I’ve figured it out! Retro bird was left on the Kong family doorstep as a child and raised by the entire clan. Thus, he loves retro games as well as the almighty ‘nanner.
Yes, so true. That is one of best things about handheld gaming. It can be a very relaxed and comfortable experience. Well, depending on the game you're playing...😅
I grew up playing games on a DS Lite so my preferred way of gaming has always been handheld. This is why the GBA, DS and 3DS are my favourite gaming consoles. Thank you friend.
I think I finally figured out what your style reminds me of. As a kid I loved those old school Disney cartoons that were always basically, “Goofy learn how to whatever” and the narrator would talk Goofy through how to ski or play baseball ect. The whole time Goofy doesn’t speak, he just physically reacts in funny ways. I always loved the vibe of those cartoons and I really like this too. Extremely well done and creative!
Donkey Kong (1994) is a gem for anyone who has ever played it!! The beginning of the game basically tricks you into thinking that this is just another basic DK game - a port released for the Game Boy...But Wow!!! Soon after those initial stages, the game hits you and transitions into so much more! Also, Mario can perform these fun secret acrobatic moves that are actually demonstrated in the game's introduction. It's such a masterpiece!!!
Good list! The game I was always go back to is Final Fantasy Legend 2(Saga 2) on the original GB or even better, the DS remake. It's got something special and the team possibilities is always enough to make you want to start anothet game.
you have a sense of humor that is just as retro as the games you play -- and I mean that as a high compliment! the goofy bits you add in are what make your channel really stick out to me. i've been watching you on loop while getting my game collection started over the past few weeks. I've learned and lauged alot! thanks retrobird!
Thank god I finally found your channel again! It was recommended to me while I was in bed one night. I couldn't remember the channel name I spent an hour searching for UA-cam Retro gamers until I found you again.
Let’s not forget the many great games for the PSP,like Silent Hill, Power Stone collection,FF tactics, the Parodius collection (Japan only but region-free).Also, almost all Atlus/Atlus published games for handhelds were excellent- Demikids, Riviera,Crimson Gem Saga,Drone Tactics, Luminous Arc, The Dark Spire, etc. But, ultimately, one of my favorite portable games of all time is definitely Yokai Watch 2 Psychic Specters just for the sheer fun I had playing it for hours on end. The Devil Survivor games rock also. Man there really are a lot of great handheld games to enjoy out there! Great video, RB. Your content is pure game-loving positivity filled goodness!
Drill Dozer, Mario vs Donkey Kong games, Golden Sun, The original DS and GBA Pokemon games, The World Ends with You, Wario Ware, Wario Land, Mother 3, the Mega Man Zero series, the Sonic Advance Series, Metroid Fusion, the original New Super Mario Bros., Professor Layton and Ace Attorney, Patapon, Loco Roco, The Mario & Luigi RPGs, Kirby Planet Robobot, and I could go on and on. There are so, so many good original handheld games that stand the test of time and are worth playing today.
@@dapperfan44 I bought it on clearance from Target for $15 back in the olden times when Target clearance endcaps were goldmines for gamers. I only wish I’d bought a few extra copies!
@@voltron77 I've never finished or really gotten into any Fire Emblem games so I can't speak on that. I love ZM but it's a remake, I just tried to avoid remakes for this list specifically.
@@diodora2381 Oh ok fair enough. Honestly, even though ZM is a remake, it’s more worthy of the title game than many other remakes. This changed so much and at that pout it’s basically its own game.
Thanks for making vids like this. It’s tough to get in full playthroughs as an adult, but I find that this channel really respects your time (both in terms of the videos and the recommendations). Now, time to get some Advance Wars missions in!
Genuinely funny and entertaining channel, got yourself another subscriber. Seriously, what a GEM of a underground channel, I can't stop binge watching it. Great list of handheld games. I play tons of retro games through emulators and yet I still somehow missed on Catrap. I'll definitely put it on my bucket list.
Never get tired of turning on Bionic Commando on the original GB. Not the GBC version mind you, though that one is good too. But hardly anyone ever mentions the GB Bionic Command and it's a shame because it's amazing.
Not a hand held game, but on the topic of Castlevania, I'd have to say that for me, besides the SNES game which will always be a legendary game, my personal favorite was Lament of Innocence on PS2. That one, man! I could not put that controller down! Every day I was playin' that, for at least a couple hours. That is until I finally finished it. Great game, original stylized whips & whip upgrades, the animations were smooth and visually pleasing. So yah,....that's all I got for now. Thanks for your time and videos. Keep at it, dude!
