Bonk's Adventure (Rating: 10/10)
The Bonk series may be more well-known on the TurboGrafx16, but the first game, Bonk's Adventure, was on multiple systems. It was on Game Boy, the NES, the Super Nintendo, arcade, etc. Some of these versions, however, seem to have levels that differ from one another. What's up with that?
The main gameplay is pretty sweet. If you eat a piece of meat, you get powered up a bit, making Bonk look kinda creepy, but at least your hit points don't drain when you get whacked by an enemy. Eating a bigger piece of meat does both power up AND INVINCIBILITY!!! Bonk can also run faster as he is invincible, smashing enemies in sight, Mario-style.
At every end of a round (Except Round 5), there would be a boss. Awesome 8-Bit boss music turns on, and the battle begins. It may seem like a basic fight, but it's possible you may lose a life or two. What I also like about Bonk's Adventure is that when you die, you can just press Start to start up another life at where you had died.
Before reaching the final boss, you have to battle the other four bosses again. Kinda like how Sonic 4 had done it. But that's when I realize the full story. A unicorn (as a princess) has been kidnapped by a dragon named King Drool, and now that dragon is taking over her planet. What the heck...? Isn't Bonk a caveman? And the game would end with the unicorn kissing Bonk, causing him to go nuts like when he collects meat. Isn't Bonk a caveMAN? And the princess is a UNICORN?
Story aside, it's a really great Game Boy game and you should go buy it for your Game Boy, Color, or even Game Boy Advance.
The main gameplay is pretty sweet. If you eat a piece of meat, you get powered up a bit, making Bonk look kinda creepy, but at least your hit points don't drain when you get whacked by an enemy. Eating a bigger piece of meat does both power up AND INVINCIBILITY!!! Bonk can also run faster as he is invincible, smashing enemies in sight, Mario-style.
At every end of a round (Except Round 5), there would be a boss. Awesome 8-Bit boss music turns on, and the battle begins. It may seem like a basic fight, but it's possible you may lose a life or two. What I also like about Bonk's Adventure is that when you die, you can just press Start to start up another life at where you had died.
Before reaching the final boss, you have to battle the other four bosses again. Kinda like how Sonic 4 had done it. But that's when I realize the full story. A unicorn (as a princess) has been kidnapped by a dragon named King Drool, and now that dragon is taking over her planet. What the heck...? Isn't Bonk a caveman? And the game would end with the unicorn kissing Bonk, causing him to go nuts like when he collects meat. Isn't Bonk a caveMAN? And the princess is a UNICORN?
Story aside, it's a really great Game Boy game and you should go buy it for your Game Boy, Color, or even Game Boy Advance.
Bust-A-Move 4 (Rating: 9/10)
Everybody loves a good brain teasing puzzle game. What makes the puzzle game even better is when it's on a handheld system like the Game Boy or the Game Gear. Along with Tetris, Flipull, Puzzle League, etc, Bust-A-Move joins in with it's unique puzzling gameplay on the go. Previously released in arcades, the Playstation, and the Dreamcast, Bust-A-Move 4 is no different from its predecessors, and that's not a bad thing.
Puzzle Mode has you go advance through lots and lots of puzzles, but with an end. In Normal and Expert difficulties, there is a letter pyramid. You start at letter A, having to go all the way to Z or Y. In each letter, you must complete a number of puzzles. In Easy mode, there are only 5 puzzles.
You know the basic gameplay: Shoot colored bubbles into others with the same color. Match them to pop them, and the ones below will drop, too. This addicting premise will keep lots of players hooked as it did for me. It is a clever twist on Bubble Bobble's bubble-shooting platforming gameplay (In case if you didn't already know, the Bust-A-Move series is a spin-off series of Bubble Bobble).
You can also play against a CPU in a Vs Mode. The matches are only sometimes challenging, though, so I'd say this is the weak point of the game.
Challenge Mode is kind of like Puzzle Mode, except that this is just for a high score, although it does have your character travel in numbers 1-5, similarly to the letter pyramid. Even if you lose, however, you still move on. That's how you can tell it's based on scoring rather than progression.
All of these modes are very fun to play (Even the CPU Vs Mode, in a way). Even if you think they wouldn't differ much from each other, that doesn't mean that Bust-A-Move 4 isn't a must-have. After all, it's an extremely addicting puzzle game. If you never owned a handheld version of a Bust-A-Move game, this is one to buy.
Puzzle Mode has you go advance through lots and lots of puzzles, but with an end. In Normal and Expert difficulties, there is a letter pyramid. You start at letter A, having to go all the way to Z or Y. In each letter, you must complete a number of puzzles. In Easy mode, there are only 5 puzzles.
You know the basic gameplay: Shoot colored bubbles into others with the same color. Match them to pop them, and the ones below will drop, too. This addicting premise will keep lots of players hooked as it did for me. It is a clever twist on Bubble Bobble's bubble-shooting platforming gameplay (In case if you didn't already know, the Bust-A-Move series is a spin-off series of Bubble Bobble).
You can also play against a CPU in a Vs Mode. The matches are only sometimes challenging, though, so I'd say this is the weak point of the game.
Challenge Mode is kind of like Puzzle Mode, except that this is just for a high score, although it does have your character travel in numbers 1-5, similarly to the letter pyramid. Even if you lose, however, you still move on. That's how you can tell it's based on scoring rather than progression.
All of these modes are very fun to play (Even the CPU Vs Mode, in a way). Even if you think they wouldn't differ much from each other, that doesn't mean that Bust-A-Move 4 isn't a must-have. After all, it's an extremely addicting puzzle game. If you never owned a handheld version of a Bust-A-Move game, this is one to buy.
Centipede (Rating: 9/10)
Centipede was one of those arcade shooting games in which you just have you think to yourself, "Oh, man! I gotta play this game!" And then as you play it, you wouldn't stop. You just want to keep shooting at the strolling centipedes and spiders. Then, once you get a Game Over, you'd pop in some more quarters, wanting to keep playing.
This Game Boy version is just as great as the arcade game. And of course: You don't have to spend truckloads of quarters.
What's even better about this version is the multiple multiplayer modes. There's Alternative, Competitive, and even Co-op! The only drawback, though: Name one person who has a Game Boy/Color and a Link Cable to go with it. If you do manage to find such a person, however, you'll have a blast with him/her in this game.
I thoroughly recommend you buy this, especially if you're a die-hard arcade fan.
This Game Boy version is just as great as the arcade game. And of course: You don't have to spend truckloads of quarters.
What's even better about this version is the multiple multiplayer modes. There's Alternative, Competitive, and even Co-op! The only drawback, though: Name one person who has a Game Boy/Color and a Link Cable to go with it. If you do manage to find such a person, however, you'll have a blast with him/her in this game.
I thoroughly recommend you buy this, especially if you're a die-hard arcade fan.
Donkey Kong (Rating: 10/10)
Remember back in the arcades when Donkey Kong was an incredible hit? And then every game system back then got their own version of the game? Well it has been 13 years after the arcade game's release, and Nintendo was developing a new version of the game for Game Boy. At first glance you'd probably think: "Donkey Kong's already been released on several classic consoles already. So what's the point this one?" But if you look at the game itself, you'd go buy it already.
Donkey Kong has 3 save files. When you start the game, you get to play through the 4 levels of the arcade game. But after beating Donkey Kong in the level with the disappearing yellow platforms, you saved Pauline, right? WRONG! When I saw DK get back up, capture Pauline, and run, I was amazed, and my mouth dropped. Mario was running after the big age. And now the real game starts.
The main gameplay has Mario go fetch a key and then use the key to open up a locked door to move on. The levels are clever, fun to play, and just downright cool. In fact, Mario can use acrobatic skills to help him through the levels. He can somersault, flip, and perform handstand jumps.
Later, Donkey Kong Jr. comes into the scene and helps out his daddy.
The graphics are great, especially when played on the Super Game Boy. With the Super Game Boy, there's a border around the game that makes it look like it's on a Donkey Kong arcade machine. The graphics also shine during the final boss: Giant DK. He looks very cartoonish, but that is how the game is supposed to be: Cartoony and fun. Exercising, somersaulting Mario vs a huge King Kong-sized DK on top of a big building!
The music and sounds are also very good. The tunes are memorable and who doesn't love the sound of collecting 1ups?
Overall, this game is truly amazing and it's also one of the Game Boy's best.
Donkey Kong has 3 save files. When you start the game, you get to play through the 4 levels of the arcade game. But after beating Donkey Kong in the level with the disappearing yellow platforms, you saved Pauline, right? WRONG! When I saw DK get back up, capture Pauline, and run, I was amazed, and my mouth dropped. Mario was running after the big age. And now the real game starts.
