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Last Active 12-23-22 6:13 pm
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| Top 15 Favorite Gameboy Advance Games
Alright, so I'm covering for Caliggy on this one. The GBA was one of my absolute favorite consoles growing up, so I'm always gonna have incredibly strong memories with the following games. Also, as a bonus, I'll be adding a little description/reason for each. Enjoy! | | 15 | Medal of Honor: Infiltrator
Who knew that Medal of Honor could translate so well to a top-down view? This gameplay style is what makes Infiltrator stand out from the other entries in the series. For those who have ever played Commando or Ikari Warriors on the NES - or have watched AVGN suffer through the latter in his video - this is basically in the same vein, just with better combat and more balanced difficulty. Aside from that, the gameplay is pretty self-explanatory: play through 15 missions in famous World War II settings, in classic Medal of Honor fashion. Thereās also a survival mode once you complete the game, and itās pretty much what youād expect from the name; survive as long as you can and keep trying to beat your previous high score. I guess itās just refreshing to play a Medal of Honor game that deviates from the franchiseās first person shooter format so much, and the top-down view gives more of an arcade-like quality to the experience. In any case, itās a really fun title. | | 14 | Bomberman Tournament
This might just be the most unique game in the Bomberman series, due to having a single player quest with a fleshed out story. But itās also one of the finest in the franchise, as the gameplay is as fun and addictive as ever. On top of your typical combat - the whole top-down, bomb-laying routine - thereās also (as the title gives away) a tournament mode that features battles between creatures known as Karabons; basically, theyāre this gameās version of Pokemon battles. On top of being a great game in its own right, this one also benefits from being there for me during some hard times as a kid. My family and I had to evacuate from our home after a massive fire broke out in the San Bernardino mountains (look up the Old Fire on Googleā¦ thatās what it was). This was such a comforting game to play during that time and really helped me when I needed it, so I have quite a personal connection to it. | | 13 | Klonoa: Empire of Dreams
And here we have the sleeper. The Klonoa series, despite being a hit with critics, never managed to garner much attention from the gaming public during its original run. Itās a damn shame too because these were some of my favorite platformers, easily rivaling the likes of Mario and Sonic back in the day. Unlike its 3D home console entries, Empire of Dreams is a 2D platformer with Kirby-esque visuals and opts for a simpler gameplay style. Regardless, many of the Klonoa trademarks still remain intact: the ability to hover for a short period of time, drawing enemies in and throwing them projectiles, etc. Itās simple, but addictive. The overall presentation, while a bit lacking in places, has the same kind of whimsical charm you get from a lot of these GBA platformers. Thankfully, a remastered compilation of the first two Klonoa games, Phantasy Reverie, was just released this month; I highly recommend getting it if youāre looking for some excellent platforming. You wonāt be disappointed. | | 12 | Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
This is not only the first handheld Mario RPG but also the first Mario & Luigi game, and damn, did they hit it out of the park. What I appreciate about this game - as with the rest of the Mario & Luigi games - is that itās not afraid to subvert typical RPG tropes. Sure, youāve got certain things that adhere to the genre, such as an experience point system, overworld exploration, etc. But I love the fact that everything about the gameplay and presentation still screams āMarioā despite not being one of the seriesā traditional platformers. The graphics are whimsical and cartoonish, the dialogue is extremely lighthearted and comedic, and the combat utilizes familiar Mario weapons/items and moves like the hammer, jump attack, and the 1UP mushroom. Also, fun fact, but did you know that the composer for Kingdom Hearts - Yoko Shimomura - also composed the music for this game? Thatās just icing on the cake. | | 11 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Eternal Duelist Soul
This would have to be my second favorite Yu-Gi-Oh! Game behind Duelists of the Roses, as well as possibly the most advanced (no pun intended) title in the series up to that point. Thereās not really much of a plot; just hover over a character and select him or her to engage in a duel. But does it really matter? The gameplay is what makes Eternal Duelist Soul shine. It astounds me that Forbidden Memories and this game exist in the same franchise, as the depth of the latter is leaps and bounds ahead; then again, I believe the progression of the video games was coinciding with the trading card game itself, so that makes sense. Each tier presents a new set of duelists, each harder than the last; however, unlike a game like Reshef of Destruction, thereās not nearly as much grinding to get the good cards, nor is the difficulty nearly as cheap. This game is balanced, has a nice steady progression, and is all-around fun as hell. | | 10 | Mega Man Battle Network 2
