Game Boy

From Sega Retro

GameBoy.pngGameBoyColor.png
Game Boy
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Variants: Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Light, Game Boy Color
Release Date RRP Code

The Game Boy (ゲームボーイ) was released in 1989 and was Nintendo's second foray into the handheld market (Game & Watch being the first). It was met with great critical acclaim.

In 1998 Nintendo released their last revision of the Game Boy, the Game Boy Color. Because the Game Boy Color was more powerful than the initial release it had games exclusive to it. In this way the Game Boy Color can be seen as the DSi or New Nintendo 3DS equivalent to the original Game Boy. The unit was so successful that even games that could be played on the original Game Boy were being touted as Game Boy Color exclusives on their packaging.

Games that can be played on either were shipped in black carts while Game Boy Color exclusives were transparent and had a bulge sticking out on the top front of the cartridge. For the sake of cohesion, Sega Retro will refer to these black cart games as Game Boy Color games as that is what their packaging states.

Like the competing Game Gear, both players needs a copy of the game and a link cable (GB Link Cable) for the multiplayer.

Sega support

All of the Sega-related games for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color were exclusive to Japan. Sega did not develop games for either system, but they did publish the Game Boy Color game Sakura Taisen GB2: Thunderbolt Sakusen. The Puyo Puyo games were handled by Compile while the other Color games were handled by Media Factory. The two games for the original Game Boy model were handled by Pony Canyon and Tecmo.

Game Boy games
Game Boy Color games

Games marked with asterisks(*) are exclusive to the Game Boy Color.

References