Unleashing Nostalgia: Pokemon Fan Crafts Fully Functional SNES Cartridges for Classic Game Boy Games

Highlights

A talented Nintendo fan has created functional SNES cartridges of classic Pokemon games using engineering skills.

The Super Game Boy accessory for the SNES has been adapted to facilitate trading between Pokemon cartridges.

A fan has uploaded a detailed tutorial video on YouTube, demonstrating the procedure for crafting these distinctive Pokemon game cartridges.

A devoted Nintendo enthusiast with exceptional engineering skills recently achieved the creation of functioning SNES cartridges for five beloved Pokemon games. This noteworthy accomplishment gained attention on social media shortly after another Pokemon fan showcased their remarkable GBA systems inspired by Ruby and Sapphire.

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System stands as the premier platform for 16-bit Nintendo games, primarily due to it being the sole 16-bit console created by the renowned Japanese gaming company. Approximately four years after its initial release in 1990, Nintendo introduced the Super Game Boy, an accessory permitting the SNES to support 8-bit Game Boy titles. This innovative gadget was compatible with both the original gray and black cartridges, the latter being introduced alongside the Game Boy Color in 1998.

After almost 30 years since the release of the Super Game Boy, a groundbreaking Nintendo accessory, it has been ingeniously transformed into fully functional SNES cartridges for Pokemon games such as Blue, Red, Yellow, Gold, and Silver. Through meticulous engineering, Reddit user Spaceghost1993 skillfully removed the 32-pin connector of the Super Game Boy, adjusted the CPU's frequency, and integrated the device with an SGB Link board, enabling trading between two Super Game Boys and other features.

Displaying great determination, this devoted Pokemon enthusiast then reconstructed each game within a non-official plastic cartridge shell specially designed for the SNES. With the addition of appropriately positioned labels, the end result comprised five distinct Pokemon cartridges that seamlessly function and facilitate trading between one another, blending effortlessly with any legitimate SNES game. Sharing his knowledge, Spaceghost1993 subsequently created a detailed, step-by-step guide on his YouTube channel, Below Average Gaming, spanning a duration of 20 minutes, illuminating the process of crafting these operational SNES Pokemon cartridges.

Classic Nintendo consoles have been the subject of numerous impressive engineering endeavors undertaken by dedicated fans of the company. One recent example occurred in mid-2021, when a talented Nintendo enthusiast successfully constructed a fully functional jumbo Game Boy replica.

Regrettably, gamers who desire to relive the nostalgia of playing classic Pokemon RPGs on more modern hardware are currently out of luck. The Japanese company previously re-released the Game Boy and GBC Pokemon games for the 3DS Virtual Console over a span of two years, ending in early 2018. However, with the discontinuation of the 3DS eShop in late March 2023, these Virtual Console titles are no longer available for purchase.