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00:07Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we're looking at the best of the best for entertaining a 10-year-old me
00:12in the backseat of the family car.
00:14These are the 20 best Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Let's go.
00:18Before we continue, we publish content all week long, so be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to get
00:24notified of our latest videos.
00:27Dr. Mario
00:33A falling block puzzle game in the vein of Tetris, Dr. Mario challenges players to eliminate viruses by matching their
00:39colours with corresponding pill capsules.
00:41Its simple yet addictive gameplay combined with the novelty of Mario donning a doctor's coat made it one of the
00:46most iconic and beloved titles on the Game Boy.
00:49Due to the handheld monochrome screen, the Game Boy version replaced the NES's red, yellow and blue viruses and pills
00:54with distinct shades of black, white and grey.
00:57It didn't pop nearly as much, but it was still lots of fun.
01:04Bionic Commando
01:11Another NES to Game Boy adaptation, this one stands out as a masterclass in how to do it right.
01:17And trust me, I'm mentioning this because a lot of times it was done wrong.
01:21Capcom carefully reworked the original to fit the Game Boy's smaller scale while preserving the excellent physics and tight controls,
01:28allowing players to swing across the screen without feeling like they were now controlling the game at their feet.
01:32The remake also refines the level design, arguably to fit the game onto the smaller console,
01:38but somehow it just feels like they trimmed dead-end sections for a smoother, more fluid experience.
01:43This is a rare case for the Game Boy experience feeling better than the console.
01:51Balloon Kid
02:02Balloon Kid
02:03Balloon Kid builds upon the addictive balloon trip mode, a precursor to the endless runner genre, and games like Temple
02:08Run.
02:09The game introduces new mechanics, such as allowing the protagonist Alice to release her balloons and navigate on foot in
02:14traditional platforming style,
02:16adding an unexpected layer of strategy.
02:18Up, down, up, down, if Cuphead wasn't inspired by this trippy nightmare, I'd be surprised.
02:23This blend of innovation and charm makes Balloon Kid one of the Game Boy's most underrated gems.
02:30Croc 2
02:38I've always had a soft spot for Croc.
02:40He may not get the praise that other platforming icons like Crush, Bandicoot and Spyro get,
02:44but I'll never forget that kush-blat till the day I die.
02:47Croc 2 follows the same core gameplay style as the other Game Boy port from Croc, Croc Legend of the
02:52Gobos,
02:53but instead of a side-scrolling platformer, it adopts a top-down perspective, similar to Link's Awakening.
02:59While the camera can be a bit frustrating at times, the game's bright visuals, creative levels and overall fun factor
03:05make up for it.
03:06Also, and I hate to repeat myself, it's Croc!
03:09He's f***ing adorable!
03:18Metal Gear Solid
03:19Metal Gear Solid is one of the greatest stealth adventure games ever made,
03:28and the Game Boy Color version finally gave Nintendo fans a taste of the PlayStation Classic,
03:34albeit a unique entry in the series instead of a direct port.
03:37Set seven years after the original Metal Gear, it follows its own timeline.
03:41Praised as one of the best handheld games of all time,
03:44it's classic Super Spy action with plenty of hidden surprises.
03:47The game also features a two-player verse mode for head-to-head stealth battles
03:51and a VR training mode similar to the main game.
03:54It truly adapts the intricate style of the PS1 game to the pared-down Game Boy shockingly well.
04:07Mario Tennis GB
04:18As one of the more underrated N64 entries, the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis
04:23keeps the core gameplay intact, featuring a diverse roster of Nintendo characters and human players.
04:29What sets the GBC version apart from its N64 counterpart is the inclusion of an RPG mode.
04:35So many three-letter combinations.
04:38You might not think you need RPG in a Mario Tennis game,
04:41but you'll be shocked at how nice it feels to move your way through the tennis ranks
04:44and feel genuine progression on a handheld game.
04:47You'll compete in various tournaments, and eventually, the ultimate challenge awaits,
04:51facing off against Mario himself, the greatest finale since Breaking Bad.
05:00Metroid 2 Return of Samus
05:11While Metroid 2 may be the weakest entry in the mainline Metroid series,
05:15even a mid-Metroid is still an impressive Game Boy release.
05:18The world of Metroid 2 is larger than its predecessors,
05:21and Samus must acquire a greater variety of gear to take on an even deadlier lineup of Metroids.
05:26Though the game can feel sluggish at times, and suffers from repetitive visuals that make navigation a bit tricky,
05:31it successfully expands on the original's foundation,
05:34offering more depth to both Samus and the universe she explores.
05:37And you can play in the back seat, where your parents fight over directions.
05:40I assume. I'm not talking from personal experience.
