Why aren't there any truly classic GameBoy games?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

Alkaline5

Senior member
Jun 21, 2001
801
0
0
Every system has its classic games. The ones that broke new ground and had gameplay that still stands as fun, even today. But I can't think of a single one for the orginal GB or GB color.

I broke out my original GameBoy games to play on my SP a while back, and couldn't believe how unkind time had been to the gameplay. GB games seem to generally have been poor knock-offs of the more enduring titles for the NES and SNES; ie: Mario Land 1-3, Donkey Kong Land, and those terrible Zelda games (any Zelda game not set in Hyrule just ends up being poorly executed for some reason). In the original Mario Land one of the enemies was actually a hopping China-man with a braided queue.

GB was basically the only option when it came to portability for well over 10 years before the PSP came out. I guess there was just no reason for game makers to try to innovate given the very limited hardware they had to work with.

I'd really love to go back and try some decent classic games if anyone can thing of any, though, so prove me wrong.
 
A

Alkaline5

Senior member
Jun 21, 2001
801
0
0
Super Metroid was actually a SNES game that finally updated the series' mechanics and visuals to be a bit more fluid than in the original. Metroid II was the GB game you're probably thinking of. I haven't played it but may give it a try, though the review I just read indicates that the control scheme is still very limited like in the original.

As for Tetris, it was fun but I always considered it be more a time waster than a full blown game.
 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,510
6,351
126
umm ... definitely Tetris.

but if not tetris ... did you all forget about this little game called Pokemon ?
 
N

ntdz

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
6,989
0
0
Originally posted by: Alkaline5
Super Metroid was actually a SNES game that finally updated the series' mechanics and visuals to be a bit more fluid than in the original. Metroid II was the GB game you're probably thinking of. I haven't played it but may give it a try, though the review I just read indicates that the control scheme is still very limited like in the original.

As for Tetris, it was fun but I always considered it be more a time waster than a full blown game.
Click to expand...

The best puzzle game ever isn't a full blown game? Come on...
 
C

Cheetah8799

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2001
4,508
0
76
I've seen arcade games for the new GameBoy systems. One had four games on it, including the ancient Dig Dug.
 
K

kogase

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2004
5,213
0
0
Originally posted by: purbeast0
umm ... definitely Tetris.

but if not tetris ... did you all forget about this little game called Pokemon ?
Click to expand...

Most people find Pokemon repelent nowadays because of the whole gigantic fad surrounding it in the 90s, but honestly the originals were great games.
 
C

chcarnage

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,751
0
0
I consider Tetris and Super Mario Land 1-3 Gameboy classics. Maybe Operation C and Alleyway also (the breakout clone). I remember the DuckTales game to be good, but I don't own it :( I also like World Cup, Kirby's Dream Land (1)... Wow this is impossible to do in hard mode.
 
H

hjo3

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
7,354
4
0
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Advance Wars are pretty classic... lots of replayability.
 
R

Ramma2

Platinum Member
Jul 29, 2002
2,710
1
0
Zelda was great on the first gameboy. I remember using the pause exploit and trying to beat the game without ever getting the sword.
 
L

Lola

my very favorite game boy game was Ceasar's Palace.
Man, i loved playing black jack! ;)
 
A

Alkaline5

Senior member
Jun 21, 2001
801
0
0
Originally posted by: ntdz
The best puzzle game ever isn't a full blown game? Come on...
Click to expand...
An excellent game, yes, but with no storyline, characters, and no real gameplay progression (besides speeding up and the obstacle mode) I just see it as having more in common with board games or card games than with a standard video game.
Originally posted by: chcarnage
I consider Tetris and Super Mario Land 1-3 Gameboy classics. Maybe Operation C and Alleyway also (the breakout clone). I remember the DuckTales game to be good, but I don't own it I also like World Cup, Kirby's Dream Land (1)... Wow this is impossible to do in hard mode.
Click to expand...
Some excellent suggestions that I will definitley look into. Alleyway was another one of those fun little diversion type games.
 
K

kogase

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2004
5,213
0
0
Originally posted by: Alkaline5
Originally posted by: ntdz
The best puzzle game ever isn't a full blown game? Come on...
Click to expand...
An excellent game, yes, but with no storyline, characters, and no real gameplay progression (besides speeding up and the obstacle mode) I just see it as having more in common with board games or card games than with a standard video game.
Click to expand...

So... Pong, Pacman, Space Invaders. None of those are classic video games? RPG isn't the definition of video game.
 
3chordcharlie

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
The FF games are pretty close to 'classic'.

And Tetris is still the greatest game of it's type, and the only game I've ever played for 12 hours straight:)
 
A

Alkaline5

Senior member
Jun 21, 2001
801
0
0
Originally posted by: kogase
So... Pong, Pacman, Space Invaders. None of those are classic video games? RPG isn't the definition of video game.
Click to expand...
Wow, people sure are touchy about their Tetris. Pacman and Space Invaders were objective-based, so you at least had a goal to work towards other than a high score. I actually still play those at the campus arcade from time to time. Neither of those are strictly puzzle games as Tetris is; they all threw a kink in of some sort. And as I recall Pacman did have a very simplisitc story that unfolded as the game went on. Pong is a classic for entirely different reasons.

It's not as though I dislike Tetris. I played it many an hour back in the day. It's just that getting a high score never really gave me that sense of accomplishment that saving a princess or defeating an invasion of otherworldly parasites could.
 
B

badmouse

Platinum Member
Dec 3, 2003
2,862
2
0
I still play Pokemon Pinball. I consider that a true classic.

Another vote for Tetris, Ms PacMan, and the like. They are true games. How would you like it if I said "those stupid story-line things aren't true games"? C'mon, different people like different games.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom