David's Top 12 GameBoy Advance Games of 2005

By David Rasmussen
22nd Jan 06

Believe it or not the GBA is still alive and well. With the Nintendo DS getting all the focus you’d think that the GBA was on it’s last charge, and yet it still lives with games worth checking out… games like this!

Boktai 2 : Solar Boy Django
It’s the game you never knew you wanted, until now. From the man better known for his work with the Metal Gear Solid series, this game lures you out into the bright sunlight by attaching a solar light detector on the cart which means optimum gameplay is only achieved by playing outside in the sunlight… or with the use of a UV light if it’s dark, or raining… mostly because the game detects invisible UV light from the sun, which makes it “work”… now if you can only find it sold in a store other than a Wal-Mart located in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dynasty Warriors Advance
Yeah it’s nowhere near as spiffy as Dynasty Warriors 5 (PS2) or Dynasty Warriors (PSP), but it’s worth checking out. There isn’t much action games for the GBA so this is worth checking out, especially if you are looking for a “little” Dynastic Chinese warfare for the road (that isn’t on the not so portable PSP).

Final Fantasy IV Advance
The latest port of the Final Fantasy series bought to the GBA, we now reach… ?… Final Fantasy? Final Fantasy II? One of these… well, it’s the newest port and if you’ve played Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final Fantasy I-II : Dawn of Souls then you’d know that it’s worth checking this newest Final Fantasy on the GBA ASAP! That and Final Fantasy XII is still delayed so it’s the only way to get your FF fix until the latest game hits… or you get Dragon Quest VIII to play the demo… one or the other.
Eh… I-II, IV… where’s Final Fantasy III?!?

Fire Emblem : Sacred Stones
The second GBA game, once again Fire Emblem comes to the GBA and is worth checking out once again. Now that you can find it on the GameCube (as well as the GBA), this is as good a time as any to get into the Fire Emblem franchise!

Gunstar Super Heroes
If you were a SEGA Genesis owner back in the day you’d probably remember this game, one of the classics of 1993 that people loved, and now it’s out on the GBA and it’s (surprise) worth checking out! Part remake, part sequel, the game brings back the frantic shooting fun of the original Gunstar Heroes (SEGA Genesis) and gives it a brand new life on the GBA! Despite the fact there is no multiplayer, and the helicopter shooter level sucks, the game is still one of the best games you can own for the GBA (worth checking)!

Harvest Moon : More Friends of Mineral Town
Yes, it (like it’s Wonderful Life counterpart) is a rethread of the original Friends of Mineral Town game, only this is based on the fantastic PSOne port Back to Nature so it’s worth playing if you haven’t tried out the original yet (or if you want to add some “life” to your Another Wonderful Life game and vice versa).

Mario Golf Advance Tour
It’s been out awhile, but it’s the only GBA golf game worth checking out. Despite the fact you can find Tiger Woods on the GBA I still like Mario on the GBA… not like you HAVE to play as Mario or anything, but it’s still fun overall so check it out.

Need for Speed (2005)
At last! The second racer for the GBA where the camera is from behind looking ahead, and not overhead (ala Spy Hunter)! Not since Banjo Pilots have we had a game with this look, which is a nice thing. And who knows, the gameplay might even be great too.

Poke’mon Emerald
Yes, I know, the love of Poke’mon is not universally felt. Heck, even 4Kids is giving up it’s association with Poke’mon (the TV series as of this year, which ends after it’s release of the 8th season of the series), but it’s still worth checking out. The latest of the GBA games, this is worth it because Poke’mon games are usually lengthy RPGs with lots of things to do that offer gameplay of at least 100 or so hours of gameplay to look forward to, which is worth it in my opinion if only if you want something with a long lasting gameplay aspect (which is always nice to have in a game in my opinion).

SEGA Mega Collection
Three games, one cart, worth checking out. We have Ecco the Dolphin, Golden Axe and Sonic Spinball (aka Sonic pinball) and if you were a fan of any of these you can see why this is recommended.
Me? I recommend Ecco & Golden Axe, both of which were interesting the first time they came out. Sonic Spinball? I haven’t played it yet (I have it on my Sonic Mega Collection GameCube game but I haven’t tried it yet) but I‘m sure it‘s interesting.
Another interesting release is two classic two packs available now. One featuring the classic Gauntlet (which coined the phrase “(name) is about to die, needs food badly.”) which hasn’t changed until the present day Seven Sorrows console game, and Rampart. The second featuring the classic monster masher Rampage and Paperboy. Both worth checking if you were a fan of either of these old school classics.

Tony Hawk (2005)
The newest Tony Hawk game looks good on the GBA, and if you ever wanted to try skateboarding without cluttering up your major console with a skateboarding game then here’s the chance!

Warioware Twisted
Have you gotten into the addictive mini game content of the Warioware franchise? This is as good a chance as any to check it out! With this game & Touched (Nintendo DS) recommended as good games for your collection, I don’t see how you can go wrong with the growing Wario franchise… at least he doesn’t suffer from bad stereotypius like his “good” counterpart Mario. “Itsa me, Wario…” (bleah)

If the GBA holds on? We should have a new year to look forward to with at least some worthy games in the new year on the GBA! Not much, but there should be some bright spots to keep interest in the GBA alive and well. We’ll see though, we’ll see.

-- David Rasmussen 22nd Jan 06