These days video game fans are all about playing the best games on the most powerful consoles in the comfort of their own home, but that wasn't always the case during the 90s. As video games became more popular and entered into mainstream culture, companies were continually thinking of new ways to capture gamers attention. Enter portable video game devices.
Both Atari and Nintendo released electronic handheld gaming devices in 1989, ushering in a new ear of gaming. The battle between Sega and Nintendo heated up with Sega releasing the Game Gear to compete with Nintendo while Atari's Lynx, Neo Geo's Pocket, and Tiger Electronics' Game.com were just some of the independent portable consoles released.
Of course, none of these were going to succeed without great games. While the Game Boy held its own the majority of other portable devices struggled with poor ports and unoriginal games. There are some truly horrible portable games released over the years and this article is going to some shed light on 20 of the lamest while also highlighting 10 classic titles. Who knows, this article might get you in the mood to take your Game Boy out of the cupboard and fire it up, or realize it's best left locked away.
30 Lamest: Metroid II: Return Of Samus (Game Boy)
The first ever Metroid game released on the Game Boy, Metroid II: Return Of Samus doesn't quite live up to the lofty heights of previous Metroid games. The graphics and sound are pretty horrible, even by Game Boy standards, and the on-screen action isn't enough to keep you interested long.
Despite my feelings towards Metroid II, the game was a massive success, selling over 1.72 million copies and generating favorable reviews from critics. Just another example of why you should never read reviews.
29 Lamest: Electrocop (Atari Lynx)
The Atari Lynx actually came out before the Game Boy but struggled to find an audience and was discontinued in 1996. Of all the games released on the system, Electrocop would have to be one of the worst.
One of the Lynx's launch titles, Electrocop is heavily influenced by Robocop but lacks everything that made the film so great.
You must enter a fortress known as the Steel Complex to rescue the President's daughter, defeating various pixelated enemies on your daring quest. While there are some good puzzles in the game it's largely forgetful and failed to sell.
28 Forgotten Classic: The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)
It's hard to fault the Zelda series. Almost every game ever released offers something new and exciting and that certainly goes for the Game Boy version The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening.
Initially set to be a port of the well-received The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past, the game evolved into a standalone effort, with a fantastic storyline and some nifty graphics. Link's Awakening features everything you want in a Zelda game, from difficult puzzles to in-depth level designs and great action. Still, one of the best Zelda games ever released.
27 Lamest: Kirby's Dream Land (Game Boy)
Kirby's Dream Land is the first official title to feature the spherical cloud-like character from the Mario universe. While expectations were high this platform game is rather too easy for most long-term gamers.
Although it was made for everyone to play, hence the easy difficulty level, this takes away from the game. This also extends to the simplistic graphics and average soundtrack, with future Kirby games delivering on the unfulfilled promise of this release.
26 Lamest: Perfect Dark (Game Boy Color)
Perfect Dark is one of the most underrated titles on the Nintendo 64 so it was inevitable the game would be ported to other Nintendo consoles. Owners of Game Boy Color's got excited when it was announced the first person shooter was coming, but this all changed when it actually arrived.
The game has been turned into an action title viewed from a top-down perspective set before the original 64 game. Perfect Dark looks good but it's overly difficult and some of the levels are badly designed. The game also includes a bunch of mini-games but none of them are worth your attention.
25 Forgotten Classic: Operation C - Game Boy
Released as Contra on the NES, Operation C is a fantastic single player platformer whereby you take control of Bill Rizer as he tries to wipe out an alien threat.
This is a super fun game with non-stop action across five different levels.
The game is played from a top-down and side view perspective (depending on the level) and contains some neat animation, awesome music, and challenging levels. While it can't match the original Contra this is a splendid version for handheld lovers to enjoy.
24 Lamest: Resident Evil 2 (Game.com)
Tiger Electronics are the masterminds behind the Game.com, a handheld gaming device known for its LCD screen and poor conversions of console games. This is certainly the case when it comes to Resident Evil 2.
The game is restructured as a side-scrolling version of the horror survival series with glitchy animations and some hard to follow camera angles. The game is much shorter and easier to play than the console version and often has unresponsive controls and daft sound effects. Resident Evil 2 is a great example of everything wrong with the Game.com.
23 Lamest: Taz-Mania (Game Gear)
Based on the Taz-Mania cartoon series about an excitable Tasmanian Devil, this is a 2D side-scrolling platformer that's not that much fun when played on Sega's Game Gear.
The game concerns Taz searching the island of Tasmania for a giant bird egg that could feed his family for the rest of their lives. Strange plot aside, this game features some hair pulling levels that will leave you extremely frustrated. The bright graphics are a bonus but the annoying music and lack of sound effects from Taz make this one a stinker.
22 Forgotten Classic: Batman: The Video Game (Game Boy)
There are dozens of Batman games available across all systems but when it comes to the Game Boy it's hard to look past Batman: The Video Game. Although only loosely based on the 1989 film this title is great fun to play.
In an unusual move, Batman actually uses a gun to take out his enemies across 12 levels, culminating in a showdown with The Joker.
The graphics are fairly basic but the simple level design makes it easy to navigate and solve puzzles and take down the various thugs trying to get in your way. Unlike the SNES version, the difficulty is toned down, so while it's tricky, you won't be throwing your Game Boy across the room in frustration.
