We have additionally abstained from including Pokémon; it is a given we might like to see them, however transferring and buying and selling Pokémon in a sport with Save States will get messy, at the very least from Nintendo’s perspective. Maybe we’ll see a wonderful workaround with these specific entries, though we expect it is extra doubtless we’ll see Pokémon remakes reasonably than re-releases.
Sufficient with the caveats! Let’s check out 21 GBA gems we might like to revisit through Nintendo Swap On-line.
![Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/a452a1022190d/metroid-zero-mission-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Metroid: Zero Mission is a wonderful 2004 remake of the unique Metroid, and a sport that is within the dialog for ‘greatest remake evs’ (if that dialog is being held with a youngster through the 2010s). Zero Mission tells the story of the primary entry, however with far snazzier visuals and Tremendous Metroid-inspired gameplay. With save rooms and a bunch of recent objects, areas, and mini-bosses, that is the best way to expertise Samus’ first mission. Sorry, zero-st mission.
If it got here right down to a duel, there are Nintendo Life staffers who would truly take this over the SNES sport. It is that good.
![Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/1bd58796f2778/tony-hawks-pro-skater-2-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: Activision / Developer: Vicarious Visions
Vicarious Visions managed to distil the essence of the full-sized Tony Hawk titles into an unbelievable isometric model that feels tight, responsive and really a lot not the compulsory downgraded handheld port you might need anticipated. Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 2 on GBA is genuinely one in all our favorite entries within the general sequence, with nice music and cracking visuals. And Spider-Man.
What’s to not love?
![Astro Boy: The Omega Factor (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/10cc2cd8e71a4/astro-boy-the-omega-factor-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: SEGA / Developer: Treasure
This Treasure-developed tackle Osamu Tezuka’s basic character was an actual looker within the GBA’s library — becoming given the status of the property and the adoration of manga and anime followers world wide. Versus Treasure’s normal output, Astro Boy: The Omega Issue is extra platforming beat ’em up than run-and-gunner (with a couple of shmup-style phases thrown in for good measure). It efficiently blends conventional manga-style presentation of the characters in dialogue portraits with extra rounded 3D-esque sprites and backgrounds for the motion. It is an actual winner; a licensed sport that lives as much as the supply materials.
![Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/59ecf7ef1cd6c/kirby-nightmare-in-dream-land-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: HAL Laboratory
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land is a worthy remake of Kirby’s first house console journey and having simply celebrated his thirtieth anniversary, this could be a pleasant tribute to the little pink fella after what has been a stellar 12 months between 2022 and 2023. Whereas what it presents is a tad fundamental in comparison with what extra fashionable Kirby titles provide, it is nonetheless very playable, and there are little artistic moments the place sport sometimes shines. As with virtually each different sport that includes the Kirbster, its pleasant, vibrant visuals make it a supremely charming expertise, and one which will probably be most appreciated by gamers in search of solely a really mild problem.
Positive, Kirby & the Superb Mirror is a good entry and that one is obtainable, however that is the one we actually need to see.
![Gunstar Super Heroes (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/5801bc0ae1a60/gunstar-super-heroes-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: SEGA / Developer: Treasure
Gunstar Tremendous Heroes (or Gunstar Future Heroes in Europe) is a sequel that lives as much as the status of the title it awkwardly sandwiches a ‘Tremendous’ in the midst of. The gameplay and controls of Treasure’s basic 1993 Mega Drive sport are altered to work higher on the moveable, however the result’s each bit as compelling, even when it is on the brief facet and would not characteristic co-op play. As run and gun video games go, Gunstar Heroes is up there with the easiest. This sequel can be superb — one may even say tremendous.
Or future when you’re European and need to be awkward.
![Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/9285ee5af611e/pokemon-pinball-ruby-and-sapphire-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Jupiter Company
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire is an gratifying entry-level pinball sport designed to attraction to as broad an viewers as doable. Its vibrant, charming visuals look nice, and the huge variety of Pokémon accessible to catch and evolve signifies that when you’re in search of a long-term dip-in, dip-out type of sport, you’ll have loads to maintain you occupied. That is the right little sport for brief play classes, and can fill the Pokémon hole simply in case Pokémon Emerald would not hop onto NSO.
![Sonic Advance (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/e88b267b6e485/sonic-advance-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: SEGA / Developer: Dimps
Within the many years because the surprising first look of Sega’s mascot on a Nintendo handheld, it is truthful to say that not each staff that is labored on a 2D Sonic sport has nailed the fragile sense of inertia and tight physics that characterise the basic 16-bit titles. Sonic Advance is one such instance that simply will get it. Developer Dimps retains the basic really feel and course design that made the originals particular whereas including contemporary components that stop it from feeling like a re-tread of outdated concepts. Vibrant visuals, charming animation, wonderful audio; add multiplayer into the combination — in addition to the Tiny Chao Backyard that linked to the Gamecube — and Sonic Advance is a platforming deal with up there with hedgehog’s best.
![Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/29d8319abfd87/final-fantasy-tactics-advance-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: Sq. Enix / Developer: Sq. Enix
Whereas rumours of a Ultimate Fantasy Techniques remaster have been swirling round for some time, Nintendo has already had a style of what Ultimate Fantasy Techniques can provide within the type of Ultimate Fantasy Techniques Advance. Levelling up your clan, discovering the perfect weapons and attempting to out-think the enemy results in endlessly gratifying battling, and there are sufficient variables in location, legal guidelines and opponent talents to stop issues changing into too repetitive. Even when battles get simple with an OP clan, they continue to be entertaining. It may be difficult to search out what you might be in search of amongst the various menu screens, however as soon as you recognize the place to look Ultimate Fantasy Techniques Advance will divert and delight you for a protracted ol’ time. Pretty.
![Jet Grind Radio (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/3b90300b09a13/jet-grind-radio-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: THQ / Developer: Vicarious Visions
Maybe it’s the announcement that Sega is outwardly engaged on a reboot that’s getting the higher of us, however we do love a little bit of Jet Grind/Set. On the Dreamcast, Jet Grind Radio oozed extra fashion than ought to have legally been allowed. A variety of what made the sport particular there survived the leap to the GBA, however in fact the plain {hardware} limitations necessitated a couple of lower corners right here and there. Contemplating this, Vicarious Visions — the studio that did such a implausible job of translating the Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater sequence to GBA — in all probability could not have finished a a lot better job at adapting it to the small display screen. When you’re used to its quirks, you may discover a loopy, implausible gem of a sport.
![Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/b7455958b0c9a/tactics-ogre-the-knight-of-lodis-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: Atlus / Developer: Quest
For a lot of sequence, the phrases “facet story” are seen as a handy excuse to trot out a half-baked rehash of a well-liked title – however Techniques Ogre has by no means been like different sequence. This GBA-exclusive entry within the long-running Ogre Battle saga is as richly detailed and politically intricate as some other you may point out, and lurking beneath that already fully-featured floor are a complete host of secret characters and particular endings simply ready to be found.
![WarioWare Twisted! (GBA)](https://images.nintendolife.com/79c0c7c311289/warioware-twisted-artwork.900x250.jpg)
Writer: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo SPD
The third sport in Wario’s microgame sequence, WarioWare Twisted! by no means discovered its method to Europe, however its gyro sensor added a brand new ingredient to the manic system established two video games prior and made it one of many highlights of Wario’s again catalogue. Because of that sensor within the cart, it isn’t a sport you may need to plug into the Sport Boy Participant in your GameCube, however the fundamental bitesize gameplay holds up simply as nicely at this time because it did within the mid-2000s. Let’s Twist once more.