Loved CatTrap as a kid, and it's the first time I see it mentioned on UA-cam (though heard your comment on another video you did about it - which I'll have to check out). Just wanted to mention that we as kids also LOVED the level editor, and spent countless hours making puzzles for each other. A different, but equally fun way to rack our brain.
For me, the #1 forever and always playable handheld game is Mario Golf: Advance Tour. The control is so snappy and satisfying, it's fun to just play a few holes and go for Eagles and Albatrosses without worrying about the score. Draining a long chip-in through the wind with that perfect touch of backspin absolutely never gets old. I play it on RetroArch on my phone all the time even though the touch controls are hard to get used to. EDIT: and how could I forget that signature Camelot soundtrack?
Honorable Mentions: Mystic Quest (in Europe) aka Final Fantasy Adventure (US) Seiken Densetsu in Japan (first game of the Mana Series for the Gameboy) Mole Mania Links Awakening Oracle of Seasons/ Ages Super Mario Land 2
Toki Tori on the GBC has always been a fun Platform/Puzzle game that is perfectly suited for a hand held system. It's challenging without being mind bendingly difficult too, and the sense of achievement when completing a level is very satisfying. Cheers.
What?! Donkey Kong has a sweet background with Super GameBoy! I got a few games that have unique backgrounds with Super GameBoy. A cool feature with that device!
Picross. Sometimes it's really a puzzling, thinking game. Then something clicks, and it becomes non-thinking automatic actions. I usually play a couple puzzles before going to sleep
Love the Ape Escape shoutout! My all-time favorite handheld game, hands-down, is Metroid Zero Mission. Very close games are Mario Land 2 and Daxter. Also; honorable mention to the AMAZING Gravity Rush, although unlike the others, it is a game that has far more improvements on PS4 than on Vita.
Handheld games that I think will always be enjoyable: 1 Donkey Kong Country games on GBA - Cheating? Maybe. There's a lot of quality of life enhancements I think like how the screen is oriented, cut scenes, bonus levels, improved levels, extra world in DKC3 (Pacifica) as well as a new soundtrack by David Wise and more stuff. My preferred way through the Country. 2 Mario & Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story - I'm a big fan of the Mario and Luigi games but this one has that next level humor with great puzzles and game mechanics. 3 Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins - I have replayed this game sooooo many times, it's the long roadtrip game to Thanksgiving at your grandma's house or just a metaphorical trip on your couch. 4 Link's Awakening DX: Another Gameboy classic but the color version with an extra dungeon and pictures. It's maybe more Mario than Zelda and it's my favorite LoZ game. Finally Link can jump. 5 Survival Kids: I had to throw a bit of a curve ball for the last one. This was a Konami game that I don't hear a lot about. Very creative way to play with multiple endings and unique puzzles. Getting washed up on an island left to fend for yourself is actually ... fun. Anyways I was going to joke about how every game on the Switch is portable but why stop there? Go crazy with it. Rip NES Roms and put them in your Gameboy Everdrive to play on camping trips. Get the Nomad and play Sega Genesis games at the airport. Nab one of those PiiWiis to play Super Mario Galaxy 2 on a cross country train ride. The world is your oyster!
I loved Pacifica in the GBA Donkey Kong Country 3!! The music for the underwater levels in that world was so melancholic and beautiful. That was so neat that they added an extra world to the GBA game.😊
Some of my picks would be, 1. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga 2. Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town 3. Metroid Fusion 4. Zero Mission 5. Link's Awakening DX Honorable mentions are the Oracle games and Shantae.
Elite Beat Agents!!😊 It’s on the DS. It’s an awesome rhythm game where different songs play for different levels, a la Guitar Hero. A gaming magazine one time did a top 20 list for the DS and they put this game at number one!!!😮 Btw, as far as games that make you think and are really satisfying after beating the level, I’m going to cheat (because it’s not a handheld, sorry😢😅) and say The Adventures of Lolo on NES.😊
A few years ago I discovered "Mole Mania" for the Game Boy (a lesser known game from Shigeru Miyamoto) and I couldn't let it go for...months. It's a super puzzle game whrere you play a mole rescuing his wife and kids from an angry farmer. There are 8 worlds/levels with numerous puzzles in each including even a boss fight! I didn't expect to have that much and that long fun with it and it's also very well made for playing a short round. Can definitely see myself playing this every 2-3 years :)
It's crazy to think that the 3DS and the Vita are already considered relics of the past, having games specifically made just for them. The Switch, and the SteamDeck to an extent, completely killed what handheld gaming used to be.
