Gaming Forums => Nintendo Gaming => Topic started by: Khushrenada on September 13, 2019, 06:57:40 PM
Title: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on September 13, 2019, 06:57:40 PM
With the 3DS pretty much winding down and a lack of upcoming releases we have now arrived at the life cycle of a system where users start looking back in the catalogue of available games that were released and that they missed or forgot about when games were coming out regularly. For myself, I know that I didn't always pay as close attention to the eShop and its releases as I did physical releases. And while I have accumulated a few titles from it, I feel there are probably more I should take advantage of especially since Nintendo hasn't created any other source to purchase many of these titles.
While I could I slowly go through each title and try to track down reviews, I'd rather get the opinions of the NWR Forum users whose gaming tastes I trust a bit more. Plus, I figured this would be a chance to engage in our favorite practice of reminiscing about games we loved playing (and arguing about the worth / rank of a game. ;) )
The main goal is simple. If you have personally played any of these titles, post which ones you have and which ones you highly recommend others should have on their 3DS, which ones might be recommended for Kairon (or a deeper cut for a certain type of fan) and what you think should be skipped. (And sure, even if you haven't played them and have an opinion, I'm not going to argue against you from posting it). I've also included a poll for people to vote on the games they think a person should acquire for their 3DS.
I'm starting with the classic Game Boy games as this is the one that most puzzles me but I plan to go through other VC systems and indie titles so expect more of these articles / posts to come. Currently there are 50 Game Boy titles available for the Virtual Console on 3DS. (R.I.P. Tetris). For this thread, I'm starting with the first 25 of these titles alphabetically. I'll also create a second thread pretty soon for the other 25. Just to keep the poll option from being too large. The titles for discussion in this thread are:
Adventure Island Alleyway Avenging Spirit Balloon Kid Baseball Bionic Commando BurgerTime Deluxe Castlevania: The Adventure Catrap Donkey Kong '94 Donkey Kong Land Donkey Kong Land 2 Donkey Kong Land 3 Double Dragon Dr. Mario Fortified Zone Game & Watch Gallery Gargoyle's Quest Golf Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters Kirby's Block Ball Kirby's Dream Land Kirby's Dream Land 2 Kirby's Pinball Land Kirby's Star Stacker
So, let's discuss which of these should be regarded as the best. ;D
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: BeautifulShy on September 13, 2019, 11:21:52 PM
I need to check out more of the GB library on the 3DS eshop but these are the games I enjoyed playing and think are some of the best on the eshop.
Donkey Kong '94 Kirby's Dream Land 2 Kirby's Dream Land Dr. Mario Game and Watch Gallery Balloon Kid Castlevania: The Adventure Burgertime Deluxe
Those are the ones I have played or have a solid grip on its reputation as being good on the eshop or growing up.
The DKL games from what I recall were ports of the SNES DKC games so those speak for themselves.
I would say the Kirby games, DK '94 and Dr. Mario are the best games from that list.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: NWR_insanolord on September 13, 2019, 11:48:52 PM
I second DK94. I'd say that's by far the best black and white Game Boy game available on the VC.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: pokepal148 on September 14, 2019, 12:47:38 AM
DK 94, Catrap, and Balloon Kid are definitely must plays.
Gargoyle's Quest and Kirby's Dream Land 1 are also really good.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Order.RSS on September 14, 2019, 11:08:56 AM
I've played very few of these. Kirby 2 is really fun if that's the one with the support animals. You can ride a hamster and sit in a fish' mouth in that one right? Also recall Alleyway as being surprisingly difficult for a Breakout game.
Donkey Kong Land was one of my first GB games and the levels on the third map were a real pain in ape. Moving platforms and giant wasps abound, not a good time. That game also had the audacity to open with a snow stage for its second level. Awful. It looks and sounds really good though, especially when compared to the limited visuals of say Super Mario Land 1.
Boring lil' anecdote: when I finally got access to a dial-up Internet connection years after it became commercially available I thought online game reviews were just the coolest thing ever. A lot of games I never got to read reviews for in magazines, so I would dial-in, load a review for something I owned, disconnect immediately when the page was done, and read what critics thought of the games I own(ed).
Donkey Kong Land stands out in memory because someone gave it a 4.5/10 and they talked a lot about 'hitboxes' which was a word I just had no context for. I guess back then I secretly still wanted reviews to agree with my opinions? And look how much has changed now (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=60391.msg956294#msg956294)! Now that's what we call a character arc, folks.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Mop it up on September 14, 2019, 02:00:58 PM
Alleyway This is just a plain "break the blocks" type of game with nothing interesting about it. Not Recommended
Balloon Kid If you wanted to see a level-based version of the Balloon Trip mode from Balloon Fight, that's this. Still very tough. Recommended
Catrap A bit of a strange puzzle game where you have to do things like push blocks so you can reach the "enemies" and punch them. I put "enemies" in quotes because I don't think they can hurt you, they're just your goal to reach. Can get surprisingly tricky. Annoying music. Recommended
Donkey Kong (1994) A sort of puzzle-platformer inspired by the original Donkey Kong arcade game. Very enjoyable and clever, and Mario gains some fun moves here. Better than the Mario vs Donkey Kong series which would follow it. A shame the Super Game Boy features are not present on 3DS. Strongly Recommended
Donkey Kong Land While its sequels are more closely tied to the SNES games, this one actually features an entirely different set of levels and many different themes, music, and obstacles. However, the small screen space is a real hindrance here, resulting in lots of blind jumps and hidden enemies. The slow scroll speed also means if you drop below the screen before it scrolls downwards, DK gets killed even if there's actually ground below the screen border. I still played through this and got some enjoyment out of it because of its uniqueness, but if I'm being honest, it's probably a bad game. Recommended for Kairon
Donkey Kong Land 2 and Donkey Kong Land 3 While the gameplay may be improved over the original Donkey Kong Land, these two are much less unique from the SNES games. They feature the same level themes, obstacles, and ideas as the respective SNES game, with slightly different level layouts to accommodate the smaller screen. Some levels may deviate more than others to feel a little more new, but overall, I don't really see a reason to play these if you have access to the SNES games. Not Recommended
Dr. Mario As far as I can tell, there is nothing unique about this version of Dr. Mario to make it worth getting over the 3DS version. Not Recommended
Game & Watch Gallery There are four games included here, and they have both re-creations of the original Game and Watch units as well as "modern" versions featuring updated graphics and physics with Mario characters, and the gameplay runs more smoothly and is typically more forgiving. The games are Fire, Manhole, Octopus, and Oil Panic. These can be fun if you're into chasing high-scores, but otherwise it won't keep you entertained for long. Once again, sadly no Super Game Boy feature, which is a shame as it looked really nice. Recommended for Kairon
Kirby's Block Ball I haven't played this much, but it puts a Kirby spin on breaking blocks, so you probably know what to expect. Possibly Recommended
Kirby's Dream Land The original! It may be short and lack copy powers, but there's still something charming about this game. The extra mode can be tough! Recommended for Kairon
Kirby's Dream Land 2 This game introduced Kirby's animal buddies! Like most Kirby games, a pretty straight-forward platformer with fun powers. Recommended
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: pokepal148 on September 14, 2019, 06:27:49 PM
Avenging Spirit can be a fun time as well.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: nickmitch on September 14, 2019, 09:45:14 PM
Everyone's covered DK '94, so I'll vouch for Kirby's Block Ball. I had it as a kid and it was always really fun. However, my memories of it and Kirby's Pinball Land are kinda mixed up, but I'm pretty sure I had a lot of fun with both.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on September 15, 2019, 02:32:25 AM
Woo! Lots of responses. Thanks all so far. I've been away this weekend and haven't had much time to peruse the forums much but looking forward to digging into these more tomorrow evening when I have the chance.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: ejamer on September 15, 2019, 09:47:53 AM
I agree with and want to echo Mop it up's opinions.
