Nintendo's classic system has a whole host of games worth your attention. Below are the ten games (in no particular order), we feel are the ones that every Game Boy owner should add to their collection.
Donkey
Kong 94
Arguably the best game on the system is this reboot of Donkey
Kong. Designed to make the most of the Super Game Boy add on it still plays
brilliantly on the hand held. Tons of high quality levels await as Mario must
make his way to a key needed to unlock the exit door in each level. Each area
adds something new and it remains fun and inventive throughout.
Kirby’s
Block Ball
Taking a simple block and ball game and adding Kirby shouldn’t have been anything special. However, inventive level design and clever use of power ups end up creating one of the most enjoyable games on the system. Themed areas and the inclusion of enemies add another layer of fun as you fling Kirby around the screen to clear the blocks.
Bill
and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Essentially a Manic Miner clone, this offers some of the best
reflex based platforming action on the system. Simply make your way around the
single screen levels picking up all the objects while avoiding the enemies.
Once all the objects have been collected you need to make it back to your time
machine to move onto the next level. Some levels can be completed in seconds which
makes it perfect for gaming on the move.
Super
Mario Land
It may be a little basic and short but the original Mario game will have you playing through again and again. The graphics are small but still clear and the level design remains strong throughout. This game also sees our hero taking to a submarine and plane for some side scrolling shoot’em up action.
Though a colour version is available the original still holds
its charm. Link’s Awakening is many people’s favourite Zelda game and it’s easy
to see why. The dungeons are among some of the best in the series and the small
island hides more magic than most bigger games can manage. Filled with great
moments and characters this remains as essential now as it was upon release.
Killer
Instinct
It should be terrible but against all the odds Killer Instinct is an essential title. The graphics and speed still do a good job in getting the ethos of the game across and it is surprisingly easy to control. Holding down the kick or punch buttons for different amounts of time decide whether attacks are weak, medium or strong and even the fatalities are included. This is an amazingly ambitious conversation that remains a great portable fighting game.
Pokemon
Blue/Red
The first Pokemon game that started it all is still potentially one of the best in the series. It’s hard to beat the simplicity of the combat system mixed with the charm and collecting game mechanic. Building your team and taking on the gym leaders is an epic quest still worth undertaking.
The first time Nintendo’s antihero takes centre stage is well
worth the visit. Superior in many ways to Mario Land 2, the game adds new game
mechanics and the ability to put on different hats to power up. There’s a ton
of courses to get through and it represents a decent challenge for retro gaming
fans. Good level design and inventive bosses help to keep the Mario magic
going.
Tetris
The first and still the best version of Tetris you can play. The repetitive tune will get into your brain and you’ll be rotating blocks in your sleep. Simply create lines of four out of different shaped blocks as they fall from the top of the screen. As the speed picks up the panic of needing a ‘long block’ intensifies to unbearable levels. As a pure gaming experience it can’t be beaten and goes to show that simplicity and a good concept is sometimes all you need.
The other two Castlevania Game Boy games could do with some
improvement but Castlevania 2 offers up some classic platforming action. It
runs smoothly and each of the initial castles can be attempted in any order
with passwords also available. It may be a little basic when compared to later
Castlevania games but it’s certainly up there with the first NES title.