My favorite handheld is the switch because of all the retro games I can play for the first time with switch online! I’m currently playing golden sun for the first time and loving it!
I love the GBA Fire Emblem games. Playing them on the highest setting Iron Man style (not restarting chapters for any reason) always leads to new experiences. Great vid as always Mr Bird!
Castlevania Double Pack replaced my Aria of Sorrow. I took that everywhere with my GBA SP, until someone begged to borrow it from me. P. S. Now I'm reminded, I know how Timmy feels.
Nice to see handhelds getting some love. I'm a big Gameboy collector. Almost done collecting everything on my list... now to tackle that backlog! Oh, and I'd add Mario Picross 2 for Gameboy to the list. So many levels and then when you beat it you get Wario Picross unlocked with some slight changes in the way it plays. Took me 9 months to beat playing daily on my commute.
Awwww heck, yeah! Aria of Sorrow is fantastic. It's got such a good little story and it's the perfect way to end the Castlevania games, narratively. Soma is a top 3 protag. Soul collection system is addicting. RPG mechanics are awesome. And it has good community support, too. We have different color pallete mods made. One of which kinda balances out the contrast and the other makes the game more closely resemble symphony.
The Gameboy Player for the GameCube was awesome when it came out: it made the console backwards compatible over three console generations. It would be my preferred way of enjoying the few handheld games that I still have left
No particular order but these are the ones I find myself revisiting the most. 1. Kirby nightmare in dreamland 2. Castlevania circle of the moon 3. Tmnt Fall of the foot clan 4. Link between worlds 5. Kingdom hearts 358/2 days
Circle of the Moon is the best combination of traditional and Metroidvania styles and actually offers up a decent challenge IMO as opposed to the games that let you abuse healing items.
I love Catrap on the Gameboy, definitely an underrated hidden gem. The game was never released here in the UK but I had a bootleg multicart for the gameboy as a kid that had the game on it and I tracked down an official copy of the game a few years ago for my collection.
As a kid, I had a Game Boy, with some of the best games (Metroid 2, Final Fantasy Legend, etc.). I didn't have another handheld until the PS Vita, which I got on launch. I was so excited for the Vita, and the Uncharted game that was available at launch. I still play my Vita a lot. It is disappointing the poor support it got from Sony though. Anyway, great video as always!
I own every one of these games, and I could not agree more they are all in my top 8. The GBA Metroid games are pretty amazing as well. Lost Vikings, would be another one but I guess that is technically a remake.
I had decided since I was a kid that I didn’t want to do handhelds because I felt like it would take even more time away from enjoying life and the games I have at home are good enough. I tried Mobil gaming for a bit when it became a thing but I eventually came to the same conclusion. It was taking away from other parts of life. My wife and kid do have a super game boy adaptor so I have been trying out some of the classics. Not dissing on handhelds, I firmly believe they work better for many people, just not for me
Hot take incoming: Bonk's Adventure and Legendary Axe would've been great handheld games back in the day if the Turbo Express wasn't prohibitively expensive. As for actual always-intended-to-be-portable games I don't have much to add. I adore Castlevania Aria of Sorrow. I do think that Castlevania Order of Ecclesia is maybe a little overlooked.
final fantasy tactics advance on game boy advance and final fantasy tactics advance 2 on nintendo dual screen are both solid titles for handheld games that will always be enjoyable.
I started Metroid on Switch Online the other day. Wanted to win it for the second time since I was a kid. No save states. No map. I'll make my own, like the manual says. Fell down the trap with the disappearing columns..., I'm using a map on the internet and save states. Man, this game, we played as 10 year olds. Brutal. I'm not gonna watch the ending though. Not unless I earn it again. But, I don't mind considering this a practice run through.
I come back to DK '94 every 5 years or so and it's amazing every time. It truly feels like a labor of love from the developers. Just like my favorite GB game, Zelda: Link's Awakening. They are always enjoyable. Just like bananas.
Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland will always be what I think of when someone says "handheld gaming", my friend and I put so much time into that game when I was younger. I had 100% on the regular story as well as Meta-Knight mode.
A Link Between Worlds is an absolute masterpiece. The orchestrated music alone, even the sound effects like the way the dark world echoed were great, this is definitely a game you want some quality headphones in for. Also it gave us Ravio, who is my favourite character in Hyrule Warriors, and just over all I like the character.
