The Game Boy is arguably the most underappreciated console that Nintendo have produced. The handheld device can be thanked for taking the Japanese video game developer into a new era. It wouldn’t be long until the Game Boy Color stepped things up a notch and the Nintendo DS completely changed handheld gaming altogether. However, a huge part of the legacy that remains for the Game Boy is its development of unique RPGs that have contributed to some of Nintendo’s most beloved properties.
Despite these games performing well at the time of their release, many haven’t had the cultural impact of other significant RPG releases. What’s more, most don’t factor into Nintendo’s current plans, nor have they had the mainstream attention that they certainly deserved. But, it’s more than just that though. Because these games are also a perfect reflection of how quickly the video game world develops and yet how it still stays the same. Pick up and play any of these titles today, and they will still hold up to modern standards.
Great Greed Was A Traditional RPG With A Twist
In 1992, the Japanese video game market received a title known as Vitamina Kingdom Story. It was developed by Namco and published exclusively by the company on the Game Boy. Once it made its way to global territories in 1993, the title was changed to Great Greed, the name its legacy is now shaped by. There are no sequels to speak of here. No wider franchise. Simply a standalone RPG with one of the greatest, most absurd storytelling styles that has been seen in the genre thus far.
Players choose their protagonist’s name and get sent to an alternative world, where they must save seven nations from pollution spread by a strange antagonist in the form of Biohazard Harry. But once the protagonist gets stuck in this world, players must engage in a variety of other adventures, hoping to find a way home. In doing so, they come across this universe’s truly bizarre array of characters and are faced with choices that will actually change the game’s conclusion.
There is classic RPG fare here, combined with a great battle system, but it is in the unique use of comedy, coupled with a rather political and eco-conscious narrative arc, that really helps Great Greed stand out. This is a game that wants to say something and boasts a timeless message. Perhaps it is that very reason as to why it fails to endure in the current climate, where entertainment and discourse are in conflict. Nonetheless, this deserves another look for being a moving title, with great jokes and a solid system at its core.
The Frog For Whom the Bell Tolls Was Limited By Its Release
The English translation of this title is The Frog For Whom the Bell Tolls, but in Japan the game was known as Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru. It was released in 1992 and developed and published by Nintendo with help from a studio called Intelligent Systems, perhaps best known for its work on the likes of MarioWare and Paper Mario. The very idea of the name is a spin on Earnest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, which might give some indication as to the high concepts being explored here.
The Frog For Whom The Bell Tolls was a well-received game that tells the story of comedy and whimsy. It is fantastical in its backdrop, taking place in a faraway land where two princes continue their long-held rivalry. When a princess is kidnapped, the two race to make the save first, with chaos ensuing. With a kingdom turned into frogs and ridiculous characters like Princess Tiramisu, Jam and the Prince of Custard Kingdom, it’s evident that the title never quite takes itself too seriously.
This kind of meta game, which pokes fun at the RPG genre, would perform admirably well today. There is something rather modern about its sensibilities. A transformation system that brings real depth to play, coupled with an instant combat style, allows the game to celebrate its own identity. But with The Frog For Whom The Bell Tolls only ever released and re-released in Japan, it wasn’t able to make the global impact that it perhaps deserved to as a far-from difficult, expansive Game Boy title.
Legend of the River King Offered An Unexpected Hybrid
The series Legend of the River King has run across 6 video game systems, multiple decades and countless mainline and spinoff titles. The games have been released internationally, with a Japanese focus but availability in North America and Europe too. But mention one of the early games titled Legend of the River King on Game Boy, and it isn’t exactly a title that is heralded as a standout. In fact, many don’t remember the 1997 release from Marvelous, known for the likes of Harvest Moon: A New Beginning and the Monster Hunter series.
It’s evident that the history of RPG culture was running through the development team behind The Legend of the River King and the results speak for themselves. The fishing-themed experience is straight-forward, accessible and intuitive, somehow acting like a hybrid between a traditional RPG and a simulation title. It’s the kind of set-up that would perform remarkably well today on Steam. Its cozy and immersive atmosphere certainly plays to contemporary demands.
Players find themselves genuinely engaged with the lives of the locals, offering to run small errands for them in the form of side quests. Everything always comes back to fishing, but when the mechanics are that satisfying, there is no reason not to enjoy them at length. Perhaps The Legend of the River King was too niche when it was first released, but there is certainly a place for the series in the current gaming landscape if it were to be given another chance. It just offered a different flavor for Game Boy enthusiasts.
Pokémon Gold & Silver Were Overtaken By Their Remakes
To suggest any mainline Pokémon game is forgotten feels a little ridiculous. Indeed, there will undoubtedly be some that claim this duo of titles to be some of the best Pokémon titles of all time. They may be right. But there is a lot more to the story than just their brand name. The best place to start is at the beginning, and that’s 1999, when Pokémon Gold & Silver was released on the Game Boy in Japan, before making its way around the world in 2000. The title was, as can be expected, an instant success.
Representing the second generation of the series, Pokémon Gold & Silver are integral in expanding the franchise and highlighting that there were many more ideas in store. With over 100 new Pokémon, great new mechanics to dive into and a slightly refined set of visuals, Pokémon Gold & Silver have surely earned their space in history. From a practical standpoint, of course, they are remembered, because of what they contributed as both RPGs and Pokémon installments.
However, when actually discussing the legacy of these games, it’s hard not to argue against the fact that the remakes, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, weren’t more impactful. The originals may have sold more, but the remakes are consistently held in a higher regard. Released in Japan in 2009 on the Nintendo DS, there was an accessibility to these games and a feeling that they had been reinvented and perfected for modern palettes. Now, the remakes somewhat erase the work of the originals because of their quality.
Final Fantasy Adventure Is A Confused Inclusion
Final Fantasy Adventure is not part of the mainline Final Fantasy games. However, it is a spinoff of sorts, developed by Square and released in 1991 on the Game Boy. Square are well-respected for their contributions to the RPG space, but their experience didn’t seem to translate to a clever title for the game. Because Final Fantasy Adventure actually serves as the first installment in the Mana series, adding additional confusion for those looking back on the timeline.
Many have compared the gameplay of Final Fantasy Adventure to the very first installment of The Legend of Zelda, but that feels somewhat like a simplification. The title, which was even more confusingly known as Mythic Quest in Europe, uses real-time, fast-paced combat as its foundation. With fantastic weapon variety, the freedom for players to get creative with their problem-solving, and a profound level of stat and character customization, this dungeon-crawler is genuinely well-considered.
Everything here matters, and it’s evident that Square were able to build a titan of a series on the back of this outing because of its quality and dynamism. Solid visuals and an iconic soundtrack elevate the experience, but Final Fantasy Adventure has failed to make a lasting impact because of the lack of precision around the game’s branding, coupled with franchise overload. With many more Mana and Final Fantasy games released since, it’s no surprise that this Game Boy classic has gone overlooked.