My basic rule of thumb for this list is what games are still worth playing today, even if you have a DS with its more modern game library at your fingertips. I’m personally in this situation as I love my DS Lite, but I still feel the need to pull out a number of GBA games.

Metroid Fusion & Metroid: Zero Mission

Since Nintendo doesn’t seem interested in producing any more two-dimensional Metroid games (even on the DS), Metroid Fusion stands as the last original 2D installment in the series and a might fine one at that. It’s deadly combination of polished gameplay, steady pacing, and engaging storyline and atmosphere make it very hard to put down.

As in SNES masterpiece, Super Metroid, the level design is stunningly intricate. Major power-ups are distributed at a gradual rate, and as Samus regains her abilities more and more of the station becomes accessible to her. I can only imagine the immense amount of time and effort that went into planning the station’s layout. Metroid Fusion is a mini-masterpiece of level design.

Fusion’s controls feel so smooth and natural that Super Metroid fans will feel right at home and will be welcomed by intense combat that will, at times, require some skilled acrobatics and creative use of your many powerups.

Even though much of the game is set at your own pace, Metroid Fusion can also be a very fast, action-packed game. Many boss fights require you to keep moving – platform jumping and directional shooting simultaneously. Just about every boss is deep enough to require an attack strategy — many requiring experimentation to uncover a weak spot or a particular weapon that works best. Even though some established Metroid fans may complain that Fusion’s gameplay is too linear, I personally prefer games that don’t require me to figure out where to go and what to do all the time. This is especially helpful for those that want to dive into the Metroid series for the first time.

The graphics and presentation of Fusion is top-notch in terms of 2D graphics. Everything from the backgrounds and cutscenes to the weapon animation and boss battles are filled with graphical beauty rarely seen on the GBA.

Metroid: Zero Mission takes much of the polish that made Fusion great and applied it to a remake of the original Metroid. The result is an engaging Metroid experience that should be given a chance whether you’ve played the original already or not.
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Find Metroid Zero Mission : (eBay / Amazon)

Astro Boy: Omega Factor

Sega and Treasure have had an amazing relationship over the years with classics such as Gunstar Heroes and Guardian Heroes, both of which revolutionized the run-n-gun and beatemup genres respectively. Sega and Treasure teamed up again on the GBA to bring a sidescrolling game based on the classic Astro Boy manga series that incorporates concepts from both the shooter and brawler genres.

In standard Treasure fashion, Omega Factor gives players a number of creative ways to attack and offers a deep gameplay mechanic. Of course the A & B button are your standard jump and punch/kick buttons, but by utilizing the D-pad with the face buttons, players can trash opponents with some flying attacks, laser fingers, and other nifty moves.

In addition to using your standard attacks you may need a little extra power to battle through waves of enemies. For heavy duty attacks, you have your arm cannon and machine gun attacks at your disposal. Of course, these special attacks are limited, but you can recharge them by pulling off just a few standard combos. This attack system gets you in the habit of rationing your specials for when you need them, but you can’t waste them by ignoring them if you want to play effectively. Later on, there are also levels specifically designed so that you will need your special attacks to proceed, so efficient use of specials is even more important.For those of you who enjoy some RPG elements built into your actions games (like Guardian Heroes), Astro Boy also allows you to level-up their character and balance him for the way you play the game. Every character Astro Boy meets along his adventure give him a point that can be assigned to any one of several attributes, from standard attacks to the speed of his rocket boost. This not only opens up the exploration element, but adds a great deal of depth and replayabilty.

About half of the Omega Factor’s 40-some levels have a boss battle. Some bosses are behemoths that stand multiple screens high and attack with a variety of different weapons. Others are smaller, but have multiple transformations and attack patterns. There are also flying shmup-like stages scattered here and there for added variety.
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Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

There are a number of other Zelda games on the GBA, but The Minish Cap is the first original installment for the Nintendo’s 32-bit portable. Released late in the GBA’s lifecycle, The Minish Cap, is a fresh and inviting game that pushes plenty of 2D goodness out of the GBA’s hardware.

Many of you be aware that Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of the Zelda series, once pointed out in an interview that the inspiration for the Legend of Zelda came from his own exploration of fields, forests and caves as a boy. Miyamoto said he wanted to capture the sense of wonder and adventure he experienced as a child discovering mysterious, unknown environments.

The Minish Cap embodies the spirit of Miyamoto’s inspiration perfectly due to the game’s new gimmick. The Minish Cap revolves around the idea of a magical ‘cap’ called Ezlo that Link can use to shrink to the size of the Picori (a race of thumb-sized people that live in Hyrule). Being able to use your cap to shrink in size, explore mouse holes, and battle creatures many times your size will give you a fresh perspective on this beloved series. You can’t help but feel childlike wonder as you explore the normal-sized world from the perspective of an ant. Everything is exactly the same as it was when you were full-sized, except for your perspective.

Veteren Hyrule fans will be glad to know that The Minish Cap retains some common themes featured in previous Zelda installments, but introduces some new gameplay features such as the system of kinstones, which gets the player hunting for these artifacts that can reveal hidden paths and goodies.
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Golden Sun

Golden Sun was a strong new IP for the Gameboy Advance when it first debuted in late 2001 as it was the first GBA game to push the systems to its limits. Compared with the SNES ports and slightly reimaged classics that the GBA was receiving, Golden Sun was in some way a bit if fresh air and helped the GBA stand on its own two feet. What made Golden Sun so fantastic was that it put a modern and contemporary feel onto the RPG genre. Something that still rings true today.

Golden Sun’s story is based around a character called Issac and his crew who all have the ability to use psychic spells called Psynergy. Psynergy isn’t just part of the story though, its the game’s main gameplay mechanic. Much like the items that you get in Zelda, Psynergy can be used to progress through the games varying environments. The Psynergy moves that you acquire in the game can be used for battles as well and work in the same way that spells do in most RPG games. As you level up your gain stronger forms of the same Psynergy spells.

Golden Sun also had a strong exploration element to it as well, those gamers who like to do a little exploration were rewarded with Djinn; small creatures that act as ’summons’ in battle. The more Djinn that you found, the stronger the creatures would be that you summon. Djinn can be set to summon monstrous beasts or can be used for a strong attack. This system of Psynergy and Djinn made the battle and exploration elements feel cohesive and overall made Golden Sun unique. It struck a perfect balance between games like Final Fantasy and Zelda. Strong battle mechanics and excellent puzzle solving.

Graphically Golden Sun is a visual treat. A lot of minute detail is put into every character and environment to make the game feel very alive. The games use of colour is also very impressive, everything looks vibrant. The pseudo 3D battles are themselves a real treat. Aurally its the same case, Camelot really do have everything covered in this game and use almost every strength of the Gameboy Advance to showcase this.

Golden Sun is a complete package and is one of the role playing highlights for the GBA. For those DS role playing enthusiasts this game comes highly recommended. The DS’ back lit screen and stereo sound will ensure that you will enjoy this game to its fullest. Golden Sun also spawned a sequel; Golden Sun: The Lost Age which further develops the games story line and gameplay.
Find Golden Sun: (eBay / Amazon)
Find Golden Sun – The Lost Age: (eBay / Amazon)

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

There is now doubt that the GBA was full of excellent strategy and RPG titles. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance introduced the complex strategy that this series is now known for to that massive RPG/Strategy based audience that the GBA had attracted. Ensuring that the series finally got the attention that it deserved.

Final Fantasy Tactics draws several elements from the Final Fantasy franchise such as the job system, franchise favorites(moogles etc.) and an overall FF feel to create an immersive strategy title. Battles are played out on a grid based map. Where you move and position your party members around the battle field. The goal for most battles is to defeat an opposing threat.

Each character’s selection of attacks depends on their current job. Along with your regular moves(attack, wait etc.) players are automatically assigned a group of skills based on their current job(ie. Black mage must have black magic). Players also have one slot to use for a skill group from another job. Acquiring skills from each job class is done by equipping and learning the attacks from various weapons. Therefore knowing more skills and balancing these out in your party is the key to effectively managing a good party.
New to Tactics Advance is the law card system where referees watch over the match. Every match has a set of rules, such as not allowing the use of broadswords. Also new to FFTA was the inclusion of character races such as nu mou, human, moogle etc.

FFTA will forever be known for its fantastically long length. The game has about 300 missions to undertake(although you can finish the main quest by only completing certain story based missions). On top of this you have rival clans crawling around the map looking for a skirmish. Graphically the game looks neat, characters have a cute, rinky dink feel to them. The games soundtrack also does the original title’s soundtrack justice(which has to be one of the most gorgeous gaming soundtracks ever released). With the upcoming release of FFTA A2 for the DS you’d be silly not to give this one a shot.
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Wario Land 4

Nintendo’s usual flair for level design is evident everywhere in the game. As usual, Wario’s storyline involves his obsession for money and treasure, leading him to the legendary Pyramid of Gold. Within this ancient structure, Wario finds a wide range of differently themed worlds. In each level, Wario needs to explore the landscape, collect four gem pieces, flip a switch, and return to the beginning of the level before a timer expires. It can be challenging to find all the gem pieces, only to die before making it back to the entrance in time, but it also increases the intensity of the game substantially.

After collecting all four pieces of gem from each of the six levels per pyramid section, you square off against a boss. Before fighting a boss, you have the option of going into a store and buying power-ups, which will aid you in the fight. You buy these power-ups with coins that you collect after you destroy boxes or enemies.

What always makes Wario Land games especially interesting is the wide selection of attacks at your disposal. Some moves can be performed with no assistance, such as the butt stomp and the dash, but, some sections of the levels must be negotiated with the aid of enemies. When Wario comes into contact with specific enemies, he will mutate into a new form that allows him to access a new part of the level. For example, touching a flaming zombie sets Wario on fire enables him to destroy any blocks featuring a flame symbol. Stages have been structured around the game’s ten such abilities, and the complexity of later levels will require you to creatively consider multiple skills.

If you have never before played a Warioland game, this is still a perfectly fine place to start. After trying it out I guarantee that you’ll be checking out the older versions on Game Boy Color to see what you’ve been missing over the past 8 years. Warioland 4 is possibly the best traditional platformer that isn’t a SNES port and definitely the most underrated.
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Gunstar Super Heroes

The original Gunstar Heroes is one of my favorite games of the 16-bit era and was a perfect example of Treasure’s ability to not only create innovative and quirky gameplay, but to push the limits of the game platform in the process.

Gunstar Super Heroes follows in the tradition of its predecessor by demonstrating some of the most stunning graphics you will ever see on the GBA while staying true to its side-scrolling run-n-gun roots. Some of the boss battles will actually surprise you at how powerful the Gameboy Advance actually is. The rest of the graphics in the game offer some amazing effects, ranging from 3D zooming and scaling to intense 2D sprite action.

Even without the impressive graphics, the boss battles are where Gunstar Super Heroes really shines. Much like the original game, each boss if very different and each of the opponents have a subtle weak point that will work your brain a bit.

In Gunstar Super Heroes, you’ll always have a handful of weapons at your disposal, and you can switch weapons with a tap of the left trigger button. In addition to the standard force and lightning weapons, you can obtain a powerful, but short-range fire gun and a chaser laser gun that homes in on the nearest target. Each weapon has a gauge which is filled as you defeat enemies. Once the gauge filled, you can double-tap the right trigger button to unleash a super attack that is unique to each weapon type.