You did it again, you made me laugh today! My favorite handheld games are definitely all the top down Zeldas and Mario world six golden coins. Love your videos! Just as much as curling up under a blanky with a handheld.
Link between world's music is so good. Its like an orchestal remasterization masterpiece. LbW scores 100% to me. I can't really go past Circle of the Moon regarding GBA Castlevania games. It's the perfect Castlevania game for me. Mario Land 2 is timeless.
Duuuude the BGM from Catrap is literally the idle music for my brain, I catch myself whistling that. Have yet to beat all 99 levels, but I haven't given it a serious try since the 90s
love your channel man, is so beautiful to see a game boy with the IPS screen mod, that's one of the big reasons i'm still replaying my favorite games in my handhelds, for game game boy my favorite game is super mario land 2 and megaman V, for color metal gear solid and resident evil gaiden, for advance castlevania circle of the moon, wario ware inc, puzzle league, fire emblem, warioland 4 and lots more. thank you for making these videos.
Cat trap! Thank you! When I was young I had a bootleg cart that had this on it. I don’t think it was in English for the title, or I forgot, but I could never remember. Need to buy a physical version.
This was very soothing. Sega had a master system handheld btw. Back in the 2000s I always wanted an arcade game that I could play on a handheld. The only one that was just like the arcade and fun to play was Final Fight.
Castlevania Aria of Sorrow is my favorite Castlevania from the GBA. As for other handheld games, Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles was the main reason I bought a PSP. And The Legend of Zelda a Link between worlds from the 3DS is an awesome game.
I really want to try Donkey Kong 94 now, thank you! I didn't see a Vita in your collection, by the way, have you ever owned one? Also, Andrew Huang just put out a video today called "plugging our guitars into bananas," I haven't watched it yet but it seems like it would be right up your alley!
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Games played: Thunder Force IV (0:03), Sonic Mania (0:20). The rest of the games shown are all named and talked about during the video!
I say it every video. Most underrated game channel on UA-cam. So much entertainment value.
Fr
Ikr
Bananas 🤣
Thank you!
I do enjoy it myself but his tone of voice always reminds me of boring Sundays when there was nothing to do 😂
I’ve figured it out! Retro bird was left on the Kong family doorstep as a child and raised by the entire clan. Thus, he loves retro games as well as the almighty ‘nanner.
Something about playing games handheld just makes everything more cozy. Totally different experience
Yes, so true. That is one of best things about handheld gaming. It can be a very relaxed and comfortable experience. Well, depending on the game you're playing...😅
I grew up playing games on a DS Lite so my preferred way of gaming has always been handheld. This is why the GBA, DS and 3DS are my favourite gaming consoles. Thank you friend.
Donkey Kong 94 never gets talked about enough, I grew up with it and it's still my favorite puzzle platformer
One of the best!
Yip! I agree. I have very fond memories of it. God I loved that game.
I think I finally figured out what your style reminds me of. As a kid I loved those old school Disney cartoons that were always basically, “Goofy learn how to whatever” and the narrator would talk Goofy through how to ski or play baseball ect. The whole time Goofy doesn’t speak, he just physically reacts in funny ways. I always loved the vibe of those cartoons and I really like this too. Extremely well done and creative!
Donkey Kong (1994) is a gem for anyone who has ever played it!! The beginning of the game basically tricks you into thinking that this is just another basic DK game - a port released for the Game Boy...But Wow!!! Soon after those initial stages, the game hits you and transitions into so much more! Also, Mario can perform these fun secret acrobatic moves that are actually demonstrated in the game's introduction. It's such a masterpiece!!!
Chips challenge on Atari lynx is a great satisfying puzzler
10:03 Can't believe they didn't demonetize you for that!
Good list!
The game I was always go back to is Final Fantasy Legend 2(Saga 2) on the original GB or even better, the DS remake.
It's got something special and the team possibilities is always enough to make you want to start anothet game.
you have a sense of humor that is just as retro as the games you play -- and I mean that as a high compliment! the goofy bits you add in are what make your channel really stick out to me. i've been watching you on loop while getting my game collection started over the past few weeks. I've learned and lauged alot! thanks retrobird!
Big Up to Advanced Wars 2, I freaking love that game!!
We all absolutely love your videos.
Please keep them coming 🙏
Thank you!
Thank god I finally found your channel again! It was recommended to me while I was in bed one night. I couldn't remember the channel name I spent an hour searching for UA-cam Retro gamers until I found you again.
