GB

I love Advance Wars, even if Kieron always wins. Since Nintendo seem to have forgotten the series exists, I decided to try out some of the original games from the NES and Game Boy eras. The fact that they were only released in Japan is a barrier only in terms of language, due to the wonders of emulation - and even that isn't an issue if you find translated ROMs.

I didn't; I like the excitement of not knowing what buttons do what. Not that there's much to guess here. The main difficulty was finding which menu item progressed a turn.

Unfortunately the version of Famicom Wars I tried first didn't work, so I progressed on to Game Boy Wars. The first thing I noted was that the map grid has each row offset - so effectively it's played on a hex grid rather than a square one. When you select a unit to move, it's not clear initially where it can move to; you have to keep an eye on the "distance remaining" marker. Some of the squares are different colours and it's not clear why. The units aren't cute like in later games in the series.

But it's still fun. The first map was actually relatively difficult, albeit mainly because I forgot to build units for a couple of turns after the first. I'll come back to this some day.

I remember always wanting to buy Alleyway, as it had an exciting cover evoking memories of Super Breakout, but at the time I didn't have a Game Boy. By the time I got a handheld of my own (excluding my Mum's Game Gear, that would be the Game Boy Colour I bought on launch day from WH Smith in Bristol, just before I caught the coach back to London for the weekend) Alleyway was old news, a relic from a simpler time.

Simple it is. I finally got a copy for free through the Club Nintendo stars catalogue last month, and I've been playing through it since. Being able to suspend and resume play is a luxury that the original didn't have, but even with that it's disturbing how easy it is.

I did appreciate the way that levels were varied, with static levels followed by the same levels with progressing blocks, and the same levels with blocks scrolling across the screen. I found the powerups to be pleasantly understated and useful. I liked the bonus levels that popped up where the blocks didn't stop your bat and you just had to clear them in the time limit.

But that doesn't take away from the fact that on my first playthrough of the game, I completed it with seven lives left. I'd have been a bit annoyed about that if I had bought it for £30 back when it first came out.

Game Boy Wars: offset grids

Alleyway: completed