3D graphics on the Game Boy

October 1, 2021

 

What is this?
Long ago, there was a game called “X” for the Game Boy, that made use of 3D graphics. The elders of the GameZone deemed it too powerful for feeble human minds of the year 1992, and it only saw a limited release in Japan. So we wondered, what if X had been released in the west? Would we have seen more 3D games on the Game Boy?

Enter Space Raiders, a 3D game for GBJam9. Shoot everything in sight, try to collect the L power-up for lasers, and see how far you get in this proc-gen space shooter.

Realistically, could this be on the Game Boy?
Maybe! It uses a lot of the 3D techniques in X, which was a real Game Boy game. “Realistically” though, it appears 3D games on the Game Boy were restricted to using 2 colours per tile, at least that is what we can tell from X and Race Drivin’, with the latter also using filled polygons of solid colours or patterns.

 

What else is constrained?
Simultaneous sound effects are limited to two at a time, the music and sound effects were made in Deflemask using the Game Boy mode. The frame rate and viewport are also limited to give a more Game Boy feel.

We made this game in about 4 days, theres loads of things I’d love to add but alas there is fixed time frame for GBJam so, it is what it is.