I'm glad you made it back here too!
Let’s not forget the many great games for the PSP,like Silent Hill, Power Stone collection,FF tactics, the Parodius collection (Japan only but region-free).Also, almost all Atlus/Atlus published games for handhelds were excellent- Demikids, Riviera,Crimson Gem Saga,Drone Tactics, Luminous Arc, The Dark Spire, etc. But, ultimately, one of my favorite portable games of all time is definitely Yokai Watch 2 Psychic Specters just for the sheer fun I had playing it for hours on end. The Devil Survivor games rock also. Man there really are a lot of great handheld games to enjoy out there!
Great video, RB. Your content is pure game-loving positivity filled goodness!
This channel is severely underappreciated. I hope you're growing fast, because you deserve more views.
Drill Dozer, Mario vs Donkey Kong games, Golden Sun, The original DS and GBA Pokemon games, The World Ends with You, Wario Ware, Wario Land, Mother 3, the Mega Man Zero series, the Sonic Advance Series, Metroid Fusion, the original New Super Mario Bros., Professor Layton and Ace Attorney, Patapon, Loco Roco, The Mario & Luigi RPGs, Kirby Planet Robobot, and I could go on and on.
There are so, so many good original handheld games that stand the test of time and are worth playing today.
I bought Drill Dozer on the eshop before it went down.
@@dapperfan44 I bought it on clearance from Target for $15 back in the olden times when Target clearance endcaps were goldmines for gamers. I only wish I’d bought a few extra copies!
Also the gba fire emblem games and Metroid zero mission.
@@voltron77 I've never finished or really gotten into any Fire Emblem games so I can't speak on that. I love ZM but it's a remake, I just tried to avoid remakes for this list specifically.
@@diodora2381 Oh ok fair enough. Honestly, even though ZM is a remake, it’s more worthy of the title game than many other remakes. This changed so much and at that pout it’s basically its own game.
Thanks for making vids like this. It’s tough to get in full playthroughs as an adult, but I find that this channel really respects your time (both in terms of the videos and the recommendations). Now, time to get some Advance Wars missions in!
I can’t help but picture Will Forte every time I watch your videos and that’s a dang good compliment! Great job!
Genuinely funny and entertaining channel, got yourself another subscriber. Seriously, what a GEM of a underground channel, I can't stop binge watching it.
Great list of handheld games. I play tons of retro games through emulators and yet I still somehow missed on Catrap. I'll definitely put it on my bucket list.
Thank you and glad to have you on the channel!
Never get tired of turning on Bionic Commando on the original GB. Not the GBC version mind you, though that one is good too. But hardly anyone ever mentions the GB Bionic Command and it's a shame because it's amazing.
Pokémon red/blue/yellow, Zelda links awakening, and yes, Donkey Kong, are the handheld games I continue to revisit.
I have been playing classic compilations on the Switch and have enjoyed it a lot. For example Neo Geo Pocket Color.
Not a hand held game, but on the topic of Castlevania, I'd have to say that for me, besides the SNES game which will always be a legendary game, my personal favorite was Lament of Innocence on PS2. That one, man! I could not put that controller down! Every day I was playin' that, for at least a couple hours. That is until I finally finished it. Great game, original stylized whips & whip upgrades, the animations were smooth and visually pleasing. So yah,....that's all I got for now. Thanks for your time and videos. Keep at it, dude!
Loved CatTrap as a kid, and it's the first time I see it mentioned on UA-cam (though heard your comment on another video you did about it - which I'll have to check out). Just wanted to mention that we as kids also LOVED the level editor, and spent countless hours making puzzles for each other. A different, but equally fun way to rack our brain.
It's really cool to hear from someone who actually played it as a kid!
I really enjoyed the Advanced Wars games for DS
ARIA OF SORROW is a bold first decision
For me, the #1 forever and always playable handheld game is Mario Golf: Advance Tour. The control is so snappy and satisfying, it's fun to just play a few holes and go for Eagles and Albatrosses without worrying about the score. Draining a long chip-in through the wind with that perfect touch of backspin absolutely never gets old. I play it on RetroArch on my phone all the time even though the touch controls are hard to get used to.
EDIT: and how could I forget that signature Camelot soundtrack?
Honorable Mentions:
Mystic Quest (in Europe) aka Final Fantasy Adventure (US) Seiken Densetsu in Japan (first game of the Mana Series for the Gameboy)
Mole Mania
Links Awakening
Oracle of Seasons/ Ages
Super Mario Land 2
Toki Tori on the GBC has always been a fun Platform/Puzzle game that is perfectly suited for a hand held system.
