Holy Bricks, Batman! LEGO's Game Boy Set: A Nostalgic Trip Back to Pixelated Glory (Without the Batteries)
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
LEGO's releasing a Game Boy set, tapping into the nostalgia of anyone who spent their childhood glued to that chunky grey handheld. It's a detailed display piece for the 18+ crowd, complete with buildable cartridges and a stand, but sadly, no actual gameplay.
Right, listen up, mates. Remember the Game Boy? That chunky grey brick that ate AA batteries like they were going out of style and somehow survived being dropped in the bathtub? Well, LEGO's gone and done it again, tapping into that sweet, sweet nostalgia with a new Game Boy set. And fair dinkum, it looks brilliant.
According to the good folks at IGN South Africa, this isn't just some half-arsed attempt at blocky representation. It's a 421-piece ode to the handheld that defined a generation, clocking in at near 1:1 scale. We're talking D-pad, A and B buttons (for frantic button mashing, naturally), even those oh-so-important contrast and volume dials. Though, let's be honest, the contrast dial was usually stuck somewhere between 'barely visible' and 'nuclear glare'.
But here's where it gets interesting. (As if LEGO and the Game Boy *weren't* interesting enough!) You don't just get a grey brick; you get buildable Game Pak cartridges! We're talking *Super Mario Land* and *The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening*. Now, I reckon that’s a level of detail that’ll make any retro gamer’s heart sing. You can even choose which game shows on the screen! Though, sadly, you can't actually *play* them on the LEGO Game Boy. A bit of a missed opportunity, perhaps? Imagine a tiny crank-powered screen... Now *that* would be something.
Of course, being LEGO, there's a catch (isn't there always?). This set's aimed squarely at the 18+ crowd. Which, let's face it, is probably the only demographic that remembers the Game Boy fondly *and* has the disposable income to drop sixty bucks on a plastic replica. It's billed as a display piece, complete with a stand for both the Game Boy and the cartridge you're not currently 'playing'.
It's not the first time LEGO has dipped into the Nintendo well. They already gave us a frankly amazing LEGO NES, and those pixelated LEGO Mario and Yoshi sets. The question is: are we ready for more? A LEGO N64, maybe? A blocky Virtual Boy (that'd be a *sight*)? The possibilities are endless, and I, for one, am here for it.
So, if you're feeling nostalgic, have a spare sixty quid burning a hole in your pocket, and fancy a bit of brick-based building, the LEGO Game Boy is up for preorder now at Amazon and the LEGO Store and will officially launch on October 1st. Just try not to rage quit when you can't get past World 1-1. Remember, it's just LEGO! (Unless... it *becomes* sentient... then all bets are off).
Tags: LEGO, Game Boy, Nintendo, Retro Gaming, Collectibles
Original article: IGN South Africa