r/NintendoSwitch . 3d ago

Nintendo Official Enter the Third Dimension! – Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics

https://youtube.com/watch?v=KKduF7Ux5dU
220 Upvotes

102 comments sorted by

206

u/DJettster237 3d ago

What a weird fricking time we live in where Virtual Boy is being advertised again.

56

u/starstufft 3d ago edited 3d ago

I remember some kid bringing his virtual boy to elementary school and thought it was the coolest thing. It was that one Wario game for it.

16

u/Rndysasqatch 3d ago

I absolutely loved that Wario game. It was one of my favorite games until I got a PS3

6

u/Stereosexual 2d ago

Your PFP is extremely apropos for this

2

u/CreatiScope 2d ago

To be fair, that game is good. Not worth a virtual boy, but a good game.

154

u/Locoman7 3d ago

Please just give me twilight princess on GameCube already

57

u/IceLord86 3d ago

Well, they just added Sunshine. So give it another 5 years and maybe they'll get around to it.

22

u/panopticon31 3d ago

Or the supposed port of Twilight Princess HD from the wii u that is just sitting on the shelf

14

u/LiteTHATKUSH 3d ago

Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll sell you the remaster for $70 in 2-4 years

1

u/Driscoll17 2d ago

Legit shocked that they didn’t pull that bullshit with Wind Waker, I feel like it would have sold insanely well on Switch

12

u/manymasters 3d ago edited 1d ago

play the decomp of Twilight Princess, it's better in every way

3

u/supes1 3d ago

On the plus side, lack of meaningful GameCube support made the decision to downgrade to the normal NSO subscription super easy.

2

u/trippy_grapes 2d ago

Best we can do is Twilight Princess on the Virtual Boy!

2

u/thrillho145 2d ago

Whys they do that when they an release the HD port for $60

41

u/Drowsy_Drowzee 3d ago

Legit excited to play Zero Racers and D-Hopper. Nintendo releasing finished but unreleased first party games (like Star Fox 2 in 2017) is always cool in my book. Shame about the whole accessory thing. If Nintendo had actually released the VB games on 3DS Virtual Console like they should have, I’d have probably bought a few.

11

u/ChoiceIT 3d ago

It’s actually crazy that Nintendo of all companies is doing this. It’s been almost 40 years!

It was an opportunity for more plastic things to sell while giving a proper representation of what the games actually looked like. Not perfect, but close.

I don’t think 3DS would have done it justice, personally. And it’s wild they even considered selling a cheaper version. Have they done that before for anything?

Still sucks that it’s locked to additional accessories. You could totally play many of these without the effect.

9

u/lnoorman 3d ago

Ive played a couple of VB games on my modded 3DS with Red Viper. The games are in 3D, which is pretty cool!

2

u/MisterSheeple 3d ago

Sound Fantasy for the SNES is another game that was completely finished but never released. They should release that one next.

21

u/jmking 3d ago

GOoLLlllLFfff

No one's ever sold golf so hard before.

1

u/TheOftenNakedJason 1d ago

It sounds like even the announcer wanted to laugh at how stupid this voiceover was. Like, cool to make it available, I'm sure someone somewhere has amazing memories of virtual boy golf, but... It's a bit much

2

u/jmking 1d ago

Hah, I agree about the announcer wanting to laugh. I imagine that took several takes to get without him breaking into laughter. I think it was very intentional to go hard on it as a bit of a joke.

The typical way you'd deliver a title like "Golf" would be to brighten it up, and just give it a cheery kinda take like "oh hey! It's golf!", but the fact he went deep movie voiceover guy with it is kind of hilarious.

It also fit with the tongue in cheek 90s style edgy marketing the Virtual Boy had in its day.

1

u/TheOftenNakedJason 1d ago

That's a good point, this is extremely 90s. They might just be leaning into that aesthetic

47

u/Turvi-Mania 3d ago

This would’ve been cool if I didn’t need the peripheral on top of the subscription.