The main gameplay has Mario go fetch a key and then use the key to open up a locked door to move on. The levels are clever, fun to play, and just downright cool. In fact, Mario can use acrobatic skills to help him through the levels. He can somersault, flip, and perform handstand jumps.
Later, Donkey Kong Jr. comes into the scene and helps out his daddy.
The graphics are great, especially when played on the Super Game Boy. With the Super Game Boy, there's a border around the game that makes it look like it's on a Donkey Kong arcade machine. The graphics also shine during the final boss: Giant DK. He looks very cartoonish, but that is how the game is supposed to be: Cartoony and fun. Exercising, somersaulting Mario vs a huge King Kong-sized DK on top of a big building!
The music and sounds are also very good. The tunes are memorable and who doesn't love the sound of collecting 1ups?
Overall, this game is truly amazing and it's also one of the Game Boy's best.
Donkey Kong Country (Rating: 10/10)
In a world where there were CDs, companies like Sega and 3DO had tried to capitalize on the concept of playing video games on a CD, giving the games enhanced graphics and sound. There is one company, however, named Nintendo, and it created Donkey Kong Country. Donkey Kong Country was a game that proved that you don't need CD-based technology to make games with flashy graphics. You just need to put in effort to fit it to your console. And years went by, it was ported to the 8-Bit Game Boy Color. Did it make the transition well? Well, the Donkey Kong Land games were great, so maybe this one would be good.
DKC's graphics were incredible on the Super Nintendo. The game almost looked like the characters came from a CGI movie. At least, at its time. Even the backgrounds had tons of details and neat movements. Here, on the Game Boy Color, the graphics are still very colorful and greatly detailed.
The sounds and music were memorable. Even when you defeat a Kremling (alligator enemy), his voice effect when he dies will always be remembered for a long time. As for the music, well, you can never go wrong with the sweet beats of Kongo Jungle and the King K. Rool boss battle.
The game is one of those games that show the characters on a map before actually going into the levels. Once you go to a level, you're gonna be expecting barrel-blasting, Kremling-smashing, animal-romping fun! There is a lot to do in Donkey Kong Country. As a platformer, it doesn't disappoint with its gameplay. You can even find and play as an Animal Buddy, like a rhino or an ostrich. Rhinos can knock everybody out of its way, while the Ostrich guides you safely across the level. It can also float in the air like Racoon Mario in Super Mario Bros 3. The entire game is a bunch of fun.
Unlike the original Super Nintendo version, this game can save anytime. So where does that lead Candy's Save Point to? It just so turns out that it became a bonus game area. Thank god you can now autosave. I kinda don't like having to struggle through a level just to get to the save point. Either I have to reach there or lose all of my lives. Now that that's out of the way, I can save the trouble for hard levels easily.
Overall, this is a really great Game Boy Color game. It's WELL worth the money.
DKC's graphics were incredible on the Super Nintendo. The game almost looked like the characters came from a CGI movie. At least, at its time. Even the backgrounds had tons of details and neat movements. Here, on the Game Boy Color, the graphics are still very colorful and greatly detailed.
The sounds and music were memorable. Even when you defeat a Kremling (alligator enemy), his voice effect when he dies will always be remembered for a long time. As for the music, well, you can never go wrong with the sweet beats of Kongo Jungle and the King K. Rool boss battle.
The game is one of those games that show the characters on a map before actually going into the levels. Once you go to a level, you're gonna be expecting barrel-blasting, Kremling-smashing, animal-romping fun! There is a lot to do in Donkey Kong Country. As a platformer, it doesn't disappoint with its gameplay. You can even find and play as an Animal Buddy, like a rhino or an ostrich. Rhinos can knock everybody out of its way, while the Ostrich guides you safely across the level. It can also float in the air like Racoon Mario in Super Mario Bros 3. The entire game is a bunch of fun.
Unlike the original Super Nintendo version, this game can save anytime. So where does that lead Candy's Save Point to? It just so turns out that it became a bonus game area. Thank god you can now autosave. I kinda don't like having to struggle through a level just to get to the save point. Either I have to reach there or lose all of my lives. Now that that's out of the way, I can save the trouble for hard levels easily.
Overall, this is a really great Game Boy Color game. It's WELL worth the money.
Donkey Kong Land (Rating: 9/10)
In a world where there were CDs, companies like Sega and 3DO had tried to capitalize on the concept of playing video games on a CD, giving the games enhanced graphics and sound. There is one company, however, named Nintendo, and it created Donkey Kong Country. Donkey Kong Country was a game that proved that you don't need CD-based technology to make games with flashy graphics. You just need to put in effort to fit it to your console. How will that work on 8-Bit systems, though?
Fans often overlook this as a remake of Donkey Kong Country. Unfortunately for them, they are missing out, as this is actually a sequel. The gameplay and graphics are the same as the SNES game, but the levels and worlds are different. Is the story the same? No. In fact, the story is about, according the manual, DKC's success. Cranky Kong claims that the game only sold well because of the game's "fancy graphics" and that "kids would buy anything these days". A funny story to a satisfying game.
Actually, the graphics are eye-popping on the old-school Game Boy. Even if the characters blend in the backgrounds a little, playing the game on a Game Boy Color or Advance helps them stand out better.
The sounds and music were memorable. You can never go wrong with the sweet beats of Kongo Jungle. Now that it's composed in 8-Bit, it would appeal to NES fans as well.
The game is one of those games that show the characters on a map before actually going into the levels. Once you go to a level, you're gonna be expecting barrel-blasting, Kremling-smashing, animal-romping fun! As a platformer, it doesn't disappoint with its gameplay. You can even ride atop an Animal Buddy, like a rhino or an ostrich. Rhinos can knock everybody out of its way, while the Ostrich guides you safely across the level, though it also kills enemies. It can also float in the air like Racoon Mario in Super Mario Bros 3.
One thing I gotta point out is that there is no Candy's Save Point in this game. Instead, you'd be able to save your progress by collecting the K-O-N-G letters in a level.
The whole game is just a lot of fun, and I'd continue playing it ever after beating it.
Overall, this is a really great Game Boy game. You should get it for any Game Boy system you have.
Fans often overlook this as a remake of Donkey Kong Country. Unfortunately for them, they are missing out, as this is actually a sequel. The gameplay and graphics are the same as the SNES game, but the levels and worlds are different. Is the story the same? No. In fact, the story is about, according the manual, DKC's success. Cranky Kong claims that the game only sold well because of the game's "fancy graphics" and that "kids would buy anything these days". A funny story to a satisfying game.
Actually, the graphics are eye-popping on the old-school Game Boy. Even if the characters blend in the backgrounds a little, playing the game on a Game Boy Color or Advance helps them stand out better.
The sounds and music were memorable. You can never go wrong with the sweet beats of Kongo Jungle. Now that it's composed in 8-Bit, it would appeal to NES fans as well.
The game is one of those games that show the characters on a map before actually going into the levels. Once you go to a level, you're gonna be expecting barrel-blasting, Kremling-smashing, animal-romping fun! As a platformer, it doesn't disappoint with its gameplay. You can even ride atop an Animal Buddy, like a rhino or an ostrich. Rhinos can knock everybody out of its way, while the Ostrich guides you safely across the level, though it also kills enemies. It can also float in the air like Racoon Mario in Super Mario Bros 3.
One thing I gotta point out is that there is no Candy's Save Point in this game. Instead, you'd be able to save your progress by collecting the K-O-N-G letters in a level.
The whole game is just a lot of fun, and I'd continue playing it ever after beating it.
Overall, this is a really great Game Boy game. You should get it for any Game Boy system you have.
Frogger (Rating: 5/10)
Frogger is another one of those classic arcade games that any gamer should jump into. Whether it's on the old-school Atari 2600, or in one of the many game collections being released in recent times, Frogger is a game that should have been played at least once in one's lifetime.
This Game Boy version, however, isn't all that amazing. The graphics look very shrunken down, with the color just looking odd, and the catchy music of the original seems to be nearly absent, as the first few notes only play as intro music. Otherwise, it's still that arcade classic on the go.
But honestly, there are much better versions or games of Frogger. The Sega Genesis version is EXACTLY like the arcade game (Everything's untouched), and the Playstation version is a whole adventure, but stays true to the classic gameplay. Speaking of which, Frogger 2 is the best pick for Frogger on the go. See my review for that one.
This Game Boy version, however, isn't all that amazing. The graphics look very shrunken down, with the color just looking odd, and the catchy music of the original seems to be nearly absent, as the first few notes only play as intro music. Otherwise, it's still that arcade classic on the go.