While I maintain that MMBN3 is still the best in the series, BN2 was such a leap forward from the original that itās kinda ridiculous. The net was much more fleshed out this time around, especially with the addition of āNetsquaresā, hub environments that allow you to buy items and read bulletin boards. The story was also vastly improved: sure, it still had the typical ātake over the worldā plot, but you can tell that the writers reveled in providing more interesting narrative twists this time around. Speaking of the writing, Iām surprised that this game was given an āEā rating by the ESRBā¦ the amount of cussing is a bit surprising. Thereās one villain who literally yells ādamn it to hell!ā Well, I suppose a little edge isnāt a bad thing. Anyway, the gameplay is similar to the original, but everything surrounding the gameplay is what made it such an improvement; again, the worldbuilding, plot, quality-of-life changes in regards to exploration, etc. Overall, itās an incredibly solid RPG. | | 9 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords
The reason I have this one a bit lower on the list is that, well, it might be cheating to have it here at all. But seriously, how amazing is it that we were able to play (arguably) the best 2D Zelda game on a damn handheld back then? Obviously now we have stuff like the Switch or emulators, which have made portable gaming significantly easier, but having A Link to the Past on the GBA was a godsend back then. Top that off with a solid multiplayer component in Four Swords (provided you have the right setup to play it), and buying this was an absolute no-brainer. | | 8 | Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Iām not going to touch on this one too much, as most of what I have to say will be covered in the next entry. The Lost Age is quite similar to the first Golden Sun, with a few tweaks here and there such as more intricate puzzles and slightly improved production values. But since the original Golden Sun is so damn good and The Lost Ageās gameplay and Djinn system are pretty much identical to the former, itās still quite a superb experience. | | 7 | Golden Sun
If thereās any RPG on the GBA that can actually stand toe-to-toe with its competition on the home consoles, this is the one. Golden Sun takes a lot of cues from more popular RPG franchises like Final Fantasy: random encounters, traditional turn-based combat, etc. However, what really separates the game from many of its contemporaries is the use of the āDjinnā system. These creatures are often the key to victory, as they can serve a wide variety of functions: changing a characterās class, buffing, healing, summons, you name it. Theyāre a really cool feature and, when combined with the rock-solid combat mechanics, make for a truly addicting experience. On top of that, youāve got a solid story that takes place in a land inspired by themes of alchemy and the four classical elements. Itās not the most original stuff in the world, but it serves the rest of the game just fine; really, the gameplay and exploration are the true draws here. Still one of my favorite RPGs to this day. | | 6 | Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Oh man, this game brings me back. This was actually the very first Castlevania game I ever played, and I distinctly remember experiencing it while visiting my grandparents for Christmas as a kid. It was also my first time with a Metroidvania-style game, so the level of exploration and sheer detail was something I wasnāt ready for yet. I also loved how each action and attribute ācardā was based on a figure from Roman or Greek mythology, as well as the fact that this mix-n-match approach could really shake up your playing style depending on part of the game you were trying to complete. I know a lot of people seem to prefer Aria of Sorrow, but I have to give a nod to Circle of the Moon for getting me into the series in the first place. What a shame that Konami decided to ruin Castlevania and discontinue it, just like most of their franchisesā¦ | | 5 | The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
While the Oracle games are the GBA Zelda titles I played the most when I was younger, I canāt deny that Minish Cap is still the superior game. It was the best handheld game in the series up to that point - even over Linkās Awakening - and still sets a high bar for modern 2D Zelda titles. Extremely well-designed dungeons, fantastic music, charming art styleā¦ it can all be found here. Then thereās the gameās main innovation, which is that you can now change size to accommodate certain battles or puzzles; it really adds an extra dimension to your otherwise typical LoZ gameplay. Other than that, itās just an extremely solid adventure all around; definitely try it out if you havenāt. | | 4 | Mega Man Zero 3
