Lego Game Boy is so accurate even the advert is the same
We hate to make you feel old, but the original Game Boy came out over 36 years ago now. It was outdated tech even when it first arrived but because it was the first viable portable console, with some great games, it went on to sell over 100 million units and remains iconic today, even to people that have probably never even seen one in real life.
The Game Boy is the definitive portable console and now… there's a Lego version of it. It doesn't work, of course, but it does look just like the real thing and, unlike a lot of Lego sets, it isn't that expensive, at £54.99.
It follows in an increasingly long line of Lego recreations of gaming hardware, starting with a brick-built NES and also including an Atari 2600 and a working (thanks to a crank on the side) Pac-Man arcade cabinet.
The Game Boy set is exactly the same size as the original and comes with buildable cartridges of Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, which can be slotted into the back. (Tetris would've been a more obvious choice, but that would've involved Lego securing an additional licence).
Rather than a single display, the only thing that's not a Lego brick is three interchangeable bits of plastic to show either the start screen or Zelda or Super Mario Land gameplay.
The set also comes with a brick-built stand for the console itself, and whichever cartridge isn't slotted into it. It all looks amazingly authentic, not least because the Game Boy was always very chunky and suits being made out of Lego.
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. https://www.instagram.com/p/DMeI3BwtTje
In fact, it's so authentic that Lego has recreated the original US advert for the Game Boy on Instagram, complete with a man in robot suit made out of Lego bricks.
To be honest, we don't remember if this ad was used in the UK or not. The only ones we remember for the Game Boy involved Rick Mayall, which unsurprisingly Lego has not recreated.
The Lego Game Boy is set number 72046 and will go on sale, at Lego stores and the Lego website, on October 1. If you're worried it's going to sell out though, it is already up for pre-order online. More Trending
Lego and Nintendo have had a close relationship for years now, with a line of Super Mario toys aimed primarily at adults and more expensive sets aimed at adults, that also includes a giant Mario Kart model and an animated one based on Super Mario World.
To what degree Lego has the rights, or the inclination, to make sets based on other franchises has never been clear, but they've had an ongoing Animal Crossing line for a few years now and a new one based on Pokémon that's due next year.
They also have a big adult-orientated set based on The Legend Of Zelda but so far no indication as to whether there'll be more. But then one of the reasons the two seem to get on so well is that they both love their secrecy. Although they do sometimes tease sets quite a way in advance, as the Game Boy one was first hinted at back in February.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
MORE: Games Inbox: Why has the Nintendo Switch 2 been so successful?
MORE: Two new racers coming to Mario Kart World hints Donkey Kong credits
MORE: PS6 handheld is real suggests new PS5 power saver mode
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
WWE 2K25 proves that the future of sports games on Nintendo Switch 2 is bright
Against all odds, a Nintendo system has finally been graced with a perfectly solid version of a WWE game. If you're looking for an ideal and comfortable way to play WWE 2K25 on the go, look no further than the recently released Nintendo Switch 2 version. Me and handheld wrestling games go way back. Whenever I had a long car journey to kill over the summer holidays; whenever I got bored visiting my nan and grandad's house and skimped off to the spare room; whenever I commuted to my first retail job on the bus. All I needed to keep myself entertained as a kid and young adult was a PSP and a copy of WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2006 on UMD (that's Universal Media Disc, by the way). Sure, this portable adaptation of the world's biggest sports entertainment brand wasn't the most feature-filled way to play, but as a kid I didn't know any better. I was just more than happy to have a way to repeatedly perform Rey Mysterio's 619 on whatever ill-fated opponent I'd selected to face next, all perfectly playable within the palm of my hands. Fast forward a few decades later, and despite the release of the original Nintendo Switch and countless PC handheld devices, I'd almost given up hope that there'd be a fulfilling way to play the latest WWE wrestling game on-the-go ever again. That finally changed at the end of last month with the launch of WWE 2K25 on Nintendo Switch 2. As someone still curious about the exact horsepower and technical capabilities of Nintendo 's new hybrid console, prior to this version's announcement I wasn't sure how such a beefy, graphically demanding game would look. But just like Jey Uso at this year's WrestleMania 41 – it overcame the odds, defied my expectations, and performs well. The era of worthy portable wrestling games is finally upon us once again, and I can't help but feel like this is just the start. Much like the initial version of WWE 2K25 that I reviewed last year, the iteration playable on Nintendo Switch 2 similarly feels like 'the ultimate wrestling celebration' for any fan. Following years of tension between previous developer Yuke's and 2K, a rocky start for new studio Visual Concepts, and a missed release in 2020, the WWE 2K games are at the point where it's tough to imagine them getting much better. From the