Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of great handheld game systems on the market, from the underappreciated PlayStation Vita to the over-expensive Turbo Express to the battery-sucking (but still awesome) Sega Nomad. But back in the 80’s, outside of picking up a Game & Watch or checking out Tiger Electronics’ countless, limited games, the best handheld gaming you could find was with the original Game Boy.
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Today marks the 28th anniversary of when the original green-screen handheld arrived on the market and changed the way we play games forever. Whether you were playing a favorite like the much-beloved version of Tetris, or oddball titles like Super Mario Land and the pinball game Revenge of the Gator, there was a lot to love.
And Nintendo continued to improve on the model over time, adding colorization to games, a back-lit screen that allowed you to do away with wacky peripherals, different color models that showcased style with each system, and, eventually, an evolution into the Nintendo 3DS and 2DS systems we know and love today.
So, to celebrate the legacy of the Game Boy, we’re looking back at the various models of the system, and the perks and drawbacks that came with each one. Because now you’re playing with power! Portable power!
Game Boy
The original Game Boy arrived in 1989, selling for just under $100 (a decent price for a handheld system, compared to the competition) and featuring a number of great games like Tetris and Super Mario Land 2, among a handful of others. The system itself features a lime green screen that’s practically impossible to see at night, unless you have one of those weird attachments that provides a backlight for it (the ones that hover over the system like a halo). Though it didn’t have lighting, the system delivered with good graphics and sound for an 80’s handheld, and had a variety of games that followed for years to come.
Fun fact: one system even managed to survive an explosion. It’s actually on display now at the Nintendo Store in New York – and still working! (You can see it above.)
Play It Loud!
Nintendo expanded upon its Game Boy lineage in 1995 with the Play It Loud! series, which featured different color variants for the system surrounding its green screen, including Deep Black (compared to, you know, just Black), Gorgeous Green, Radiant Red, Vibrant Yellow and High Tech Transparent. Traditional White and Cool Blue systems were also released in Europe, for those that felt like importing. The line sold reasonably well, especially the Transparent model. And soon, following the system’s discontinuing, they became collector’s items.
Game Boy Pocket
In 1996, Nintendo introduced a slimmer model of the Game Boy, knock as the Game Boy Pocket. It featured longer gameplay on 2 AAA batteries (about ten hours), along with various models and an easier to see black-and-white display, though you still need some lighting in order to see it, since there wasn’t a backlit screen. The pixel response time was also notably faster, making for easy experiences with players. The system performed very well in all countries, and also offered up Limited Edition colors, including ice Blue (with a Legend of Zelda game packed-in), Extreme Green and clear (Ice) blue, an exclusive model with Toys ‘R’ Us.
Game Boy Light
In 1998, Nintendo finally caught on to the idea of releasing a back-lit Game Boy system with the release of the game Boy Light, featuring a slightly bigger set-up than the Game Boy Pocket, along with 20 hours of support with the light off, or 12 with it on. The system was available in gold and silver, and there was also a limited edition Astro Boy model that was available for a little while. Sadly, Nintendo didn’t give this system much of a chance on the market, as it was only released in Japan and sold out rather quickly. But Nintendo would give its next Game Boy model a better opportunity.
Game Boy Color
Even though it didn’t resolve the backlighting issue with this particular model, the Game Boy Color, which came out in 1998, featured colors for the first time in a Nintendo handheld, along with a slightly thicker and taller build than the original Game Boy Pocket. It was also one of the first backward compatible systems, capable of working with earlier Game Boy games. The launch line-up wasn’t too bad, with games like Tetris DX and Wario Land 2, and the system thrived for years, adding to the Game Boy’s total sales of over 118 million units worldwide.
Game Boy Advance
2001 marked a new revolution for Nintendo’s handheld gaming, as it gave the Game Boy a much needed redesign with the Advance. Instead of the compact screen-up-top and controls-down set-up from before, it shifted everything to the sides, and also introduced a backlit screen to the model line for the first time. The end result was a revolution for Game Boy gaming, with a number of hit titles to its credit, as well as the ability to connect to the Nintendo GameCube for certain titles, like Pac-Man Vs. The system thrived on the market for several years, before Nintendo moved on to the next inevitable model.
Game Boy Advance SP
Obviously inspired by the likes of “flip phones” that had made their way to the market, Nintendo’s next take on the Game Boy Advance shifted back to a previous model, but with a twist. The Game Boy Advance SP features a neat design with the screen on top and controls on the bottom, but also had the ability to fold up and close when players weren’t using it, enabling them to carry it around much easier for game sessions. It became a big hit, and various models of the system were released, including a special NES Edition that emulated the design of the original Nintendo Entertainment System controller design. And it was really something, especially when it came to strong battery support and a nice, clear screen.
Game Boy Micro
Before the company would move on to its line of Nintendo DS handhelds, it released one final system in 2005, in the form of the Game Boy Micro. The smallest of the Game Boy systems, the Micro enabled backward compatible use of older Game Boy Advance games, with a convenient way to carry it around. This was probably the most limited Game Boy system when it came to production, but it became a big hit with collectors, especially those pursuing the special Famicom/Game & Watch modeled edition with gold colors. The screen is very tiny, sure, but it made for great play for those that didn’t want to carry a bulky system around.
