My Top 10 GBA Games

On 04/03/2014 at 11:52 AM by Casey Curran

So we're getting GBA games on Wii U today. I don't get why Wii U either, but I'm not complaining because I LOVE the GBA. I've enjoyed it more than most systems out there (thanks in part to SNES games, but I won't mention those here). So I thought I'd give my ten favorite GBA games.

10. Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure

I had a hard time deciding between this and Sonic Advance, but went with Crash because, well, it's Crash. While it did not reach the greatness of the PS1 games and lacked any original areas, it was still a solid new Crash game and much better than Wrath of Cortex.

9. Metroid Fusion

While Fusion was too restrictive on where you could go for my tastes and had way too much dialog, especially for a Metroid game, there is no deny what this game got right. It still had that great sense of getting stronger, tight controls, and some really epic boss fights. That giant spider still gives me nightmares.

8. Warioware Twisted

Warioware was an awesome idea. Give the player just a few seconds to realize what the hell is going on and react accordingly is a unique experience. If I had to pick between this and the original, I'd have to give the edge towards Twisted, especially since back then motion controls were rarely seen in games.

7. Dragonball Z: Supersonic Warriors

Most will say that Budokai are the best DBZ games. They're wrong, it's this game. Featuring very fast paced fighting that captures the feel of the show perfectly and team system where each character has three different power levels allowing for a great number of team combinations, SW is the GBA's best fighting game.

6. Pokemon Emerald

A Pokemon game not in the top 5, you ask? Yeah, Hoenn was definitely the weakest of the Pokemon generations, but there's still a lot of good stuff here. The starters were all good (for the last time until X/Y), the gyms were pretty great, and it still had that addicting quality only Pokemon has. If only it didn't have so many water areas.

5. Kirby and the Amazing Mirror

Ah, Kirby. Always in my top 5, but never my number one. Amazing Mirror took a more non-linear approach to Kirby games, allowing for a fun twist on the formula while making the powers more fun to use than any prior Kirby game. Just wish I could have tried the co-op.

4. Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga

For some reason, I could never beat a Paper Mario game, but adore the Mario and Luigi games. It was a unique mix of platforming and RPG design, where rather than have platforming challenges, it was more about basing RPG combat on the traditional Mario mechanics. The super moves were tricky, but fun to pull off because of this, making combat a blast to play. Add a wealth of side missions, fun minigames, and some great puzzles and you have one hell of an RPG.

3. Pokemon Firered/Leafgreen

This made up for Hoenn completely. Replaying the originals with updated (i.e. not crap) mechanics was an awesome experience. While Kanto seemed a little basic after Hoenn, this did not bother me as the area was still addicting as hell to raise Pokemon. Nintendo, please put this on the 3DS with online support.

2. Metroid: Zero Mission

My favorite Metroid game, Zero Mission took what Fusion established and removed many of the restrictions. The result is a fast paced and fun sidescroller with perfect controls. I didn't even know this was a remake until I read about it in an EGM, that's how good of a job they did of redesigning the original areas. Then that ending area they addded, so great

1. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

This is not just my favorite GBA game, it's my second favorite Zelda. Why exactly is hard to say, but I think it's a mix between how every item was being used the entire game, how much stuff there was to do in the overworld, and that epic final boss fight. Minish Cap is just a fantastic, underrated gem from start to finish.

xDarthKiLLx

04/03/2014 at 12:31 PM

Superstar Saga and Pokemon Emerald all the way. I never got to play Minish Cap on the GBA, and tried it via Android via emulator a while back...but the touch controls weren't responsive enough.

I dig this list.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

04/03/2014 at 01:12 PM

Bleh, touch controls with Minish Cap sounds awful.

04/03/2014 at 04:43 PM

awful is a euphemism. kinda turned me off to emulation.

V4Viewtiful

04/03/2014 at 12:56 PM

I like this game, here's mine. In no order

1. Metroid Fusion

2. Sonic Advance series

3. Final Fantasy 6

4. The Legend of Zelda: Minsh Cap

5. Advance Wars

6. F-Zero: GP Legend

7. Gunstar Future Heroes

8. Bomerman Tornament

9. Golden Sun

10. Mario and Luigi

SanAndreas

04/03/2014 at 01:39 PM

My most-wanted GBA games:

1. Metroid Zero Mission

2. The Minish Cap

3. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

4. Sword of Mana

5. Golden Sun (which is among the games announced for the VC now)

6. Final Fantasy V (best version of that game available in the US)

7. Tales of Phantasia

8. Sword of Mana

Another game I hope Nintendo will seriously consider is Mother 3, the sequel to Earthbound (Mother 2). There's an excellent fan-translation out there, but it would be really awesome if Nintendo were to use that fan-translation, pay the folks behind it a small sum of money, and release it in English. Since it's Nintendo and Nintendo is notoriously protective of its IP, it isn't likely. But then, Nintendo has surprised me before.

04/07/2014 at 11:48 PM

Oh god Mother 3 would be incredible. I want to play that game on a non-emulated system so bad.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

04/03/2014 at 01:49 PM

I'm excited for this. I never had a GBA and missed out a lot on it. I just wasn't into games at this point for a few years.... But I'm hoping to catch up!

