The Super Game Boy Is Cooler Than We Remember

[@ianwagj]

Oh Zion... You didn't show people what happens when you put the GameBoy version of Space Invaders into a Super GameBoy... There's a special menu that you can get that runs something called "Arcade Space Invaders." Though it's actually the SNES/SFC version of Space Invaders, it's amazing that there's a SNES ROM nestled inside a GameBoy cart!

[@kingdomkey2397]

I remember seeing that in another video. That was so damn cool! Got to love the Super Game Boy. So many memories. :)

[@itsTheCurry]

Came here to saythis as well, maybe a part 2?

[@UndeadCollector]

i think he just randomly want to show the thing not even knowing how many Games, have special features. Even i know much more about the SGB and im just a random dude on the Interent :p It also hurts, that he didn't showed Kirby's Dream Land 2 or Donkey Kong 94. Both Games have extra Sounds that the GB is not able to do.

[@rexthesheep]

Ah, the obligatory "Space Invaders" comment.

[@rexthesheep]

How's Zion supposed to show a game he doesn't have? 😛 (edit: didn't mean for that to come out as aggressive)

[@TheLonelyGoomba]

I’m pretty sure you can make your own colour pallets from scratch. Don’t think you showed that off. You can also draw your own borders which is pretty fun

[@TheNsider]

You can plug the SNES mouse into the 2nd slot and draw like Mario Paint.

[@_ericc.]

Spongebob impression is frighteningly good

[@MrMucbro]

RIGHT?

[@SaintsXIV]

Donkey Kong '94 is one of *THE BEST* Super Gameboy games, definitely worth trying to find a version of that if you're able!

[@nunyabizness6566]

One of my most precious childhood summer memories is playing Pokemon Blue on the SNES via the Super Gameboy. That OST is burned into my mind forever.

[@Sir_Psych]

It even had a special border too from what I remember. The starters along with jigglypuff and snorlax I think???

[@aymanaboufarise4346]

That creepy city that starts with V music starts playing

[@anthonypeters7800]

I remember having this as a kid and the first game I had that fully utilize the super gameboy was the power rangers game. The boarder kinda made it look like you were piloting the megazord.

[@pablofmc]

PRO TIP INCOMING, if you start a gb game on the super game boy and DONT TOUCH ANY BUTTONS for a while, the default borders change or show animations. For example, that "house in the woods" border that you said looked like harvest moon, after a while, turns to a night version with the lights of the house lit up. Cool cool things. pd. My sister and I used to play pokemon red, blue, gold and silver on both the super gameboy and the poke stadium 2 player. Amazing amazing times.

[@NecromancerAdr]

I love that this channel is not exclusively focused on Switch, but other Nintendo stuff as well. Great video!

[@Nickk7878-v8t]

I wish the GameCube’s GameBoy Player had nearly as many cool features as the Super Nintendo’s. That's pretty much the biggest issue with the GameCube.

[@piranhaplantX]

To be fair, the GBA and full GBC compatibility is pretty nice. So it's still worthwhile, in my opinion.

[@Schimnesthai]

The one that surprised me the most was an Space Invaders that actually had an small SNES version of the game on the GB cart.

[@SarajevoKyoto]

I actually first experienced this glory with the GameCube Gameboy Player, it wasn't until a few years later that my uncle tracked down one of these for his SNES. Quality stuff, both of them!

[@Pacmanfan-po9rn]

Still wish that we got the Super GB 2 in the rest of the world.

[@GamingDelight]

If only it had been made for the Nintendo 64 instead of the Super Famicom/Super Nintendo.

[@katt-the-pig]

My favorite game peripheral of all time! I've owned the original since it released, and I also own the Super Game Boy 2, which released exclusively in Japan. The SGB2 is basically the same thing, but with additional borders and a link port. There's also a special controller made for the SGB1&2 called the SGB Commader, which has buttons that let you slow down the game speed and mute the game. And both the SGB1&2 have a secret code that plays credits for the peripheral. So as far as game-specific features, Wario Land 2 is one of those games that has different borders, depending on your location. Conker's Pocket Tales has different level layouts depending on whether you're playing on Game Boy Color or Super/Game Boy. Tetris Attack has secret borders, if you hold Left/Up/Down + A or Start on the title screen. A few games, like Animaniacs, replaces the Game Boy music with SNES music. One of the Contra games uses SNES sound effects, which is especially cool for explosions. But the most impressive Super Game Boy games are Donkey Kong ('94) and Space Invaders. DK takes the best advantage of colors, almost NES-quality, plus it has voice clips and ending music that's only heard on Super Game Boy. And Space Invaders has both a Game Boy version and a full SNES version in the cartridge. A shame none of these games take advantage of their Super Game Boy features on the Game Boy Player, or even on the Virtual Console. My theory is that there's a licensing issue with Hori, who helped make the SGB1&2 and the SGB Commander.

