Gameboy Color games on an original Gameboy

[davidbrit2]

Are there any GBC-only games (translucent cartridge) that do anything interesting if you put them in an original monochrome Gameboy? I know there were some TG-16 CD games that would do weird stuff if you used an older CD system card, Castlevania in particular.

[SparTonberry]

It would be a little surprising, as the design of the GBC-only (clear) carts blocked the power switch on an original Game Boy (but not a Pocket).

Then again, I've heard Robopon is mono compatible but it doesn't look the cart contains the notch to allow the power switch to be pressed on an original GB. :P

[Sysop]

The only thing that springs to mind is the message screen which appears when you try and put Pokémon Crystal into a Game Boy.

[davidbrit2]

All of the ones I've tried in my Pocket just display some kind of static "Gameboy Color only" image. It makes me wonder if any of them do anything interactive, or at least somewhat interesting.

[wingzrow]

You get a special screen with meiling when you try and play metal gear solid on a gameboy.

[theclaw]

Kirby Tilt N Tumble for some reason had a clear cart with notch. Yet was GBC-only.

A few GBC-only games have an SGB border graphic unused:
Wetrix PAL (Japan version supports SGB)
Pokemon Gold/Silver Korean (supports SGB in all other languages)
Pokemon Crystal (leftover from Gold)

It would be a little surprising, as the design of the GBC-only (clear) carts blocked the power switch on an original Game Boy (but not a Pocket).

Then again, I've heard Robopon is mono compatible but it doesn't look the cart contains the notch to allow the power switch to be pressed on an original GB. :P

Apparently it's only visible from the back.

[A Black Falcon]

Each game has its own custom "This game will only work on a Game Boy Color" error message. The graphics of the "GBC only" screen are different for each game, generally; though many just use basic text, some have a picture. I guess it could be moderately interesting to look at the various error messages by using the carts on something like a SGB or GB Pocket that doesn't have that cartridge lock the original GB has.

[jb143]

If there is not "Game Boy Color Only" message, or if you bypass it somehow, then what will likely happen is that the game will still try to play as normal but the graphics will be all screwed up.

The original Game Boy has a "color" pallet that consists of shades of green. If I remember correctly, the Game Boy Color has 16 pallets of 4 colors each. These will still map to an original pallet but obviously display wrong. Some games were made to look good on both and were generally the black cartridges with the notch in them for the switch.

But I suppose you're looking for something along the lines of the programmers putting something special instead of just a "Game Boy Color Only" message.

[TonyTheTiger]

If there is not "Game Boy Color Only" message, or if you bypass it somehow, then what will likely happen is that the game will still try to play as normal but the graphics will be all screwed up.

I dunno. The GBC is actually a better machine than the original GB which makes me think most games would probably just plain not work.

[A Black Falcon]

Interesting pictures there, though of course no released game would allow you to see that kind of thing; games are either dual-mode, or GBC only, you obviously can't see development stuff like that on actual cartridges.

There are four types of GB games:


http://pics.mobygames.com/images/cov...3089982-00.jpg
Gray DMG - These are the oldest, and intended for the original GB hardware. Everything will run these.
Examples: Super Mario Land, Megaman IV, Metroid II, Tetris, etc.

http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/..._usa_cart.jpeg
Gray DMG with SGB logo - These are just like the gray DMG, but also offer special 8-color modes when played on a Super GameBoy, but keep in mind the GameBoy Player for GameCube does not support this.
Examples: Donkey Kong '94, Megaman V, Donkey Kong Land 2, King of Fighters '95, etc.

http://superflyku.com/2012X/games/IMG_4571.jpg
Black GBC - These are early GBC games that offer compatibility with the original GB and GB Pocket (and Light) as well as 8-color modes for Super GameBoy.
Examples: Pokemon Gold & Silver, Zelda Link's Awakening DX, Wario Land 2, Survival Kids, etc.

http://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/N..._Co.,_Ltd..jpg
Clear cased GBC - These are ones that fully use the enhanced GBC hardware and are incompatible with all prior GB hardware including the Super GameBoy. No clear cased GBC game will play on older GB hardware whatsoever except to give an error message telling you that you're an idiot for even trying.
Examples: Metal Gear Solid Ghost Babel, Pokemon Crystal, Megaman Xtreme 2, Shantae, Zelda Oracle Duo, etc.

There are actually five types of GB/GBC games -- there are also black-cart games with Super Game Boy enhancements. Unfortunately, they do not mark this on the cart, so you have to either have the box (the SGB enhancements are usually listed there; only the US/EU Pokemon games omit the SGB logo, though the support is still there), or look up online/test the games yourself to see which ones have SGB support.

Also, you didn't mention that some early GB games have only the "Game Boy Game Pak" logo in that box, while others, like Tetris there, have a "Game Link" or "Video Link" logo on them. The former is for games which don't support link cable multiplayer; that Game Link, or Video Link for early releases, logo is only on games that support link-cable multiplayer. For SGB-enhanced games, dual-mode games, or color-only, however, you have to look at the box to see if there is link cable support. The four player adapter (it's for the original GB only, there's no GBC 4-player adapter) is only ever listed on the box, not the carts themselves.