Features

• Assume control of a diverse and powerful army of soldiers loyal to your cause
• Persuade powerful enemy heroes to leave their evil armies and join your growing cause
• For 1-4 players over link cable
• Marshall your forces and draw your steel -- the legendary Fire Emblem roleplaying games have arrived on the GBA
• Defend against usurpers and assassins as you aid young lords on their quest against evil

Reviews (118)

Best GBA RPG Ever!
For those of you who were disappointed over Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls, this game will let you have peace in your heart.Although it is not made by SquareEnix, it still shares some of the elements of FF:Tactics Advance.While the story is as far out as the FF series, it still retains a lot of the plot twists and suspense that the other games have.

For of you who haven't had the chance to play any of these games allow me to introduce it to you.Intelligent Systems, the people behind Advanced Wars and Paper Mario, have released an RPG based off the Japanese series Fire Emblem after Super Smash Bros. Melee introduced Marth & Roy and the people begged for it to be released (including me).This game is not like SSBM in any regards, its totally different.You play on a grid where you move your units around and attack your opponents.

I am a big fan of grid based combat, so I went and bought this game as soon as I could.It has so many great elements to make a game good.The thing that might shock other people, as it did me, as that as soon as one of the characters dies, they're gone for good, unless of course you want to restart the level.This adds a huge amount of stratergy to the game.Some of the characters that are weak would normally make me care less if they died, but in this game, they give you their background, and each has their own dying phrase.The other thing is, your ending will be changed a little if any character dies.

The sound is spectacular, some of the best orchastrated music I've heard on a handheld.Conversations can drag on a little sometimes, but that can be ignored by the music and the excellent storyline.

It starts out as your basic fairy tale about a girl finding out she's a princess and so on.But then later the game takes on a much darker tone, which I don't want to spoil for those who haven't played the game.Oh, and the other nice feature is the ability for your weapons to have 'health.'Its similar to that of Dark Cloud's system, but different.If you use a weapon too much, it'll break.THe other neat feature is the extra chapters that can be obtained in various ways.

So overall, the game is pretty awesome.I suggest that to everyone who has a gba, to pick this one up even if they hate these games.

PROS
- Excellent Storyline
- Great stratergy elements
- The Battle System works extremely well
- The music is some of the best on a handheld

CONS
- Dialogue can drag on sometimes, but it isn't too bad.
- The Tutorial is extremely annoying, but if you skip it, you miss part of the storyline.
- Losing a character and starting the level all over can be quite annoying when you get to longer levels.

Yawn. Been done and done heaps better.
Remember Shining Force I and II? Remember? Those turn based top-down view rpgs on the Sega Mega Drive with cool characters, heaps of cool magic and detailed combat animations?

Well those were classic sega games that came out a full DECADE ago. Compared to those strategy rpgs of yore, Fire Emblem (this the 7th in the series) makes NO PROGRESS WHATSOEVER.

It has lacklustre character designs, an overly wordy plot, a simplistic and boring combat system, a lack of difficulty and an annoying "support" feature which is somehow the developers attempt at adding replay value to this game.

Overall, to the utter newbie whose only prior experience with these kind of games was with Advance Wars(which is arguably a better game than this one), Fire Emblem might seem like a solid choice. I agree, it IS a solid choice. It is also, however, a throwback of a game. A disappointing retread of gameplay that has been done bigger and better(on lower end systems I might add).

How to begin? I will make a short comparison between this game and Shining Force II, which many of you have already played. Let me remind you that:

*SFII had more exciting animations. In Fire Emblem, most of the art went to the character portraits. When it comes to the top-down graphics in battle, as well as the battle animations themselves, this game looks extremely poor for a GBA game.

*SFII had more varied character designs.FE's characters might look "pretty", but are pretty much all same-ish anime fare, color-coded hair and all.

*SFII had HEAPS more: weapons, armours, spells, items. It was much more varied. Compared to this, all FE has going for it is a nice little "weapon triangle" system and your token herbs and potions. Not very exciting. In SFII you could cast spells like gigantic lightning storms which affect entire areas. In FE the magic works just like a weapon. You attack one square at a time. BO-Ring.

*SFII had BETWEEN-COMBAT exploration. In FE, it's pretty much battle after battle. Consequently the plot is FORCED to be told in huge CHUNKS pre and post-battle. Not very immersive.

*SFII was fun and worth replaying. Just go try it. In FE however, any semblance of replayability is in the form of placing different units next to each other and wait turn after turn in hope of getting new support combos. Wheee.

It seems abit ridiculous for me to compare this hand-held game with a console game, but bear in mind that the console game in question came out more than 10 years before this. The game boy advance is both graphically and performance wise better than the Mega Drive in every respect. Why can't Intelligent Sys. make a game that fully utilises its potential?

An Intelligent Nod
I have yet to play Advance Wars 1 or 2, Intelligent Systems' modern war/strategy series for the GBA, but I can venture an educated guess that Fire Emblem shares a lot in common with it.Fire Emblem is a strategy RPG reminiscent of the Shining Force series for the Genesis, but it's been forever for me to make detailed comparisons of the two. Fans of Shining Force, Ogre Battle, and/or Advance Wars will probably find a lot to like.

Fire Emblem will be fairly easy for those experienced in these kinds of games.Most of the challenge presents itself in keeping your combatants alive, because if they are killed during battle, you won't be getting a chance to get them back.Not even a chance to revive them from defeat (unlike, for example, the popular Final Fantasy Tactics, where you had up to three turns to revive a fallen comrade).This can present a problem if you don't use tight and well-thought out tactics, because the enemy will always jump at the opportunity to kill the weakest party members within range.Fortunately, there's an ability to "rescue" other members, and even pass them off to others in your group.Anyway, I think it's pretty neat that you can't get them back.It adds an urgent dynamic to the game and forces you to really think your moves through.After the first part of the game, it even tells what the characters who didn't make it to the end went on to do with their lives.Some followed the party (although injured and unable to fight), while others went their separate ways.

In battle, it is prudent that you search out the most advantageous terrain (forests, forts) and engage from there.Also, weapon selection is an important factor, as certain weapons are good against some, bad against others.Rounding out the standard and borrowed strategy-RPG elements is the class system, albeit a limited one (nothing on the scale of an FFT or Tactics Ogre; more like Shining Force).Your units can advance in class with a specific item after reaching level 10.

