25 replies to this topic

[AtariDude]

I am considering obtaining a GBA sometime soon. I like classic games and would like to get a lot of classic style games for the GBA. What sort of games would you recommend?

I already have plans to get Namco Museum and Commander Keen but beyond that, I am not sure what other games to get.

[cryptik76]

I bought the Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits cartridge for GBA, which features Defender, Joust, Robotron 2084, and Sinistar. I think it's very good (especially Joust and Robotron), but apparently, judging from the reviews, I'm the only person in the world who likes it so you might not want to run on my recommendation.

I only bought it for $10 which isn't a huge risk.

Sega's releasing an arcade hits cartridge for the GBA (Afterburner, Outrun, Space Harrier, and Super Hang-On), which I have pre-ordered, but the release date keeps getting delayed (right now EBgames.com has it set for 6/19/03).

[ElectricTroy]

Metroid Fusion (classic 2d platforming)

Zelda: A Link to the Past (classic sprite-based game)

Super Mario World (classic 2d platforming)

Yoshi's Island (classic 2d platforming)

[NE146]

cryptik76 said:

I bought the Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits cartridge for GBA, which features Defender, Joust, Robotron 2084, and Sinistar.  I think it's very good (especially Joust and Robotron), but apparently, judging from the reviews, I'm the only person in the world who likes it so you might not want to run on my recommendation.

Yeah I think you are It's just that the game is truly one of the worst translations of those classics it almost boggles the mind how they could release it when the gameplay is SO FAR off the originals.. Heck it practically MANGLES them.

What's funny is that the old Gameboy Color versions of Joust and Defender absolutely kill the Midway G.A.H. versions. So if you can find those, you can play those on your GBA (and lengthen the screen while your at it). Now that's a good handheld translation.

[NE146]

AtariDude said:

I am considering obtaining a GBA sometime soon. I like classic games and would like to get a lot of classic style games for the GBA. What sort of games  would you recommend?

I already have plans to get Namco Museum and Commander Keen but beyond that, I am not sure what other games to get.

DEFINITELY get Konami Collector's Series: Arcade Advanced

There's also Bubble Bobble, and Elevator Action but these are imports I think. Also there's Space Invaders (with a pseudo classic version built in). There's also Atari Arcade Classics.

Game and Watch Gallery is a great game if you were into those. Also don't forget the Gameboy color games like the various Game & Watch Galleries released for them, and other cool little carts like Dragons Lair, Defender/Joust, the remake of Donkey Kong (w/ puzzle levels), and Yar's Revenge. The list goes on and on....

[Raijin Z]

Metroid 4 is less a classic 2D game than the ultimate evolution of 2D joy.

[cryptik76]

NE146 said:

Yeah I think you are It's just that the game is truly one of the worst translations of those classics it almost boggles the mind how they could release it when the gameplay is SO FAR off the originals..    Heck it practically MANGLES them.

Heh, that's what I thought. I was never very big into arcade games (mainly because I'm not any good at them); mainly I bought this collection because they're small and simple games that I can keep in my GBA SP when I know I only have time to play for a few minutes.

I've read the reviews about how far off they are from the arcade versions (although I already knew that Robotron is supposed to have 2 joysticks, and in Joust you don't defeat an enemy by hitting them from five empty pixels away), but they're still fun to me.

I suppose that if I were more familiar with the arcade versions, I would find all sorts of faults, but to me they're fine (except Sinistar, which I hate).

[Scot from S.C.]

Sinistar on the GBA is insane....I loved the game at the arcade, but this translation leaves so much to be desired. If you like classics, then try out the cartridge with Dig Dug, Pole Position, Ms. Pac Man, etc. on it. It is pretty fun. Does anyone out there have the Pac Man series cart?

[MegaManFan]

Raijin Z said:

Metroid 4 is less a classic 2D game than the ultimate evolution of 2D joy.

The words "ultimate" and "joy" are definitely the important part of the sentence. I feel like Stimpson J. Cat every time I turn on the GBAsp with that game plugged in. "OH JOY!"

[ElectricTroy]

Raijin Z said:

Metroid 4 is less a classic 2D game than the ultimate evolution of 2D joy.

What is Metroid 4? Never heard of that one.

He asked for classic STYLE of games, not actual old games. That's why I recommended Metroid Fusion, because it has that classic STYLE of 2D platforming.

[cryptik76]

I got my Sega Arcade Gallery today (the one with Afterburner, Outrun, Space Harrier, and Super Hang-On), and although I'm not an expert on arcade games by any means, these seem to be top-notch translations. Of course, the controls can be an issue because you're using a d-pad, not a joystick or steering wheel, but other than that it's a great collection and should occupy the game slot of my GBA for some time to come.

All-in-all it seems to be a great choice if you're looking for arcade games on the GBA, and I only paid $20 for it (and it was just released).

[MegaManFan]

ElectricTroy said:

What is Metroid 4?  Never heard of that one.