In addition to the long-range attacks, you also have a sword attack for close-range encounters, as well as a slide, an uppercut, and a jump kick. You can also jump off walls, hang from overhead, and hitch a ride on all kinds of vehicles. When it comes down to it, the attack possibilities in Gunstar Super Heroes put Metal Slug to shame. (Not that I don’t love Metal Slug)

Because it is so closely tied to the original game, there isn’t a great deal of innovation in terms of gameplay, but Gunstar Super Heroes is still the best explosion-filled run-and-gun game on either the GBA or the DS thus far. It will be interesting to see how the upcoming Contra 4 and Metal Slug 7 far on the DS, but even if they are spectacular, there will still be a place for Gunstar Super Heroes in the hearts of many a old-school DS owner.
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Drill Dozer

Like many great gaming machines, some of the most interesting games are released at the very tail end of the machine’s life cycle. Drill Dozer is one of the prime examples of an innovative and enjoyable game that didn’t get the attention it deserved since most portable Nintendo fans had moved onto the DS.

At its core, Drill Dozer is an action platformer that has a bit of a Treasure vibe to it due to its creative, well-designed platforming elements and a number of classic-style boss battles, which keep the game uniformly intense throughout. Fans of Metroid and Megaman games will also find some common ground here as well.

Drill Dozer’s heroine, Jill takes command of what is essentially a small mech suit that is built to drill through walls. Jill can use this machine to walk and jump, and it also lets her duck inside it for protection or to use it to slide across gaps and underneath low walls.

Each of the well-designed levels adds a new way to use the drill and mixes things up by adding platforming puzzles and object interaction in order to keep the gameplay from getting repetitious. In between levels, you have the ability to upgrade Jill’s drill dozer by purchasing items from a store with currency you collected in the levels. Drill bit upgrades allow you to get through blocks and walls that you couldn’t previously drill through.

Drill Dozer will also treat your eyes to one of the most pleasant and exciting visual experiences on the GBA. While some blue-chip titles like Metroid Fusion and Golden Sun way be visually impressive and draw you into their more traditional environments, Drill Dozer has a much more vivid and playful atmosphere that is perfect for an old-school junkie that prefers more of an engaging cartoon-like experience.
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Castlevania Series

Castlevania is one of those popular franchises that just doesn’t seem to transition well to the 3D world. While Konami has tried on multiple occasions to pull it off, the best Castlevania games are still the 2D installments. Of course, there are two high-quality Castlevania installments on the DS already, but if you can’t get enough of Castlevania, there are twice as many titles in the GBA library.

If you want to have the original Castlevania with you on the go, you can find the Classic NES series release quite easily. This release is a very straightforward port, so you should expect nothing more or nothing less than a portable version of an NES classic.

Circle of the Moon was the very first GBA installment of the series and the first 2D Castlevania game since Symphony of the Night on the original Playstation. In many ways, it followed the footsteps of the legendary SotN with its open-ended exploration, RPG elements, and deep attack system. It was a lengthy and challenging adventure and was incredibly impressive for a GBA launch title.

Harmony of Dissonance seemed to pull various elements that were successful from the past 2D Castlevania games to create a single, engaging adventure. This includes the dangling chain-like whip from Super Castlevania IV and the ability to power-up, equip, and upgrade their character’s abilities by defeating enemies. Harmony also streamlines the magic system from Circle of the Moon, which makes using items and their powerful abilities more accessible. Where Circle of the Moon was a bit rough around the edges graphically, HoD uses the GBA’s capabilities to create smoother animations and more beautiful environments.

Aria of Sorrow is probably the most well-rounded Castlevania in the GBA library in terms of its gameplay, design, and production qualities. The gameplay of Aria of Sorrow is similar to both CotM and HoD, but it’s been fine-tuned for maximum enjoyment. In addition to the increase gameplay variety, Aria of Sorrow is also a happy medium between the tough-as-nails Circle of the Moon and the relatively easy Harmony of Dissonance.

For budget-minded Castlevania fans, two of the most popular (and hard-to-find) Castlevania games for the Gameboy Advance were recently re-released as a Combo cartridge. that includes both Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance and Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow for an action-packed portable experience.
Find Castlevania (Classic NES Series): (eBay / Amazon)
Find Castlevania: Circle of the Moon: (eBay / Amazon)
Find Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance: (eBay / Amazon)
Find Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow: (eBay / Amazon)
Find Castlevania Double Pack: (eBay / Amazon)

Legend of Spyro: Eternal Night

That’s right — I’m recommending a Spyro the Dragon game. Since you probably never thought you would see me bother to review a Spyro game, let me cut to the point — Legend of Spyro: Eternal Night on the Gameboy Advance ROCKS. I can honestly say that this game can easily be put in the same league as Metroid Fusion, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, and Astro Boy: Omega Factor as the best action games on the Gameboy Advance and put up a phenomenal fight.

The fact is, the GBA version of Legend of Spyro: Eternal Night takes many of the best elements from all three of these games and effectively combines them into a late GBA release that will knock your socks off. (Keep in mind that the GBA version is nothing like the DS or console versions)

Eternal Night borrows the idea of having a large number of intuitive attack types despite having a limited number of buttons on the GBA. Like Devil May Cry, you will be using a lot of combo attacks and be juggling the enemies in the air to achieve some of the most effective combos. Overall, the combo system is both easy to pick up and quite flexible. The casual player can easily perform initially-impressive combos, but they can slowly get a better feel for the system as they progress and master the different attack types to pull off some killer multi-hit attacks.

The way you navigate and interact with the enemies is very reminiscent of both Castlevania and Metroid. You can wander around the levels freely, but the levels aren’t quite as expansive to the point of needing a map to find your way around. (This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you look for in a game) .

Much like Metroid Fusion, you will spend a good part of the game finding artifacts throughout the game that will give you new attacks, build up your health meter capacity, and other power-ups. In addition, there are different colored jewels that you can collect to increase your capabilities. (Red restores health, Green increases your elemental power, and blue are redeemable for upgrading your characteristics) These add a bit of an RPG feel and depth to the game.

Another similarity with the Metroidvania concept is that you don’t necessarily have to defeat every enemy to progress. If you want, you can try to evade them and keep chugging along. However, unlike most other games, even the simplest enemies manage to track you down in order to continue the fight. Even if you climb up some stairs or down some ledges, your enemies will find a way to get to you if it is physically possible for their character type. Every enemy actually seems like it has some decent AI built in to make your battles interesting.
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Classic Super Mario Bros. Series

If you have a DS, both New Super Mario Bros. and Yoshi’s Island DS are phenominal experiences that should not be missed, but if you are sticking with your GBA or are just a huge Mario fans that wants every 2D Mario game at their fingertips, the GBA library is filled with every one of Nintendo’s trademark 2D platformers.

Of course, the original Super Mario Bros. from the NES is the most iconic and still holds up as an infalible masterpiece of running, jumping, and princess-saving. It’s a strange thrill to see this straightforward NES port running on a Gameboy Advance Micro or a DS Lite.

The turnip-tossing Super Mario Bros. 2 was actually a launch title for the GBA and is a respectible port that is based on the SNES’s Super Mario All-Stars version of the game. Because of its drastically different gameplay mechanic, its always good for a change of pace in your platforming habits.

Super Mario Bros. 3 stepped up the series by featuring eight, more unique worlds, each containing numerous levels, used an innovative map navigation system. While staying true to the format of the original, SMB3 introduced new gameplay elements including special suits that gave Mario new abilities and a number of new powerups. Nearly every level presented a flawless degree of challenge and the adventure itself was long and varied. Like with the Super Mario Bros. 2 port, this installment is also based on the SNES’s Super Mario All-Stars version.

Super Mario World kept the same basic formula as its predecessors, but added enough new and improved features to outperform previous installments. The addition of Yoshi is also to be commended as it added to the depth to the gameplay. While most platform games were often categorized as “Action Adventure” games, Super Mario World is one of the few games that actually felt like an adventure 72 expansive and enjoyable levels.

Yoshi’s Island was different to the NES Mario trilogy as it took the exploration factors from Super Mario World and enhanced them greatly. Each level now had a list of items that could be collected to get a high score. The other big difference in Yoshi’s Island is that you don’t actually play as Mario, but instead you play as Yoshi. Yoshi plays somewhat like a cross between Kirby and Mario with lots of cool abilities.

Each are high-quality conversions, and Yoshi’s Island in particular shows off many of the GBA’s graphical capabilities, just like it originally did on the Super Nintendo. If only Nintendo would take my advice and make a Super Mario All-Star Compilation on the DS, Mario-loving DS owners would be in heaven, but for now we’ll have to keep swithing our GBA carts around.
Find Super Mario Bros. (Classic NES Series) (eBay / Amazon)
Find Super Mario Bros. 2: Super Mario Advance (eBay / Amazon)
Find Super Mario Bros. 3: Super Mario Advance 4 (eBay / Amazon)
Find Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (eBay / Amazon)
Find Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (eBay / Amazon)

Classic Legend of Zelda Series

Much like with the Mario series, Nintendo made sure that it brought Zelda fans all the classics on their portable system. Of course, old school Zelda fans can being with the original and all the nostalgia and pioneering adventure gameplay it bring.

Not everybody will enjoy Nintendo’s experimentation with bringing Link to a sidescroller in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, but it’s available on the GBA if you want it.

A Link to the Past is still regarded as one of the best GBA titles as it not only includes one of the most popular games in the series, but also the Four Swords multiplayer game. (If you have enough GBA-owning friends to take advantage of it)

Obviously, these three titles perfectly compliment both The Minish Cap and Phantom Hourglass on the DS. And again, I can’t help but think Nintendo would like to re-release a classic Zelda compilation on the DS.
Find The Legend of Zelda (Classic NES Series) (eBay / Amazon)
Find Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (Classic NES Series) (eBay / Amazon)
Find Legend Of Zelda: A Link to the Past (eBay / Amazon)

Classic Final Fantasy Series

We all know that Square/Enix loves to exploit their Final Fantasy franchise by re-porting their classic RPGs to a multitude of platforms. Fortunately, they do a good job updating the games while maintaining the original style and gameplay that serve as a history lesson in the evolution of Japanese RPGs.

The first two Final Fantasy games featured in the Dawn of Souls compilation are rather simple by today’s standards, but they are still a nostalgic trip for many. Square Enix included additional stories and dungeons not found in the original games, including the Soul of Chaos, in which the player finds the four powerful Soul of Chaos boss monsters, in addition to various powerful equipment and valuable items. Final Fantasy II features a bonus story plus additional character background stories.

Final Fantasy IV (known as Final Fantasy II on the North American SNES) is one of the more popular installments of the Nintendo era and this GBA version received a nice graphics overhaul, fixed bugs in the battle system, updated translation, new abilities and a refined story for a smoother experience. Final Fantasy IV’s story is still one of the game’s primary strenghts, due to its effective twists and turns. Final Fantasy IV’s gameplay is excellent and it reminds you how little RPGs have changed since this landmark game was released.

Final Fantasy V is one of the most unusual and controversial game of the series. Its story is a definite drawback compared to IV, and it is the only past-NES Final Fantasy with a definite emphasis on gameplay rather than on story or character development. Its flexible and rich gameplay makes Final Fantasy VI very addictive and brings it closer to the open-ended world of PC role-playing. In the fantastic GBA port, a host of brand-new elements has been seamlessly merged with the original game, providing unexpected surprises for longtime fans.

