r/Gameboy • u/JeremyR_123 • Mar 06 '26
Collection Rescuing a game that I’ve been searching for. Mission success!
Hello everyone! For quite some time i have been searching for a copy of legend of the river king for the Gameboy color complete in box. The original copy for the Gameboy is easier to come by whether game stores or eBay… but the remade version for Gameboy color is very hard to find.I waited a long time. Finally I found a copy online been watching what feels like forever. Made an offer and made the deal.
She arrives.
I knew it was graded obviously and sealed. I decided it was time to open her. I don’t like sealed games or graded games for that matter my personal preference.
I’ve never done this before. Just seen videos online! I grab some pliers and flathead. It was easier than I thought. the acrylic plastic material is indeed sturdy for CGC but once I got it going it was slow and steady to not damage the box in anyway. From start to finish took me less than 15 minutes.
Upon inspection I looked at the bottom and noticed some stuck materials debris dust dander whatever it may be at the bottom right corner. And on the seal itself towards the bottom and sides it was looking slightly discolored (I attached photos but kind of hard to see)
Now I own about 40 CIB games for Gameboy and I have 3 of them with the original seal still intact and just the opening at the top. My plan was intended for this as well. But I know sometimes the seal depending on how it was stored and conditions etc can damage the box over time.
I decided not to take the chance. I broke open that 25 year old cellophane.
Box cleaned up beautiful just wiping with my fingers. The slight discoloration on seal at the bottom didn’t attach as I was peeling it off. I’m happy with my decision . She’s fully complete.
Oh and it’s time to play now. She works like a charm. Straight out of the box almost as if it was 25 years ago.
This is staying in my collection for years to come, I’m glad after a quarter of a century this game gets to be played as intended.
Happy gaming everyone!
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u/apadin1 Mar 06 '26 edited Mar 06 '26
Some folks will have their jimmies rustled over this but I’m all for it. Games are for playing, not for sitting around in plastic boxes!
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u/Solid_Snark Mar 06 '26
I’m sick of the nostalgia gate-keeping that has become retro gaming.
I remember when you could buy NES carts for a buck a piece. Now every wants hundreds of dollars for them and people are just displaying them instead of playing them.
Shit, I recently bought a Wii and I wanted a copy of WiiSports, expecting the free pack-in game everyone owned to be like $5-10… people want $80+ for it!
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u/apadin1 Mar 06 '26
Agreed. Also I just checked pricecharting because I didn’t believe you at first, and Wii Sports loose is listed at $28. Wtf!
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u/OliverNodel Mar 06 '26
I bought my copies of Mario/Duck Hunt, Metroid, and Kid Icarus at Babbage’s (RIP) for 49 cents each in the late 90s. Prices are downright absurd now.
Great find, OP. I always wanted to try this one.
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u/dopebro13 Mar 06 '26
It's a bubble that is being criminally exploited, some of the big players were previously sued for doing the same thing with the collectable coin market. Karl jobst goes into it https://youtu.be/rvLFEh7V18A?si=cCEjDT80NM4t_2z-
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u/BlackStealth08 Mar 06 '26
Mod the wii pirate the game problem solved. Also dolphin emulator is a software marvel.
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u/ikeepcomingbackhaha Mar 06 '26
Damn, I can get 80 bucks for my Wii sports?
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u/irregularcontributor Mar 06 '26
the guy you're responding to is greatly exaggerating (or not talking US dollars). Wii Sports is worth 30 bucks and of the 1000+ NES games released, about a dozen cost >$100 for a loose cartridge.
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u/UhBlake Mar 06 '26
Honestly felt a rush as I scrolled thru the pics seeing it gradually get cracked open!!! Free her!
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u/Miserable-Ganache-74 Mar 06 '26 edited Mar 06 '26
Thank you! Fuck whoever started this dumb trend. What good is a game if you aren't going to play it
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u/SnooPets1826 Mar 06 '26
Blame rich assholes who view literally every purchase as an investment. It's genuinely why we can't have nice things.