One thing worth mentioning in Fire Emblem is that enemy forces, on some battlefields, are concealed within fog or darkness.The limited visibility adds another layer of danger to the combat, which can be partially alleviated with some items.However, this element only somewhat succeeds.I wonder if the developers could have made it where the limited visibility worked both ways, where the enemy had no way of knowing where you are, and would occasionally stumble into a big pack of your units (I wonder, but I think I know the answer to that one).More importantly, a stealth element is missing in the game, perhaps the ability to sneak up on an enemy without them knowing about your approach.

So, what drives all this fighting in Fire Emblem?The first part of the game has you controlling Lyn, a young woman from the Plains of Sacae, whose family was murdered by bandits, and who is of royal lineage in a far off Kingdom.Her journey takes her to the castle in search of her ailing Grandfather, in order to stop his vengeful brother from usurping the throne.But we find out that this is just a small part of a bigger scheme.Big surprise, huh?The story is ok, and the characters are ok, and the dialogue and writing might be the strongest aspect.However, there's nothing remotely profound or emotional in the melodramatic delivery of the game's story, but that's the norm for video games. Oh well.Instead, you end up developing an attachment to the characters for how well they fight in battle, cheering them on during encounters and hoping they don't get killed. The game succeeds in this.

A Final Fantasy Tactics this is not.It's not dynamic or deep enough in both its gameplay and story and sentiment.However, I'd argue that it's slightly better than Final Fantasy Tactics Advance for the GBA.Both games are derivative of what has come, but Fire Emblem's not stepping backwards--only nodding to the past.

Very good strategy/rpg title for the GBA/DS
This game is an excellent strategy title for your Gameboy and will give you dozens of hours of gameply. (My first go through the game was over 24 hours total)

The characters are all pretty much interesting in this game and there are tons of them to pick and choose on missions. The variety of the units and their personalities are what make this game so enjoyable.

And if a unit dies then its dead. No 1-ups or resurrection in this game. If your character dies then be prepared to never see them again.
This really keeps you on your toes as wounded units need rescuers and backup.
However, this can be a pain to play a mission for over an hour then have the boss kill them in one hit, thus causing you to start the level over again...

All in all this is simple to learn, yet highly entertaining game. Pick it up if youre missing some a challenging and engrossing strategy game.

Saved games reset - *sigh*
A fun strategy game overall, but has a major flaw - I can't stand any game that does not let you save anytime you want.I know this game allows you to save at anytime, but the game auto saves for you at the last turn, so that when you die you cannot revert to where you originally saved.I know the designers of Fire Emblem did this so to make the game more challenging or "realistic", so that players can't "cheat" by playing from that save point over and over again, but it actually makes the game more annoying and frustrating.If you character dies, by lets say a way to powerful and out of balanced mini boss attacking you and killing you with one shot, you have to start the whole stupid level over again.

Otherwise, this game would have received 5 stars - trust me, you'll get frustrated and annoyed the 100th time you main character dies, and you are forced to play the level over again. ... Read more

Product Description

In the multiplayer game, Four Swords, between two to four players take on the roles of young adventurers who answer a challenge from the Triforce. They must brave the dangers of multiple dungeons in a quest to find the Master Sword. Their strength will be tested by fierce monsters, their wisdom tested by complex puzzles, and their courage tested by having to cooperate with each other to overcome obstacles. ... Read more

Features

• Talk to all sorts of people and creatures to gain information about how to move forward in his quest.
• Fight enemies and battle through dangerous and complicated dungeons to recover key objects that open new areas.
• Wield swords throw bombs, perform dash attacks, lift and throw, and push and pull objects; acquire items that give additional abilities.
• In Four Swords, face puzzles that require the cooperation of two or more players to solve. They can exchange items, but they also will be competing to pick up as many Rupees as they can to increase their individual scores. It's a unique blend of cooperation and backstabbing.

Reviews (124)

A Great Game
I've always loved A Link To The Past.It's not too easy but not too hard.The graphics are good and it has a nice storyline to it.It's just fun!I only have one complaint about this game for the GBA (and it's a big one):
This version of the game comes with a new game, The Four Swords.The only problem is that it's a MULTIPLAYER GAME!I know multiplayer games are enjoyable for some people, but not everybody knows someone else who also has this game, so many of us are not even able to play the game, which sucks, because from pictures I've seen, it looks like a lot of fun.There should ALWAYS be a single player option!
Okay, I'm done whining now.

Jake Klingelhofer Gives this game two thumbs up!
This is a GREAT game. It takes a while to beat but is very fun and not very hard. it isn't really easy like Zelda: the Minish Cap, but not insanely hard like Zelda: the Wind Waker. A fun continous game with good music, good characters, and it's GREAT
all around. ON a scale from 1 to 10, i would give this game a 11!

Bugger Zelda, revive "Battle Of Olympus"
Zelda was a copy of Battle Of Olympus IMO. Both games very simmaler, and if you like Zelda you'd love B.O.O.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past on Game Boy Advance is an identical port of the classic SNES game of the same name. What separates these brilliant Zelda adventures other than the Game Boy Advance's version being portable is that the GBA version also includes a Capcom-developed multiplayer game entitled Four Swords.

In Four Swords, up to four players can play together for a mix of cooperation and competition, solving puzzles, gathering Rupees and trading items. Fans of the Zelda series receive two great games for the price of one in this must-own GBA title.

On the surface, it looks like Nintendo went the cheap way out by simply converting the admittedly outstanding Super NES adventure The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past to the Game Boy Advance as the system's first official Zelda product, pretty much pixel-for-pixel in graphics and note-for-note in sound. It's a fantastic game in its own right, but the GBA has proven time and again that it has significantly more potential in capabilities than the Super NES ever did, and a conversion of an early generation 16-bit title hardly impresses on a technical scale. But put that thinking aside, because the developers didn't just put out a simple port for Zelda fans; the secondary selling point of the game cartridge, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords is a deep, thoroughly designed, and absolutely fun multiplayer experience that's based around the established Zelda gameplay mechanics. It's here that the cartridge really shines, and makes the purchase of the game an absolute necessity for Zelda fanatics and GBA owners alike.