[snip]
That's why I recommended Metroid Fusion

Fusion = 4. Watch the intro when you boot up the game carefully. Nintendo presents, Metroid 4.

[ubersaurus]

GBC Mr. Driller is fantastic...you may have trouble locating it though. I've never seen a copy.

[AtariDude]

I saw PacMan collection at Toys R Us for $14.99. Anyone have any experience with it? Is it playable or is the translation done poorly?

[SS]

AtariDude said:

I saw PacMan collection at Toys R Us for $14.99. Anyone have any experience with it? Is it playable or is the translation done poorly?

It's very well done. There is a tiny bit of cropping on the "Pac-Mania" screen to make it fit GBA dimensions and the music loops too soon. Still, these are pretty small issues and I'd definitely recommend picking it up at $14.99.

[bargora]

While we're talkin', how's the GBA Atari Anniversary Edition compilation? Nobody seems to mention that one (either to laud it or trash it), which seems funny, this being you-know-what Age and all.

[AtariDude]

That is one of the programs I will be getting.

[kisrael]

MegaManFan said:

Fusion = 4.  Watch the intro when you boot up the game carefully.  Nintendo presents, Metroid 4.

Huh, so it must be NES=1, GB=2, SNES=3, GBA=4?

Wonder if GC=5. Or if the fact it's "Prime" means it's "0" or some such crap? (Oh, wait, Prime's story happens just after the NES version? Never mind.)

I do love the series (just got my picture taken with a lifesize Samus at a Frankfurt airport store, i should post that) even though Prime struck me as a bit linear. Still, it's getting more and more awkward to explain how she loses her powerups at the start of every dang game...

[kisrael]

kisrael said:

I do love the series (just got my picture taken with a lifesize Samus at a Frankfurt airport store, i should post that) even though Prime struck me as a bit linear.  Still, it's getting more and more awkward to explain how she loses her powerups at the start of every dang game...

Here it is. Not a great shot, shoulda stood back a bit.

I might even be wearing my Atari Age shirt, I'm not sure, but I have been wearing it on this trip.

Incidentally, I'm really thinking about picking up a GBA finally, mostly for Metroid Fusion and WarioWare. I was thinking about just getting the player for GC, but then I realized I couldn't really use that for games that link with the GBA...

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[MegaManFan]

Without question, WarioWare and Metroid Fusion are the two best reasons to have a GBA (regular or SP). But then beyond that, there's at least a dozen more. Once I can put down WWI for long enough, I'm going to get to work on beating Castlevania so I can move beyond COTM to Harmony of Dissenance or Aria of Sorrows. Damn, there's been three GBA Castlevania games - I'm two behind!

[cvga]

I just saw Warioware and considered buying it but I haven't seen any reviews yet. Sounds like I ought to pick it up.

[kisrael]

MegaManFan said:

Without question, WarioWare and Metroid Fusion are the two best reasons to have a GBA (regular or SP).  But then beyond that, there's at least a dozen more.  Once I can put down WWI for long enough, I'm going to get to work on beating Castlevania so I can move beyond COTM to Harmony of Dissenance or Aria of Sorrows.  Damn, there's been three GBA Castlevania games - I'm two behind!

Glad to see someone agree with my intuituon on what to get. WarioWare seems like such a cool concept, kinda like 1 player Mario Party meets Short Attention Span Theater. And Metroid Fusion...well, lets just say when the two Metroids were released on the same day, I was actually the tiniest bit bummed that I didn't have the system to play the 2D version.

[AtariDude]

Hi everyone,

I bought the Gameboy Advance today. I bought it with PacMan Collection, Wolfenstein 3-D, and Konami's Advanced Arcade.

I still prefer the Lynx screen more because it is bigger. I only played with it for about an hour and my eyes began to tire. Has anyone else noticed this?

[cryptik76]

AtariDude said:

Hi everyone,

I bought the Gameboy Advance today. I bought it with PacMan Collection, Wolfenstein 3-D, and Konami's Advanced Arcade.

I still prefer the Lynx screen more because it is bigger. I only played with it for about an hour and my eyes began to tire. Has anyone else noticed this?

Good choices for games, I think. I don't have the Konami collection yet, but I've heard good things. I like Wolf 3D (though it's an acquired taste, I suppose), and the Pac-Man Collection is awesome (I really dig the Pac-Man Arrangement).

I have a Lynx, and though the screen is bigger, I prefer the GBA SP's screen because it is clearer and there isn't any of that motion blur that the Lynx has. The Lynx's motion blur isn't as bad as the Game Gear's, but I notice it more since I bought my SP. I still like my Lynx, though, and until they come out with Rampart, Klax, Shanghai, or Roadblasters for the GBA, I'll still play it almost as much as my SP.

[Yar]

Raijin Z said:

Metroid 4 is less a classic 2D game than the ultimate evolution of 2D joy.

I concur.


Now...will someone please explain how in the hell Robotron works on a GBA? Ok, a is left fire, b is right fire. Then what; L and R for up and down? Works on the SNES, not on GameBoy.