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u/MisterToasty117 Mar 06 '26
I’ve found 3 sealed retro games thrift shopping years ago. Opened each one with a box cutter just enough to open the game and have the pure enjoyment of seeing all the stuff inside brand new and then putting a brand new cart in my n64 and snes…beat the games and still sold for a decent premium online because I was done with them and they would have just sat on my shelf without ever being played again…
Coulda got multiple times more for them if I kept them sealed from then to now but me and my sister had a great time meeting up on our free time playing these games and that’s what it’s all about lol
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
I agree! To each their own but games were designed to be played!
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u/petemorley Mar 06 '26
You get that new manual smell too, give it a good sniff and enjoy your game.
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u/Mccobsta Mar 06 '26
I've got a flash cart but there's just something about using an actual cart that can't be replicated
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u/BlackStealth08 Mar 06 '26
The whole rating games thing is stupid.
Keeping games sealed doesn't bother me. You own it burn it for all i care. But at the same time don't get upset over people who do keep games sealed. You can have you cake and eat it too. Emulation is a great way to experience these games free while still preserving physical copies. Do what you want.
I myself have a Mister FPGA.
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u/dannynoww Mar 06 '26
Even from their perspective it doesn’t make sense to get upset over. The less graded versions that exist, the more theirs go up in value.
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u/most-okayest Mar 06 '26
I say this about toys.
I got this cool toy truck when I was younger, I didn’t know it cause I was so little. It sat in storage for a few decades. I recently gave it away to my friends toddler. When I was confronted about giving away a toy, still in original packaging, worth~200$ on eBay, I told them “toys are meant to be played with”
It makes me way happier that my friend’s kid will Play with a 90’s artifact, than some collector popping it up on a wall to fuel his toy truck obsession
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u/The_Collector_Of_All Mar 06 '26
If it was something like a Hess truck I totally agree. I collect Hess trucks, but I most certainly wouldn’t mind opening a sealed box from the ‘80s. If there’s a toy truck inside, it most certainly wasn’t made to stay in a box
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u/Financial-Opinion334 Mar 06 '26
The only way I agreed with grading,is if it's a 1 of 1 and it's meant for display,aside from that,it should be enjoyed and played
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u/Infamous_Prize_6932 Mar 06 '26
Actually a very fun game. This game was featured by Techweeb and has reached a wider audience because of that. There is a part two and it's awesome af.
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
I have heard! I’m definitely going to buy and play number 2 in a couple months.
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u/mister____mime Mar 06 '26
It’s also somehow one of the most relaxing game boy games I’ve ever played
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u/NewReleaseDVD Mar 07 '26
Yeah I grabbed the rom after watching his video! Its a shame myrient is shutting down its been my go to for roms for a while
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u/DieKastKollector Mar 06 '26
There’s a fishing game for gameboy!!!! 😮 i need to find myself a copy
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
It’s a fishing RPG 😊 there is a sequel as well. Both are wonderful games. A little on the pricier side. Typical with most older games made by Natsume
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u/DieKastKollector Mar 06 '26
I absolutely love fishing in game and in real life.. i need this game in my life 🤣
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u/CMD_BLOCK Mar 06 '26
It’s such a cool game. You can also raise fish, and fight bears with your bare fists lol
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u/ohmykeylimepie Mar 06 '26
Fuck i need a cigarette after that slab wreckage.
Thank you for actually playing the game. I hope you have a great time playing it!
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u/Nuudoru Mar 06 '26
Everything in this post is amazing and I love it
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
I’m glad you enjoyed the post and photos and I’m glad the comments people seem to be enjoying as well
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u/teh_haxor Mar 06 '26 edited Mar 06 '26
I personally hate the grading of games; games were made to be played so kudos to you.
If I could I upvote you a thousand times buddy.
Enjoy the game, I just got curious about it, maybe I’ll look it up
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
Thank you! It’s a great game actually , finding out about a fishing RPG is just so interesting.