It's challenging without being mind bendingly difficult too, and the sense of achievement when completing a level is very satisfying.
Cheers.
advance wars was always my favorite
I actually prefer ALBW over ALTTP. I can see myself playing it so many times ovver my life. It was such a fun time
You’re the man, Bird. 🦩
Here are 5 handheld games I recommend.
1. Super Mario Land
2. Turtles Fall of The Foot Clan
3. Lock & Chase
4. Kirby's Dreamland
5. Batman
I still enjoy the original Mario Land and even more so, 3D Land.
Any of the Pokemon games - especially heart gold and soul silver - are great handheld games even today.
What?! Donkey Kong has a sweet background with Super GameBoy!
I got a few games that have unique backgrounds with Super GameBoy. A cool feature with that device!
Yeah, it's a really sweet border that you get with the Super Game Boy.
Man you're almost at 50k subs!
Yeah, really close!
I've been collecting for 25 years and have never seen that super game boy controller.
Advance wars 2 is top tier
Picross. Sometimes it's really a puzzling, thinking game. Then something clicks, and it becomes non-thinking automatic actions. I usually play a couple puzzles before going to sleep
Another great video! Thank-you :-)
I had never heard of cat trap, I'll be trying it for sure now !
Found your channel like a week ago, I absolutely love the videos!
Glad you like them and happy to have you here!
This video is just scratching the surface of good hand-held video games 💯
Yup! Tons more to talk about in future videos :)
Love the Ape Escape shoutout!
My all-time favorite handheld game, hands-down, is Metroid Zero Mission. Very close games are Mario Land 2 and Daxter.
Also; honorable mention to the AMAZING Gravity Rush, although unlike the others, it is a game that has far more improvements on PS4 than on Vita.
Handheld games that I think will always be enjoyable:
1 Donkey Kong Country games on GBA - Cheating? Maybe. There's a lot of quality of life enhancements I think like how the screen is oriented, cut scenes, bonus levels, improved levels, extra world in DKC3 (Pacifica) as well as a new soundtrack by David Wise and more stuff. My preferred way through the Country.
2 Mario & Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story - I'm a big fan of the Mario and Luigi games but this one has that next level humor with great puzzles and game mechanics.
3 Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins - I have replayed this game sooooo many times, it's the long roadtrip game to Thanksgiving at your grandma's house or just a metaphorical trip on your couch.
4 Link's Awakening DX: Another Gameboy classic but the color version with an extra dungeon and pictures. It's maybe more Mario than Zelda and it's my favorite LoZ game. Finally Link can jump.
5 Survival Kids: I had to throw a bit of a curve ball for the last one. This was a Konami game that I don't hear a lot about. Very creative way to play with multiple endings and unique puzzles. Getting washed up on an island left to fend for yourself is actually ... fun.
Anyways I was going to joke about how every game on the Switch is portable but why stop there? Go crazy with it. Rip NES Roms and put them in your Gameboy Everdrive to play on camping trips. Get the Nomad and play Sega Genesis games at the airport. Nab one of those PiiWiis to play Super Mario Galaxy 2 on a cross country train ride. The world is your oyster!
I loved Pacifica in the GBA Donkey Kong Country 3!! The music for the underwater levels in that world was so melancholic and beautiful. That was so neat that they added an extra world to the GBA game.😊
Bowser’s inside story is peak Mario and one of the greatest RPGs of all time.
R. Bird is here to make Friday nights special 🐦✨
Some of my picks would be,
1. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
2. Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town
3. Metroid Fusion
4. Zero Mission
5. Link's Awakening DX
Honorable mentions are the Oracle games and Shantae.
Elite Beat Agents!!😊 It’s on the DS. It’s an awesome rhythm game where different songs play for different levels, a la Guitar Hero. A gaming magazine one time did a top 20 list for the DS and they put this game at number one!!!😮 Btw, as far as games that make you think and are really satisfying after beating the level, I’m going to cheat (because it’s not a handheld, sorry😢😅) and say The Adventures of Lolo on NES.😊
Street Fighter II and MK2 for the Gameboy started my love for fighting games. Still like going back to them on my Anbernic
nothing has replaced GG Shinobi as my all time favourite handheld game, so far.
I'm a big fan of GG Shinobi on the Game Gear as well. Find your Students you shall.
If you love Catrap, you might like Godzilla on the Game Boy. It's another really fun block pushing puzzle game. I loved that one as a kid.
