Let’s face it; the Virtual Boy was destined to fail from the beginning. The concept just wasn’t very marketable (although Nintendo tried it’s best) and few developers threw meaningful support behind the quirky device. Although I knew about it at the time of release I didn’t pick up the hardware until well over a decade later. I was surprised that I liked it as much as I did, and even through the eye strain I’ll still push through to play the small library of mostly exclusive titles. That’s why I’m sitting down here today to let you (hopefully someone looking to collect for the platform) weed through the small collection of commercial cartridges to point you in the right direction of the best Virtual Boy games.
We’ll begin with a single honorable mention:
Runner up: Nester’s Funky Bowling
Most people reading this are probably saying by now “who the heck is Nester?” I don’t blame them. It’s not like he was ever a household name, nor did he star in any other video games. He appeared in a set of comics in the magazine Nintendo Power during the 90s. What I imagine happened was a developer threw the game at Nintendo and they weren’t ready for Mario to go bowling so they slapped Nester into it. Regardless, this is one of the few sports games released for the platform. Surprisingly, it’s not the only bowling title, but it is the best one. You control Nester or his sister Hester in a series of realistic matches. It’s nothing fancy, but the mechanics are solid and the animations are charming. It falls just short of being one of the best Virtual Boy games.
So with that out of the way this is where the list really begins; these are the top 10 best Virtual Boy games of all time!
#10. – Vertical Force
The Virtual Boy had just one 2D scrolling shooter released for it, and that game is Vertical Force. This Hudson Soft release doesn’t have a lot going for it on the surface. It uses a very traditional power-up system, and the stage designs aren’t particularly creative. The gimmick here is that you can move to a lower elevation, and hazards and enemies appear on both planes thus allowing you to dodge them by making use of this mechanic. This wasn’t a new concept, but thanks to the 3D display of the Virtual Boy it’s given new life here. Hardcore shooting fans will grow bored with this one, but I really liked it because of the illusion of depth.
#9. – Innsmouth no Yakata
Here we have the first Japan only release to make the list. Innsmouth no Yakata was ahead of its time. This is a combination first person shooter and survival horror title. It’s based off of the works of HP Lovecraft, and even though it’s displayed in only red and black the game can be downright startling at times. Innsmouth no Yakata has all the classic elements of survival horror that I look for; impending sense of doom, ammunition management, and it has it’s fair share of creepy enemies to dispatch. It’s a real shame that this one wasn’t localized for North American gamers though I doubt it could have saved the system. Still, this is one of the most unique and best Virtual Boy games in the library.
#8. – Mario Clash
Not like this, Mario. Not like this. Usually Nintendo’s big franchise is the headlining software for their console. That’s not the case here. Mario Clash is not a side scrolling platformer like you would naturally suspect. Instead Mario Clash takes a few steps back to explore the history of the franchise. It’s actually more of a sequel to the original Mario Bros. Arcade game. It’s a single screen action game, and because of the small scope of this project it doesn’t match up to the franchise standards. That doesn’t mean it isn’t quite a bit of fun though!
#7. – Panic Bomber
Most games released for the Virtual Boy were original titles. Panic Bomber is not one of these. Here we have a game released on a multitude of different consoles, but if I’m not mistaken this was the first time North America was able to get their hands on it. It’s your basic Tetris clone but with a Bomberman motif, and some pretty neat mechanics with bombs being used to eliminate pieces instead of simply matching them. Really my only complaint with Panic Bomber is that it doesn’t really take advantage of the hardware. The 3D effects are virtually non-existent, and the lack of color hurts it a fair bit. Either way, Panic Bomber is still a solid puzzler and easily the best one available for the red and black Nintendo goggles.
#6. – Galactic Pinball
It’s pinball, and it’s in stereoscopic 3D. That’s what Galactic Pinball has going for it, but luckily I love the genre. Every system needs a game you can pick up and play in small sessions. Sometimes you just want mindless fun. Galactic Pinball scratches that itch. This game features some very memorable boards, and the 3D effects are pretty convincing in my opinion. There’s quite a bit to like here. First of all the shoulder/bumper buttons on the Virtual Boy controller lend themselves quite well to the pinball concept. Finally the slanted viewpoint, at least for me, works really well to simulate playing on an actual machine. I really like Galactic Pinball.
#5. – Mario’s Tennis
Here’s a little known fact. Mario Tennis on the Virtual Boy is the first time Nintendo’s plumber mascot ever picked up a racket and took to the court. Since then we’ve had many new iterations of Mario Tennis, and all of them are better than this one. That doesn’t mean the Virtual Boy outing is bad by any means, rather, it established the framework for a bunch of really great games. This is a less casual affair than future iterations. There are no powerups here or court gimmicks. Instead it’s pretty basic Tennis, but with Mario characters thrown in. That’s not a bad thing in my opinion because the mechanics are very solid.
#4. – Teleroboxer
My prediction is that Teleroboxer was the game Gunpei Yokoi had in mind when designing the Virtual Boy. It’s a great realization of pretty much every aspect of the hardware. It’s also one of the only titles to use a first person viewpoint. Teleroboxer is basically a sequel to Punch-Out, for better or worse. The mechanics are mostly stolen from it but with an emphasis on 3D space. Meanwhile the dual directional pads on the controller are put to good use in terms of guarding and striking your foe. This is an amazing game and it’s plain to see why it hasn’t been ported to any other console because it makes such great use of the hardware gimmicks here. Not only is it an exclusive, but it’s also one of the best Virtual Boy games of all time.
#3. – Space Invaders: Virtual Collection
I love me some Space Invaders. Always have, always will. Space Invaders: Virtual Collection is an amazing compilation which includes both the original title and its sequel. Because of the rudimentary graphics I wasn’t bothered at all by the red and black display in this one. The ports are very well done and I have absolutely no complaints. What’s particularly great about this package is the fact that it contains the originals as well as 3D remakes of both games. I liked this mode a lot more than I expected to. The 3D effects are great, and the change in perspective adds a whole new dimension to gameplay. Just the base title would have easily made this one of the best Virtual Boy games of all time, but the upgrades are neat. This is one of my favorite methods by which to play Space Invaders.
#2. – Jack Bros.
The Virtual Boy even had its own entry in the Shin Megami Tensei series… well sort of. Jack Bros is a spin-off starring everyone’s favorite Jack monsters (Jack Frost, Jack Lantern, Jack Skellington) as they try run amock in the human world on Halloween night. This is their voyage to get back home before the portal closes. Jack Bros is an overhead shooter/puzzle game. You guide your character via an overhead view through a series of mazes. While doing so you’re fighting enemies with your signature attack (which varies between the three characters) as you find the key to each area which leads to a boss fight. Everything you do is under a serious time constraint. You must move fast if you want to escape this spooky nightmare. Jack Bros is one of the most unusual, and best Virtual Boy games.
#1. – Virtual Boy Wario Land
I have a confession to make. Wario Land games just aren’t that fun. Seriously, I just can’t get any enjoyment out of them. That is except for the Virtual Boy iteration. Beyond the shadow of a doubt it’s one of the very best Virtual Boy games, if not the best. Not only that, but it’s also one of the greatest platformers of all time. This game is a more traditional game than your typical Virtual Boy fare as you guide Wario through a series of underground caverns while he tries to grab all the treasure he can find. There are some unique forward thinking elements such as the ability to jump into the background as well as monsters moving in 3D space despite the flat play area you have. Virtual Boy Wario Land features some absolutely incredible level designs. Seriously, this is worth the price of the Virtual Boy alone.
