The LEGO Game Boy: A Brick-Built Blast from the Past That’s Smarter Than Your Average 8-bit Spell
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
The LEGO Game Boy set is a brilliant, detail-packed homage to the original handheld, delivering surprising Easter eggs and delightful nostalgia despite its small size, even if Tetris is conspicuously absent. It's a clever build that feels more magical than its piece count suggests, perfect for any retro gaming enthusiast.
Right then, gather 'round, mates! I've been tinkering with the latest from LEGO, and bloody hell, they've pulled another one out of the bag. We’re talking about their new Game Boy set, and if you’ve been keeping an eye on their retro gaming range – the NES, the Pac-Man arcade cabinet, even that snazzy SEGA Genesis controller that was a cheeky Gift With Purchase – you’ll know they’ve been absolutely crushing it. I honestly can't recall a single miss, which is rarer than a perfectly executed speedrun glitch, if you ask me.
These sets aren't just about the bricks, are they? They're love letters, packed with clever surprises and Easter eggs that make you feel like you’ve just stumbled upon a hidden dungeon. And I'm chuffed to say the LEGO Game Boy, despite being the runt of the litter in terms of size, still manages to sneak in a few delightful secrets. Now, if you're hoping for something as elaborate as the NES's hidden diorama or Pac-Man's hand-cranked arcade scene, you might want to temper those expectations just a smidge. It's not quite that wizardly, but it's still pretty special.
So, how big are we talking? At 421 pieces, it’s certainly the smallest of LEGO’s console tributes. But don't let the brick count fool ya. This thing is a masterclass in efficiency of parts. When you snap that final piece into place, it looks utterly, unequivocally like the original brick-coloured beauty, just a touch smaller – enough to feel like a perfectly miniaturised artifact. It even comes with a little display stand, and another, even smaller stand for the game cartridge, which doubles up as a clever storage spot for your extra lenticular game screens. The whole package just screams 'retro charm' without taking up half your shelf space, which, let's be honest, is a magic trick in itself these days.
Speaking of those screens, you get three rather lovely lenticular treats. One shows Mario mid-block-smash, revealing a star from *Super Mario Land* – peak nostalgia, that. Another depicts Link and Zelda gazing out to sea from *Link's Awakening*, complete with gulls, giving off serious 'adventure awaits' vibes. And the third? Just that iconic, green Nintendo logo scroll from when you powered up your original Game Boy. Switching them out is an absolute doddle; pop off the back panel, slide a new one in, and a neat little lever holds it firm without squishing the lenticular sheet. They’re sharp, too, mimicking the sickly green, glorious 160x144 display of the original. Honestly, they’re spot on. I’m already wondering 'what happens if…' they release expansion packs with more game screens. *Pokémon Red*, anyone?
Now, for the build itself. To get the most accurate build time, I did what any self-respecting digital wizard would do: I put on my Blu-ray of the 1989 Nintendo feature-length commercial, *The Wizard*. My personal quest? To finish before Fred Savage, Jenny Lewis, and the titular Wizard made it to California. And, despite the chaos of letting the dogs out (and then back in, naturally), I managed to click the final brick into place just as Jenny Lewis touched down on Californian soil. So, about an hour. Not too shabby at all, and the final result genuinely feels like it defies the modest piece count.
Inside the box, you’ll find just five small bags of parts. I usually sort my pieces into a fancy craft basket – a creature of habit, me – but for this one, it was pure overkill. Still used it, though, because routine is comforting, eh? What genuinely surprised me, however, was the colour palette for the internal bricks: lots of greens, browns, gold, and copper. Then it clicked. These aren't just random colours; they're designed to mimic the inside of a printed circuit board. Talk about a hidden gem! You’ll never see these parts again once it’s assembled, but the fact that LEGO went to the effort to evoke the look of a real Game Boy’s guts, or any electronic gadget from that era, is just *chef's kiss*. It’s not a 1:1 replica of the circuitry, obviously, but it’s a brilliant approximation that well and truly impressed me.
And the Easter eggs don't stop there. The cartridges themselves follow this circuit board aesthetic on the inside, which is cool enough. But the *pièce de résistance* is tucked away inside the *Link's Awakening* cart. Again, LEGO absolutely did not need to do this, because it's completely hidden once built, but they’ve included a tiny 'backup battery' piece. For those who might not know, many old Game Boy carts, including *Link’s Awakening*, needed a small coin-cell battery soldered onto the board to keep your save files alive. And there it is, recreated in LEGO form, purely for the joy of those of us who remember the heart-stopping fear of a save battery dying. The *Super Mario Land* cart didn't use one, so, correctly, the LEGO version doesn't have it either. The dedication to historical accuracy for such a tiny, unseen detail? That’s proper wizardry, that is.
Stickers, too, are faithful reproductions of the originals. I usually use tweezers for decals on my scale models, but for these, I went full 'raw dog' mode, just my fingers and a prayer. And I reckon I did a pretty decent job, if I do say so myself. Hyper-concentration was definitely required, mind.
Now, let's talk controls. The power switch, D-pad, A and B buttons, contrast and volume knobs, and start and select buttons are all 'functional' – meaning they move. But that power switch? Oh, mate, it feels *exactly* like the one on the original Game Boy. It’s so accurate you can’t help but expect to hear that familiar chime when you slide it into the 'on' position. Your brain just fills in the sound, doesn't it? The other buttons don't quite hit that same level of perfect tactile nostalgia, but they offer enough feedback to feel satisfying. The A and B buttons come closest, thanks to a clever little rubber band system that gives them just the right amount of resistance and travel.
But what about *Tetris*, I hear you cry? The pack-in game that launched a million portable gaming addictions? Alas, if you’re hoping for a *Tetris* Easter egg or any *Tetris* content, you're in for a bit of a disappointment. It's nowhere to be seen. My guess – and it’s a fairly educated guess, mind – is licensing. *Tetris* wasn't a Nintendo-owned game; it was licensed back in '89. Including two first-party Nintendo titles (*Mario* and *Zelda*) was almost certainly a far simpler, cheaper affair than wrangling with The Tetris Company Inc. So, no falling blocks here, folks. Take it up with the licensing wizards, not the LEGO ones.
Despite the lack of *Tetris*, this delightful little LEGO Game Boy kit is scheduled for an October 1st release, though retailers are already jumping the gun (which is always a treat, isn’t it?). Priced rather reasonably at $59.99, it’s a brilliant trip down memory lane for anyone who fondly remembers burning through four AA batteries in their chunky, green-screened OG Game Boy. It’s a short, satisfying build with an excellent final result, and I reckon it’s a worthy addition to any gamer’s collection. Go on, treat yourself; you deserve a bit of brick-built nostalgia. Source: This article was repurposed from original reporting by Seth G. Macy for IGN South Africa.
Tags: LEGO, Game Boy, Retro Gaming, Nostalgia, Gaming Collectibles
Original article: IGN South Africa