies in the back with Japanese names, not English ones.

[nil]

Thanks for the replies guys. Sounds like there weren't that many great games...I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for those mentioned though. If anyone else has any more to consider, I'll be watching this thread :$

[oracrest]

yeah, not so many good games for just the plain old GB. gameboy color had quite a few good ones though:

Shadowgate
Deja Vu 1 & 2
Metal Gear Solid
Ghosts and Goblins
Kirbys Tilt and Tumble (this game actually responds to the motion of the gameboy, really neat concept)
Legend of Zelda QX or DX or something. basically the same as the GB one, but colored, and I think an added dungeon
Zelda: Seasons
Zelda: Oracles?
Survival Kids (havent actually played this one, but it scored in the 9's)

[SJ Bennighof]

Yeah, Color did have more to offer. None that topped MII in my opinion, but here are some good ones that ora didn't mention:

Wario Land III: one of the best platformers in history
Warlocked: A surprisingly solid and engaging Real Time Strategy, with excellent music
I never played it, but Nintendo Power wouldn't shut up about Shantae, and given that it's a third-party game, it must rock

Oh, and the Oracle games were:

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons

[JoshuaTheJames]

PUZZLE FIGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love that game...

-Joshua

[nil]

So does the GBA take GB/GBC games? I know the cartridges look different, but I've never seen them up close...

[SJ Bennighof]

Yes. GBA is fully backwards-compatible. If you've got the original GBA (the good one) then the larger gray cartridges, black cartridges, and color cartridges all stick out the top. If you've got the GBA SP, the cartridges stick out the bottom.

Oh, and this is vitally important: On the GBA, to experience gray cartridge original Gameboy Games the way they were meant to be seen (that is, in black and white) then press Left+B at the starup screen. I think it's Left+B, anyway. Gives you the original black and white instead of the usually-crappy colorizations.

[oracrest]

Yes. GBA is fully backwards-compatible. If you've got the original GBA (the good one) then the larger gray cartridges, black cartridges, and color cartridges all stick out the top. If you've got the GBA SP, the cartridges stick out the bottom.

Oh, and this is vitally important: On the GBA, to experience gray cartridge original Gameboy Games the way they were meant to be seen (that is, in black and white) then press Left+B at the starup screen. I think it's Left+B, anyway. Gives you the original black and white instead of the usually-crappy colorizations.

yes, one tiny thing to note, if you are ever looking to play kirbys tilt and tumble, this can only be played on a color, or game boy advance (not sp style) system. This is because the cartridges utilizes the motion of the system to determine which direction kirby (who is curled up into a ball) will roll. the tilt the GB right, kirby rolls right, pull up on the system real quick, he jumps. The SP system loads the cartridge from the bottom, so the reaction to the movement input is wrong. the game still works, but probably too akward to play.

[nil]

sounds like I might be buying a GBA... :nohope:

[MuffinMan]

pokemon!

[MuffinMan]

POKEMON!
it's a fine RPG where you get to enslave helpless animals and force them to fight eachother.

[unknown555]

Dude get some nintendo games like mario,zelda and metroid games
By the way u can just get an emulator.
:)

[nil]

Dude get some nintendo games like mario,zelda and metroid games
By the way u can just get an emulator.
:)

yeah, i know. i want portablility though :)

muffinman: giant text will not make me consider pokemon. :nohope: