This week’s quadruple dose of writin’ and spitin’ brings us to the conclusion of Game Boy’s infancy and to the cusp of the turning point at which the system’s lineup went from “rough but promising” to “holy crap.” Don’t fret, though! Even those these articles chronicle the system at something short of its peak, we did not scrimp on the quality of writing.
Gargoyle’s Quest
I keep name-dropping Gargoyle’s Quest in my numerous mentions of great original Game Boy titles, specifically because it was the first such creation. But Rene here has demonstrated the perspicacity I lack by actually explaining why it was a good game. (For the most part, that is.)
Rockman’s World: Mega Man on Game Boy
Although GameSpite has covered the Game Boy Mega Man titles in exhaustive detail, there’s always room for a general survey to complement the in-depth obsessiveness. Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself to assuage my guilt for being so gosh-darned breezy with this piece.
Heiankyo Alien
You know, for a system that was ostensibly geared toward young kids, the Game Boy sure did have a lot of games with seriously obtuse titles. Heiankyo Alien’s name actually does make sense, if you know what “heian-kyo” means, but it’s still no easier on English-speaking ears than, say, “Daedalian Opus.”
Cart B. Ridge in: The Game Boy!
I’m not sure what a cartoonist as talented as Mr. Armstrong here is doing slumming around the likes of GameSpite, but believe me when I say that I intend to exploit this natural resource with all available ruthlessness for as long as I can. We begin with a general comic overview of the Game Boy’s curriculum vitae.
What a great comic. I don’t even want to say what I liked about it because I fear spoiling it for someone else.
I don’t understand. “Daedalian Opus” sounds to my ears like sweetest ambrosia.
Love, love, love the comic. Also, when I was a kid, I pronounced “Heiankyo” as “Hai-an-ko.” I doubt I was alone.
It was great seeing those comics on some real live paper. I got Daedalian Opus at the flea market for 2$ in perfect workign condition yesterday, also.
This issue of Gamespite has inspired me to pick up some old GameBoy games for my birthday this week. Last night I ordered Donkey Kong ’94 and am very excited to get it. Gargoyle’s Quest may well be the next one I plunk down cash for. That or Mario Golf, or maybe Mario Land 2.
Jeremy’s stated previously that the hard cover edition had some extra content that would eventually make its way onto the site. Is there (or will there be) an easy way to tell which articles aren’t in the soft cover version? I’d hate to miss something good because I assumed it would be in the soft cover edition that should arrive on my doorstep any day now.
Ha! Chainsaw God in the face! I remember this coming up on the other set of articles about Final Fantasy on the Game Boy.
Can anyone tell me what Cart B. Ridge is saying in the last panel? It’s far too tiny to read.
The extra hardcover content is listed on the issue’s index (http://www.gamespite.net/toastywiki/index.php/Site/Issue14TableOfContents) under “Hardcover Bonus Content.” The FFL piece from last week was the first posting of added material.
Cart B. Ridge is saying “Bwa-ha-ha!” in the final panel.
Fantastic update!
Man I loved Gargoyle’s Quest back in the day. I thought it was unfairly hard at first, but once I figured out the hovering system, it became much easier. The sequel, on the other hand–that game’s just VICIOUS.
I got my copy last week and I’m replaying Donkey Kong ’94. I love how much attention to detail there is especially the animation of Donkey Kong squeezing through a hole.