The Nintendo GameBoy
I had gotten a Game Boy earlier before the word came out about the colour version, so I
don't know how these play on the new system, but here are my experiences with the original
(and, most recently, the Pocket).
Hardware
I myself like the original Game Boy because it is much more classic, but if you want to
play games in varied environments, then choose the Pocket, because its screen is much, much
better. I'd like to believe that I would be willing to play up to $30 extra for the nicer
screen. However, the Game Boy Color is so much better then the Pocket, it is really worth
the extra $40 you have to pay for the new version (over Pocket prices around here), although
if you already have a Pocket, you should probably decide for yourself (trade-in ?).
My Software
Items marked with the Asterisk (*) are, in my opinion, not very good. The more Asterisks,
the less I like the game. The Plus mark (+) is my version of the Star that is used in movie
ratings. I put the Plus mark next to games I especially enjoy.
Roleplayingesque
These games involve some amount of puzzle solving, wandering around and talking to people.
The games in this section also have a bit of arcade-type action, so they are not really
'pure' roleplaying, but, then again, nothing on computers really is (unless you count the
games written by Infocom !). Final Fantasy Adventure (Secret of Mana), is really good, and
would be my favorite game except I have already finished it. Zelda is my second favorite,
and James Bond ties for last with Gargoyle's Quest.
- James Bond 007 ++
- Final Fantasy Adventure (Secret of Mana I) +++++
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening ++++
- Gargoyle's Quest + (, but only for Arcadians. Roleplaying Rating = **)
Puzzle
I count Puzzle games as those that do not really require instant reflexes, and use
a lot more that which we call 'grey matter'. I did not count time clock limits as
making a game 'arcade' so in a few of these you do have very limited times to finish,
but that is just part of the game !
- Ishido: The Way of Stones ++++++ ! ! !
- Boxxle +
- Q Billion - The Puzzle Game to CHEWS !
- Kwirk - Adventure of the Chilled Tomato
- Flipull
- Daedalian Opus (a little pentomino set)
Puzzle-Arcade
In the Puzzle-Arcade games, you will need to have some arcade-type skills, but you
will also need to solve (sometimes complex) timing and logic puzzles.
- David Crane's The Rescue of Princess Blobette
- Mysterium (like a small Three Dimensional puzzle game)
- Cyriad
- Bill and Ted's Excellent Game Boy Adventure
- Hyper Lode Runner
- Quarth
- Pipe Dream
Arcade
Arcade games do not require anything but nimble fingers. Usually, they have obvious
goals and are easy to learn how to play. Sometimes there are puzzle elements, but
not usually.
- Battle Bull
- Heiankyo Alien
- Motocross Maniacs
- Dragon's Lair: The Legend [ The Return Adventure into the Dragon's Lair ]
- Qix
- Super Mario Land
- Game and Watch Gallery
- Serpent (Lightcycle Duel from TRON-type game. Similar to Snake for UNIX boxes.)
- Penguin Wars
- mercenary FORCE
- Nemesis (Gradius for the Game Boy)
Sport Games
- Nintendo World Cup (Soccer game)
- NBA All Star Challenge *
- Bo Jackson Two Games in One (Baseball and Football)
I don't like
These games are those that I, personally, do not particularly like. However, these opinions
were mine only at the time of the authourship of this webset, so probably they are not
current, and some actually good games are listed here.
- The Castlevania Adventure *1/2
- Boomer's Adventure in ASMIK World **
- The Game of Harmony **
- NBA Live 96 ***