00:01Hello and welcome! I have been collecting video games for a while now and I would
00:06say that the most unique system I own is the Virtual Boy. It's a niche system of
00:11by far the smallest library of games I own for any hardware. However, playing the
00:17Virtual Boy is a one-of-a-kind experience. There's a crispness to display which
00:23modern VR headsets can't seem to compete with. Plus, it has a controller which I
00:29personally consider to be one of Nintendo's best. However, this experience
00:34is plagued with issues from eye strain caused by the unique displays and failed
00:39components from aging hardware, which makes suggesting getting a Virtual Boy
00:43hard, even harder when you see its current price. So when Nintendo announced that
00:49they were going to release a Virtual Boy accessory for the Nintendo Switch, I
00:53thought that this may be a good opportunity to introduce people to the
00:58unique world that's called the Virtual Boy.
01:08Let's start with the main attraction, the Virtual Boy accessory. It's not
01:13particularly cheap, but for what it is, it's well-built, the attention to detail is
01:18spectacular, and even when they had to make alterations like space for the Switch
01:24to actually fit inside it, they do so both without ruining the aesthetics and by adding
01:31functionality, like the ability to automatically center your Switch. Under the
01:36hood, the Virtual Boy accessory lies a Labo VR kit, which essentially is what the
01:41cardboard version of this unit is. And while you can play Switch VR games in this one, the
01:48experience isn't particularly great, since the Joy-Cons aren't physically attached to the
01:54Switch and the unit is awkward to hold. The Virtual Boy accessory truly is only
02:00designed to be placed on a table to play Virtual Boy games, which as an owner of a
02:07real Virtual Boy, I'm a bit disappointed that Nintendo didn't add a quarter inch tripod
02:11screw to the bottom of this accessory so I can use an adjustable tripod to comfortably
02:16play my games. While aesthetically this looks exactly like the original stand, this
02:22stand was terrible 30 years ago, and with no real change, it's still terrible today.
02:28It's why I made my own tripod adapter for the Virtual Boy ages ago, and with a small
02:37alteration, it's now compatible with the new Nintendo Switch accessory too. So if you
02:44are interested in one, you can get yours today at 16bitstore.com. Links will be in
02:50the description. Now that I have everything ready, it's time for me to start playing
02:56Virtual Boy games. Or at least I would after I pick out my wallet and pay Nintendo
03:03money for a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. Oh, not the base subscription, which
03:09can be charged monthly, but instead the forced annual subscription for Nintendo Switch Online
03:15plus expansion pack and Knuckles, which for me is $80 annually, and an extremely hard pill
03:24to swallow. Especially since out of the 22 games on the Virtual Boy, only 7 were made available
03:32on launch. 3 of which I already own, 2 I even like. The game experience here isn't bad and
03:40the games do play like I remember them, especially if you abandon the Joy-Cons and move back to
03:48a real controller. However, the screen door effect on the Switch's lower resolution display leaves a lot
03:55to be desired. But I will give Nintendo some credit. After playing the Virtual Boy accessory
04:01for some time, while it doesn't look like the real system, it certainly feels like it. And for a niche
04:07product, that's all I could really ask of it. Yet, I sadly cannot recommend going out to buy it. I
04:14actually
04:14really like this experience, and the physical unit's price is perfect, but having the software being
04:20tied down exclusively to a subscription is a massive mistake. I think including with the Nintendo Switch
04:28Online is a good idea, but there needs to be a standalone application for it, or to at least include
04:35the software with the physical headset. Otherwise, when Nintendo sunsets the original Switch like they did
04:44with their prior systems. I question what's going to happen to this accessory as it is useless without
04:53the Virtual Boy software. With that said though, if you're already paying for Nintendo Switch Online
05:01plus expansion pass, then it isn't a bad accessory to get. The same goes for those who want to tinker
05:10to make their own Virtual Boy, as the hardware here is perfect for it, especially if you can pair it
05:17with an OLED display. But if you want to just play Virtual Boy, I feel without a dedicated purchase to
05:26the software, you are genuinely better off finding alternative ways to play Virtual Boy games. But anyways,
05:36thank you ever so much for watching, I hope you have yourself a good day, and as always, take care!
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