Ball's right with the world: Alleyway & Tennis | Game Boy Works Vol.2 004

This video comprises the last of the U.S. launch titles for Game Boy, as well as—somewhat surprisingly—about 85% of all Game Boy releases in America for the remainder of 1989. A bit of a slow start compared to the 20 or so games that showed up in 1989 for Japan, but that's localization gaps for ya.

Not that either of these games required any localization whatsoever. They're simple, accessible titles that you can have a ball with (get it, like pinball/tennis ball??) regardless of your preferred language. Or even if you have not developed human language yet and exist in a crude, nonverbal state. You don't need to understand the basic grammar of "Me Tarzan" to grok "avoid missing ball for high score."

Anyway, not precisely amazing games by modern standards. But these blew away any comparable portable experiences at the time. Like the man said: "That'll do, pig. That'll do."

Production notes:

Video Works is funded via Patreon (  / gamespite  ) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more! This week's advance Patreon post tackles Nobunaga's Ambition:
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But why watch when you can read? Check out the massive hardcover print editions of NES Works, Super NES Works, Virtual Boy Works, and Segaiden are available now at Limited Run Games (https://limitedrungames.com/collectio...! SG-1000 Works: Segaiden Vol. I is available NOW, and Metroidvania: The First Decade is due in 2024 or ’25.

Game Boy footage captured from Super Game Boy 2 in RGB from Analogue Super Nt and a Super NES. Video upscaled to 4K with RetroTink 4X and 720p with xRGB Mini Framemeister.