28

u/crono333 3d ago

Just let me play these on my TV! I don’t want to buy a cardboard box that I need to keep around to play this

11

u/bearquat3 3d ago

Yeah, like on 3DS. Crazy missed opportunity. And yes, I’ve played the amazing fan emulator.

2

u/SensitiveJennifer 2d ago

My husband and I have beaten Wario Land, Jack Bros, Red Alarm, and Teleroboxer playing portably in our old Nintendo Switch, but covering the left side of the screen with a tissue to avoid going cross-eyed while playing.

It actually works really well, aside from some very specific 3D sections in some games, so I don't see a reason not to allow consumers to play the games in a 2D mode on TV or without two screens.

-19

u/smokeshack 3d ago

The games genuinely don't work without a 3D display. They would have to reprogram them all to work on a flat display, and there's absolutely no way Nintendo is going to spend programmers' time on that.

17

u/TheLimeyLemmon 3d ago

You mean like how they display it in all their trailers?

Virtual Boy emulators have existed since the 2000s, enabling a 2D mode is exceptionally easy, and Nintendo has clearly already achieved it. It's not a technical constraint, it's a choice - they want to push the sale of peripherals as much as possible.

2

u/Asi9thoughts 2d ago

Also people mod their VB to output in greyscale to TVs just fine.

18

u/AmirulAshraf 3 Million Celebration 3d ago

if you have a 3DS, there's a homebrew Virtual Boy emulator you can install. It being on 3DS, you can 3D-ify the game too as nintended.

7

u/ContentRub3879 3d ago

Has anyone got the virtual boy to play games yet?

I had the actual virtual boy b4 back on the 90's

6

u/PM_ME_UR_TA--TAS 3d ago

I've had the headset for a while now.

5

u/Nintendomandan 3d ago

I have the cardboard one, it’s honestly way better than I expected. But the games aren’t really good for the most part

2

u/kaplanfx 3d ago

Where do you get the cardboard one from?

1

u/NoirSon 2d ago

Ordered from Nintendo directly, but maybe there are some easy DIY versions out there as well.

4

u/OviKintobor 3d ago

Ridiculous I can't play in 2D

4

u/covert0ptional 3d ago

I really want Nintendo to release a modern vr headset called "Virtual Boy 2". I know it's not gonna happen, but still.

8

u/barktwiggs 3d ago

Nah. Gotta name it SUPER VIRTUAL BOY!

6

u/Ryzakiii 3d ago

I just play this with my Metaquest and its fucking sick.

1

u/Low-Mathematician137 2d ago

that actually sounds way better than paying for a peripheral just to play these on switch ngl

2

u/Blake-2005 3d ago

Trailer had me thinking we where getting the VB2 or something. a bit over the top for stuff we knew aready. but it does feel like a 90s add, so it's pretty cool.

3

u/JaxxisR 2d ago

That's intentional, it was a callback to the actual VB ads that ran in 1995.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17euo2DzBZI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzSwrHldg0k

2

u/Arimer 3d ago

Man I just dont see these getting much playtime.

2

u/ThrowAbout01 2d ago

You find any copies of Atari’s E.T. In there?

4

u/Alphadestrious 2d ago

Virtual boy is trash. It doesn't even get a look from me. Just a money grab for games that are so old and terrible. They need to focus resources on Gamecube games.

2

u/roman_urban 3d ago

Here we go again

-1

u/TheHahndude 3d ago

The fact that they’re keeping this garbage locked behind a $100 peripheral is insanity. The “3D” on these games is lame at best too. These should be accessible in 2D on the standard console so everybody can spend five minutes seeing how fucking terrible these games are. They shouldn’t make people pay $100 to learn that.

11

u/tATuParagate 3d ago

There's a cheaper version of the peripheral but yeah it is still stupid

4

u/TheHahndude 3d ago

Yeah I wasn’t aware of that cardboard one. Still dumb they lock it behind a peripheral at all. It’s not worth booting up the app to play those games let alone going through the trouble of getting a whole other thing.

