Less than a year ago, I got myself a Virtual Boy. There were two reasons for that. One was to add a missing piece to my video game lineup. The bigger reason was a dumb prank. Nintendo said no Switch 2 machines for reviewers before release day. So to do a day-one write-up, I picked this other Nintendo handheld instead. It cost me a pretty penny for the laugh.
In the end, I was happy I went through with it. That piece I wrote showed the Virtual Boy is more than just a strange flop that gives headaches. It’s no shock that even Nintendo’s weaker products turn out pretty neat. And they pack some really good games too.
To be honest, I’ve thought for a while we might see the Virtual Boy make a comeback. I was shocked its games never showed up as downloads on the Nintendo 3DS. But the Switch might suit it better. The big hint came when Nintendo set up its museum. They put the Virtual Boy front and center with lots of its old stuff. No hiding it away. So why not add its games to the Switch Online classics through emulation? And that’s what happened.
At a get-together in Nintendo’s Europe office lately, the Virtual Boy sat off to one side. It wasn’t in the main schedule. You could just drop by for a quick try whenever. That fits, since you don’t need much time with it. Check out the gear, put your face in the goggles, and you’re set.
For me, the big question was if the Switch version could match the real Virtual Boy feel. This thing doesn’t emulate well usually. On regular screens, its games look like a mess of red. They are mostly red, but the right hardware shows shades, layers, and details you miss elsewhere. That fine touch makes the games playable. So Nintendo had to nail it on Switch.
Good news is they did. Trying Wario Land or the wild 3D Tetris brought back exact memories. The layers, soft colors, and 3D pop all there. I’ll watch what others say. Most folks at the event hadn’t touched the original. Just me and one guy had. But I liked the new copy a lot. It looks good, plays right. The Switch sound pipes through the headset like the old one. It all clicks.
The one thing missing is the auto-pause. The old Virtual Boy stopped if you lifted your head to talk or grab something for nausea. No sensor here, so pause by hand even if you turn it on in game options. Everything else matches what I recall.
This setup works thanks to the gear. To play these, you need Nintendo Switch Online plus a special shell for your Switch. It copies the odd shape of the original. First time NSO needs extra buy-in. But since the real deal was so strange, it’s okay. Nintendo knew your setup, so they tuned the emulation perfect.
I didn’t try the cheap 17-pound cardboard shell. We’ll learn soon when it sells. The full 67-pound one copies the original exact, even with top buttons and sliders that do nothing now. Picture tweaks happen in the software. But the feel stays true.
This close match keeps the Virtual Boy’s quirks. You set it on a table and lean in like peering at a goofy microscope. Tough to settle in. My neck ached quick. No strap, and it’s heavy to hold up. But that’s the point. It brings back the whole odd ride, flaws included.
My small gripe: I like the old controller best. Sad they didn’t remake it like for NES, SNES, N64, or GameCube. That was the comfy part. But I get it. They already charge near 70 pounds for this setup.
Will you find your top game in these red oldies? Doubt it. Will it be a must for every Switch user? No. Will young folks care? Probably not. But it’s a neat bit of history. I’m glad it’s so true to form. It belongs here.
64DD coming next? I want SimCity 64 out west at last.
