The BEST Action Games!

Now, Action games on the Game Boy Color come in three varieties. "Active",
"Shoot 'Em Up", and "Platform". The differences are "easy" to learn. A
platform game is a game where you hop on things like in Super Mario Bros. A
Shoot 'em up is a game like R-Type or Contra. An Active game is an action
game that does not fall into the other two categories. I will seperate the
Top Ten up like so. There will be really 15 games listed. 5 for each
category.

The Essential Platform Action games!
(In no particular order)

[] Super Mario Bros. Deluxe. (Nintendo)
What can I say.. it's the NES game reborn with new extras tacked on to it and
part of the "Lost Levels" (The actual Japanese Sequel!) included! It is Game
Boy Color ONLY and features a save battery and printer support. Not only is
this the ultimate RETRO title.. it's also one of the BEST platform games ever
for Game Boy Color. It has a Game Link Two-Player versus mode and more in a
nicely presented game. the game has a plethora of levels; if you count the
"extra" mode levels as levels.. this game has a total of 104 levels! That's
32 normal, 32 "extra", 32 Lost Levels, and 8 racing levels. That all adds up
to a large amount of fun. The levels are, for the most part, fairly small;
but they are big enough to hold all sorts of secrets, and challenges. The
game is sometimes.. easy to die in. There are millions of possible ways to
die in a level.. and you'll find them all; whether you want to or not. But,
despite the obvious challenges.. this game is top-notch and BELONGS in your
Game Boy Color game library.
Rarity: 89%

[] Wario Land 2 (Nintendo)
There are two versions floating around. One with Game Boy Color enchancements
and one with out. The one with no GBC enchancements is rarer than the GBC one
and it is the same game. This title features one save spot and an unique
"No-death" concept that makes the game interesting. Just because you can not
die.. does not mean that you will have it easy. Nintendo took the liberty of
pumping up the challenge; because you can not die. The game has a total of
about 50 levels! And with about 7 endings.. there's a lot to see!
Rarity: Color 80%, Black and White 30%

[] Donkey Kong 1994 (Nintendo)
My.. three top games by Nintendo.. well, this is a remake of the original
Arcade Hit Donkey Kong. It features the four levels from the arcade; which is
cool; because the NES version was missing one of those stages. Well, it has a
LOT more levels than just 4! This little gem has a total of 100 unique levels
in this excellent Super Game Boy game. In fact, this was the FIRST game in
the USA to have Super Game Boy Colors. While it's not a GBC game; it's still
worth your time. It has three save spots, lots of challenge, some pretty
excellent graphics and lots of references to the Classic Donkey Kong series
with level design that is dead-on and superbly wonderful. It's also rare...
pretty rare now... although it was re-released in 1998. See if you can find
this one! It's awesome.
Rarity: 50%

[] Metroid 2: The Return of Samus (Nintendo)
Now, if you dislike cramped, claustrophobic areas and that feeling of dread
you get when you're lost and hurting in a cave full of creatures that want to
eat your spleen. Or if the thing that scared you the most about The Blair
Witch Project was all the darkness.. than.. this game is NOT for you. Unlike
the action packed Super Metroid (Metroid 3) for the SNES.. this game has a
dark feeling to it. Metroid on the NES had a tendency of making you feel lost
sometimes; but at least the walls were different colors so you weren't too
lost. Now, take that lost feeling, take away the familiar colors, add a whole
lot of caverns that look the same and fill them with huge ugly creatures that
you HAVE to hunt down and destroy; before they hunt you down and kill you;
and you have Metroid 2. If there's one thing this game has above all else..
it is challenging and it has completely killer atmosphere. It's one of the
few games that thrives on true terror... especially the SOUND and MUSIC in
this game.. the sounds are unique. None of these sounds have been heard
before on Game Boy. And the graphics are detailed. It truly stands out and if
you put it in a Game Boy Color;; the GBC has a special pallete for it. This
game is for the "experts"; but it's still an awesome game. A little rare..
well.. not really.
Rarity: 70%

[] Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (NIntendo)
Well, this was hard to do. Really, it was. It was between this and Super
Mario Land 1. Super Mario Land 1 has amazing music. But, Wario Land: Super
Mario Land 3 has more secrets, more levels (40), and more action. And it's
not too shabby in the music department. It has 3 save spots and a lot of cool
treasures to find. Top that with multiple endings, large bosses that require
a strategy, and you have an excellent game worthy of any collector. BUT, it
may be a little hard to find. Although.. finding it IS worth your time.
Rarity: 50%


Shoot 'em ups.
A shoot 'em up is an action game with a gun. Basically, it's fast, doesn't
rely on a lot of secrets and is a little mindless. Metroid 2 could almost be
a shooter; but that game focuses more on exploration than shooting. Well..
just look at the games in the category.. and you'll understand what I mean.

