Game Boy Horror

The Game Boy Horror is a device that was featured in Luigi's Mansion. Based on the real-life Game Boy Color, it was invented by E. Gadd to help with capturing ghosts.

Information

The Game Boy Horror is a Game Boy Color-like device that was invented by E. Gadd and has a variety of functions. It can display information, including maps and information on different ghosts. It can also be used as a communicator. By looking through the Game Boy Horror's camera, the user can see things through the first description and scan parts of the environment to prompt observations about ghosts or the user's surroundings. Using this view will also make portrait ghosts' hearts visible, and scanning a heart will allow the user to hear some of the ghost's thoughts, which usually contain clues on how to defeat them. It also has a teleportation function. When the Game Boy Horror is used to scan any mirror (except for the ones in the Mirror Room), it could teleport Luigi back to the mansion's foyer. The Game Boy Horror also comes equipped with a Boo Radar, which E. Gadd refers to as a secret function, that flashes a red light when Boos are near.

It was featured in the original Luigi's Mansion (as well as its 3DS remake). In it, E. Gadd gave the Game Boy Horror to Luigi in order to help him to explore the mansion. E. Gadd also regularly communicated with him through the device.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, there were two occasions E. Gadd where E. Gadd used a giant version of the Game Boy Horror to communicate with Mario and Luigi when they were at the Starbeans Cafe. It had a new warping function, which he used to bring one of the coffee blends to him to try out. Additionally, the final reward for the Starbeans Cafe sidequest was a Game Boy Horror SP (based on the Game Boy Advance SP). When this was equipped by one of the brothers, it would cause the brothers to earn a rare item at the end of a battle. In the 3DS remake, the final blow of the battle had to be delivered by the brother who had the SP equipped in order to earn the item.

Trivia

• Its design is based on the Japan-exclusive clear color variant of the Game Boy Color, with the word "HORROR" replacing the word "COLOR" on the device.
• This item set a tradition for the Luigi's Mansion sequels, in which each installment would feature a new device based on a Nintendo console: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon featured the Dual Scream (based on the Nintendo DS), while Luigi's Mansion 3 had the Virtual Boo (based on the Virtual Boy).
• The Game Boy Horror SP simply resembles a standard Game Boy Advance SP, in the platinum color.
• The Game Boy Horror was nearly included as an item as well in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, but it was replaced by the Game Boy Horror SP, likely as a way to promote the device that it referenced.