All Zelda fans should know exactly what they're getting into with the Game Boy Advance conversion of A Link to the Past. The original game released back in 1993 for the Super NES is still revered as one of the best games released in the series, even among the more recent 3D releases on the Nintendo 64 system. The game takes place way early in the admittedly wonky Legend of Zelda chronology. As the elfish adventurer Link, players head off into the huge overworld to rescue the princess Zelda from the castle dungeon; as players save her from the lock-down, they learn that an evil wizard Agahnim has put the land under a cursed spell, and it's up to Link to grab the Master Sword and break it. But anyone who is familiar with the story, or Legend of Zelda games in general know that this is only the beginning of the adventure...
The Game Boy Advance game is a 100% accurate port of the Super NES game, right down to the pixel. The GBA game uses all of the original art assets from the game released in 1993 for its graphics, which admittedly look a bit dated to today's standards and what the GBA can actually pull off. But it remains extremely faithful to the original, which will definitely please videogame purists; any slight alteration of the original game and you could definitely hear all the fanboy comparisons to the original SNES version. The only real changes in gameplay are alterations on where certain non-essential objects are located; a tree that always dropped a rupee gem when rammed now unleashes a fairy, which eliminates the exploitation of unlimited funds from the original game. And, of course, the screen resolution means that the GBA has to scroll a bit more than the Super NES version did, but the original SNES game didn't require any real long-distance action, so this "cropping" does not hinder gameplay at all.

And while the music isn't quite as "crisp" on the GBA system, the handheld hardware does a wonderful job pulling off all the audio from the classic. But, just as Nintendo couldn't leave the past Super Mario games alone, the company insisted on adding to the sound effects by giving Link grunts, shouts, and yells, lifted from the samples used in the previous N64 adventures. It would have been a decent inclusion had it been used sparingly, but man, it gets annoying when every slash of the sword results in an audible grunt from Link. Every single one. It's cool that Link now lets out a yelp when he falls off a ledge or bites the big one, but a shout every single time he uses his sword? Yes, after about five hours into the quest your mind may grow used to this sound effect, but as it stands, the developers should have gone easy on the Link yelps.

But it's the gameplay that matters, and even today Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past holds its own as one of the best-designed action-adventure games ever created. For those not quite familiar with the way the Zelda design works, A Link to the Past features a huge overworld with several dungeons in which players will have to shove boxes, trigger switches, and destroy enemies in order to progress to the end where a very large boss creature sits and waits to crush Link into a pulp. These dungeons are pretty much the core of the Zelda gameplay, and it's these areas that give the game most its challenge. Each dungeon (there are at least a dozen of them in A Link to the Past are both extremely fun and, in many cases, extremely frustrating...but in an amusing sort of way. This game was the first Zelda game to utilize alternate-world travel; players will have to hop back and forth between the light and dark world to solve puzzles and get through certain challenges. There are times that, yes, you'll get stuck, so taking a step back to figure out the best (and usually only) course of action in the specific area is definitely encouraged. When all is said and done, A Link to the Past is a lengthy 20 to 30 hour adventure for folks who don't remember every little element from the SNES version. Those with the upper hand with prior knowledge of the classic adventure can probably breeze through it in a dozen. But whether you're a newbie or veteran, you haven't seen anything yet.

The secondary game option, Four Swords is an absolute must-play. Anyone who puts this cartridge away after completing A Link to the Past will be missing out on one of the best system link games ever created, and it's this mode that will set the watermark for what the GBA's game link support can pull off. Four Swords isn't a simple rehash of A Link to the Past's graphic engine in a multiplayer deathmatch, no sir. This is a completely separate game development that shares only the cartridge in which A Link to the Past sits. Four Swords occurs during the same time structure as the upcoming Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for the GameCube, which explains the completely changed character sprite structure of Four Swords. In the game, players must rescue Zelda from the clutches of the evil wind sorceror Vaati. But the challenges ahead are impossible for a single adventurer; to assist Link in his quest to rescue the princess, fairies use the power of the Four Swords to duplicate the hero...four times the Link. Silly premise, I know, but all you have to know is that each player controls a different colored Link.


The Four Swords is essentially broken up into four different areas, each with its own network of dungeons. The first dungeon is an expansive tutorial area that explains the varying items and how they work in the other three different areas. The level design Four Swords varies between standard Zelda fare to absolutely brilliant use of cooperative gameplay mechanics; this isn't a simple Gauntlet clone. Game designers have worked in many of the ideas from past Zelda games, from triggering pressure switches to shoving statues and lifting boulders. But many elements must be done in unison with one, two, or three other Links. Massive boulders blocking the way, for example, require all Links to work together to lift and move off to the side. Some creatures can only be destroyed if two players work together -- one cool creature in particular must be pulled apart to eliminate, with a Link on either side yanking in opposite directions. There are several items in the game that must be utilized to get through, and players can only hold and utilize one item at a time; whatever item they were holding at the time they picked up a different item is dropped in place of the new item. Magnet Gloves can get players across chasms if they aim at a magnetic block...and they can even grab onto distant Links by latching onto their magnetic Shields, pulling them across the hole as well. And the Gnat Hat is an interesting addition, as players who wear the hat will shrink to the size of a bug (basically a couple of pixels tall on-screen) in order to pass through tiny tunnels or across bridges and platforms that a normal Link couldn't fit. The game's full of all sorts of objects that require solo as well as cooperative techniques to get through the extensive challenges. What's more, the game design is intelligent enough to only offer dungeon designs with the amount of players in the network in mind. So, even though the game allows for up to four players to cooperate and compete in the dungeons, the designers realized that this wouldn't always be the case; if only two or three players are in the current network, it will only put forth challenges that only two players need to cooperate...which means, no four-player puzzle elements will enter into play.
This mode is where most of the development time obviously went, because everything about it, from the graphics, sound, gameplay, and interface, are done superbly. This multiplayer mode even incorporates extras that are earned in A Link to the Past; if a special sword technique is earned in the main single-player adventure, it can be used by that player in Four Swords. And those that complete the entire Four Swords adventure can unlock original dungeons and mini-quests in A Link to the Past, unique to the GBA game. So, if the fantastic multiplayer gameplay isn't enough encouragement, the extra quests in the single player adventure should seal the deal.

The link support is near flawless; it keeps track of all four players in the chain no matter how far back or ahead of the pack they go, and it also allows for a decent number of enemies to appear on-screen at once. The action will slow down on occasion when rupees spill onto the screen in a large amount, but from a technical standpoint occasional slowdown in a four player chain during not-so-intense moments is perfectly acceptable. It's an amazingly fun multiplayer experience, even if it tries the patience of everyone in the network chain. Everyone will be yelling at each other from not working together, or accidentally knocking someone off the ledge, or stealing each other's rupees. Even though players will be working together to complete the dungeons, ultimately, they're working against each other to earn the most rupees to collect the level's medallions. And as chaotic as that sounds, this element is one of the many reasons that makes Four Swords such an awesome mode that should not be missed by anyone.

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is definitely one of, if not the finest games released on the GBA. While some Zelda fans might be a bit bummed that Nintendo didn't offer Game Boy Advance owners something new to sink their teeth into, they have to realize that the company did do exactly that. Yes, the main package is simply the same Super NES game repackaged for play on the Game Boy Advance, but in all honesty that's only half the package. And offering one of the greatest action adventures in portable form isn't exactly a downside, either.