[] Operation C (Konami)
This game is in fact.. a "sequel" to Contra 3: The Alien Wars. It has no save
features, no password features, and limited continues in it's five stage Game
Boy run. It has no Game Boy Color or Super Game Boy enchancements; but it
doesn't need any. Just keep pressing that fire button -or hold it down for
auto-fire if you are lazy- and GO! GO! GO! This game features lots of good
challenge for the casual player and more than enough action to justify its
existence to a hardcore player. The game plays a heck of a lot better than
many recent Contra games like Legacy of War or C: The Contra Adventure. It's
a fun game with two views. A side view, and a top down view. There are a good
amount of weapons to aquire and lots of enemies to shoot. *grin* Large boss
enemies, and cool settings make this pak a keeper. Although.. like many of
the BEST Game Boy games.. it's a little difficult to find. You may be able to
find a copy at places like GameCo, Babbages, or Funcoland. It has no two
player options though. :( But it's fun and cool none the less.
Rarity: 25%

[] Contra: The Alien Wars (Konami/Factor 5)
A straight port of the SNES game of the same name. This game is as exciting
as Operation C. It has Super Game Boy enchanced SOUND; but no Game Boy Color
enchancements. It also has some very cool bosses that take up almost the
entire screen, awesome weapons like The Flame Thrower, and more buggies to
shoot at then should be possible. All that with unnoticeable slow-down and
exceedingly little clipping. The action doesn't let up and the effects and
music just get better. It has a somewhat.. useless password feature; although
you can input codes with the passwords. The game is a little short.. it's
about 6 levels long; but these levels are big and varied. :) You'll like it
if you dig fast action and good shooting games. There is also a tank in the
first level that you can use. Unfortunately.. this gem is even tougher to
track then it's older brother: Operation C! Good luck on your mission to find
one of THE best shooters on Game Boy Color. :)
Rarity: 17%

[] Mega Man 5 (Capcom)
Why Mega Man 5? Why not Mega Man 1, 2, 3, or 4? Because.. 5 is completely
original. The other ones have enemies from older games; but this one has all
new enemies, friends, and items. Not to mention some awesome little cut scene
screens and some great music. It's blasting action the way it should be. The
game is both challenging and fast. Not to mention that it will soon be remade
by Majesco in Color for Game Boy Color. :) Although.. Mega Man 5 -The old
game- for Game Boy is also kinda rare.
Rarity: 25%

[] R-Type DX (Nintendo)
R-Type 1 and R-Type 2 are as rare and rarer than the two Contra games; BUT
now anyone can get them both on one cartridge with special Game Boy Color
Only versions of both and a special "paired" game which mixes the two into
one complete game for Game Boy Color. Now.. if ONLY someone *hint hint* would
do this for the Contra games. Anyways, these games are very cool and you can
save you game in the Game Boy Color versions. These shooters are TOUGH. Very
hard.. and a graphic clipping error on some of the GBC levels makes them a
bit tougher... almost impossible. So.. if you are easily frustrated.. you may
want to steer clear. But everyone else who craves challenge.. this game is
waiting for you. Lots of levels of shooting action with huge bosses. What
else could you ask for in a game?
Rarity: 80%

[] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan (Konami)
While.. this is more of a "slash 'em up" than a "shoot 'em up".. it's fast
and furious enough to count. With hordes of enemies and some nice bosses in a
five stage action fest of an old Game Boy game. No save.. but it does have an
excellent amount of mindless fun. :) It's also kinda rare...
Rarity: 20%


Active games.
Active games fall in to neither a platform game category or a shoot 'em up
category. They are the "odd" Action games... and some of the most rare...

[] Spy Versus Spy (Kemco/Vatical)
The Game boy Color ONLY version is the one you want.. ignore any older copies
of this game. :) This game boasts about 60 levels and has passwords. But it's
a fun game that is a bit odd. It looks like Xenophobia to me; but it's a fun
game. Worth your time to check it out.
Rarity: 80%

[] Fortified Zone [Jaleco]
An OLD Game Boy game with passwords that are really un-needed in this short
adventure. Yeah, it's only got like four levels. But.. the game is awesome..
because.. it plays a little like.. umm.. Metal Gear; but with two playable
characters, and the ability to hook-up and co-op through the game with your
pal. It has large bosses, complex levels, and it's great fun; but it is very
short.. and has very little plot. I would love to see this excellent game
updated in color. Oh, it's a little rare; but if you see it.. get two. :)
Rarity: 38%

[] Balloon Kid (Nintendo)
I know.. it could be a platformer; but it's not really a platformer.. it's a
mixture of Balloon flying and platforming in a side-scrolling game with auto
scrolling and tons of ways to die. This old game has no GBC or Super Game Boy
enchancements. But it does have two one player game modes.. and a two-player
versus mode. It has 8 levels and no save options; but that's okay. It may
seem a little "cute" at first; but that's just a trivial aspect of a really
cool game with some AWESOME sound and some truly fun gameplay.
Rarity: 40%

[] Bionic Commando (Nintendo)
Okay.. this game is a "sleeper" hit from Nintendo. The old black and white
version is deathly rare to find and it uses Passwords in a uniquely unusual
game. You can not jump.. you use a "grappling arm" to do that. Anyways, a new
version headed our way for Game Boy Color soon.. and it's a port of the old
NES game with three added levels and updated graphics. Anyways.. if you see
the old game.. pick it up.. it may be a little tough at first; but once you
get used to it.. you'll love it.
Rarity: 10%

[] Penguin Wars (ACSII Corp)
Okay.. this is "Dodge Ball" with animals. Does that sound cool? It's a rarity
as well; but it's fun and worth a look. Umm.. see if you can get two copies..
it has a two player mode and it is worth your time.. it may be weird; but do
not let that stop you from checking it out. You'll have fun. It has no save
options, or SGB/CGB enchancements.. but umm.. check it out... you might like
it..
Rarity: 10%