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10 GBA series that make the DS’s GBA slot worthwhile
Those of us with an original DS or DS lite have probably been focusing solely on DS games lately. It’s understandable. It seems like there’s are at least five new, great games released for the DS each month.
But the GBA slot deserves some appreciation as well. After all, the Game Boy Advance also had a fantastic run with many memorable titles released. It doesn’t seem right to leave the slot empty all the time.
So to honor the GBA, and perhaps make the DSi owners a bit envious, Gamertell is looking back at some game series with multiple Game Boy Advance entries that are a perfect fit for on the go play, and maybe even give DS games a run for their money.
Pokemon
The four Pokemon GBA games are lengthy, addictive RPGs. The story is fairly similar in each game, but the fact that each one has new pokemon to collect and a new area to explore draws players in every time. Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald are all pretty much the same game, players travel around the island of Hoenn, capturing pokemon, defeating Gym Leaders, stopping team Aqua or Magma and eventually beating the Elite Four. Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green are remakes of the original Pokemon Red and Blue.
The best part is, you can load collected pokemon from any of the GBA games to Pokemon Diamond, Pearl or Platinum and use them in your DS game thanks to the GBA slot and DS Pal Park.
Super Mario Advance
If you love the classic Super Mario games, you can play them any time thanks to GBA ports. Super Mario Advance is an enhanced port of Super Mario Bros. 2 for the NES, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 is an enhanced port of Super Mario World for the SNES, Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3 is a port of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island with additional content and Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 is an enhanced port of Super Mario Bros. 3. Mario fans are covered, if their DS has a GBA slot.
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy is always a system seller, and the availability of GBA Final Fantasy related games are enough to make any fan happy. First, there are ports of
, II, IV, V and VI available, with I and II being available on one cartridge. Plus, there’s the strategic RPG Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. They’re classic games that fans of the series love to replay.
The Legend of Zelda
Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s biggest sellers, and the GBA was home to two games in the series. A port of the SNES game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is available, as is an original adventure called The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Both offer classic, 2D Zelda gameplay.
Castlevania
The GBA took the Castlevania series into both the past and the future, with Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. Harmony of Dissonance is more traditional, following Juste Belmont, Simon Belmont’s grandson, as he goes to save his friends and defeat Dracula. Aria of Sorrow flashes forward to 2035, where Soma Cruz is fighting to keep people from taking up Dracula’s powers.
Fire Emblem
Although one of the GBA Fire Emblem games didn’t make it out of Japan, the other two did. And those two games, Fire Emblem and Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones helped introduced the series to the outside world. Both are challenging, strategic RPGs set in a fantasy world, where characters can become friends if they fight alongside one another.
Golden Sun
Golden Sun and its sequel, Golden Sun: The Lost Age make up what could be the best known, GBA-exclusive RPG from Nintendo and Camelot. The story begins in Golden Sun, and after that game is completed a code/password can be input into Golden Sun: The Lost Age to continue the story with the character levels and items from the original game. It’s well worth playing.
Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon games are a relaxing and familiar life simulation. It’s a comforting series, and the GBA had two games. Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town is the boy’s version of the game, with a male lead, and Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town is the girl’s version with a female lead. Like the Pokemon GBA games, both Harvest Moon GBA games can connect with Harvest Moon DS or Harvest Moon DS Cute, unlocking new bachelor or bachelorette characters.
Mega Man Battle Network
With the Mega Man Battle Network games, Capcom took the series in a whole new direction and turned it into an RPG with a whole new storyline. The gamble turned out to be a success, and there are six entries in the Mega Man Battle Network series. Starting with Mega Man Battle Network 3, each entry had two different versions released, so really there are 10 GBA games available. (I’d recommend the first two.)
Advance Wars
Advance Wars marked the first game in the Famicom Wars series to be released outside of Japan, and since then the series has developed a loyal following. The first two worldwide releases were Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising for the GBA, and both become classics.
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Harvest Moon should have been substituted for Metroid series. But other than that good list.
on May 28, 2009 at 02:47 PM - LINKNo mention of Metroid:Zero Mission or Metriod Fusion! That is dissapointing, as those are the games that I most often have in my GBA slot. Zero Mission is one of the main resons I do not plan on getting a DSi, as my GBA game collection, including the Metroid games, were one of my favorite passtimes on trips. Other than the omission of Metroid, good list.
on May 28, 2009 at 05:19 PM - LINKWhere are the two Metroid titles? Those games are the only reason I bought a GBA SP initially and why I haven’t traded in my DS Lite.
on May 28, 2009 at 06:18 PM - LINKthanks for this! I recently brought a DS Lite as I didn’t really like the DSi and haven’t thought about Fire Emblem or (oddly enough) Super Mario but will surely make sure I look into them from now on (... I never had an Advance :( but I have a DSL now so I’m happy :D)
on May 29, 2009 at 04:50 AM - LINKI would have substituted Metroid for Harvest Moon as well, and if I had an 11th selection to pick, I would have recommended the two Klonoa games for GBA. I really enjoyed the puzzle/platform gameplay.
on May 29, 2009 at 07:42 AM - LINK@ all: I completely forgot about the Metroid games. The only Metroid I played was the original NES one, so I actually never knew about (or paid attention to) the GBA ones. You’re all definitely right, it deserved a position in the article as well.
on May 29, 2009 at 09:39 AM - LINKNot even a mention of the Classic NES Series games?
on May 29, 2009 at 12:16 PM - LINK