DS Daily: Favorite GBA games

by David Hinkle { Jun 18th 2008 at 8:00AM }

We were thinking about all of those sealed GBA games up for grabs and we just wanted to buy them all. Then, we remembered we have no money and looked at our own sad little pile of GBA games for some kind of solace. None was to be had.

What about your GBA games? Got a lot? Got a little? Our of all your GBA games, which is your favorite? Astro Boy: The Omega Factor? It's up there! Metroid Fusion? Definitely another good one! What are your favorite GBA games?

Tags: astro-boy, game-boy, game-boy-advance, metroid-fusion

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Szczylu @ Jun 18th 2008 8:55AM

Golden Sun :)

Roto13 @ Jun 18th 2008 10:59AM

^ This.

ericflatness @ Jun 18th 2008 2:27PM

^ This

jsutcliffe @ Jun 18th 2008 8:17AM

I don't have very many (since I never had a GBA -- just a DS), so my choices are somewhat predictable:

FFTA
Advance Wars 2
Golden Sun
Fire Emblem

Maz @ Jun 18th 2008 9:19AM

Those are some of my favorites too..as well as the Mega Man Battle Network series.

Nephiel @ Jun 18th 2008 8:38AM

The Castlevanias: Aria of Sorrow is mandatory, no excuses. Circle of the Moon is a also a must. And Harmony of Dissonance... although that last one it's not as good as the others IMHO.

There is also the Castlevania Double Pack that includes AoS and HoD in the same cart, which is neat. Only thing I don't like about the Double Pack is that you can't use it to unlock the Mina Doll and start with a Rare Ring in Dawn of Sorrow; only the AoS cart works for that.

Alisha @ Jun 18th 2008 9:06AM

I never had a GBA, only a DS, so I only have a couple. There's a Spyro one I like, as well as Harvest Moon FoMT.

Plokosh @ Jun 18th 2008 8:45AM

I used to have a bunch of gba games...but I slowly even up selling them for a quick buck (which I now regret).
My faves would have to be the first and second Golden Sun, Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission (even tho I could never beat the original nes game, guess I suck...) and Fire Emblem (6?). I should also put Mario Kart in that list since it did keep me awake during spanish class in H.S and the Super Mario Advance series (of which I still have the 4th one, SMB3 :3).

tamriel @ Jun 18th 2008 8:58AM

Having little space for my own toys (the kids slowly crept this one on me), I have ended up selling back most of my GBA games too. However, the short list of those I have kept is pretty much the same as yours: both Metroids, both Fire Emblems. I also have kept WarioWare, which started the series and remains, to me, the best of them and the only minigame collection that I can palate.

Cameron DS @ Jun 18th 2008 9:19AM

I only bought one GBA game for my DS so far: Counter punch. I like it as much to keep the dust out as I do for the actual game play.

Blue_Falcon @ Jun 18th 2008 9:22AM

Gunstar Super Heroes is essential and it still hasn't left my GBA slot since the game was released. Which will be something like 3 years coming this fall.

(Sure, I haven't played it all the time during those years, but it's still fun every time I play it)

pj @ Jun 18th 2008 9:41AM

by far the greatest gba game series out there is golden sun and lost age

sketchampm @ Jun 18th 2008 9:31AM

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror
Metroid Fusion
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Advance Wars
Astro Boy: Omega Factor
Wario Ware: Twisted
Final Fantasy VI
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Golden Sun
Mario Kart Super Circuit
Super Mario Advance: Yoshi's Island
Gunstar Super Heroes
Sonic Advance 2
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Super Ghouls and Ghosts
Metal Slug Advance
Wario Land 4
Donkey Kong Country
Super Puzzle Fighter II
Drill Dozer

animeman_59 @ Jun 18th 2008 10:21AM

Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission
Astro Boy Omega Factor
Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga
Advance Wars 1 and 2
Golden Sun 1 and 2
WarioWare Inc
Zelda The Minnish Cap
Castlevania Aria of Sorrow and Circle of the Moon
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Riviera
Gunstar Super Heroes

The GBA is probably the only system that I've consistently finished the games during it's lifetime. I'm currently still finishing PSX and PS2 games, and I'm not even close to finishing Mass Effect and Ace Combat 6 for my 360 yet ^_^;

waynski1457 @ Jun 23rd 2008 7:21PM

I completely agree. The GBA stands up to the SNES as my favorite console because I thoroghly enjoyed every game I purchased for it.

elsng @ Jun 18th 2008 10:29AM

Golden Sun Series.

s.mario @ Jun 18th 2008 10:39AM

Metriod Fusion & Zero Mission
FFTA (logged over 100 hours)
Zelda: Minish Cap
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, Aria of Sorrow
Astro Boy
Gunstar Super Heroes (currently trying to beat on hard mode)
Metal Slug
Bookworm (so damn addictive)
Tactics Ogre
Advanced Wars 2
Any / All of the Mario re-makes

Damn....I still play my micro every day!!!