Four Swords is Nintendo's way of giving gamers something completely new and different in the Zelda environment, and it's one hell of a good time in each play through. This mode is an adventure in itself; it just requires the effort of grabbing one, two, or three other friends to join in the quest. And that's the only real downside to this mode: trying to get a party together to take advantage of this thoroughly-designed experience. It is a slight shame that Nintendo didn't offer just a sliver of Four Swords as a single-cartridge multiplayer mode, even if it was just to offer a scaled-back demo version of the entire Four Swords adventure...but considering how good this entire package is, it won't be hard to find players with a copy of their own.

comment
I don't own this game and i have never played it (though i might buy it) i just wanted to point out that in one reviw someone did not know anyone with the gam it doesn't solve your cable problem but you only need one game pack to play multi player on GBA (note this only applys when your using other GBAs no other GBs will work) ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Originally released in 1981 by Konami, the Frogger arcade game isconsidered an all-time classic. Since then the property has been transferred toseveral owners, many of which tarnished the Frogger tradition. Now, backin Konami's hands, the little green fellow brings back everything people lovedabout the original arcade game, but with a modern twist.

Frogger's Adventures: Temple of the Frog pits Frogger against the evilMr. D, who has stolen the mystical elements that nourish the hero's marsh.Frogger must make his way through 15 levels spanning six environments in orderto find the elements. After every few levels, he must engage in a boss fight.Like in the arcade original, Frogger spends most of his time hopping left,right, up, and forward, but in this version he must deal with more than movingcars and snapping crocodiles. The game's levels feature all sorts of perils,such as mazelike conveyer belts, spiked floors, and crumbling platforms. Thereare also 32 different types of enemies standing in his way. Among the fewdownsides of the game are its short length, the lack of variety-adding options,and the fact that the coin system that allows you to reach the last level iseasy to fool.

This is a great example of how to properly update a classic. The simple gameplayof the original Frogger is intact, but the developers have added cleverlevels, bright graphics, and modern game mechanics to the mix. This game is sureto please longtime Frogger fans, as well as create some new ones.--Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Easy-to-learn gameplay
• Levels add a new twist to classic Frogger moves
• Four in-game save slots

• Lack of options
• A bit short
• Coin system is easy to cheat

Features

• Jump, glide and tongue-flick through 15+ levels in 5 different environments.
• A cartoonish action/platform game with an element of puzzle solving, Frogger expands on simple, yet addictive gameplay to catch players of all ages.

Reviews (36)

I HATE THIS GAME
This game is so stupid! I would leave it in the trash! Luigi's mansion is better.

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVED THIS GAME SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH! It is origianol, interesting and really really fun! It has 5 cute little worlds, and 15 levels. It gets really hard over time, but as soon as you get familiar with all of the controls and enimies, it isn't as hard as it seems. A little hint: On parts of the 2nd earth element level, move fast! Don't think, move fast! It helps! I finished the game in about a week, and my favorite places were the sea world and temple levels. Buy this game now, it totally rocks!

PLEASE....
it sux. never get it. u just hop around getting smashed by things. i played it once and hated it. im srry for the ppl who have it!!!

too easy and not original
this game is too easy and im a twelve year old, its not original and doesnt have the kind of thrill and excitement its just k nothing special,if i were u i wouldnt waste my money and would by super mario advance games instead, theyre much better

The Most Fun Frogger Yet
I thought this game was very fun.The first level is easy ,but once people try the second level they think it is hard.(Most of the levels have the same type of moves so once you get the hang of it its not so hard.)the temple is the best part in my opinion.The graphics are also pretty good,and the music is great.Some people say that the game is impossible to beat, but that's not true.I've beaten the game the whole way through until the end credits.Overall I thought this game was challenging,addictive,and very fun! ... Read more

Product Description

While planning the perfect vacation on Dinosaur Island, things go awry for Mario and Luigi when they learn that Princess Peach has been kidnapped again by the ever-diabolical Bowser. Being chivalrous plumbers, Mario and Luigi set out on a massive adventure to rescue their long-time friend. To reach their goal, they'll have to crush Bowser's evil Koopalings and solve some of the most challenging puzzles they've ever faced. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: Game Boy Advance
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Action/Adventure

Reviews (251)

Polishing a classic
There's pretty much a debate on the best Super Mario game: Super Mario 3, Super Mario World or Yoshi's Island(but you control Yoshi instead). Some might say Mario 64 but the lack of gameplay moves doesn't hold a candle to the many gameplay mechanics each one of the 3 provide. So we delve into one of them: Super Mario World.

Story: What little story there is. As usual, Princess Peach gets kidnapped(I swear that b**** needs bodyguards or take up karate or something). So it's up to Mario to save the day as he traverses worlds in caves, the chocolate level, underwater and in the air.

Graphics: This is Super Nintendo graphics so granted these aren't stunning anymore. But it does have a nice vibrancy to it and the variety of the levels adds some nice changes to the scenery without being too repetitive.

Sound/Music: I often call Nintendo good support music. Besides the Mario theme, nothing is really hummable yet it doesn't feel out of place. They added some voices for Mario and Luigi which as usual get annoying.

Gameplay: I remember playing this on the SNES and I was so happy I cleared all 96 stages, got the Star Road finished, the secret areas and everything. Now I have to do it again, ugh. All the levels are here with some minor tweaks.

It was this one I believe they introduced one of Mario's famous sidekicks: Yoshi, the green dinosaur who likes to eat anything and s**t it out and makes eggs that he can fling at people(only in Yoshi's Island and maybe some others). He also turned into a different colored Yoshi depending on what he ate. So red turtles gave him abilities to shoot fireballs while one enabled him to fly and another gave a slight earthquake quality when he bounced.

Mario 3 wins in turns of transforming Mario. In 3, he had the tanooki suit(that raccoon), the frog suit, that shoe, not to mention the fire flower and the leaf, capable of making him fly. With this one he gets the fire flower and the feather, giving him a yellow Superman cape where he can fly. It's different than the leaf cause that just made him soar straight up while here you can fly across. He can glide down by just holding the button while in 3 you had to repeatedly hit it.

The Mario Advance ports are great for us old school gamers who remembers playing Chrono Trigger, Uniracers and Final Fantasy III(officially VI but that's another story). Don't forget about Mario 3 and Yoshi's Island too.

