When the original Nintendo Game Boy launched in 1989,
I’ll admit—I didn’t see what the big deal was. In fact, I made a whole YouTube
video recently talking about just how wrong I was. You can watch the video by
clicking HERE.
During the early 1990s, I preferred the Sega Game Gear. It had a larger, full-color, backlit screen, a more comfortable form
factor, and seemed like the obvious choice for anyone who wanted a handheld
gaming experience. In comparison, the Game Boy felt underpowered, with its greenish
monochrome display and no backlight. I figured it was only a matter of time
before it faded away and its games hit clearance bins.
But history, of course, had other plans.
What I failed to appreciate back then was the genius
of Nintendo’s approach: the Game Boy was affordable, durable, and, most
importantly, fun. The battery life crushed the Game Gear’s, and the killer
app—Tetris—was an instant classic. It appealed to gamers of all ages and
quickly made the Game Boy a cultural touchstone. Even as more powerful
competitors came and went, the Game Boy held its ground. It was hard to compete
with Nintendo’s excellent marketing and their killer first-party titles.
It wasn’t until the late 1990s that I had a change of
heart. When the Super Game Boy was released, it gave me a fresh perspective—I
finally saw those tiny cartridges on a big screen and in color, and it
completely changed how I viewed the system. From that point on, I started
playing and collecting for the console, discovering just how rich and varied
the Game Boy’s library truly was—The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Kirby’s
Dream Land, Donkey Kong, interesting ports of Mr. Do!, Dig Dug, and Miner 2049er,
a Star Trek-themed side-scrolling shooter, and way too many others to mention.
Looking back, the Game Boy wasn’t a technological
marvel—it was a triumph of design, software, and smart business decisions. It
redefined portable gaming and left a legacy that still resonates today. And
yeah… I was way off. Until the Super Game Boy arrived…
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