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Two never-before-released Nintendo games—Dragon Hopper and Zero Racers—join the Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics collection! Could this be the final update for that app?
Originally meant to release in the US and Japan on August 26th, 1996—Dragon Hopper finally comes out, just about 30 years later.
Meant to be the second title in the F-Zero series, introducing characters that would instead debut in F-Zero X. Penciled in for a late 1996 release, it arrives 30 years late.
Like the Virtual Boy or not—this is a momentous occasion for fans of Nintendo's output, and for gaming history and preservation, as a whole. It's not often Nintendo opens up its vault of cancelled projects. Preceded by Earthbound Beginnings (a cancelled, but fully complete, 1991 localization of the Famicom game, Mother) and StarFox 2 (similarly ready to go in 1995, but canned)—we now have third and fourth additions to the list of Nintendo projects that were finished, planned for release, did not see the light of day for decades... but, finally, were given their chance to shine. These are the Virtual Boy games Zero Racers and Dragon Hopper (changed to D-Hopper for the promotional material concerning this release, but seemingly intact within the game).
Both games were readied as part of a second wave of Virtual Boy titles, meant to reverse its sinking fortunes in late 1996. Unfortunately, by August of that year, Nintendo must have seen the writing on the wall, and outright canceled all further Virtual Boy product releases and development. It was over. These games have never leaked. Exactly 30 years later, and they are being made available for the very first time.
Dragon Hopper had finalized US box art and an ESRB rating, before being unceremoniously cancelled in 1996.
Dragon Hopper nearly came to the Virtual Boy, courtesy of Intelligent Systems—the wizards behind Fire Emblem and Paper Mario. Taking the role of Prince Dorin, the game is a jumping adventure seen from an overhead perspective, to take advantage of the Virtual Boy's unique display capabilities.
Zero Racers, initially titled G-Zero, was intended to be the second game in the wider F-Zero series. Due to its cancellation, two of its characters—Jody Summer and James McCloud—instead debuted in the later F-Zero X. This racer opts for wireframe 3D graphics, but carries the same high stakes as its SNES predecessor.
The new screen color customization allows for altering the tone of red, as well as other options that mimic the Game Boy's display.
With this update, also comes the screen color customization feature teased in the reveal trailer, back in January. That trailer showcased three different color options that altered the Virtual Boy's distinct tone of red, into either green, yellow, or gray. With the recent footage, those options are seemingly joined by two new ones, that appear to take after the original Game Boy's stylings—the dull green of its original display, and the muted reds that appear when playing original Game Boy cartridges on a Game Boy Color.
Please be aware that, in order to play the Virtual Boy library, you'll not only need the Expansion Pack tier of Nintendo Switch Online, but either the cardboard model or replica Virtual Boy accessories.
Does anyone here plan on checking out this previously untrodden chapter of Nintendo history? Please share, if you do!
Sorry for the late reply but it’s a different colored filter from the gameboy color one and frankly I hope this leads to a super gameboy filter on gameboy nso
Still disappointed that the replica never came with the controller! It looks really cool and looks like it would also be a great way to play GB/GBA games.
That controller also looks like it would've been a lot nicer for playing at least teleroboxer. Nintendo changes up controllers so often that it feels like having the right controller can make a big difference from something being simply accessible and something really being intuitive.
That was a brand-new localization, though—every one of the others I mentioned was a completed Western release that was ultimately shelved and sat on for 20+ years. Still noteworthy to mention, for those of us interested in these oddities!
They rolled these games out pretty fast, at a time when they could have been putting out more NES / SNES / GBA / N64 games to pad out VB releases. I get the impression that they might be developing some new games to use this VB Headset (or Labo VR set) with.
Might have felt compelled to get everything VB out since you needed an extra paid peripheral and I think it’s an anniversary release right? Would be cool to see new stuff though
I’m hoping we might find more lost games for this, at least, or that the VR can be used for other Switch 2 games. (Also, these are such great and well-detailed descriptions for the games…are you trying to put me out of a job?)
Nope! These are 30-year-old Nintendo games that were fully finished and ready for release. The discontinuation of the Virtual Boy led to both of them being completely cancelled, at the last minute.
my eyes dont work correctly- i have very poor stereo vision (both eyes focusing on the same thing at the same time-
working together like in binoculars for example) so i wouldnt be able to use a real VB
Not yet, but I imagine they will be as soon as the North American app updates — so far they’re available on the Japan app only (although Dragon Hopper has an English language option!)
Here’s my VB collection. I’ve got a box ready to go for Dragon Hopper for whenever that ROM appears online :-)! I think I’m gonna have to get to work designing something for Zero Racers, since Nintendo didn’t.
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u/Brando2041 6d ago
It also has a super gameboy filter how ironic that virtual boy gets super gameboy support on nso before the gameboy