Last generation if you mentioned this game, you would be greeted with people not knowing what it was, in fact now still it continues having that fate. Konami has continued the series this time around under a name for westerners which removes the original name and plasters a new casual friendly one onto it- Lost in Blue is the new name which the series takes itself as and it seems Konami has shattered the series once again with horrible design flaws.

But most people don’t know to this day that the series Lost in Blue started on the Game Boy Color under the name Survival Kids (Standard Kids in the UK) and was released worldwide (though the sequel on the GBC was limited to Japan). So for those who joined in when it was too late, here’s a look back onto the game which made it all possible.

The game was something fresh and unique which at the time was hidden in the shelves and forgotten by many, a simulation title which centred itself around been lost on an island. Unlike other simulation games of the time, Harvest Moon for example, it didn’t gain a strong enough following to see the sequel appear in English countries. It was a simple game compared to the generation of its future cousins, and contained more survival action then survival caring.

The game contained various items and “Easter eggs” of sorts which you could create just to humour yourself, some had survival functions while others just lightened up the atmosphere. One such item was the baseball set which you could make, or even the left which you used as an umbrella.

It wasn’t all fun and games, for those new to the series the ionic monkey followed you around even on the Game Boy Color original, annoying you with its tricks and devious desires. In the end you could keep him as your evil monkey slave and even try to finish the game and rescuing him. Of course you didn’t have to even worry about him.

The land was a different world then what we are used to now with the titles DS and Wii cousins. It contained land types of all possible encounters, there weren’t just fields and forests, there were also swamps and mountains of impossible heights. It was something fun and funky for the Game Boy Color which didn’t look half bad either, the graphics a style which will forever be one of the best on the Color.

Music on the other hand was a hit and miss, and the title wasn’t exactly acclaimed for that. But what was seen when you removed away from the core game was quite good animation scenes which depicted various events though out the game. They could seem dark and evil for the untrained eye, but at the end of the day it seemed to appear to give more heart to the game which seemed to be more about the adventure and less about the survival- something which Konami has forgotten in the newer titles.

Survival wasn’t a must on most days, and you were looking after yourself instead of some random you just met who doesn’t do anything but sit and complain when you don’t do everything she wants you to- a complaint which the newer games where often targeted for, but in this title non-existent in an island with just you.

The game even had some wacky mini games, that just proves that survival wasn’t the main objective here.

The island was undoubtedly more interesting than the islands which where to come, while Survival Kids 2 became the penicil of island creativity, the newer titles just picked and swapped bits of what was once great. The objectives to advance where not ground breaking, but the fitted in the game and created a flow which was easy, but regardless if you did get stuck- would want to continue to survive in the areas you have already unlocked, they were full of animals and objects which would be replenished almost every day.

The game was more of a piece of art and a complete package to what was to become of the series. You could still pick to be boy or girl, and while another character wondering around you would of spiced up the game, it seems so far Konami still hasn’t gotten it right, so in retrospect what we have experienced was for the best.

I spoke earlier about how survival was less important, it’s much easier to keep your health at a maximum. The system isn’t based around staiuma, hunger and thirst it’s a full health bar as well, so that cuts the troubles down heaps. You also still have things like hunger pains as well, so they are still included in the original title, but once you learn how the game works, it’s quite easy to be always with it to advance into more complicated areas.

The only major problem on some degrees would be how long a day lasts, it seems to feel much shorter than the titles sequels, but on the same token it fits right in with how big the world map is.

Overall what you have here and should try and look for an old cart of is a title which depicts the coming titles in the series quite well and is possibly still one of the leaders in the series.