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| A screengrab from the cancelled Resident Evil Game Boy Color port |
In a stunning discovery for game preservationists and fans alike, a nearly finished version of the long-cancelled Resident Evil Game Boy Color port has emerged online, offering a startling glimpse at what might have been. This forgotten piece of survival horror history, once thought lost to time, is now seeing the light of day decades after its abrupt cancellation.
The reveal comes courtesy of the premier preservation hub, Games That Weren't, which has shared extensive details and assets from what appears to be the final build. According to their report, this version of the game is approximately 98% complete, a staggering figure that includes previously unseen content like the formidable Tyrant enemy and full ending sequences absent from earlier, more primitive prototypes.
An Ambitious, Impossible Port
The very concept of shrinking 1996's PlayStation horror masterpiece onto Nintendo's pocket-sized hardware was a monumental task. Developer HotGen Studios, in collaboration with Fluid Studios, embarked on the project in the late 1990s with a clear, daunting goal: to translate the fixed camera angles, pre-rendered backgrounds, tank controls, and chilling atmosphere of the Spencer Mansion to the Game Boy Color's limited palette and power.
Their ingenious solution involved meticulously recreating environments using scaled 2D sprites to simulate the original's forced perspective. The team kept the core story, puzzles, and dialogue intact, though the iconic (and often cheesy) voice acting was necessarily replaced with on-screen text.
The Mystery of the Cancellation Solved
For years, the reason behind the project's demise was speculative. Now, with this build's release, the full story has come into focus. Key figures from the development have reiterated the tale.
Producer Jon Oldham once shared that the project was initiated after an approach from Fergus McGovern. "Fluid Studios, with Nigel Speight, developed the entire game in 3D," Oldham stated. "Apparently, [Shinji] Mikami had said it couldn't be done and refused to allow it to be finished. We all got paid up, but it never saw the light of day."
Nigel Speight himself estimated the game was 75-85% complete, noting plans to elongate the storyline by reusing rooms to fit the portable format. The individual who provided this 98% build, known as Frith, corroborated the account, stating the "original creator of Resident Evil" didn't believe the Game Boy Color was a suitable platform for the series. This led to Capcom pulling the plug around the year 2000.
A Playable, if Flawed, Piece of History
While an earlier, incomplete build surfaced in 2011, this new release represents the game's state at the time of cancellation. Early testers have confirmed it's possible to play through Jill Valentine's entire campaign from start to finish—a first for any recovered prototype.
However, as with any unfinished software, it comes with quirks. Testers report anomalies like unlimited ammo for some weapons, bugs that prevent item combination (like healing herbs), and save files that can corrupt after repeated use. These glitches underscore the game's unfinished nature but do little to dampen the historical significance of being able to explore the mansion in your palm.
This incredible find serves as a vital reminder of gaming's fragile history and the importance of preservation. For a deeper dive into the assets and the full story behind this lost relic, visit the detailed archive at Games That Weren't.
For fans inspired by this blast from the past looking to experience the franchise in its modern glory, the latest acclaimed titles are readily available. You can find the intense Resident Evil 4 Remake and other current entries like Resident Evil Village on Amazon.
The emergence of this Resident Evil GBC port is more than just a curiosity; it's a fully-realized chapter of gaming history, finally completing its journey to players just in time for the holidays.