Game Boy–Week 5

Posted by Peisinoe on April 9, 2012 · 7 Comments 

Our fifth Game Boy match-up is Adventure Island versus Dr. Mario, Kirby’s Dream Land, Kirby’s Pinball Land, and Kirby’s Dream Land 2. Which is best?

 

Adventure Island

Released in 1988.

“A side-scrolling platform game…The player controls Master Higgins, a young man whose girlfriend Tina has been kidnapped by King Quiller. To rescue Tina, Higgins must traverse through a series of 32 stages. There are eight worlds called ‘areas’, which are divided four stages or “rounds” each, which are further divided into four checkpoints. When the player reaches the fourth round of each area, he must confront a boss at the end to continue to the next area. The game is completed when the player rescues Tina after defeating the eighth and final boss.”

 

 

Dr. Mario

Released in 1990.

“In Dr. Mario, a falling block tile-matching video game, the fictional character Mario assumes the role of a doctor, dropping two-colored medical capsules into a medicine bottle representing the playing field. This area is populated by viruses of three colors: red, yellow, and blue. In a manner considered similar to Tetris, the player manipulates each capsule as it falls, moving it left or right and rotating it such that it is positioned alongside the viruses and any existing capsules. When four or more capsule halves or viruses of matching color are aligned in vertical or horizontal configurations, they are removed from play. The main objective is to complete levels, which is accomplished by eliminating all viruses from the playing field. A game over occurs if capsules fill up the playing field in a way that obstructs the bottle’s narrow neck.”

 

 

Kirby’s Dream Land

Released in 1992.

“The gluttonous King Dedede has stolen all of the food from the inhabitants of Dream Land for a midnight feast, so Kirby, a resident of Dream Land, goes to retrieve the food and stop Dedede. Kirby’s Dream Land plays like other platformers of the 8-bit and 16-bit era of video games: Kirby must use various natural abilities and occasionally external abilities or items while heading toward the goal at the end of each level. Like many 1980s-era platformers, the player can accumulate points, with an extra life granted when the player has enough points. However, because Kirby lacks a save function, scores are not recorded. Also, there are no save files, so the player has to start over again when the Game Boy is turned off, if the player chooses to return to the title screen after a Game Over, or if the player resets the game. All levels are played on a two-dimensional plane, letting Kirby move only left, right, up, and down. Kirby can walk, jump, and fly. Kirby can also inhale objects and enemies, swallowing them or spitting them out as projectiles.”

 

 

Kirby’s Pinball Land

Released in 1994.

“The game is played much like that of pinball, with two flippers used to help keep Kirby in play as he bounces off walls, bumpers and enemies, scoring points by doing so. Each pinball table has three floors; Kirby must make his way up to the third floor, where a Warp Star that delivers Kirby to where the boss resides can be attained. After destroying all three bosses, a warp star appears that leads to fight with King Dedede. After defeating Dedede, Kirby is brought back to the level selection screen and can play through the levels again at will.”

 

 

Kirby’s Dream Land 2

Released in 1995.

“The plot follows Kirby, a resident of Dream Land. The Rainbow Bridges that connect the seven Rainbow Islands have been stolen by an evil force called Dark Matter, who has possessed King Dedede, intent on conquering Dream Land. Kirby sets out to defeat Dark Matter, accompanied by three new animal friends. After travelling through seven different islands, Kirby reaches the possessed King Dedede and defeats him.

If the player had previously collected all seven Rainbow Drops from each of the islands, they form into the Rainbow Sword and exorcise the Dark Matter from the defeated Dedede. Holding the mystic object, Kirby follows Dark Matter in a final showdown. He defeats Dark Matter and uses the sword to create a new rainbow, thus restoring peace to Dream Land.”

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