As one of the biggest failures in the company’s history, it’s understandable Nintendo wouldn’t want to bring up the existence of the Virtual Boy. Rushed to market in 1995, critics and gamers alike found the device half-baked, a pain to use, and its games shallow. Ever since, Big N has shoved that meager game library in a drawer and refused to even talk about it — until now.
Perhaps the 30th anniversary of the Virtual Boy got them talking, but there will soon actually be a section of Nintendo Switch Online dedicated to the thing. They teased the entire planned library during this morning’s Nintendo Direct, which isn’t every single game, but is close to it. Nester’s Funky Bowling, Waterworld, Panic Bomber, and that strange Japanese puzzle game where you have to manipulate bits of throbbing intestine are MIA. Also Japan’s Space Squash, which is too bad — you’re missing out.
The headset’s games are finally being brought out of storage and made public once again…and just in time for a different stereoscopic device, capable of glasses-free 3D and produced by Nintendo, to leave the market entirely. Why now? Why Switch? Why not 3DS? We can’t play ’em in 3D!
Or can we? Wait’ll you see this. Nintendo has rigged up a life-size Virtual Boy shell, in which you can insert your Switch or Switch 2 screen, look through the visor and play the games as they were meant to be played. We’re sure the replica shell will cost a penny or two, but there’s also a cardboard variant in the works for those who are on a budget.
Nintendo plans to add Virtual Boy to Nintendo Switch Online, for both systems, on February 17. A little late for Valentines, but it’s their way of saying they love you.
