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The Legend of Zelda - The Oracle of Ages (GB)
by WayneKWilkins
INTRODUCTION
Oracle of Ages is part of a two=part series of games known as "The Zelda Oracles" to fans. The other game is Oracle of Seasons. This one, which is recognisable for its blue case, is similar to the other game. The general storyline is that Link, who finds himself in a peculiar world, witnesses the ... kidnapping of the Oracle of Ages, which means time constantly travels between past, present and future at will. You, as Link, must rescue the Oracle to save the world. The game's story is full of depth and in general, the game is a cheeky masterpiece, albeit, grossly underrated...
ABOUT THE GAME
The graphics of this game are very similar to Link's Awakening DX which is probably the most popular original hand held Zelda title. So, this will appeal to fans of Link's Awakening by default. The gameplay itself is also very similar; you can go from area to area, you can kill monsters and your general aim is to follow the storyline and go through dungeon to dungeon in order to make progress. You have a huge inventory this time round which can be used for trade missions to get your hands on unique items. The ring system can also help you make progress, as can the seed system. To make the most of the gameplay, take control of your world - explore it, find its secrets, interact with the NPC's and you will not be disappointed when the story is over. This game and its gameplay elements are gems of their time.
The music is also pure bliss. It takes all the best bits from hand held Zelda games and really pushed the GBC to its limits. The music is very memorable and is what you would expect from a Zelda game and then some.
PRICE
Here's the catch... The Oracle Series was incredibly sought after, but even at the time of its release, was hard to get a hold. Not much has changed. You will be looking to pay top price, sometimes even between 30 to 100 pounds for each game depending on the condition. You will pay more for complete with box, game and booklet. It's up to you; but if you're going to invest in this game, you may as well go all out and buy it in collector's condition, especially if like me, you are a huge Zelda fan.
IN SUMMARY
This game, while pricey, is worth every penny. There is so much to do in terms of storyline depth alone, and then all of the side missions, the trade missions and the actual gameplay - it is just beyond phenomenal. It will appeal to old school Zelda fans and it really is one of the most legitimate Zelda adventures out there in the 2D world. A must play for fans of old school Zelda games such as Link's Awakening.
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Pokemon Blue and Red Versions (GB)
by WayneKWilkins
I have so many memories playing both Pokemon Red and Blue. When I was growing up, I was the only one out of my friends group that had Pokemon Yellow, so when we had finished the main game, we all traded to make sure we had played all three games. Then, of course, when tat was done, we wanted to ensure that we all had all 151 Pokemon in ... the game, which resulted in us investing in a link cable which then allowed us to collect all of the Pokemon.
These memories are very dear to me and allow me to recount joyful, happy memories of one lazy summer holiday when we left school behind for six weeks. These are especially joyful memories now because sadly, one of the friends in question passed away when we were younger - And what is extra nostalgic is that I still have his copy of Pokemon Red. Nostalgia aside, let's review these two brilliant games.
These games were released for the Gameboy Colour in the 1990's. The games are pretty much the same except for two key differences. If you play Red, you'll notice more of a red tint to your game and you start the game with Charmander. If you play Blue, you'll notice more of a blue tint and you will start with Squirtle. It is just a case of deciding which Pokemon you like more.
The gameplay itself is very vintage RPG style. You are on a large, Zelda-Like map, but the gameplay is turn based like Final Fantasy. You can keep up to 6 Pokemon in your active roster at one time, but all battles are one on one. If your Pokemon falls in battle, you summon another, so it is important to level all of your active Pokemon to take advantage of their usefulness. You can explore the map, interact with NPC's and even find hidden areas for secret Pokemon and secret items such as "The Master Ball" which allows you to capture even the most difficult Pokemon such as MewTwo.
The multiplayer aspect of this game is phenomenal. As kids, we would all just sit on the field playing these games and the excitement when we found a new Pokemon was beyond amazing. Then, of course, it was a case of deciding who out of the rest of us wanted this Pokemon first to add to their Pokedex to contribute to 151/151, and then who gets it to keep as an active Pokemon. You need to play these games with friends and have a link cable to enjoy them as much as humanly possible; I will never forget my memories with these games.
Price wise, they are still quite cheap considering their immense popularity and their age. You may be looking at no more than 30 pounds to get them in perfect condition, which isn't bad considering this was around their price when they were first released. Of course, if you bid for them you may get them cheaper and if you buy just the cartridge, you can get them cheaper too.
Overall, these games are a must-play for both Pokemon fans and casual gamers that are looking for a very unique gaming experience or some retro fun with their friends. These games are timeless.
Gamers can expect:
Some great single player gameplay
Vintage RPG style combat
Lots of secrets to find and hidden areas to explore
The thrill of having to catch all 151 Pokemon starting with only 1
Some challenging bosses and enemies
Some flawless multiplayer with friends
A masterful, vintage gaming adventure
Give Pokemon Blue and Red a try and you will not regret it.
5/5
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Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition (GB)
by WayneKWilkins
Pokemon Yellow is by far the greatest Pokemon game of all time in my personal opinion. I remember first falling in love with Pokemon Blue and Red, and then when this was bought for me for my birthday in the 1990's, this immediately became my all time favourite. I still consider thiis title one of the bets games in my collection and these ... days, you can find yourself paying top price for it in perfect condition in Amazon or eBay, but sadly, mine will never be for sale - sorry folks- now onto the review of this brilliant game!
The game starts off in a small town where your main character dreams of setting out on an adventure. Then, Professor Oak calls him to his lab where he gives him a Pokemon. This is none other than the iconic Pikachu! You will then face your rival, Gary, before setting out on an errand for Oak. Of course, when things go wrong, you end up setting out on an adventure of your own: TO dominate the world and become the greatest Pokemon Trainer that ever lived.
The gameplay element of this game is just phenomenal. The game uses a vintage RPG style map in which you control a small character and are free to wander from town to town engaging in battles, finding secrets or progressing from A to B in order to progress on with the storyline. However, if you purchase Pokeballs, you can actually catch and keep the Pokemon that you find thus aiding you on your way to collecting all 151 Pokemon. The battles can be very difficult, and you can have up to six Pokemon with you at one time, but Pikachu must be with you at all times.
The graphics of this game are the best out of all the other early Pokemon games as they are in full colour. The music is iconic these days and anyone playing this game will fall in love with both the graphics and the music. In battle, the Pokemon are well drawn and only get better and better as you level up and allow them to evolve.
Overall, while this game is aimed at kids, the game itself is full of depth and it is a legitimate challenge that is therefore suitable for any gamer of any age group really, but particularly fans of Pokemon today or people that grew up with Pokemon years ago. Even if you have never watched Pokemon or played the card game, this is a brilliant title nonetheless and even traditional turn based RPG fans and game fans in general could quite easily fall in love with this true masterpiece of a game. Crazy to think that this came out in the 1990's on the Gameboy Colour - Give it a go, because it truly is a timeless classic!
In this game, you can expect:
An epic adventure that spans hours and hours
Lots of secrets to find including abilities that can take you to new places
The ability to collect up to 151 Pokemon
A great multiplayer experience if you trade Pokemon with your friends
Lots of replayability and a lifetime of fun and entertainment
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