6.  Legends – Game Boy

Be sure to check out my review of Legends if you want to know more!

Legends was released near the end of the Game Boy’s commercial life, and as such was generally passed over at the time.  Add in its relatively uninspiring gameplay, its “purpose” as a showcase for the Super Game Boy when the 5th generation was in full swing, and the impending release of the Game Boy Color, and it’s no wonder Legends failed to make much of a splash in its day.

Following the spotty yet competent Adventure and the superb Belmont’s Revenge, most fans expected an installment to make its way to the then-upcoming Game Boy Color after 7 years of inactivity on the handheld front.  For unknown reasons, Konami chose to stick with the original Game Boy even with the new handheld only 7 months away, and instead decided to beef up Legends to work specifically with the Super Game Boy.  As an add-on for the Super NES, the Super Game Boy imparted color to original Game Boy titles.  For games designed with the peripheral in mind even more color could be included.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.  At 4 years old already, the Super Game Boy itself was aging and couldn’t drum enough interest.  Legends would be almost completely ignored amidst the industry’s advancements.

Though the game on its own is competent and retains the Castlevania feel, it is a decidedly unremarkable installment.  Even once one ignores the 7 year gap and Konami’s failure to embrace upcoming technology, Legends fails to stand out except for perhaps introducing the franchise’s first female lead.  As with many of the other duds on the list, its lack of popularity has led to minor scarcity, driving the price up on this small cartridge far above what one would expect from such a mediocre title.

How can you play it today?

Do I even need to say it?  Emulation is the easy answer.  It is after all a ROM cartridge, most of which (for any platform) have been converted and distributed by now.

Otherwise you’ll need to do a little hunting on the internet.  While doubtful that you’ll see Castlevania Legends pop up in the used Game Boy bin, it is potentially low-profile enough that less experienced sellers may not know what they have on their hands.  More likely you’ll have to drop more on this than you’d like, but enough of them are out there that you can have your very own if you so desire.

Cube’s Recommendation:  BUY IT if possible; EMULATE if desperate.

Written by The Cubist

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