About this game
Dragon Quest I+II for Game Boy Color packages remakes of both Dragon Quest I and Dragon Quest II in a single cartridge. Both games are substantially updated: enhanced graphics, revised interfaces drawing on conventions established by Dragon Quest V (1992), and modernized systems that make the original Famicom titles far more accessible. The compilation connects the 'Erdrick trilogy' — DQ I, II, and III — and was designed to let a new generation experience the foundations of the Dragon Quest series.
The Story Behind
The North American version represented a significant localization update: it discarded the pseudo-Elizabethan English of earlier Dragon Warrior releases and used names closer to the Japanese originals. Both GameSpot and RPGamer awarded it 'Game Boy Color Game of the Year 2000.' Developer Tose, one of Japan's most prolific ghost developers, handled the GBC port — as with most Tose projects, their name does not appear in the in-game credits.
Tricks & Tales
The North American Dragon Warrior I & II cartridge reportedly contains a hidden Pikachu sprite in its game data — a nod to the Game Boy Color's dominant franchise at the time. The Super Famicom and GBC combined remakes of DQ I+II sold over 1.94 million copies worldwide. The GBC version restored the 'Loto' naming convention (translated from Japanese as 'Erdrick' in the original NES localization) to match the Japanese canon.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Like the original DMG, the Game Boy Color is fully region-free. Japanese, North American, and European GBC cartridges all share the same physical format and connector, and the hardware applies no lockout. A Japanese GBC cartridge will run on any GBC from any region without modification. The GBC is also fully backward compatible with original DMG cartridges — when a DMG cart is played on a GBC, the system automatically renders it with one of several colour palettes. GBC-specific cartridges (the 'GBC only' black-tab type) will not run on the original DMG, but will run on the Game Boy Advance as well as the GBC.
Maintenance Tips
Game Boy Color cartridges — the smaller, slightly translucent-shell format — use the same cleaning approach as original DMG carts: a cotton swab with 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol wiped along the contact row, allowed to dry fully before reinsertion. The GBC console's ABS plastic shell faces the same yellowing risk as the DMG when exposed to UV light over time. Notably, several GBC titles — most famously Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal — include a real-time clock (RTC) circuit that runs continuously off a CR2025 coin cell. These batteries are now well over 25 years old; a dead RTC battery means time-based in-game events will not advance, even though the game itself will still load and save normally. This is a distinct issue from save data loss.
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Dragon Quest I+II copies regularly.
I want to buy Pokémon Gold, Silver, or Crystal — what should I know about the battery?
These three titles contain a real-time clock (RTC) powered by a CR2025 coin cell that runs even when the console is off. The batteries are now over 25 years old and many have died. A dead RTC battery means time-based events in the game — day/night cycles, certain wild Pokémon spawns, in-game phone calls — will not work correctly, even though the game loads and saves fine. The save battery and the RTC battery are the same cell; a replacement requires soldering. Ask the seller whether the battery has been replaced, and test time-based events if possible before purchase.
How do I identify a fake Game Boy Color cartridge, especially Pokémon titles?
On genuine GBC cartridges, the label includes a small stamped imprint that reproductions cannot replicate convincingly. The cartridge shell color of Pokémon titles is meaningful: Gold has a gold-colored shell, Silver has a silver shell, Crystal has an icy-blue translucent shell. Any Pokémon GBC title in a plain grey or wrong-color cartridge is a reproduction. Inside a genuine cart, the PCB carries Nintendo copyright markings; reproduction boards are typically bare or use entirely different chip configurations. For Gold, Silver, and Crystal, a genuine board will have a coin cell and a crystal oscillator for the RTC — reproductions frequently omit both.
Will original Game Boy (DMG) games play on a Game Boy Color?
Yes. The GBC is fully backward compatible with original DMG cartridges, and plays them with added color palettes. This compatibility is region-free in both directions. The one exception to be aware of: GBC-exclusive cartridges (those labeled 'Game Boy Color' with a black cartridge tab) will not play on the original DMG hardware — they require a GBC or GBA.
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