Game Boy Color: Your favorite portable is back in color!

[Game Boy Color, Clear Purple] Every once in a while, a product comes along that impresses me. This is not that product, but what impressed me this year was a non-video game product. What we do have is a near third-generation product from Nintendo. Going back to the original Game Boy, we go onto the "Play It Loud" series, which is just the original Game Boy with a choice of colors. We move onto a near second generation product with the Game Boy Pocket, 33% smaller than the original, 100% as fun. Game Boy Pocket is a smaller version of the Game Boy that requires less batteries and has a very bright screen. There is even a backlit version of the Game Boy Pocket known as the Game Boy Light. Now you can play Game Boy games without a light source!

I guess Nintendo got tired of hearing the requests for a color gaming system from portable gamers. I imagine that the tease of the Super Game Boy adaptor for the Super Nintendo was a leading indicator of things to come. For those not in the know, the Super Game Boy allowed a Super Nintendo to play Game Boy games. I must applaud game developers who developed Game Boy games with extra code for use with the Super Game Boy. While the Super Game Boy provided some basic colorization to traditional B&W Game Boy titles, games with extra code for the Super Game Boy were able to enjoy 4-color graphics as defined by the developer. While not necessarily impressive, it sure beats the traditional 4-color grey scheme used by the Game Boy.

Developers are always pushing the envelope once they fully grasp the cababilities of a gaming system. Of the games that I own, Donkey Kong land is proof of this. Unfortunately, this game is so rich in graphics, it is extremely hard on the eyes to play on the original Game Boy. With the Game Boy Pocket, it is easier to see the game due to the brighter screen. Donkey Kong Land is a Super Game Boy title, meaning it includes the extra code for use with the Super Game Boy.

Enter Game Boy Color! Yes, Game Boy games can be played in color. Donkey Kong Land is PLAYABLE. Sure, it's only 4 colors, but it makes a HUGE difference. Playing the Millipede/Centipede cartride is more fun now that I can clearly see the poisoned mushrooms. Not only does the Game Boy Color look great with Super Game Boy titles, it even makes your regular Game Boy titles look better. While you can select one of the Game Boy Color's built-in color palettes, I tend to not bother with that. Regular games are brighter and easier to see. Less light is required, although you still need an external light source because the screen is not lit. One of the first things you may immediately notice is the lack of a contrast control. I was shocked myself since I find myself using this controller quite frequently as I change positions at regular intervals. The new screen is so bright you won't miss or need the contrast control, but you will need the external light source.

Nintendo has kept some of the Game Boy Pocket features in mind when designing this near second-generation system. They have tried to keep size down to a minimum. While physically larger than the Game Boy Pocket, it is still significantly smaller than the original sized Game Boy. The new smaller Game Link port is used. A new addition is the infra-red communications port at the top of the game unit. This new infra-red port is not a substitute for the Game Link port, but rather a supplemental data port. For games that support the infra-red port, you should be able to exchange game information, such as saves and/or characters.

The only bad thing I can think of is that there are games being developed for it that will be Game Boy color only. Such titles will be incompatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket game systems. Some games will be dual-mode, meaning they will be compatible with Game Boy Color and the older Game Boy systems, and will have special code that only works with the Game Boy Color.

If you're serious about Game Boy and are thinking of replacing your original style game unit or considering getting a Game Boy, I'd strongly recommend the Game Boy Color. Yes, it may cost more than the original, but I think you'll enjoy the Game Boy Color. 



Games and accessories that I have


Game Boy:


  • Tetris

  • Yoshi

  • Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

  • Kirby's Pinball Land    [Completed]
    Select+RIGHT+A  Play bosses, can't die
    If you did this right, a black cat(?) will walk from Left to Right at the high 
    score screen.
    Select+LEFT+B  Play bonus rounds.
    If you did this right, a white cat will walk from Right to Left at the high score 
    screen.

  • Kirby's Dream Land     [Comleted]
At Title Screen:
Select+UP+A  Tougher game
Select+Down+B  Cheats and soundtest.

  • Kirby's Dream Land 2

  • Donkey Kong                [Completed]
    Level Select Code: At Title Screen: Up, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Up, Up

  • Donkey Kong Land

  • Mortal Kombat            [Completed]
View List of moves.

  • Mortal Kombat II         [Completed]
View list of moves.
View a 45K FAQ on Mortal Kombat II

  • QIX
    To turn off the sound, hold LEFT and press START at the title screen.

  • F-1 Race(4 players at once)

  • Dr. Mario

  •  Centipede/Millipede

    

    Game Boy DX(Dual Mode: Color and B&W)
    

  • Tetris DX

    

    Game Boy Color
    

  • Mario Tennis

    

    Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket/Light and Game Boy Color Accessories
    

  • Original Nintendo GameBoy Link cable

  • 2 Nintendo GameBoy Pocket/Color Link cables with adaptor for older Game Boy units


    

    Game Boy Advance
    

  • Super Mario Advance (Japanese)

  • Super Mario Advance (American/English)

  • Bionicle

  • Tetris Worlds

  • Super Mario Advance 2

    

    Game Boy Advance Accessories
    

  • Gamester Floodlight snap-on display light/Screen guard

  • Nintendo Game Boy Advance Link cable

  • Nintendo E-Reader

  • Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Cable