When the service finally does launch, these are the Game Boy titles I am most looking forward to playing when if they are released on the eshop service.
Look how cute! A baby metroid!
Metroid II: Return of Samus
I am a huge sucker for Metroid, ever since I learned the Justin Bailey code in the NES original. The Game Boy title seemed like a major upgrade to the NES title, and we even got the space jump and spider ball from this game!
Is that...yoshi???
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
My first Game Boy was the GBC and with it my first game was Link’s Awakening DX. Boy did I play the heck out of this title. It was almost as if someone at Nintendo dared the people in charge of Link’s Awakening to make a game as full of life and excitement as the SNES title A Link to the Past. Boy did they deliver with this Game Boy game. If you haven’t played it yet, you better start hoping that Nintendo releases a 3DS eshop version because it is a true masterpiece of gaming.
Wait...I thought Kirby was pink!!
Kirby’s Dream Land
I am ashamed to admit that I have never played the very first Kirby title and cannot wait to dive right into to his adventures in dream land. We may all know Masahiro Sakurai as the man behind the Smash Bros. games, but Kirby is the man’s first initial foray into video games, and it is something that I feel I need to experience for myself.
Dragon Warrior I&II
My love affair with the RPG genre can be traced directly to this awesome little title for the Game Boy. Dragon Warrior (now known as Dragon Quest) has a long standing tradition of excellence, and in it’s home country of Japan the game is huge……like Snorlax huge. Not sure if this game will ever see an eshop release (because why would SquareEnix release this ‘combo pack’ when they can charge individually per game?) but if it does, if you are an RPG gamer you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t purchase this game.
Pokemon Trading Card Game
During the height of the Pokemon craze here in the US way back in 1998, if you were older than an elementary school student and played with Pokemon cards, you were looked at as icky….and probably had cooties. Because of this, the only exposure I had with the Pokemon Trading Card Game was through…well Pokemon Trading Card Game GBC. I never thought collecting those little Pokemans in card form would be so addicting, but boy was it ever!
Mega Man with an X
Mega Man Xtreme
The Mega Man series may be one of the most abused franchises in gaming history. You have the Zero series, the Battle Network series, the X series, and even the ZX series. Technically part of the X series, Mega Man Xtreme took what made Mega Man X awesome, and crammed as much of it as possible into the tiny GBC cartridge. If Mega Man games make you tingle, Mega Man Xtreme will be right up your alley.
My guilty GBC pleasure
Heroes of Might & Magic
Not exactly sure why I loved this title so much. Just your typical turn based RPG on the surface, Heroes of Might & Magic pulled me in with it’s ability to bring a slight tactical RPG (think Final Fantasy Tactics) flair to the Game Boy. Defiantly not for everyone, but if this puppy drops on the eshop, yours truly will be the first to hit the purchase button.
How come Mr. Driller looks so much like a Ms.?
Mr. Driller
Call me crazy, but when everyone around town was playing Tetris as their preferred puzzler of choice, I has Mr. Driller in my Game Boy. There is something about trying to beat your depth and score record that really kept me plugging away at the game for years.
So is his bionic arm his wife in the GBC version as well?
Bionic Commando
Before there was the atrocity that is Bionic Commando Xbox 360 and PS3, gamers enjoyed a true classic in the NES original. With the Game Boy title, Capcom stayed true to the source material and delivered what is one of my favorite handheld titles of all time.
Pokemon Red/Blue/Green
What would a Game Boy list be without Pokemon? Not exactly sure what is it about the series that has me continuing to come back for more, but Pokemon Red was ALWAYS in my Game Boy. I think what makes Pokemon resonate with so many fans world wide is the series ability to bring the RPG genre to a mainstream audience. My girlfriend for example wouldn’t be caught dead playing a JRPG like Final Fantasy, but Pokemon HeartGold (and more recently White) has become her go to DS game as of late, and I’m sure the same is true for many gamers who typically shun RPGs.
What did we miss? What eshop downloadable games are you most looking forward to/hoping will be released?