21 Lamest: Castlevania: The Adventure (Game Boy)
Set a century before the events of the original game, Castlevania: The Adventure is a disappointing installment in the long-running franchise. Like previous games, you're tasked with finding and disposing of Dracula, but many things that make previous releases great, such as raised levels and sub-weapons, are not part of this game.
The levels are often long and boring and you only have three lives, meaning once you perish you're forced back to the beginning of the level. The graphics aren't that flash either, with Castlevania: The Adventure one of the worst versions of this game available. Give it a miss.
20 Lamest: Donkey Kong: King Of Swing (Game Boy Advance)
In 2001 Nintendo released the Game Boy Advance, a 32-bit handheld console created to replace the aging Game Boy. It was a massive success and features some awesome games. Donkey Kong: King Of Swing is not one of them.
You play as either Donkey or Diddy Kong and must retrieve a bunch of stolen medals from King K. Rool. It's a rather simplistic game with crude animation and some boring levels to traverse. While many reviews gave the game positive feedback, I find it rather boring and the controls hard to master. This one's not for me.
19 Forgotten Classic: Tetris (Game Boy)
One of the greatest puzzle games of all time, Tetris was bundled with the Game Boy when it was first released in 1989, helping the system sell millions of copies worldwide. A simple game where shapes drop from the top of the screen and you must arrange them into lines that explode and give you points, you can't put it down once you start.
It's such an addictive experience and one game that doesn't rely on fancy graphics or interesting storyline. Not only did it help the Game Boy become a success but also turned Tetris into a global phenomenon.
18 Lamest: Dr. Mario (Game Boy)
This one might not sit well with some of you but Dr. Mario is a complete rip-off of Tetris and a terrible game to boot. It might have been received well upon its initial release but the game offers nothing new or exciting Tetris doesn't already provide.
Instead of Tetriminos, it's different colored and shaped pills that drop from the sky that you have to arrange in certain ways to end viruses. The graphics aren't great and for some reason, it's just not as much fun as Tetris. Not what the doctor ordered.
17 Lamest: Rise Of The Robots (Game Gear)
This futuristic fighting game finds you taking the role of the cyborg ECO32-2 as he attempts to stop someone known as the Supervisor who takes over Electrocorp's facilities in Metropolis 4.
Rise Of The Robots is a pretty basic fighter that's supposed to have a high level of A.I. never seen before, although you wouldn't know it with the way enemies react. The graphics have to be commended but when compared to other fighters there's not much to praise.
Little known fact; Brian May contributed music to the soundtrack. It's not great.
16 Forgotten Classic: Rampart (Atari Lynx)
Combining elements of shoot em ups, strategic games, and medieval action, Rampart is one of the few Lynx titles to make an impact on both gamers and critics.
The game consists of six levels and involves players defending their castle while also attacking their enemies via navel battles. It's a classic tower defense game that works well on the limited capacity of the Lynx, with the excellent gameplay substituting for some weak graphics.
15 Lamest: F-Zero: GP Legend (Game Boy Advance)
Based on the anime series of the same name, F-Zero: GP Legend is a futuristic racing game featuring over 30 characters and multiple game modes.
Although the game was generally well received by fans it's not a great racing game and lacks the intriguing storylines of the animated series. You can also complete the game in a short amount of time due to the lack of races, meaning there's not much to keep you coming back.
14 Lamest: The Lost World: Jurassic Park (Game Boy)
There are several version of this game available on different consoles but the Game Boy release has to be the worst. Based on the better than average film of the same name, The Lost World: Jurassic Park is a side-scrolling platform adventure game where you must stop poachers from smuggling dinosaurs off the island.
While the gameplay isn't bad, The Lost World doesn't offer much in terms of graphics or sound.
Many of the characters look tiny on the screen and are hard to maneuver. Only for the dedicated Jurassic Park fans.
13 Forgotten Classic: Sonic Chaos (Game Gear)
There are a plethora of fantastic Sonic games out there but Sonic Chaos on the Game Gear stands head and shoulders above the rest. The first Sonic title to feature his pal Tails, this fast-paced platform game is super fun and provides hours of entertainment.
It's a near identical port of the Master System version and features tremendous graphics and the classic Sonic soundtrack, with the gameplay extremely addictive. One of the best Sonic titles of all time.
12 Lamest: Yoshi Topsy-Turvy (Game Boy Advance)
Also known as Yoshi's Universal Gravitation, Yoshi Topsy Turvy is a platform game starring everyone's favorite Mario character, Yoshi. The thing that makes this game stand out from other titles is the fact that you tilt the Game Boy to affect what's happening on the screen to solve puzzles.
It's something different and a great way to get gamers interacting with the Game Boy Advance, but sadly, constantly tilting the screen gets annoying. The is also extremely short and the graphics quite lame.
11 Lamest: Hard Drivin' (Atari Lynx)
Adapted from the classic arcade game of the same name, Hard Drivin' on the Atari Lynx is an absolute shambles.
The graphics are pedestrian, the sound is lacking, and the gameplay is almost non-existent.
The biggest problem with this title though revolves around controlling your vehicle. Steering and acceleration are sluggish and the controls rather poor, meaning you'll often find yourself wiping out while taking simple corners.