Final Fantasy VI makes the transition back to the story-driven focus, but Squaresoft made sure the title still had solid gameplay. Its characters are among the genre’s most unique and memorable, while its villain is quite possibly the most well-crafted embodiment of evil in RPG history. Final Fantasy VI also marked the first strong role of futuristic technology blended with classical fantasy elements. The whole FFVI GBA package is very well-polished and concludes a very strong Final Fantasy collection for Nintendo’s powerful handheld.
Find Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (eBay / Amazon)
Find Final Fantasy IV Advance (eBay / Amazon)
Find Final Fantasy V Advance (eBay / Amazon)
Find Final Fantasy VI Advance (eBay / Amazon)

Honorable Mentions:

• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga – If it wasn’t for the newer Mario & Luigi installment on the DS, Partners in Time, Superstar Saga would be on the top of the list. Very similar to Super Mario RPG and the Paper Mario series, this is a great action RPG set in the Mushroom Kingdom. This is still worth picking up, but if you have DS, you might want to start with PiT. (eBay / Amazon)
• Fire Emblem – Another strategy game that is in the line of Advance Wars and Final Fantasy Tactics. The options are simplified a bit from Tactics, but much more challenging than both. This is a good one if you need to polish your strategy skills. (eBay / Amazon)
• WarioWare Twisted! – The DS’s WarioWare Touched is still recommended first if you are playing on a DS, but the gyroscope-based Twisted! is loads of fun if you want more variety in your minigames or are playing on an actual GBA. (eBay / Amazon)
• Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts – Try this challenging old-school adventure if you dare. Although, if you have a PSP, you might be better off with Ultimate Ghouls ‘n Ghosts. (eBay / Amazon)
• River City Ransom EX – Fans of the cult-classic NES side-scrolling brawler will get a kick out of its role-playing elements on the small screen. (eBay / Amazon)
• Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc – Ubisoft’s platforming mascot enjoys some 2D action similar to his days on the Saturn and PS1. The original Rayman Advance was pretty good too, but this newer installment makes better use of the GBA (eBay / Amazon)
• Klonoa: Empire of Dreams – A port of the popular Wonderswan platformers with strong puzzle elements, this serves as a wonderful Mario alternative (eBay / Amazon)
• ChuChu Rocket! – I’m still surprised that Sega hasn’t brought this mind-bending puzzle game to the DS yet as it’s just waiting to have stylus support. The GBA version will have to do for now. (eBay / Amazon)
  
• Super Puzzle Fighter II – I supposed you could techincally find many superior puzzle games on the DS (Meteos, anyone?), I still have a soft spot for Super Puzzle Fighter. The PSP does have a slicker port, however. (eBay / Amazon)
• Pac-Man Collection – I was pretty bummed that the Pac-Man spin-offs on this cart weren’t included on the new Namco Museum DS, so I’m keeping this with my DS library for now. (eBay / Amazon)
• Mario vs Donkey Kong – The DS has the “sequel”, but the new installment revolves around a Lemmings-like mechanic, that just didn’t have the same classic Donkey Kong feel to it. The original is still quite a treat. (eBay / Amazon)

If You Don’t Have A DS Yet…

• Advance Wars – Even though the DS has its own Advance Wars installment, the GBA versions still hold up extremely well. It is some of the most friendly, but surprisingly intense strategy game out there. (eBay / Amazon)
• Sonic Advance Series – Since the 3D Sonic games aren’t living up to the standards of the 16-bit standards, Nintendo portables are filled with your 2D Sonic fix. The Sonic Rush series on the DS is far better, but the Sonic Advance series is ok for GBA only games. (eBay / Amazon)
• WarioWare Inc.: Mega MicroGame$: There’s nothing wrong with this killer set of minigames, but just keep in mind that WarioWare: Touched! on the DS will probably be more enjoyable with stylus action.(eBay / Amazon)
• Mario Kart Super Circuit - If you enjoy the most SNES-like Mario Kart racing as opposed to what Mario Kart DS brings to the table, you should pick this one up. (eBay / Amazon)
• Dr. Mario/Puzzle League – This tiny cartridge had been the object of my wife’s addiction for the past two weeks since it’s release. But I can’t blame her, since these two great puzzlers offer a fresh breath of air to GBA puzzle fans. Puzzle League now has its own newer version on the DS and Dr. Mario can be found in Brain Age 2. (eBay / Amazon)

Note: A special thanks goes out to Daniel Primed for helping me write up a few of the featured game descriptions!

Since you probably never thought you would see me bother to review a Spyro game, let me cut to the point — Legend of Spyro: Eternal Night on the Gameboy Advance ROCKS.  I can honestly say that this game can easily be put in the same league as Metroid Fusion, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, and Astro Boy: Omega Factor as the best action games on the Gameboy Advance and put up a phenomenal fight. 

The fact is, the GBA version of Legend of Spyro: Eternal Night takes many of the best elements from all three of these games and effectively combines them into a late GBA release that will knock your socks off.  (Keep in mind that the GBA version is nothing like the DS or console versions)

Hopefully at this point, you won’t disregard this review just because this is another installment in the Spyro the Dragon series, a franchise that is typically reserved for simple platformers geared towards the younger crowd.  It’s a good thing that you’re still here because this portable Spyro installment is definitely made for old-school gamers.

Gameplay: 9.5

The Legend of Spyro: Eternal Night doesn’t do anything particularly innovative with the gameplay, but instead borrows many concepts from other successful games.   Personally, I see nothing wrong with that, as long as the incorporated concepts work well together.  In fact, I have quite a soft spot for what I refer to as “hybrid” games.

 The Legend of Spyro: Eternal Night is definitely not one of those platformers that just take a bop on the head to kill off an enemy.   Eternal Night borrows the idea of having a large number of attack types despite having a limited number of buttons on the GBA.  Without getting into the specific moves, your standard melee move and jump are the standard face buttons and your triggers are used to switch between and use your different elemental attacks that you accumulate through the game (like fire, earth, and others).  Other attacks are learned throughout the game and executed with different combinations of the face buttons and directional pad.  Learning them one at a time throughout the game prevents you from being overwhelmed with the options and lets you get accustomed to your newest move before learning another.

 Like Devil May Cry, you will be using a lot of combo attacks and be juggling the enemies in the air to achieve some of the most effective combos.  Overall, the combo system is both easy to pick up and quite flexible. The casual player can easily perform initially-impressive combos, but they can slowly get a better feel for the system as they progress and master the different attack types to pull off some killer multi-hit attacks.

Some measures were taken to ensure you don’t get too carried away with the combos.  Supposedly, you can’t do infinite combos, and so far I can only get a 6-hit combo.  However, supposedly, the more attacks you learn and the better you get to know how the attacks work, you get higher combos.  (The demo video shows off a 50-hit combo)

Of course, because of the combo-based beatemup style of the game, many comparisons could be made to Treasure’s Astro Boy: Omega Factor.  While the games do have some things in common, I think Eternal Night is still worth owning if you have played and enjoyed Omega Factor, and vice versa.  They each have their strengths and complement each other nicely in the GBA library.    Both have a varied amount of attacks and a lot style, but Eternal Night doesn’t have a single special attack to bail you out like Omega Factor does with the Machine Gun. 

The way you navigate and interact with the enemies is very reminiscent of both Castlevania and Metroid.  You can wander around the levels freely, but the levels aren’t quite as expansive to the point of needing a map to find your way around.  (This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you look for in a game)   

Much like Metroid Fusion, you will spend a good part of the game finding artifacts throughout the game that will give you new attacks, build up your health meter capacity, and other power-ups.  In addition, there are different colored jewels that you can collect to increase your capabilities.  (Red restores health, Green increases your elemental power, and blue are redeemable for upgrading your characteristics)  These add a bit of an RPG feel and depth to the game.

Another similarity with the Metroidvania concept is that you don’t necessarily have to defeat every enemy to progress.  If you want, you can try to evade them and keep chugging along.  However, unlike most other games, even the simplest enemies manage to track you down in order to continue the fight.  

At one point, I was finding myself low on energy, so I was trying to run off and find some place to restore my health, but unfortunately the enemies I was dodging were staying on my tail and working with the other enemies down the road to team up on me and finish me off. 

With Eternal Night, you can no longer run off to another room to reach safety.  Even if you climb up some stairs or down some ledges, your enemies will find a way to get to you if it is physically possible for their character type.  Every enemy actually seems like it has some decent AI built in to make your battles interesting. 

Later on, you will encounter some more skilled opponents that use projectiles, teleport, dodge, counter-attack, or perform combos of their own.  It is almost as if there is a full fighting game engine built into this humble Spyro game.

Even though many of them were recycled throughout the game, there were actually quite a few different types of enemies ranging from very small critters to menacing rock-men to large crab-like creatures.  Each of them not only had unique ways of attacking, but they also had their own way of moving around the levels and reacting to your attacks.

One of the most impressive things about Eternal Night’s gameplay mechanics is what actually seems to be a basic physics engine.  Of course, it pales to what you would find in a modern 3D game, but for a Gameboy Advance game, you can’t help but be taken back by how realistically enemies take hits, fall down stairs, or lunge at you.  I’m sure it’s all pre-rendered animations, much like Vectorman on the Genesis, but it is executed so well, you can’t help but be amazed. 

Graphics/Presentation: 9

Since this is a late release from the talented crew over at Amaze Entertainment, it should come as no surprise that Legend of Spyro: Eternal Night makes good use of the GBA’s 2D capabilities.  While it isn’t as much of an effects showboat as a Treasure game like Gunstar Super Heroes, it still is an impressive game for the all-but-dead Gameboy Advance hardware.

All the character sprites are large, detailed, and smoothly animated.  There are many different enemy designs and there can be a large number of these enemies flying around on the screen at once.  I was amazed how well the GBA handled the stress of all the sprite work.

The backgrounds range from bright and vivid to dark and haunting when they need to be.  The scenery, in some places, is very detailed and makes excellent use of parallax scrolling and color-cycling to give the backgrounds a much more dynamic and realistic look.   While not every level will take your breath away, there are a handful of levels that are possibly the best backgrounds that GBA has ever displayed.

The art style is also to be commended as some of the levels remind me of a lower-resolution version of something you would see in Astal or Princess Crown on the Saturn.  (There are some of the underground areas that also remind me a bit of the caves in Aladdin on the Genesis.)

The presentation and the cutscenes are fairly nice, but nothing to get worked up about.  From an overall visual standpoint, I was quite impressed and thought it was just under the very best graphical work I’ve seen on the GBA (Gunstar Super Heroes, Metroid Fusion, and some animations in Golden Sun)

Sound/Music: 8.5

The music in Eternal Night didn’t really stick with me too much, but it was far better than most GBA games.  It had a bit of a Castlevania vibe to it, but the soundtrack didn’t have much of its own personality, which kept it from being especially remarkable.  Overall, I did think the musical score did complement the action well and set the mood for cutscenes and such.  Sound effects throughout the main game were standard platformer fare, with some deep thuds and crashes of battle being the highlights.

Story: 7 (?)

I’m under the impression that Legend of Spyro: Eternal Night has an above average story for an action platformer.  The only problem for me is that this game is actually the second in the new Legend of Spyro trilogy.  

There are a number of small cutscenes that seem to piece together an interesting story, but considering I don’t know the characters and don’t know any of the back-story, I’m not completely sure what is going on.  However, if you a younger than me and grew up with the Spyro series, I would venture to say that you will enjoy Eternal Night’s narrative.