In addition, here are my thoughts on a few extra games:
Avenging Spirit - Hadn't played this before virtual console, and was very pleasantly surprised. The story is a little bit weird, and the platforming design is decidedly old-school in some aspects. However, the ability to jump into any body you want at any time (or maybe even stay incorporeal for a short time to skip through a tough spot) is really neat! Not for everyone, but if you enjoy old school platforming this game is worth checking out.
Bionic Commando - Maybe it's nostalgia talking, but this game plays well and the old Bionic Commando formula is still a lot of fun. I'd give it a recommendation - although I'm not sure this one does anything to stand out if you already have the NES version somewhere.
Gargoyle's Quest - This game was a letdown to me... although maybe that's just because of high expectations going in. The platforming is "ok" and the RPG elements are much less interesting than I had hoped for. The game is still interesting, but felt like the ideas weren't quite fleshed out (maybe because of hardware limitations). If you can grab one of the NES/SNES sequels instead, I'd recommend skipping this one and going that route.
Kirby's Pinball Land - Not the best pinball on the GameBoy (I'd give that to Revenge of the Gator) but it's still an interesting piece of Kirby history. The table designs are simple but they did a nice job integrating Kirby elements and the boss battles are pretty fun. If I didn't have nostalgia for the game, it would've been a hard sell though...
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Adrock on September 15, 2019, 09:54:27 AM
Donkey Kong ‘94 is the only game on the list I’ve played extensively, and may be the only game on the list I even played at all. I don’t remember if I played Castlevania: The Adventure. I’m an old man; my memory isn’t what it used to be. I may have tried it second-hand at Play ‘N Trade, but I know I never owned it. Castlevania: The Adventure is generally not looked upon favorably.
Anyway, I’m surprised Nintendo never went back to the well and made a true sequel to Donkey King ‘94. Like Link’s Awakening, it isn’t simply “good for a Gameboy game.” Donkey Kong ‘94 is one of the best games ever made.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: NWR_insanolord on September 15, 2019, 02:04:33 PM
Anyway, I’m surprised Nintendo never went back to the well and made a true sequel to Donkey King ‘94. Like Link’s Awakening, it isn’t simply “good for a Gameboy game.” Donkey Kong ‘94 is one of the best games ever made.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong on GBA is basically that. Before they took that series in other directions the first one was pretty much a straight sequel to DK 94.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Adrock on September 15, 2019, 02:27:18 PM
That’s fair. I completely forgot about the original Mario vs. Donkey Kong. I didn’t like it very much. Not terrible; I vaguely recall the controls/movement feeling stiff and the changed setting/plot removed a lot of the nostalgia.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: ejamer on September 15, 2019, 07:12:13 PM
That’s fair. I completely forgot about the original Mario vs. Donkey Kong. I didn’t like it very much. Not terrible; I vaguely recall the controls/movement feeling stiff and the changed setting/plot removed a lot of the nostalgia.
Agreed - the original Mario vs Donkey Kong wasn't great. Instead of an improvement over DK'94, or even a passable sequel, it felt like a clear step down in quality. When later sequels took the game in a different direction, I was happy because they had missed the mark so badly with that first one.
It would be awesome to see a good remake of DK'94 though. That game had a ton of content, and is still a blast to play through.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on September 15, 2019, 09:23:38 PM
First - I've said it before and I'll say it again: Democracy just doesn't work What is with this forum switching around the positions of poll options. Once again, the order of the poll has somehow been flip turned upside down (or at least jumbled a bit from the alphabetical order it once was.) I hate that!
Dr. Mario As far as I can tell, there is nothing unique about this version of Dr. Mario to make it worth getting over the 3DS version. Not Recommended
We got ourselves a difference of opinion here. So, I've got to ask BeautifulShy, what makes this version of Dr. Mario so good. As Mop it up points out, there are other Dr. Mario options available if you are a 3DS user. Is it nostalgia? Let's say a person who hasn't played Dr. Mario games before was looking to get a game or two in the series. Would you say this title is one they really should get or should play in that series? To me, it seems weird to play this game in black and white considering it's always been based around that three color idea of red, yellow and blue viruses.
Before I played DK '94, I had first played Mario Vs Donkey Kong on the GBA and that was around two - three years after the DS came out and I had something that could play GBA games. I found the game so-so. I still completed the whole thing getting all the stars, presents and videos collected and even beating the expert levels. But as I noted on Backloggery on my thoughts of the game, something about this game became a chore to play through after only the 3rd world. Yet, not only did I complete it on the GBA, I also did it again on the 3DS Ambassador release.
