It is all about the Game Boy Color this week. With both the stream and the article of the week let’s celebrate this truly eye-popping system. To start things off we will have our first console fashion show, and then move onto what we will do in this week’s troll-centric stream.
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Alright you Retro Game Wizards, we are going to go through all the Game Boy Color launch system variations and evaluate their colors. Like everyone on the internet, I have strong feelings, except mine are correct. Just remember that when you disagree with me. Let’s do this!
Make sure after reading to share your favorite system variations for the Game Boy Color in the comments below.
Grape
While I wouldn’t call it grape, I would call it bold. It is classy, if not lacking a little in the fun department. If you want to send the message, I am a serious adult who enjoys Nintendo games but can also wear a suit and tie, this is probably the way to go. My dad says this and Atomic Purple were the only two options he had at Wal-Mart when they came out, so this is the one that is sitting in our game drawers. I like it, but not my favorite. While it it isn’t Indigo, it feels like a precursor to the much more stylish main GameCube variation in terms of vibe.
When to Choose
The winner for most sophisticated color, unlike a certain imposter that appears later on this list. Pick this Game Boy Color to show off your taste.
Recommended Game
The richness of the body should be met with a game that is vibrant, but sophisticated, and R-TYPE DX (GBC, 1999) is a good choice here. I haven’t played the game hardly at all but the colors seem just right, what with the almost neon colors against the void of 8-bit space.
Panda’s Mom Decides
“Classic. A true ideal.” - pandasmomisatroll
Teal
Now we are getting a little more fun, but also super cool. This teal is a perfect way to send off the 90’s in style. Too bad you have to take off your sunglasses first to see anything on the non-backlit screens of the Game Boy Color. You take this out at the beach-side hotel while drinking a Sharkleberry Fin Kool-Aid through a twisty straw sticking out of a crystal clear glass. Now you are living life.
When to Choose
When you want all your friends to know you are the one to go have pizza with, this is the Game Boy Color for you.
Recommended Game
If you have this Game Boy Color, your gaming skills are probably top-notch, so you are definitely playing STREET FIGHTER ALPHA - WARRIORS’ DREAMS (GBC, 2000) and exhibiting all the perfect combos. Bear in mind, with only two buttons, the different kicks and punches are determined by button press duration, and that isn’t easy. You have to be elite for this game.
Panda’s Mom Decides
“Meh..” - pandasmomisatroll
Kiwi
This is my second favorite. First, it is playful, but also it fits almost any genre. It invokes beautiful greenery for all the monster collection games on the system, outer space alien-ness perfect for space shooters, and a sense of adventure for longer adventures like the Zelda ports for the handheld. This is the Game Boy Color that brightens every video quest.
When to Choose
When the call of the gamer is strong in you this is the vehicle to journeys untold.
Recommended Game
The Dragon Quest ports, DRAGON WARRIOR I & II (GBC, 2000) and DRAGON WARRIOR (GBC, 2001) should play well with the green given the games’ beautiful environments and flashy enemies.
Panda’s Mom Decides
“Yes. More of this. More of all of this.” - pandasmomisatroll
BerrySee AlsoAlpha Wives and Alpha Widows
I love this color. I wish we had this one so bad. If I didn’t have the MiSTer, it would definitely be all about having one of these with the appropriate Everdrive. This is the type of Game Boy that is beyond all else fun. It would also match so many of my controllers. Why am I even writing this article. The temptation to buy one is now super strong. Now that I think about it, this thing wasn’t too expensive on eBay!
When to Choose
Always.
Recommended Game
I guess it is time to share some of my favorite Game Boy Color games to go with my favorite Game Boy Color color. To me this is for long hours playing GAME & WATCH GALLERY 2 (GBC, 1998) and GAME & WATCH GALLERY 3 (GBC, 1999). Never ending games for a system you never want to put down.
Panda’s Mom Decides
“Mouthwatering raspberry beauty. I want to eat a fine French pastry now. - pandasmomisatroll
Dandelion
This Game Boy Color is pure joy. When you want to radiate sunshine this is the handheld for you. Let’s say you are in a beautiful garden, and you find a nice bench. You sit down surrounded by wonderous flowers in bloom, and it feels like the perfect opportunity to sneak in a little Nintendo time while your paws take a break. After pulling this Game Boy out, now you are the one the flowers are looking at. Watch out for curious bees though!
When to Choose
When smiles are important to you, go with this.
Recommended Game
That yellow invokes memories of Mario games of Nintendo past, so for me the right choice is SUPER MARIO BROS. DELUXE (GBC, 1999).
Panda’s Mom Decides
“I mean. Wonderful. Fabulous. Pikachu.” - pandasmomisatroll
Atomic Purple
Look everyone, it is Game Boy Color, not Game Boy No Color. What works for the iconic N64 controller with this lovely see-through purple just isn’t doing it for me as my go-to handheld that is supposed to light up my life when if it comes out of my backpack. Maybe if you are afraid that the other colors are too cutesy, this works, but for this little panda, it just needs more pop.
When to Choose
If you are not cool enough to feel cool, you can get this to hide you insecurities.
Recommended Game
I mean since it has a techie vibe, it is probably a good one to play something like PERFECT DARK (GBC, 2000) on, though it will pale in comparison to the cool gadgets in that game. I guess it was good enough for Luigi to bust ghost with though.
Panda’s Mom Decides
“Cute, but a little unsettling to see all its organs.” - pandasmomisatroll
Conclusion
Remember when handheld devices were so diverse and colorful? Well, I guess Nintendo systems still are. Our Joy Con collection speaks for itself. This write-up was really fun to do, and I definitely think I will do another one of these fashion shows sometime in the future. I did want to give a quick shoutout to a similar article you can check out on Polygon by Allegra Frank. It is also really fun.
This Week’s Stream - Troll Stream with Game Boy Color
Once again, pandasmomisatroll returns to choose 8 games that I won’t know about until she reveals them one-by-one in the chat, this time all from the Game Boy Color library. Send me a list of 8 games your think she might choose to retrogamewizards@gmail.com to see if you can anticipate her picks. I don’t have a prize or anything for correct guesses, but there are definitely going to be bragging rights up for grabs. I look forward to seeing you all there.
Catch it all on Thursday, April 25, at 20:30 CET on https://twitch.tv/rgw_panda
Until then, have a great one Retro Game Wizards!
rgw_panda
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