However, Metroid Fusion was actually my first Metroid experience (other than picking up the original a couple times) and that story drew me in even though I did not have any previous experience.  I felt that Eternal Night could have catered just a little but more to new players in this regard.  (Luckly, I’m not playing this for the story).

Extras: 9

Considering how compelling and polished the attack system is in Eternal Night, I was very glad to see a couple extra features in the game.  First of all, there is a practice room that will you beat the crap of some dummy enemies so you can experiment with your attacks and see how to piece together the most effective combos.  It also helps you keep track of what your top hit count is.

 There is also another boss attack room where you can take another stab at taking down bosses that you have unlocked.   This is another great opportunity to practice, relive your favorite battles, or show off the game to a friend.

Overall: 9

The only thing that is keeping me from giving it a higher score than a 9 is that the story story and overall polish didn’t draw me in nearly as well as Metroid Fusion (or other Metroid titles) did.   While I don’t like action games that are dependant on puzzles, it would have been nice to have some elements that worked your brain a bit more, again, similar to Metroid. 

However, The Legend of Spyro: Eternal Night has the most compressive and accessible combat engine I have ever seen in a portable title (including dedicated fighting games) and it’s a shame it couldn’t be expanded to its full potential in a 2D console version.

In addition, the game as a whole does an excellent job making the most of the GBA’s 2D capabilities and working well with the handheld’s limited control options.

The bottom line is that if you enjoy Astro Boy: Omega Factor, any of the Metroid or Castlevania game, or are interested in a 2D Devil May Cry-styled game, you need to check this game out.  Even if you have moved onto the DS, Eternal Night is worth the investment.

When there are a number of home versions of a classic game, you can’t help but wonder what compromises have been made from the original version. For older games, it is very hard to find some solid comparisons of various ports. Fortunately, every now and then somebody puts together a comparison of screenshots and characteristics of a multiplatform title.

This time, fastbilly1 has put together a nice collection of screenshots to show a variety of scenes to give you a good idea of the visual differences. He also did a nice write-up to summarize the various installments…

Super Mario Bros. 2 has always been one of my favorite games. Not only was it wacky, but it was too hard for my friends and family, yet I could beat it. Even today I get a kick out of just goofing around in it, be it riding the Birdo eggs in 4-3 or defeating that old Wart once more, I can always lose myself in the game. Now I have played a lot of games and there are only two I can do this in, the obvious Mario 2 and the original Zelda. But enough about that what are the difference.

Versions Compared

• Yume Koujou Doki Doki Panic – Famicom
• Super Mario Bros 2 – NES
• Super Mario Allstars – SNES
• Super Mario Bros. Advance – GBA (GBA player through Gamecube)

Side Note: There are two more versions of the game, “Super Mario Bros. USA” (Famicom) and “BS Super Mario Bros. USA 1-4″ (Super Famicom). The reason they were not mentioned is simply because Super Mario Bros USA is a Famicom port of the E/U game – I don’t know of a single difference apart from language. BS Super Mario Bros USA series was a weekly downloadable level series from the Mario Allstar version of Mario 2. Neither of which were different enough to warrant an individual image – though they are featured on the last slide.

Screenshot Comparisons

You can find larger screenshots in this Flickr photset.

Game Differences

• Well as you can tell the game gets prettier as the years go on, gone are the epileptic waterfalls of Doki Doki, however it does get vastly easier.
• Not only do you get more lives in the later versions, your characters have tweaked stats. (In the beginning of stage 6-2, on the NES/Famicom games you have to power jump to make it out of the beginning area as Mario, however in the SNES and GBA versions you can time your jump so you don’t have to.)
• Also in Doki Doki there is no B-Button run. So if you thought the game was hard when we got it back in the 80s, you have yet to play the “hard mode” for lack of a better phrase.

Most Popular Version

Simply put, most gamers prefer the NES version. Not only for nostalgia sake, but because it has the right mix of difficulty and fun. This version is also perfectly emulated on the Wii, or so I am told, I haven’t downloaded it yet since my Wii and Famicom were hooked up to the same tv up until recently.

I consider the Gameboy Advance SP an absolute must-buy for anyone who appreciates retro-gaming, but sometimes wishes that those games had a bit more polish or new-age refinement. I have so many great things to say about the platform. The price is very reasonable. The back-light screen is gorgeous indoors. The battery is rechargeable. The unit itself is extremely portable. The screen is well protected when folded up. The library of games are fantastic (and cheap). It just plain looks stylish. It also has many advantages over the regular GBA and the GB Micro. The consumers seem to realize this, since the SP still sells better than the other two, in both Japan as USA.

That being said, I have very few gripes. One complaint involves the battery only lasting 7-8 hours per charge. The second issue is that the unit itself isn’t very comfortable to play for very long. This brings me to the point of this article. These two issues have been quite resolved with the purchase of a product known as the Pelican 3X Battery. This little baby has officially bumped the GBA SP into place as my all time favorite handheld. At $2 plus $7 shipping on eBay, I feel this has been one of the best buys I’ve ever made.

The main objective of the item is obviously to raise your SP’s battery lifespan. And boy, does it ever. Instead of 7-8 hours per charge, I’m getting 20-22 hours, no joke. Know that the newer SP with the backlight screen actually uses up power about 40% faster when using high brightness. If I had to estimate, I probably spend 3/4ths of my game time on low brightness, with medium volume, and 1/4th of my time on high brightness with high volume. So figure that in however you wish. The average charge up time requires about 3 hours now, whereas it used to require about 90 minutes. Very reasonable. This life-span is far beyond what I had expected after reading the battery’s specs, which are 3.7V at 1000mAH. My SP’s stock battery reads 3.8V at 600mAH. One would assume that the Pelican battery wouldn’t actually reach the advertised 3X mark, but somehow it does.

Regarding comfort, this is what I consider an unintentional bonus. Those who own SPs would probably agree that after an hour or so, your hands start to hurt. This is most likely due to how thin the SP’s control deck is. The battery actually adds much needed thickness to the unit. It’s amazing how much 1/5th of an inch can do. It also provides nice little ridges close to the sides for your fingers to rest on. I’ve played games on here for close to 3 hours strait and my hands feel fine now.

I can’t leave this entirely positive, as that’s just not my style. If I really had to find any fault at all, I suppose one could argue that the battery could have used a superior means of installation. It relies on the same singular screw hole which your old battery’s cover plate uses. This battery’s plate is obviously external now, and it could be possible to get the cloth of your pants’ pocket flap snagged on the plate, and possibly do damage. That’s definitely a “what if” scenario, however.

So if you own an SP, you should really look into getting one of these. It should be at the top of your priority list of accessories, even before the headphone jack and USB charger cable. If you don’t own an SP, but are in the market for a handheld of some sort, I advise you not to overlook the GBA SP just because it’s from the previous generation. Those newer handhelds sure do seem enticing, but the GBA SP is a much safer buy, especially if your gaming tastes are in tune with what our little community seems to be configured to. And of course, the SP still plays old Gameboy titles, a feature which the Micro and DS lack.

Note: I am in no way benefiting from this article. I’m honestly spreading the word on a great item which I myself was unable to find a review for prior to the purchase. I simply decided to take a small chance and was very surprised by the results.

Another note from racketboy: If you have product that you are passionate about that would be beneficial to retro gamers, please let me know and I’ll see if we can work on publishing a review. Thanks again to Mozgus!

Platformers

Obvious Choices:
Super Mario Advance Series, Sonic Advance Series, Rayman Series, Donkey Kong Country Series, Crash Bandicoot Series, Spyro the Dragon Series, Kirby Series,

Featured Game: Wario Land 4
�Not since Super Mario Bros. have I been so filled with wonder and excitement when I discover a new secret or accidentally stumble across a new room. Remember how it felt the first time you found a Warp Zone or jumped and a block appeared out of thin air in the original Super Mario? That’s exactly the way I felt while playing each and every level in Warioland 4. Some secrets are so well hidden that it takes blind luck to find them. In one level I was just running around areas I had already been through when I was about to slam into a rock wall. I pushed the other direction to slow down, but to no avail I went crashing into it, or at least that was what I was expecting. Instead, the wall simply dissolved into thin air and I entered a secret chamber where a huge diamond was hiding. Mine for the taking! Other levels have those trademark Nintendo hints that let you know there’s something just out of your reach. After much exploring you may finally figure out the puzzle, but sometimes it will remain a mystery until a second or third time through….

Graphically the game looks fantastic. The game is insanely colorful and the sprites are well animated. Wario himself has many different incarnations throughout the game, but you can always tell it’s him thanks to the wonderful artwork and trademark features of the big guy. The graphics are very sharp and clean looking on all of the levels, but most important of all the screen is fairly bright so you don’t have to have floodlights on to see the action. The game is loaded with parallax scrolling, sprite scaling, and other graphic touches to show off the GBA’s power as well. In many instances some of the backgrounds reminded me a bit of Super Metroid. Maybe it’s just the art direction, but I’d be interested to hear if anyone else feels the same way. Perhaps some of the same people worked on both games? Needless to say the graphics are superb and the many different areas of the game all look great.

The sound is a real surprise. It’s actually the first thing that I noticed about the game since in the introduction you’ll hear vocals in the soundtrack. Granted, it’s not the best voice ever heard in a game, but it’s really cool to hear vocals in a soundtrack on a Game Boy system. Other stages have vocals in the background music as well, and while they’re usually in Japanese, it somehow fits the game perfectly. Hidden in each stage is a CD that you can find to listen to the background music anytime you like. Wario’s trademark laughing is back, but it does sound a bit different from the awesome Mario Kart 64 voice. Perhaps they used a different voice, or maybe the sound chip in the GBA just couldn’t do the job well. Whatever the case, it sounds good enough and isn’t as overbearing as those found in Mario Advance.

When all is said and done, this game simply rocks. Nintendo has struck gold again with Warioland 4. It’s so much fun to play and is yet another 2D game on the GBA that is a must-have. If you have never before played a Warioland game, this is still a perfect place to start. After trying it out I guarantee that you’ll be checking out the older versions on Game Boy Color to see what you’ve been missing over the past 8 years. If you crave some great 2D action, look no further, Warioland 4 stands far and above any other platformer on the system. Go out and buy it, you won’t be disappointed.”
Gaming Age’s Review of Wario Land 4
Find Wario Land 4 on eBay

More Great Games:
Klonoa: Empire of Dreams (eBay)
Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament (eBay)
Kim Possible 2: Drakken’s Demise (eBay)

Action Platformers

Obvious Choices:
Metroid Series, Megaman Series, Gunstar Super Heroes, Metal Slug Series, Castlevania Series, Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts

Featured Game: Astro Boy: Omega Factor
“Everyone, regardless of age, simply must own and play Astro Boy: Omega Factor–because it is one of the best action games on the Game Boy Advance. Sega has teamed up with Treasure, the same development house responsible for past cult hits such as Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, and Ikaruga to create what is essentially a celebration not just of Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka’s life’s work, but also of everything that makes the side-scrolling action genre so timeless and great.