Ah yes, the true refinement of the MMZ series. While I love the first game for more sentimental reasons, it was flawed as hell; the lives system was a complete joke, and it took an eternity to grind for cyber elves to get health powerups. MMZ2 was a huge leap up in terms of difficulty balancing and boss fights, but MMZ3 is where everything really fell into place. What began as a strong story in the first two games has now turned into a global conflict with prominent themes of genocide and questionable loyalties. The gameplay difficulty and control are just perfect in this one and, because of the reduced cheapness, it always feels like itās YOUR fault if you lose instead of the gameās. Also, the cyber elves have received an overhaul: using them wonāt affect your mission score anymore, and their benefits have greatly increased here. Combine that with a few other new features such as the addition of cyberspace areas, and this just feels like the most complete MMZ experience. | | 3 | Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
I know many people seem to prefer the original GBA title to Sacred Stones, but the latter is still my favorite on the platform. With an epic story that details the continent Magvelās downfall via an evil energy thatās been cast over its six nations, you are tasked with preventing the final sacred stone (thereās one for every nation) from being destroyed by the Demon King. Gameplay-wise, this oneās quite similar to others in the FE series: turn-based gameplay, permadeath, seizing thrones or defeating all enemies to win, all that good stuff. But what really makes this one stand out to me are the relationships between the characters. Iām not sure why, but this game has always had my favorite overall roster of characters in the entire series; theyāre just so charming and likable as they interact with one another. In any case, this is definitely a personal favorite of mine. | | 2 | Metroid Fusion
Possibly the darkest and creepiest game in the entire Metroid franchise, Fusion is a near-perfect blend of outstanding 2D gameplay and chilling atmosphere. Granted the game is a bit more linear than past entries, as well as a bit on the shorter side; however, thereās still plenty of exploration and a myriad of excellent powerups to be found. Plus, since Zero Mission was only a remake of the original NES title, Fusion was truly the seriesā next big leap forward in the handheld market after the underrated Gameboy title Samus Returns. If you love 2D adventure games, and especially if youāre a fan of Super Metroid, this is a must-play. | | 1 | Mega Man Battle Network 3
As crazy as it may sound, this is my favorite Mega Man game of all time - and Iām saying that as someone who absolutely loves the classic, X, and Zero series. Mega Man plotlines are usually pretty basic: defeat eight robot masters/mavericks, defeat Wily/Sigma, and watch the fortress explode and crumble into the dawn. But BN3 has possibly the most complex and emotional story in the entire franchise, one that actually moved me to tears as a kid because of its ending. The brotherly relationship that the two main characters - Lan and Mega Man EXE - share is at its apex here, and while a certain familiar face is back as the villain, the rest of the narrative runs the entire gamut from tragedy to heartbreak to triumph to reflection to catharsis. Combine that with a refined battle system, the first use of the NaviCust program - with which you can equip extra parts to Mega Man - and the best postgame content in the series, and this is up there with my favorite games of all time. | |
Koris
07.15.22 | And it's up! Enjoy :]
Also, for those who wanted to see Pokemon on here... sorry, I didn't play the GBA games that much. I stopped after the original Gameboy games, and then picked the series back up with the DS titles | Slex
07.15.22 | Good list, 5 is 1 for me | Koris
07.15.22 | Thank you! As far as Zelda goes, the Oracle series would definitely be one of my top runner-ups for the list | Slex
07.15.22 | I am also glad that we as a society have reached the point where it is okay to admit the Yugioh games are legit incredible | ItsTheSquirrel
07.15.22 | Loved Golden Sun when I was younger but never finished it for some reason, gotta hop back on that some day | Feather
07.15.22 | Not having Pokemon R/S/E on here is absolute insanity. Fire Red and Leaf Green as well tbh
Others I liked:
Yu-Gi-Oh Dungeon Dice Monsters (too easy though, needs better computers)
Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories (I am a fanboy tho)
Kirby and the Magic Mirror (only kirby I ever played and it was a blast) | Koris
07.15.22 | ^ Apparently you didn't see my first comment, lol
Never played the GBA Pokemon games | el_newg
07.15.22 | wheres wario land 4 | Koris
07.15.22 | Never played that one either, but I've heard a lot of good things about it so I'll try it out | Feather
07.15.22 | @el_newg Wario Land was cool! Forgot about that one.
