The Unofficial Handheld Gaming Thread - A Necromancy Attempt

Meta Knight

Meta Knight

Power Star
Core 'Shroom Staff
This board is called Handheld Gaming, but is pretty dead right now. Obviously, handheld gaming isn't quite the hot topic in the video game industry aside from mobile games...if that even counts.

But handheld devices still exist! Game Boy, Game Gear, GBA, PSP, DS, 3DS, etc. Heck, even making fun of the "self-proclaimed" portable Virtual Boy would be relevant. I still play handheld games sometimes and sure might talk about them even if I'm not actively playing any.

Hence, this thread! Instead of having several threads dedicated to separate games, I propose this generic thread to talk about any handheld game or thing or whatever. Kind of a dumping ground really.

And if this thread doesn't interest you, but you still want to write about handheld games or anything of the sort, please consider writing for The 'Shroom which is also a viable creative outlet.

I'll start by saying that Donkey Kong (GB), and Pokémon TCG (GBC) are some of the greatest games ever made for their respective series. Link's Awakening DX is also incredibly well done only held back by the amount of excessive pausing in later portions (but this is a minor complaint for me).

Go on just try to deny these indisputable facts! I'm sure you can't, and even if you do this board will have some sliver of life regained so I still win.
 
I started a new playthrough of Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam.
 
If it doesn't break the forum rules and involves something that was on a handheld at some point it's fair game for this thread, even if one plays it on an emulator. Cheap knock-off handhelds are also fair game.
 
Ah cool.

Of course I just realized I don't really have anything to say about that beyond 'Playing handheld games on Retroarch is awesome because you can use filters to make it look like the actual system'.

Like this is just 👌👌👌👌
Super Mario Land-220831-123052.png


Genuinely my preferred way to play handheld games nowadays.
 
People talking about Pilotwings resort recently actually made me go and give it a fresh go for a bit, and I have to agree, it is a little gem.

I wouldn't mind another game featuring Wuhu Island, really, maybe one where you can finally explore it freely. It'd be neat to get one as a light Switch affair, the kind of game that, befitting its half-handheld nature, you could just pick up and play in 10-15 minute bursts. I guess if that's asking too much though (it is a fairly big commitment for something likely to see middling success), Nintendo, there's an asset I'm sure you could reuse if you wanted to make some mobile game about walking with a two-year lifespan...
 
Since the eShop is shutting down I bought BoxBoy on the 3ds and so far it's fun! A neat little puzzle game but I don't know if I'll buy the sequels because I feel like they'd just be more of the same.
 
I would like to say how utterly small the NDS was, despite how big it felt.
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This is a view of MKDS Rainbow Road. Incredible, isn't it? It seems so small looking at it this way. But it seems so big racing on it. Magical, even. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but I'll be damned if I won't always harbor a special place in my heart for those two tiny screens.
 
Honestly, Mario Kart DS is still my favorite handheld Mario Kart (not counting the switch as a handheld). The amount of content that I got out of it as a kid with no friends was great from Mission Mode, VS. Mode, the best Battle mode for playing alone, and even just drawing a custom emblem.
 
Yes! I have to say, Mission Mode provided a decent bit of challenge for me, even to this day. It's amazing how much they packed into that little game card.

I also miss the emblem creator, but, I understand why they had to remove it.