responsive and fair control scheme to the litany of modes, match types, and playable wrestlers on offer, 2K25 very much represents the best in this already great series. I am my kingdom Thankfully, most of these learnings successfully translate to the Nintendo Switch 2. Though taking up a whopping 70GB of storage space when purchased digitally, WWE 2K25 runs at a slick 60fps in all the modes I was able to test. Of course, this does make the moments when real-life segments are played in the Showcase mode a little jarring. But it isn't long until you're back in the swing of grappling, Irish whipping, and suplexing as part of the Bloodline's historic family tree. 2K25's Showcase mode is one of the highlights, and it remains so in this newly anointed Nintendo version. The same goes for other tentpole modes such as MyRise, MyGM, and yes, even the incredibly misjudged The Island mode – it's honestly the only poor part of this package. Really, the only area in which WWE 2K25 on Nintendo Switch 2 pales in comparison to its console peers in terms of the value proposition is when it comes to the Community Creations feature. The ability to create your own wrestlers and upload them to be enjoyed by the wider WWE 2K fanbase has become such a staple of the series in recent years, it really is a shame not to see it present here. I can only assume Nintendo's policies on this online-centric element are far more stringent than other platforms. Small niggles aside, however, WWE 2K25 on Nintendo Switch 2 gives me faith that, in future, publishers will join 2K in treating the hybrid console as a series platform. Because if this wasn't already proof enough, even EA looks to be pulling out all the stops this year with an entirely revamped version of EA Sports FC purely dedicated to Switch 2. This is a far cry from just a few years ago when major AAA publishers simply spat out rushed or indistinguishable iterations of Nintendo Switch sports games year over year. With the current excitement and commercial success of the new console, this no longer need be the case. Playing WWE 2K25 on Nintendo Switch 2 I'm reminded of the ungodly number of hours I put into WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2006 on PSP as a kid. Sadly, it doesn't look like the current 2K era of wrestling games will ever be willing to go quite as rough-and-ready as that initial run of WWE games, but with 2K25 seeing the return of much more experimental match types like Special Referee and Casket, there's still plenty of joy I can now glean from performing a 619 on a dedicated handheld console platform, just like I used to. Here's hoping that the inevitable Switch 2 version of WWE 2K26 isn't so late to the party.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Inside abandoned Toys R Us shop with eerie empty shelves and checkouts left to rot
YouTuber Ben Laurence has explored an abandoned Toys R Us store, revealing eerie empty shelves, discarded signs, and haunting relics of a once-iconic toy store chain A haunting glimpse into one of the most iconic retail graveyards has been captured by YouTube creator Ben Laurence, who explored an abandoned Toys R Us store in the US - and what he found was a time capsule of childhood memories, now slowly rotting away. In his video, Laurence films himself stepping inside the derelict store after being unexpectedly granted access by someone who appears to be working on demolishing the building. 'I'm shaking I'm so excited,' he says. 'I've got to be quick in here, but this is insane.' The footage shows eerie, empty shelves, long-abandoned checkouts, and remnants of the once-thriving toy empire. It comes after Brits are told to never put one banned item in garden bins as you could face punishment. Dimmed lights flicker above half-filled coffee cups, left behind on counters where staff once scanned action figures and Barbie dolls. Torn Lego advertisements hang limply, while in the shadows, the old video game area still glows faintly. Toys R Us was once a giant of the high street, operating more than 100 stores across the UK at its peak. But in 2018, the company fell into administration after struggling to keep up with online competitors and changing shopping habits. All UK stores were closed that year, leaving behind vast, empty units across the country - many untouched since. Outside this particular store, the giant Toys R Us signboard still looms, advertising a shop that no longer exists. While the branded signage on the building has been stripped away, letters from the original sign now sit discarded outside. 'It'll be a real shame to see these letters thrown out like trash,' Laurence says in the video. 'These are historical Toys R Us artefacts. All this stuff is going to end up in a landfill.' Despite signs of a new development being built inside - with cars parked outside and work seemingly underway - the interior of the building remains frozen in time. Among the finds are the instructions on how to use a shopping trolley, still posted inside the store, and a lone Christmas tree in the backroom, surrounded by crushed boxes and empty bicycle racks. 'You can still smell the rubber of the tyres,' Laurence says. 'Which is crazy.' He also stumbles upon signs of recent human activity - not from workers, but likely trespassers. Empty alcohol bottles and cans are strewn around. 'Seems like someone's been boozing it up,' he says. Rat traps line the exterior, hinting at the vermin drawn to the decay. 'This is the remnants of the Toys R Us shelves,' he says, pointing to the torn-out fittings. 'This is probably the last time we're going to see the building looking like this. If they're ripping off the letters, they must be planning to do something with it.'