Meanwhile, I remember when DK '94 was announced and advertised as that was the same time that DKC was also on its way to release. I remember the advertisement of there being more than 100 levels and thinking that this game must have been so huge. What stuck in my brain or my young mind seemed to think was the concept of the game was that it seemed to take the Donkey Kong arcade game and basically add all these other stages to that game to make like this massive tower that Mario would have to climb to defeat Donkey Kong. However, not having a Game Boy, I could only imagine what that game must have been like. Then, from my time here, I'd often see this game brought up on occasion by someone like UncleBob talking about it being the best GameBoy game made or something in glowing terms like that and I suppose my expectations for this magical game that took the fun of the Donkey Kong arcade game and increased it by 100.
So, when this finally came out on the Virtual Console and I could finally play it, I was highly disappointed to find out that it basically played like Mario Vs Donkey Kong and I already found that to be a below average game. You never really here anyone speak of Mario Vs Donkey Kong as some great follow-up or sequel to DK '94 so I didn't get why people liked this version so much more. I think Mario may actually have more moves or control a little easier in DK '94 which is a bit ironic considering the difference in system power but, in the end, it was still that same style of gameplay and level design and it kind of killed my interest in the GB VC (along with a couple other disappointments like Metroid II) because if these were the top games then the lesser stuff must be even worse. Yet, I still beat every level and collected all 3 items for every relevant stage so I don't know what that says about me when I thoroughly play these games I'm hardly even liking. Clearly there's still something sort of compelling about them but not enough to make me love them. Truth is, after playing this about 5(?) years ago, I remember absolutely nothing about it and forget I even played it unless I'm making a list like this up.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on September 15, 2019, 10:18:59 PM
For myself, the only games I can really comment on in regards to this list are:
DK '94 - I've just talked about it but, for me, I gave it a slight recommendation. Some people may like the gameplay and design of this game (and clearly do) but I'm not a big fan of it. I consider it an average game and rather forgettable.
Donkey Kong Land - On the flip side, unlike Steefosaurus and perhaps Mop it up, I had a lot more enjoyment out of this title and rate / recommend it much higher. In fact, it was playing Donkey Kong Land that rejuvenated my interest in the Game Boy Virtual Console. The Super Nintendo titles are still better but this ended up being the best Game Boy experience I'd had yet in going through these classic titles and, despite its faults, (and it does have them. It's by no means the greatest DK experience) I still walked away from this experience highly impressed by the game and a big supporter of it.
Donkey Kong Land 2 and 3 - DKL 1 was so good that I soon booted up DKL 2 and started playing that. The biggest difference is that that this time DKL 2 stayed a lot closer to the SNES version. It had the same world map and progression basically and the make-up of levels stuck to the same style as the SNES game and the world map. That said, they were still new levels so it's not like it was a straight port of the game. Moreover, I've always been a big fan of the DKC style so to have more of these games in that style appeals to me and I also blasted through DKL 2 completing it all. It just didn't feel as fresh by being so similar to the SNES version and how that one unfolded. Sort of like how Super Luigi U is the better game versus NSMBU but because it sticks to the same world map and level progression as NSMBU it still loses some of the originality and appeal it might have otherwise had.
I recently went through the first world in DKL 3 and it is also sticking close to the SNES version of DKC3 however the world maps are a bit different. I guess I'll see how it ends up overall but it is more like DKL2 than DKL1 in how it is designed and controls. In the end, I'm just happy to have some more Rare DK goodness that I can play after almost two decades since Rare and Nintendo split. If you liked Rare's take of DKC then I highly suggest you check out these games and the DK Land games are just about the best GB games I've played.
Kirby's Dream Land 2 - Yes, Steef, this one did introduce the Animal Helper friends like the fish that puts Kirby in its mouth. I've actually been playing this game on Kirby's 20th Anniversary Collection rather than through the Virtual Console release. It's my first time playing it but I really like it a lot. The reason I said the DK Land games are just about the best GB games I've played is because I think I'll probably give the crown to KDL2 here. I'm only about halfway through so we'll see how it ends but so far this game definitely falls on the high side of best Kirby games. I think it's better than the two Kirby GBA games despite coming out on the GB long before them. Unlike the Donkey Kong Land games which felt like Rare trying to cram the SNES experience onto the system and fighting those limitations, KDL2 was clearly designed to work within the specs of the system it was designed for yet it doesn't feel like it was sacrificing anything to do so. The result is a game that is still fun to play on any system. I'm thinking downloading this game again on my 3DS just to play it on the go once more. Absolutely worth getting.
Kirby's Dream Land - I'll go back to this now after skipping it to talk about 2. Mop it up said it best already with "It may be short and lack copy powers, but there's still something charming about this game." I was surprised when I played it through it on Kirby's 20th Anniversary Collection to discover there was a new world / level I'd never played before. I'd always read that Spring Breeze in Kirby Super Star was basically just a port / remaster of Kirby's Dream Land and from what I'd seen of the game that looked to be the case. Looking up info on it, Wikipedia mentions "Float Islands and Castle Lololo have merged and Kabula does not appear." It threw me off when those were divided and suddenly there was a new boss I'd never played before. Still, it is a very short game and might take half an hour or so to finish. Definitely one I'd recommend for fans of Kirby but not something I'd call the best of the Virtual Shop.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on September 15, 2019, 10:39:30 PM
Balloon Kid If you wanted to see a level-based version of the Balloon Trip mode from Balloon Fight, that's this. Still very tough. Recommended
Catrap A bit of a strange puzzle game where you have to do things like push blocks so you can reach the "enemies" and punch them. I put "enemies" in quotes because I don't think they can hurt you, they're just your goal to reach. Can get surprisingly tricky. Annoying music. Recommended
Kirby's Pinball Land - Not the best pinball on the GameBoy (I'd give that to Revenge of the Gator) but it's still an interesting piece of Kirby history. The table designs are simple but they did a nice job integrating Kirby elements and the boss battles are pretty fun. If I didn't have nostalgia for the game, it would've been a hard sell though...
I'll vouch for Kirby's Block Ball. I had it as a kid and it was always really fun. However, my memories of it and Kirby's Pinball Land are kinda mixed up, but I'm pretty sure I had a lot of fun with both.
