Video games are cool, am I right? Growing up, like so many others, I used video games as my escape from the real world. My parents went through a pretty rough divorce when I was about seven. I spent most of my second-grade year just playing games. That escape was critical for me as a young boy. My Game Boy was almost my lifeline.
I got my first Game Boy when I was around five years old. I believe it was for Christmas and, with it, I got the game that every kid wanted that year: Pokémon Red Version. Here’s the issue with giving a kid that age a video game system: Chances are, they don’t know how to read well. A majority of video games require a basic level of comprehension to fully enjoy or even understand the game. Thankfully, I just liked the monster designs and couldn’t care less about the story. And, it always helps when you have an older brother to get through it for you.
Fast forward a few years. I was looking for something to play on my brand new Pikachu-yellow Game Boy Color. I genuinely have no clue how we obtained this game, but I found my all-time favorite Zelda game that day. I popped The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX into my Game Boy and started playing.
Link’s Awakening played a large role in my life growing up. I wasn’t good at it in any way. Usually, I’d get to the fifth dungeon and start over. But, those first few dungeons were like balm for the soul. This and Red are the two games that I really owe my love of video games to. My parents would be screaming at each other, but I always had that rockin’ Tal Tal Heights music to keep me company.
My Game Boy has always helped me through tough times. It upgraded as I grew. I got my first Game Boy Advance (without the backlit screen) when I got the chickenpox. Having to stay home is a lot easier when you have the Oracle games to keep you company.
My brother went off to college when I was twelve. He was the first of my siblings to leave home, so I was really bent out of shape about it. I had gotten the red Game Boy Advance SP for my birthday the year before. My brother was coming home for Christmas and I was so excited. I opened my gift from him and it was the Prima guide to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the GBA. That was great, but I didn’t have the game. Well, he handed me a smaller box. There it was. I had desperately wanted it and he got it for me. The next year was a bit easier thanks to Link.
But, I grew up. Eventually, I grew out of handhelds because they seemed like kid’s toys (OK, sure, Zach). Then I got to college and it all changed. Apparently, it’s cool to play Pokémon games? Sounds great to me! I could finally get back to that root that made my childhood so great. Thanks to low impulse control and being depressed, I picked up a 3DS, Pokémon Platinum, and Phantom Hourglass. To say this caused issues when it comes to doing my homework would not be a complete lie. However, being able to play these games again really helped me come out of my shell and make friends on my floor.
So, I never stopped playing. I’m married with kids now. At the tail-end of last year, I got COVID. It sucked, and I would not recommend it. I couldn’t come out of my room, I couldn’t play with my kids, and it was Christmas! I could hear my kids playing with their mom on the other side of the door. It was the saddest I had been in years. In my lowest hours, I picked up my 2DS and started up an old friend, Link’s Awakening DX. After I beat that, I moved on to The Minish Cap. I played and played and slept and played until I could finally come out. I can honestly say that I would have been even worse off if I didn’t have that game to keep me company.
My current profile picture on Facebook is of me with my two daughters. My older daughter is sitting on my lap and I’m holding the baby in my arm. I’m playing Pokémon White Version 2 on my 2DS. This is the life I had pictured for myself growing up. Passing my love of gaming on to my kids, setting them on my lap while I teach them how to play. It’s all thanks to that first Game Boy.
