It’s unfathomable to me that there was once a time when you not only had to be in the same room as another person to play multiplayer, but you also had to physically connect your Nintendo Game Boy handhelds to do it. But back in 1989, this idea was so revolutionary, Nintendo Power’s comic duo, Howard & Nester, had to explain the concept in this special feature, lest my young head explode.
On a side note, my head did explode – with glee – until the link cable taught me how much better everyone in the world was at Tetris than me. After many sound defeats, I cut the cord until Pokémon eventually brought the fun back to multiplayer by making me trade and battle monsters with my friends. But other than those two titles and The Hunt for Red October, I can’t think of another game I actually used this thing for.
Have any of you ever tangled with the link cable in the past? What games did you link your GameBoys up to play? Tell us in the comments!
November 29, 2012 at 2:09 PM
not only did I use this thing, but I had the 4 player adapter thingy. think it was called the satellite.
November 29, 2012 at 3:53 PM
I used it for Mario, and then had the 4-player connector for the GBA. I really want to get a new DS or 3DS and play online with people.
November 29, 2012 at 4:41 PM
Considering how much easier it is to play multiplayer these days, I find it kinda sad that more games don’t really embrace it. I think the DS Secret of Mana title, and Phantasy Star games are the only titles I did online with.
Though I have a strong belief that the 3DS Monster Hunter will be a heavy-duty online component.
November 29, 2012 at 6:02 PM
The last time I ever had to use one was for downloading a Metang at that Pokémon Rocks America tour in 2005. I didn’t get why they didn’t just use that GBA wireless adapter that came with FireRed/LeafGreen though. As a relative late comer to the GBA I’m glad I was spared most of that.
But it is great living in the wireless world not limited to traders and combatants even being in the same part of the world, as long as there’s WiFi.
November 29, 2012 at 11:39 PM
I remember using that thing, although I only ever really used it for Pokemon. It kinda amazes me. The Gameboy and it’s link cable I got back in 1989 at the tender age of 5 was still being used almost 10 years later when I started high school and Pokemon came out. (But then I guess the DS lasted about 7-8 years before the 3DS came out too… Those 10 years with the GB seemed a lot longer though.)
November 29, 2012 at 11:42 PM
Also, MH3U for the 3DS is not going to have Wifi, KC. Just the WiiU version. MH4 is slated to have wifi but who knows if the West will get it.
November 29, 2012 at 11:48 PM
oh man the link cable. cant get more classic than that. the first game i really used it for was gold. i remember my cousin from missouri had crystal, and she traded me her mystery egg, which was how i got tyrogue in that game. I remember also on the gameboy color, there was some kind of infrared thing on the top corner of it, and my cousin told me you had to touch those together to get better connectivity between them. being a kid, i automatically went with what my cousin said, cause cousins know everything. no piece of cool knowledge didnt trace back to a cousin. does anyone else remember the littl eblack infrared lookin thing on top of the gameboy color? was it used for anything?