I was pretty much already planning on getting Kirby Block Ball, Pinball Land and Star Stacker regardless of quality. I've never played any of them and, although I don't have high expectations for them to be an incredible gaming experience, I'd like to at least try them out and play them in an effort to play through all Kirby games. Playing the 20th Anniversary collection has revealed that as much as I consider myself a big Kirby fan there are still a lot of Kirby games I've yet to get around to ever playing. Meanwhile, I've played and completed a lot more games for other characters like Mario or Donkey Kong. Tilt N' Tumble may be the hardest for me to track down and play at this point (which is too bad since the 3DS had gyro capabilities. Where was the Tilt N' Tumble release or WarioWare: Twisted for 3DS?). So, while I expect these are probably titles recommended for fans of a certain type of gameplay of character, as a fan of Kirby I suppose they fall under that category so I'll get them. Maybe I'll even post an update about them in this thread someday.
I don’t remember if I played Castlevania: The Adventure. I’m an old man; my memory isn’t what it used to be. I may have tried it second-hand at Play ‘N Trade, but I know I never owned it. Castlevania: The Adventure is generally not looked upon favorably.
Gargoyle's Quest - This game was a letdown to me... If you can grab one of the NES/SNES sequels instead, I'd recommend skipping this one and going that route.
1 yay and 1 nay for those two titles. Anyone else want to way in or elaborate more?
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: BeautifulShy on September 15, 2019, 10:44:11 PM
Quote
Quote from BeautifulShy. I would say the Kirby games, DK '94 and Dr. Mario are the best games from that list.
I was mainly comparing the Game Boy games to themselves within the 3DS Game Boy eshop library.
Quote
Quote from: Mop it up on Yesterday at 11:00:58 AM Dr. Mario As far as I can tell, there is nothing unique about this version of Dr. Mario to make it worth getting over the 3DS version. Not Recommended
As someone who hasn't played the 3DS version of Dr. Mario I can't really compare the two. I imagine since it is newer it will have all sorts of newer things and improvements to the formula which I can't really comment on at the moment.
Quote
Quote from Khushrenada. We got ourselves a difference of opinion here. So, I've got to ask BeautifulShy, what makes this version of Dr. Mario so good. As Mop it up points out, there are other Dr. Mario options available if you are a 3DS user. Is it nostalgia? Let's say a person who hasn't played Dr. Mario games before was looking to get a game or two in the series. Would you say this title is one they really should get or should play in that series? To me, it seems weird to play this game in black and white considering it's always been based around that three color idea of red, yellow and blue viruses.
I think I like this version because it is just the main fundamentals of the game and I always pictured puzzle games are better on the go in the portable format. While the NES version came out roughly two months before the Game Boy version in North America I always pictured Dr. Mario for portable systems. As far as the black and white colors I find it makes it easy to match up things with the white colors, the black colors and the little mix of the two for the 3rd color. Now if you are asking me if Dr. Mario on Game Boy is the best version of Dr. Mario I would say no. That honor goes to Dr. Mario 64.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on September 15, 2019, 10:53:26 PM
these are the games I enjoyed playing and think are some of the best on the eshop.
Burgertime Deluxe
So far you are the only person to mention Burgertime Deluxe and you list as one of the best. Care to explain more about what the game is and why you like it that much?
Bionic Commando - Maybe it's nostalgia talking, but this game plays well and the old Bionic Commando formula is still a lot of fun. I'd give it a recommendation - although I'm not sure this one does anything to stand out if you already have the NES version somewhere.
I do not know what the Bionic Commando formula is nor have a played any game in the series. It sounds like if I were to try this series out, however, you would not recommend the GB version as the entry point for it. Or am I off on that? Wasn't there something in this series released for the Switch around the time of its launch or was that a different series?
Avenging Spirit - Hadn't played this before virtual console, and was very pleasantly surprised. The story is a little bit weird, and the platforming design is decidedly old-school in some aspects. However, the ability to jump into any body you want at any time (or maybe even stay incorporeal for a short time to skip through a tough spot) is really neat! Not for everyone, but if you enjoy old school platforming this game is worth checking out.
What do you mean by old-school aspect or platforming? You've got me mildly intrigued by this but not exactly sold on it.
Finally, no has yet to comment on these games:
Adventure Island Baseball Double Dragon Fortified Zone Golf Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters Kirby's Star Stacker
From what I recall at the time of the 3DS Virtual Console launch, Baseball and Golf were pretty barebones types of games and I think were pretty much considered something to skip unless you really needed some kind of golf or baseball fix at the time or were somehow nostalgic for those particular games. So, I wouldn't be surprised if no one here bothered to download or try those games out for themselves. Likewise, Adventure Island and Double Dragon may have been considered inferior to a console version of these games but I can't recall anything about them for sure. I have no idea what Fortified Zone is but I guess I'll just look that one up at this point for more info. Very surprised that no one has had anything to say about Kid Icarus though. And despite all the Kirby talk, no mention about Star Stacker which looks like it could be a puzzle game on par with Yoshi.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on September 15, 2019, 10:56:54 PM
I think I like this version because it is just the main fundamentals of the game and I always pictured puzzle games are better on the go in the portable format. While the NES version came out roughly two months before the Game Boy version in North America I always pictured Dr. Mario for portable systems. As far as the black and white colors I find it makes it easy to match up things with the white colors, the black colors and the little mix of the two for the 3rd color. Now if you are asking me if Dr. Mario on Game Boy is the best version of Dr. Mario I would say no. That honor goes to Dr. Mario 64.
But I take it you still consider Dr. Mario on Game Boy a title worth adding to ones collection based on its game play along with the portability aspect helping to make it a better entry in the series?