This is an old classic, but it cannot overshadow Mario Bro 3
The game is good and then some. There is so much to do, you may never do it all.
The story is that Peach is not in the witness protection program and gets kidnapped once again. You and Luigi must save her.
On the map you can alternate between Luigi and Mario just by a press of a button. All in all, it does not matter. The game is no harder or easier. Luigi has a better jump but is slower than Mario.
In the levels your goal is to get to the end without dying. The twist in this game is that any red dot on the map means there is more than one exit. And many of them are hard to find. Upon finding them, you are able to gain access to a different path on the map.
This is a must. You will see dotted lines everywhere in a certain color. What you must do is find a certain special exit and you get to go to a block palace. They will fill in the lines with blocks that match the colors. Now these blocks give you access to new places and sometimes save your life.
Running around in the levels, you get four different powerups and they vary from mushroom to stars. If you had Mario before, you know what they do. The new addition is Yoshi. He can add an extra hit to your life and eat enemies and more! Plus, by special exits, you can go to star world. Beating a level there the right way will give you access to a new yoshi. Some will turn enemies eaten into fire while others can fly when they have any enemy in their mouth. They appear at random
The bosses can be brutal. Each boss either has three or four hits. You must find the special way to beat them. This will be easy, but causes you to keep readjusting throughout the game.
You may never do everything.
You need help to do everything. So buy a strategy guide.

Best Game EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!
For a gamer like me, that is, someone who likes basic yet chalenging games, this is a must.Its fun never wears away, because there's always something new to do.Play either as Mario, who is fast but a bad jumper, or Luigi who jumps far and high.I love this game!!!!!!!!

My all time favorite Mario game.
This game is the greatest Mario game I have ever played. All the Mario's seem to have gone down hill to me since this 4th installment. But now that this classic SNES game has been revived and upgraded to the GBA, its back, and even better then ever!

There is a few differences between this and the SNES version, but they just make this version better!!! Theres a few new halfway markers, theres 5 Yoshi coins to collect on each stage, and when your found them all you get princess coins... but everything is still there and just as much fun as ever. I only wish I could program some add ons into it somehow.

Super Mario, Super Good
Super Mario world is the best gameboy game I have ever played!
The levels are hard, but no so hard that you stay on one level for a month. Some of the levels, are a bit frustrating though. Some examples would be the "big green goop balls",The boos, and the big boo who are in some ghost houses. They are impossible to defeat and you cannot touch them without losing your special ability or life! Also,there are some enemys not mentioned on the "Denizens of Dinosoar Land" paper, like the "skeleton birds". I think the music for this game is good, but others might say it's cheesy. It's fun to ride "Mr. Dinosoar"a.k.a Yoshi, but the controls are hard to learn for him, and regular Mario/Luigi. It might be easier for some people, because I am a person who likes to not read instruction booklets. Some of the graphics are funny, like when you do a run jump your belly comes forward, and if you collect a certain item you inflate like a balloon, and when Luigi jumps, h wiggles his feet! You can "cheat" on certain levels by using a cape to fly across the sky of the level, avoiding most enemies. ... Read more

Features

• Race against time as you steer Polly in a Bumper Boat around the lake
• Three levels of difficulty make the games fun to play again and again
• For 1 or 2 players
• Polly Pocket water park adventure game where players race to earn tickets
• Play 6 exciting mini games

Reviews (6)

Great Beginner Game!
I bought this game for my 7 year old when she got her 1st Gameboy System and she loves it! I would not reccomend this for any child who is a long term player but this is an absolutely perfect game for the kids to start to recognize the buttons and get used to the system itself!

Fun Runs Out Quickly
This is NOT a long-term game.The levels (depsite being "easy", "medium" or "hard") are either riduculously simple or painfully difficult.For any child over 5 or 6, it will loose it's appeal VERY quickly.

The only long-term fun is to see how many tickets can be collected, but the rewards for collecting tickets (the water slide) is probably the most boring game on it.As a mom, I can say that this was not a game I would have bought if we had tested it first.

OK, NOW WHERE'S THE FUN?
Well it's ok for like the first 15 minutes but then it's like where did the fun go. I'm 11 and I thought it might be fun but after I played it I realized it wasn't too fun. It's ok for like 4-8 year olds. So if you're buying for someone in that age group, Good Job. They will probally like it.

Polly gameboy
I bought this for my 6 year old daughter who loves Polly. This game is very good because it requires very little reading and has Easy, Medium and Hard levels to choose from. She can play it without my assistance which makes it wonderful for parents and she "loves it." It is also pretty fun for parents. This was the first game we ever played on a gameboy so we are definately beginners so hopefully long time players will like it as well.

I made a huge mistake by putting it on my wishlist
I'm 13 and I have to admit i absolutely love polly pocket. I put this game on my christmas wishlist and recieved it. The mini games are cute and fun but i beat the game in 35 minutes. This game is great but definately for a younger age group of 3-7! Don't make the same mistake I did unless ur buying this for a younger girl. ... Read more

Product Description

Lizzie McGuire: On the Go! is more than just a game. You can play the exciting arcade game "When Cheerleaders Attack" and you and your friends can have fun with exciting games like, Gordo's Gunk, Dots 'n Boxes, Box Bash, Memory, Droppers and Hangman. ... Read more

Features

• When Cheerleaders Attack arcade game with more than 15 levels of action
• More than 20 games and activities to choose from
• PDA function keeps track of friends' contact information, important dates, horoscopes, and biorhythms
• Music from the award-winning show
• Single and multiplayer gameplay

Reviews (21)

Coolest game ever!!!!!
This game is the best game ever!!! It has many different games. You have to play a game called "When cheerleaders attack". It is really fun! Using that game, you can unlock different games. This is more than a game, its an adress book, a brain teaser and a whole lot more!

I have played this game for a long time and I am still not tired of it!

lizzie your'e a lifesaver
I had just finnished this really hard game that i used all my allowance to buy but this game was cheap enough to buy its fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love it but ..............................................
It's fun but Lizzie walks so slow! It's hard to beat the timed game.

lizzie is fun
I bought this game for my 4 and 6 year old and they love it!!!Many hours of fun.It does not seem to get old.

Uhm, no
Here is a simple word for you people:this game was in Seanbaby's column in EGM.If that didn't convince you not to buy this game, then go ahead and buy it and learn your lesson the hard way. ... Read more

Features

• Choose from one of four characters - Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, or the new character Cream, each with their own signature moves.
• New environments ranging from space age metal labyrinths to an incredible music masterpiece, each with multiple paths to explore!
• Link up Game Boy Advance systems using the Game Link Cable and experience the action with up to four people.
• Connect your Game Boy Advance to your Nintendo GameCube and visit the new Chao Garden - raise Chaos and watch them compete in the Super High Jump!