[@monkeido]

Zion talking about that Link's Awakening remake in the same way I did when it was announced. Definitely still a great game we got in the end, but using that anime art-style they even show in the intro cut-scene of the game would've been amazing. Also, I really loved my Super Gameboy, I (vaguely) remember spending quite a bit of time just playing the Gameboy games I owned through my SNES, instead of playing the actual SNES games I owned. I totally forgot how many options they gave you for customization as well, which is great to see again! Thanks for the video Zion!

[@alecbdavis]

5:35 "I love the green background. It really matches the feeling of the Metroid universe" LOL

[@malaki7123]

Zion you missed the GB version of Battle Arena Toshinden, which actually let's you play two-player on a single cart when used with the Super Gameboy! That was a huge deal for me and friends way back and super cool. I can't remember any other game allowing the same before that.

[@ianwagj]

Street Fighter, Samurai Shodown, and King of FIghters 95' did that too.

[@nintendolife]

I sadly only covered games that I own, but you're totally right! Really wish I could have thrown it in there. Did sneak in a few multiplayer games in at the end - Zion

[@EarthboundBenjy]

@@ianwagj The Puyo Puyo games also allow 2-player one one GB cart.

[@esmith13]

Wario Blast allowed 2 players on SGB as well and even 4 players if you had a multitap!

[@ianwagj]

@@EarthboundBenjy Yup, and even certain Bomberman games had multiplayer support too.

[@petervarty5200]

I remember back in the day playing Pokemon Blue on an emulator a friend had that used the Super Game Boy colour pallet, then being very disappointed that playing a genuine copy on a Game Boy Color just made everything blue instead of how I was used to it looking.

[@PixelsLtd]

Donkey Kong 94 was the "Killer App" launch title for the Super Game Boy, they launched on the same day. It contains a border that makes it look like the arcade machine, custom color pallets for different screens and menus, and new SNES exclusive sound effects, like Pauline's scream being an actual sample. By far the most amazing thing for me was Space Invaders - the Gameboy version actually includes a full 16-bit SNES game on the cart that you can only play through the Super Game Boy!

[@johneygd]

Shame on him not showing or talking about that game along with his stupid annoying expressions.

[@juiceala]

A couple of games I’m surprised you didn’t mention: -Space Invaders on Gameboy has a secret full on SNES version that is unlocked via the Super Gamebo, that’s right, a full Super Nintendo game hidden inside of a Gameboy cartridge that most people aren’t aware of. -And Animaniacs on Gameboy (which is pretty much the Genesis game, meaning you get noth versions on SNES which in itself is oretty cool) but playing it on the Super Gameboy, aside from adding a boarder and colors it actually uses the SNES sound chip instead, that’s right, a Gameboy game with Super Nintendo music. Edit: also Kirby’s Dreamland 2 had colors when run on a Super Gameboy, how could you forget that one?

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

Let's not forget the awesome advert with Hank Azaria doing the voice-over!

[@HybridAngelZero]

I love the Super Game Boy, it's always made me sad that the regular Game Boy games rereleased on 3DS used a full grey pallette instead of using the SGB pallettes and borders. Also, you can actually switch the controls from A/B to B/Y in the L+R menu. You can also hook a SNES mouse in controller port 2 and use that to mess with the settings in addition to have a smoother way to draw your own custom borders

[@esmith13]

As far as the color palette default choice with games like Super Mario Land (and many 1st party games at least): Nintendo most likely added to the SGB the ability to determine what cart is inserted (game id/cart hash?) and to automatically pick the "best" palette choice out of the available options for that particular game. The logic for this is on the SGB motherboard, not the GB cart so there is no issue with games that pre-dated the SGB release like Super Mario Land.

[@UndeadCollector]

For Wario Land 2 exists a black GBC Cartridge. With full colors of the Levels.