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on September 15, 2019, 11:06:59 PM
Game & Watch Gallery There are four games included here, and they have both re-creations of the original Game and Watch units as well as "modern" versions featuring updated graphics and physics with Mario characters, and the gameplay runs more smoothly and is typically more forgiving. The games are Fire, Manhole, Octopus, and Oil Panic. These can be fun if you're into chasing high-scores, but otherwise it won't keep you entertained for long. Once again, sadly no Super Game Boy feature, which is a shame as it looked really nice. Recommended for Kairon
I've got the physical copy of Game and Watch Gallery 3 for my Pocket Game Boy. It is the only physical game I have for it besides Super Mario Land. Because of that, I did sink a lot of time into that game so I feel I know what another Game and Watch Gallery would be like. Your feelings on this first one are pretty much exactly what I think of the G&WG3. The remakes of the games with Mario characters seemed to control much better then the original yet at the end of the day they are still the same game. Gallery 3 had unlockables giving a point to trying to best one's score and sometimes those unlockables were another Game and Watch game that wasn't featured as one of the main title games along with other factoids and hints. That said, it still didn't make the game that much more compelling or add much more purpose aside from just trying to reach that goal and get a high score. While I appreciate the idea of going and looking back at these early video games from Nintendo through the Game and Watch line, ultimately, I find myself tiring of them quickly. While playing a rather simple game can be nice on occasion, I find these more of a novelty. Something you might pick up and try to play for a little bit as a challenge but then soon tire of and not come back to a for a couple years. Definitely a Recommended for Kairon game based on my Gallery 3 experience.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: BeautifulShy on September 15, 2019, 11:48:03 PM
I think I like this version because it is just the main fundamentals of the game and I always pictured puzzle games are better on the go in the portable format. While the NES version came out roughly two months before the Game Boy version in North America I always pictured Dr. Mario for portable systems. As far as the black and white colors I find it makes it easy to match up things with the white colors, the black colors and the little mix of the two for the 3rd color. Now if you are asking me if Dr. Mario on Game Boy is the best version of Dr. Mario I would say no. That honor goes to Dr. Mario 64.
But I take it you still consider Dr. Mario on Game Boy a title worth adding to ones collection based on its game play along with the portability aspect helping to make it a better entry in the series?
Yes.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: BeautifulShy on September 15, 2019, 11:52:35 PM
Game & Watch Gallery There are four games included here, and they have both re-creations of the original Game and Watch units as well as "modern" versions featuring updated graphics and physics with Mario characters, and the gameplay runs more smoothly and is typically more forgiving. The games are Fire, Manhole, Octopus, and Oil Panic. These can be fun if you're into chasing high-scores, but otherwise it won't keep you entertained for long. Once again, sadly no Super Game Boy feature, which is a shame as it looked really nice. Recommended for Kairon
I've got the physical copy of Game and Watch Gallery 3 for my Pocket Game Boy. It is the only physical game I have for it besides Super Mario Land. Because of that, I did sink a lot of time into that game so I feel I know what another Game and Watch Gallery would be like. Your feelings on this first one are pretty much exactly what I think of the G&WG3. The remakes of the games with Mario characters seemed to control much better then the original yet at the end of the day they are still the same game. Gallery 3 had unlockables giving a point to trying to best one's score and sometimes those unlockables were another Game and Watch game that wasn't featured as one of the main title games along with other factoids and hints. That said, it still didn't make the game that much more compelling or add much more purpose aside from just trying to reach that goal and get a high score. While I appreciate the idea of going and looking back at these early video games from Nintendo through the Game and Watch line, ultimately, I find myself tiring of them quickly. While playing a rather simple game can be nice on occasion, I find these more of a novelty. Something you might pick up and try to play for a little bit as a challenge but then soon tire of and not come back to a for a couple years. Definitely a Recommended for Kairon game based on my Gallery 3 experience.
Game and Watch Gallery 2 is the best game in the series because there is content from G&WG1 and 3.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: ejamer on September 16, 2019, 07:56:41 AM
I do not know what the Bionic Commando formula is nor have a played any game in the series. It sounds like if I were to try this series out, however, you would not recommend the GB version as the entry point for it. Or am I off on that? Wasn't there something in this series released for the Switch around the time of its launch or was that a different series?
Bionic Commando is a platforming game with a twist - you can't jump. Instead you have a grappling hook for an arm, which can be used to stun enemies, climb platforms, and with some careful timing you can swing along a length of ceiling to reach new areas.
This style of gameplay works well, the controls are decent, and as GameBoy titles go it's a solid addition. The only reason I don't recommend it outright is that the GameBoy screen is very small - playing the NES release instead gives you a wider field of vision. (That said, I'm not sure offhand about availability of the NES version. If you can't easily get it, then the GameBoy release is pretty good.)
Not sure around Switch release, but there was a (terrible) 3D remake at one point for XBox 360 and PS3 that is worth avoiding.
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Avenging Spirit ... What do you mean by old-school aspect or platforming? You've got me mildly intrigued by this but not exactly sold on it.
Even though it's an action game, you spend a lot of time jumping around from platform to platform trying to get through stages. This works well because each different body you can possess has different jumping physics and attack methods. However, when I say old-school it's because the game controls a bit awkwardly and some things aren't intuitive when you start playing - it takes experimentation to get the most from the game.
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Finally, no has yet to comment on these games: ... Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters .... Very surprised that no one has had anything to say about Kid Icarus though. ...
I played the original. It's another case of staying pretty true to the NES original in a slightly smaller version. If you are using the 3DS then you'd be better off just getting the Kid Icarus 3D Classics game off the eShop.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the GameBoy version of Kid Icarus... but there is also nothing that I recall that would make you choose it over the 3D Classics release.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Mop it up on September 16, 2019, 01:40:39 PM
Coincidentally, I had actually played Mario vs. Donkey Kong before I had played (or even heard of) the Game Boy Donkey Kong game. It was after the DS had launched and I got the game for a discount when the GBA was still relatively current. Since I had no frame of reference then I thought the game was okay and had some fun with it... or at least certain parts. I remember thinking the game was difficult for the wrong reasons, such as its strange controls and wonky movement. The graphics are kind of ugly as well. I didn't bother with 100% though since trying to perfect most levels was very unfun.
When the Game Boy Donkey Kong was announced for the 3DS VC is when I had finally heard about the game and people were once again talking about it. I was initially skeptical about its praise from how utterly mediocre is Mario vs Donkey Kong, but then everyone seemed to say it was far superior when comparing the two. However, since I saw it had Super Game Boy features then that's one reason I tracked down a cartridge as opposed to downloading it, it's always fun to bring out that accessory. I'm glad I did because it's leagues better than MvDK, largely because it surprisingly controls better and the level design is much less annoying.
On a side note, what a bizarre subseries the MvDK games turned out to be. I've got to wonder what they were thinking with some of those...
Something to note about Castlevania The Adventure is that it has a remake on WiiWare, however I don't think it can be legally obtained any more and was never released anywhere else. That said, the original GB version is included in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection, if you have any interest in that.
