What GBA games to buy?

[HatefulGravey]

I just recently decided to pick up some more GBA stuff. I only have a few games I have picked up here and there but I've never paid alot of attention to GBA titles so I need a hand here. What I would love is a few turn based RPGs for this system, and maybe some ports from earlier Nintendo games. I have seen Zelda and Metroid from the NES on this thing for example.

[Blarginatorr]

Well, there is that Zelda LttP port.

Also the "classic range" of NES titles, Zelda, Excitebike, Castlevania, etc.

In RPGs theres always Golden Sun and Final Fantasy titles, I especially recommend FF Tactics Advance.

 

Metroid Zero Mission is supposed to be a "remake" of the NES title.

 

I'd also recommend Fire Emblem and Advance Wars, if Turn-Based Strategies are in your interest.

 

 

I should get back into GBA games...

[BrianC]

I just recently decided to pick up some more GBA stuff. I only have a few games I have picked up here and there but I've never paid alot of attention to GBA titles so I need a hand here. What I would love is a few turn based RPGs for this system, and maybe some ports from earlier Nintendo games. I have seen Zelda and Metroid from the NES on this thing for example.

 

I recommend Zero Mission over the classic NES Metroid since it has a nice remake, as well as the original NES game. The Castlevanias on GBA, aside from the Classic NES Castlevania, have similarities to Metroid. Aria of Sorrow is especially good.

 

If you like strategy games, there is Super Robot Taisen OG2, Tactics Ogre, Advance Wars 1 and 2, and Fire Emblem.

 

As far as RPGs go, the port of Final Fantasy V is very well done. The extra stuff is nothing to write home about, though. Riviera and Mario and Luigi are also very well done (though the former is very polarizing).

 

Other GBA games I recommend are Double Dragon Advance, Pinball of the Dead, Atari Anniversary Advance, Namco Museum, Racing Gears Advance, Konami Arcade Advanced, Wario Land 4, Game and Watch Gallery 4, Wario Ware, Wario Ware Twisted, and Activision Anthology.

Edited May 19, 2011 by BrianC

[Rex Dart]

I enjoyed the version of Lunar on the GBA

[Classic Pac]

I only got my GBA a little over a year ago and here are games I reccomend

 

Final Fantasy 1 / 2

Klonoa Empire of Dreams

Spryo 2 Season of Flame

Zelda Minish Cap

[Eltigro]

It's not turn based, but Sword of Mana is pretty fun. I lost mine a few years ago, though.

[Gabriel]

Final Fantasy 1 and 2: Dawn of Souls

Final Fantasy V Advance

Final Fantasy VI Advance

Super Robot Taisen Original Generation

Super Robot Taisen Original Generation 2

Fire Emblem

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

Tactics Ogre

Lufia: Ruins of Lore

Golden Sun

Golden Sun: The Lost Age

Lunar Legend (although any other version of Silver Star Story is superior)

Phantasy Star Collection (although it's easier to just play these on the PS3 or 360)

Rebelstar Tactical Command (X-Com lite)

Shining Force: Resurrection of Dark Dragon (excellent remake of the original Shining Force)

 

I guess you might as well get the two Advance Wars games. I don't hold them in terribly high regard, but they're probably common as dirt, so what the heck.

 

It's not exactly turn based, but I enjoy the two Monster Rancher games for the system.

 

If you're really brave and tolerant then you could check out Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder.

 

In terms of action games, I give my highest recommendation for the system to Double Dragon Advance. Final Fight One is also really good. Gradius Galaxies and Konami Arcade Advanced might be worth a look too.

[HatefulGravey]

Looks like a lot of good games made their way to the GBA and past my radar. I never paid enough to attention to hand held games to catch all that came that way. Thanks a lot for the recommendations. I have a few of the games that keep coming up, I'll start with those and see what I can find.

[raskar42]

lunar lander

[Koopa64]

I have a sudden addiction to collecting sealed GBA games...

 

At any rate, here is a trump card list of great GBA games.

 

Astro Boy

Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge

Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX*

DK: King of Swing

Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong Country 2*

Donkey Kong Country 3*

Dr. Mario / Puzzle League

Drill Dozer

Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls

Final Fantasy IV Advance

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Final Fantasy V Advance

Final Fantasy VI Advance

Fire Emblem

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

Game & Watch Gallery 4

Golden Sun

Gunstar Super Heroes

Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland

Kirby and the Amazing Mirror

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Four Swords

Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Mario Vs. Donkey Kong

Mega Man Battle Network 1 - 6*

Mega Man Zero 1 - 4

Metal Slug Advance*

Metroid: Zero Mission

Metroid Fusion

Ninja Five-O

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team

Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald

Rebelstar: Tactical Command

Serious Sam Advance

Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon

Sonic Advance

Sonic Advance 2

Sonic Advance 3*

Sonic Battle*

Sonic Pinball Party*

Super Mario Advance

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2

Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis

Tales of Phantasia

Wario Land 4

Wario Ware, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!

Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

 

Classic NES Series:

Bomberman

Castlevania

Donkey Kong

Dr. Mario

Excite Bike

Ice Climber

Legend of Zelda

Metroid

Pac-Man

Super Mario Bros.

Xevious

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

[toptenmaterial]

Koopa 64's list pretty much says it all, in fact I'm gonna check out some new games based on that list!

