Top 15 original black and white Game Boy titles

by Blake Snow { Aug 8th 2006 at 3:25PM }

The portable gents at Modojo have put together their top 15 original Game Boy picks, excluding the obvious Tetris. From the article: "This time we chose to highlight 15 grayscale warriors that have stood the test of time, and emerged as classics, despite appearing only in shades of gray." The list includes such notable titles as Nintendo World Cup, Metroid II, Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, Castlevania Legends, Link's Awakening, R-Type, Final Fantasy Adventure, and Kirby's Dream Land.

I haven't played an original Game Boy title since I was a wee tyke. Maybe color is overrated.

[Thanks, Justin]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mack Swift @ Aug 8th 2006 3:31PM

The DS is capable of playing all Game Boy B/W, Game Boy Color, and GameBoy Advanced Games, right? I'm guessing U can pick of the oldies on EBay.

Andy J @ Aug 8th 2006 3:36PM

color is overrated you bunch of racists...

Rare Hare @ Aug 8th 2006 3:36PM

Mack Swift, I thought that the DS could only play DS and GBA games. It doesn't matter though, because a GBA or Game Boy Color will play those OG games.

I remember spending countless hours playing Metroid II: Return of Samus. It's really the first game I remember playing. I would play that, Super Mario Bros., and some Bonk's ADventure game ALL the time.

I miss it.

MetaHuman @ Aug 8th 2006 3:38PM

Nintendo World Cup was AWESOME. Metroid II's music was also cool and the game introduced stuff like the Spider Ball.

Blades of Steel was also awesome. I liked skipping to the fighting mode.

Honorable mention should be Faceball 2000 for being so ambitious as to attempt a 16-player shooter on GameBoy and so should GameBoy Camera. I love that thing. :)

Chris @ Aug 8th 2006 3:40PM

The DS plays only GBA games. The GBA SP plays all Gameboy games (get the backlit version!).

The best solution is the Gameboy Player for GameCube. Even B&W Gameboy games play and look great on the Cube.

Draco @ Aug 8th 2006 3:41PM

DS only plays GBA and DS games, I can't play my GBC games on it :( which sucks cause my GBA isnt backlit and I bought dragon warrior but couldnt play it cause its a pain getting the brightness needed. tilt head this way then gba this way, yep perfect, ahh the sun moved!

Markster @ Aug 8th 2006 3:42PM

Black and... 'White'?

bv @ Aug 8th 2006 3:44PM

Kirby's dreamland was awesome. I also loved kirby pinball, Super Mario Land 2, Wario Land, and Battle Unit Zeoth. Oh ya and Bill and Ted's excellent adventure and this game called Hunchback were really awesome too.

crono141 @ Aug 8th 2006 3:45PM

unfortunately, DS is not back compat with anything before GBA.

But GBA is.

I played the crap out of Links Awakening. It was the 3 Zelda I had ever beaten.

Paul P. @ Aug 8th 2006 3:47PM

Actuyally the DS is fully capable of playing GB/GBC games... if you could plug them in, but you can't because the cartridge loader has been designed to block them off. If there was an adapter to make it fit it would easily play them, but Nintendo hasn't released one for some reason.

We know it can play those because people have used flash roms containing GB/GBC game data, not emulated, it just inherently plays the format.

Eric Bostrom @ Aug 8th 2006 3:49PM

I've been playing GB games since the 6th grade, when my parents let me buy my ogb. Some of my favorite OGB games are:
Operation C (contra)
Metroid II
Zelda: Link's Awakening
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Hexcite
Tetris (c'mon, it came with the system)
F-1 Race
Ducktales
Super Mario Land
Bubble Bobble
Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle
Kirby's Dream Land
...so many memories, I still have them all too.

cringer8 @ Aug 8th 2006 3:51PM

Batman and Kirby. Those two games enjoyed a HIGH level of rotation in my Gameboy. Glad to see they didn't get overlooked on this list.

Nadinengland @ Aug 8th 2006 3:57PM

I still have that game in the picture, it was on a track and field i thinkz...

Paul P. @ Aug 8th 2006 3:59PM

Tell you what, I'll take an exacto knife and try to "adapt" one of my old GB cartridges, analog style and take a pic if I can.

Draco @ Aug 8th 2006 4:01PM

Paul,

The DS does play GB/GBC games through emulation, it doesn't have the GBC chip on the system so it cant play it through hardware.

its more then just getting an adapter, if it was that simple you could make it yourself with a sheet of metal and some plastic.

when you play on say EFA linker or the NDS SD card cartridge you are actually emulating it like the PSP emulates them.

tactics @ Aug 8th 2006 4:03PM

ahhhhh finally. an honorable mention for the game Final Fantasy Adventure. suuuuuuuuch a great game. most underrated gameboy game EVER, in my opinion, and i really really wish they'd make a DS sequel... god that would soooo rock.