Gallery 3 had unlockables giving a point to trying to best one's score and sometimes those unlockables were another Game and Watch game that wasn't featured as one of the main title games along with other factoids and hints.
The first Game and Watch Gallery still has the gallery section (it's in the name after all) which unlocks info about other Game and Watch games from reaching certain scores in all versions of all games, but it doesn't have any more games to unlock. If you just want to have one Game and Watch game, number 4 on GBA has the most playable games with 20.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Luigi Dude on September 17, 2019, 04:34:21 PM
Wow, it looks like I was the only one to vote for Kirby Star Stacker. Of course I shouldn't be surprised since I only played the game for the first time at the very end of 2017 and I got the game as a free download from the old Club Nintendo years earlier. So I can't blame people for not noticing since I didn't even pay attention to it until one day I only had a little bit of free time to play games and I thought, well this puzzle game might give me some enjoyment for 20 minutes since I didn't want to get too invested in something.
Well needless to say, after my 20 minutes were up, I was hooked and wanted to play more. I then spent the next few weeks addicted too it until I 100% the whole game. Seriously, as someone who isn't a huge fan of the puzzle stacking genre, something about this game really grabbed me. I think part of it is how engaging the gameplay is. Unlike a lot of these puzzle game where you have to keep matching certain blocks on top of each other, Star Stacker works by having Animal Friend blocks and Star blocks. To clear blocks you need the same Animal Friend blocks to match, but the thing is, they don't have to be touching each other. If there's an entire row of Star blocks, but one Rick at the top and one Rick at the bottom with all Star blocks in between, that entire row will then be cleared. The same thing for left and right. To me this makes the game a lot more engaging then other puzzles games I've played because you really have to pay attention to the entire layout of the screen since even if the entire screen is almost filled up, you can still stage some pretty crazy comebacks.
So I heavily recommend this game for everyone to play. I ignored it for too long but I shouldn't have because it's a top notch puzzle game, which made someone like me who isn't normally a huge fan of the genre a believer.
Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters .... Very surprised that no one has had anything to say about Kid Icarus though. ...
I played the original. It's another case of staying pretty true to the NES original in a slightly smaller version. If you are using the 3DS then you'd be better off just getting the Kid Icarus 3D Classics game off the eShop.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the GameBoy version of Kid Icarus... but there is also nothing that I recall that would make you choose it over the 3D Classics release.
It's a sequel to the original game, the level design and bosses are all completely different in the Gameboy game then the NES original. I agree that people should play the NES game, but if they enjoy it, then they should 100% play Of Myth and Monsters because it's literally Kid Icarus 2.
Actually, I would argue that even if someone doesn't enjoy the NES original, they might still like Of Myth and Monsters since the Gameboy game removes a lot of the cheap BS found in the NES original and has more fair level design. Technically it might be the better choice for first time players to experience classic Kid Icarus since it's no where close to being as brutal from the start as the NES game is. This way they'll be more experienced with the gameplay and might be willing to play the NES game for more then 10 minutes, since the original is very unfriendly to first time players.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: ejamer on September 17, 2019, 07:55:35 PM
Re: Kid Icarus, you might have a point. The GameBoy game is much easier. I played enough of the NES version that the difficulty and design didn't bother me... but for someone coming in without a bunch of retro gaming experience, that might be a tough sell.
I'd still recommend the 3D Classics version first, but background and experience plays a big part in it of course.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on September 18, 2019, 01:14:39 PM
Good to know about Star Stacker. That makes me more excited about that purchase and trying it out. Thanks Luigi Dude.
As for Kid Icarus, I'm less certain about that one. Really not a fan of NES games so I'm not sure how much I'd enjoy it even in the 3D Classic form. So, I'd be more inclined to try the GB title first but, considering how I didn't care for some of these earlier GB games, I'm not sure I'd find it that fun.
Right now, the runaway winners in the poll seem are Kirby's Dream Land 2 and Donkey Kong '94. Kirby's Dream Land and Kirby's Pinball Land are in tie for third with 3 votes each. Why do people want a Game Boy Classic when there seems to be this apathy to such a large amount of Game Boy games?
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Order.RSS on September 18, 2019, 02:18:31 PM
Why do people want a Game Boy Classic when there seems to be this apathy to such a large amount of Game Boy games?
I don't know if people actually want a Game Boy Classic, but if they do, I would assume that their appeal likely doesn't stem from Nintendo-published games alone. There's like a thousand GB games out there, and since a large portion of the userbase will have been children, I expect a lot of Game Boy nostalgia might be rooted in (occasionally terrible) licensed games.
In fact not even every Nintendo game made it to 3DS vc. Where's my dang Wave Race 1992 port! They can't seriously expect me to keep playing my perfectly functioning cart on my perfectly functioning Game Boy can they?!
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Mop it up on September 18, 2019, 02:30:17 PM
Also, the people who want a Game Boy Classic are probably not the same people showing apathy.
My fave Game Boy game (Final Fantasy Adventure) isn't on the 3DS VC so maybe there are more cases like that. Though FFA just came out in that Mana collection so it probably wouldn't be featured in a theoretical Game Boy Classic.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Adrock on September 18, 2019, 03:07:01 PM
I want a Gameboy Classic because I apparently enjoy buying nostalgia machines I play once then immediately put in storage.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: ejamer on September 18, 2019, 06:59:55 PM
I want a Gameboy Classic because I apparently enjoy buying nostalgia machines I play once then immediately put in storage.
Do you buy the nice cases too? I always need a nice case before putting my novelty mini consoles out of sight and mind. My Genesis Mini just shipped apparently. Not being able to find and custom cases yet is killing me.
(For the record, we do really enjoy them when we get them out - it's the kind of thing we'll play intensely for a few days then put away when we are too busy only to "rediscover" how much we like them a few months later.)
I'm not sure that I care about a Game Boy Classic. There are a handful of really excellent games for the system though, and a bunch of good games that are often overlooked or forgotten... so I can understand why some might be interested!