A few years ago I discovered "Mole Mania" for the Game Boy (a lesser known game from Shigeru Miyamoto) and I couldn't let it go for...months. It's a super puzzle game whrere you play a mole rescuing his wife and kids from an angry farmer. There are 8 worlds/levels with numerous puzzles in each including even a boss fight!
I didn't expect to have that much and that long fun with it and it's also very well made for playing a short round.
Can definitely see myself playing this every 2-3 years :)
Yes!! One of the most underrated GameBoy games! It is a shame more people don't know about it.
It's crazy to think that the 3DS and the Vita are already considered relics of the past, having games specifically made just for them. The Switch, and the SteamDeck to an extent, completely killed what handheld gaming used to be.
My favorite handheld is the switch because of all the retro games I can play for the first time with switch online! I’m currently playing golden sun for the first time and loving it!
Great video! I love going back to A Link Between Worlds from time to time. Good memories 👍🏽
I love the GBA Fire Emblem games. Playing them on the highest setting Iron Man style (not restarting chapters for any reason) always leads to new experiences. Great vid as always Mr Bird!
The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle series were one of my first games that I had ever played and I still enjoy playing it today.
Castlevania Double Pack replaced my Aria of Sorrow. I took that everywhere with my GBA SP, until someone begged to borrow it from me.
P. S. Now I'm reminded, I know how Timmy feels.
LocoRoco on the PSP is a TON of fun.
That gb travel case is nice! I used to have the same one 😢
Nice to see handhelds getting some love. I'm a big Gameboy collector. Almost done collecting everything on my list... now to tackle that backlog! Oh, and I'd add Mario Picross 2 for Gameboy to the list. So many levels and then when you beat it you get Wario Picross unlocked with some slight changes in the way it plays. Took me 9 months to beat playing daily on my commute.
Awwww heck, yeah! Aria of Sorrow is fantastic. It's got such a good little story and it's the perfect way to end the Castlevania games, narratively.
Soma is a top 3 protag. Soul collection system is addicting. RPG mechanics are awesome.
And it has good community support, too. We have different color pallete mods made. One of which kinda balances out the contrast and the other makes the game more closely resemble symphony.
The Gameboy Player for the GameCube was awesome when it came out: it made the console backwards compatible over three console generations. It would be my preferred way of enjoying the few handheld games that I still have left
No particular order but these are the ones I find myself revisiting the most.
1. Kirby nightmare in dreamland
2. Castlevania circle of the moon
3. Tmnt Fall of the foot clan
4. Link between worlds
5. Kingdom hearts 358/2 days
Circle of the Moon is the best combination of traditional and Metroidvania styles and actually offers up a decent challenge IMO as opposed to the games that let you abuse healing items.
I know Matt won’t agree, but…strawberries, watermelon, peaches > bananas.
I love Catrap on the Gameboy, definitely an underrated hidden gem. The game was never released here in the UK but I had a bootleg multicart for the gameboy as a kid that had the game on it and I tracked down an official copy of the game a few years ago for my collection.
Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga is still fun to this day
Love the humor in those games, they have so much charm. Bowers Inside Story was probably my favorite.
As a kid, I had a Game Boy, with some of the best games (Metroid 2, Final Fantasy Legend, etc.). I didn't have another handheld until the PS Vita, which I got on launch. I was so excited for the Vita, and the Uncharted game that was available at launch. I still play my Vita a lot. It is disappointing the poor support it got from Sony though.
Anyway, great video as always!
Recently has become my favorite retro gaming channel
Cool game pics! I’ve always heard that Castlevania on the GBA is great! 🎉
Circle of the Moon was made directly after SOTN and feels it, totally underrated IMO.
I own every one of these games, and I could not agree more they are all in my top 8. The GBA Metroid games are pretty amazing as well. Lost Vikings, would be another one but I guess that is technically a remake.
I had decided since I was a kid that I didn’t want to do handhelds because I felt like it would take even more time away from enjoying life and the games I have at home are good enough. I tried Mobil gaming for a bit when it became a thing but I eventually came to the same conclusion. It was taking away from other parts of life. My wife and kid do have a super game boy adaptor so I have been trying out some of the classics. Not dissing on handhelds, I firmly believe they work better for many people, just not for me
Hot take incoming: Bonk's Adventure and Legendary Axe would've been great handheld games back in the day if the Turbo Express wasn't prohibitively expensive. As for actual always-intended-to-be-portable games I don't have much to add. I adore Castlevania Aria of Sorrow. I do think that Castlevania Order of Ecclesia is maybe a little overlooked.
final fantasy tactics advance on game boy advance and final fantasy tactics advance 2 on nintendo dual screen are both solid titles for handheld games that will always be enjoyable.