05:50Mega Man 5
06:00Capcom released several Mega Man games on the Game Boy,
06:03but the first four were essentially ports of recycled NES stages.
06:06It wasn't until the fifth and final instalment that Capcom ran out of existing content and made something entirely original.
06:13This time, Mega Man embarks on a journey through the solar system,
06:17battling planet-themed bosses in a fresh twist on the classic formula.
06:21Its late release, limited print run, and strong reputation have made it a pricey collector's item,
06:26but thankfully, it's also available on the 3DS Virtual Console for anyone who doesn't really care about having a physical
06:32copy.
06:32And a box.
06:34Go get it.
06:42Dragon Quest Monsters
06:53This vibrant RPG has a level design reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda,
06:57while its gameplay shares similarities with Pokemon, particularly in its monster breeding mechanics.
07:02There's a reason it was remade for the PlayStation,
07:04the formula just works.
07:06The story centres on Terry's quest to rescue his kidnapped sister.
07:10Unlike other Nintendo RPGs, Terry doesn't fight battles himself.
07:14Instead, he recruits and trains monsters to battle for him.
07:17Actually, I lie.
07:19There are other Nintendo RPGs just like this.
07:21His first companion, Slib the Slime, may not have the same ring as Pikachu,
07:25but it just works.
07:27Fight.
07:27Overcome.
07:28Succeed.
07:29Slib the Slime.
07:36Pokemon Trading Card Game
07:45Capturing the excitement of the real-life card game, collecting, battling, and strategizing,
07:49and condensing it into a video game felt almost unreal at the time,
07:53and explains why this is not just one of the best, but one of the most underrated Game Boy games
07:57of all time.
07:58The battles were just as thrilling as those in the main Pokemon series,
08:01but without the constant expense of buying physical packs.
08:04The gameplay mirrors the main Pokemon RPG structure.
08:07You battle eight Clubmasters and four Grandmasters,
08:10earning exclusive cards you couldn't get in real life.
08:13Game Boy Color players could also link up to trade and battle,
08:16unlocking even more hidden surprises.
08:18It's one of the best side games in the series,
08:20and deserves way more praise.
08:36Tetris DX
08:45Leaving Tetris off this list would have been a crime,
08:48but we've decided to focus in on the Game Boy Color version, Tetris DX.
08:52Though the original Tetris release on Game Boy is just as good, albeit a bit pared back.
08:57Few games are as universally accessible.
08:59This is a game anyone can pick up and play, adding to its appeal.
09:03It transcends generations,
09:05and chasing that high score remains one of the most intense gaming challenges you can find.
09:09Actually, screw this list, let's all go play Tetris.
09:18Wario Land 3
09:30Sometimes it's fun to step into the shoes of a bad guy,
09:33especially when that bad guy is just a little misunderstood.
09:36Wario Land 3 was met with critical acclaim upon release,
09:39but so were the first two entries, which are also worth mentioning.
09:42Just, maybe not on this list.
09:44The game follows the formula of Wario Land 2,
09:46sending us through a variety of stages as he collects new abilities
09:49to help him navigate its bizarre and inventive world.
09:52Wario Land 3 is a fan favourite and an absolute must
09:56for any Game Boy Color collection.
09:58Especially mine.
10:16This is where it all began, the first entry in the Shantae series,
10:20and our introduction to the half-genie hero herself.
10:23One of Shantae's coolest features
10:25is her ability to learn new dances by defeating dungeon bosses.
10:29These dances allow her to transform into different creatures,
10:33each unlocking new areas and abilities.
10:35It's the kind of imaginative gameplay
10:37you can easily lose hours to without realising it.
10:40The game also features a dynamic day and night cycle,
10:43reminiscent of Ocarina of Time,
10:45leaving players feeling very immersed in the tiny handheld console.
10:53The Final Fantasy Legend
11:03The Final Fantasy Legend isn't technically Final Fantasy,
11:06but it's not too far off either.
11:08Created by one of Squaresoft's most unconventional directors,
11:11these games took some of the more experimental mechanics
11:14from Final Fantasy 2 and ran wild with them.
11:16Set in bizarre worlds that include physics-defying landscapes
11:20and even a banana-smuggling cartel,
11:22these adventures let players build teams
11:24from a variety of unique races.
11:26As the world's first portable RPG series,
11:28Final Fantasy Legend embraced its fresh, uncharted territory
11:32by doing things its own way.
11:33For better or worse,
11:34its unique charm is what makes it so enjoyable to this day.
11:43Super Mario Land
11:53Super Mario Land marked Nintendo's first attempt
11:55at a Mario platformer built exclusively for a handheld system.
11:59When I say I put more hours into this
12:01than any other Game Boy game,
12:03I mean it.