You'd love Minish Cap and Zero Mission. They're fantastic games.

KnightDriver

04/03/2014 at 02:29 PM

Thanks for reminding me about Minish Cap. Been wanting that game for years. GBA was a great system. So many cool games.

04/07/2014 at 11:49 PM

I'm really glad I have it on my 3DS. It's too good a game to only have on one system.

Alex-C25

04/03/2014 at 02:47 PM

Even if I had a GBA (which I loved all the way), I sadly missed some of the important games like The Minish Cap, Metroid Fusion and Zero Missions, Golden Sun, etc. Really hoping to get a Wii U soon just so I can not only play the game I used to have but also the ones I never had a chance to experience anyway.

As for my favorites, they were the Sonic Advance series (specialy 3), the Mario remakes, Mega Man Zero (first and second game) and the GBA versions of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4. Atleast those are the ones I remember enjoying the most.

I avoided putting all the remakes on here because I'm planning for a top 10 SNES for the Retron 5 launch....whenever that is.

C.S.3590SquadLeader

Loved Minish Cap when it first came out. The only part I kinda didn't like about it was that I unknowingly waited too long on one of the Kinstone fusions and couldn't get the Light Arrows. My brother managed to get it and when he showed me, I was less than thrilled.

04/07/2014 at 11:50 PM

I loved the Kinstones in MC. Wish Nintendo would return to something like that, gave me more motivation to interact with the world, which made it feel so alive.

Joaquim Mira Media Manager

04/03/2014 at 04:41 PM

I really, REALLY need to find me a GB Player for my GC. I was so stupid to trade it in back then ugh.

From my ratings on my collection it seems I only played 12 games, but I do have a few more either unfinished, or unplayed. I would say that my top favorites would be both Golden Sun games, FF Tactics Advance, Castlevania Circle of the Moon, Kuru Kuru Kururin (I also have the import), Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure, and Drill Dozer (even though it's the lowest rated game on my collection).

04/07/2014 at 11:51 PM

You could just wait for the Retron 5 instead...if we ever get that thing.

04/08/2014 at 08:03 AM

Oh. I had to do some investigating about this unheard of Retron 5. Seems like it will be out this year. I guess I will just have to keep my eyes open for any news about this system.

transmet2033

04/03/2014 at 05:39 PM

Of this list, I have actually only played the Metroid games. Of all of my GBA games, I have probably spent the most time with Metroid Fusion. The camapign is short, but I replay it constantly.

I have a much easier time replaying ZM. A lot less wordy and more gameplay.

Cary Woodham

04/03/2014 at 07:13 PM

You have some good choices on your list. Have you ever played Astro Boy: Omega Factor? it's an amazing GBA action game, and one of my favorites.

04/07/2014 at 11:52 PM

Unfortunately I haven't. My GBA's dead too, so I don't see much point in checking it out until I can get a solid release date on the Retron 5. Would also like to try Gunstar Super Heroes.

Playdos

04/04/2014 at 05:08 AM

There are just so many games for the console, for me trying to make a top ten list would be impossible. I think your list is awesome. The Kirby games for the GBA I think are the best of his franchise.

I'd say Return to Dreamland is the best in the series. Fuck I love that game. But the GBA ones are definitely up there.

Super Step Contributing Writer

04/04/2014 at 10:53 AM

Of these, I own and have beaten Fusion and Zero Mission, and have rented and beaten Minish Cap. I have to say, I agree with Minish Cap being #1; I need to get myself a copy.

I actually didn't mind the linearity in Fusion at all when it released, because I was not used to the Metroid formula, so the GBA game was a lot more accessible to me than Metroid Prime was at the time.

Zero Mission is awesome, but I definitely knew it was a remake, because I was playing NES Netroid before it released via the Metroid Prime unlockable version. I like it a hell of a lot better than the original, that's for sure. I respect the original, but every time an enemy passes through a door I just closed and hits me, without my being able to move out of the way or combat it, I want to kill something.

04/07/2014 at 11:53 PM

The original just hasn't aged well at all.

TripOpt55

04/04/2014 at 06:26 PM

Minish Cap was my favorite as well, but I must admit, I never dove too deep into this system's library. Amazing Mirror was pretty cool though.

04/07/2014 at 11:55 PM

You'd enjoy the Metroid games a lot, especially Zero Mission. Mario and Luigi I could maybe see you liking, it's less about navigating menus and more about getting your timing right, puzzle solving, and exploration. At the very least, I know you'd enjoy this jump rope minigame a lot and would love the Beanbean Kingdom. Wish Nintendo would revisit that area.

jgusw

04/04/2014 at 06:55 PM

I don't think I've played any of those games.

04/07/2014 at 11:56 PM

Give them a try sometime.

NSonic79

05/19/2014 at 01:36 PM

my wife and I still whip out the minish cap every now and then. Every summer I swore to myself I'd play that game on my GBA player and finally beat it. Sadly it never comes to pass. Perhaps when I move to the Wii U i'll see about getting this digital buy for future attempts.

PixlBit