Can Gameboy Color Work on Nintendo DS?

Buying a new video game system is not just about purchasing the newest high-tech games, it is also about the ability to be able to make use out of your old ones that cost a lot of money as well. When Nintendo announced plans to release a new hand-held system called the Nintendo DS, many players has questions if it would be backwards compatible with other Nintendo handhelds like Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advanced. To keep the system small and less bulky, certain decisions were made that may disappoint some Game Boy Color fans.

Features

No, Gameboy Color games cannot work with the Nintendo DS. While it is common for systems to offer backwards compatibility, like the Gameboy Advanced that allowed Gameboy Color games to work, they will not work in the DS because the systems are so different and design reasons prevent this from happening. The Nintendo DS does play Gameboy Advanced games when a special adapter is attached though, and this ability has allowed users to play old games from the past.

Potential

Even though the Nintendo DS is unable to play Gameboy Color games, many of the popular Gameboy Color titles are packaged and reproduced into a Nintendo DS package. You can also find the same titles in a Gameboy Advanced package as well. For example, the original NES Super Mario Bros. has been released for the Gameboy Advanced so you can play this easily on your Nintendo DS.

Function

Video game hackers have enabled some software that will allow Gameboy colors ROMs to be played on a Nintendo DS. These ROMs require some hacking on your own Nintendo DS, so it may be challenging and even damaging to actually install, but once you do, you can play any Gameboy Color. There are some glitches, but the software is constantly being monitored and updated at QJ.net

Types

The best games to play for the Nintendo DS are the games specifically made for the Nintendo DS, because they cater to the screen and control set-up. Many of the popular games have been updated like Super Mario Advanced, and this game is almost as good as the original. When you go down a pipe, you are transferred to the lower screen, and Mario has the ability to grow extra large or shrink extra-small when needed.

Considerations

Instead of purchasing a Nintendo DS to play Gameboy Color games, you can find a used Gameboy Color that will play every Gameboy Color game. Because the system is old and the games are too, you can find them for relatively cheap on auction websites and classifies and they will bring all of the glory found with the Gameboy Color, but without the potential changes or glitches if it is transferred to the Nintendo DS.

Resources

• Gameboy Color Hacks: Lameboy