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Adrock on September 18, 2019, 07:10:16 PM
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Luigi Dude on September 18, 2019, 11:54:23 PM
A Gameboy Classic would be amazing if Nintendo really goes all out. I'm talking a combination of Gameboy and Gameboy Color titles, maybe even include Super Gameboy options for the games that had it like DK 94. Plus since the NES-mini had 30 games, then the Super NES had 21 games because they were generally bigger experiences, they should do at least 40 for the Gameboy to make up for the fact a lot of the early games were smaller ones.
I'd imagine they'd probably price it similar to the NES Classic as well so a $60 price tag would be a pretty good deal for what I described as well.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on October 07, 2019, 01:24:53 PM
I guess I'm not ready to stop talking about the Game Boy Virtual Console yet. It's time to add Nintendo Power's recommendations to these threads also.
In Nintendo Power's last magazine when they did a list of the 285 best Nintendo games, there are six Original Game Boy titles to make that list and they are:
Super Mario Land 2 at 261 Mega Man V at 234 Pokemon Red / Blue at 204 Donkey Kong '94 at 100 Mario's Picross at 94 Tetris at 53
Man, I'm really wishing now that I'd have grabbed a copy of Tetris when it was available on the eShop. So, those are the best of the best for the Game Boy according to NP. Kind of surprised to see Mega Man V make the list out of all the Game Boy games available. Also not sure why Pokemon Red and Blue were given a place over FireRed and LeafGreen when SoulSilver and HeartGold were listed in place of the original. I'm guessing it's more for their historical impact and being the first Pokemon games but it's not going to change my mind to skip and just stick with FireRed and LeafGreen for playing those games.
That said, Nintendo Power did make recommendations for Game Boy games released on the Virtual Console before it ended for about the first year of releases for the 3DS eShop. Nintendo Power had three levels for grading these games: Green Light - Recommended, Orange Light - Hmmm..., and Red Light - Grumble Grumble.
So, let's get to the game applicable to this side of the list:
Recommended
Avenging Spirit Balloon Kid Bionic Commando BurgerTime Deluxe Catrap Donkey Kong '94 (Even had a Staff Pick recommendation) Dr. Mario Game & Watch Gallery Gargoyle's Quest Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters Kirby's Block Ball Kirby's Dream Land Kirby's Pinball Land
Hmmm...
Adventure Island Alleyway Baseball Double Dragon Fortified Zone Golf
Grumble Grumble
(Nothing)
Not Listed (Post Nintendo Power)
Castlevania: The Adventure Donkey Kong Land Donkey Kong Land 2 Donkey Kong Land 3 Kirby's Dream Land 2 Kirby's Star Stacker
So, probably not too surprising to see those results. Most likely, all the Donkey Kong Land and remaining Kirby games would have been given a recommended rating. Just not sure where Castlevania might fall. When going through the Recommended games, pretty much all the games there seemed to get some recommendations from other people in this thread already.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Mop it up on October 07, 2019, 03:00:29 PM
Why would you have wanted the Game Boy Tetris? There's noting unique about it.
My guess is that the Castlevania game would have been placed in the "Hmmm..." category. The first Donkey Kong Land may have as well since it's pretty rough. The rest would probably be recommended.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on October 07, 2019, 04:23:38 PM
The first Donkey Kong Land was the Game Boy game of the year in the Power Awards back in like 94 or 95. Actually each Donkey Kong Land game won the game of the year in their release to give the series three consecutive wins. Sure, times have changed but it's pretty unusual that NP wouldn't recommend a Nintendo game. Metroid II got the recommended label. Which reminds me that I should complete this bit of trivia for the Part 2 thread. Plus, as I've stated, I really liked DKL and that is the game which has got me suddenly more interested in the GB VC again. It's started a chain of Game Boy games I've enjoyed playing and got me thinking of giving some another shake like SML2. So, I have no problem recommending it.
As for Tetris Game Boy, I admit that it would probably more be a novelty but I've never played the Game Boy's original killer app before and now I'd like to try it. Especially since I've gotten into Tetris 99 a bit. I'd like to see the difference. With it being listed as the top Game Boy game in that 285 Best Games on Nintendo consoles list and just outside the Top 50 along with my sudden Game Boy interest, my interest and curiosity to play the Game Boy version of Tetris is at an all-time high! And now I can't get it from the eShop. :'(
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Mop it up on October 07, 2019, 04:36:09 PM
I guess that's just further proof that Nintendo Power were heavily biased, as if any proof were needed. It's no surprise they didn't last! ;)
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: nickmitch on October 07, 2019, 07:59:36 PM
Tetris was iconic for its time, but Tetris Attack Blast is where it's at if you're looking for old Tetris games.
Edit: I definitely meant Tetris Blast. :-[
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on October 07, 2019, 08:55:43 PM
While I could I slowly go through each title and try to track down reviews, I'd rather get the opinions of the NWR Forum users whose gaming tastes I trust a bit more.
So much for that idea. I've now spent a lot more effort looking into these games then originally planned. However, I don't consider that a bad thing. In the end, these threads did fire me up about the Game Boy and made me a lot interested in the library then I was when I originally made these threads and I think it helps to have some kind of motivation at approaching a game. Despite telling myself I should play Chrono Trigger, I just have had no motivation to do so and keep selecting other games to play ahead of for various other reasons. Same thing probably would have happened with digging more into the GB line-up if I had not seen others comments and got more info on these titles. Now I'm eager to play through a whole bunch of GB games before Chrono Trigger so thanks NWR! ;)
One thing that I pursued after discussing these games was to check out the brief trailers that was provided for them on their eShop page. At this point, here's where my mind is at in regards to the first half of Game Boy VC releases:
Plan To Buy or Have Bought
Adventure Island Alleyway Balloon Kid Bionic Commando Catrap Donkey Kong '94 Donkey Kong Land Donkey Kong Land 2 Donkey Kong Land 3 Fortified Zone Kirby's Block Ball Kirby's Dream Land Kirby's Dream Land 2 Kirby's Pinball Land Kirby's Star Stacker
Still Debating
Avenging Spirit BurgerTime Deluxe Dr. Mario Game & Watch Gallery Gargoyle's Quest Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters
Pass
Baseball Castlevania: The Adventure Double Dragon Golf
That's over half the games listed in this section. Why'd you do this to me NWR?! But it also means that perhaps in the future, I'll be bumping up this thread to talk more Game Boy games also. It might be that you too have some games you are now considering trying out that you missed or are curious to test out what a couple titles that really had no discussion may be like and are now motivated to get back to the GB VC also. We could be talking GB for many more years yet. :o :-X
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Mop it up on October 08, 2019, 07:08:17 PM
It might be that you too have some games you are now considering trying out that you missed or are curious to test out what a couple titles that really had no discussion may be like and are now motivated to get back to the GB VC also.
