Handheld consoles are great little devices for playing video games on the go, curled up in bed, or wherever else you may find yourself. While the industry has largely moved away from the separation of home console and handheld console, there was something truly special about these devices in their prime.
Handhelds like the Game Boy, DS, and PSP all had their own exclusive games, but sometimes they would receive ports of main console games. While they were marketed as the same game but on a smaller screen, a lot of times these games were entirely different, whether through new mechanics, different genres, or changes in art style. Below, we’ll take a look at several of these games that actually turned out pretty good.
Sonic Colors was developed simultaneously for the Wii and DS by Sonic Team and Dimps, respectively. While the Wii version of the game followed the shift to 3D games, the DS version was in the more traditional 2D side-scrolling perspective, making the games entirely different from one another.
The DS version of Sonic Colors took full advantage of the system’s dual screens and even had touchscreen-controlled stages. There was also a bit of extra content compared to the home console version, including an extra final boss. Even if you’ve played 2021’s Sonic Colors Ultimate, the DS version is definitely worth going back and playing due to its massive differences from the original.
Dragon Quest 11 has three separate versions of the game, all released within a few years of each other. In 2017, the game came out for 3DS and PS4 in Japan only, then later in 2018 to the rest of the world and on Windows. A year after that, the Definitive Edition was released for the Switch, with added content. However, what we’re interested in today is the 3DS version.
While this version of the game largely follows the same story and has similar gameplay, its graphics and world design are completely different. The 3DS version of the game uses the charming chibi aesthetic found in games like Dragon Quest 9.
It also makes use of the system’s dual screens; the opening segment of the game is displayed both in 3D and 2D simultaneously, mirroring your movements throughout the world on both screens. Eventually, you’ll choose between these two modes, but it’s impressive that the scope of Dragon Quest 11 is fully apparent, even on a handheld like the 3DS.
The GBA version of Max Payne follows a trend that you’ll quickly see start to develop on this list. The Game Boy Advance was a massively successful handheld, and loads of popular home console games received ports for it, often with different gameplay and graphics.
Max Payne is no different, but this version of the game is actually a solid way to experience the game. The story and maps are mostly the same, and the bullet time effect translates fairly well to the small screen.
Next up, we have Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, which is part of a larger catalogue of Tony Hawk games that were ported to the Game Boy Advance. While they aren’t all bangers, the Pro Skater series actually manages to be quite good on the GBA, even considering the challenges faced when translating the game to an isometric perspective.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 was a launch title for the GBA and maintained its status as one of the best games on the platform throughout its lifetime. It’s impressive what they were able to accomplish with titles like this while still making the gameplay enjoyable without feeling like a downgraded experience.
Final Fantasy 4 was the second Final Fantasy game to be completely remade in 3D for the DS, and it remains one of the best versions of the game. Not only is the game entirely recreated in 3D, but there are also added story elements and content that further expand the original.
This 3D remake was eventually ported to Windows, but there’s something about the DS that makes turn-based JRPGs so great to play. There may be several different ways to experience Final Fantasy 4 out there, like the Pixel Remasters or the various enhanced versions on different platforms, but the DS version remains among the best.
Rayman Raving Rabbids is another game that was completely changed from its main Wii version. The Wii version was a party game where you played a series of minigames, while the GBA version was instead developed as a traditional 2D side-scrolling platformer like the original Rayman.
Interestingly, Rayman Raving Rabbids also also ported to the DS, but that version is also slightly different than the Wii version. Additionally, the American version of Rayman Raving Rabbids for the Game Boy Advance was rushed, so there are significant bugs later in the game. These are not present in the European version of the game, however.
Daikatana is an interesting case where the handheld port is actually better than the original game. Originally, the game was developed for both Windows and the Nintendo 64 as a first-person shooter, and was designed by John Romero, marking his first game after leaving Id Software and Doom.
However, Daikatana was poorly received in North America due to its outdated graphics and bad enemy AI. Because of this, the Game Boy Color version was released only in Europe and Japan, but it was changed dramatically compared to the original. The GBC version was instead a Zelda-esque top-down dungeon crawler, and it was generally well received. If you ever get the hankering to play Daikatana, the GBC version is probably the better choice.
While technically not a port, since the Game Boy Advance version of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was released first, the differences between the console and handheld versions are too great to ignore.
The PS2, GameCube, Xbox, and Windows versions of the game are 3D action puzzle-platformers, while the GBA version is a 2D side-scrolling platformer, more in line with the original game in the series. Despite these massive differences in gameplay, the Game Boy Advance version is a worthy addition to the series, and shouldn’t be missed if you’re a fan.