Reviews (69)

Great game but with frustrating problems.
While not necessarily raising the bar in my opinion the way "Sonic Battle" did for me, "Sonic Advance 2" is nonetheless another home run for the legendary Sonic video game franchise.

The play pattern is virtually the same as it's classic Sega Genesis ancestors: Dr. Eggman (previously known as Robotnik) is once again causing havoc with his megalomaniac schemes of taking over the entire world by building another 'death egg' (God, everything he builds is named after eggs) spaceship by wielding the power of the legendary chaos emeralds. Even worse is that Sonic's friends have been captured by Eggman and held hostage.

As a result, in the beginning, Sonic is the only available player but as one beats the boss machine at the end of the stages, more characters are unlocked and the game begins to branch into different versions of itself. My favorite is a tie between Tails and Cream.

The problem with this game though is a frustrating part. Although not completely, I've found it almost downright impossible to find all seven special rings in order to access the special stages at the end of each regular stage. (I've managed to get to special stage one after "Leaf Forest" but that's it) The last six regular stages make it like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Otehr than that, this is a very good Sonic Adventure game and is another good addition to the Sonic Legacy. With the frustrating Special Stage requirements, I guess they didn't call it "Sonic Advance" for nothing. :/ :)

This is stupid. I reconmmend you play Sonic Mega Collection
I cannot say much about this game, but enough to steer you clear.
The story is that Dr. Eggman is making trouble again. That is it. There are no story telling elements witin the game.
The object of the game is to get from point A to point B. If you run fast enough in one direction for enough time, you will create a sonic boom and go supersonic. Which needs to happen more often.
Within the levels are emblems. You need a certain amount to go to special stage and get a emerald. Let me tell you, it is so hard to actually collect the emblems, I have never been to special stage. The emeralds unlock the final boss.
The characters are varied by skills and stats.
Cheese can attack from a distance.
Knuckles can punch.
Amy has a hammer.
Sonic is fast.
Tails can fly.

Whoopie.
Now I can go through the whole game with just Cream and Cheese and not break a sweat. There is a diffculty imbalance here.

This game is too imbalanced to be fun.

Now go play Sonic Mega Collection my groupies!!!!


if you exist......

Even more zoom than previous Sonic games
If you have played the great classic Genesis Sonic games and the first Sonic Advance and just expect more of the same, think again.This game is even more about total speed getting from point A to point B than the previous games, with level design all its own.The levels are designed so that, if you want to, most of the time you can just hold down left or right and watch Sonic (or one of the other characters) ZOOM - until you are slowed down and have to decide how to proceed.Don't get me wrong, the levels are huge, with many paths for Sonic to take and a lot of stuff for the floatier characters (Tails and Cream) to explore.But everything, from each level's racing-style opening to the delightful fast-driving Eggman-vehicle bosses, and especially the level design, is all about speed.

You can probably dash through the first four levels on your first game, but from zone five onward the difficulty level, both in the levels and against the (I have to mention them again) speedy frenzied moving bosses, increases steadily every zone.The game is just difficult enough to keep me from zapping right through it, which is a good thing and keeps me coming back.I completed the first Sonic Advance the first day but have not beaten this one yet.I also have explored plenty and have not yet found a single chaos emerald, but I am sure they are there.This and the difficulty curve all keep me interested.

Another thing I like are the three action buttons.There is a jump button (essential), an attack button (with different effects depending on your character, including a ground pound that breaks floors and can aid in exploration for Sonic), and a 'trick' button, with high-speed effects that vary by situation.What's so good is that only the jump button is necessary, but if you are fast enough and want more variety you can make the game feel much deeper by using one or both of the other buttons in just the right situations.

I don't know just how long this game will keep my interest, but on the second day I have had it, MAN is it fun.It's all about speed.

sonic2
sonic2 is a great game:) but is way to easy, you zip through each level just like that. i'll admit, it had some pretty good stunts, and bosses, and would keep you entertained in the car for 2 huors, sinceitakes you that amount of time to beat it. the only bad thing i say about this game, is the last boss. he is way to easy!!! i hope they make all the bosses a little harder, next game!!! bye:)

Good For Sonic Fans
Sonic Advance 2 is an okay good game. I've never played the 1st Sonic Advance game though, so I don't know if #2 is a big improvement or not. Well, you start off with Sonic, and get Cream, Tails, and Knuckles later by just progressing through the game (the order I put them in is the order you get them). You get Amy by unlocking her with all of Knuckle's emeralds, you get the Tiny Chao Garden with all of Sonic's emeralds, the Sound Test with all of Cream's emeralds, and Boss Time Attack with all of Tail's emeralds. If you don't want to unlock the things, I suggest forget buying this game. If want the game and just don't want to unlock, get a Gameshark/Codebreaker/Action Replay. For those who want the game, have fun and good luck! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Pokémon Crystal is to Pokémon Gold and Silver what Pokémon Yellow is toPokémon Red and Blue. It features severalminor upgrades from its predecessors, but in essence it's still the same game.The classic Pokémon formula of adventuring, collecting, and battling isat a series best with Crystal. This is one of the best and most addictiverole-playing games for the Game Boy Color.

The most notable feature is theselectable female trainer who has her own set of animations and backgrounds.This is a great option for female Pokémon fans who were previously stuckplaying the game as a male character. There are also subtle improvements to thecell phone system, HM moves, and prebattle animations. Rival trainers' phonecalls are now more plentiful and pragmatic. HM moves, which are requiredthroughout the game, are available at the push of a button--you'll no longerhave to navigate menus to use these moves. Lastly, seeing a Pokémon's newanimation makes encountering new creatures more fun than before.

If youhaven't played Gold or Silver yet, Crystal is definitelythe way to go. If you've played those previous games, Crystal has onlyenough new features to justify a purchase from Pokémon fanatics. Thisgame is compatible with the link cable, Game Boy printer, and PokémonPikachu 2. It's playable on Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance only, and can beplayed on a television using Pokémon Stadium 2 and a Transfer Pak.--Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• New female trainer
• Prebattle animations are cute
• Lots of subtle improvements

• Too similar to Gold and Silver
• Mobile phone features not in the U.S. version

Reviews (254)

Crystal ?, You betcha!
After the new gold and silver, Pokemon Crystal might be one of the greatest games Pokemon created. Unlike all of the revisions and new versions of Pokemon, You might want something better. What crystal allows you to do is that it is the only game to capture 90-95% of johto Pokemon wild.More things is that crystal was the first pokemon game that allows you to choose if you are a boy or a girl. You can make Pokemon hold items.You can also play in real time. After 150 Pokemon, you might think there is more. Well there is!! Crystal also includes 2 dirfferent types of Pokemon, steel and Dark. It was also the first to have these types. Bad things about crystal also means it seem to be a long game that might take forever! But can you handel 16 gym leaders through the game? However, the greatest thing Crystal can do is that you can get legendary Pokemon before the game. the badest thing for crystal is that you need to trade 27 out of 250 poke'mon.That's the number doubled of red blue or yellow!!

