Nintendo's Virtual Boy: A Late but Welcome Comeback

Nintendo is finally giving some love to its forgotten Virtual Boy. After years of ignoring this oddball console, Nintendo is bringing Virtual Boy games to the Switch. But there's a catch: you'll need to buy a special dock to play them. Starting February 17, Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers in the US and Canada can get this dock. It looks like the original Virtual Boy and costs $100. If that's too pricey, there's a cheaper cardboard version for $25. The games will show up on your Switch screen, but you'll need special lenses to see them like they were meant to be seen. Nintendo says you can't play these games without the dock. That might be a bummer for some. Also, you'll need Joy-Cons to play, not the original Virtual Boy controllers. That's a shame because those controllers were pretty unique. Fourteen Virtual Boy games will be available over time. Some are classics like "Virtual Boy Wario Land" and "Mario's Tennis. " Others are rare and expensive, like "Jack Bros. " and "Virtual Bowling. " These games have been hard to find, so this is a big deal for fans. The Virtual Boy was a flop when it came out. It only sold about 800, 000 units. Fans have had to hunt down original hardware or use unofficial emulators to play these games. This is the first time Nintendo has officially supported the Virtual Boy since it launched. The dock reminds some people of the Nintendo Labo VR kit. That was a simple VR experience for kids. This time, it's all about nostalgia. The Virtual Boy was a unique console, and it's good to see Nintendo finally recognizing its place in history.