
Making a new Game Boy game in the modern era takes a lot of guts, but Tangram Games has done just that with Tobu Tobu Girl Deluxe. Successfully crowdfunded to the tune of €40,972, this is a simplistic yet challenging action title which tasks you with getting to the top of the screen using a wide range of skills while avoiding hazards along the way.
Enemies can be used as platforms to bounce your character upwards, but this is often harder than it sounds as some foes move from side-to-side, while hitting one from underneath results in instant death. Thankfully, you have two powers to aid your quest; you can dash in eight directions as well as flap your arms to boost upwards. Both of these skills have limits; the dash can be used three times in succession but is only replenished when you 'land' on something. The boost eats away at your finite energy bar, which can be topped up by dashing downwards onto enemies to kill them.

Like we said, the premise is simple, but Tobu Tobu Girl Deluxe is tough. Even getting to the end of the first level requires considerable reserves of patience, as it's very easy to mess up your run by accidentally clipping an enemy or misjudging a jump (if you fall to the edge of the screen, you're toast). Oh, and you're up against a pretty savage time limit, too – so thank goodness you have unlimited lives.
Despite the stern challenge, Tobu Tobu Girl Deluxe is incredibly addictive. It nails the 'pick up and play' appeal that so many Game Boy games got right back in the day, and the neat visuals (the game sports an enhanced Game Boy Color palette as well as working on original monochrome system) and excellent soundtrack (the latter provided by potato-tan) keep you invested in the action. Battery-based save data means your progress and scores and high scores are retained after shutdown, encouraging repeat play.
Tobu Tobu Girl Deluxe comes in western and Japanese-style packaging, thanks to First Press Games. We were lucky enough to be sent both, and the production quality is excellent throughout. You can, if you wish, download the ROM for free and play it using either an emulator or a flash cart on the original Game Boy hardware, but having a proper, physical copy of the game feels suitably authentic.
Let us know if you've played Tobu Tobu Girl Deluxe – and what you make of it – by posting a comment below.
Comments 25
I think I need to play that game!!
I will be playing this with my sn30 pro plus Classic G Edition. Played a small bit of the original version. should be able to get super gameboy border to work on retroarch.
Can It work on a GBA SD?
Or will there soon be a port to Switch?
@Dakotastomp all gba consoles except the micro can play gb/gbc games
Great to see indie mobile shovelware that wouldn't get any press making its way to the Gameboy where it will thrive.
I never had a game boy but I have the DS that can play the smaller cartridges. I think thats the gameboy advanced games. I have ogre tactics, fire emblem and a couple of other games. I actually have an old bag or case or whatever you call it, that holds my 3DS, some games and has liners for the gameboy advanced games.
@tendonerd ... who hurt you? What turned you into such a broken adult?
@Shiryu I suppose it was when I got used to new games stepping up the game from arcade level. Then when mobile and low quality flash games came along and then games took a giant step back to the arcade it hurt me. Now it's like this level of meh just clogs news feeds and stores.
Looks like the usual level of "quality"of Game Boy titles
Including the difficultly level.
@tendonerd This could not be further from shovelware. It's charming, addicting and challenging. A perfect fit for a perfect platform it is being released onto. It was already a masterpiece of homebrew when it was released in the original GB, now it is even better with the added colour treatment. I highly recommend it.
@tendonerd I kinda agree, it just seems way too basic and simple, almost like what you get in a game and watch gallery as a single game.
The sprite art is cute but would much prefer a more deeper game boy homebrew game
ya know something that ya busy for a few days not a few mins
Ok people. For all the haters let me explain how games are made for Nintendo. Nintendo games are like the food pyramid. Gameboy at the bottom all the way to switch at the top. You see, games aren't just made, they're born. When a company makes a game for Nintendo, you have to start at the bottom of the food pyramid. So, you make a gameboy game then you keep working on it and it will blossom to a DS game. After that you keep working on it and it will become a 3DS game, then after that is a big jump to Switch. So, what does all this mean? It is the circle of life for Nintendo games. I can't believe nobody knew this except me. Geez.
just tried the game out on 3ds using mGBA and it's pretty fun
I got a physical copy of this a few weeks ago; a fun game indeed.
Wow this looks amazing. I love the appeal of that old hardware.
I think I want this.
I find it mind blowing that people give retro consoles love like this. The cartridge and box look gorgeous. If I had a game boy I would buy a couple of these to support the dev.
I've tried this game before, and it's great! Try it out if you can!
@smithpa01 Nice. Thank you.
This is lovely!
A couple of years ago, some Swedish guys made a new GB game, complete with cartridge and box. Nothing revolutionary, but a charming little game. Looks quite rough, but plays well.
https://youtu.be/9RLZJqt39Gg
It's an excellent game, i have the original not this version. It is very difficult though, or i am just rubbish at it.
@Quarth There are lots of new C.I.B Gameboy games available.
Those black gloves make it look like stolen goods. :3
This game is an absolute delight for the Gameboy and Gameboy color.
@YANDMAN And that's awesome!
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