12:04While it retained the poor 2D platforming mechanics,
12:07the limitations of the Game Boy screen
12:09led to a drastically scaled down
12:11and slightly offbeat experience.
12:13The result?
12:14A Mario game that felt both familiar
12:16and strangely different.
12:17If you're a Mario fan
12:19and you haven't played this game,
12:20you're going to thoroughly enjoy
12:21the almost uncanny valley nature of it.
12:24It's like Mario,
12:25but in an alternate reality.
12:34Kirby's Dream Land 2
12:43In Kirby's Dream Land,
12:44Kirby appeared white on the game's packaging
12:46and he lacked his now iconic ability
12:48to copy enemy powers.
12:50But the game's upbeat tone
12:51and charming aesthetic laid the groundwork
12:53for what would become the widely adored franchise.
12:55The sequel, Kirby's Dream Land 2,
12:58brought in mechanics from Kirby's adventure on the NES,
13:00expanding on the original's design.
13:02So while it was adapted slightly,
13:04it was still totally original.
13:06Approachable, adorable,
13:07kind of like someone I know.
13:09Me.
13:10I'm kidding, I'm not approachable.
13:18Pokemon Pinball
13:27How do you make a Pokemon game even better?
13:30Add pinball.
13:31Winning formula.
13:32Watch the money roll in.
13:33I am kidding,
13:34but Pokemon Pinball isn't just a gimmick.
13:36It's genuinely one of the best
13:37Game Boy Color titles out there.
13:39It's fun,
13:40easy to pick up,
13:41and ridiculously addictive.
13:43Honestly,
13:44this game should come with a warning label
13:45because once you launch the first Pokeball,
13:47it's tough to stop.
13:49Once you pop,
13:50you won't stop.
13:51Gotta waste your time,
13:52Pokemon.
13:53I hate myself.
14:00Donkey Kong Country
14:10If you're a Nintendo fan,
14:12chances are you've played Donkey Kong Country on the SNES,
14:14a legendary side-scrolling platformer
14:17with some of the best gameplay ever.
14:19Obviously,
14:20the game was eventually ported to the Game Boy,
14:21even if it was six years later.
14:23The Game Boy Color port
14:24stays remarkably true to the original,
14:26with the addition of a brand new level
14:28called Neki Nutmare,
14:29plus hidden areas,
14:30upgraded visuals,
14:31and new gameplay modes.
14:33Obviously,
14:34every Donkey Kong Land entry
14:35would have also taken this spot,
14:37but we decided to focus on the Game Boy Color port
14:39because it's impossible to get better than DK Country.
14:50Pokemon Gold and Silver
14:52I decided to use only one Pokemon entry,
15:01or two technically,
15:02because it's hard to beat the Game Boy exclusive games,
15:05but even though Pokemon Red and Blue
15:06are so unbelievably iconic,
15:09Gold and Silver is taking the spot.
15:11Where do I even begin?
15:13For starters,
15:13they introduced a real-time internal clock,
15:16making certain events and Pokemon encounters
15:18time-dependent.
15:19Pokemon can now hold items like berries,
15:21adding a new layer of strategy.
15:23Legendary Pokemon roamed the wild,
15:25creating thrilling, unpredictable encounters
15:27where their health didn't reset
15:29between battles,
15:30keeping you hooked.
15:31Plus,
15:31we got new Pokeballs,
15:33Pokegear,
15:33and countless refinements
15:34that made an already great formula even better.
15:37It's often forgotten,
15:38being smack bang in the middle of iconic classics,
15:41and modern gems,
15:42but it deserves a replay from everyone.
15:54The Legend of Zelda,
15:56Oracle of Ages,
15:57and Oracle of Seasons.
16:07Surely nobody is shocked
16:08that the number one spot
16:10goes to a Legend of Zelda title,
16:12or in this case,
16:12two.
16:13Each game has major differences,
16:15and only by completing both
16:16can players fully understand
16:18the overarching story.
16:19In Oracle of Ages,
16:20Nehru sends Link to Labrina,
16:22while in Seasons,
16:23Din transports him to Holodrum.
16:25Both feature the familiar item
16:26and weapon collection mechanics
16:28we all love,
16:28but each has its own unique
16:30cast of characters.
16:31The key distinction?
16:32Seasons leans more towards action,
16:34while Ages emphasizes puzzles.
16:36Play them together,
16:37and you've got one of the most
16:38unique Zelda experiences
16:39you can possibly have.
16:41Do yourself a favor
16:42and grab them both.
16:43Or Link's Awakening.
16:44Honestly,
16:45you can't go wrong
16:45for Zelda on a Game Boy.
16:56Did you enjoy this video?
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17:13video been there today.
17:14We'll see you next time.
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