-"superfan" tactics.

Felix Andrews @ Aug 8th 2006 4:10PM

To finish this debate once and for all: even if they did fit, old Game Boy/Game Boy Color titles wouldn't be playable on a DS. A GBA can play older games because the entire Game Boy Color chipset is built into the GBA's hardware. To save money on manuracturing, Nintendo removed this from the DS, which only incorporates the GBA chipset.

And for my money, Wario Land was one of the greats of the monochrome generation. I'm actually having trouble remembering that far back, though - which makes me feel very, very old.

Rachel @ Aug 8th 2006 4:12PM

I'm very surprised Mario Land: Six Golden Coins didn't get a mention. That was a VERY good game, and a vast improvement from the earlier "Super Mario Land".

tactics @ Aug 8th 2006 4:13PM

huh - interesting to note: i just read the article, and the final fantasy adventure game i've been so in love with all these years is actually the basis for the new "Sword of Mana" game - it'll be a dressed-up re-branded port of final fantasy adventure.

they already had my money for sword of mana... that was a given... now i'm just twice as excited! yay!

-"superfan" tactics.

32_Footsteps @ Aug 8th 2006 4:22PM

A few comments...

First, MetaHuman knows where to give due. FaceBall 2000 was way ahead of its time. And no taunt can ever be as effective as the fact that your opponent would say to you "Have A Nice Day!" when he took you out. Sheer brilliance.

I'm still amazed by the original Kirby game. So absurdly simple (I beat it the first time I played it), but yet so much fun. It's a testament to how great design makes a great game.

Final Fantasy Adventure is a great game, and it gets bonus credit for avoiding the "hero of destiny" tripe that most RPGs throw at you (you're just an escaped slave, and you just wander into the conflict over the fate of the world). The GBA remake is an utter disappointment, though. But if you're looking for a DS sequel... they're making one. It's going to be called Children of Mana. It's going to rule.

And call me crazy, but Link's Awakening is my favorite amongst all Zelda titles. Yes, even over Ocarina. Go ahead, call me crazy, but I thought the game was genius.

DG @ Aug 8th 2006 4:25PM

I'd forgotten that Kirby started on the venerable GB, and was a very, very good game too.

My favorite GB game not already listed is RC Pro-Am. Very, very fun.

Also, did anyone play Street Fighter II on GB? What a terrible, terrible idea.

Logic Bus @ Aug 8th 2006 4:29PM

No Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan? No Wario Land? And yeah, Six Golden Coins was also excellent, along with the fact that it introduced Wario, if I remember correctly.

EnderAl @ Aug 8th 2006 4:30PM

Pff... no Robocop? Man, I loved that game on Gameboy. I suspect I am alone in having played/liked it though. :(

Kent Houseman @ Aug 8th 2006 4:36PM

No Super Mario Land 2. Arguably the best title for the original GB. Batman? That game sucks. Sounds like nostalgia and crappy access to GB games played into this list...

Gorvi @ Aug 8th 2006 4:37PM

Ah, Gargoyle's Quest, now that brings back some memories....

Matt @ Aug 8th 2006 4:40PM

I agree 32_Footsteps, Link's awakening was absolutely incredible. The story was high above par even by today's standards. If any of you haven't played Link's Awakening, I really suggest you pick it up (Or it's GBC counterpart Link's Awakening DX). The story, items, enemies, bosses, and gameplay top that of even Ocarina of Time. Check it out!

Gorvi @ Aug 8th 2006 4:41PM

Logic Bus, thanks for that reminder. I totally forgot about the greatness of Fall of the Foot Clan! Damn, I played the hell out of that.

JTS @ Aug 8th 2006 4:50PM

Some folks have mentioned some real hidden gems (Robocop!!) but I haven't seen any mention of Donkey Kong (released right around the same time as SuperGameBoy). That game was outrageously deep and really a pleasure. I don't know that I've played a 2D/Adventure/Puzzler like it or better since (nm, Lost Vikings). Also, if you haven't played Skate or Die: Bad and Rad, you are doing yourself a disservice.

Wedge @ Aug 8th 2006 4:53PM

Kirby's Adventure? Weak. He didn't even have his trademark ability to absorb powers in that one. Kirby's Dream Land 2 on the other hand, was awesome. He could absorb powers as well as combine them with three helper animals for 4 variations on every power in the game. They were also necessary for solving puzzles in the backtrackable game world. The game had a secret "true" ending that was quite a task to get, requiring you to know all the variants of the powers to get all the items needed for it.

Super Mario Land 2 and the Wario Land games were awesome too.