Metro
13 hours ago
- Metro
Nintendo has got as arrogant as Sony and it's hurting the Switch 2
A reader is deeply disappointed by the recent Nintendo Direct and suggests it's part of a recurring theme of Nintendo making a minimum effort with the Switch 2. I've been a gamer for the best part of 30 years now and for all that time Nintendo has been one of the few constants. Not in terms of success, as anyone who owned a GameCube or a Wii U can tell you, but in terms of quality, ambition, and a general sense that they're trying to do their best and move the industry and artform forwards. During the Wii U era is the only time where I've felt this attitude has wavered, although I don't really understand anything about what they were doing with that console. My best guess is they realised it was a dud from the start and were just treading water till they could get the Switch ready to replace it. One of their darkest hours but they got through it. Looking at the sales figures for the Switch 2 it is clearly the opposite of dead and arrival and yet that's kind of how it feels to me. Neither of its big games have blown me away, the upcoming line-up is weak, and the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase this week was flat out pathetic. Like many people, I started to have doubts as soon as the Switch 2 was revealed in April, when it had a bare minimum of reveals and really nothing in terms of surprises. Well, Kirby Air Riders was a surprise, but not in a good way. That Direct wasn't a disaster like this week, but it was nowhere near as slick or exciting as I expected. At first I thought it was just me being negative, but I saw lots of people saying the same thing online, that it seemed like Nintendo was caught unprepared and this was just the best they could do with short notice. Except that doesn't make sense because they were under no rush at all. They'd had more than eight years to prepare, the PlayStation 6 and next gen Xbox were not imminent, and there was no reason for them to have to release the console in June if they weren't ready. I know one theory is that they were trying to avoid GTA 6, but they would've known, like all of us, that there was no guarantee of when it was coming out (I'm also not sure Rockstar wouldn't simply have told them, if they asked) and in any case, better to delay to next year then get caught with your pants down. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. After all, they already had Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Switch 1. Add in a few more remasters and they could've easily scrapped through till next March (and ironically still missed GTA 6). We could go in circles forever trying to make sense of it but both Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza feel like they were missing six months or so of polish. Everything to do with Mario Kart's open world is super weird, and they still haven't talked about any DLC plans, while Donkey Kong is good, but that camera is rough and there are few minor bugs, which I do not expect from a Nintendo game. As you can gather, I did buy a Switch 2 at launch and while I don't necessarily regret it (I have issues with most things Nintendo has done this year but I have no complaints about the hardware itself) I am disappointed and confused. I basically have no Switch 2-only games to look forward to this year, just Metroid Prime 4, and nothing at all for next year. And now I know that third party companies will not be picking up the slack. Even if I had been interested in anything shown during the Partner Showcase, which I definitely was not, hardly any of it is coming out this year anyway. I worry that this is all the Nintendo version of what's been going on at Sony this gen. It's not as bad, because Nintendo isn't interested in live service games, but it seems to be the result of games taking longer to make and being more expensive to produce. It also, and I hate to say this, smacks of Nintendo getting a touch of the old Sony arrogance. This is definitely not the Nintendo of the Wii and Switch eras, where they were on the back foot and pushing themselves to put out their best stuff, because their very survival depended on it. This is a Nintendo that is feeling pretty comfortable with itself and no longer feels it has to go all out or work to win over fans. More Trending Luckily for them, Nintendo's bare minimum is well above most other company's very best, but it's still worrying to me. My first thought was to wonder when they'll get over these launch butterflies but I then look at Sony and think maybe they never will. Maybe this is just how Nintendo is going to be now. And that's not an encouraging thought. By reader Granola The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: The Nintendo Partner Direct left me wondering: where's the ambition? – Reader's Feature MORE: Why is Sony trying to kill the concept of the video game console? - Reader's Feature MORE: The Nintendo Switch 2 is the closest thing to a modern day Commodore Amiga – Reader's Feature