But honestly, there are much better versions or games of Frogger. The Sega Genesis version is EXACTLY like the arcade game (Everything's untouched), and the Playstation version is a whole adventure, but stays true to the classic gameplay. Speaking of which, Frogger 2 is the best pick for Frogger on the go. See my review for that one.
Frogger 2 (Rating: 9/10)
Many people should remember Frogger back in the day. It was a simple traffic-dodger starring an ordinary frog who wants to hop across the roads. Frogger 2, released 18 years later, stayed true to the addicting gameplay, but also added in cooler elements.
There are 5 worlds in the game, with 7 levels in each (except the last one, which has 4). Each world seems to have unique gimmicks that make them stand out from each other. The first world has the classic traffic dodging that everybody should be familiar with, but then as the game progresses, there are newer patterns, as well as different obstacles to avoid.
That makes the game a lot more fun in a way. And while all of these improvements to the gameplay take major effect, the game still sticks with Frogger's classic gameplay, as I already mentioned before. For some reason, there are also Guest and Visit Level modes.
The Guest mode just has less features of what's included in save files. The Visit Level mode lets you...visit a level you already finished before. While I don't really know why there's a Visit Level mode, I just assume that...it's probably a Time Attack mode or something.
But anyway, this is a must-have for the Game Boy Color, especially if you like the Frogger arcade game.
There are 5 worlds in the game, with 7 levels in each (except the last one, which has 4). Each world seems to have unique gimmicks that make them stand out from each other. The first world has the classic traffic dodging that everybody should be familiar with, but then as the game progresses, there are newer patterns, as well as different obstacles to avoid.
That makes the game a lot more fun in a way. And while all of these improvements to the gameplay take major effect, the game still sticks with Frogger's classic gameplay, as I already mentioned before. For some reason, there are also Guest and Visit Level modes.
The Guest mode just has less features of what's included in save files. The Visit Level mode lets you...visit a level you already finished before. While I don't really know why there's a Visit Level mode, I just assume that...it's probably a Time Attack mode or something.
But anyway, this is a must-have for the Game Boy Color, especially if you like the Frogger arcade game.
Golf (Rating: 7/10)
If you have played Golf before, then you know what to expect: 18 holes, swing at the ball, aim for the hole. There are two courses to choose from: US Course and Japan Course. The holes would take place in, obviously, America or Japan.
The one problem I have with this game is that it can be difficult to get a Par or anything above that point. It's still just as fun to play as real golf, though. There are different clubs to choose from, and the holes are well-designed, despite the difficulty getting a Par and above.
Not only is this Golf, but it's Golf on the go. You can play through the 18 holes in the US and Japan courses while in the car. Meanwhile, several other golf games pop up over the years. This is still one golf game you should try out, though. I really have nothing else to say. All I can say now is: It's golf, and golf is a good sport.
The one problem I have with this game is that it can be difficult to get a Par or anything above that point. It's still just as fun to play as real golf, though. There are different clubs to choose from, and the holes are well-designed, despite the difficulty getting a Par and above.
Not only is this Golf, but it's Golf on the go. You can play through the 18 holes in the US and Japan courses while in the car. Meanwhile, several other golf games pop up over the years. This is still one golf game you should try out, though. I really have nothing else to say. All I can say now is: It's golf, and golf is a good sport.
Kirby's Dream Land (Rating: 9/10)
I was actually trying to go and get this earlier, but I used up my Amazon money for other games and stuff. And now that it's 3DS e-Shop re-release is available on Club Nintendo for only 100 coins (If you don't know about Club Nintendo, I suggest you join and see what it's about. It's a great service), I was able to go and nab this classic at ease.
So, Kirby is known as a pink blob that sucks things up and copies enemy abilities, right? Well, here, since it IS the first Kirby game, you don't get to obtain enemy powers whatsoever. You'll be happy to know, however, that it doesn't affect the platforming experience badly at all. In fact, Kirby's Dream Land as a whole is spectacular.
The graphics are some of the best I've ever seen on a Game Boy game, and the music is very upbeat and fun to listen to. To top it all off, the gameplay is thrilling. It's unlike what you've dealt with in other Nintendo classics like Mario. Not only do you run and jump, but you can eat enemies, and spit them out at others! Oh, and you can fly! There are also some cool gimmicks, like shooting fire after collecting SuperSpicey Curry for a short period of time, and being able to fly and shoot out puff clouds during one of the bosses, in a similar fashion to shooters like Gradius.
The only issue with this game is that it is pretty short. There are only 5 levels, with the 5th level being composed of bosses that you've previously fought, as well as King Dedede, the final boss. But just because a game is short doesn't mean it's bad. And this game is excellent.
Unlike Kirby 64 and Kirby's Dream Land 3, this game is not totally easy, as there's surprisingly a bit of challenge here. Plus, the music sounds best here.
Anyways, if you happen to own a Game Boy, a GB Color, or a GB Advance, this is definitely one game to play. Heck, you should buy it on the e-Shop for your Nintendo 3DS (If you own one), or go to Club Nintendo and get this without using actual money (Though this offer will last until the 31st)!
So, Kirby is known as a pink blob that sucks things up and copies enemy abilities, right? Well, here, since it IS the first Kirby game, you don't get to obtain enemy powers whatsoever. You'll be happy to know, however, that it doesn't affect the platforming experience badly at all. In fact, Kirby's Dream Land as a whole is spectacular.
The graphics are some of the best I've ever seen on a Game Boy game, and the music is very upbeat and fun to listen to. To top it all off, the gameplay is thrilling. It's unlike what you've dealt with in other Nintendo classics like Mario. Not only do you run and jump, but you can eat enemies, and spit them out at others! Oh, and you can fly! There are also some cool gimmicks, like shooting fire after collecting SuperSpicey Curry for a short period of time, and being able to fly and shoot out puff clouds during one of the bosses, in a similar fashion to shooters like Gradius.
The only issue with this game is that it is pretty short. There are only 5 levels, with the 5th level being composed of bosses that you've previously fought, as well as King Dedede, the final boss. But just because a game is short doesn't mean it's bad. And this game is excellent.
Unlike Kirby 64 and Kirby's Dream Land 3, this game is not totally easy, as there's surprisingly a bit of challenge here. Plus, the music sounds best here.
Anyways, if you happen to own a Game Boy, a GB Color, or a GB Advance, this is definitely one game to play. Heck, you should buy it on the e-Shop for your Nintendo 3DS (If you own one), or go to Club Nintendo and get this without using actual money (Though this offer will last until the 31st)!
Mega Man (Rating: 10/10)
As any Capcom guy would know, MegaMan is the hardest game series the company had ever created. Ever since the original NES version, it was hard. But it was still a great game. The Game Boy version, released after the NES sequel, was no exception.
The Game Boy's smaller screen caused some slight changes to the formula. For example, MegaMan seems to have slightly less HP than in the NES games. However, there's less in the game's layout, too. So it kinda evens out.
The sounds and music are also sounding different. Well, the music is carried over from MegaMan on the NES, but different 8-Bit instruments are used. Some sound effects are totally different, such as the Mega Buster sounds.
The game has 4 robot masters compared to the NES game's 6. Even though the game is easier than the NES games, it's still pretty hard for people that aren't hardcore MegaMan fans. If you are one of those people, it'll take a while to get past all the robot masters and reach Dr. Wily. The precise controls, the tricky pathways, and difficult situations are all present. Fortunately, once you reach a robot master, it's possible you may beat him right away, or you lose a life or two and THEN beat him.
The downside to the bosses is the weaknesses. They are off. For example, when I tried fighting Iceman, I used Fireman's power (Reasonable, right?), but it didn't do a whole lot of damage. Then I tried Elecman's power, and it took him out in 3 or 4 hits. (Edit: Never mind. This isn't actually an error.)
In Dr. Wily's stage, things are just plain unforgiving the first time you play through it (Thank god for Passwords). There will be spikes in places you least expect, traps that seal you to your doom, etc. Also, before you fight Dr. Wily, you must battle 4 MORE robots from MegaMan 2 (NES game)! Be sure to get your powers ready, because you're in for a short marathon.
But after this, you go through one last level. Then, you reach Dr. Wily at last, who is actually pretty easy once you get this pattern down: Use Quickman's power to shoot off the his robot's mouth, and then use the Energy Buster to reflect Wily's lasers, while avoiding a robo-claw that reaches for you.
All of these events are packed into 6 levels of run 'n gun fun. Yeah, it's possible you can beat this game in 20-30 minutes, but at least you will have fun doing it.
