Need your Help: Reccomend me a GBA game (RPG or shooter)

[Rugal]

In my free time or on the go, i like to play my SP but i only have 2 games for it right now and they are Golden Sun (really don't like it) and Fire Emblem (love this game). I do plan on picking up Sacred Stones after i finish the one i have now but i was wondering what other RPG's out there should i look into? Im not a fan of Tactics Advance and i already have Final Fantasy I & II for PSone so those are out as well. I also like side scrolling and schmups so i could use one of these as well. All your help is very much appreiated.

[Sylentwulf]

There are a lot of good tactics type games for the sp if you're into those (Ogre lodis, advance wars, onimusha, etc...)

For real RPG's, I haven't played many (if any) that I've liked on the sp. There's lufia, sword of mana, final fantasy games, shining force.... I've tried playing them all, but can't get into it, I don't think I'm meant to play my fav. genre on a handheld system, I'll stick to puzzle games :)

[GobopopRevisited]

Ogre Lodis... lol. Never heard it called that. Highly recomend it though. (as well as any game in the Ogre Battle Saga)

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Breath of Fire 1 and 2 (if you don't mind some ports), Advance Wars 1 and 2, Boktai 1 and 2, Lunar Legend (port-ish), and thats all I can really think of for RPGs.

For shooters, definately check out Metal Slug Advance, Astro Boy: Omega Factor, and Iridion 3D (Nothing new, or too exciting... but still fun, and only a buck or two loose) and its sequel Iridion II.

[Humanoid]

Hmmm, shmup wise, Iridion 2 is good, and probably quite cheap by now. Also, there's Xevious from the NES classics series. Can't go wrong with the classics! I personally didn't like Iridion 3d, but its probably dirt cheap now, so give it a try.

[calthaer]

I personally hated Lunar Legend. I found it extremely boring, and it is quite possibly my most hated RPG of all time. Few or no strategic options re: moves, equipment, etc. in combat made it a chore to go anywhere, and the story was anything but compelling.

Superstar Saga is OK.

I have to recommend the Pokemon games again - great RPG, lots to do, virtually unlimited strategic options, and well worth the price.

[tylerwillis]

I'm most of the way through Sword of Mana. Not bad for an action-RPG, but not even close to the SNES Secret of Mana. If you do like the Mana series, you're probably safe with it.

[poloplayr]

Oh, god, so many good titles to choose from.

If you like sidescrolling action games then all of the Castlevania titles are amazing (there are threads discussing which is the best).

Be sure to check out Ninja Cop (also called Ninja 5-0 I think), which is a terribly underrated Shinobi type of game. Very nice.

RPG wise, you cannot go wrong with the Lufia games, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, I also enjoyed the Lunar Legend game a lot, Pokemon Emerald is also a safe choice for hours of addictive fun, why not try one of the Megaman Battle Network games if you have not already? Great fun combination of strategy/RPG/adventure.

[Lady Jaye]

As schmups go, there's also Gradius Galaxies.

[Gamemaster_ca_2003]

I Hear good things about the GBA Version of DOOM and DOOM II if your looking for a good shooter.

Namco Museum has Galaga and Galaxian.

Konami Arcade has Gyruss and Time Pilot.

Also check out Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX (I think it called that).

[joshnickerson]

If you'd like the best of both worlds, wait a bit for Sigma Star Saga to release, which blends RPG exploration with side scrolling space shootouts. :D
http://www.nintendo.com/gamemini?gameid=00a5026e-7a1e-47d6-92d3-d73ee1c21341&

[Xexyz]

The best shmup on the GBA (not that many to begin with) has got to be Gradius Galaxies. It's no Gradius III, but its very solid and challenging as all Gradius titles are.

One of the best RPG's for the GBA is none other than Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.

[bargora]

Another vote for Gradius Galaxies here.

Don't forget that you can run GB/GBC software as well on your SP. So that opens up Dragon Warrior I & II and Dragon Warrior III as possibilities, as well as a bunch of Final Fantasy stuff.

If given a choice, get Doom before Doom II. I thought that the slowdown in Doom II was terribly terribly annoying. Doom has lower resolution but plays silky smooth.

And if given a choice between Iridion 3-D and Iridion II, go with II. I didn't like the Space Harrier-like perspective in Iridion 3-D since it makes you run into stuff you didn't see coming.

[Rugal]

Thanks for all the replies guys and gals. After all the votes, i will consider getting these titles: Breath of Fire I & II, Shining Soul I & II but are they anywhere near as good as the originals? Also i heard that Lunar Legend had some flaws with the story and customization, if that is so i guess i will pass on that one. I just made a deal for Sword of Mana so hopefully that will work out. Boktai.....isn't that the game that requires you to play in sunlight? Mario & Luigi.....i had that game and liked it for awhile but it got pretty boring so i got rid of it. I haven't ever seen Lufia and Tactics Ogre in the store anywhere so those must be good.

As for the shooters, i will look up Astro Boy, Ninja 5-0, Xevious, Iridion II and Namco Museum. The Castlevania games are ok, weel i only gave Circle of the Moon a try and i kept dying. Metal Slug Advance sounds good so that will be a plus. Advance wars i played and couldn't get the hang of it.

What about CIMA: The Enemy, it any good?

[Rugal]

dble post

[Rugal]

Yeah i know about the GBC gamees already, but thanks for the suggestion.

[Cirrus]

I'd suggest Advance Wars 1/2, since you like Fire Emblem.

Also, Astroboy and Ninja 5-0 are your best bets for action. Also, the Gunstar Heroes game should be great, but it's not out yet.

And don't give up on Castlevania... try Aria of Sorrow, it's much better than Circle of the Moon IMO.

And Sword of Mana really isn't very good. It's just nothing compared to Secret of Mana... very slow, really.

[Rugal]

Gunstar Heroes....hmmm can't wait.any good?

[calthaer]

Also check out Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX (I think it called that).

I was really disappointed with this port. They removed the ability to hold two weapons at once, so you can't jump in the air and have two flamethrowers flaring about you or even just have a backup in case you die. The sound was crappy, too. I picked it up for $10, and thought that was too much.

[Sylentwulf]

Ogre Lodis... lol. Never heard it called that.

why not? it's better than typing out tactics ogre battle the knight of lodis every time you type it :P It's like saying FF6

[GobopopRevisited]

Ogre Lodis... lol. Never heard it called that.

why not? it's better than typing out tactics ogre battle the knight of lodis every time you type it :P It's like saying FF6

Ogre Battle Saga Episode VII - Tactics Ogre Battle Gaiden: The Knight of Lodis 8-)

But yeah, great game. Add Phantasy Star Collection to the list too!

[Keranu]

How is that new Gradius game for GBA? If that's any good, I guess it could be worth picking up.

[SkiDragon]

I would recommend Shining Force, but I have only played it on the Genesis.

[esquire]

For shmups, you may want to consider the import scene as GBAs are region free. I would recommend Darius R from Japan. I love the Darius series, and this is an excellent game. It is definitely worth importing to the US.

If you want to stay local, one shooter that is overlooked is Phalanx, based upon the SNES game.

[AlexKidd]

I agree with anyone who said gradius galaxies and phantasy star collection(3 good rpgs on one cart). And you should give those other castlevania games a chance. Circle of the Moon was the weakest of the 3 in my opinion. It was also the hardest if you're looking an easier one. And stay away from the r-type game. I bought it because I like the old r-type games but it was quite horrible.