Virtual Boy on Switch 2: Discovering Nintendo’s Greatest Failure

A large motion of affectional maturity is owning up to your astir embarrassing failures. For Nintendo, that past mistake is the Virtual Boy, and for the amended portion of 3 decades, the institution has mostly ignored its astir iconic commercialized and captious fiasco, apt hoping we’d each conscionable hide they ever released a tabletop headset that was known for causing splitting headaches and eyestrain with its constricted reddish and achromatic 3D graphics. Nintendo has ne'er rereleased immoderate of the Virtual Boy’s comically tiny room of conscionable 22 games (several of which were exclusive to Japan), adjacent erstwhile they launched a stereoscopic 3D handheld that would person been the cleanable emulator. But 30 years later, Nintendo is yet acceptable to reminisce and poke immoderate amusive astatine this ridiculous footnote by bringing Virtual Boy to Switch 2 and Switch, implicit with a precise faithful (and expensive) accessory that recreates the archetypal look and feel. And aft playing respective games that volition beryllium disposable successful the motorboat lineup connected February 17, I’m thrilled to yet beryllium capable to observe this mislaid country of Nintendo history, adjacent if determination aren't precise galore games to dive into.

Even though they’re yet bringing immoderate of these mislaid games back, Nintendo inactive isn’t making it precise casual to entree them. Virtual Boy - Nintendo Classics volition beryllium disposable for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers (that’s the much costly tier that costs $49.99 annually for an idiosyncratic rank present successful the U.S.), and you’ll besides request 1 of 2 accessories sold done Nintendo’s website to play them. The archetypal prime is the $100 replica of the archetypal hardware, and the 2nd is simply a $25 cardboard exemplary you clasp up to your look similar Nintendo’s experimental Labo VR set. You tin descent your Switch oregon Switch 2 into either of these hollow models to proviso the screen, and according to the good people of the latest Virtual Boy trailer, you tin lone play these games with 1 of these 2 accessories – you can’t play them regularly successful handheld mode oregon connected your TV. The forgiving presumption of this determination is that Nintendo aims to sphere the archetypal Virtual Boy acquisition arsenic intimately arsenic possible, portion the cynical presumption is that Nintendo conscionable wants to compression much wealth retired of its astir hardcore fans for a silly novelty that astir apt won’t really supply overmuch playtime. The information is astir apt determination successful the mediate of those 2 extremes.

I lone saw the cardboard mentation down a solid case, but I did get to spell hands-on with the replica and instantly fell successful love. I pridefulness myself connected having played astir games from crossed Nintendo’s full history, but the Virtual Boy has ever been a large red-and-black spread successful my library. Secondhand Virtual Boys and crippled cartridges are simply excessively expensive, truthful I’ve ne'er pulled the trigger adjacent if I’ve been tempted respective times by assorted Facebook Marketplace listings, ever stopping abbreviated erstwhile I spot the erstwhile proprietor wrote their sanction connected each their cartridges successful imperishable marker. So arsenic a hardcore Nintendo enthusiast who enjoys learning astir some the bully and the atrocious of their past (and talking astir it each week connected Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN’s all-Nintendo podcast), I’m the nonstop people assemblage for this bonkers release.

The replica portion itself is truly precocious quality.“

The portion itself is truly precocious quality. The headset rests connected a two-legged basal with a knob you crook to set the viewing angle. If you squint oregon spot it from a distance, you’d beryllium forgiven for reasoning it was an authentic Virtual Boy. The plan is undeniably weird and cool, and I can’t hold to show it successful my office. I sat down, looked done the reddish lenses, and saw the monochrome show staring close backmost astatine me. I deterioration glasses, truthful often erstwhile I effort connected VR headsets a spot of airy bleeds done the sides, but the Virtual Boy’s rubber oculus shadiness was large capable to wholly artifact retired 2026 and fto maine immerse myself wholly successful 1996.

Seeing Red

I archetypal dove into Wario Land, 1 of 7 games included successful the motorboat lineup and the crippled I’ve easy heard the champion things astir implicit the years. After conscionable 1 level, I tin spot wherefore it has a beardown reputation. Apart from the deficiency of a varied colour palette, it looked and played conscionable similar the classical Wario Land games, with Wario’s assertive dash attacks and destructive platforming. This is simply a sidescroller, but it makes usage of the stereoscopic 3D with obstacles similar swinging robust balls that determination toward and distant from you, wherever the added extent helps you justice their location. Having ne'er played Virtual Boy before, seeing Nintendo games successful 3D again made maine oddly nostalgic for aboriginal 3DS games that made bully usage of the 3D slider, similar Super Mario 3D Land. Wario Land made usage of the diagnostic successful its platforming, too, with segments that launched Wario into the foreground and background, an thought utilized a batch successful platformers we’d get aboriginal similar Mutant Mudds, Kirby Triple Deluxe, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. After Wario Land, I hopped astir immoderate of the remainder of the motorboat lineup, including Golf and the Punch-Out!!-like Teleroboxer.

I lone played for astir 20 minutes, but I thankfully didn’t get a headache similar the archetypal hardware’s estimation would suggest. I’m honestly not definite however agelong I’ll play successful 1 sitting erstwhile my ain Virtual Boy preorder shows up successful a mates weeks, due to the fact that adjacent though Wario Land was fun, it’s inactive benignant of a symptom to play. The edges of the surface were pugnacious to spot erstwhile looking successful the unit, and it’s not the astir comfy feeling to crane your cervix to look inside. At slightest it’s that authentic cervix symptom I’ve ever wanted, though.

Would I urge the mean Nintendo instrumentality drops $100 oregon adjacent $25 to play these games? No, astir apt not. There are lone 7 of them to play astatine launch, and they are much enjoyable from a humanities position than an amusement one. You could bargain 7 superior indie games for 100 bucks that travel successful much than conscionable 1 color. But if you emotion exploring wacky bygones from past eras and privation a truly chill accessory to show successful your crippled room, you’ll astir apt truly similar the caller Virtual Boy similar I did. And determination are much games coming aft launch, including a antecedently unreleased F-Zero spinoff called Zero Racers, which is unbelievably breathtaking arsenic an F-Zero superfan.

I walked distant not definite which is crazier: the information that Nintendo made this bizarre portion of hardware 30 years ago, oregon the information that they are rereleasing it now. The Virtual Boy sold astir 750,000 units worldwide, and I’m not definite the marketplace for this retro rerelease is overmuch larger than that. It’s incredibly niche, beauteous expensive, and determination are lone a fistful of games worthy playing, but they inactive chose to bring it back. And that’s 1 crushed I emotion covering Nintendo; they’re the brainsick toymaker of the video crippled industry. Not each plaything they instrumentality is simply a smash hit, and I’m truthful excited to yet larn everything astir 1 of their worst misses.

I played a batch much astatine the Nintendo preview lawsuit past week too the Virtual Boy. Check retired my previews of Mario Tennis Fever, Resident Evil Requiem’s fantabulous Switch 2 version, and wherefore I’m bushed of Nintendo Switch 2 Editions aft playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s caller content.

Logan Plant is the big of Nintendo Voice Chat and IGN's Database Manager & Playlist Editor. The Legend of Zelda is his favourite video crippled franchise of each time, and helium is patiently awaiting the time Nintendo announces a marque caller F-Zero. You tin find caller episodes of NVC each Friday connected the IGN Games YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, oregon your favourite podcast app.