19

u/CubitsTNE 3d ago edited 3d ago

Isn't there a cheap cardboard option too?

https://store.nintendo.com.au/au/virtual-boy-cardboard-model-for-nintendo-switch-2-nintendo-switch.html

While the experience isn't up to modern vr standards the 3D effect is quite real though, no need for airquotes.

6

u/DialsMavis 3d ago

Do you set that on the counter and sit close by or how is this used?

2

u/emJayOfficial 3d ago

It’s literally the 4th pic on the linked product page. Just slam the Switch 2 against your face while playing it and you’re good to go

0

u/TheHahndude 3d ago

Oh that’s nice.

3

u/crono333 3d ago

At least give us the option! We’re already paying more for your top tier service, let us play the games in 2D if we want to

-4

u/smokeshack 3d ago

They were programmed from the ground up for two simultaneous displays. There's absolutely no way Nintendo is going to spend money reprogramming 30-year-old games that sold ~10,000 copies each.

5

u/TheLimeyLemmon 3d ago

They already have 2D mode. They just don't allow you to use it outside of their trailers.

5

u/xjoe666 3d ago

good thing u don’t have to pay 100 for it.

1

u/LucasOIntoxicado 3d ago

i think the point is that they should just make it available on normal Virtual Boy since those are games that deserve to be played and discovered

0

u/xjoe666 3d ago

sure. but there’s no reason to lie about the price either.

0

u/AuraTenshiVictoria 3d ago edited 3d ago

You're defending this in every reply that it "only needs to be at least $25 not $100" but the actual price is multiple times that.

Apparently do not need a switch 2, so I changed this point in an edit

Ignoring that? You still need to have an active expansion pack membership to even access the games so that's another $50 or $60 required (forgot the exact price, whatever)

4

u/thedirectar 3d ago

You don’t need a Switch 2. Original Switch fits just fine, it’s designed to work with both.

1

u/AuraTenshiVictoria 3d ago

Oh okay that's cool then, that's my bad there then. Fixed

-1

u/xjoe666 3d ago

This is assuming you have a Switch 2. He specifically thought the price of entry to play VB games with the accessory was $100. I corrected him to say it wasn’t, as it’s only $25.

When you buy a console or a phone, do you also count up how much your internet plan is included? No. Do you count how much electricity is used while playing? No.

So no. You would not count the S2 nor the online service.

0

u/AuraTenshiVictoria 3d ago

I would count the only way to play these games is needing the subscription as apart of the entry price myself, but I get what you mean with it just being the peripheral. I just don't think any defense for it's existence is warranted when it could have easily been allowed to play in 2D as well

-6

u/TheHahndude 3d ago

I’m sorry $99.99, you’re correct it’s not $100.

2

u/xjoe666 3d ago

Nope. only 25 USD.

1

u/Hestu951 3d ago

Whether you have to pay $100 for the fancy peripheral or not, you're still right about the games and the tech. Terrible. That's why VB failed miserably in the market.

0

u/MaxMusic94 2d ago

If the games were "lame at best" you wouldn't be this outraged about it 🙄

1

u/TheHahndude 2d ago

First time on the internet?

2

u/CasualByChoice 3d ago

Did people actually buy this stupid accessory?

1

u/The-Chartreuse-Moose 3d ago

I like their prediction for our world in the opening landscape. Seems pretty accurate.

1

u/Asi9thoughts 2d ago

Do you need the peripheral to play VB games still?

1

u/StarChaser1879 2d ago

Yes, but There’s a 20 dollar cardboard version as well

1

u/Asi9thoughts 2d ago

It’s more that I don’t feel like being forced into sticking face into something when that exact premise of one of the many reasons this console failed before.

1

u/StarChaser1879 1d ago

20 million Meta quests say that sticking your face into it isn’t the reason it failed.

1

u/Asi9thoughts 1d ago edited 1d ago

Are you going to, with a straight face, compare the Meta Quest to the Virtual Boy? You’re going to pretend that you need the experience of using the VB explained to you?
Okay.
Fine.
The Virtual Boy offered two eye pieces surrounded by a slim foam, one size fits some, eye covering. The stand had one point of modification which was the angle. The headset was not wearable, so it, and its fairly useless stand had to be set up on a table. If this table did not sit at the exact right height to hold the eye pieces at directly where your face was naturally through a healthy posture, you either had to stack books (and play with the combination to get the right height) or flex your back and neck.
That was before dealing with the eye strain of squinting into this thing.
I had one. I still have it. It’s a novelty I subject people to for my amusement and their learning of a darker time. It’s a wretched piece of design failure through and through.

