How to Tell if Pokémon Crystal Game for Game Boy Color is Real or Fake
Check the Cartridge Color & Label
First thing first, that we always look for when trying to weed out counterfeit games. Is the front label; on Genuine Nintendo Games there will, be a numbered in-print directly on the front label of the game. (See Photo Below).
On this copy genuine copy Pokémon Crystal, the label has “00A” imprinted on the front label. As the counterfeit copy doesn’t have any numbered or any imprint for that matter.
Label Quality:
- Examine the label for clarity and color saturation. Genuine labels are sharp, while fake Pokémon crystal labels may be blurry or poorly printed.
- The label on the counterfeit looks to be well printed. With this counterfeit, the label looks too new to be 20+ years old.
- The label on the counterfeit looks too perfect and almost too silvery along the edges.
- Holographic Sticker: Original cartridges have a holographic Nintendo Seal sticker. Ensure it's intact and reflects light properly.
- The seal will always look the same from every angle on a legit copy. With this counterfeit copy, the gold print around the seal stands out.
Save Battery
All Nintendo Game Boy & Game Boy Color Pokémon games have a save battery in them. When you look at the genuine & counterfeit Games below in the photos.
It’s easy to spot the save battery in the authentic copy. Whereas the counterfeit copy shows no battery through the shell.
The Shell
- Color & Texture: Authentic cartridges have a specific color (light blue for Pokémon Crystal). Counterfeits may use different shades or feel off in texture
The shell of the counterfeit game has a deeper blueish tint to the shell. It’s not as transparent as the genuine copy of the game. Otherwise, the printing on the shells are pretty hard to make out on each copy, so we won’t go into any font comparisons.
The inside of the cartridge shells. You’ll notice on the genuine copy of the game, this is what looks to be an “A Frame” printed on the inside of the cartridge. And you’ll notice the authentic game, the label doesn’t have any bubbles or look like it was just slapped on the shell.
Opening the Game:
For any collector of Game Boy games, you should probably have a game bit screwdriver in your arsenal. You’ll need a 3.8 MM bit to open Pokémon Crystal game.
Examine the Game Boards:
This reproduction copy is easy to spot as a fake Pokémon crystal. You’ll notice the game board is half the size of the authentic copy. (See Photo). You’ll notice the counterfeit copy does not have a save battery.
Like I mentioned above, all Genuine Pokémon Game Boy & Color games will have a CR2025 or CR1616 save battery inside.
The CR1616 are common inside Pokémon Yellow. Real Pokémon games have a specific circuit layout, and the chips will have specific codes.
The other noticeable different is the lack of any markings on the game board. On authentic copies of Pokémon Crystal – The battery size is mentioned on the game board (CR2025) See Photo).
And on the back of the board, Nintendo is printed on the board. The reproduction game board lacks the two markings mentioned.
Make sure to check out our other articles about how to spot reproduction or counterfeit video games.
Here are some other articles we have written:
Other things to keep in mind when shopping for Pokémon Games in General.
Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true. If a deal seems overly cheap, it’s likely a counterfeit.
Buy from Reputable sellers, especially those who specialize in retro games. Check reviews and ratings. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
By following these tips, you can better protect yourself from purchasing a counterfeit Pokémon Crystal game. Happy hunting!
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