I started Metroid on Switch Online the other day. Wanted to win it for the second time since I was a kid. No save states. No map. I'll make my own, like the manual says.
Fell down the trap with the disappearing columns...,
I'm using a map on the internet and save states.
Man, this game, we played as 10 year olds.
Brutal.
I'm not gonna watch the ending though.
Not unless I earn it again.
But, I don't mind considering this a practice run through.
I still play Advance Wars 2 every now and then to this day.
Such a good game
I come back to DK '94 every 5 years or so and it's amazing every time. It truly feels like a labor of love from the developers. Just like my favorite GB game, Zelda: Link's Awakening. They are always enjoyable. Just like bananas.
Long enough to forget the finer details of the solutions?
@@TheJadeFist Yup, which I guess is a good thing.
The game is seriously just so darn good.
Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland will always be what I think of when someone says "handheld gaming", my friend and I put so much time into that game when I was younger. I had 100% on the regular story as well as Meta-Knight mode.
A Link Between Worlds is an absolute masterpiece. The orchestrated music alone, even the sound effects like the way the dark world echoed were great, this is definitely a game you want some quality headphones in for. Also it gave us Ravio, who is my favourite character in Hyrule Warriors, and just over all I like the character.
I grew up on LttP.
Worlds was great but I always wanted one in that style but in a different Zelda world.
I love my Nintendo DS & my Gameboy Advance!!!
Me too, I have both!
Just recently picked up a Gameboy Advance SP 😊
You did it again, you made me laugh today!
My favorite handheld games are definitely all the top down Zeldas and Mario world six golden coins.
Love your videos! Just as much as curling up under a blanky with a handheld.
I’m not really a handheld gamer, but I like Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes and Plants vs Zombies, both on Nintendo DS.
For me the handheld game that will always be fun is Electric Pinball by Tiger. I recently bought a new(ish) one and it's still a fun little game.
Great choices! Though I never heard of that last one. Might have to check it out... :)
you're a gem
Link between world's music is so good. Its like an orchestal remasterization masterpiece. LbW scores 100% to me. I can't really go past Circle of the Moon regarding GBA Castlevania games. It's the perfect Castlevania game for me. Mario Land 2 is timeless.
Ever played moon chronicles (3ds version)
Duuuude the BGM from Catrap is literally the idle music for my brain, I catch myself whistling that. Have yet to beat all 99 levels, but I haven't given it a serious try since the 90s
Just found your channel. Love your delivery style.
Thank you and welcome to the channel!
love your channel man, is so beautiful to see a game boy with the IPS screen mod, that's one of the big reasons i'm still replaying my favorite games in my handhelds, for game game boy my favorite game is super mario land 2 and megaman V, for color metal gear solid and resident evil gaiden, for advance castlevania circle of the moon, wario ware inc, puzzle league, fire emblem, warioland 4 and lots more. thank you for making these videos.
I saw hangtime!!! I love that game maybe even more than nba jam
Another Fantastic show Mr 🍌!!!😊
Thanks!
Cat trap! Thank you! When I was young I had a bootleg cart that had this on it. I don’t think it was in English for the title, or I forgot, but I could never remember.
Need to buy a physical version.
This was very soothing. Sega had a master system handheld btw. Back in the 2000s I always wanted an arcade game that I could play on a handheld. The only one that was just like the arcade and fun to play was Final Fight.
Donkey Kong 94 is my all time favorite handhled game. Im playing through that and ALBW now.
Castlevania Aria of Sorrow is my favorite Castlevania from the GBA. As for other handheld games, Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles was the main reason I bought a PSP.
And The Legend of Zelda a Link between worlds from the 3DS is an awesome game.
Was so cool they included SOTN in Drac X on PSP!
my absolute favorite games are Fire Emblem and sacred stones. That and dark souls for the switch
Is that a Banana in my pocket or am I just happy to see a new Retrobird video? Well... Actually it's a Gameboy Pocket in my pocket.
I really want to try Donkey Kong 94 now, thank you! I didn't see a Vita in your collection, by the way, have you ever owned one?
Also, Andrew Huang just put out a video today called "plugging our guitars into bananas," I haven't watched it yet but it seems like it would be right up your alley!