Overall, this is a really great game for the classic Game Boy. If you have a Game Boy, a Game Boy Color, or even a Game Boy Advance, itching for some classic MegaMan action, this is the game for you. If you are new to MegaMan, this should be a good place to start (Other than the Game Boy sequel, MegaMan II).
The Game Boy's smaller screen caused some slight changes to the formula. For example, MegaMan seems to have slightly less HP than in the NES games. However, there's less in the game's layout, too. So it kinda evens out.
The sounds and music are also sounding different. Well, the music is carried over from MegaMan on the NES, but different 8-Bit instruments are used. Some sound effects are totally different, such as the Mega Buster sounds.
The game has 4 robot masters compared to the NES game's 6. Even though the game is easier than the NES games, it's still pretty hard for people that aren't hardcore MegaMan fans. If you are one of those people, it'll take a while to get past all the robot masters and reach Dr. Wily. The precise controls, the tricky pathways, and difficult situations are all present. Fortunately, once you reach a robot master, it's possible you may beat him right away, or you lose a life or two and THEN beat him.
The downside to the bosses is the weaknesses. They are off. For example, when I tried fighting Iceman, I used Fireman's power (Reasonable, right?), but it didn't do a whole lot of damage. Then I tried Elecman's power, and it took him out in 3 or 4 hits. (Edit: Never mind. This isn't actually an error.)
In Dr. Wily's stage, things are just plain unforgiving the first time you play through it (Thank god for Passwords). There will be spikes in places you least expect, traps that seal you to your doom, etc. Also, before you fight Dr. Wily, you must battle 4 MORE robots from MegaMan 2 (NES game)! Be sure to get your powers ready, because you're in for a short marathon.
But after this, you go through one last level. Then, you reach Dr. Wily at last, who is actually pretty easy once you get this pattern down: Use Quickman's power to shoot off the his robot's mouth, and then use the Energy Buster to reflect Wily's lasers, while avoiding a robo-claw that reaches for you.
All of these events are packed into 6 levels of run 'n gun fun. Yeah, it's possible you can beat this game in 20-30 minutes, but at least you will have fun doing it.
Overall, this is a really great game for the classic Game Boy. If you have a Game Boy, a Game Boy Color, or even a Game Boy Advance, itching for some classic MegaMan action, this is the game for you. If you are new to MegaMan, this should be a good place to start (Other than the Game Boy sequel, MegaMan II).
Mega Man 2 (Rating: 8/10)
MegaMan has it all: Precise controls, catchy tunes, amazing graphics, and incredible gameplay. That has been spread across the 10 games in the classic console series, and the 5 games in the classic handheld series. So what is the deal with MegaMan II for the Game Boy?
Well, it's supposed to be a version of MegaMan 2 for the NES. As the game starts, there are only 4 robot masters to encounter (Wood Man, Air Man, Crash Man, and Metal Man). This is because of cartridge limits, but when you play the first game on Game Boy and get to the Dr. Wily Teleport System, that part actually has you fight the other 4 robot masters from MegaMan 2. So what's in this game's Teleport System? Well, since this part is at the near-end of the game, I'll tell you further in this review.
Anyways, the game is just as fun as all the other MegaMan games. The controls are still precise, the graphics are excellent, and the gameplay is spot-on. While it is supposed to be a version of MegaMan 2, however, the level layouts are different, and the music is nothing similar to the original (In fact, it's rather poor compared to the other games, but still somewhat catchy....). Nevertheless, the game gives you that sweet and familiar MegaMan 2 feel as you play through the respective robot masters' stages.....until you get to Dr. Wily's castle.
Once you reach Dr. Wily's castle, that mad scientist throws MegaMan into a trap. That trap is the Teleport System. There are 4 teleports, right? Well, that means that there are 4 more robot masters (taken from MegaMan 3) that you must fight. However, in the first game, you just fight them. In this game, you actually have to play through their stages! So, I think it's safe to say you're no longer playing MegaMan 2. You're playing a fraction of MegaMan 3!
After defeating those robots, you then play through Dr. Wily's stage. Challenging? Well, it may take trial and error for a part or two, but let's hope you still have Energy Tanks. The final boss will require you to use some as your health bar may deplete during the battle.
Overall, this is a great game that I recommend any MegaMan to purchase. Plus, the difficulty is more fair here than in other MegaMan games, so new MegaMan players should start here. Buy this game for your Game Boy, Color, or even Advance!
Well, it's supposed to be a version of MegaMan 2 for the NES. As the game starts, there are only 4 robot masters to encounter (Wood Man, Air Man, Crash Man, and Metal Man). This is because of cartridge limits, but when you play the first game on Game Boy and get to the Dr. Wily Teleport System, that part actually has you fight the other 4 robot masters from MegaMan 2. So what's in this game's Teleport System? Well, since this part is at the near-end of the game, I'll tell you further in this review.
Anyways, the game is just as fun as all the other MegaMan games. The controls are still precise, the graphics are excellent, and the gameplay is spot-on. While it is supposed to be a version of MegaMan 2, however, the level layouts are different, and the music is nothing similar to the original (In fact, it's rather poor compared to the other games, but still somewhat catchy....). Nevertheless, the game gives you that sweet and familiar MegaMan 2 feel as you play through the respective robot masters' stages.....until you get to Dr. Wily's castle.
Once you reach Dr. Wily's castle, that mad scientist throws MegaMan into a trap. That trap is the Teleport System. There are 4 teleports, right? Well, that means that there are 4 more robot masters (taken from MegaMan 3) that you must fight. However, in the first game, you just fight them. In this game, you actually have to play through their stages! So, I think it's safe to say you're no longer playing MegaMan 2. You're playing a fraction of MegaMan 3!
After defeating those robots, you then play through Dr. Wily's stage. Challenging? Well, it may take trial and error for a part or two, but let's hope you still have Energy Tanks. The final boss will require you to use some as your health bar may deplete during the battle.
Overall, this is a great game that I recommend any MegaMan to purchase. Plus, the difficulty is more fair here than in other MegaMan games, so new MegaMan players should start here. Buy this game for your Game Boy, Color, or even Advance!
Mortal Kombat (Rating: 3/10)
Mortal Kombat dominated arcades and home consoles worldwide, but did it dominate handhelds? No. No it did not. The Game Gear version was fairly good, but the Game Boy port suffered from really slow gameplay, dull music, and no sound effects. The graphics were okay, but it didn't help keep the Game Boy version from getting a fatality.
This is possibly the worst Mortal Kombat game.
This is possibly the worst Mortal Kombat game.
Mortal Kombat 2 (Rating: 8/10)
Mortal Kombat II was always known as the pinnacle of the long-running series (To think Mortal Kombat 9 is coming). While MK2 dominated arcades and home consoles once again, the question is: Did it do well on Game Boy? It wasn't probably sold as much as the game's console cousins, but the game was great.
You choose your character (out of 8) and fight 10 other fighters, each with their own abilities. This goes for all of the Mortal Kombat games (Not in these specific #s though). The gameplay is pure arcade fighting on the go. The graphics are awesome, and the sounds/music were great.
The downside, however, is the fact that there are only a few arenas in this port. Plus, the game could be beaten in about 10 minutes or so. But, is it worth replaying? Yes. It truly is. MK2 is probably the best of the Game Boy Mortal Kombats.
You choose your character (out of 8) and fight 10 other fighters, each with their own abilities. This goes for all of the Mortal Kombat games (Not in these specific #s though). The gameplay is pure arcade fighting on the go. The graphics are awesome, and the sounds/music were great.
The downside, however, is the fact that there are only a few arenas in this port. Plus, the game could be beaten in about 10 minutes or so. But, is it worth replaying? Yes. It truly is. MK2 is probably the best of the Game Boy Mortal Kombats.
Mortal Kombat 3 (Rating: 4/10)
To start off this review, let me tell you that I bought Mortal Kombat 4 for the Game Boy before 3. It had lousy AI, good graphics, bland music, semi-unresponsive controls, and 3 difficulty modes: Novice, Warrior, and Master. But, it was good enough to get 3 stars.
What I found to be strange was that Mortal Kombat 3 on the Game Boy had several similarities to 4. The only differences are: Different characters and setting, badder music, and the controls a bit more unresponsive. Everything else seems to be the same. It's not like it's a direct sequel, is it? I mean, the MegaMan series always had the same gameplay sequel after sequel. But I don't recall Mortal Kombat series having the almost exact same things.
The graphics are good. The characters are digitized, like how they were in the previous games.
The gameplay, however, can be unresponsive.