Eleniel @ Jun 18th 2008 10:43AM

I only have Sword of Mana and Pokemon LeafGreen, since, like others, I missed out on the GBA. I'll have to try and find some of these~

thesycophant @ Jun 18th 2008 10:52AM

WarioWare Mega Microgame$
Advance Wars
Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Char6296 @ Jun 18th 2008 10:58AM

Sonic Advance 3... but it got burnt in the toaster by my bratty brother (it lives on as a Visualboy ROM) and Pok�mon Emerald. Fire Red was pretty good, too, but ended up with my sister and her level 96 Charizard named Chazze (which was traded to Emerald but I started a new save... whoops) He lives on in Pok�sav. And... Yu-Gi-Oh world Tournament 2004 and the Sacred Cards. Also, although I never owned it, the Minish Cap was a once in a while treat.

Erik @ Jun 18th 2008 12:49PM

Let me think...

Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission
Zelda The Minish Cap
Mother 1+2, and 3
Mario: Superstar Saga
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Yoshi's Island
Warioware Mega Micro Games
Golden Sun
and the Final Fantsy Games.

GatorSax2010 @ Jun 18th 2008 11:12AM

Both Metroids (especially Zero Mission), Minish Cap, Fire Red (ah, nostalgia..), WarioWare: Twisted, and Mario & Luigi (WOO FAWFUL). I know there are more, but I can't think of them right now.

D Haines @ Jun 18th 2008 11:15AM

I'll likely jealously guard my Golden Sun carts for many, many years to come, so those're still hanging around. So is FFTA (natch) and--oddly enough--Mario Tennis Power Tour. Fantastic little game. I've got the GBA Pokemon games lying around as well, as I ended up needing their assistance for the DS version.

NetOperator Wibby @ Jun 18th 2008 11:51AM

MMBN series
Golden Sun II [never payed the first one]
Polarium [just picked this up last night - addictive//difficult!]

Kimiko @ Jun 18th 2008 12:06PM

I never had an actual GBA either, so I don't have a lot of GBA games yet.

- Golden Sun (yet to play)
- Megaman Battle Network (kinda meh)
- Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn Of Souls
- Summon Night: Swordcraft Story (great game)
- Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 (even better)
- Tales Of Phantasia (okayish, but got stuck)
- Zelda: Link To The Past (just for nostalgia, already played it emulated)

Nigeria @ Jun 18th 2008 12:12PM

I'm so glad you guys haven't forgotten about the GBA. I never owned one, but through the DS I've discovered some pretty cool games.

Off the top of my head: Gunstar Super Heroes, Metal Slug, Astro Boy, Sonic Advance 3. I have over 10 GBA games and I'm sure there's more that I adore, I just can't think remember them at the moment.

chill penguin @ Jun 18th 2008 12:21PM

Megaman Zero 1 - 4
Kuru Kuru Kururin
Summon Night SCS 1 + 2

No Excuses :D

Nightrunner @ Jun 18th 2008 12:22PM

I'm currently playing Final Fantasy 6. I actually play GBA games more than DS games...guess I'm old skool like that.

Also have Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Rebelstar Tactical Command
Tactics Ogre
Yggdra Union

Have played & traded in:

Fire Emblem 1&2
Advance Wars 1&2
Golden Sun
Mario Kart

girth305 @ Jun 18th 2008 4:41PM

I have been collecting GBA games for awhile now and I still love playing them. I only have a few more I want to get.

