GBA Gems

[QZA]

If you are like me and spent a ton on GBA carts the first half of this decade lets look back to some of the Games that stood out. Every week I will look at a new games and give my views and rating. Feel free to add games of your own but try and follow the following giudelines.

1) Rate Graphics, Sound, Gameplay and Replay factor. and give an overall score ( does not have to be an average of the  individual scores) And

2) Say why you like the game.


The Urbz - Sims in the city.

I am not big on the whole Sims thing, that maybe why I like The GBA version of the Urbz so much.

The Game itself resembles a generic Sims game in that you have various "motives" that you need to constantly monitor but thats about it. The Urbz imo is really a fun rpg lite game. You have to upgrade you chars various skills, you have various missions and tasks to complete you have a somewhat engaging if quirky storyline and you have a lot of fun ( seriously mogoo monkey card game is addictive) mini games to kill some time if you dont have time to really get into a serious gameplay session.

The game is long also. 30 hours of gameplay packed in there  longer if you decide to do various challanges and minigames. There is also great replay factor becuase there are four groups each with a different set of challenges and slightly different story. Then there are the minigames. The minigames once you unlock level five can be a stand alone affair.

All in all great portable title for anyone who enjoys rpg-ish games without the drama or who secretly wished there was some direction in sim games. A deffinite BUY

Graphics 8.5. Very good graphics seen from a slightly overhead isometric-ish faux 3D perspective.

Sound. 10. Sound in gba games dont get much better than this, fun soundtrack and lots of tunes to play on your stereo ingame epecially if you choose the Streetie option.

Gameplay 10. Its a game you can just pick up and play. Controls feel natural and the mechanics are simple enough for anyone to understand yet there is enough variation to please most gamers. The mini games add dimension you can simply play a few minigames if you have a couple minutes to kill, I suggest the monkey card game or the tetris on acid surgery game.

Replay value 9. With four Char groups each with different challenges and a different ultimate reward and special group gift there is a lot of reasons to play the game through at least four times. Then there are the minigames, three of which ( the motocross, the card game and the tetris like surgery game ) are standalone quick games in there own right, that you can play without even starting the actual game.

Overall rating 9. This game imo is a BUY or aquire title, it has something for everyone, quests, missions, fun, tons of items and rewards, good stroyline and great graphics and sound.

[Agokillya]

Metroid: Zero Missions

This is my favorite GBA title by far. This version is similar to the SNES version of Metroid which is the 2D side scrolling platform genre where you traverse the many landscapes whether land or water collecting power ups to aid you in the fight against your alien foes. As you progress you are directed to your objectives which easily seen on the map.


Graphics 9. Good colors, very fluid animation and intense battles never slow down which is impressive. Character sprites are drawn well and are easy to see especially on the small screen.


Sound 9. From normal shooting to missle launching, all sound great on the GBA.


Gameplay 10. Character movement is very fluid and easy to control with each button press. Button layout is very simple and is enough to get you through all the menus quickly without being lost.


Replay value 9. Lots of weapons and suit mods to collect in this game and it can take quite a while to search the entire map to find all. As a bonus when you finish the game you unlock the original NES version of metroid. Can't get any replay value than that.


Overall i would give it a 9.5. The Metroid series has been the backbone to many side scrolling games of today (Shadow Complex) and this GBA version, despite it's age, holds up very well. If you like side scrolling, power uping, backtracking, shooting aliens up the @$$ type games, then you won't be dissapointed.

[QZA]

Baldur's Gate

Few games on the GBA offer the vast amount of character customization that this action oriented rpg does.

Baldur's Gate is bascially D&D lite. You have the detailed char ststs, each of which can be upgraded. You have a vast amkounts of weapons to equip. You have various magic items and you have magical abilities that are also upgradable.

Simply put, if your main focus is on creating a char in your own  ( mental heh ) image, this is the game for you.

The game is fairly long also and contains three separate "worlds" each of which is fairly large and very detailed. The sound , or lack thereof generally adds to the atmosphere of the game. There are three character types to choose at the start and a fourth that is unlockable so you can enjoy slightly different gameplay at least four times. All and all  a great game for action rpg lovers,its not castlevania but its damn good all the same

Graphics 10
Sound      7
Gameplay 8
Replay      8

Overall    8.5

[QZA]

The Lord of The Rings : The Third Age

If you enjoy turn based battles then chances are you will like Third Age.  The game mixes tried and true mechanics with a little twist.

The game follows the storyline of the three movies putting you in the middle of the action in localities such as Balin's Tomb, Pealenor Fields and The Black gates of Mordor. Unlockable stages and Chars give the game a bit of replayability and the ability for two player action on a single GBA means you will be playing over and over with like minded friends.

All the usual suspects are there, Elrond, Gandalf, Aragon, Legolas, Gilmi along with the dark forces Mouth of Sauron, Saruman, Witch King along with various other chars good and evil.

The gameplay is good if basic but it requires a fair amount of stratagising at the higher levels. All in all a very god Turn based battle game with rpg elements thrown in. I recomend it

Graphics 9
Sound    8
Gameplay 8.5
Replay 8

Overall 8

[QZA]

Ecks vs Server

There are handheld FPS games and then there is E v S.

This game is beyond any doubt, the best fps to ever grace the venerable GBA. Blasphemers shall be struck down by sniper zoomed in from the top floor of adjacent building.

The game, simply put is excellent. others have attempted make an fps for the gba with varying levels of sucess and for the most part failure.  This game suceeds where they have failed by keeping it simple and keeping it real.

There are several modes of play  but where the game really stands out is in multiplayer. Trust me get three friends, whip out the link cable fire up a deathmatch and 2 minutes in you will forget you are looking at a 2 inch screen and controlling with a d pad and for the most part two buttons. Its that good.

Graphically the game impresses becuase it knows its creators knew the limitations of the hardware and worked wondefully with them. The game runs smoothly and the graphics are crisp not blocky and faded like doom for gba.

The sound while not as good as the look does its job and does it well.

There is no limit to the replayability becuase of the awsomeness of the multiplayer experience

If you have a GBA get Ecks vs Server nuff said


Graphics 8.5
Sound 8
Gameplay 10
Replay Value 10

Overall 9

[QZA]

The Lord of The Ring : ROTK

 If you loved the movies, You will like this game.  The game covers events  spanning the last two movies in the series and though technically it may be termed an rpg  its really a story driven action adventure game.

The game is very polished the controls are smooth and responsive and visually its pleasing to the eyes.  You get to play as either, Gandalf, Aragon, Legolas, Gilmi, Eowyn or Frodo/Samwise.  Each char is different and has a unique feel and style of play, while Legolas relies on speed and herbs and nature, Gilmi relies on endurance and brute force.  There is also a separate path foe different players so it feels like you are playing a different game  simply by switching to a different char. Frodo for example, playing as him  is as if you got a free second game. The sound is limited but all the theme music you would expect is there right down to the haunting flute music at the end. The gameplay is hack and slash for the most part but with certain chars like Gandalf or frodo a degree of thinking and planning is required so its a decent mix of stratagy and  action hack/slash. There is a huge number of colectable items in the game  that you can find buy and sell with ease even trade on two player, and there is quite a few unlockable maps  and special artifacts to find/unlock. All in all this is a very good game for anyone who enjoys a good action adventure on an rpg foundation. Recomended especially if you are a fan of Tolkien

Graphics : 8.5
Sound : 8
Gameplay : 9
Replay: 9