Like all other Game Boy Mortal Kombats, this game would be short. You only get to fight 9 characters in Master mode, 7 in Warrior, and 5 in Novice.
The best attack to use is just kicking. That's kinda sad. Usually, the uppercut would be the best standard attack to use, but no. Instead, it's KICKING.
However, even after all this, it would manage to have some appeal.
Overall, buy MK2 instead.
What I found to be strange was that Mortal Kombat 3 on the Game Boy had several similarities to 4. The only differences are: Different characters and setting, badder music, and the controls a bit more unresponsive. Everything else seems to be the same. It's not like it's a direct sequel, is it? I mean, the MegaMan series always had the same gameplay sequel after sequel. But I don't recall Mortal Kombat series having the almost exact same things.
The graphics are good. The characters are digitized, like how they were in the previous games.
The gameplay, however, can be unresponsive.
Like all other Game Boy Mortal Kombats, this game would be short. You only get to fight 9 characters in Master mode, 7 in Warrior, and 5 in Novice.
The best attack to use is just kicking. That's kinda sad. Usually, the uppercut would be the best standard attack to use, but no. Instead, it's KICKING.
However, even after all this, it would manage to have some appeal.
Overall, buy MK2 instead.
Mortal Kombat 4 (Rating: 4/10)
Mortal Kombat 4 is the first 3D game of the series. Despite that, the Game Boy version is still 2D.
The graphics are good. The characters are digitized, like how they were in the previous games.
The gameplay, however, can be unresponsive.
Like all other Game Boy Mortal Kombats, this game would be short. You only get to fight 9 characters in Master mode, 7 in Warrior, and 5 in Novice.
The best attack to use is just kicking. That's kinda sad. Usually, the uppercut would be the best standard attack to use, but no. Instead, it's KICKING.
The enemy AI is way too easy to beat. I got through Master mode without any trouble. Granted, they can attack almost decently, but just throw 5 kicks and then it's possible he/she'd die. It can be glitchy when it comes to fighting Scorpion and Shinnok. You can still attack them even while they use their "Get over here" attacks on you. It doesn't look like you are, but then you see the enemy's HP draining. If you attack them by just mashing A repeatedly, and kill them, you somehow use your fatality.
For some reason, I just manage to get addicted to this game. I don't know how, but I just ended up like that.
There are a couple special stuff in the game when played on the Super Game Boy:
-Special and cool-looking 16-Bit border
-Colors change every screen to appropriate colors
When played on the Game Boy Color, the colors make very detailed backgrounds.
Overall, buy MK2 instead.
The graphics are good. The characters are digitized, like how they were in the previous games.
The gameplay, however, can be unresponsive.
Like all other Game Boy Mortal Kombats, this game would be short. You only get to fight 9 characters in Master mode, 7 in Warrior, and 5 in Novice.
The best attack to use is just kicking. That's kinda sad. Usually, the uppercut would be the best standard attack to use, but no. Instead, it's KICKING.
The enemy AI is way too easy to beat. I got through Master mode without any trouble. Granted, they can attack almost decently, but just throw 5 kicks and then it's possible he/she'd die. It can be glitchy when it comes to fighting Scorpion and Shinnok. You can still attack them even while they use their "Get over here" attacks on you. It doesn't look like you are, but then you see the enemy's HP draining. If you attack them by just mashing A repeatedly, and kill them, you somehow use your fatality.
For some reason, I just manage to get addicted to this game. I don't know how, but I just ended up like that.
There are a couple special stuff in the game when played on the Super Game Boy:
-Special and cool-looking 16-Bit border
-Colors change every screen to appropriate colors
When played on the Game Boy Color, the colors make very detailed backgrounds.
Overall, buy MK2 instead.
Mr. Driller (Rating: 8/10)
Mr. Driller...Just when you think you can't do anything more with colorful blocks, this game comes in and combines Dig Dug gameplay with puzzlers. Of course, this game is too awesome to be just in arcades, so it went to Playstation, Dreamcast, and Game Boy Color.
There are 3 different game modes: An Easy mode, having you dig down to 2500 feet. The Hard mode pits you against 5000 ft. Lastly, there's the Survival Mode, with is an endless mode, seeing how many ft you can venture through.
The gameplay is pretty straightforward, yet very addicting. Basically, you just have to drill down the colorful blocks. Of course, you'd have to look out for any blocks that may possibly fall on you? Is that all? Nope. You also have to keep track of the amount of Air you have, so you'll constantly have to fill it up a bit by finding capsules. Seems like this whole paragraph may be a little much to describe the game, but once you jump into it, you'll see how simple and fun it can all be.
The graphics are amazing. They are some of the best non-pre-rendered visuals I've seen on the Game Boy Color. The music on the other hand....Is why this is rated 4 stars instead of 5. You see, the music is just bland. It doesn't help when you have to listen to a few of these tracks as you play through the game. I guess the music's like this on the Game Boy Color and not arcade/Playstation but JEEZ. Otherwise, definitely pick this one up.
There are 3 different game modes: An Easy mode, having you dig down to 2500 feet. The Hard mode pits you against 5000 ft. Lastly, there's the Survival Mode, with is an endless mode, seeing how many ft you can venture through.
The gameplay is pretty straightforward, yet very addicting. Basically, you just have to drill down the colorful blocks. Of course, you'd have to look out for any blocks that may possibly fall on you? Is that all? Nope. You also have to keep track of the amount of Air you have, so you'll constantly have to fill it up a bit by finding capsules. Seems like this whole paragraph may be a little much to describe the game, but once you jump into it, you'll see how simple and fun it can all be.
The graphics are amazing. They are some of the best non-pre-rendered visuals I've seen on the Game Boy Color. The music on the other hand....Is why this is rated 4 stars instead of 5. You see, the music is just bland. It doesn't help when you have to listen to a few of these tracks as you play through the game. I guess the music's like this on the Game Boy Color and not arcade/Playstation but JEEZ. Otherwise, definitely pick this one up.
Pac-Man (Rating: 8/10)
When it comes to talking about Pac-Man for the Game Boy, there's nothing I can actually say that isn't already said by other reviewers. It's classic arcade Pac-Man on the go, wherever you are. It's certainly not a bad deal at all.
One problem, however, is...well....There's another release of this version of the game for the Game Boy, but with an added game: Super Nintendo puzzle game Pac-Attack. Not only that, but that release also has both games played in full color when playing it on a Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance.
http://www.amazon.com/Pac-Man-Special-Color-Game-Boy/dp/B00000K1XF/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
So I can't really say I wholly recommend this one, considering there's that other release for the same system.
One problem, however, is...well....There's another release of this version of the game for the Game Boy, but with an added game: Super Nintendo puzzle game Pac-Attack. Not only that, but that release also has both games played in full color when playing it on a Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance.
http://www.amazon.com/Pac-Man-Special-Color-Game-Boy/dp/B00000K1XF/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
So I can't really say I wholly recommend this one, considering there's that other release for the same system.
Pac-Man: Special Color Edition (Rating: 9/10)
The iconic yellow muncher has made a second leap to Game Boy, but with a lesser-known great by its side: Pac-Attack.
Pac-Man is that fun and addicting arcade game you'd play at your local video arcade.
Eat the dots, munch the ghosts, finish the mazes, you know the drill!
Pac-Attack is a Tetris-inspired puzzle game where, after certain blocks, you must guide Pac-Man to where there's a line of ghosts to eat up. You can also clear lines like in Tetris. There's also a Puzzle Mode where you HAVE to eat all the ghosts. If Pac-Man misses, one Pac-Man is docked off. You would normally start with 3 per level (Or is it 5?).
Overall, I recommend you get this portable classic.
Pac-Man is that fun and addicting arcade game you'd play at your local video arcade.
Eat the dots, munch the ghosts, finish the mazes, you know the drill!
Pac-Attack is a Tetris-inspired puzzle game where, after certain blocks, you must guide Pac-Man to where there's a line of ghosts to eat up. You can also clear lines like in Tetris. There's also a Puzzle Mode where you HAVE to eat all the ghosts. If Pac-Man misses, one Pac-Man is docked off. You would normally start with 3 per level (Or is it 5?).
Overall, I recommend you get this portable classic.
Rayman (Rating: 10/10)
Rayman is FUN! The original Playstation game featured fabulous graphics and gameplay alike. Rayman is more than just an average platformer. Rayman introduces cool play mechanics that will keep you playing. Rayman actually THROWS his FISTS at his enemies! He also swings across purple hoop-shaped Lums.
