What are some of the better Gameboy games?

[5233]

I admit, I was never fond of the gameboy line at all until DS came along and made it more interesting. However, that's not to say that GB/GBC/GBA had some gems, and this thread is to discuss good games on all of the pre-DS nintendo handhelds (not counting the Game & Watch devices).

Seeing as I have the ROM sets for reference, I've taken a gander through the libraries of each and I haven't found many games that I liked, and most of the better ones are usually first party like the Wario games, or Metroid 2. I've also noticed that good 3rd party titles on the GB tend to be developed by the generally more respectable companies such as Konami (Twinbee Da, Kid Dracula), Capcom (Megaman GB series), or Natsume (River King, Harvest Moon).

The GB line, even during the GBA era, had alot of horrible games. There were other handheld systems I enjoyed more, but I really want to know what games you guys personally consider to be good on these systems. Thanks.

[oldmanwinters]

Donkey Kong (1994) for the original Game Boy/Game Boy Color was a really good update of the classic Donkey Kong arcade formula. (Not to be confused with Donkey Kong Land, which is a gameboy-ized version of the SNES game).

The Kirby's Dreamland series is simple but fun.

Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins is a solid Mario game suffering from slight annoyances like some slowdown.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening received very high acclaim back in the day.

[Baloo]

Game Boy:

Revenge of the Gator
Ducktales
Ducktales 2
Darkwing Duck
Mickey Mouse Magic Wands
Mickey Mouscapade
Super Mario Land
Tetris
Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins
Donkey Kong
Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Mortal Kombat II
TMNT: Fall of the Foot Clan

Game Boy Color:

Mickey's Speedway USA
Mickey's Racing Adventure
Super Mario Bros Deluxe
Kirby Tilt N' Tumble

[5233]

Magical Chase, the TurboGrafx/PC Engine shmup also has a GBC port which is decent for what it is.

[5233]

BTW, was Mickey Mousecapade really done for GB and if so was it under a different title? I remember the NES version.

[Baloo]

I'm sorry, I meant Mickey's Dangerous Chase. Mouscapade is on NES.

[roguetrip]

LOL, I was gonna mention SMB4 Warioland and Metroid 2, good thing I double read the post.

Castlevania Adventure
Batman: The Animated Series
Battletoads


If your asking for GBA, it has alot of great games to play, Even now play my DS lite more for GBA games than DS games :(, Gotta love The Edge card, and a EZflash V 3in1!! I have like 88 gba games alone on my NDSL

[jollie]

links awakening or the DX version are awesome.
golden sun 1 and 2 for the GBA are possibly the best handheld RPGs ever IMO (besides pokemon)
pokemon red of course
bomberman pocket
super mario land 1 and 2
metroid 2: return of samus
there are good ones you just have to look

[5233]

Let's not forget Gunstar Super Heroes and Guardian Heroes Advance. I got the former recently and have been enjoying it very much.

[Alianger]

I always thought the original GB had a pretty good library in terms of good/bad ratio, like 40% of them are at least worth playing. The GBA is alright, lots of licensed garbage on it, and the GBC seems to be the worst by far.

Mole Mania is an excellent puzzle game that plays like a cross between Lolo and Zelda.

Bionic Commando (GB) is a great port/remake of the NES game, with some new equipment and somewhat better thought out level design.

Castlevania II (GB) is often overlooked because of the crappy original game, but it's a much better game, almost on par with the NES games.

Some good GBA games off the top of my head:
Astro Boy
Tactics Ogre
Ninja Cop
Lilo & Stitch
Drill Dozer
Klonoa 1-2
Kuru Kuru Kururin 1-2
Chu Chu Rocket

[Knuckle Duster]

Just GB/GBC titles:

F1-Race
Super Mario Land
Zelda Links Awakening
Final Fantasy Adventure (Sword of Mana on GBA)
Tetris
Tetris 2
Sword of Hope
Shadowgate
Azure Dreams
Donkey Kong Land
Dragon Warrior 3
Crystalis
Lufia: The Legend Returns

I would say Pokemon, but I would be lying to myself and this would happen:
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[Nunzio]

There was a really fun, but basic shmup called Solar Striker I used to love. It was one of the really early titles. Castlevania 2 is really fun on bus rides and I remember enjoying the GBC Grand Theft Auto quite a bit. I found it easier than the PC version as a kid because of the limited amount of cars on screen at once. You can cruise at reaally high speeds and enjoy the missions.

[Phexar]

I second Solar Striker, though I only made it past Stage 4 once. Some others I'd like to add are:

GB
-Mega Man I-V (especially IV and V)

GBC
-The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages
-Mario Golf
-Mario Tennis
-Mega Man Xtreme 2 (the first one felt lacking, this adds Zero and more)
-Pokemon Trading Card Game

GBA
-Advance Wars & Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
-Sigma Star Saga
-Mega Man Zero series
-Sonic Advance & Sonic Advance 3 (2 was mediocre, to me)

[kool kitty89]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2c/James_bond_007_Game_Boy_box.gif

Great action-adventure game, and my first Game Boy game.

[Nunzio]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2c/James_bond_007_Game_Boy_box.gif

Great action-adventure game, and my first Game Boy game.

Seconded, only the casino scenes can be tough. You have to bet really high.

Also the markets can get really confusing.

[Iron Lizard]

I became addicted to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

[The Coop]

-=GB/GBC=-

Blaster Master: Enemy Below (Action Platformer)
Castlevania Adventure (Action Platformer)
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge (Action Platformeer)
Castlevania: Legends (Action Platformer)
Gargoyle's Quest (Action RPG)
Gradius: Interstellar Assault (Shmup)
MegaMan Xtreme (Action Platformer)
MegaMan Xtreme 2 (Action Platformer)
Metroid II (Action)
Nemesis (Shmup)
R-Type DX (Shmup Compilation)
Sagaia (Shmup)
Shantae (Action Platformer)



-=GBA=-

Astro Boy (Action/Shmup)
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Action Platformer)
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (Action Platformer)
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (Action Platformer)
Gradius Galaxies (Shmup)
Gunstar Super Heroes (Run 'N Gun)
Iridion (3D Shmup)
Iridion II (Shmup)
Metal Slug Advance (Run 'N Gun)
Metroid Fusion (Action Platformer)
Metroid: Zero Mission (Action Platformer)
MegaMan Zero (Action Platformer)
MegaMan Zero 2 (Action Platformer)
MegaMan Zero 3 (Action Platformer)
MegaMan Zero 4 (Action Platformer)
MegaMan & Bass (Action Platformer)
Pinball of the Dead (Pinball)
Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon (Turn-Based Strategy RPG, remake of the first Genesis "Shining" game)
Shining Soul (Turn-Based Strategy RPG)
Shining Soul II (Turn-Based Strategy RPG)
Sigma Star Saga (Shmup/RPG)
Sonic Advance (Platformer)
Sonic Advance 2 (Platformer)
Sonic Advance 3 (Platformer)
Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts (Action Platformer) (it's a bit different from the SNES version, with a rather cool extra mode, and saving)




Rather than talk about each one, I'll simply say that if you have any questions about what I recommended, I'll be happy to answer them :)