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This Sunday, the 3DS invades the U.S., promising to change how we think about handheld gaming. But it isn't Nintendo's first foray into 3D technology; that honor goes to the Virtual Boy, the most uncomfortable, unappealing, and unwieldy system ever constructed.
Just like the 3DS, advertising the Virtual Boy proved problematic because 3D doesn't come across in recorded footage. Nintendo's learned a lot since then.
1. Mad Max Beyond Virtual Boy
I'm now going to have nightmares about my Virtual Boy chasing me like some evil robotic chicken.
2. Watch Out!
"Want to play" sounds like a threat.
3. Virtual Boy Golf
This video really shows the limited appeal of the Virtual Boy, since it could only process two colors.
4. 32-Bits?
When you think 32-bit system, you probably don't have the Virtual Boy in mind.
5. Wario Land
This is on my list of actually playable Virtual Boy games.
6. Japanese Introduction Ad
The cheesy effects in this commercial do a decent job of conveying how the 3D works in most VB games.
7. Vertical Force
Games like this and Jack Bros. used depth perception in a very clever way.
8. Flying Heads
Beware: prolonged use of the Virtual Boy could lead to projectile decapitation.
9. Tetris
Because Tetris isn't hard enough when you can see what you're doing.
10. Sweepstakes
Despite the system's retail flop, Nintendo did put a lot of effort into marketing it.
11. Panic Bomber
Your system is irrelevant until it has a Bomberman game on it.