BPM? @ Aug 8th 2006 5:12PM

Megaman V deserves some recognition. Unlike I-IV, it didn't reuse the NES Robot Masters (granted, the stages and challenges were completely new, as well as the fortress bosses known as the Megaman Killers). It had the Stardroids.
Other features:
-The Mega Arm replaced the Mega Buster (which was later reused in the Super Adapter in Megaman 7)
-The only use of Tango, Megaman's cat-like support unit.
-Dr. Wily is NOT the final boss.

Also, about Nintendo World Cup... It's part of the Kunio-kun series in Japan. Which also includes River City Ransom. So if the art style of Nintendo World Cup ever reminded you of something, now you know why. :P

I thought the Donkey Kong Land series were a pretty impressive attempt at converting the Super NES Donkey Kong Country series to Game Boy. Perhaps a bit lacking compared to the Super NES games, but they were still good.

Yeah, Tetris is the obvious choice, but there's still Tetris 2 (with its color-matching and disconnected falling pieces) and then Tetris Plus (with a Puzzle mode where you had to help this professor guy reach the goal at the bottom).

Fall of the Foot Clan FTW!

Paul P. @ Aug 8th 2006 5:26PM

Mega Man V, but I still hold Mega Man IV as the best.

V had an original story, which was great, and original robot masters, but overall I would say Mega Man IV just had such awesome level design, it was the first Mega Man game to implement real cutscenes, it was the first GB Mega Man game to have a decent story, Ballade was awesome, and the re-used robot masters were among the best. Also the fortress boss was pretty cool. Mega Man IV was definitely my favorite original GB game, I still play it every once in a while.

tactics @ Aug 8th 2006 5:31PM

dude... fall of the foot clan. i completely forgot about that game. that was so awesome!

32_footsteps: thanks. didn't know there was a remake for GBC... i guess i never paid attention... but i tell you what: i can't WAIT for children of mana now. i was already looking forward to it, but now? DAMN! can't come soon enough.

soma @ Aug 8th 2006 5:51PM

What about Donkey Kong? The puzzle-ish game, not the DKC type. You know, the one with dozens of levels with puzzles and keys to grab. I feel like I'm always the only one who remembers this amazing game, and I've found it IMPOSSIBLE to locate the rom. :(

Philip Wesley @ Aug 8th 2006 5:57PM

They "know" handhelds and this is their list?

They know nothing. -_-

Here's how the list of 15 SHOULD have looked. I'll exclude Tetris -just as they did- and just include the best of the best in here.. in no real particular order.

15. Mario's Picross - The only thing more addicting than Sudoku is PICROSS. With literally hundreds of puzzles and a mode that pretty much allows you to play forever, this is the game that you can not call yourself a puzzle game player if you have not played.

14. Kirby's Block Ball - The largest GB game of it's time (It weighed in at 8megabits) and one of the best "Breakout" style games ever made. The amount of variety in the game and challenge make it one of those games you honestly can't miss. I'm gonna be controversial here and say it's as good or even better than Devilish.

13. Super R.C. Pro Am - This was back when Rare made good games. This was Remote Control Vehicular Combat before we got tired of vehicular combat. A top angle view racing game with missiles and such. Lots of fun.

12. Operation C - Contra. Fast paced. Lots of fun. Although it doesn't have the flamethrower that Contra: Alien Wars for the GB had, it's still lots of fun and it's actually HARD unlike later Contra games, and Contra: Alien Wars.

11. Batman: The Animated Series - Face it, the first Batman game for the GB was terrible. Return of the Joker was a little better; but not by much. This one is the best one there is. Better graphics, better weapons, better gameplay, just a better game, period.

10. Metroid II: Return of Samus - Yes, this game needs no introduction.

9. Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 - The first game starring Wario and the best platformer in the Super Mario Land series. Tons of secrets, 40 levels, hidden treasures, and freakish bosses. Also, Mario is a jerk. No, really. Mario is a jerk.

8. Donkey Kong 1994 - The best Donkey Kong game ever made. When Donkey Kong Plus was announced for the GBA, all was good.. well.. until DK Plus became Mario VS Donkey Kong and NST ruined it. But anyhow, this game was pure sweetness. It was also the first Super Game Boy compatible game.

7. Kirby's Dream Land 2 - The best Kirby game on the old GB. Loads of levels, tons of secrets, and three awesome animal friends.

6. Final Fantasy Legend 2 - FFL1 may be most popular; but FFL2 had actual character development, better music, and a more refined engine. The engine is perfected in FFL3; but the music isn't anywhere near as awesome as FFL2. "Burning Blood" forever.