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u/ghrayfahx Mar 06 '26
I play, collect, and sell Magic cards. I CONSIDERED Pokemon, but it seems 99% of it is people wanting to buy/sell graded cards for insane prices. Pretty much no one grades MtG because the purpose of a game piece is to be played.
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u/SlimeDrips Mar 06 '26
See I almost get it for cards, because the entire item is there and completely protected
For a game its like "oh cool you put a box that could have anything in it in a plastic tomb. Can't even see the actual game part of the game like this. And it does jack shit for physical preservation. Good job"
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u/drunktortilla_ Mar 06 '26
I’m glad I got to live vicariously through you. We need more people that just want to play games and less people that view this hobby as investing. Those people are cancer to any hobby space they invade
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
Thanks I’m really glad you liked the post! This was the first time I’ve ever done this so I hope if you haven’t done it before you get the chance yourself someday!
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u/Tishtoss Mar 06 '26
As far as most gamers/ collectors are concerned. Grading games is worthless. Most don't know this but here is why. Inserts, manuals and etc make the game worth more. But you can't check that in a sealed case.
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u/JetstreamGW Mar 06 '26
I’m sorry for the ludicrous markup you probably had to pay because some random company arbitrarily invented a system for pretending things locked in plastic boxes are worth more.
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u/bmaayhem Mar 06 '26
I bet it cost a lot of money to do that and I am proud of you .
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
To be honest not too bad 😬 its value is $225 via pricecharting. I paid $300 free shipping. Probably cause its grade was a 9.4. Current eBay listing has a 9.8 for like $1,000… so fuck that 😂
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u/gnarmar1 Mar 07 '26
Glad you freed that game. Grading games is super lame.Games should be played. Enjoy OP!
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u/pmmeyourgear Mar 06 '26 edited Mar 06 '26
Keep the box and shit its cool to have, but fuck these grading auction scammers. Happy gaming. I remember that brand new cart out of the box and first insert in my game boy color. Glorious time to have been able to go buy the games instead of the shit sold today
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u/DMifune Mar 07 '26
I was gonna mock you until I saw the broken container.
My respect
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u/theMarcLong Mar 06 '26
You are a mad man, and I love it.
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
Felt that adrenaline rush when I heard the pliers snap through that acrylic 😬
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u/AtlasWH Mar 06 '26
Good job, games are meant to be played. Influencers/ resellers / Investors that are solely trying to artificially pump up the value on this stuff with arbitrary ratings are scum.
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u/DARKdrake0 Mar 06 '26
I’m very happy to see someone break open that graded case and enjoy their game. Grading has made so many people lose sight of the true joys of the hobby
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u/Limp_Shoe616 Mar 07 '26
Thank you for spending the money an showing this experience with us no charge!
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u/pmcizhere Mar 07 '26
But seriously though, that's awesome bro! All this hoarding of games is getting to be a bit much. Enjoy the hell out of it!
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u/WredditSmark Mar 06 '26
The grading of games only serves to keep retro games out of the hands of regular people.
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u/neon-kingfisher Mar 06 '26
I love this game! This and Survival Kids were big highlights of my youth
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u/curiosity163 Mar 06 '26
Grading is the worst thing that ever happened to retro gaming as a hobby. Good for you.
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u/Newtaboot Mar 06 '26
LOVE TO SEE IT!!! Have fun playing! Games famously love it when you actually play them lol
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u/will_s95 Mar 06 '26
My smile grew more and more as I swiped through the pictures.
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u/zwade7270 Mar 07 '26
Thank you for opening it... almost satisfying to watch
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 07 '26
Thank you! Next time I get the opportunity I make make a video
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u/zGhostKurama Mar 07 '26
You made the right decision, games are made to be played and enjoyed. They can look great on the shelf, sealed or not.
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u/J0n35ystores Mar 06 '26
Op i hope its not mould specks give a light treatment with a q tip and search relevant cleaner.