Afraid not mate, the Game Boy just ain't for me.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: nickmitch on October 09, 2019, 03:35:51 PM
Tetris was iconic for its time, but Tetris Attack is where it's at if you're looking for old Tetris games.
That isn't a Tetris game though, it's a re-skinned Panel de Pon / Puzzle League!
I meant Tetris Blast! That game was so fun. It was Tetris but with exploding blocks and enemies!
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: Khushrenada on October 15, 2019, 08:28:34 PM
Why am I so obsessed with these threads? I'm not sure but I'm starting to feel like this is some of my best work on these forums so far. Perhaps that's why. This is beginning to seem like it could be a handy resource for the future as I gather more info and recommendations for these games together in one place. Happened upon an old NWR article on 3DS Virtual Console which got me checking out what NWR's opinions were on these games. I'm surprised Insanolord didn't comment more in this thread before given some of his burning takes like his short review on Baseball.
Of the 25 games this thread covers, here is the list of them with the corresponding NWR grade and a link to the article for that mini review. (Some of these articles covered multiple games so you may have to scroll to find the actual title for the link you click on.)
Adventure Island – Recommended For Fans (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/29590/donkey-kong-3-vs-the-dragon-crystal-on-adventure-island) Alleyway – Not Recommended (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/26768/virtual-console-recommendations-3ds-eshop-launch-spectacular) Avenging Spirit – Recommended For Fans (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/27450/needs-more-dog-food) Balloon Kid – N/A Baseball – Not Recommended (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/27554/please-dont-take-me-out-to-the-ball-game) Bionic Commando – Recommended For Fans (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/29311/bionic-commando-in-the-faxanadu-mission) BurgerTime Deluxe – N/A Castlevania: The Adventure – Recommended For Fans (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/32345/vampire-golfing-amid-the-space-debris) Catrap – N/A Donkey Kong ’94 – Recommended For Everyone (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/26880/mega-virtual-console-recommendations-94-95) Donkey Kong Land – 8.5/10 (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewmini/37908/donkey-kong-land-3ds-vc-review) Donkey Kong Land II – 7.5/10 (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/40028/donkey-kong-land-2-3ds-review-mini) Donkey Kong Land III – 7.0/10 (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/40030/donkey-kong-land-iii-3ds-review-mini) Double Dragon – N/A Dr. Mario – N/A Fortified Zone – Recommended For Fans (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/27620/diamonds-in-the-rough) Game And Watch Gallery – Recommended For Everyone (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/28029/mega-man-watch-gallery-in-the-salad-kingdom) Gargoyle’s Quest – Recommended For Everyone (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/27620/diamonds-in-the-rough) Golf – N/A Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters – Recommended For Everyone (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/31165/swords-pinballs-vacuums-and-arrows) Kirby’s Block Ball – N/A Kirby’s Dream Land – RecommendedFor Fans (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/27450/needs-more-dog-food) Kirby’s Dream Land 2 – 4.5/10 (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewmini/35178/kirbys-dream-land-2-nintendo-3ds-vc-gb) Kirby’s Pinball Land – Recommended For Fans (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/31165/swords-pinballs-vacuums-and-arrows) Kirby’s Star Stacker – 7.0/10 (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewmini/33163/kirbys-star-stacker-nintendo-3ds-vc-gb)
A few other points to mention. After 2012, NWR seems to have ended their old recommendation format and instead began grading games individually on their regular review scale. Hence why some games have a review score point total and some have the recommendation listing. As well, NWR did not get around to reviewing every game released on the 3DS VC. So, if you want to be an NWR Contributer, here's your chance to by making a review for those titles and filling in those blanks for NWR's eternal records and reference. ;) I do think there are a couple notable omissions like Balloon Kid, CATRAP, Dr. Mario and even Kirby's Block Ball. The common theme for most games is Recommended for Fans most likely due to the aging of these games.
When compared to Nintendo Power which did 19 reviews for the 25 games listed, NWR did reviews for 18 of them so one short. However, NWR did review the 6 games that NP was never able to get to when they shut down while NP reviewed the 7 games that NWR did not when these were first getting released so together they help can fill in the blanks for each other. NP had 13 games that got their top recommendation and 6 with their middle recommendation while none got the worst recommendation. With NWR, it's a bit more difficult to break due to the switch in game grades and how people view scores on the 10 point scale. Is everything 7.5 and higher a great recommendation whereas 7.4 - 5.0 is middle and everything below 5.0 is not recommended or should that 10 point scale break down in a different way? For myself, that is how I'm going to view it to make this quick comparison which means that NWR had 6 games with their top recommendation, 9 games with their middle recommendation and 3 games getting their lost recommendation. Those three games? Alleyway, Baseball and..... Kirby's Dream Land 2?!?! That's right. The game with the second most votes in the poll (just 1 behind Donkey Kong '94) was considered crap by the reviewer NWR used. So, for those looking for ammo to dismiss the reviews done by this site, there's a bit more fuel for you misplaced anger. ;) ;D
Of the games both NP and NWR gave their best recommendations, only 3 games crossover on both of those lists at the top and they are: Donkey Kong '94, Game And Watch Gallery, and Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters. However, a large number of NP's highest rated games are the ones that NWR did not cover so who knows how much more crossover between the two could have happened? Perhaps Balloon Kid or CATRAP could have been part of that select few. :o
And, in addition to the little blurbs, sometimes there are further comments in the TalkBack threads on these games so even more feedback can sometimes be found on these titles.
Title: Re: Best of the 3DS eShop: Virtual Console. Game Boy - Part 1.
Post by: BeautifulShy on November 12, 2019, 01:30:21 AM
It might be that you too have some games you are now considering trying out that you missed or are curious to test out what a couple titles that really had no discussion may be like and are now motivated to get back to the GB VC also.
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Afraid not mate, the Game Boy just ain't for me.
It is a shame there wasn't a Game Girl back then. :P