The Treasure-inspired influences are unmistakable. Astro can beat up enemies using his fists, but the many individual waves of enemies within each level encourage the frequent and gratuitous use of his pyrotechnically gorgeous finger laser, arm cannon, and machine gun special attacks. The arm cannon, for instance, is as tall as Astro Boy and spans the entire screen. Best of all, you only need to perform a couple of kung fu combos to recharge Astro’s stock of special attacks. Roughly half of the game’s 43 levels have a boss battle, another Treasure trademark. Some bosses are behemoths that stand multiple screens high and attack with a variety of different weapons. Others are smaller, but have multiple transformations and attack patterns. Just to shake things up a little, there are also flying stages scattered here and there. These stages play out like a traditional shoot-’em-up, with Astro dodging lasers and taking on wave after wave of flying robots using his finger laser and special attacks…

Omega Factor is a delight for the senses. The levels show a great amount of depth and detail, partly because there’s a lot going on in the cities in the background and also because the multiple layers of parallax and line scrolling make it seem like there’s a whole environment out there besides just what’s in the foreground….

All game systems have two or three games that ultimately define the particular genre they represent on that platform. Thus far, the GBA’s must-have action games have included titles from the Super Mario, Metroid, and Castlevania series. Now you can add Astro Boy: Omega Factor to that short list. You’ll need to go through most of the game’s 43 levels twice in order to find all the characters and unlock the best ending, but even after you accomplish that feat, this is the kind of game that you’ll pick up regularly just to play a level and kill some time.”
GameSpot’s Review of Astro Boy: Omega Factor
Find Astro Boy: Omega Factor on eBay

Featured Game: Drill Dozer
“It would seem that everything possible has been done with 2D platformers. The people at Game Freak, however, have come up with a few mechanics that defy what a sidescroller usually presents. In fact, the title probably does things differently than what one might expect from a game about drilling…

Drill Dozer is inventive in unexpected ways. The standard walking and jumping is present as always, but using the Dozer to suspend Jill above a chasm, then drill her way across, is something that is even more surprising than it sounds. Drilling one direction into a block or baddie, then abruptly shifting into reverse can send Jill flying backwards and remove a timed block, which reappears after a set interval.

These are just a couple of off-the-wall additions that have been made to the traditional genre. Boss fights are equally inventive, as each requires Zelda-like levels of brainpower to defeat. One signature fight has Jill playing hot-potato with a police officer’s missiles, which must also be drilled in the correct direction depending on color…

Game Freak has come up with another solid-gold piece of portable software. Nintendo might do well to suggest the company work on more console and handheld projects outside the Pok�mon franchise, as Drill Dozer surpassed expectations. In fact, the game is so inventive and absorbing that it might just justify that GB Micro purchase– unless you get the Famicom version, because that really justifies itself, doesn’t it?”
Nintendojo’s Review of Drill Dozer
Find Drill Dozer on eBay

Featured Game: Disney’s Lilo & Stitch
“When you see a game based on a Disney animated film sitting on the shelf, you?re likely to think that it?s for the kindergarten set. Lilo & Stitch might change your mind. This title features surprisingly solid gameplay reminiscent of SNK?s Metal Slug series.When Lilo?the warm-hearted Hawaiian girl who adopts the alien mutant, Stitch, as a pet?is kidnapped by space aliens, it?s up to Stitch to rescue her. Players switch between the two characters, solving puzzles with the unarmed Lilo and going on a shooting spree with the Rambo-like Stitch. The responsive controls enable you to maneuver through the lush environments easily. You don?t have to kill everything on the screen?evading your enemy works just as well but isn?t as satisfying.

The game does a great job of transferring Disney?s animation feel to the (very) small screen. The interactive parts on the backgrounds aren?t obvious, which makes environments fun to explore. The music has that classic Casio keyboard sound, but it isn?t distracting and fits the mood.”
Gamepro’s Review of Lilo & Stich
Find Lilo & Stitch on eBay

Action

Obvious Choices:
Spiderman: The Movie, Medal of Honor: Infiltrator, Jet Grind Radio, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell

Featured Game: Ninja Five-O
“Ninja Five-O (known as Ninja Cop in some circles) puts players in the role of a Ninja-gone-detective, Joe Osugi. His task is to stop a terrorist group that has been influenced by the evil forces of the Mad Masks, items that were previously locked away by the distant forefathers of the Ninja. As Joe, players don’t do a whole lot of detective work; it’s just part of the game’s storyline. Instead, players put Joe Osugi’s ninja skills to use to take out the terrorist threat and rescue hostages, eventually attempting to fall the leaders that have been put under the influence of the Mad Masks.

Bionic Commando is clearly the game’s main inspiration, as many of the level challenges require players to make use of Joe’s grappling hook; players will have to swing from platform to platform to get around the areas. But what’s more, players will have to pump, swing, and leap up to get the Ninja up to higher platforms; this technique is very different than Bionic Commando, which allowed players to simply pull up to the higher ledge with the grapple arm. In Ninja Five-O, this required grapple-swing technique adds so much to the level designs, and it looks so damn cool when you pull it off like it’s second nature.

But Bionic Commando is only part of the game’s inspiration. Hudson also rightfully lifted gameplay ideas from Revenge of Shinobi and Shadow Dancer, easily some of the most recognizable ninja action games ever released… But even though the game’s pretty much an amalgamation of existing old-school game ideas, it’s a combination that really works. And the designers have crafted 20 levels that are extremely challenging, but not frustratingly so. Players have only one life to clear out the entire level, and it will take a few times through to figure out the best plan of attack; all the levels are rigidly designed, with the same enemies, power-ups, and keys in exactly the same location every time. Players will have to learn the specific attacks of each of the colored enemies in order to succeed; so, every level essentially has a “pattern” to follow, but it still requires a lot of skill to get to the end of each area. The designers take advantage of the level layouts by also including a Time Trial mode for each level that’s been completed; the game will record the best times to cartridge, with each level having a “qualifying” time to accomplish.

Ninja Five-O is a surprisingly great game that almost came out of nowhere; Konami released this game as quiet as can be, with relatively no previous hype. The game harkens back to the days of Ninja arcade games, and even though it borrows its gameplay elements from previous designs, it’s not a me-too Game boy Advance game. Since it’s an original game with no license or previous title to bank on, chances are it’ll be one of those games that’ll just sit on store shelves…which is a shame because this is an exciting, fun and challenging action game that shouldn’t be missed.”
IGN’s Review of Ninja Five-O
Find Ninja Five-O on eBay

More Great Games:
Blackthorne (eBay)
Scurge: Hive (eBay)
Bionicle Heroes (eBay)
Sabre Wulf (eBay)

Adventure

Featured Game: Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
“It’s a tough proposition to take an old PS One game and hope to revitalize it. The point-and-click genre doesn’t even register a heartbeat anymore, so bringing an old game from that genre to GBA is a risk. Though the standard point-and-click interface has been altered to allow direct character control and icon-based selections, the operation is essentially the same. So, the question is, can a game like this survive in today’s market? Survive, yes, but thrive? Not likely. Fortunately BAM and Revolution Software have managed to pull off an engrossing story with Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars. While the genre won’t likely be resurrected by this title, it will at least get a solid bang before it possibly disappears for good.

Broken Sword makes great use of the GBA color palette. Every scene is rich in color and dazzling eye candy. Hand drawn and colored, there are some locales that will actually have you gawking. And the scenery isn’t static. There are birds flapping their wings, cars passing on the street, and pedestrians working in the background. Though some of the characters seem a bit stiff in their movements, your eyes will be too busy appreciating the environments to notice. With so many characters and such a long story, it’s important for characters to stand out visually as individuals. And they do in Broken Sword. Someone you meet early on is easily recognized eight hours into the game. All around the visuals are a treat, which makes up in some small way for the gameplay limitations. In the handheld world, it’s easy to just expect arcade-like bings and bops for sound. But Broken Sword goes beyond that, offering a solid score that carries throughout the game. Mixed in are the sounds of the city, random chirps from birds, and even the rumble of an explosion.

Broken Sword may not be your game. It’s there for those who love a good story and some attractive surroundings. It’s not difficult or particularly challenging, but it will absolutely hook you. The only thing compelling you to continue the game is your own desire to know what is going on and how the story will end. There’s some nice humor thrown in and the dialogue is surprisingly fresh at times. However, if you are more into action games, platformers, or standard RPGs, this may not be for you. This game is about as old-school PC as you can get, which I found refreshing. Who knows, you may too.”
IGN’s Review of Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
Find Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars on eBay

Racing

Obvious Choices:
F-Zero Series, Need For Speed Series, GT Advance Series, Mario Kart Super Circuit, Colin McRae Rally 2.0, Moto Racer Advance

Featured Game: Racing Gears Advance
“The day Codemasters shipped out the original Micro Machines for the Nintendo Entertainment System was the day I fell madly in love with top-down racing games. Similar games in the genre have come and gone before and since then, but it was Micro Machines that really brought the magic to the forefront of arcade-style racing. Orbital Media’s clearly on the same wavelength, as the company’s first game out of the gate, Racing Gears Advance, takes the same energetic approach to arcade racing. The development team has offered up a great looking, tight controlling, and extremely creative GBA racer that brings back a lot of those old Micro Machines feeling, something that hasn’t felt since the release of Paragon 5’s Karnaaj Rally and Micro Machines shipped on the system….

The racing action takes place in a fixed camera position over the track, scrolling with your vehicle as you zoom over the terrain. Unlike Karnaaj Rally and Micro Machines, the perspective chosen for Racing Gears Advance is slightly more angled than a harsh straight-down viewpoint. This enables the graphic artists to provide a somewhat 3D appearance to its 2D artwork, and Orbital Media took advantage of this opportunity in a big way. The beautifully rendered track designs are incredibly creative because each one not only offer paths that go every which way — including crossing over and under themselves — but also hide some pretty nifty shortcuts that aren’t always obvious to find or utilize. The engine offers only a basic scrolling environment, but it utilizes sprite techniques that allow for a huge amount of rotation positions for absolutely tight control. And if a vehicle happens to duck behind a tree or into a tunnel and disappear from the player’s sight, the game offers a handy guide “arrow” to show exactly where the car is and what direction its heading.

The actual racing and handling is also expertly pulled off on the Game Boy Advance. Steering is very precise, and it’s enhanced with a control mechanic that gives players the ability to pull off much tighter powerslides simply by release-tapping the accelerator within a curve. Each of the twelve cars in the game are closely matched up in actual performance from the start. The differences between them are somewhat minor in handling, but major when you realize that each vehicle has a unique special ability; the Corvette, for example, can boost from zero to maximum from a dead stop, whereas the Dodge Super-8 (similar to the Magnum) can snag money away from other drivers if you bump into them. The performance issues come into play after each race where you’ll have to manage the race earnings by repairing the vehicle and purchasing upgrades and weaponry. It’s here that the game offers up a nice bit of strategy, since you’ll have to balance how that money gets spread out all over your vehicle — are you an offensive or defensive driver, or do you simply want the fastest, tightest handling vehicle on the road?”
IGN’s Review of Racing Gears Advance
Find Racing Gears Advance on eBay

More Great Games:
Karnaaj Rally (eBay)
Rock ‘n Roll Racing (eBay)

Fighting

Obvious Choices:
Street Fighter Series, Mortal Kombat Series, Tekken Advance, King of Fighters EX Neo-Blood

Featured Game: Sonic Battle
“Sonic Battle isn’t going to win any awards for depth in its fighting engine…Street Fighter II this is not. The controls have been kept simple for a quick and dirty battle experience that’s light on moves but heavy on combo-striking action. There’s only one main attack button, but like Super Smash Bros., using it in combination with the directional pad will enable different strikes. Combo this with the shoulder button for special moves, both on the ground and in the air, and the potential for multiple hits against multiple enemies increases significantly. And there’s a line-up of more than nine characters in Sonic Battle, each with their own special attacks, so there’s plenty of opportunity for customized fighting in this GBA game.Even with the “keep it simple and maniacal” fighting engine, Sonic Battle is a satisfyingly deep and engrossing gaming experience on the Game Boy Advance. Before each battle players alter their attacks based upon aerial, ground, and defense moves, choosing how each of these attacks is weighed in battle. This choice determines which moves can be performed during a fight, so balancing it one way will force players to attack and defend significantly different than another way. There are five different ways to configure your character during battle. Players can also choose to play in different rules: earn a set number of KOs, or win with the most KOs in an amount of time, or in a survival match with the last man (or hedgehog) standing as the winner.

