When it comes to Game Boy games on the Nintendo Switch Online, we have a nice selection of classics, a few hidden gems, a couple of questionable decisions and some real stinkers. For Nintendo's newest upload, we're going back to where it all started – the Game Boy's launch 35 years ago. That's right, we're getting three first-generation titles from 1989, including Alleyway, Baseball and, of course, Super Mario Land. That's cool news, but are any of these games actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Mean Machines, Computer & Video Games and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. Adjust your eyes accordingly, because this is going to be another monochromatic episode of Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew!


Much like the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System just a few years earlier, the first few months of the Game Boy were spent selling people on the concept by way of simple (yet addictive) games they couldn't put down. You certainly saw that with the pack-in game, Tetris, which looked simple on the surface, but had a layer of depth just waiting to be uncovered. Just like the Game Boy. Alleyway was a launch game for the handheld system, and while it was nowhere near as deep and addictive as Tetris, it did a reasonable job recreating the tried-and-true formula that had previously spawned games like Breakout and Arkanoid. Alleyway looked good on the system's small screen and had enough levels to keep gamers of all ages engaged. But is that how the critics saw this first-generation game back in 1989?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is a resounding “no.” And it's not even a close call. The critics hated Alleyway. It's so bad that we have to turn to Electronic Gaming Monthly for the highest score, and they gave the game a very middling 5 out of 10. Let's first start with the good news: Steve gave it a slightly higher-than-average score of 6 out of 10, calling it “perfectly suited for the Game Boy. It's also a very good game that combines some new features (like scrolling blocks and bonus rooms) with the original Breakout theme. Power-ups would have been a nice addition, but as it stands, Alleyway is good – but a bit long.” Ed strongly disagreed, giving it a 3. “It's Breakout or Arkanoid – nothing special and definitely nothing very exciting. Worse than average game play and not worth buying. Save your money for the better games, which will be coming soon.”

This seemed to be the consensus across the pond, too. When Mean Machines went to review it in their second issue, they coughed up a terrible 33%, making it one of 1990's lowest scoring games. “Unfortunately, this [Breakout] variant does not have much more to offer than the original. Bonus screens are available, as are screens in which the walls advance upon you. Mario himself is your guide through this game, only leaving you once all your lives are gone.” Jaz called it a “bore,” “screen after screen of boring bricks to knock away, and hardly any variety. If this had a couple of power-ups it might be okay. As it stands, it's about as exciting as watching paint dry. If you're having trouble getting to sleep, play this – it's more powerful than any sleeping tablet.”

Not surprisingly, the lowest score comes from Nintendo Magazine System, which gave Alleyway a pitiful 27%. They called it “a sad version of the ancient game, Breakout, this is one of the most simplistic, tedious and unchallenging games available on the Game Boy and should only be bought by simpering buffoons with more money than sense.”

Look on the bright side, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, you can now find out if you're a simpering buffoon without spending any money. I think you'll discover that Alleyway is more fun than these reviews let on.

In a lot of ways, the Game Boy launch mirrored that of the Nintendo Entertainment System. This was especially true when it came to Baseball, a game that also launched with the home console a few years earlier. While visually simple and lacking the teams, players and modes we expect from a modern sports game, this version of Baseball is actually a bit better than its NES counterpart. The graphics look better, it's easier to play and the computer A.I. has been tweaked enough to allow for fun single-player games. The problem is that by 1989, baseball games on the NES had blown past what Nintendo gave us in 1985, so this black and white update felt like a step backwards to a lot of gamers.

Some of those gamers worked at Electronic Gaming Monthly, who gave the game a disappointing 6.25 out of 10. Ed liked the game, giving it a 7 and arguing that the “Game Boy plays a good game of Baseball despite its size. The screen follows the ball (and the action) by scrolling in any direction. The game play and graphics are good and are familiar to anyone who's played an NES baseball game. It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but it's good anyway.” The critic dragging the average down was Steve, who called it a “base on balls.” “It's not good, but it's not bad either. Many of the most important Baseball elements are missing and the whole thing is way too easy against the computer. The video-link mode makes it slightly better, but not tremendously.”

Believe it or not, Nintendo Magazine System actually liked the game more than EGM, giving it a solid score of 75%. “With its two-player link-up option and addictive gameplay, Baseball is recommended to sports fans on the move.”

Unfortunately, you don't have a lot of baseball options on the Nintendo Switch Online, so perhaps now is a good time to get acquainted with one of the Game Boy's earliest sports titles. Just don't expect a lot of depth.

When Nintendo went to sell people on the Game Boy, they weren't taking any chances. They saw what Super Mario was able to do for the Nintendo Entertainment System, so here we have a brand-new sequel of sorts that shrunk the platforming action down to fit on a smaller screen. The result was Super Mario Land, a fun and competent launch game that looked and played similar to the Nintendo Entertainment System classic, yet had enough of its own quirks and charm to standout as its own thing. These days it's probably best known for introducing the world to Princess Daisy, but I always liked that it wasn't afraid to take chances – like suddenly becoming a 2D shoot ‘em up.

When it came to the reviews, the critics were ready to call this another Super Mario classic. Well, everybody except Electronic Gaming Monthly, who actually had the lowest score, giving the launch game an average of 7.75 out of 10. Jim called it “a great Game Boy game! Excellent scrolling graphics make Mario Land look and play just like Super Mario Bros. All the bad guys, mushrooms and other features from the original are here, along with new characters, 1ups, hidden coins and more! A portable Super Mario Bros.!” Donn was the big hold-out, giving the game a lower score of 7 out of 10: “Like Super Mario Bros. on the NES, Super Mario Land is filled with the same kind of running and jumping action. There are loads of secret things to uncover, and new screens that add to the Super Mario theme. This is the best Game Boy game I've seen so far.”

Similar to EGM, other magazines liked Mario Land without falling in love with it. A good example of that is Nintendo Power, which went with a 4.1 out of 5, slightly lower than you might expect. Mean Machines, on the other hand, couldn't wait to gush. Giving it a 90%, Matt said that the game had “playability to the nth degree! This game is guaranteed a semi-permanent place in my Game Boy, along with Tetris, of course. They don't come much better than this, with great graphics and a tough challenge.”

If you're looking for the absolute highest score, then look no further than Computer & Video Games. Paul Rand gave the game a score of 93% in issue 96, raving about the graphics, sound, playability and value. “Virtually a scaled-down replica of the arcade and big brother Nintendo console classic, you play the part of Mario in this multi-level quest for his girly, stolen by a vicious kid-napper. Hectic action combined with remarkable graphic and rousing tunes and effects ensure yet another thumbs up for the Game Boy.”

Look, there's no doubt about it, Super Mario Land is the most exciting part of this Nintendo Switch Online drop, and it's not even close. Although incredibly short, this is a game bursting with charm and personality. It's not my favorite Mario game, but this Game Boy launch title is still worth playing through 35 years later.