The Virtual Boy is Bad – But Could That Be Its Surprising Strength?

Many brows were raised when Nintendo announced that Virtual Boy games were coming to Nintendo Switch Online. The Virtual Boy is perhaps one of the most infamous game consoles of all time. The attempt at an immersive 3D gaming system did basically everything wrong and became Nintendo’s biggest flop ever. Most retro game enthusiasts know the story by now, but could the Virtual Boy’s infamy actually mean that it’s beloved?

What’s So Fascinating About the Virtual Boy?

Nintendo’s trailer for the Virtual Boy Nintendo Switch Online lineup is actually pretty mind-blowing. It acts like the console is a classic system and that people will be genuinely excited to play it without a hint of irony, and it shows off those eye-watering red-and-black graphics without shame. Moreover, it acts like people won’t be outraged at the idea of buying an extra peripheral to play the games. Some people, myself included, initially thought Nintendo was being tone-deaf, but perhaps Nintendo is playing on a different kind of love: our love for bad things.

Admit It: We Love Bad Stuff

People love to complain, and they love to laugh at other people complaining, but perhaps our love for bad stuff runs deeper than that. When we see something so unbelievably bad that you wonder how it ever got greenlit in the first place, we have a certain admiration for it. Somehow, this bad idea pushed its way through. This headache-inducing console with the ugly red-and-black graphics and awkward goggles-on-a-stand design made it to the finish line of production. Maybe there’s something inspiring about that.

When you look at the peripheral in the trailer, it indeed appears that Nintendo spent some time making sure it looks as much like the original console as possible. They could have simply made the cardboard headset the only option, but instead they went and recreated their failed system’s look and feel, even though they likely know many people will go for the cardboard headset instead. The plastic peripheral will cost $100, after all. However, maybe Nintendo is smarter than they appear. Maybe they know people will be curious about the authentic Virtual Boy experience precisely because it’s so infamous.

Conclusion

I played some Virtual Boy games on an emulator once (in 2D), and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed them. The console may be terrible, but the games themselves are indeed fun, and I have to admit that I’m curious to see how they play in 3D. Am I curious enough to fork out money for the cardboard headset? I don’t know yet, but I do have that Nintendo Switch Online column I write every month. In any case, I can’t deny that the curiosity exists. I also can’t deny the fascination I and many others have with the console.