Much of the depth is all in the Story Mode where players work their way through a plot to rescue a new Sonic character: a Chaos Emerald-powered robot called, what else, Emerl (”BAM!”) By fighting through the different scenarios, you’ll earn special abilities from the many different enemies, which are then stored inside Emerl. Now here’s where it gets cool: Emerl is completely customizable. With the earned abilities players can create their own fighter to suit their own battle techniques. There are more than a hundred different moves to collect and choose from, and players can even battle their own Emerl against another’s Emerl via the game’s multiplayer link-up features. This customization feature keeps the lasting play high because it encourages many plays through to get all of the available techniques for your collection…and the cartridge can hold three different customizations to switch up the action quickly.”
IGN’s Review of Sonic Battle
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Beatemup

Obvious Choices:
Final Fight One, River City Ransom EX

Featured Game: TMNT
“TMNT on the GBA doesn’t slow the tempo with silly puzzles or frustrating platform-jumping sections. Instead, it’s a pure, fast-paced brawler that lets you go wild beating on bad guys and bosses with a healthy variety of exaggerated martial arts moves. And, thanks to the eye-popping graphics and catchy audio, the game is as much fun to see and hear as it is to play…

For each of the seven lengthy missions that make up TMNT for the GBA, you select a turtle to play as, pick a helper to call in for co-op attacks, and then work your way through the 2D environment by moving to the right and beating up the bad guys that constantly appear. Enemies come in the form of generic thugs, robots, and various Foot Clan members. Basic enemies have two or three different attacks, do a good job of sticking and moving, and generally take a half dozen hits to dispatch. None of the bosses have as much personality as Bebop, Rocksteady, and Shredder from the old days, but you’ll come to remember them just the same thanks to their flashy attacks and memorable behavior patterns that cause every battle to take a while.

Meanwhile, the whole combat engine is steeped in variety. Different attacks happen when you press the attack button multiple times, hold up or down while attacking, or attack while jumping. Enemies can be bounced into the air and juggled for additional hits, and you can rack up insane combos by jockeying between multiple enemies. The combo counter routinely shows 20 or more hits during intense scenes. While you beat up your opponents, a meter in the upper-right corner of the screen gradually fills. When it’s full, you can summon another turtle to unleash a swarm of attacks on nearby enemies. If you summon your bro when there aren’t any enemies visible, he’ll leave behind a plate of food that will totally replenish your health meter. That’s the key to getting through some levels without losing a life every time the screen stops to produce two or three successive waves of enemies. Further contributing to the game’s lively nature, you can pick up and use the bats and swords that certain enemies leave behind, and also smash objects in the environment that contain health items or produce lead pipes and concrete slabs that you can use as makeshift weapons. The turtles also gain experience and become stronger as you play the game, which is a nice touch.

TMNT on the Game Boy Advance is a rousing beat-’em-up and a shining example of a movie-based game done right. The fisticuffs are fun, the presentation is sharp, and the story stays true to the comics and the recent movie without coming across as contrived. It won’t take you hours and hours to finish the game for the first time, but the whole experience is so sweet that you’ll want to do it all over again every now and then.”
Gamespot’s Review of TMNT
Find TMNT on eBay

More Great Games:
Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend (eBay)

Shmups

Obvious Choices:
Desert Strike Advance, Space Invaders, Gradius Galaxies

Featured Game: Iridion II
“The most obvious difference between Iridion 3D and Iridion II is that the perspective has been tilted and pulled back so that the game more closely resembles traditional vertically scrolling shoot-’em-ups. While this change does mean that enemy ships are smaller in size, the trade-off is that the developers have put more detail into everything that’s shown onscreen. Enemy ships have wings and engines that flap and flare as they fly toward you. The gradual scaling effect is much more believable than it was in the first game, due to the wider variety of angles and roll maneuvers that each ship exhibits. The environment also plays a larger role in Iridion II–there are scaffold structures you need to avoid, rotating gates that you have to shoot open, and mines that explode if you fly too close to them. In some stages, there are gigantic motherships that occupy most of the screen, forcing you to skirt past them while dodging their gun turrets and exhaust vents…

Just as Iridion 3D borrowed its design from games like Star Fox and Space Harrier, Iridion II isn’t altogether unique in how it plays–the comparisons to many of the classic shooters available for the Super NES and Genesis are inescapable. You control a lone ship set against an army of invading spacecraft. These enemies fly into view at the top of the screen, fire off their bullets, and typically perform some evasive maneuver as they fly out of view at the bottom of the screen. Your task is to dodge the bullets and destroy as many ships as possible. Midway throughout each level, and again at the end, you’ll have to face off against large boss vessels. Your ship comes equipped with a modest shield that can protect it from a few bullets or a direct collision with one of the tinier vessels. Green pods scattered throughout each stage give you the opportunity to upgrade the six different weapons attached to your ship. Each weapon can be upgraded three times, although most players will probably stick to the traditional lasers or homing bullets–both because they’re familiar and because they’re powerful enough to stay competitive with the other weapons.

Although Iridion II isn’t groundbreaking with respect to how it plays, it does bring many of the tried-and-true concepts of shoot-’em-ups together in a way that the first Iridion game failed to do. The pods that attach to your ship when you upgrade your weapons can block the majority of smaller bullets from reaching and depleting your energy shield. Each boss has a variety of movement patterns and attacks that force you to move to all areas of the screen. Your ship comes equipped with the ability to fire a supershot, which you perform by charging one of your weapons for a brief period, as well as the capacity to carry three powerful bombs that can clear the screen of enemies. If you play in the arcade mode, you can earn bonus multipliers that significantly improve your score. Iridion II isn’t as difficult or unfair as the majority of shoot-’em-ups, but the sheer size and layout of each level nearly make up for this subjective lack of challenge. Most levels feel as though they’re a bit too drawn out, but that also gives you the opportunity to appreciate the layout and design of the architecture moving toward you.”
GameSpot’s Review of Iridion II
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Action RPG

Obvious Choices:
Legend of Zelda Series, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Sword of Mana, Shining Soul, Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II, Mega Man Battle Network Series, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance

Featured Game: Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand
“It’s impossible to discuss Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand without mentioning the game’s very gimmicky solar sensor. However, contrary to some expectations, Boktai is a complete and satisfying game that could hardly be called a gimmick. The sun sensor is actually very cleverly integrated into many aspects of the gameplay, and it ends up adding more to the experience than it takes away.

Boktai has a strong story focusing on the struggle between the powers of the Sun and of the Dark. The Moon also plays a mysterious role as the third major force. Each of these sides has various representatives, and your character is one of them. As the Solar Child, you must save the world from the Dark forces, led by a group of immortal beings who are turning the world�s creatures into undead. The story is surprisingly interesting and manages to balance its serious overall tone with various whimsical elements, including a floating sunflower who serves as your character�s guide. Though the main character is often referred to as a vampire hunter, the cast of villains is actually quite diverse…

The only real drawback of Boktai’s dependence on sunlight is how it affects scheduling. If you work or go to school all day long, chances are that you’ll have crappy or no sunlight by the time you get home to play games. It can become difficult to find time to play this game, which will drive you nuts once you get into the story and want to play as much as possible. The fact that you will be motivated to play is a testament to the solid, satisfying gameplay, which is impressive and compelling no matter what you think of the sun sensor. If you ever get any game time before sunset, and if you aren�t turned off by the heavy-handed emphasis on puzzles, Boktai is an excellent purchase for your GBA.”
Nintendo World Report’s Review of Boktai
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Simulation RPG

Obvious Choices:
Harvest Moon Series

Featured Game: Car Battler Joe
“This is… Car Battler Joe for the Game Boy Advance — a sim/RPG hybrid featuring a topic that interests me — cars. Driving is one of my favorite genres of video game, and with games such as Sega GT, I could spend hours in my garage tweaking and modding my cars. It feels great to turn a stock Toyota Trueno into a lean, mean, racing machine. But sometimes racing games can get repetitive, such as racing the same tracks over and over with little motivation except for victories, money, new cars/car parts, etc. So how cool would it be to have a combination RPG and driving sim?The “caRPG” is not a new concept. Final Lap Twin on the TurboGrafX-16 had an RPG mode that followed a storyline where battles were actually races done in Formula-1 style cars. Racing Lagoon for the import PlayStation was a Squaresoft RPG set in the world of street racing in urban Japan. And Namco’s Ridge Racer R4 had a story mode in it, but it was a racing game through and through. Car Battler Joe is unique in that it’s not a racing RPG but rather a car combat RPG. So, since I never got to play Final Lap Twin or Racing Lagoon, Car Battler Joe is truly the first caRPG I ever got to play.

So how does Car Battler Joe fare? It fares surprisingly well, actually. I found the game’s sim elements addictively fun and the RPG story, though somewhat hackneyed, was not a throwaway plot either. While the game is primarily gameplay driven, as are such games as Pokemon, there is a decent story worth following. I spent a lot of extra time in driving mode and in the garage tweaking up cars like crazy, as the available options in the game are staggering. Don’t be fooled by the game’s cutesy appearance; even you gear heads may find something to enjoy, though the car tweaking elements are more simplistic than those in a full-on racing sim. The cardinal rule for sim RPGs is that if you can’t get into the game’s sim elements, then it will seem blas� to you, and Car Battler Joe is no exception…
In the end, Car Battler Joe is a fun game and definitely worth a shot to anyone looking for an RPG that breaks the mold and does something unique. Certainly the game has its flaws, but its charm and heart definitely won me over. Even though I’ve conceivably done everything there is to do in this game, I still come back to it regularly for more. Sadly, good as this game is, the higher-profile RPGs already on the system or coming out for it will eclipse this title and it will not get the recognition it deserves. Car Battler Joe has shown that a car combat RPG can work, and I hope to see this subgenre of RPG expanded upon in the future.”
RPGFan’s Review of Car Battler Joe
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Traditional RPG

Obvious Choices:
Golden Sun Series, Final Fantasy Games, Pokemon Series, Breath of Fire Series, Tales of Phantasia

Featured Game: Sigma Star Saga
“Sigma Star Saga can best be compared to the 8-bit NES game The Guardian Legend, in that it features on-foot exploration segments as well as spaceship shooter segments. For those who are unfamiliar with The Guardian Legend, think of Sigma Star Saga as Legend of Zelda meets Gradius. From what I understand, a healthy portion of RPG fans out there are also fans of intense shooters so an RPG/shooter hybrid does not seem all that far fetched. In any case, Sigma Star Saga is an ambitious title that has a lot to live up to, especially given how good Shantae was in the eyes of critics and players alike. So, does Sigma Star Saga live up to those lofty expectations? We’re about to find out…
As mentioned before, the game features both on-foot exploration and side-scrolling shooter segments. The on-foot segments work as with any action RPG. Walk around, destroy monsters, and solve puzzles to get from one place to the next. Exploration is aided by the area maps in the menu. Your main weapon is a puny Earth pistol with crummy range. Later on you can get various Krill accessories to use during these segments, such as the Krill Puck – which can destroy some obstacles and work as a ricochet weapon – and the Girl Wings that allow you to fly over small gaps, to name just two. These accessories are essential to gaining access to places on the various planets you could not get to before. You will have plenty of opportunities to revisit the various planets and explore the newly accessible areas, some of which have no bearing on the plot. Oh yeah, the game often doesn’t tell you how to use the accessories. While all are pretty self-explanatory, you need to refer to the instruction manual to use the Krill Boots properly. Monsters in these walking segments do not yield experience points. They only yield health packs and smart bombs. Experience is gained during the shooter segments.