This limbless wonder has everything that makes a great platformer....great. But all that was on the Playstation, the Jaguar, the Saturn, and the PC. How does the awesomism hold up on the Game Boy Color, an 8-Bit handheld?
Well, when you boot up the game, you get the BEST 10 SECONDS EVER ON GAME BOY COLOR! I mean, seriously! It's pre-rendered 3D animation that looks like a cartoon-y CGI-movie intro! Only the Rayman games have done this on Game Boy Color!
Now for the main game.
The game is actually very good. Although the levels are different, the basic gameplay is the same and is already very fun to play with. You can still hover with Rayman's hair , throw his fists, and swing across purple Lums, just like in the original game. But also like the original, you get these powers later on. What isn't like the original, however, is the entire setting. Sure, the story is faithful, but the worlds and levels are NOT from the original game. Instead, the game is made up of all of these new unfamiliar worlds that will get your Rayman juices pumping.
Note that the music is actually from Rayman 2. I understand that the Game Boy Color game was released after Rayman 2 was created for the Nintendo 64, Playstation, and Dreamcast.....but why does this Rayman have to use Rayman 2's soundtrack? And, of course, the tunes are in 8-Bit, but they're still somewhat nice to listen to.
The graphics are still very shockingly amazing to look at. It seems like as if Ubisoft put in a bunch of effort just to animate Rayman himself correctly. The environments and everything else are just as gorgeous.
So overall, this is a great game, even on the 8-Bit Game Boy Color, and I suggest you should purchase this. Even you already own another version of Rayman, this is worth it for the new worlds and levels you can play in.
This limbless wonder has everything that makes a great platformer....great. But all that was on the Playstation, the Jaguar, the Saturn, and the PC. How does the awesomism hold up on the Game Boy Color, an 8-Bit handheld?
Well, when you boot up the game, you get the BEST 10 SECONDS EVER ON GAME BOY COLOR! I mean, seriously! It's pre-rendered 3D animation that looks like a cartoon-y CGI-movie intro! Only the Rayman games have done this on Game Boy Color!
Now for the main game.
The game is actually very good. Although the levels are different, the basic gameplay is the same and is already very fun to play with. You can still hover with Rayman's hair , throw his fists, and swing across purple Lums, just like in the original game. But also like the original, you get these powers later on. What isn't like the original, however, is the entire setting. Sure, the story is faithful, but the worlds and levels are NOT from the original game. Instead, the game is made up of all of these new unfamiliar worlds that will get your Rayman juices pumping.
Note that the music is actually from Rayman 2. I understand that the Game Boy Color game was released after Rayman 2 was created for the Nintendo 64, Playstation, and Dreamcast.....but why does this Rayman have to use Rayman 2's soundtrack? And, of course, the tunes are in 8-Bit, but they're still somewhat nice to listen to.
The graphics are still very shockingly amazing to look at. It seems like as if Ubisoft put in a bunch of effort just to animate Rayman himself correctly. The environments and everything else are just as gorgeous.
So overall, this is a great game, even on the 8-Bit Game Boy Color, and I suggest you should purchase this. Even you already own another version of Rayman, this is worth it for the new worlds and levels you can play in.
Rayman 2 (Rating: 10/10)
Rayman 2. If that rings a bell, then you must have remembered the game that was released for the Nintendo 64, the Sega Dreamcast, the PC, and the Playstation. That game was known as one of the greatest 3D platformers of all time. Some of you, however, may recall the Game Boy Color game of the same name. Is it a good game? Well, let me tell you.
Rayman 2, of course, is a 3D platformer, right? So how does that translate to the Game Boy Color? Ubisoft reimagines the game as a 2D platformer, and builds it off of the first Rayman game, also released on Game Boy Color (But it was originally for Playstation, Atari Jaguar, and PC).
Given that statement, Rayman 2 looks and plays like its predecessor, and that isn't a bad thing. That means Rayman can still throw his fists at enemies, and he can still bust cages open and fly with his hair for a short period of time.
However, it is set in the same storyline and setting as the console and computer game. The levels are also based on the original's huge levels, in which there's a lot to explore in most cases. While most of the levels are big, though, it's quite obvious that the game itself isn't as big as the N64/SD/PC/PS1 game. I mean, it IS a Game Boy (Color) game.
Sometimes, there isn't really a challenge in the levels, because you may not find a lot of enemies. Fortunately, as some games do so, the game does indeed get harder as you progress through. Soon, you'll encounter spikes, more enemies, and tricky pathways.
The entire game is just a lot of fun, and I recommend you to purchase it.
Rayman 2, of course, is a 3D platformer, right? So how does that translate to the Game Boy Color? Ubisoft reimagines the game as a 2D platformer, and builds it off of the first Rayman game, also released on Game Boy Color (But it was originally for Playstation, Atari Jaguar, and PC).
Given that statement, Rayman 2 looks and plays like its predecessor, and that isn't a bad thing. That means Rayman can still throw his fists at enemies, and he can still bust cages open and fly with his hair for a short period of time.
However, it is set in the same storyline and setting as the console and computer game. The levels are also based on the original's huge levels, in which there's a lot to explore in most cases. While most of the levels are big, though, it's quite obvious that the game itself isn't as big as the N64/SD/PC/PS1 game. I mean, it IS a Game Boy (Color) game.
Sometimes, there isn't really a challenge in the levels, because you may not find a lot of enemies. Fortunately, as some games do so, the game does indeed get harder as you progress through. Soon, you'll encounter spikes, more enemies, and tricky pathways.
The entire game is just a lot of fun, and I recommend you to purchase it.
Street Fighter 2 (Rating: 9/10)
Street Fighter II was one of the best fighting games ever created. With its memorable cast of characters, its awesome fighting gameplay, and its amazing graphics and sounds, Street Fighter II can't be missed. That is, especially considering the several re-releases of the game. But there also happens to be a version on the Game Boy. I was curious at first, but then when I started playing it, I knew this is no handheld cash-in.
This Game Boy version of Street Fighter II actually holds up very well. In fact, it has all of the action you know and love from the 16-Bit versions. The cool graphics, music, and gameplay are all there. The animation isn't as smooth as in the other versions, but hey, it's on an 8-Bit game system.
If you play this game on the Super Game Boy, it can actually go far as to being a substitute for the Super Nintendo version of the game. The game screen is surrounded by neatly detailed 16-Bit borders, and there's an exclusive 2-Player mode in which you can actually play with a friend using the Super Nintendo! That's amazing work right there.
Overall, if you don't already own a version of Street Fighter II, you should buy this for your Game Boy, Color, or even Advance (SP). Heck, even if you own a console version, you will want this to take for on-the-go fighting.
This Game Boy version of Street Fighter II actually holds up very well. In fact, it has all of the action you know and love from the 16-Bit versions. The cool graphics, music, and gameplay are all there. The animation isn't as smooth as in the other versions, but hey, it's on an 8-Bit game system.
If you play this game on the Super Game Boy, it can actually go far as to being a substitute for the Super Nintendo version of the game. The game screen is surrounded by neatly detailed 16-Bit borders, and there's an exclusive 2-Player mode in which you can actually play with a friend using the Super Nintendo! That's amazing work right there.
Overall, if you don't already own a version of Street Fighter II, you should buy this for your Game Boy, Color, or even Advance (SP). Heck, even if you own a console version, you will want this to take for on-the-go fighting.
Super Mario Land (Rating: 9/10)
Super Mario Land is a classic Mario game and one of the first games for the then-new Game Boy. It features the great gameplay that hailed from Super Mario Bros, although few physics are a little bit off. The graphics and sounds were greatly-developed, especially the music.
SML is one of the few games that prove that even the game with the smallest length can succeed. There's only 12 levels, not counting the harder quest (Yup. This game has a harder quest like in SMB).
Also, Mario Land may be fun and all, but who knew it was so strange?
There's no Bowser, Peach, or even the Mushroom Kingdom, but instead, you romp through Egypt, chasing an alien named Tatanga who has captured Daisy. And that's just the setting. In-game, there are Koopas with bombs for shells, robots, and when you go to World 4, it turns out that world takes place in Japan, as hinted by the music! The Fire Flower isn't even a Fire Flower. Instead, you get to shoot Superballs, which are rubber version of fireballs that can bounce off walls.
Despite all that strangeness, it's pure Mario action in the palm of your hand.
SML is one of the few games that prove that even the game with the smallest length can succeed. There's only 12 levels, not counting the harder quest (Yup. This game has a harder quest like in SMB).
Also, Mario Land may be fun and all, but who knew it was so strange?