@Koris I read the comment, I just felt it needed to be further addressed. If you havnt played either of the R/S/E remakes on the DS I highly encourage you to play some version. FR and LG can be skipped since they are just (great) remakes.
Also, sorry about not commenting on anything on your list ... tbh I was a hardcore pokemon junkie so I have actually not played a single one of the games you listed haha | demigod!
07.15.22 | Metroid Fusion goes so hard hell yea
what about the mario advance games tho ik they're just remakes but damn I played the crap out of those as a kid | YoYoMancuso
07.15.22 | demigod sighting | demigod!
07.15.22 | i just realized im like 500 posts away from 50k so im just gonna knock that out then ill dip again for like 5 years | YoYoMancuso
07.15.22 | Godspeed, soldier | CaliggyJack
07.15.22 | In this entire list I've only played 3, 5, and 6 lmfao!
This is a great starting point for me to work from when I get a new comp. I've always said I need to try getting into more portable consoles. | ArsMoriendi
07.15.22 | No PokƩmon Emerald? That was my first one | Gyromania
07.15.22 | I didn't like how the cnetwork MM games had this pseudo real time combat, coming from playing the X games prior to it felt restrictive and ultimately like a massive downgrade, but I still enjoyed them well enough. Metroid fusion would prob be my #1 | Feather
07.15.22 | The only two bomberman games Iāve played were 64 and Hero and Hero was an all time favorite for me. So damn whimsical and fun | Kompys2000
07.15.22 | Yoo feather nice shout on Kirby and the Amazing Mirror, I've probably sank more time into that game than any other platformer
I played the second golden sun and liked it but iirc I got stuck on one of the cave puzzles about halfway through and got frustrated and stopped playing lol, still a cool game tho | Koris
07.16.22 | I definitely recommend trying the Golden Sun series again. They're some of the best handheld RPGs you could find to this day imo | Get Low
07.16.22 | Eternal Duelist Soul has a special place in my heart, but my favorite Yugioh game on GBA and of all time is World Championship 2006. I always thought Yugioh games that revolved around a storyline were dumb; I'm just tryna fuckin' duel. | Koris
07.18.22 | "I always thought Yugioh games that revolved around a storyline were dumb; I'm just tryna fuckin' duel."
For me, it depends on how strong the story actually is. For as flawed as Forbidden Memories is, the plot is actually pretty detailed and interesting for a Yu-Gi-Oh! game. Plus, I just love what they did with the ancient Egypt setting in that one... the graphics might be mostly still images, but they're well-done regardless | Koris
07.23.22 | Also, I just realized that I forgot Advance Wars. Ah well, consider that #16 :] | foxblood
07.23.22 | Didn't see this list, great console. Golden Sun is soo good. I love the Sonic advance games. | PotsyTater
07.23.22 | Bomberman 64 had a deep single player quest and slapped too | PotsyTater
07.23.22 | Bomberman generation too iirc | samwise2000
07.23.22 | Mother 3, thats all. | Get Low
07.23.22 | I tried playing Advanced Wars a couple years ago and couldn't beat the tutorial. | Koris
08.12.22 | "Mother 3, thats all."
Yeah, that one's an honorable mention for me. Great game | pizzamachine
08.12.22 | That be a game | Koris
09.07.22 | Indeed it do be |
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