PixlBit

Nintendo's first handheld gave rise to some giants

Nintendo's next console, the Switch, is just days away from being released. Notably, it is the first console--ever--to be a home console as well as a handheld. As it approaches, now seems like the perfect time to look back at Nintendo's first handheld system, the Game Boy. Released in 1989, the Game Boy seemed underwhelming as the graphical capabilities were low and the screen was only one color (that strange green olive hue). However, it only needed two AA batteries and could easily last for more hours than other handhelds of the time. It quickly surpassed the others in sales and is beloved of gamers young and old (mostly old now). Some very big games happened on this handheld, and some great series began here as well. So let's look at the biggest titles which the Game Boy gave us, and let's hope for more amazing games on the go from Nintendo in the near future. 

Tetris (1989)

Tetris was huge for Game Boy, and for this reason Nintendo made it a pack-in for the system. For many, the GB version has become the definitive version which other versions were based off of. Tetris was a perfect demonstration of Game Boy's appeal. The original puzzle game, Tetris has you trying to clear lines of puzzle pieces by filling in gaps. It's simple and addicting. Jeremy Parish gives a few reasons why Tetris was so huge: (1) Simple, bite-sized play; (2) Not particularly Nintendo-ish; and (3) Great competitive play (the link cable allowed for two players!). Perhaps there's no better game to showcase the Game Boy than Tetris. This game was singlehandedly instrument in selling countless Game Boy systems. That's a pretty good start for Nintendo's handheld. 

Gargoyle's Quest (1990)

This action title from Capcom was a cut above your typical GB game. It's a spin-off game from the Ghosts N' Goblins series, which explains why the game is so challenging. Firebrand was a regular enemy from those games, but now he has his own game! He can shoot fire, hover in the air, and cling to walls. GQ features two modes of play: side-scrolling platorm action and top-down RPG-like navigation (which includes random encounters). Throughout the game, Firebrand will increase in strength and get upgrades for attacks. However, this game is also important for giving rise to a new series. The second game, Gargoyle's Quest II, was released for NES (1992) and improved on the first game; the third game, Demon's Crest for SNES (1994) is easily the best of the trilogy, crafting a dark, Metroidvania-style action game. It's neat to see a series span three different consoles. 

Kirby's Dream Land (1992)

Kirby's origin story is quite interesting. Developer Hal Laboratory came up with him simply as a place-holder until they could come up with something better. However, the game was so well received that they decided to keep the little guy. Kirby made his debut on Nintendo's first handheld. The game is extremely simple, and this is on purpose. Masahiro Sakurai, the designer, wanted the game to be easy to pick up and play for people who weren't used to video games. While Kirby cannot copy enemies' abilities in this first game, he can still inhale and spit out objects. It set the foundation for the mechanics we are so familar with today. And the direct sequel to this game, Kirby's Dream Land 2 (also for GB), is arguably the best game in the series. 

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (1993)

Link's Awakening has a stand-alone story which is much different from the rest of the series. Princess Zelda is not in the game at all, and the story is more dark and somber. In other words, this was the dark Zelda game before Majora's Mask happened. It's an amazing game in its own right, but the story and characters propel it to a high place in the series. The offbeat characters are reminiscient of the ones in MM, and the shocking ending is unforgettable. It's also the first time you're allowed to fish in a Zelda game, the first time you're sent on a trading quest, and the first time you'll learn songs to play on an ocarina. It's a great place to start for newcomers to the series, but it's also an amazing adventure which any Zelda fan would enjoy. 

Donkey Kong '94 (1994)

This game is actually both a remake of the original AND a brand-new game in one. The first four levels are pulled straight from the arcade game, but after that, 97 new levels follow which have Mario doing flips and handsprings to overcome tough puzzling obstacles! This is the first game in which we see Mario doing acrobatic stuff, which would later become the norm for 3D Mario games such as Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy. The levels here are designed so well that you'll have to master all of Mario's new moves in order to beat them. Each level has you finding a key so you can unlock the door to the next level. DK Jr. shows up every now and then to cause problems too. It's just a fantastic game all around. It was also one of the first games to have borders which could be used with the Super Game Boy on SNES. Sweet! 

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994)

Wario first debuted in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (GB, 1992). In that game, he was the villain, but Nintendo decided to give him his own game in which he is an anti-hero. So Kirby isn't the only guy who first appeared on the Game Boy. This game is quite different than a Mario game.  Wario can jump on enemies, throw them, and perform a shoulder charge attack. There are also three hats which he can acquire which will give him unique abilities. Coins are used as currency, and at the end of the game Wario uses all the coins he's collected to build his castle--but the size of the castle depends on how many coins you acquired. This game set the foundation for the entire Wario Land series, which would continue exclusively on Nintendo's handhelds. The series would continue to differentiate itself from Mario games in creative ways (such as the fact that in Wario Land II, Wario cannot die!). Wario stands out from the rest of Nintendo's mascots as the greediest, ugliest, and most conniving character to ever star in his own series. It all started on Game Boy. 

Pokemon Red & Blue (1998)

You'll notice that we don't have any GB games from 1995 to this point. Nothing really notable came out for GB during these three years, and it seemed that the system would die off. However, Game Boy got its second wind when a little RPG was released called Pokemon. Practically overnight, Pokemon became a phenomenon. "Pokemon" is short for "Pocket Monsters," and the idea of collecting these monsters was based off bug collecting, which is huge in Japan. The goal of the game is to collect as many Pokemon as possible and battle your way to becoming the new Pokemon master. The story, characters, and battle system were all quite simple, but that did not stop it from taking over the hearts of children everywhere. You can also battle against a friend using the link cable, and this made Pokemon a social game as well! Pokemon was also the first game to have two versions released at the same time, and this has become a new thing which many game series have done since. Even though Pokemon saw a late release for the system, Game Boy was home to several Pokemon games, including Pokemon Yellow (1999), Pokemon Gold and Silver (2000), and Pokemon Crystal (2000). Those last two were released for the Game Boy Color. Thanks to Pokemon, the Game Boy continued to thrive into the 2000s, and has been a staple for Nintendo's handhelds ever since. 

In summary, thanks to the Game Boy, we have such giants as Kirby, Wario, and Pokemon! Not bad for a low-powered, two batteried brick of a system. Here's hoping that we can get some new giants from Nintendo's next console.