Virtual Boy system and controller.

Virtual Boy system and controller.

I’ve been on the lookout for a Virtual Boy for a few weeks now. All of the Gameboy coverage over at Retronauts this month got me to thinking about Nintendo’s red-screened stepchild, and playing through Six Golden Coins has only added to my desire to revisit Wario Land on the ‘ol VR headset.

The Virtual Boy was a much maligned system at it’s debut, and its reputation hasn’t much improved in the intervening years. Most gamers remember the system as an uncomfortable source of neck and eye strain due to the unfortunate positioning of the device’s headstand and its migraine-inducing binocular display that was born from the bastard spawn of an eye-exam machine and a foul demon intent on ruining children’s vision. Industry analysts remember it as the first chink in Nintendo’s armor as they arrogantly coasted out of the 16-bit era they had dominated into an uncertain future that would see Sony quickly claiming their throne with the Playstation.

The Virtual Boy was all of those things, but I still reserve a soft spot in my heart for the little red mutant system. I suppose it’s true that you can love almost anything viewed through the lens of indiscriminately overpowering nostalgia.

I was at a Meijer in early ‘96, my pockets were flush with Christmas cash, and the Virtual Boy, already on its deathbed so soon after its launch, was on sale for cheap. I picked up the system and two additional games for a grand total of $75. This was no small investment to a junior high kid with no steady income, but well worth it to have a fancy next generation portable system at a bargain price.

Sure the stand was a literal pain in the neck. I solved that one by playing while laying down with the stand resting on my chest and was quite comfortable. Sure the binocular viewscreen had a tendency to strain the eyes, but after adjusting it just so I found a settin I could play with no more discomfort than I’d already come to expect squinting at the blurry green postage stamp that passed for a screen on the Gameboy. And what’s more, the games were actually pretty fun, delivering a rich portable gaming experience that wouldn’t be matched until the Gameboy Advance a few years later.

Eventually I sold my Virtual Boy to my brother. I was moving away from gaming as high school and dating loomed on the horizon, and the Virtual Boy would be the last console I bought until I grabbed an old Super Nintendo in college heralding my return to console video games.

I had my brother pull the Virtual Boy out of storage this past weekend to get in a few games of Wario Land, but the right screen was ruined to the point of making games unplayable. So for now it seems that the Virtual Boy will remain in my gaming past, but it was a fun little system while it lasted, no matter what anyone else says.