I'm not BOY

You can't go back in time, but sometimes you can get a second chance. The Neo Geo Pocket was a portable console that I was really interested in during it's time. I've always been into portable consoles... long time readers have probably figured that out. Still am, though these days they rarely leave my house. Normally they're played in bed or in the living room while listening to the TV. Though back then, one with me at all times. On break at work, visiting my parents, eating lunch by myself... anytime I had a moment, there I'd be. You can see why I'd be interested in a cool new system. The Neo Geo Pcoket was definitely cool.

Initially the system was a black and white unit like the Gameboy, though a color version was soon introduced and that was  released here in the states. I wanted one pretty bad, but never pulled the trigger. Why you might ask? Well, let's talk about financial responsibility and trying to make good decisions. At the time I was in college and living on my own. Money was tight... honestly money was near mythological. We're not talking living check to check or some weeks being better than others, we're talking non-existent. My crappy job didn't pay enough to make ends meet as is, so when it came to fun stuff... I had to make some hard decisions.

When you see me talking about a toy, I bought it or my wife did usually. Maybe a random gift from a friend. It wasn't provided to me like those bigger sites who are constantly asking for your money (how does that work?). If I'm buying a game machine, no matter how much I want it... I'm making sure it's a good idea (hard learned lesson from the Virtual Boy). At the time I had some extra money (somehow) and Walmart had Neo Geo Pocket Color systems right there within grasp... and that's when I noticed it was always the same games and few systems in that display cabinet every time. Another store and ... the same thing.

It wasn't selling. So I decided to hold off and see if some more games come. I read gaming magazines and sites. They tend to side with sponsors and if you see something being covered... it's probably paid content. That's a marketing tactic used to keep certain names heard over others. These day's it's usually done viral on social networking... like when a game suddenly gets hate from nowhere. I hardly heard a peep about this cool new system, and it clearly wasn't getting any new games. Before I knew it... those Neo Geo Pocket Colors weren't on the shelves anymore. It was so fast, I've had to actually convince people that it existed.

Thankfully with emulation and compilation releases the games can be played now. I would have loved owning a Neo Geo Pocket Color at the time. Admittedly that probably would have made the burn of it getting canceled so quickly sting more... but it would have been my jam. It's a shame such a cool system didn't work out. Of course there was no stopping the Gameboy at the time. Pokemon was relatively new and printing money... I had it too. I also had a few pair of boots like the guy in the commercial is wearing... do they still make those? In an alternate reality where it was successful... which color do you think I would have went with? Been leaning towards the aqua blue or anthracite ones since 1999. Really like the stone blue one.

Bonk at the Moon

King Drool III has stolen precisely half of the moon and it's up to Bonk to save the day! I'm not exactly sure how he plans to reassemble the moon once the task is done, but it probably involves bonking it back into place with that big old noggin. I'm specifically talking about the Game Boy version of Bonk's Revenge even though all the versions have the same plot. Bonk games are generally fun platform games with colorful graphics, and weird characters/locations. The series established itself on the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 before moving to other platforms. I'm quite fond of the Game Boy (it could be my all time favorite system), so I tend to focus on those particular Bonk games.

Beast Warriors in GB Missions

Look, I don't know if my fondness for Beast Wars has been noticed or not. But uh... I really like Beast Wars. I also like video games. There was a few Beast Wars video games that came out during the beast era. I'm apparently in the mood for Gameboy games this week so I've got a great BW game to talk about. Duel Fight! Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle was released for the Gameboy Color in 1999. Developed by Gaibrain and published by Takara only in Japan.

As the name would imply, the game takes place during the Beast Wars, but features casts of Beast Wars, Beast Wars 2, and Beast Wars Neo. Beast Machines wasn't released in Japan until a few years later, I'm not sure why the Transmetal/Metals versions of characters were excluded. I presume it's so everybody matches thematically, but I don't know. Maybe. The game is a pretty decent 2D fighter, probably not up to snuff for hardcore fighting game players, but solid enough to have a good time. There's a few game modes and a pretty large cast of characters. I've always been impressed by that, you'd think a cartoon tie in game for kids would be basic shovel ware. But no, this is a pretty solid effort. Moon and Artemis are secret characters, and I'm always up for Moon.

Quest for Power

Power Quest/Gekitō Power Modeler was a hybrid RPG/fighting game for the Gameboy Color developed by Japan System Supply. Published by Capcom in Japan and Sunsoft in North America in 1998 (1999 in Europe). The game flew under the radar of most folks, I myself was unaware of it until lucking up upon it on sale. At the time I was rarely seen without my Gameboy and Power Quest turned out to be just the game I didn't know I needed. You play as a kid who's summer break from school is just starting. Summer break is about to be spent playing in the modeler tournament.

Players build model robots that they battle against each other. Models can be upgraded with parts allowing for new abilities. Of course models and parts cost money... which a kid usually doesn't have. By battling models, you're able to acquire money and parts for your model. You'll spend the game getting into various scenarios and tournaments with other kids and the villainous Hyena Gang culminating in the big tournament to win the National Championship. Game play is what you'd expect from a JRPG, but the game switches over to a 2D fighting game for battles. There's even a vs. mode if you just want to duke it out with the models. The game is a multiplayer fighting game if you had a link cable handy.

You've probably noticed I like the game. The battle robot models RPG is a game type I've been a fan of. Gundam Breaker on my tablet or Custom Robo on Gamecube and DS are all similar games that I've enjoyed quite a lot. I think it wasn't until Power Quest that I discovered the genre. Is it a genre? Maybe not, but definitely something I like. I played Power Quest for quite some time after getting it. It kept me busy a lot of nights. It's a shame it doesn't have a bigger legacy, I'd love to play a new one.

Custom Robo GX

 

Custom Robo is a game series I enjoyed on my Gamecube and DS. I never got the chance to play the Gameboy Advance version, but it looks like a lot of fun. I've played Gundam Breaker on my Galaxy Tab some and it reminds me quite a bit of Custom Robo, but I sure would love a new installment on my Switch.

X

We're The Mario Brothers, And Pepsi's Our Game

An evening in front of my Nintendo with a ice cold Pepsi sounds ideal any time. However you mix that up with winning an Action Set, a Gameboy, games, AND Pepsi? Dang son, a winner is you indeed.

Seeing that early animated Mario run about as Santa really steps this commercial up a notch. We're so used to seeing the slick and polished Mario of today that the unrefined looks of early Mario is refreshing. Almost as much as an ice cold Pepsi.

Gameboy is a middle aged Gameman

The Gameboy is officially 30 years old. Kinda hoping some sort of special anniversary thing is made by Nintendo this year in commemoration, that would be great. Despite it's green/gray screen (inb4 whatever 'that's just cuz' excuses bed wetters will make) that so many made a big deal about back in the day, it outsold it's completion and with several upgrades was on shelves a long time.

I've always been a big fan of it and even though these days I've got my Switch and Genesis portable (not to mention phone) pulling portable gaming duties, the Gameboy is the machine that made me such a fan of portable gaming. Before it, I was chugging around little handheld LCD units that were fun, but super limited in ability (some were really good). When the Gameboy arrived under the Christmas tree, all bets were off and now I had a console system I could carry with me everywhere. And did.

Castlevania II - Dracula Densetsu II (Castlevania 2 Belmont's Revenge)