There's no Bowser, Peach, or even the Mushroom Kingdom, but instead, you romp through Egypt, chasing an alien named Tatanga who has captured Daisy. And that's just the setting. In-game, there are Koopas with bombs for shells, robots, and when you go to World 4, it turns out that world takes place in Japan, as hinted by the music! The Fire Flower isn't even a Fire Flower. Instead, you get to shoot Superballs, which are rubber version of fireballs that can bounce off walls.
Despite all that strangeness, it's pure Mario action in the palm of your hand.
Super Mario Land 2 (Rating: 10/10)
The original Super Mario Land was a great game, but it was strange. Super Mario Land 2, while the setting is stranger, sticks closer to the Mario series' splendid gameplay. Along with the Mario Galaxy games, however, this game shows how far Nintendo can be creative with the designs.
It turns out that Wario distracted Mario in the first game by sending alien Tatanga to kidnap Daisy. So, he's the main bad guy, whereas Tatanga serves as a boss in the space world. Space world? Yup, there are 6 different worlds, and all of them have really weird settings. EXAMPLES: Macro Zone pits Mario into a giant house. Mario Zone is actually a factory that, on the outside, is shaped like the plucky plumber.
Although the settings are weird, that actually allows Nintendo to push the company's creativity to their furthest. I mean, seriously, Mario is seen SWIMMING IN WATER that is ATTACHED TO THE CEILING! Not to mention, he can also run across giant Lego blocks, float in space, and fight actual sharks! Never would we have known that Mario would be able to go outside the Mushroom Kingdom by this much.
This game is the Super Mario World of Game Boy games, and that's saying a lot. The main gameplay is what you would normally expect. You can run, jump, stomp enemies, bash blocks, and spin jump your way through about 25 nicely detailed levels. The main power-ups are, as you expect, the Mushroom and the Fire Flower. Yes, that's right. The SuperBall flower that was in the first game got replaced by the return of the Fire Flower. Not only that, but there's also the Bunny Hat, which allows Mario to float in the air for a short period of time, similar to the Super Leaf in Super Mario Bros 3. But here, you can float longer than in Mario 3.
The challenge is fair most of the time, but the problem with it is that once you get a Game Over, you lose a Golden Coin that you have been rewarded from one of the bosses you fight. So, you must go back and fight the boss again. Let's hope you don't die too many times.
But overall, this is a really great game. If you're looking for a good Mario game for your Game Boy, Color, or Advance, ORDER THIS GAME NOW!
It turns out that Wario distracted Mario in the first game by sending alien Tatanga to kidnap Daisy. So, he's the main bad guy, whereas Tatanga serves as a boss in the space world. Space world? Yup, there are 6 different worlds, and all of them have really weird settings. EXAMPLES: Macro Zone pits Mario into a giant house. Mario Zone is actually a factory that, on the outside, is shaped like the plucky plumber.
Although the settings are weird, that actually allows Nintendo to push the company's creativity to their furthest. I mean, seriously, Mario is seen SWIMMING IN WATER that is ATTACHED TO THE CEILING! Not to mention, he can also run across giant Lego blocks, float in space, and fight actual sharks! Never would we have known that Mario would be able to go outside the Mushroom Kingdom by this much.
This game is the Super Mario World of Game Boy games, and that's saying a lot. The main gameplay is what you would normally expect. You can run, jump, stomp enemies, bash blocks, and spin jump your way through about 25 nicely detailed levels. The main power-ups are, as you expect, the Mushroom and the Fire Flower. Yes, that's right. The SuperBall flower that was in the first game got replaced by the return of the Fire Flower. Not only that, but there's also the Bunny Hat, which allows Mario to float in the air for a short period of time, similar to the Super Leaf in Super Mario Bros 3. But here, you can float longer than in Mario 3.
The challenge is fair most of the time, but the problem with it is that once you get a Game Over, you lose a Golden Coin that you have been rewarded from one of the bosses you fight. So, you must go back and fight the boss again. Let's hope you don't die too many times.
But overall, this is a really great game. If you're looking for a good Mario game for your Game Boy, Color, or Advance, ORDER THIS GAME NOW!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan (Rating: 9/10)
Remember the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game Konami created? Well, it just so happened to lead to lots of other games in the series, like the NES TMNT, Turtles in Time, Tournament Fighters, etc. Well, Around those times, Konami created a Game Boy TMNT game. At first, I had no idea what the heck it would be like. Would it be a platformer like the first NES game? And then it was released.....and blew us off with awesomism.
Fall of the Foot Clan is a beat 'em up, similar to the arcade games, but with the look of a sidescroller. The action is much more atraightfoward and simpler compared to other games (Most enemies die in one hit), but it's also very well-polished. The graphics and music are extremely appealing to the eye/ear. In fact, some tunes sound like they could be right at home on the Sega Genesis. Konami really knew how to rock out that Game Boy sound chip!
The game may be short, as it has 5 stages (And for some reason, it has a stage select, meaning you can just go to Stage 5 to beat the game), and it may have the Turtles put on an awkward smile throughout the game, but all in all, Fall of the Foot Clan is an epic classic!
Fall of the Foot Clan is a beat 'em up, similar to the arcade games, but with the look of a sidescroller. The action is much more atraightfoward and simpler compared to other games (Most enemies die in one hit), but it's also very well-polished. The graphics and music are extremely appealing to the eye/ear. In fact, some tunes sound like they could be right at home on the Sega Genesis. Konami really knew how to rock out that Game Boy sound chip!
The game may be short, as it has 5 stages (And for some reason, it has a stage select, meaning you can just go to Stage 5 to beat the game), and it may have the Turtles put on an awkward smile throughout the game, but all in all, Fall of the Foot Clan is an epic classic!
Toy Story (Rating: 3/10)
This is the third (Or is it the last?) version of the Toy Story movie-based game. While the other versions were good games, this one couldn't live up to them.
Only 10 of the 17 (18 for Sega Genesis version) levels are in this game. There are no bosses at all. Just laggy platforming.
About the gameplay, which I sorta described already, there was one major problem that ruined it: The frame rate. Everything moves too slow. The frame rate is like half of the frame rate in the other versions of the game.
The graphics are still pretty good, but it is eclipsed by the slow gameplay.
The sounds sound like Atari noises. The music sounds good, but there are only 3 songs in the whole game.
There are some cool features when the game is played on the Super Game Boy:
-Special border
-16-bit music
Overall, the frame rate is what's basically keeping the game from having me rate any higher. The frame rate isn't actually slow slow, but I wish it was better. Plus, this is the only 8-bit version of Toy Story, as well as the only portable one (With the exception of playing the SNES version on a FC 16 Go).
Only 10 of the 17 (18 for Sega Genesis version) levels are in this game. There are no bosses at all. Just laggy platforming.
About the gameplay, which I sorta described already, there was one major problem that ruined it: The frame rate. Everything moves too slow. The frame rate is like half of the frame rate in the other versions of the game.
The graphics are still pretty good, but it is eclipsed by the slow gameplay.
The sounds sound like Atari noises. The music sounds good, but there are only 3 songs in the whole game.
There are some cool features when the game is played on the Super Game Boy:
-Special border
-16-bit music
Overall, the frame rate is what's basically keeping the game from having me rate any higher. The frame rate isn't actually slow slow, but I wish it was better. Plus, this is the only 8-bit version of Toy Story, as well as the only portable one (With the exception of playing the SNES version on a FC 16 Go).
Toy Story Racer (Rating: 8/10)
Toy Story Racer for the Game Boy Color, at first glance, would immediately sound like a Mario Kart ripoff, but that's not the case here.
The game is an on-rails racer, meaning you must turn when the track is curved, like in Pole Position. You can choose from four Toy Story characters, which is kind of a letdown since the Playstation version has more.
The Tournament mode has about 6 (Or 7) tracks, and once you beat the mode, you unlock those courses for Quick Race mode. The tracks are actually pretty long, so if you don't have enough time to race another track in the Tournament, you can always write down the 6-digit password it gives out.
The actual tracks, while they don't have a whole lot of items, are extremely impressive. Every single track is in fake 3D on an 8-Bit system....and yet it runs smoothly. It's kind of the reason why you'd continue playing this game. The items are snails, which slow you down, stars, which you just collect, horseshoes, which make you invincible, and tires, which make you steer in a mirrored way.
Overall, it's another great movie-based title that is worth trying out.
The game is an on-rails racer, meaning you must turn when the track is curved, like in Pole Position. You can choose from four Toy Story characters, which is kind of a letdown since the Playstation version has more.
The Tournament mode has about 6 (Or 7) tracks, and once you beat the mode, you unlock those courses for Quick Race mode. The tracks are actually pretty long, so if you don't have enough time to race another track in the Tournament, you can always write down the 6-digit password it gives out.
