Summary
TheGame Boy Advancewas a big deal when it came along, aiming to improve on the previous models in nearly every aspect. Better hardware, support for a larger color palette, and its wider, more comfortable layout. Suffice it to say, Nintendo’s newest handheld was on pretty much every kid’s Christmas list back in 2001.
Although the Game Boy Advance sported better hardware than its predecessors, there were, of course, still technical limitations at the time, especially for consoles that aimed to be portable. Despite that, there were still games that pushed Nintendo’s handheld console to its absolute limit, and managed to cram in tons of content and some impressive visuals as well.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skateris perhaps one of the most loved series in the sports genre on the PlayStation consoles, especially after Hawk busted out the first 900 at X Games 1999.WhileTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2’s PlayStation version sported some impressive gameplay and graphics for the time, how would that work for its Game Boy Advance Port in 2001?
Well, Vicarious Visions certainly managed it, bringing players a portable, albeit slightly streamlined version of the full game, with its own unique quirks. This handheld version ofTHPS2uses an isometric perspective instead of the series' familiar third-person viewpoint, and it worked surprisingly well. The game even features the same content that was present in the full PS1 version, just excluding the level editor and soundtrack. Even though its isometric perspective may seem disorienting at first, the simplified controls made the experience an absolute blast, making its GBA version an impressive feat overall.
Final Fantasy Tacticsdiverged from the series’ usualturn-based combatby bringing tactical elements into the mix for this PlayStation classic, which would be made portable in somewhat of a “sequel” withFinal Fantasy Tactics Advancein 2003.
Despite sharing the same name,Final Fantasy Tactics Advanceisn’t just a port, bringing its own story and setting to the table. WhatTactics Advancedoes the best is providing numerous quality-of-life improvements over the PlayStation, most notably the new quick-save function and many tweaks for balancing difficulty. Not to mention bringing over a near-identical gameplay experience that’s packed with an impressive amount of content for a handheld, making this on-the-goFinal Fantasygame one of the go-to titles for the Game Boy Advance.
Driver 2was the anticipated sequel to thePlayStation hit, which unfortunately, wasn’t exactly a smooth ride on release, being panned for its various bugs and issues. Despite it mostly failing to hit the mark on Sony’s console,Driver 2would still get a port for the Game Boy Advance in 2002.
The GBA port was ambitious for the handheld, both in its gameplay and graphics, even using 3D polygons for some objects. Impressively, the handheld version ofDriver 2still kept the same third-person perspective as its console counterpart. All told, its appearance can be a bit rough at times, but considering how much these environments pushed the GBA back then, it is certainly understandable. Also featured are two of the original cities to explore; Chicago and Rio, albeit with more condensed content. While it didn’t exactly make waves, it would be hard to look atDriver 2for the Game Boy Advance as anything less than a very ambitious and fun title for the time.
4Super Monkey Ball Jr.
Just “Monkeying Around”
Super Monkey Ball Jr.on the Game Boy Advance was the first handheld adaptation of this rather strange, yet incredibly fun 3D platformer series. If the title didn’t explain enough, players are put in control of a monkey inside a gachapon ball, which they must navigate through various puzzles and obstacles by tilting its direction.
While it’s unclear how such an idea came to fruition,Super Monkey Ball Jr.was a blast to play. This GBA version managed to maintain the same third-person viewpoint as the series’ console titles, being one of the few games on the handheld to utilize 3D polygon graphics. The Game Boy’s low resolution didn’t exactly help with visibility, the appearance is a bit “rough around the edges,” so to speak. But the title translated over surprisingly well other than that, offering much of the same content and overall experience as the otherMonkey Balltitles on consoles.
After the smash-hit success ofGoldenEye 007on the Nintendo 64, it wouldn’t exactly be a surprise to see some moregames featuring the Bond name. What was a surprise though, was seeing 2002’s007: Nightfireand its first-person-shooter gameplay, all packed onto a handheld.
The Game Boy Advance wasn’t exactly regarded for its capabilities when it came to FPS games, making this port all the more remarkable, even by today’s standards. This portable version featured the same FPS gameplay and overall themes as its console versions, just having a slightly altered story and content spread across its new exclusive levels. While the lack of buttons on the handheld makes the controls a bit stiff, its FPS gameplay still managed to deliver something impressive with such a small screen to work with, and it’s astonishing to see just how much content was crammed into the Game Boy’s small 32mb ROM cartridge.
It’s hard to deny that this port wouldn’t be the ideal way to experience Bond’s many adventures. It certainly would be hard to say that it wasn’t downright impressive for its time. Just as surprising is the fact that it managed to receive an overall review score that was higher than that of its PC release.
6Asterix & Obelix XXL
Based On The French Comic From The 1950s
The Game Boy Advance version ofAsterix & Obelix XXLkept the same fun, action-adventure gameplay from the console releases. What’s more is that it also shared the same third-person perspective, and is easily one of the most impressive demonstrations of 3D graphics on the GBA.
The game follows the title pair of Celtic characters fending off their small village from Roman invasion. Despite the plot sounding rather serious, theAsterixgames have always been known for keeping a comedic tone, with their cartoonish style and slapstick humor. The player can swap between the two characters as they work to rescue villagers and complete puzzles, all the while battling the invading forces with some classic beat ‘em up style combat.
TheAsterixSeries’ of games is a bit of a hidden gem and isn’t spoken about much nowadays, but if the chance ever arises,Asterix & Obelix XXLis a blast to play across both its handheld and home console releases.
7V-Rally 3
The Best In Portable Rally Racing
While the early 2000s had many console racing titles to note,V-Rally 3brought the best experience of rally racing to the Game Boy Advance, in all its fast, off-road glory. Racing in a championship against AI opponents and speeding through various rally events that take place across different seasons, the end goal, of course, is to become the rally champion.
It also boasted some impressive 3D visuals like many other titles on this list. Unfortunately, the common drawback to 3D graphics on the GBA was the abrupt graphical pop-in, butV-Rally 3is one of the few exceptions for the handheld. Its visuals look surprisingly smooth even with the fast-paced racing gameplay, and that’s on top of all the content it has to offer. With many different cars and tracks to choose from, even featuring an optional first-person mode and multiplayer via the GBA’s Link Cable. This portable version was packed with content, and is kind of mind-blowing overall, with virtually no notable drawbacks in comparison to its console counterparts.
8Duke Nukem Advance
Everyone’s Favorite Foul-Mouthed Alien Exterminator
It was a difficult choice for the top spot, butDuke Nukem Advancehas to take the cake, bringing its unique version ofthe classic, alien-slaying FPS titleto Nintendo’s handheld. As usual, the title character is fighting off an alien invasion in various locations, from Area 51 to Australia, eventually ending up aboard an alien spaceship for the finale.
The formula is the same: a fun, fast, alien-blasting FPS that feels shockingly fluid given the handheld’s limited number of controls. First-person titles on the GBA often feel a bit rigid with only D-Pad controls, but here they’ve featured a sort of “smoothing” to the camera’s movement, making it feel much more comfortable. The game is balanced well, providing a few difficulty options and a saving feature between its short levels. Ultimately, it would be hard to say anything bad about Duke’s jump to the portable world here, with it standing as one of the higher-regarded FPS titles for the Game Boy Advance. The only drawback to note here is the fact that it’s missing Duke’s trademark one-liners and vulgar comments, but its fluid gameplay and impressive use of 3D graphics more than make up for it.
