LEGO Nintendo Game Boy Review
By Kevin Hoskinson
Entertainment Editor | Pastrami Nation
The LEGO Group has done it again, taking a nostalgic leap straight into our childhoods with their latest creation: the LEGO Nintendo Game Boy. It’s a blast from the past that feels so authentic, you will expect to hear the classic startup chime. Whether you are a longtime Nintendo fan or just love retro LEGO sets, this is a must-have for collectors of all ages.
It also brought me back to my teenage years and reminded me of one of the biggest “I told you so” moments my step mom ever had. When I was 13, I was lucky enough to get a Game Boy for Christmas from my aunt. The game she got me with it was Mortal Kombat, which was a whole other issue at the time (those of a certain age understand what that means). Anyway, my step-mother told me NOT to take it to school as it would get stolen. As a dumb teen, I thought she was full of it and decided to take it to school. Where it promptly got stolen. At any rate, this set will remind you of cherished childhood memories (or grievances against another kid at a certain middle school in Phelan, CA!), and that’s the power of these two brands joining forces.
Retailing at $59.99 and coming in at 421 pieces, it’s one of the quickest and easiest sets I’ve had the joy of putting together. What you get with the build is pretty basic and easily justifies the price tag. You start by building one of the game cartridges, then the system, then another game cartridge. That’s it. It may sound like I’m downplaying the set, but I’m not. Sometimes, simple is better, and this one accomplishes what it sets out to do. For its time, the Game Boy was one of the most advanced gaming systems out there. Thinking back on it now, it was pretty simple in its design and functionality. It didn’t need an internet connection and only served one purpose, and that was to entertain. By being a simple design without very many bells and whistles, this set reminds us of all of that.
Physically, the Game Boy feels good in your hands. It truly feels like the real thing when switching out the game cartridges. The system comes with two “games”, Super Mario Land and Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. Also included are three holographic cards that act as the screen of the system. You get the general Nintendo start screen and a scene from each of the games. It is easy to replace one with the other, and it’s fun to pretend like you are playing the game itself. While building the set, you’ll notice some cool techniques and easter eggs, specifically in the Link’s Awakening cartridge
All around, this is a really cool LEGO set and well worth picking up. It comes with a cool stand and will make a fantastic display piece on your gaming and/or collectible shelf. It is a really great piece of pop culture history, and I’m glad that we get it idolized forever in this form. It’s just so cool!
Rating: 4.5 Pastrami Nations out of 5