 

I do want to give a shout out to a very overlooked and underrated game: Treasure Planet. This is a great top-down game which reminds me a bit of A Link to the Past (though the latter is much more awesome). However people overlook this game because it is based on a cutsie Disney movie, so you can by it at Gamestop for like $2. If you see it grab it up!!

[fiddlepaddle]

I never paid enough to attention to hand held games to catch all that came that way. Thanks a lot for the recommendations.

If you really prefer using your TV rather than a hand held, remember that you can play GBA games on a Game Cube (with the "Game Boy Player" adapter), which works quite well.

[Blarginatorr]

Not to go too much off-topic.

What's peoples opinion on these chinese replacement batteries that eBay is full of?

Can they be trusted, and if not, where to get proper one?

[toptenmaterial]

I never paid enough to attention to hand held games to catch all that came that way. Thanks a lot for the recommendations.

If you really prefer using your TV rather than a hand held, remember that you can play GBA games on a Game Cube (with the "Game Boy Player" adapter), which works quite well.

Indeed, and somehow these games keep a crisp resolution on the big screen. It also makes games like the Castlevania series (with it's huge maps) and Advance Wars much easier to play.

[DickNixonArisen]

I never paid enough to attention to hand held games to catch all that came that way. Thanks a lot for the recommendations.

If you really prefer using your TV rather than a hand held, remember that you can play GBA games on a Game Cube (with the "Game Boy Player" adapter), which works quite well.

 

! no wonder people care about that thing so much. I knew there was game-specific GBA connectivity and that you could play regular GB games. Do you use the GBA as a controller with a link cable or just plug the cart into the GBP?

[BrianC]

! no wonder people care about that thing so much. I knew there was game-specific GBA connectivity and that you could play regular GB games. Do you use the GBA as a controller with a link cable or just plug the cart into the GBP?

 

This is different from GBA connectivity. The GB Player is GBA hardware made to play from a Gamecube. The carts are plugged into the GB Player. A GBA without a cart can be used as a controller with the GBA to GCN link. There is also a link port that works just like the GBA link port and isn't for using the GBA as a controller (though it technically is player 2's controller for linked games).

[Bloodreign]

Gradius Galaxies - if you're into shmups, this is a must own, very challenging once you get past loop 1, though loop 1 has tricky parts.

Metroid Zero Mission - as others have said it's a remake of the first game, plus there's more to it than the original had.

Mario Vs, Donkey Kong - if you liked Donkey Kong 94 on GB, this is more of the same, can be quite challenging to get all the gifts in a level.

Kirby's Adventure - remake of the NES classic, looks even more colorful here, can't go wrong owning this game.

Konami Wacky Racing aka Wai Wai Racing - kart game starring some of Konami's game characters, from Vic Viper to Goemon.

Goemon 1 &2 - Japan only combo of the first two SFC Goemon titles on one cart, quite fun though language barrier could be a problem.

[retrorussell]

Pokemon Ruby

Star Wars III: Revenge Of The Sith

Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow

[ATARI7800fan]

The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night is a excellent game released later in the GBA's life, around 2007. It also happens to be a excellent platformer and the best version out of all the others including the console versions. Joystiq gave the GBA version a 9.5, praising the game's graphics, combo system, and its storyline; they called it "the last great GBA game."

Edited June 4, 2011 by ATARI7800fan

[viking24]

I only got my GBA a little over a year ago and here are games I reccomend

 

Final Fantasy 1 / 2

Klonoa Empire of Dreams

Spryo 2 Season of Flame

Zelda Minish Cap

 

I am currently playing Final Fantasy 1 and 2 and I agree that it's excellent.

Lord of the Rings the Third Age- is also a good turn based strategy game, you can play a good character or an evil character.

Pokemon Emerald is apparantly the best Pokemon game for the gba. I can agree with this.

Payback is a great game and the graphics look better than the GTA for GBA. It is better in my opinion because you get experience points for everything you do so it doesn't matter if you fail a few missions, you can still complete the levels.

Chronicles of Narnia is wonderful, it is very cute and you heal yourself using tea and toast. It could have been a bit longer though but look out for Mini Aslan!

 

That is my list of best games, some rpg's some not. All are awesome.

[HatefulGravey]

Yeah, I picked a GBA player up at the local GameStop for a big $10. Not a bad grab from a retail store at all. The local retro store was selling them for $20. I showed them!

[Koopa64]

Kirby's Adventure - remake of the NES classic, looks even more colorful here, can't go wrong owning this game.

 

That's Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland...

[Wickeycolumbus]

Koopa 64's list pretty much says it all

 

I agree, though it's missing one of my favorites: Harvest Moon Friends of Mineral Town. Great farm simulation with many RPG elements.

[Koopa64]

Wait, my list is missing Mineral Town? How did I miss that one? That's also one of my favorite GBA games. More Friends of Mineral Town is the same but girl themed (reminds me of Pokemon in a way). I'll have to add those games to the original list I have on NintendoAge. Thanks wickey.

[Atari_afternoon]

Doom convinced me I needed one. Also Doom 2. And it´s fantastic three Sonic platformers. And the two Advance Wars - time wasters par excellence. And Activision Anthology, fantastic Atari emulation.

Wings, too - great WW 1 shooting 3D and isometric game.

Last long time faves, Mario Kart and WarioWare.

 

So, Doom and Wings won me over. Only played Doom earlier this evening on the GB Micro.