In all, this is a great game for long trips inside a airplane or a car.

This is really Awesome!
I like the crystal, gold, and silver line better than all the rest of the pokemon games. 1.) you have to get 16 badges, which include Jhoto, the new world and Kanto, the old world. Kanto is 4x harder too. 2) no more annoying legendary birds! 3.) eevee gets 2 new evolutions, Espeon (the best one) and Umbreon (the average one.) you can be a girl too!

My All Time Favorite
For people who have started to read my reviews I am a all time gamer, and this is my all time favorite game. This game is LOADED with stuff to do, figure out puzzles, capture pokemon, win battles and more! Here are the good and bad in my opinion:
Good
-Loaded with stuff takes a while to play (a good thing)
-So many pokemon to catch and raise
-The battles bring out the true trainer in you
-The pokemon now make noises and move when summoned
-You can choose gender
Bad
-Sometimes you can get very stuck
-Some of the puzzles need the game guide to figure out in my opinion
-The graphics aren't as good nowdays
Note that all the pokemon games are good and that I think this game appeals to all ages.

I wish people would stop writing bad reviews about Pokemon
I have grown up with Pokemon. My whole life has been spent growing up on Anime and Manga. So, I feel at home playing these games, but, this review is for G/S/C, yes all 3 of them. THESE GAMES ROCK!!! If you get bored by this game, you probably are, well, picky. Yep, picky. I mean, if you, like I, are a true Pokemon veteran, you would know that it is Nintendo and Gamefreak's duty to create a third Pokemon game that includes more than its predecessors. All Pokemon games are deeper than they look, you just have to play them long enough. Sometimes, if you train and put effort into these games, you will be satisfied and weirdly enough, attached to your Pokemon. I keep a special case full of all of my favorite GB/GBC/GBA games, and these are in it. So, who cares if Crystal is the same as G/S, these games are good enough that you can change the course of everything. So, if you are an RPG fan or a fan of the show, or anybody who plays video games (well actually, I'd say most video gamers are people who have grown up around them, so, if you didn't, this is not for you) this is the game for you. And now, for my trademark ending *Peace Out*.

"I had to see the city with my own eyes" Tidus, Final Fantasy X
P.S. There is no GB/GBC/GBA game better than the Pokemon games (ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

This is the best pokemon game
This is really the best pokemoin game, nothin' to do with Blue/Red versions, it has more things to do than Silver and gold, The story is the same, but there's some differences.
a) New female trainer (Named Jenny, Mariah, Kelis or Blu)
b) New puzzles and chambers at the Ruins of Alf
c) Suicune is easier to catch
d) When you reach to certain point in the game an ol' man gives you an egg that may contain a shiny pokemon like the red Gyarados, something like a yellow Marrill
e) More detailed graphics
d) New battle tower, ubicated near of Olivine City
Overall, the story doesn't change at all, but there's more things to do, Another thing that like me is the time.
You can set the clock as the real time. It's very important, beacause you can get pokemons only at night, or day
I wish Ruby and Saphire had a clock... ... Read more

Product Description

Nintendo (AGB P AZWE) WarioWare GBA ... Read more

Reviews (79)

Best GBA game of all time
When I first got the game, it was all I could play. 200+ 5 second games that you have to figure out how to do while playing them. What could be more fun? My favorite genres are 9-volt's Nintendo and Orbulon's I.Q. games. I highly recommend this game to anyone with a gba.

Hungry eye hi yeah
Well it seems obvious that this the game of all time... I had to laugh when I read the minimal amount of 1-2 star ratings (only about 4 out of 77) anyways this goes and shows the very idea of video games, they are pointless!Video games are pointless, there is no such thing as a "serious" game, all games to the very core of thier being are a waste of time.This game is great as in it is a light game that doesn't take forever to beat (ITS CALLED REPLAY VALUE GUYS, REPLAY VALUE) yes you will "beat" the game pretty easily, that doesn't mean it's over, you can play them even more.The concept is sound and the game is funny (unless you have a dignified sense of humour or your just too serious to laugh at something goofy) I think the funniest part is where that monkey is throwing the bananas at the cop cars, FUN-E!As I was saying this is a light game it is just to have fun with, there is no engrossing story line and what not.So if your playing a game for story line and character development (read you are a nerd) then please skip this game, it will be too "easy" for your advanced gaming (spare me!).This is one of the few breaths of fresh air I have seen in gaming in a long while, though video games are making more and more money every year they are losing focus.Ummm so yeah, this game is fun (E) and entertaining, if your a nerd you won't like it sooooooo this is a game for the "casual" gamer (read non-nerd) and cool people who don't read gaming magazines all day and have deep conversations about Final Fantasy.The end.

The best reason to buy gameboy.
The gameboy is a cool concept of taking games anywhere but most of the games for it are either intensive action arcade games or long RPG or strategy games.This is a game that makes the gameboy do what it was designed for.Plug in wario ware and play for five minutes, you'll have a blast and you'll advance to unlocking more of the minigames.Makes it so that you can use your gameboy while you're standing in line at the bank.

Great if you have A.D.D.
This game is really lots of mini games rolled into one.It's a solid original concept.Some of the games make you laugh so hard you nearly wet yourself when you see them for the first time (i.e. finger in the nose) and some can be quasi infuriating at first.I beat the game pretty fast though so I could only give it 3 stars even though thats the only knock on this game.

Excellent in all directions!
This game is addictive, fun, funny, action and loads more! THERE IS A PLOT. The plot is that a new game is released and you have to defeat to put wario in buisness, But it doesn't end there it keeps going! I've had it for 1 1/2 years and stil play it a lot!
You have to buy it if you have a gameboy advance!!!!! ... Read more

Features

• The first and only way to experience complete Quidditch matches
• Play as any one of four Hogwarts Houses
• Play all the Quidditch positions and execute all the high-flying moves
• Play as characters from the books, including Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, and more
• For 1 player

Reviews (9)

Good Choice for Harry Potter fan.
I was really excited when I got this game. I love the books and don't mind playing games either. I'm not a game freak who plays constantly, just on trips and stuff. This game is really fun, it catches the Quidditch spirit in everyone. In this game you can be any of the seven players. There isn't much difference between the keeper and chasers they all just fly around and you can't tell them apart. This game is really nice and a good choice for any Harry Potter fan who has dreamed of being out there playing with the quaffle or chasing down the snitch. This game is really easy to catch on to. At low levels it is really easy. You can dominate even if you've only played a little bit. However, the firebolt level keeps even the master in check. If I were you, I would get this game.