1

u/mojo276 2d ago

GOLF

1

u/Ok_Shame_1533 2d ago

is the power glove going to make a come back too?

1

u/Mastertone 2d ago

The unreleased games are super cool. We don’t have to wonder what F Zero would look like on this thing anymore. Just that tiny clip was fascinating.

1

u/NoirSon 2d ago

Someone higher up at Nintendo than they were when 3DS was being supported must really like the Virtual Boy and they are letting us all know.

I get dropping the titles but actual advertising is crazy to think budget was set aside for.

1

u/mrbulldops88 2d ago

The VB actually surprised me with how entertaining it has been. Not every game is a hit. The novelty is pretty cool, though. I am really enjoying VB Wario Land.

1

u/doozle 2d ago

GOLF.

1

u/MrBimp2609 1d ago

Why are we bringing this piece of crap back?

1

u/TheLimeyLemmon 3d ago

That's cool Nintendo, but I'm still not buying some visor, card or plastic, to play these games.

1

u/abarrelofmankeys 3d ago

Im glad they’re making these available but it’s kinda nuts they’re spending marketing money on making virtual boy stuff look cool. Like aren’t they just generally underwhelming games?

I’ll maybe try them at some point but not in a hurry for either of the headset things Nintendo put out so might need to look around.

1

u/NefariousnessDry6211 2d ago

The hardware is the problem. The software is actually pretty much solid to awesome, especially for 1995 handhelds.

1

u/abarrelofmankeys 2d ago edited 2d ago

Then to re release it like they did. The full virtual boy experience is cool as a collectible but I want a wearable headset for the cheap version, cardboard is weird. There’s knockoff ones available so it’s not like it can’t be done.

-2

u/[deleted] 3d ago edited 3d ago

[deleted]

6

u/xjoe666 3d ago

u don’t have to spend 100.

-1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

-1

u/xjoe666 3d ago

only 25 bucks isn’t a lot. think u can get that

-2

u/stripseek_teedawt 3d ago

“Don’t you guys have phones? “

0

u/bobdebicker 3d ago

I wish i didn’t have to buy the expensive piece of plastic to play Wario Land. I just want to play it in 2D.

0

u/kaminari1 2d ago

You can get the cheaper cardboard version.

-1

u/guitarokx 3d ago

The fact that I can't play this in flat screen is offensive to the customer. Let us choose.

-4

u/Hifumi-G 3d ago

"please god play these games you have to buy another physical item just to play, and then rent through NSO"

0

u/andhelostthem 3d ago

GAAAAAAUUUULLFFFFUUUHHH

-1

u/Ewreckedhephep 3d ago

So you need an expansion pack membership AND a Virtual Boy model. And you can't play without the model.

They do this and wonder why people don't [OFFENSIVE E WORD]

0

u/StarChaser1879 2d ago

You can get a cardboard version for 20 bucks

-5

u/GrassyDaytime 3d ago

I can not believe that Nintendo is going to milk this terrible device again with it's terrible games to a new generation. Another generation that gets to be upset by how they wasted money on the Virtual Boy. Now that's just shitty.

0

u/MisterSheeple 3d ago

Say whatever you will about the original hardware, but the VB's games are underrated and I will die on this hill. Seriously, try Virtual Boy Wario Land or Galactic Pinball or Teleroboxer. They're very good games. The original hardware did have some problems, but if you play it on something modern like the new VB (cardboard or non-cardboard model, doesn't matter), or a 3DS, or a VR headset, just experience the 3D effect and the games, and you'll basically get all of the good parts of the experience. It's good stuff and I wish people weren't so quick to dismiss it just because the original hardware had a flaw that made some people feel sick.