The shooter stages occur as random encounters and as boss stages. During planetary exploration, Krill starships patrol around the planet. Since they can’t do evasive combat maneuvers on their own, they summon the nearest pilot, via the symbiote, to fly them. This is how the game explains the random encounters. During a random encounter, there is a target counter and once you kill that number of enemies, the battle is over and you’re zapped back to where you were exploring on foot. It is during these shooter battles that downed enemies leave behind little orbs of experience for you to collect. Higher levels mean higher attack and defense for any ship you happen to fly. In addition, leveling up refills your life meter. This is great to keep in mind as health packs cannot be obtained during shooter segments…

It’s difficult to recommend this game, because it is aimed at a very specific niche. But I will say that if you dislike shooters or aren’t very skilled at them, definitely try before you buy. Even veteran shooter fans will surely see the “Game Over” screen a few times. But if you fit into that niche who both love RPGs and shooters, then definitely give Sigma Star Saga a try.”
RPGFan’s Review of Sigma Star Saga
Find Sigma Star Saga on eBay

More Great Games:
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story (eBay)
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 (eBay)
Riviera: The Promised Land (eBay)
Lunar Legend (eBay)

Strategy

Obvious Choices:
Advance Wars Series, Fire Emblem Series, Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis , Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon

Featured Game: Yggdra Union
“Yggdra Union from superb developer Sting could be described as the lovechild of the Saturn’s seminal Dragon Force and the super-popular Advance Wars series, but to leave it at that would be doing both game and developers a disservice. Not only has Sting captured the essence of what makes those two games great, they’ve added their own unique spin to create something freshly original while being familiar enough for fans of the genre to jump right in. Suffice it to say, Sting has shown a formidable knack for not only creating solid games, but solid games that are able to leave their own unique mark…

Although I’m personally a great fan of card-based fantasy games, the system in Yggdra Union shows more promise than it actually delivers on. Many of the cards are quite limited in functionality, with certain conditions that must be met before use. I tended to choose the same five or six cards over and over because they were applicable in many situations, giving the most flexibility. If the developers had loosened up the rules governing how these cards were used and made them more useful in general circumstances, this mechanic alone would have hit the game out of the park. The other addition, the unions, is just as original but more successful than the cards.

In stark contrast to other games of its ilk, Yggdra Union only permits one character to attack each turn. Although it seems grossly unfair when faced with steep opposition, “unions” are specific formations that can easily even the odds or turn the tide. By placing characters along certain lines (vertical and horizontal for females, diagonal for males) it’s possible to have every ally on the field take part in a massive melee. More than any other factor, effectively utilizing these unions through a mix of careful observation and mental calculation will turn certain defeat into ringing victory.

Yggdra Union is actually quite a package, when all is said and done. It’s no easy feat to invigorate a genre that has remained fairly set in its ways for the last few generations, let alone do it with the imagination and energy present here. Take into account that Sting has worked their magic on the Game Boy Advance, and their achievement is even more impressive. Although there are a few rough edges like the card system taking a few missteps or having to re-do a long chapter due to a last-minute loss at the end, it’s impossible to deny that the people behind Yggdra Union are extremely talented and infuse an amazing amount of heart and passion into what they do.”
Game Critic’s Review of Yggdra Union
Find Yggdra Union on eBay

More Great Games:
Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars (eBay)
Defender of the Crown (eBay)
Chessmaster (eBay)
Rebelstar: Tactical Command (eBay)

Puzzle Action

Obvious Choices:
Super Monkey Ball Jr., Mario vs. Donkey Kong, The Lost Vikings , Bubble Bobble: Old and New, DK: King of Swing

Featured Game: Turbo Turtle Adventure
“If you’ve ever played Kirby’s Tilt ‘n Tumble, Marble Madness, Super Monkey Ball, or Spindizzy, you’ll understand the concept of Turbo Turtle Adventure. Swedish developer Iridon has taken the roll-around-a-maze concept and added a cute, shell-backed critter into lead role for this Majesco-published GBA title. The game doesn’t offer a whole lot of surprises beyond the formula fully established way early in the adventure, but it does has a nice, addictive quality and the design suits the handheld market well…

The game has a lot of levels, including several hidden ones that can only be obtained if you find an alternate gate. That’s a whole lot of gameplay in Turbo Turtle Adventure, but don’t expect any real surprises along the way…most of the levels, including the secret ones, feature all of the same elements. There aren’t any really unique extras later in the game beyond bigger and more elaborate puzzle challenges.

I’ve always been a fan of the marble-rolling game genre, and Turbo Turtle Adventure is a solid first attempt at the idea on the GBA. There are a lot of levels in this puzzle title, but the trial-and-error gameplay makes it a different, not quite as intense breed than the Marble Madness / Super Monkey Ball action design. Turbo Turtle Adventure isn’t an instant classic on the GBA, but it is a good handheld game for players looking for a basic, pick-up-and-play title that offers a decent challenge all the way through.”
IGN’s Review of Turbo Turtle Adventure
Find Turbo Turtle Adventure on eBay

More Great Games:
Hot Potato (eBay)
Boulder Dash EX (eBay)

Puzzle

Obvious Choices:
Super Puzzle Fighter II, Dr. Mario & Puzzle League, Super Bust-A-Move, Puyo Pop, Chu Chu Rocket (eBay)

Featured Game: Kuru Kuru Kururin
“Nintendo’s spinning-stick puzzle game, Kuru Kuru Kururin, demands equal portions of brainpower and dexterity. Its premise is rather simple. You control a stick that spins at a constant speed, and you must maneuver this spinning stick through tightly designed mazes without touching the walls of the maze. Expert timing is of prime importance, as some passages can be taken only when your stick is at the proper angle. The resulting game is a fast-paced puzzler that keeps you on your toes.Like most puzzle games, Kuru Kuru Kururin makes an attempt at a storyline, but the story doesn’t have any impact on the game whatsoever. It seems that your spinning stick is actually a little hovercraft with a large spinning rotor. The pilot of the craft is a small duck, who is out to save a collection of recently kidnapped ducklings, which are positioned in various spots around the levels. Picking up the birds and other icons in the levels lets you customize your stick’s color and appearance. This is handy for the multiplayer mode, as it gives your stick a little personality…

Kuru Kuru Kururin may technically fall into the same category as stinkers like Irritating Stick for the PlayStation, but the game works really well on Nintendo’s new handheld, delivering a quick-moving puzzle game that is excellent at filling up small periods of free time with its short, level-based nature. As one of the few Japanese GBA games that hasn’t yet been announced for US release as of this writing, Kuru Kuru Kururin makes a pretty good choice for players looking to import games they wouldn’t otherwise see.”
GameSpot’s Review of Kuru Kuru Kururin
Find Kuru Kuru Kururin on eBay

More Great Games:
It’s Mr. Pants (eBay)
Denki Blocks! (eBay)
Rampage Puzzle Attack (eBay)
Ultimate Brain Games (eBay)
Gem Smashers (eBay)
Egg Mania (eBay)

Other

Obvious Choices:
Wario Ware, Inc: Mega Microgame$, Wario Ware Twisted!, Sonic Pinball Party, Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire

Featured Game: Pinball of the Dead
“Love pinball? Hate zombies? Then you owe it to yourself and to the nation to invest in the latest member of Sega?s ?of the Dead? franchise. Say what you will about the concept (no, it?s not quite as magically absurd as Typing of the Dead?but it?s close), this is the best instance of video game flipper mashing since Pok?mon Pinball on the GBC. Pinball of the Dead boasts three diverse, worthwhile, scrolling multi-tiered tables with clear objectives, bizarre targets, and perfectly meaningless names like ?Movement? and ?Wondering.? The physics are spot-on, and your ball is easy to follow. The graphics (unimpressive bosses aside) are clean, detailed, and animated with flashing unlife. The sound effects are great with lots of odd voice samples from the series, and the soundtrack represents modern zombie rock?s finest hour. A few things to moan low about, however: There are no ?collectibles? to shoot for (like Pok?mon Pinball?s Pok?dex), and each table features the same set of rather uninspired boss bonus stages. Otherwise, this is a beautiful, natural marriage of zombies and pinball that no man has the right to question.”
GamePro’s Review of Pinball of the Dead
Find Pinball of the Dead on eBay

More Great Games:
Boxing Fever (eBay)
Ultimate Card Games
Muppet Pinball Mayhem (eBay)

When you add a console or handheld to your collection, the first thing you want to do is get a handful of games to keep you busy with your new toy. However, most of us can’t spend afford to spend fat pile of cash for a few games. This budget-friendly list should help you quickly find which games will start you off well without emptying your wallet. (Prices listed are an average eBay price for US games, including shipping)

Even though the GBA is starting to be phased out, they games are still great for 2D gameplay for those that have moved onto the DS (still backwards compatible) or have a Gamecube with a Gameboy Advance Player. These inexpensive GBA games will complement any library nicely.

Cheap Classics

Metroid Fusion: $8
As the pinnacle of the Metroid franchise, Metroid Fusion is a must-own for action fans — even if you haven’t had much exposure to the Metroid games. The graphics and audio both show off the capabilities of the Gameboy Advance and the atmosphere and gameplay draw you in a way that very few portable games have been able to do.