5. Mole Mania - The idea is to collect cabbages, break blocks, toss items, dig holes, and figure your way out of tons of rooms to rescue your family from a crazed farmer. The set-up is pretty simple in some areas: Get a huge black ball into position to toss it at the wall blocking the exit. Toss in pipes, enemies, and weird bosses into the mix and you have Mole Mania.

4. Great Greed - An ecology based RPG with food names, a bit of a "dating" aspect, menuless combat, a great story with lots of nice little twists in it, and some fantastic music. One of the more interesting RPGs out there. You get attacked by FOOD. Seriously.

3. Final Fantasy Adventure - Really part of the Mana series; but still.. so good. ^______^

2. Game & Watch Gallery - Fire, Manhole, Oil Panic, and Octopus. All with original and "modern" versions. I think Fire may be the best game ever created. You can reach higher states of pure video game zen via Fire. I've been in a state where the world around me just completely vanishes and all that exists is Fire. People jump out of a burning building and you must bounce them via a trampoline into the ambulance. Simple, slightly morbid, and when there are tons of people in the air at once.. insanely challenging and perfect. I've gotten 4 digit scores in this game. The modern version is fantastic, but the classic version with its simple beep, beep, beep is pure gaming crack.

1. The Legend of Zelda IV: Link's Awakening - Yes, I totally agree with the on this one.

Honorable mentions include: Fortified Zone, Radar Mission, Balloon Kid, Ducktales 1 & 2, Darkwing Duck, Sword of Hope II, Knight's Quest, Rolan's Curse 2, New Zealand Story, Spud's Quest, Kwirk, World Cup. Yeah. O_O

Thad @ Aug 8th 2006 6:13PM

...Final Fantasy Legend but no Wario games? You've got to be friggin' kidding me.

Levi @ Aug 8th 2006 6:15PM

i really liked the GB version of qix...

All Your Lost Socks @ Aug 8th 2006 6:49PM

Qix, that one I still play all the time almost as much as I play Tetris!!
Anyone still play the old Pokemon games? I'm not even a Pokemon fan, and I loved those.

Meatthrills @ Aug 8th 2006 7:11PM

I think they're thinkin like, not the obvious classics? I played loads of those games and loved em. but yeh Donkey Kong 1994 is the most awesome game ever!

joe @ Aug 8th 2006 7:44PM

Donkey Kong 1994 really is the most awesome game ever. I would kill for a rom of that game. Kill.

K1ller 1nst1nct @ Aug 8th 2006 8:52PM

GB Pocket was the first decent screen for the gameboy. The original GB was hard to see, the contrast was bad and the lines didnt show up very well when you were zipping past. Most people remember those games as Spinach Green. :p

32_footsteps @ Aug 8th 2006 9:14PM

Alright, can't resist a few more comments.

While I don't agree with all of Philip's list, he's dead on in giving the top nod to Final Fantasy Legend 2. Very fun to play, much better system overall than the first, and you can't cheap the final boss with an item you get in the third world. That's even before you get into the plot (which is downright hilarious at times - I loved the part where you go to the world where the illicit drug everyone talked about was bananas).

Gargoyle's Quest... I never understood why they only made two (there was an NES remake of the GB version - both were classic). Gargoyle's Quest never went anywhere, but Capcom had tons of time to release how many versions of Street Fighter 2?

The GB version of Donkey Kong (the first game to be functional with the Super Game Boy - and I have both) was quite good. They later reused some of those levels in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, if I remember correctly. A bit too easy, but nothing quite compared to finally being able to throw the barrels back at DK.

Also, special credit should go to Pokemon because it made portable gaming something to be excited about again. I had abandoned portable gaming for years, but Pokemon brought me back in, and it coincided with a renaissance in terms of game quality for portables. I don't think it's absurd to say that the portable gaming market would not be nearly as big as it is without Pokemon.

Now, all we need is a Wifi-enabled update to FaceBall 2000, and we'll be all set.

n8dogg @ Aug 8th 2006 10:32PM

That's not black and white... It's green, light green and dark dark green!

Philip Wesley @ Aug 8th 2006 11:18PM

BANANAS ARE MOVING AMONG US SECRETLY.

Good times, good times.

Petrie @ Aug 9th 2006 12:01AM

No Pokemon on this list makes it useless, period. I don't care how "kiddy" it is, the game MADE portable gaming what it is today, possibly even more-so than Tetris.

Benzitor @ Aug 9th 2006 1:23AM

Sorry to say it, but GB and GBA games where a lot superior than DS games....because they had depth ( except this bad habbit of nintendo to revamp old snes games on the GBA ) And yes, you can play with them on DS through a rom player ( it is legal if you own the original !!! ) and it rocks...

VIVA SUPER MARIO LAND....its a new supermario killer in my opinion...