The Nintendo Virtual Boy is a silly but fun blast from the past

Nintendo virtual boy It’s arguably one of the strangest gaming gadgets I’ve seen. It sits on a desk like a small portable grill, but you look at it like a microscope. Your eyes are enveloped in a ruby ​​red interface, where you can play retro 3D games with the paired controller.

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend some time with some of the upcoming video game releases for Nintendo Switch 2-He loves Mario tennis fever and Resident Evil Requiem– Along with new hardware such as a fairly faithful re-imagining of 1995 The Virtual Boy. The latter stuck with me more because there’s nothing else like it. This new version is not a standalone controller but an accessory for the Switch 2 and the original Converts (There’s no technology or power in the new Virtual Boy; it’s just stereoscopic 3D lenses.)

Nintendo is known for its weird games, but the Switch 2 is a fairly stale console compared to the original, which… He was It is considered Quirky at the time. The Virtual Boy has plenty of weirdness for the Switch 2, even if its appeal is more niche than Cardboard labo accessories The company has prepared the original key.

Getting one will be difficult. On top The $100 you’ll pay for a Virtual BoyYou need a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription to access the games. This is very limiting, but Nintendo delivers A cardboard model of the Virtual Boy for only $25making it more accessible. Unfortunately, the pre-purchase period for both has already expired, and they are sold out. Nintendo says you can check back on February 16, though the offer is limited. The Virtual Boy will officially launch on February 17.

Photo: Julian Chocato

Red alert

The Virtual Boy is sturdy, even if the stand feels a bit flimsy; They don’t really slip and can be angled for maximum comfort. You’ll need to make sure you have a height-adjustable desk or chair because that’s the only thing you can’t change in the Virtual Boy. You’ll notice there are some buttons and dials at the top – to adjust interpupillary distance (IPD) or focus – but they’re merely cosmetic; You can modify your IPD via the software.

Open the plastic top to insert the Switch 2 (or Switch/Switch OLED!) in front of the lenses. Look at the rectangular eye holes, and everything will be like that red, Identical to the original Virtual Boy interface. (Nintendo says you’ll be able to change the color in Settings.) The main game library is similar to other libraries for previous consoles, like the GameCube and SNES. There are seven titles for the Virtual Boy launch, although an additional nine will arrive over the course of the year. Many of these games were available on the short-lived original console, which was discontinued in less than a year, although a few were never released.