"In honor of St. Patrick's Day I shall review the Original Game Boy which is quite the "Visually Emerald" little portable."

Over throughout the years of the Video Game Industry in general there were various sorts of items & games that may not have invented their concepts but have truly perfected them and are the reason why they are known. And this lovely little blast from the past is certainly one of them. While it is true that the original Game Boy was indeed NOT the very first portable console ever released it was the first one to TRULY do it right and get the mainstream attention into the concept that is Portable Video Game playing.

How do its Gameplay control structure go? Pretty much like the NES, a control pad with a & B buttons along with start & select buttons as well. Crude, simplistic? Yes but it was effective nevertheless. Its size? Kinda big & bulky (but don't worry its not like those shoebox-sized cell phones from the 1980's) but as long as you got big pockets and/or a bag/carrying case you'll be just fine in storing it for later use on the go. The graphics for this early game system you ask? Well as for colors this is to Portable as what the earlier Apple IIe games are to computers, another words its just mainly different shades of green. (However unlike the Apple IIe the original Game Boy never had any fully color games aside from playing a certain few on the Super Game Boy on the SNES. And not too mention until the new 1998 portable console that is Game Boy Color but thats a different story.) And as for graphical power in its technology? Awfully limited, heck even back when it was first introduced one can easily notice the limited power it had even compared to the likes of NES and such. (Which is of course the biggest reason why the Sega Game Gear had any decent competition over it due to how that was fully in color with stronger graphics capabilities. Granted the GB in general has succeded over the GG in long-lasting lifespan but the GG did have that advantage nevertheless.) However don't underestimate the graphics potential on the games of this system they can sometimes be rather sub-par BUT there are some games that still do look well. (Like most of the Final Fantasy games.)

Though thanks to the backwards compatibility of the later GB systems you can be able to play the games made for this into them. (And most of the accesories as well.) And if you are truly tired of carrying around a somewhat bulky handheld Nintendo has made ''Pocket'' versions of the original GB that work just as fine. (However be forewarned that its just a lot slimmer and the color scheme is black & white rather than various shades of green. And to be honest I kinda liked the green scheme more it seems a bit more unique. And no offense to classic TV but making the color scheme in the GBP to be Black & White is a bit...derivative.) And while I can understand why you might find this as a decent, more inexpensive alternative to the Game Boy Advance however as much as I respect this oldie and I truly do. But the Game Boy Color would be a lot more practical choice its a lot easier to find and its common price is only about 24$ which is not so bad really.

Overall even though a GBC is a lot more practical idea of a inexpensive portable console this one is still not a bad little GB. This handheld system may not have went through the test of time unscathed but there is one thing that should ALWAYS be remembered. The Original Game Boy was the portable that truly put handheld gaming on the map and is why we have the GBC and the Game Boy Advance. And I dunno about you but frankly I for one am certainly thankful for that.

+ The original version of Nintendo's world-famous portable that truly innovated & downright perfected the handheld game industry.
+ Good control button structure
+ Its games & most of its accesories can be used on Game Boy Color and Advance
+ The size doesn't make it IMPOSSIBLY storable on the go. (Though you'll either need a big pocket or a bag/carrying case.)
+ Nintendo did make a ''Pocket'' version of it...
- The ''Gameboy Pocket'' was just a slimmer version with Black & White color schemes rather than just mostly Green
- The Technological power in the GB was not all that great even back then. (Even though some games did use its limited technological power well.)
- It might be a decent more inexpensive alternative to the Game Boy Advance but getting a Game Boy Color would be a lot more practical. (Especially since a GBC is a LOT easier to find.)

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 03/17/04