Have you gotten your Analogue Pocket yet this year? I did and that followed the rules. Not only is FPGA simulation technology amazing, But it’s also the perfect excuse to dive into a different retro library. to find hidden treasures A few weeks ago I’ve been looking at a lot of cool ROM hack projects inspired by my AP adventures, so this week I’m going to talk about some great games to play. And it’s not a common curiosity when you think of classic games. I’m focusing on the Game Boy Color here, a system mostly known for its huge collection of hit and licensed games. Whether it’s a novel mix of genres or technical prowess. These games are unique in being unique to Nintendo’s second 8-bit handheld.
Mission of Power
I’ve loved this game since I was a kid. And it was nice to find that I wasn’t alone while researching this show. The best way I can think of to describe Power Quest is “What if Pokemon TCG were a fighting game?” The game’s story structure and navigation are reminiscent of RPGs of the era, but the game itself is a fighting game. Taking inspiration from Street Fighter 2, you choose your robot based on a variety of fighting styles. This makes it stronger over time. and finally solving the evil plot hidden behind the anime-like competition.
children survive
Long before we had games like ARK or Minecraft, Konami had been exploring the idea of survival mechanics with the aptly named Survival Kids. Challenging with various systems Only to keep your character alive. But it is also an open, non-linear story with multiple endings. It depends on what you discover and achieve when you survive.
Magical Chase GB
Before the team at Quest created RPG classics like Ogre Battle and Tactics Ogre, they created bizarre side-swaps for Called Magical Chase, the publisher’s TurboGrafx-16 carries it exactly as Magical Chase released, making it one of the most expensive games on the second-hand market. It was later ported to the Game Boy Color and is one of the most impressive ports on the small portable device. This cute but challenging shooting game It looks like it should push the GBC to its limits. But it works smoothly and can be played for hours. There isn’t much text. But it was translated by fans. This makes this the perfect hidden gem for any unofficial hardware or cart simulator.
Star Ocean: Blue Sphere
Sure, there were plenty of RPGs on the Game Boy Color, but few were sequels to the console RPG that many consider one of the all-time greats. Star Ocean: The Second Story remains a classic. It’s been around forever, and Blue Sphere is a surprising sequel rather than a spin-off. This is what people expect from mobile work. Being a sequel isn’t the only thing that makes Blue Sphere stand out. It’s also ridiculously complicated for a Game Boy Color game, and those complexities come through. This is especially true of Blue Sphere’s real-time combat system, as with Magical Chase, there are fan translations. This one is much more impressive (and necessary) given its scope as a full-fledged RPG.
Legend of the River King
Longtime fans of Harvest Moon know a lot about series like Story of Seasons or Rune Factory, but Marvelous has a much more obscure RPG/life simulation game. Mainly due to its extremely specific location, River King has seen very few local games over the years, with the Game Boy Color games being the ones that stuck in the minds of those who played them. Imagine a fishing minigame in a Zelda-like game, but the entire game revolves around it. You will have to fight with spiders and other animals, collecting bait and hooks. And make sure you pair the right equipment for the fish you are targeting. The whole fishing experience is happening here. This includes patience. So be very patient.
There were many other weird hidden gems and cult classics on the Game Boy Color, but these five stand out the most in my mind. Whether it’s a new and unique game that you can’t find anywhere else. or the technical abilities that make it unbelievable that you’re watching a game running on a GBC cart, playing these is a must for anyone who wants one. Gather your knowledge base or play something different from the obvious choices. Did I miss something that you feel deserves a shout out? Tell me what it is! I’m curious, especially after playing Magical Chase for the first time.
