Space (Galactic) Pinball --
TeleRoboxer --
Mario's Dream Tennis --
Mario Clash --
Red Alarm --
While not the strongest title available for the Virtual Boy, Pinball does have a certain simple-minded charm that makes
it a worthwile title, at least for the first few plays. The game contains eight different pinball tables, all with their own
space-oriented themes. Graphics are well handled, but fast motion can be difficult to follow with the Virtual Boy's somewhat
"hazy-red-on-black-bitmap" images. Even more disappointing, none of the tables offer a great number of targets, ensuring that
players find ways of mastering them in pretty short order. In the end, Pinball is litle more than a pack-in teaser
cart to entice owners into purchasing one of the better titles.
Overall Rating : 55%
Basically Punch Out! with an added 3-D effect, TeleRoboxer proves to be a solid title for the Virtual Boy
without ever really showing enough originality to truly impress. Players take the controls of a giant battling robot in an
all-out bout against a line of other menacing metalmen. Controls are a little tricky at first, but are easy to get used to,
and feature ducks, blocks, and plenty of vicious punches including jabs, hooks, and uppercuts. Graphics are amazingly sharp
for such a small screen, displaying each of the enemy robots with fluid efficiency. Although it doesn't stand up to too
well to long-term play, TeleRoboxer is still one of the better titles available for the Virtual Boy.
Overall Rating : 77%
Mario's Dream Tennis is another example of how the Virtual Boy can successfully bring new life to an old title. You
take the role of Mario as he takes on various members of Nintendo's classic lineups in some all out tennis action. The cart
also includes a doubles mode that pairs Mario up with his most obvious tennis partner, Yoshi. Aside from the pleasing 3-D
motion of the players and the ball, Mario's Dream Tennis is almost identical to the 8-bit Tennis released by
Nintendo all those years ago. Not the best title currently available, but a good solid play that can stand the test of time,
enhanced with a depth only the Virtual Boy can offer. Tennis, anyone?
Overall Rating : 70%
Mario kicks some turtle butt in his return to the dark pipes of the original Mario Bros. arcade game. Unlike the two-dimensional hop and stomp, Mario Clash takes full advantage of the Virtual Boy's 3-D environment by presenting two sets of platforms, and forcing players to knock off enemies by throwing shells either towards or away from the viewscreen (a picture is worth a thousand words right here). Graphics aren't impressive by a long shot, but they do a perfectly good job of presenting the simple images of the game. Gameplay is addictive, and changes as the game progresses, offering bonus stages, and new obstacles in every new level. Every Virtual Boy owner definitely needs to check out this title.
Overall Rating : 80%
Sort of like playing Starfox in a poorly drawn box, Red Alarm is living proof that the Virtual Boy just doesn't have the to pull off the complexities of a good polygon title. Behind the controls of your typical angular spacecraft, players weave their way through a wire frame maze while dodging the attacks of various alien ships and gun turrets. Graphics are confusing at best, with empty wire boxes representing solid objects, enemy ships that are visible even when they should be concealed, and exits that are indistinguishable from a normal wall. These poor visuals, backed up by repetitive gameplay and annoying controls ensure Red Alarm a lifetime membership on the "Leave It On the Shelf" club.
Overall Rating : 35%