Cephas
The problem with Pokemon is that the link cable is almost essential. The ability to trade with and battle other players is a huge part of the game. I suppose they might come up with a way for a local wireless connection to emulate a link cable, but that would require a lot more development and testing than a bare-bones emulation. Unfortunately, I don’t think Nintendo is willing to devote the necessary resources to the project.
Kale
Metroid II and Link’s Awakening all the way. And definitely Kirby. I’d suggest Super Mario Land and Tetris, as well.
Eugene Allen
@Cephas
Unfortunatly, I think you’re right on point. Come on Nintendo, prove these two pokefans wrong!
Eugene Allen
@Kale
Never played Super Mario Land so I hope it’s coming as well. Tetris would be great! Imagine if Nintendo made it a free download a la the free cartridge packed in with every Game Boy when the system originally launched!
_oMeGa_
I’m pretty sure Nintendo already confirmed that the first two games would be Link’s Awakening DX and Mario Land, there are even a couple videos floating around of them being played on a 3DS at one of the demo events earlier this year.
Eugene Allen
@_oMeGa_
Yup, you’re right! Still want it reeeeeal bad though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt15vDtNH9U
QuestionMark
Trying to think of underappreciated gems…
Nemesis (a Gradius sequel) was one of my first two GB games, given as a gift with the system. It hit the sweet spot of fun and difficulty. The GB version of Ducktales was surprisingly fun (as was the original NES version). I had a puzzle game called Dexterity that I remember being loads of fun.
Metroid 2 scared the crap out of me. There was something about the alternate presence and eerie lack of music…along with the huge, confusing environments. I dunno, I get that it was great, but it just creeped me out.
Mark
I own Kirby, original cartridge and all. You all do not want to pay for it, especially when a far superior remake of it exists as just a small part of Kirby Super Star! I can literally beat the game in ten minutes, and so can everyone who reads this website. It’s great fun, yes, but there isn’t a lot of it, and it worries me every time Kirby’s Dream Land shows up on these lists. Now, KDL2 or 3? That’d be worth it.
Mark
Also, where the heck is Super Mario Land 2?
ac
i’m not all that interested, unless they add new content, like some 3D or something. i already can play all these.
ac
i’m more interested in something like virtual boy, rather than these.
RisnDevil
I would look forward to, and HEAVILY consider buying, any quality title that is $1; $3 outside max for the BEST titles out (looking at stuff like Super Mario Land or some of the great RPGs I missed or MAYBE Mega Man).
Other than these titles, I refuse to be robbed blind for games. I don’t think I’m going to be getting what I want though, as Nintendo has already said they want to heavily regulate pricing in their eShops combined with the pricing in the Wii Virtual Console, I think they will be unreasonably priced, and then disappointed when the sales reflect that. But we’ll see…..
Mikey
My favourite game for the original Game Boy is Mario Vs Donkey Kong. i wish Nintendo would make a new game with the same game mechanics (and characters!). Somehow i don’t like “March of the Minis” series as much. These games are not so fun. Has anyone played this game? I recommend it to everyone who likes puzzle platformers stuff!
Stan
Be warned: Kirby Dreamland isn’t as fun as you may think. You don’t absorb powers. It’s just a platformer with floaty controls. Personally, the ability to absorb powers is the main appeal of Kirby.
Eugene Allen
@Mikey
I love that game! Can’t wait till I can transfer my Minis March Again dsiware game to my 3ds.
Me
Dragon warrior monsters. It’s like pokemon but a bit different. I play t in between pokemon games to mix it up
Yellow Bear
anyone else think wario ware twisted deserves a 3ds- ware title?
Warren
I hope they release a GBA shop. That is what I am really wanting.
Blaise
Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons. Not a fan of recreating old games, but I’d love to see both of these games done over in 3D with cell-shaded graphics
Richard
If they release imports like on the Wii Virtual Console…
Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Hearts.
Broke my heart (no pun intended) when this supreme monster rpg was not released statewise for the GBA. The overhead 3D visuals (a la Dragon Warrior VII) would look sweet with real 3D depth, and battles w/ animation in 3D depth would make me put down an extra $20 for a Nintendo Points card.
Rebtel discount
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