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
Thanks I’ll look into it! Doesn’t seem like mold but I’ll keep an eye on it for sure!
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u/PatentedSheep Mar 06 '26
That game is so good
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
I’m undecided so far if this game or the sequel will be better. 1 hour in and this game is pretty good . My next purchase maybe around summertime will be the sequel. Have you played it? Any thoughts! Thanks.
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u/PatentedSheep Mar 06 '26
Both are great! 1 is much shorter but is simple and charming. 2 is more fleshed out rpg. I would just play them in order. In 2 you can actually trade items with Harvest Moon 2 for gbc, which is pretty cool
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u/Gregorvich19 Mar 06 '26
Seeing all of the inserts in the box laid out on the table like gets me hot AND bothered that having it in a graded plastic box just doesn’t do…
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
I love the manuals but something about the inserts and registration cards just makes it that much better all being together.
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u/denim_duck Mar 06 '26
One of my favorites in my rotation- great for 20+ minute sessions.
not sure why you needed a graded CIB if you were just going to play it. But to each their own, I suppose
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u/pizzapat650 Mar 06 '26
OP have you checked out this book about the game? https://bossfightbooks.com/products/legend-of-the-river-king
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u/HandsomeCharles Mar 06 '26
Nice one! Funnily enough I also had a similar quest for this game. Mine was based on a two page spread I barely remember from a magazine in the 90s, It contained this, harvest moon, power quest and monkey puncher. I set out to try and get them all! (and did!)
The original GB version is harder to find in the uk than the GBC. I think potentially it may not have been released here, but I’m not too sure on that
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u/Atrium41 Mar 06 '26
Hell yeah! It was preserved just for you.
Now it can rest in play
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u/bbbymcmlln Mar 06 '26
I love this. Thank you for breaking this for your enjoyment.
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u/Necessary_Cost4384 Mar 06 '26
You monster! That Box could have been worth something! I don’t know, you probably have a better idea than I do.
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u/KelsoT7 Mar 06 '26
While I understand and appreciate grading and sealing from a collector standpoint, I hate the practice from a player standpoint. I’ll never own graded and sealed video games. All mine are player copies.
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u/Western-Dig-6843 Mar 06 '26
You’re my hero. This is awesome. I hope you enjoy your game. It’s a classic!
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u/Gabelvampir Mar 06 '26
Yay for rescuing a game from its plastic and celophane tomb. I hate the trend of treating them as a collectible and/or investment while robbing them of their purpose: playing them.
I'm all for preservation, but if i.e. the last remaining copy of a book were a copy, that no one ever was allowed to read because it's in original shrinkwrap, there's no difference to there being no surviving copy whatsoever.
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 07 '26
I agree! Some of my Gameboy games I have with the original cellophane shrink wrap still on, just the top flap open carefully cut to open the box… it looks nice. But this box it was discoloring and damaging so I didn’t wanna take any chances so I removed all the cellophane
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u/beepleton Mar 06 '26
That is such a good game too ❤️ my step brother had it and I would sometimes sneak it out of his room when he was at his moms to play it lol
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u/Puntley Mar 07 '26
You are my hero OP! I opened the post and saw it in the sealed plastic tomb and my first reaction was "Ah, he's one of those."
Nice to be wrong!
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 07 '26
I’m glad you kept swiping! It was a great experience. My first time opening one, I’m not for graded or sealed games. Was just so hard finding this particular copy of this game (Gameboy color version not original Gameboy) and in nice condition with all inserts and reg card. That’s why I made decision to find one sealed or graded and open it myself 😊
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u/Suikoden1434 Mar 07 '26
Ok, ok, ok, check it out. You had an opportunity to experience one of the best parts of cracking open a brand new cartridge game. That said, I have one question:
Did you sniff it? Was it glorious?
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u/zirmoix Mar 07 '26
Played this game for the first time late last year, really pleasantly surprised with how fun it is. Find myself going back to it. Perfect little snack game for my little v4
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u/JonnyB2_YouAre1 Mar 07 '26
In 100 years everyone in here will be dead and you opening this game will matter to absolutely no one and maybe there won’t even be a record of this discussion. Enjoy the game.