It’s a shame that we haven’t seen another completely new 2D Metroid game since. Even though the demand is quite high on Fusion, there are plenty of copies up for grabs to keep the price down.
Shop for Metroid Fusion at eBay
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Golden Sun: $9
Camelot Software (the makers of the original Shining Force games) blessed the GBA with a fresh RPG franchise that had some small, but unique touches in addition to some beautiful 2D graphics . The Golden Sun series didn’t any awards for innovative gameplay or storytelling, but it stands as a very solid RPG that is possibly the best on the handheld as well as a GBA exclusive.
Shop for Golden Sun at eBay
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Sonic Pinball Party/Sonic Advance Combo: $9
The Sonic Advance series was essentially the only way for old-school Sonic fans to get their fix of a new 2D Sonic game. They aren’t quite as good as their Genesis counterparts, but better than playing some of the 3D disappointments we are seeing on the new consoles. Sonic Advance is a pretty good value on its own, but if you add on a Sonic (and NiGHTS and Samba De Amigo)-themed pinball game on for a few dollars more, you can’t go wrong.
Shop for Sonic Pinball Party/Sonic Advance Combo at eBay
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Tony Hawk’s Underground: $5
Cheap Tony Hawk games are abundant on the Gameboy Advance aftermarket. Personally, I have Tony Hawk 2 since I acquired it a while ago, but if you want a slightly newer (and supposedly improved) installment, Tony Hawk Underground might be what you’re looking for. If you want to spend a few extra dollars, you could also go for the Tony Hawk Underground/Kelly Slater Pro Surfer combo cartridge.
Shop for Tony Hawk’s Underground at eBay
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F-Zero: Maximum Velocity: $7
If you liked the original F-Zero game on the SNES, you should check out the sequels for the GBA. I personally prefer the first GBA installment, Maximum Velocity, but the follow-up, F-Zero:GP Legend is nearly identical and can sometimes be found for a little less money. If you want more of a focus on the racing gameplay, go for Maximum Velocity, but if you enjoy the F-Zero storyline a bit more, GP Legend might fit you better. Either way, they are both an excellent value.
Shop for F-Zero Maximum Velocity at eBay
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Pac-Man Collection: $8
Even after all these years, Pac-Man still holds up as a solid game — especially for portable gaming. The Pac-Man Collection was a budget-minded compilation from the start and can still be found in retail stores on occasion for less than $10. In addition to the standard Pac-Man games, there are also some newer remakes and puzzle spin-offs included. It is an ideal package for quick pick-up games for classic-minded gamers on the go.
Shop for Pac-Man Collection at eBay
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Virtua Tennis: $8
Taking one of the best Dreamcast games and slimming it down to the GBA’s capabilities is no easy task (just look at the crappy Crazy Taxi port), but with Virtua Tennis, Sega did well. While it definitely does not have the graphical prowess of the original, it maintain much of the solid gameplay and simplicity that made the Dreamcast game worthwhile.
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Gunstar Super Heroes: $9
Treasure made a name for themselves with the original Gunstar Heroes on the Sega Genesis with its innovative run-and-gun gameplay. Ever since, hardcore gamers were clamoring for a followup. Gunstar Super Heroes answered the call for the most part, as a slightly modernized remake that had some fresh elements and levels while showing some level and boss design that makes some obvious calls back to the original. Bottom line is that those that loved the original will find themselves pleased with this cart on the GBA.
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Chu Chu Rocket: $6
One of the Dreamcast’s premier puzzle games was shrunken down to the GBA without losing to much in the process. Chu Chu Rocket will bend you mind with its quirky puzzles. Much like more modern games like Super Monkey Ball, it makes you think creatively to reach your goal. A true classic.
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Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones: $8
For strategy addicts that need even more challenge and/or like the more fantasy-like atmosphere, take a look at the Fire Emblem games. Fire Emblem for the GBA was the first in the series to actually make it out of Japan and The Sacred Stones quickly followed up with equal success. Once the duo finally reached our shores, they were quickly touted as some of the best portable strategy games ever. The Sacred Stones is a bit more common due to a higher print run after the first game’s success and can be found for a few dollars less than the original game.
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Namco Museum: $8
Much like its Pac-Man Collection sibling, the Namco Museum is a top-notch retro compilation that can almost always be found dirt cheap and in high supply. It includes Ms. Pac-Man, Pole Position, Dig Dug, Galaxian and Galaga resulting in a great set of classics to pass the time away.
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Shop for Namco Museum at Amazon.com

Drill Dozer: $8
This action platformer from GameFreaks (developer of Pulseman and other cult classics) received a lot of underground praise as a later release for the Gameboy Advance. Drill Dozer reminded a lot of old-school gamers of the way 2D games used to be while providing them with a refreshingly innovative gameplay mechanic. The cartridge also has a built-in rumble pack to give it some extra kick. Drill Dozer never really caught on commercially, so it can now be found in the bargain bins in game stores and discounted on the online aftermarket as well.
Shop for Drill Dozer at eBay
Shop for Drill Dozer at Amazon.com

Pinball of the Dead: $8
Touted as one of the best video pinball games of all time, Pinball of the Dead is a Sega production that is themed by its House of the Dead franchise and is reminiscent of the TurboGrafx 16 classic, Devil’s Crush. Most likely do to Nintendo pinball fans moving onto Metroid Prime Pinball on the DS, Pinball of the Dead’s price has come down significantly on eBay as of late.
Shop for Pinball of the Dead at eBay
Shop for Pinball of the Dead at Amazon.com

Klonoa: Empire of Dreams: $7
Fans of the Klonoa series are sure to notice that Klonoa: Empire of Dreams is nowhere as ambitious of a platformer as Klonoa 2 on the PlayStation 2. However, it is a highly respectable emulation of the general feel of the Klonoa universe and is a slightly cheaper alternative to other platformers like Wario Land 4.
Shop for Klonoa: Empire of Dreams at eBay
Shop for Klonoa: Empire of Dreams at Amazon.com

A Few Must-Haves Slightly Over $10…

Advance Wars: $11
Every GBA and DS owner needs to own at least one installment of the Advance Wars series. It is turn-based strategy at its most pure form. What is wonderful about the Advance Wars games is that uses the Nintendo formula of taking a previously complex genre that would normally scare off most gamers and makes it more simplified and appealing while building up to intense gameplay as you go along. The first Advance Wars is currently the cheapest version, so I would recommend starting there if you are on a budget.
Shop for Advance Wars at eBay
Shop for Advance Wars at Amazon.com

Wario Ware Twisted!: $11
WarioWare: Twisted! is a mini-game filled title much like its prequel, but has an extra “twist” to it. (Ok, I couldn’t resist that pun) This cartridge has a built-in gyro sensor and rumble feature (for feedback during rotation). Most of the microgames are played by rotating the entire handheld device. Because the game automatically calibrates the gyro sensor when the game is turned on (and after every microgame), it works with both top-loading (like the Game Boy Advance) and bottom-loading slots (like all other models after the GBA and the Nintendo DS Lite). The manual states that Twisted! is not compatible with the Gamecube’s Game Boy Player, with good reason. Shop for Wario Ware Twisted at eBay
Shop for Wario Ware Twisted at Amazon.com

Mario Kart Super Circuit, Yoshi’s Island, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country: about $11 each
If you liked these games on the Super Nintendo, you will like them on the Gameboy Advance as well. If you have already played them on the SNES, however, you will have to decide if it’s worth paying for them again. If you haven’t given them a shot yet, you might want to give them a look. Super Mario World, Yoshi’s Island, and Donkey Kong Country were some of the SNES’s best platformers and Mario Kart Super Circuit is a respectable racer (but has recently be overshadowed by Mario Kart DS).
Shop for Mario Kart Super Circuit at eBay / Amazon.com
Shop for Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island at eBay / Amazon.com
Shop for Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World at eBay / Amazon.com
Shop for Donkey Kong Country at eBay / Amazon.com

Metroid: Zero Mission: $10
Zero Mission is essentially an enhanced remake of the original Metroid from the NES. It take many of the gameplay elements and audio/visual enhancements from Metroid Fusion in order to bring it up to the level of the best Gameboy Advance games. If you play Fusion and still need more of a Metroid fix, this is where to go. If you would prefer the original NES version or would like to round out your Metroid collection, the NES classic version of Metroid is also quite inexpensive for the GBA.
Shop for Metroid Zero Mission at eBay
Shop for Metroid Zero Mission at Amazon.com

Sonic Advance 2 & Sonic Advance 3: $10 each
Sonic Advance 2 and Sonic Advance 3 were both a step abover the original Sonic Advance mentioned above, but will require a few more dollars for the higher level of polish. But if you are still pining for the 2D glory days of Sonic, give these a spin.
Shop for Sonic Advance 2 at eBay / Amazon.com
Shop for Sonic Advance 3 at eBay / Amazon.com

Super Monkey Ball Jr.: $11
Super Monkey Ball is one of the best games from the last console generation as it is filled with endless puzzles that require creativity, concentration, and skill in addition to a good dose of sweet minigames. I was actually quite surprised how well Super Monkey Ball Jr. for the Gameboy Advance actually replicated the Gamecube version while running on the limited GBA hardware. It isn’t full 3D, but it sure feels like it. The puzzle courses are significantly different from the console version, so Jr. serves as an excellent complement. The minigames are still fun, but of course multiplayer is much more limited.
Shop for Super Monkey Ball Jr. at eBay
Shop for Super Monkey Ball Jr. at Amazon.com

Wario Land 4: $12
These days, Wario is known mostly for his mini-game compilations, but Wario Land 4 is a great reminder that he boasts some excellent platformers as well. As Nintendo’s first platforming game developed solely for the GBA, it shines in all the right places. The gameplay is tight and varied, the graphics are detailed and bright, and the sound is second to none.
Shop for Wario Land 4 at eBay
Shop for Wario Land 4 at Amazon.com

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga: $12
As a spiritual successor to Super Mario RPG on the SNES, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a goofy action RPG featuring Nintendo’s most popular brothers. Like Super Mario RPG and the Paper Mario series, Mario & Luigi isn’t hardcore in terms of RPG gameplay, but it filled with lots of puzzles and humor to make it an enjoyable experience for nearly any type of gamer.
Shop for Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga at eBay
Shop for Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga at Amazon.com

Astro Boy: Omega Factor: $11
The cult-classic developer Treasure (of Gunstar Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, and Ikaruga fame) put together an under-hyped action platformer featuring an old-school Manga/Anime hero. Astro Boy: Omega Factor features a blend of shoot-em-up and beat-em-up action (two genres Treasure knows very well) in order to bring a package that will appeal to almost any old-school gamer.
Shop for Astro Boy: Omega Factor at eBay
Shop for Astro Boy: Omega Factor at Amazon.com

Final Fantasy IV Advance: $10
This popular installement of the Final Fantasy series (known as Final Fantasy II on the North American SNES) has been ported to many different consoles and handhelds in the past. However, the GBA port underwent a number of enhancements and revisions such as improving the graphics, fixing bugs in the battle system, and refining the story for a smoother experience. RPG fans will find that Final Fantasy IV Advance is definitely worth the small investment.
Shop for Final Fantasy IV Advance at eBay
Shop for Final Fantasy IV Advance at Amazon.com

Castlevania Double Pack: $13
Two of the most popular (and hard-to-find) Castlevania games for the Gameboy Advance were recently re-released as a Combo cartridge for those that are looking for a more accessible and affordable option for Castelvania fans. This game pack includes both Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance and Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow for an action-packed portable experience.
Shop for Castlevania Double Pack at eBay
Shop for Castlevania Double Pack at Amazon.com

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: $12
It may not be quite as critically-acclaimed as the titles above, but Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a charming game that will work your mind and keep you entertained for quite a while. There is a follow-up on the DS, but I enjoy the mechanics of the original more and it is, of course much more of a bargain. If you have some change to spare, you might want to look into this gem.
Shop for Mario vs Donkey Kong at eBay
Shop for Mario vs Donkey Kong at Amazon.com

Other Cheap Favorites:

• Jet Grind Radio: $7 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Final Fight One: $8 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever: $6 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Max Payne: $7 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Konami Collector’s Series: Arcade Advanced: $4 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Mega Man Battle Network 2: $8 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Rampage Puzzle Attack: $8 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II: $5 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Desert Strike Advance: $7 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Castlevania (Classic NES Series): $9 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Mega Man Battle Network 3 White Version: $5 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue Version: $7 – eBay / Amazon.com
• Bomberman (Classic NES Series): $7 – eBay / Amazon.com

My Starter Picks For $50 Budget

If I only had $50 to spend on starting out a Game Boy Advance collection, here would be my top picks (in order of priority):

• Metroid Fusion: $8
• Golden Sun: $9
• Sonic Pinball Party/Sonic Advance Combo: $9
• Castlevania Double Pack: $13
• Super Monkey Ball Jr.: $11
• Total = $50