[@rexthesheep]

In case anyone wants to see more examples of 2P games on Super Game Boy, I have a video about it on my channel from a while ago. I also cover Puyo Puyo and NeoGeo games. And Bomberman even supports FOUR players with the multitap! I definitely wanted to do more videos on the subject of SGB enhancements but I guess Zion's muscled in on my territory lol.

[@CriticsConfession]

I remember going crazy on the GB Castlevania games with this thing, I absolutely loved it.

[@johnnyroche138]

If we get GB/GBC games on NSO, I really would like to see the SGB options put in as well

[@Tstumpman]

Wario Land 2's border will change depending on what level you're in.

[@kiwisoup]

The reason why menus look so full of color but gameplay is a bit flat with one set color palette (at least per area), is that getting more than 4 colors only really works on static images due to how it's accomplished: Basically the screen is drawn line by line from left-to-right, going from top to bottom. The programming on the cart can change color palettes to a different 4-color palette as it's drawing the screen in. A lot of times if you pay attention you'll see you can easily divide the screen up in horizontal sections where a new palette kicks in, but that is not always the case as it can be cut up vertically as well, it just takes more work. Once the game is in movement, these tricks no longer really work, but some games do still use this trick to make things like a status bar have a different color than the gameplay area.

[@EvanJordon]

"Is that person just sleeping or are they dead?... Hello?"

[@nophoria]

I remember it being quite awesome. Pokemon on it was a game changer.

[@doslover]

One of the first ones I remember being specially made for the Super Game Boy (pre-GBC) was Donkey Kong (not Land). The custom artwork blew my tiny mind at the time. I didn't play most of the black cartridge games on SGB since I had a Game Boy Color at the time but it looks like I missed some cool artwork. DQ1&2 for example looked way better on GBC but apparently you miss out on the artwork! Also holy crap we need another DQ Monsters game already.

[@kiwisoup]

What's nice now is there's emulators that let you have the best of both worlds...the GBC color palette AND the SGB borders at the same time.

[@doslover]

That's cool, I didn't know about that, thanks for the info!

[@johnbakasmoothhotchocolate]

My Super Game Boy is still with me to this day, and I usually go back to play games like DuckTales, Nemesis, Donkey Kong, Tetris, and of course, Pokemon Gold.

[@pikachuiguana]

I remember Serendipity. My sister and I would borrow the VHS from our local library as kids. I also remember the books which also focused on other characters, such as Leo the Lop

[@esmith13]

You should hunt down Space Invaders if you can. It actually came with the SNES version of the game on the GB cart, so if you played it in the SGB you got to play the SNES version instead!

[@Pacmanfan-po9rn]

Does he not play that in this video?

[@esmith13]

@@Pacmanfan-po9rn oh crap did I miss it? I watched the video while doing paperwork at work...

[@NukeOTron]

4:23 I'm pretty sure some color palettes were designed for specific games. The best example is the inverse palette for Solar Striker, a G1 shoot-em-up for the Game Boy. The Game Boy Color also uses the inverse color palette by default, too. Also, Conker's Pocket Tales is a weird one, since it has two different versions of the game built-in, which are NOT the same game. This and Wario Land II took this approach, which forced players to dedicate the save files to playing on either the classic Game Boy, or to the Game Boy Color. If you switch consoles, bye-bye save data. I don't know any other games that do that. It's only more frustrating with Wario Land II because both versions are more or less the same, besides the color choice. Also, in the Mario Bros. G&W title, they're handling bottles. It's easier to notice on the GBA version.

[@Natakucl]

I used to love how the external frames had little "screensaver" animations if a game was paused long enough.

[@pokepress]

The Super Game Boy and the GBC actually can recognize a number of games created before they were released and select a fixed palette based on that. Most major first party games are supported.

[@UndeadCollector]

It's easy to tell, if a GBC Color games don't work. It's all the transparent Cartridges. The black ones are still GB Games with GBC Feature, where the transparent are fully GBC only Games.

[@rovidelarosa]

That's what he said in the video.

[@TimBartja]

One feature that - I guess didn't really warrant a mention in context of what you were talking about - was the custom boarders. When playing 1p games with siblings, the other would just draw on the screen and that was so much fun!