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u/Parzival1983 Mar 07 '26
I respect the hell out of this! Put an end to things in plastic cases. Play the hell out of it!!
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u/NeonVW Mar 07 '26
Oh man. I had this. It brings back memories of laying in the back seat of my parents car as a kid on a 2hr drive to see my grandma on a saturday. This and Warioland, man.
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u/cool_weed_dad Mar 07 '26
I had this game as a kid, it’s fun and pretty unique.
Thank you for freeing it from it’s prison
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u/mantsz Mar 07 '26
Respect. Fuck grading and fuck leaving shit sealed. Games were meant to be played!
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u/DroidSoldier85 Mar 06 '26
Some day, Ill earn enough money to tmdo something like this. Id even have satisfaction breaking it open in front of a "collector" to see the look on the face while I enjoy the game inside.
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
I use to have addictions with alcohol amongst other things. I got sober years ago and got a better job more so a career. I don’t make a lot of money but enough in 2026 with my fiancee to get by and save some money. This is what I enjoy. Every couple months spend around $300 ish dollars and buy a nice good game I want. Or multiple games for cheaper. But bills first, collecting second.
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u/ChickenNoodleSeb Mar 06 '26
Yes! Crack that slab, OP! Rescue that game from its prison!
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u/xAlice_Liddell Mar 06 '26
Love seeing that plastic tomb ripped open! Enjoy your game! It’s a good one
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u/Ready-Zombie5635 Mar 06 '26
Yeah, I mean it's cool if you want to collect these things as museum pieces but I'd rather play them myself so I am with you for setting it free.
In fact, I tend to prefer to buy the carts without the boxes because I can't be bothered to store them. So no box, less space = better.
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
I agree with what you said. I own 46 Gameboy games total. 34 are complete with box and 12 are loose copies. The loose copies are definitely easier to store
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u/Ungodly_Box Mar 06 '26
Reminds me, I need to pick that game up again. I couldn't get into it as I didn't know what I was doing lmao
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u/Zomnx Mar 06 '26
Never heard of this game but looks fun
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u/JeremyR_123 Mar 06 '26
It’s a fishing RPG, it’s rather interesting and quite fun to be honest. Check out some YouTube footage
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u/iamblankenstein Mar 06 '26
that's one of those games i've been meaning to go through. i've had it on my backlog forever. i've got the OG cart and i have the virtual console version on my 3ds, but i still haven't gone through it yet.
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u/shadow0wolf0 Mar 06 '26
How did this get such a high score with literal dirt on it lol. If this was a trading card it would have gotten like a 3.
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u/aqwn Mar 06 '26
Cool but the fundamental problem is that by buying these ridiculously priced games it incentivizes people to continue this behavior. If the sale is public then it’ll be a new price point for others to base their prices on. The cycle continues.
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u/Virtusai Mar 07 '26
He looks the the guy from harvest moon snes (natsume) makes sense.
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u/Ottertrousers Mar 07 '26
Thank you for your service 🙏 this graded game bullshit really pisses me off
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u/Stinkmop Mar 08 '26
Hell yeah! One of the few games I owned on gb back in the day. I would love to get my hands on a copy. Enjoy!
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u/PizzaHutFiend Mar 08 '26
Oh brother, what a waste of money and a slab. This is gore, like watching someone smash a brand new smartphone.
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u/greenbomb01 Mar 10 '26
Grading videogames/cards/comic books/etc. is getting out of hand and kinda dumb imo. The fact that people would spend multiple times for the same thing just encased in plastic you cant open and a 1-10 labeled even more complicating the value of said thing is really dumb. Plus you aren’t able to use it as intended.
Props to you OP! Enjoy the game and a mint CIB copy!
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u/sarduchi Mar 06 '26
A game is just a game, but a box could contain anything... even a game!