The actual tracks, while they don't have a whole lot of items, are extremely impressive. Every single track is in fake 3D on an 8-Bit system....and yet it runs smoothly. It's kind of the reason why you'd continue playing this game. The items are snails, which slow you down, stars, which you just collect, horseshoes, which make you invincible, and tires, which make you steer in a mirrored way.
Overall, it's another great movie-based title that is worth trying out.
Turok 2 (Rating: 9/10)
The Turok series is more well-known as a First-Person Shooter (FPS) series, but I may as well stick with the Game Boy games, which are classic 2D platformers.
Turok 2 has it all: A rocking soundtrack that is some of the best the Game Boy has to offer, great-looking graphics, and awesomely hard gameplay! There is also a nice variety of levels (Like a jungle, city, cavern, mountain, etc) and collectible items, such as a multidirectional gun that you can shoot enemies with.
The game might seem like a beat 'em up at first glance, but of course, it's not. The first level has you roam a city, attacking mutants. But once you turn into a shirtless swordsman, you have to kill them all to move on the fully-platform-orientated levels.
While the game is very fun, it's difficult, mainly because you actually take a good amount of damage from touching an enemy (Around 12 HP). Sure, there are medkits that help you take less damage, but there are also no checkpoints. I'm going to guess that's why you start with 10 lives. And plus, if you enter in a password save, it doesn't revive your lives.
But flaws aside, this is a remarkable game that shouldn't be too looked down upon. And for $4 bucks, how can you go wrong?
Turok 2 has it all: A rocking soundtrack that is some of the best the Game Boy has to offer, great-looking graphics, and awesomely hard gameplay! There is also a nice variety of levels (Like a jungle, city, cavern, mountain, etc) and collectible items, such as a multidirectional gun that you can shoot enemies with.
The game might seem like a beat 'em up at first glance, but of course, it's not. The first level has you roam a city, attacking mutants. But once you turn into a shirtless swordsman, you have to kill them all to move on the fully-platform-orientated levels.
While the game is very fun, it's difficult, mainly because you actually take a good amount of damage from touching an enemy (Around 12 HP). Sure, there are medkits that help you take less damage, but there are also no checkpoints. I'm going to guess that's why you start with 10 lives. And plus, if you enter in a password save, it doesn't revive your lives.
But flaws aside, this is a remarkable game that shouldn't be too looked down upon. And for $4 bucks, how can you go wrong?
Wario Land (Rating: 10/10)
The Wario Land games have been a pretty long-lasting series of bashing, enemy throwing, pouncing fun, but would you ever believe that the series started out as a conclusion to the Super Mario Land trilogy? The gameplay has changed so much from Super Mario Land 2 (Although you can probably still tell it was made from that game's engine), that it may as well go into a series of its own in the first place!
Remember how extremely bizarre the worlds were in the previous games? Well, Wario Land is no different when it comes to that, but what it actually brings you could make you think "What the heck..?", and not in a bad way, either. These new landscapes are very interesting and fun to explore.
Along with Wario's regular bash attack, Wario can collect power-ups to replace it, such as a Dragon Hat that blows fire, a Viking Helmet that upgrades Wario's bash attack and gives him a Ground Pound move, and a heart (More on that below).
There is a Heart Counter, in which when you reach 100 hearts, you earn an extra life. You get these from killing enemies or collecting them from power-up boxes (As 20 hearts).
As you earn more coins and treasures, you could change the game's ending scene depending on how much you have. Wario could buy several different representations of his money-wise condition, from poor (Birdhouse) to extremely mouth-watering rich (Mansion).
All of those new gameplay quirks make the traditional gameplay pretty unique, making it stand out from the other entries in the Mario Land or Wario Land series.
Remember how extremely bizarre the worlds were in the previous games? Well, Wario Land is no different when it comes to that, but what it actually brings you could make you think "What the heck..?", and not in a bad way, either. These new landscapes are very interesting and fun to explore.
Along with Wario's regular bash attack, Wario can collect power-ups to replace it, such as a Dragon Hat that blows fire, a Viking Helmet that upgrades Wario's bash attack and gives him a Ground Pound move, and a heart (More on that below).
There is a Heart Counter, in which when you reach 100 hearts, you earn an extra life. You get these from killing enemies or collecting them from power-up boxes (As 20 hearts).
As you earn more coins and treasures, you could change the game's ending scene depending on how much you have. Wario could buy several different representations of his money-wise condition, from poor (Birdhouse) to extremely mouth-watering rich (Mansion).
All of those new gameplay quirks make the traditional gameplay pretty unique, making it stand out from the other entries in the Mario Land or Wario Land series.
Wario Land 2 (Rating: 10/10)
Wario Land II is where the series really came into its own. The original's gameplay was a hugely modified from Super Mario Land 2 to replace Mario's block-hitting and Goomba-stomping with enemy bashing, Ground Pounding, and crazy powers that help improve your regular bashing attack. This game may not have those power-ups, nor does it have any evidence of Mario Land 2, but it surely took all of the great original elements of the first Wario Land and made it 5 times better.
The graphics look amazing on the old-school Game Boy, and the sound effects/music are just as spot-on. You would think that by then, since the Nintendo 64 and Playstation systems were out (Oh, and Saturn), the monochrome graphics and sounds would be weak by the years' standards, but nope (And the Game Boy Color version has....color!).
One unique aspect about Wario Land 2 is that you can't lose/gain lives, so it wouldn't be a frustrating experience for new players. However, there's no need to worry about the difficulty, as the challenge is still there, and going strong enough to be fair for everyone.
The level designs have a very interesting variety of platforms and enemies, as well as some neat decorations. The game never seems to grow pretty boring at all. And along with all of the bashing, throwing, pouncing, etc you could do, there are also a few puzzle elements thrown in certain levels /:-)
Overall, this is an amazing Game Boy experience, and like all the Nintendo greats out there, it remains timeless to this day.
The graphics look amazing on the old-school Game Boy, and the sound effects/music are just as spot-on. You would think that by then, since the Nintendo 64 and Playstation systems were out (Oh, and Saturn), the monochrome graphics and sounds would be weak by the years' standards, but nope (And the Game Boy Color version has....color!).
One unique aspect about Wario Land 2 is that you can't lose/gain lives, so it wouldn't be a frustrating experience for new players. However, there's no need to worry about the difficulty, as the challenge is still there, and going strong enough to be fair for everyone.
The level designs have a very interesting variety of platforms and enemies, as well as some neat decorations. The game never seems to grow pretty boring at all. And along with all of the bashing, throwing, pouncing, etc you could do, there are also a few puzzle elements thrown in certain levels /:-)
Overall, this is an amazing Game Boy experience, and like all the Nintendo greats out there, it remains timeless to this day.
Yoshi (Rating: 9/10)
Before he had starred in his own platforming adventures, and a little after he made his first appearance in Super Mario World, Yoshi was the main character of a good amount of spin-offs (Mainly puzzlers). The game that shares Yoshi's name is one of those puzzle games, but it's actually executed pretty well, and knowing Nintendo, you would expect that.
Like Tetris, Yoshi has a single-player mode and a 2-Player versus mode. Both make for incredibly addicting experiences! You can stack up 2 of the signature Mario enemies of the same type (Goomba, Boo, Piranha Plant, and Blooper) to make them disappear, OR for a much more amusing situation, you could stack up the enemies atop the bottom half of an egg, and place the upper half on top of it all. Suddenly, BOOM, the enemies have been CRAMMED into an egg!
As for the versus mode, you know what to expect when it comes to a puzzle game containing this feature. Make as much enemy sandwiches as possible, causing the other player to be given a certain obstacle, and so on.
So, if you have a puzzle itch to scratch, Yoshi is right up your alley. You don't even need to be a fan of the Mario series to like this game!
Like Tetris, Yoshi has a single-player mode and a 2-Player versus mode. Both make for incredibly addicting experiences! You can stack up 2 of the signature Mario enemies of the same type (Goomba, Boo, Piranha Plant, and Blooper) to make them disappear, OR for a much more amusing situation, you could stack up the enemies atop the bottom half of an egg, and place the upper half on top of it all. Suddenly, BOOM, the enemies have been CRAMMED into an egg!
As for the versus mode, you know what to expect when it comes to a puzzle game containing this feature. Make as much enemy sandwiches as possible, causing the other player to be given a certain obstacle, and so on.
So, if you have a puzzle itch to scratch, Yoshi is right up your alley. You don't even need to be a fan of the Mario series to like this game!