[@avikellerman4539]

For anyone with a SNES getting one should be a no-brainer. The Super GameBoy is like the SNES's little cousin. It's nowhere near as expensive as the GameBoy Player and is undoubtedly the best way to play original GameBoy games. On your tv and with some colour. No trying to catch the perfect angle of light on a tiny screen so you can make out what is happening. No batteries. No nonsense. Imo one of the greatest console add ons ever created.

[@dingomatic]

I appreciate that you guys put effort into producing content on a wide variety of topics (new and retro). Thanks

[@ramenwolf6417]

The fact that I just found out about these features on my Super Game Boy yesterday by accident and asked "What do these do?"

[@HandheldGamer1991]

The fact that you have pokemon blue in it and thats how i have played my first pokemon game also blue btw just feels me with nostalgia ;)

[@collectingonthecheap56353]

Yes, many of the games from before the Super GameBoy were given special pallets to enhance the games. The Nintendo Power of the time showed what games used it, and showed suggestions for games that did not have built in pallets.

[@kadosho02]

I never owned a SNES. But I remember seeing SGB at stores. On a video display. Amazing to see how much heart, and creativity went into themed borders, and hidden content. Excellent library btw

[@MrEnte3000]

How did you not show how you can customize your own color palettes and how there is a border you can draw on?

[@kirkvandewalker3574]

One of the Mickey Mouse games for the GB had a custom border (a Disney castle I think) and a suggested color palette on the Super Gameboy. I discovered this back when I had the cart and then later got a SGB at Goodwill.

[@Retr0gam1ngR0cks]

If you think about it, and especially for the game with save features, this was the first games that you can play games on the go or in “dock” mode on the SNES

[@galenburnett9791]

This was a lot of fun. Cheers Zion!

[@iiqulo]

A huge Super Gameboy surprise is Space Invaders. The Gameboy game contains the entire SNES version of Space Invaders (except for two player mode I think).

[@galenburnett9791]

I had no idea about this and hadn’t before appreciated how close the Game Boy-GBC was pretty much my first console as a kid- and the SNES were together; so for me this video was a link to the past.

[@BrainSlugs83]

By the way, those dead batteries can corrode the PCB of the game cartridges. They're super easy to mod, even an amateur modder can swap them out pretty easily. Voultar's channel has a guide on how to do it.

[@RetroCabeza]

You can swap the buttons to Y B instead of B A. And you can even draw your own borders using the SNES mouse!

[@yanghao8351]

I have a Super GameBoy bought it last year. Had the replace the 3 Surface mount caps in it. Two are for audio and one for video. The audio wasn't working (hissing and low audio) and the Video cap showed signs of leakage. After that it works great.

[@haleman1704]

It is no coincidence that Super Mario Land has these colors by default. The SGB has a table of preset pallettes for many old monochrome games.

[@saynotop2w]

I wanted to find out how they actually were able to add backgrounds to each games but nobody on yt explains this. They just describe that the feature is there.

[@Sambeck63]

By the time I got my super Nintendo this was the pack in game. So fortunately I had a ton of game boy games that I could play and I absolutely loved it

[@stratosphere94]

We just got a Super Gameboy recently so this was a great video, thank you!

[@willwidrick8039]

I did not get a Game Color until about the time Poke’mon Gen 2 released. So I played my copy of Pokémon Red on my Gameboy for the extra Colors, it was great. This brings back memories

[@dcashley303]

The coolest ones are Space Invaders (includes an actual SNES game in the cart), Mile Mania and Donkey Kong 94 which includes exclusive sounds and speech.

[@danka1167]

Zion’s Back!

[@FabioGnecco]

VG Museum has a gallery of custom borders and error messages of the SGB

[@Yannis280]

great video! I just love listening to Jon and you talking about games for hours, also i really like ur haircut!

[@_Conzo_]

A top-drawer, truly delectable video, Zion!

[@ultaedits5751]

Those backgrounds makes me think that this could be Toby's inspiration for the dynamic backgrounds in Undertale/Deltarune.

[@jam2007]

Remembering way back when the first thing I bought when I had a summer job back in high school was the Super Gameboy, I'm now 44 years old and want to get a Super Gameboy again. 😄

[@Zogun_85]

What kind of display have you hooked up the SNES to? I'm thinking of getting a Super Game Boy and an Everdrive-GB X7 and playing some GBC games on my Sony Trinitron CRT :)

[@PoshMurder]

I know it has nothing to do with your video, however your Spongebob impression was spot on lol.

[@NordishYT]

I used to play a game called power quest on the gameboy player because that added two player.

