GBC.emu review

It’s hard to believe Nintendo’s brick-like Game Boy was responsible for creating a handheld console market that previously didn’t exist. When it launched at the end of the 1980s its impact was astonishing - shipments sold out in their millions and the system soon become the must-have gadget for kids (not to mention adults) everywhere.

Fast forward to the present day and modern handheld consoles are infinitely more sophisticated, offering home console-quality visuals in the palm of your hand. But as many crusty old retro gamers are forever telling us, proper game play never goes out of fashion.

The Game Boy may be ancient history in terms of technical specs, but the games it played host to are just as addictive today as they were back then - the fact that Nintendo is re-releasing them via the Nintendo 3DS eShop is proof of this fact.

Android owners can also reacquaint themselves with monochrome classics by downloading the brilliant GBC.emu. Like Robert Broglia’s other apps - MD.emu and SNES9X EX - this particular piece of software is all about accuracy.

Long-time readers of the site will know we’ve already reviewed and loved fellow Android emulator GBCoid, but that is sadly no longer available on the Android Market. Thankfully, GBC.emu manages to best it in almost every respect.

The sheer volume of options is stunning; you can change everything from the frame skip to the image filter and screen DPI. Whereas GBCoid was rather light on options, GBC.emu has more than you could ever hope to use.