GameBoy Recommendations Thread

[CrimsonRyu17]

You're probably wondering why on earth anyone would want to play old Nintendo games with the newer DS systems out? Well, I recently rediscovered my GameBoy Advance SP and remembered how awesome it is.

But the only games I have for it are some 2nd and 3rd gen Pokemon and a few others like Dynasty Warriors and Ace Combat.

So here is a thread where you can recommend some GB, GBC and GBA games/accessories that are awesome and everyone should have. You can also request for titles that are related to your likings, etc, etc.


Personally, I'm looking for some must-have Mario titles. I grew up with Super Mario World for the SNES and haven't played a Mario game since. The GBA remake for that and Yoshi's Island is on my list so far. Any others?

[Fish and Chips]

I'd recommend most of the Wario Land games, though the original is the most comparable to Mario if that's what you're looking for (it even has the subtitle "Super Mario Land 3"). There's also the Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, which is the only Zelda I've really ever bothered to finish completely. If possible, I'd suggest the DX version, which is in full color with an extra dungeon.

Mole Mania is also a good find it you can track it down, but that'd be tricky.

As for Advance games, if you have even the loosest head for strategy, I'd recommend picking up Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising.

[MasterDias]

If it's traditional Mario games you want, you should probably look into Super Mario Land and sequels.
Most of the games I could recommend will be RPGs or quasi-RPGs:

Golden Sun & Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Fire Emblem & Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Riviera: The Promised Land
Pretty much all the Zelda games really(Link's Awakening, A Link to the Past, Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages, Minish Cap, etc.)
Metroid Fusion
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

[Davidizer13]

There's also the Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, which is the only Zelda I've really ever bothered to finish completely. If possible, I'd suggest the DX version, which is in full color with an extra dungeon.

(...)

As for Advance games, if you have even the loosest head for strategy, I'd recommend picking up Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising.

I agree with the above, and also recommend the following:

Fire Emblem/Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (GBA) - Like Advance Wars, only combined with an RPG. It's pretty hard as games go, but it's a lot of fun. The first one (Fire Emblem with no subtitle; actually the seventh in a series) is better, though harder to find and more difficult in general.

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (GBA) - It's a port of the SNES classic, and needs no further introduction.

Final Fantasy 6 Advance - Likewise, a great port of an great old game.

Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation (1 and 2) (GBA) - Kind of like Fire Emblem (see above), only with giant robots. I've only played the second, but they appear to be pretty similar: A mecha anime distilled into strategy RPG form, so you're going to overdose on awesome playing them.

Man, I love the GBA. I'm glad someone else appreciates it.

[Riggidig]

Astro Boy!

[CrimsonRyu17]

Thanks gaiz. Mole Mania (O hay Miyamoto) and Fire Emblem (Though I'm not much of an RPGer) have caught my interest. I played a GameCube Fire Emblem and that was pretty fun. I'll make sure to check out all of 'em though.

And yes, I honestly love my GBA more than the DS. Believe it or not.

[Htom Sirveaux]

Metroid II, Picross, Super Marioland 2 and the aforementioned LoZ: Link's Awakening and Warioland (Super Marioland 3) Also, Tetris. If you don't have Tetris, you fail as a gamer.

[Davidizer13]

Also, Tetris. If you don't have Tetris, you fail as a gamer.

If you have Tetris Party for the Wii (through WiiWare), does that count? 'Cause that one's got online play and a battle mode that doesn't require that link cable that nobody had or used.

[Peanut]

Let's see here...

Golden Sun 1&2 (GBA)
MagiNation (GBC)
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (GBC)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (GBA)
Fire Emblem (GBA...either one really...)
Advance Wars 1&2 (GBA)
Final Fantasy IV (GBA)
Megaman Battle Network 1&2 (GBA)


All of these games are good, but let me take a moment to really push MagiNation. It's similar to Pokemon except with more plot, the writing is great, the art and visuals impressive for a Gameboy Color game, and its got multiple endings (sort of) and tons of secrets. Oh, and you can find it on Amazon, used for $3-5 plus shipping.

[Scarecrow]

Black Thorn is a good one for the GBA...

That's the only one I can think of that hasn't been listed yet...

[Bobtheduck]

Fortified Zone was a fun one, but only if you can find someone else with the game. It's got a coop mode, and you can explore different areas of the map... Pretty cool, especially at the time.

Oh, and Metroid 2. So many memories with that game. There's also Boxxle, Mario Land 1 and 2 (especially 2), Pokemon red and Blue (again, only if someone has the other one)

i'd say final fantasy adventure, but the remake for GBA (Sword of Mana) was a lot better, so... Get that instead. There ARE the 3 saga games on the GB... They're called "Final Fantasy Legend" in the US.

[mastersquirrel]

Riviera: The Promised Land
Metroid Fusion

Seconded.

The only other games that come readily to mind from the Advance are Advace Wars 2 and Mario & Luigi - Superstar Saga. I'll have to see if I can remember any others.

[Song_of_Storms]

[SIZE="1"]Other then the ones already listed...

* Tales of Phantasia << Instant love. (with me, at least X3 )
* any of the Castlevanias
* Kingdom Hearts : Chain of memories ( basically re-relling the events of Kingdom Hearts. -but Organization XIII is in it, so... n.n)
* Lunar : Legends
* Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon
* Shining Soul 1 & 2
* Sword of Mana
* any of the Harvest Moons

There! That about does it. ^^ Hope this helped![/SIZE]

[Davidizer13]

Mario & Luigi - Superstar Saga.

Oh, that's a really good one, too. It's a little short compared to other GBA RPGs, but it's a blast to play, and it's really well-written and funny, too.

Oh yeah, Storms, is that Shining Force remake worth the extra price, or should I just pick up the original on Virtual Console?

[KagayakiWashi]

I highly recommend (and second, third if they've been mentioned):

Metroid Zero Mission - An excellent remake of the original Metroid, it also includes the original Metroid
Metroid Fusion - Good if you like Metroid games
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror - I kid you not, this is one of the hardest games I've played because I refused to get help. It's awesome.
X - Rare Japanese import.
Advance Wars - Solid strategy game
Fire Emblem - Even more solid strategy game
Tetris - You have to have this one
WarioWare: Micro Minigame$ - Awesome game that includes a version of Dr. Mario
WarioWare: Twisted! - I love the mini games!

Also let me just say, if you like Zelda games here's a list:

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

I would recommend A Link to the Past over any of them, but they're all good.

[Kaori]

I second the Super Mario Land games, Metroid II, and Legend of Zelda games (especially Link's Awakening and A Link to the Past).

If you're at all interested in RPGs, I highly recommend Final Fantasy Legend I, II, and III, which are actually SaGa games, not Final Fantasy games. These are great, overlooked games--FFLII, in particular, was my favorite game for a while when growing up.