Summary
TheGame Boy Colorintroduced many timeless games as well as unique spinoffs to known franchises that took things in a new direction. With olderGame Boygames getting remade, such asPokemonYellow andThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, there are countless games that can be revamped, remastered, and reimagined for the modern era.
Remakes that go beyond a simple retexture, such asResident Evil 2 RemakeandFinal Fantasy 7: Rebirth, always get looked at fondly and even rekindle the hype for a franchise. Here are ten Game Boy Color games that could use a modern makeover.
10Resident Evil Gaiden
Outbreak On A Ship
Resident Evil Gaiden was the onlyResident Evilgame released for the Game Boy Color. It containedelements of survival horror seen in previous games,such as puzzle solving and item management. It also introduced a new combat mechanic.
Encounters with zombies require you to time your hits on a scale to do damage. The closer enemies come to you, the easier it becomes to land headshots at the risk of getting damaged. The idea of an outbreak on a ship would later resurface for the first Resident Evil Revelations game.
9Pokemon Crystal
Traditional Johto
Pokemon Crystal was the special edition of Pokemon Gold and Silver. The Johto Region introduced 100 new Pokemon to find and collect with a post-game that brought you back to the Kanto Region. While Gold and Silver were both remade for the Nintendo DS family of systems, enough time has passed to reintroduce the entry.
Remakes don’t always need to follow the same beats one for one. Some remakes, such as Pokemon Let’s Go, changed the catching mechanic, while games like Omega Ruby and Alpha Saphire added a post-game storyline.
8Wario Land 3
Where Greed Is Good
Wario Land 3 was the third spinoff title featuring the dastardly mustached rival toMario. Wario Land 3 featured many new powerups, such as Zombie Wario and Vampire Wario. Your goal would be to collect various music boxes and treasures hidden across each level.
Some treasures unlocked new abilities that allow you to access blocked-off areas that you couldn’t before. This allowed some treasures to be found in any order the player chooses. A remake of the Wario Land franchise would mark the return of many of the unique enemies found in the game.
7Legend of Zelda Oracle of Ages Legend of Zelda Oracle of Seasons
Two Adventures, One Ending
Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening got an HD Remake for theNintendo Switch. What better time than now to bring back two of the lesser-knownZelda gamesin the series? Both games featured two distinct plots and locations for Link to explore.
One game had you fetching the rod of seasons, while the other had you going after the harp of ages. The games could be completed in any order and could be linked using a password to unlock the true ending.
6Pokemon Trading Card Game
Build Your Deck
The Pokemon TCGis still going strong, and interest in the classic Game Boy Game spiked with its release through theNintendo Switch Onlineservice. This version of the Pokemon trading card game taught players how to build their very own competitive Pokemon deck.
Like the mainline games, you were on a mission to collect badges from various gym leaders. These Gym leaders each used a deck of a specific type and would reward you with packs. Whether it be a remake or an updated reimagining, the technology is there to enhance the experience.
5Donkey Kong Country
Go Bananas
Donkey Kong Countrywas originally released on theSuper Nintendobefore getting a well-crafted port on the Game Boy Color. It featured every level from the original game with a new soundtrack and a few bonus games on the main menu. It also compensated for an easier save mechanic by replacing the original save spots with minigame challenges.
Donkey Kong Country was also remade for theGame Boy Advance, featuring some of these changes, such as Cranky’s minigames, as well as a few collectibles for replay value.
4Metal Gear Solid
Stealth Is Key
TheMetal Gearseries has had many entries across systems. Though one stands out for coming out around the same time asMetal Gear SolidonPlayStation. However, despite sharing a title, the game bore little visual resemblance to its PlayStation counterpart and featured a completely new story.
Gameplay, on the other hand, adapted the stealth of the originals with an overhead camera. The plot was a sequel to the original Metal Gear, though considered non-canon. In Japan, it was released as Ghost Babel.
3Kirby Tilt and Tumble
Tilt and Turn
From pinball games to using mechs,Kirbyhas been onhis fair share of adventures across Dreamland. Kirby Tilt and Tumble experimented with the gameplay by using an accelerometer in the game cartridge that would allow players to control Kirby’s movements by tilting the Game Boy Color.
Using these controls, you would need to guide Kirby through various levels as you search for a red star. Levels were timed and came with different difficulties, with some levels giving you a bonus challenge if you met the requirements.
2Game and Watch Gallery
Old Classics Remade
The original Game and Watch titles are remade in Game and Watch Gallery. These retro remakes would add popularNintendocharacters and designs to the classic pixel games. Some examples include Egg and Greenhouse now starring Yoshi, whileMario Bros.now using the modern Mario and Luigi designs.
Game and Watch Gallery also allows players to experience the original games without the redesigns and unlock additional titles that were not updated. It also featured different difficulty options for each game.
1Pokemon Pinball
Gotta Catch Them All
Pokemon Pinball is a dormant spinoff title within the Pokemon series. Like the mainline games, the goal is to capture various Pokemon to add them to your collection. Pokemon Pinball adapted the first 150 Pokemon featured in Red and Blue.
Hitting different targets would reveal a Pokemon at the center of the board, which could then be captured if hit with the ball within the time limit. Eventually, a sequel would be released for the Game Boy Advance featuring Pokemon from the Ruby and Sapphire Games.