[@Meowmix22795]

This is how my friend and I used to play Pokemon Blue back when we were kids!

[@stephentruett]

My favorite is Donkey Kong '94. Custom border and palette, but it also has a real voice sample for Pauline that doesn't play on a Game Boy.

[@TheAstroCreep]

What was your setup to capture your footage? I just got a Super Gameboy 2 from Japan and want to use it to stream Gameboy games.

[@michaeldemers2716]

I love how all the Fighters have 2 player support for the Super Gameboy.

[@MrJamess1982]

If Nintendo ever releases the Gameboy games on the Switch, I hope they include these features as well.

[@theburntcrumpet8371]

What we need is a super 3ds for switch. Would love to play ocarina of time 3d on there

[@pixellord2370]

Something similar to the Super Gameboy was supposed to be released to run 3ds games on the Wii U but was scrapped due to low sales.

[@LightSpinAngler]

Just got a working SNES this past month since mine was rusted from childhood, so I had to pickup a Super GameBoy to go along with it. Never explored the GameBoy library, if only I knew the translucent carts did not work with it when I bought 2 of them LOL.

[@jeffreylucas1936]

Still got mine in box used to play gameboy games on tv

[@charlesbennett7484]

I loved "Serendipity The Pink Dinosaur" as a kid. I still have it on VHS. 📼

[@bananieldiamonds1921]

You can Design your own pallettes and draw your own borders. if you have a snes mouse in port 2 just click both buttons and it has full mouse support

[@schmidsgamebox5883]

I got back then the SNES bundled with the Super Gameboy. I like who good the games are improved for the use with it. I think it's sad that other GameBoy"consoles" couldn't use a SuperGameBoy mode.

[@EvaFull]

The coolest one to me is Space Invaders because it includes a completely unique version of the game that is on unlocked on a Super Game Boy. I also enjoy that it is region free. That way I can enjoy my import collection too.

[@thepokemanchannel1029]

I never got one but still want one if anything as a collectable.

[@spacechannelg6843]

i remember playing pokemon blue on my friends tv and wondering how the heck he did that. now seeing this it all makes sense now XD

[@thebeetlecrew]

I really wish they made a Wii U peripheral like this but for DS/3DS games

[@Nin10Guy]

The original Gameboy version of Space Invaders has the ROM of the SNES version built into the cartridge. The only way to access it is by playing it through a Super Gameboy.

[@johnnyroche138]

So does the frame rate go up too? Or was the DKL series on GB that good?

[@tonytheriault1186]

I have the Japanese exclusive Super Gameboy 2, and some games have different borders for it, that are totally different than the original Super Gameboy.

[@PhillBowser]

How do you not show off Donkey Kong? It was literally the flagship title for the Super Gameboy color palette abilities.

[@neeftgamer]

I believe Wario Land 2 has different borders for each "world" you are in. The only downside is with Wario Land is that you can play either on (super) GameBoy OR the GameBoy color. Once you started on one, you have to reset the game in order to play it on another device.

[@michaelb4419]

You’ve inspired me to break out the Super Game Boy again. I only bought it for Metroid 2 since I had never played it or owned a Game Boy.

[@coltdeedede]

Zion!! Can you do a video covering the two teams you used to in your copies of Red/Blue? Or maybe do a retrospective on Crystal?

[@sonictonic_]

This was so great! So happy I still have my Super GameBoy. This inspires me to dig it out and play on it again. Thanks, Zion! :)

[@co81385]

I have always loved the Super Game Boy! While the Game Boy Color may have sharper colors, Super Game Boy not only lets you make your own custom color palettes, but you can change the color palette that you are using without having to reset the game.

[@Aceskies]

Its amazing how this guy has actually never played none of the games and still enjoy it

[@enz025]

I never had a snes, so this is all new for me, but I did play the heck out of link's awakening on gameboy and I absolutely loved it, everything about it is so nostalgic to me!

[@ElizondoAbelardo]

Not sure if you showed it here, but Donkey Kong 94 looks really neat on the Super Game Boy

[@ChicagoRetroGamer]

I seriously just got one, and I really, really like it! This is a complete game changer for real!

[@maccamachine]

i’m so glad i still have mine

[@pjnerdcore1213]

not nintendo, but i had the addon for my genesis that allowed it to play master system games. also a cool thing that sat on top of the console in the cartridge port.