Here is my list

Advance Wars
Advance Wars 2
Advanced Guardian Heroes
Aero the Acrobat
Astroboy
Bit Generations: Boundish (JPN)
Bit Generations: Coloris (JPN)
Bit Generations: Dialhex (JPN)
Bit Generations: Digidrive (JPN)
Bit Generations: Dotstream (JPN)
Bit Generations: Orbital (JPN)
Bit Generations: Soundvoyager (JPN)
Boktai
Boktai 2
Breath of Fire 2
Castlevani: Harmony of Dissonance
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Chu Chu Rocket
Cima: The Enemy
Classic Nes Series: Bomberman
Classic Nes Series: Castlevania
Classic Nes Series: Donkey Kong
Classic Nes Series: Dr. Mario
Classic Nes Series: Excitebike
Classic Nes Series: Ice Climber
Classic Nes Series: Legend of Zelda
Classic Nes Series: Metroid
Classic Nes Series: Pac Man
Classic Nes Series: Super Mario Brothers
Classic Nes Series: Xevious
Classic Nes Series: Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link
Doom 2
Double Dragon
Dr. Mario\Puzzle Leage
Drill Dozer
F-Zero
F-Zero GP Legend
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: Sacred Stones
Fire Pro Wrestling
Gekido Advance
Golden Sun
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Gradius: Galaxies
Guilty GearX: Advance Edition
Gunstar Superheroes
Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town
Iridion II
Karnaaj
King of Fighters EX
Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland
Klonoa
Klonoa 2
Konami Collector's Edition: Arcade Advanced
Legend of Zelda: A Link to The Past
Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Lufia: The Ruins of Lore
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mech Platoon
Megaman Zero
Metal Slug Advance
Metroid Fusion
Metroid: Zero Mission
Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits
Namco Museum
Ninja 5-O
Onimusha Tactics
Phantasy Star Collection
Pocky & Rocky
Pokemon: Leaf Green
Rebelstar: Tactical Command
River City Ransom Advance
Riviera
Robotech: Macross Saga
Rock N Roll Racing
Sabre Wulf
Scurge
Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon
Sigma Star Saga
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2
Super Dodge Ball: Advance
Super Ghouls and Ghosts
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Brothers 3
Super Puzzle Fighter
Super Robot Taisen
Sword of Mana
Tactics Ogre: Advance
Tales of Phantasia
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2
Ultimate Muscle: Path of Superheros
Wade Hixton's Counter Punch
Warioware: Twisted
Wolfenstein 3d
Yggdra Union

shamblingcat @ Jun 20th 2008 6:59PM

Thank you for listing ninja five o. It's about time someone else recognized it's greatness.

T-Patch @ Jun 21st 2008 3:23AM

your list = win x 9000

90% of it's still on my GBA wish list... *drools*

girth305 @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:53AM

Thanks, I still have a few more I want to get. Contra advance, Super Robot Wars 2, Bookworm, and a couple of other ones.

tacoman @ Jun 18th 2008 4:47PM

Rhythm Tengoku
Mother 3

Nitroactive @ Jun 18th 2008 5:57PM

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. The replayability of that game was amazing. 253 hrs and I still play it every now and then.

Also...

FF 1 & 2 Dawn of Souls
FF IV
FF V
FF VI
Both Summon Nights
Both Golden Suns
Mario and Luigi Superstar Sega
Both Fire Emblems

Gennataos @ Jun 18th 2008 7:06PM

I have nothing new to add to the list...

FFTA
Pokemon Sapphire & Firered
Advance Wars 1 & 2

Jacksons @ Jun 18th 2008 8:17PM

Favorite, huh? Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow by a hair.

Chris @ Jun 19th 2008 4:36PM

Fire Emblem-man I love that game
Fire Emblem:Sacred Stones-it's just so big and juicy
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance-awesome replay value,I play it quite a bit,but I seriously cannot wait for the DS version
The Urbz-I also have it on DS but I still play my GBA version
Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire-I just loved the "new" Pokemon in that game

yost @ Jun 20th 2008 2:41PM

I had quite a few until some were stolen now it's down to like 15-ish...my faves are the pokemon games (of course), iridon 3d, legacy of goku 1 and 2 ...

T-Patch @ Jun 21st 2008 3:05AM

My GBA collection is my biggest right now, and still growing, with 50+ games.

* A complete Pok�mon GBA series (Pinball:R&S and PMD:RRT included)

* A nearly complete Sonic GBA collection (never got Genesis...)

* A half complete MMBN collection (still missing the original game, 4 blue moon, and both ver. of 6, plus I still need the manual for 2)

* A complete Kirby collection (the 4th/5th most played so far, next to Pkmn Ruby, SMA3, and Sonic Pinball Party)

* Half complete Super Mario Advance collection (the later 2)

* A complete USA Hamtaro collection (Someday, I'll import Rainbow Rescue... Someday)

* Nearly complete Crash/Spyro set (still need "the last great GBA game")

* the DBZ Legacy of Goku 3 parter, plus Taiketsu

* A crazy amount of e-Reader Cards (Animal Crossing is still far from complete)

* Various games from other collections I wanted to try out, plus some useful devices (MM Zero 4, FFIV, HM:M/FOMT, Beyblade, Nintendo MP3 Player, ect...)

With each game having their own dust protecting storage case, some are interlocking, some are shaped like the GBA themselves. all of them, except for one, work as great as the day I got them.

...I think I may be a little crazy...

bryanmmc @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:51PM

Without a doubt, Zelda:Minish Cap. As a long time Zelda fanboy, the gameplay, items, and storyline are Classic Zelda. I still play it through at least once a year or so when I get the itch!