The late 80s and early 90s on the original Game Boy were a magical time for portable gaming. While Tetris kept us hooked and Super Mario Land offered platforming bliss, hidden gems in other genres were waiting to be discovered. One such title that often flew slightly under the radar, but holds a special place for those who played it, is Rolan's Curse Game Boy.
Released in 1990, this little action RPG offered a taste of adventure reminiscent of bigger console titles, shrunk down for the green-tinted screen. It wasn't just a quick distraction; it was a quest you could carry in your pocket.
Stepping into the World
The setup for Rolan's Curse is classic fantasy fare. An ancient evil, King Barius, has been unleashed from his prison, bringing monsters and mayhem to the land. Naturally, it falls upon a brave hero (that's you!) to step up and put an end to his reign of terror. It's a simple premise, but effective enough to get you moving and exploring.
Gameplay: A Pocket-Sized Adventure
If you ever played The Legend of Zelda on the NES or Game Boy, you'll feel right at home with Rolan's Curse. It adopts a top-down, screen-by-screen exploration style. You wander through interconnected areas, battling enemies, finding items, and solving simple environmental puzzles.
Combat is straightforward: you swing your sword to defeat foes. What adds depth are the items. You can equip one main weapon (like a sword) and one sub-item (like a fire wand or hammer). Finding duplicates of equipped gear gives you temporary stat boosts, while special items like Strength Gloves or Heart Containers offer permanent upgrades, encouraging exploration and combat.
A neat feature is the crystal bracelet, which can be charged for a ranged attack, adding a bit more tactical variety to the simple combat system.
Battling Barius's Minions
Despite the Game Boy's limitations, Rolan's Curse managed to pack in a decent variety of enemies. Beyond the usual slimes and bats, you'll face off against skeletons, zombies, knights, wizards, and spiders across the game's levels. Each type often requires slightly different timing or positioning to defeat safely, keeping you on your toes.
Game Boy Charm: Graphics and Sound
Visually, Rolan's Curse uses a tile-based system, common for the era. The graphics feature a "super deformed" (SD) or chibi art style, which was a clever way for the developers to work within the Game Boy's sprite limitations while giving characters and enemies distinct, albeit cute, appearances. The screen scrolls smoothly as you approach the edges, revealing new areas. The sound design is typical Game Boy fare – catchy, looping tunes and simple, effective sound effects that stick with you long after you've turned the system off.
Saving Your Quest
Ah, the password system! Before battery-backed saves were standard, many Game Boy games relied on lengthy passwords. Rolan's Curse is one of them. Accessing the menu gives you a password that updates whenever you get a new item, upgrade, or reach a significant point. Better have a pen and paper ready, or a good memory! It's a hallmark of the era, adding a layer of retro authenticity (and occasional frustration if you mess up a character).
Team Up! Multiplayer Fun
One feature that set Rolan's Curse apart was its two-player cooperative mode. By linking two Game Boy systems, you and a friend could tackle Barius's curse together. This wasn't common for action RPGs on the system and added significant replayability and fun, turning a solitary quest into a shared adventure.
The Verdict: How Was It Received?
When it first came out, Rolan's Curse was generally well-received, often earning favorable comparisons to the reigning king of action-adventure, The Legend of Zelda. Nintendo Power magazine gave it a respectable score of 78 out of 100.
However, a common criticism was its length. While enjoyable, the main quest is relatively short, featuring only a few main levels before the final confrontation. Despite this, its solid gameplay, charming presentation, and multiplayer option made it a memorable title for many.
Reliving the Legend
Feeling nostalgic for Rolan's Curse on your Game Boy? If you still have the original cartridge and a working system, you're golden! For those who don't, emulation is a popular way to revisit classic handheld titles on modern devices. You can also find reproduction cartridges for sale online, letting you play on original hardware without tracking down a potentially expensive vintage copy.
FAQs
Q: Is Rolan's Curse like Zelda? A: Yes, it shares many similarities in gameplay style, using an overhead perspective, screen-by-screen exploration, item collection, and action combat, making it feel very much like a pocket-sized Zelda adventure.
Q: How do you save your game in Rolan's Curse? A: Rolan's Curse uses a password system. You can access the password from the in-game menu, and it updates periodically as you progress and collect items.
Q: Can you play Rolan's Curse with two players? A: Yes, Rolan's Curse supports a two-player cooperative mode if you link two Game Boy systems with a link cable.
Q: Is Rolan's Curse a long game? A: No, the game is considered relatively short, featuring only a few main dungeons or levels before the final boss.
Conclusion
Rolan's Curse might not be the most famous title in the Game Boy library, but it's a charming and competent action RPG that provided many hours of adventure back in the day. Its Zelda-like gameplay, cute graphics, and unique multiplayer option make it a gem worth remembering and revisiting. If you're a fan of retro handheld gaming or action RPGs, give this little quest a look!