Not a bad game, but they could have done better
i think that this is by far the best of the potter games, altho i haven't tried out the new prisoner of azkaban game. i do have to say that i love the books, and i am a very causual gamer. I play this game loads, and i really do enjoy it. in contradiction with one of the reviews i just read, i find it terribly easy to score over 150 pts in a game before the snitch chase, and the world cup games get harder as you go on. overall i think it's brilliant.

What are you all talking about?
I've been reading reviews for this game, and I had thought I had a guarenteed great game in my hand after i bought it. I guess I thought wrong. I am about 14 years old and have read the potter books and like them alot. THis game is very disapointing. SOme of you might be familiar with the scoring system in quidditch: 10 pts. for each time the quaffle (main playing ball) goes through one of the goal-like hoops, and 150 pts. for when the seeker catches that darn golden snitch. Now, I say they either change the rules of quidditch, or make a sequal to the game. I dont think they can go back and change all those books. To me, all this game is is flying around tossing the quaffle back and forth, until the time comes to try and catch the snitch before the other team does. The game works it out so that when there are enough steals, special moves and passes during a game, it automatically goes right to the catching of the snitch. I feel the quaffle part of this game is completly pointless because the way the game makes it, whoever catches the snitch wins. It almost never get to you scoring 150 points with the quaffle before the hunt for the snitch is on, so why even have the quaffle play in it. Basically, this game just comes down to the 1 minute hunt for the snitch at the end.

If you are a collector of harry potter memorabilia, Go ahead and get the game. Other than that, spend your money on a good game like Metroid Zero Mission or Super dodge ball advance

THE BESTgame ever!!!!!!!!!
I've only played this once but it is sooooooooo cool!The graphics are alot batter then the old ones.I am sooooooooo geting this.If your a Harry Potter fan I think you should too.

Awesome Game!!!!!!!!!!(Even if ur not a Harry Potter Freak)
This is a really cool game and I was so happy when Draco was on the cover. He has finnaly been given the attention he deserves! You can play as the four Hogwarts houses and then you can move on to the Quiditch world cup. You can also play as two players. I always beat my brother. ... Read more

Product Description

Advance Wars 2, the sequel to the AIAS 2001 Handheld Game of the Year, expands on the original title with even more strategic action and all-new features that take the game to the next level. Sturm, the leader of the Black Hole Army, has created a new base of operations, and now hes set his sights on Cosmo Land. It's up to you to unite the armies ... Read more

Features

• Tactical war game set in cool sci-fi world
• Real-time strategy action challenges you to use new units and terrain wisely
• Take control of new Commanding Officer powers & weapons like the Neotank
• Customizable Map Editor lets players create exciting & dangerous new battle maps
• For 1 or 2 players

Reviews (65)

My best game
If you have been given the chance to buy this game may I ask what you are waiting for?Hmmmmmm?Well...BUY IT NOW!I got this game when it came out,that was...when?Well anyway since then and now this has been my best game (sorry mario party) and I think it always will be.How do I like it?Well thats easy
1vs2
team battle (I'm on my own)
my co: Grit
1st com: Eagle
2nd com: Adder
Map: my design map 'jungle'
weather: random
funds: 2000
My record: completed in 13 days (you should see my map!)
Sorry about that anyway this game is good value and is a real head scratcher.Bye yall and bye bye Sturm HAHAHA!

Cool And rocking the world
This game is so good you can can totally take it out. You can chosse where to attack. Witha brain and a conquest of winning this game is for yuo.

Bar none the best Gameboy strategy game
Want to cut to the chase and start kicking butt?Drop the lame RPGs (the gameboy RPGs stink) and let the battles begin.There are tons of maps, more COs, improved enemies and special powers, and the campaign is tough but fun.You'll need your thinking cap for this one... the strategies seem simple until you get the snot beat out of you a few times, then you realize the subtle skills and tactics you need to fight your way to the top.I can play this one over and over and over and over and not get bored.

Worth $40 if you love strategy and tactics
The cartoon style appeals to me very much, it is absolutely gorgeous and you can save everything, anytime, and you can customize a lot.
I played about 10 maps, and played the campaign about 70% until it became too hard for me. The maps are very well thought of, and most have some "spark of genius" inside them that you need to discover in order to win the battle.
The game is IDEAL if you go by train to work, shoot a few units down and there you are!

The Best Strategy Game For GBA I've Ever Played
This game is aewsome. You follow the mission objectives (usually destroy your opponent), build powerful armies, and conquer your world back. The map designer is a great feature in this game for you have almost no limits. The backround music is cool, the graphics are aewsome, and the different units are so unique.

This is one of the few games you'll never get bored of. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The story of Golden Sun: The Lost Age picks up right near the end of the first game. Golden Sun veterans will be surprised to learn that The Lost Age is played from the point of view of the party being chased as they try to light the remaining two lighthouses, which will unlock the power of alchemy for the world--or will it instead unlock the world's destruction?

Also, players who have finished the first game can transfer their party into the The Lost Age, either through the separately sold game link cable or through a password. ... Read more

Features

• Continue the adventure you started in Golden Sun, or start out fresh as a new player. Golden Sun: The Lost Age presents the perfect starting point for players who have never experienced Golden Sun, and for players who have, it expands immensely on the adventures of the original game.
• Transfer your characters from Golden Sun with all their items, abilities, and Djinn to unlock more secrets. Use up to eight characters in combat, doubling your party size and adding depth to an already complex and compelling battle and magic system.
• Astounding graphics and impressive summon effects surpass anything seen before on a handheld game system. New magical abilities offer even more ways to battle and to solve challenging and elaborate puzzles.
• Link up with a friend to pit your parties against one another in a two-player duel.

Reviews (118)

this is a good game
This is a good game! First of all, this is a good game^_^ Second of all this is a good game THen if you pass the game this is a good game and also if beat a boss it turns out to be a good game ^_^ good gam e ggood game GOOD GAMEEEEEEE!!!!! AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best RPG ever made, ''PERIOD'' !
When I first bought this game I thought that this would be another stupid role playing game after the failure of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. But then as soon as I turned on the game boy advance the Music, graphics, complexity, and sheer size just completely blew me away. Even the story was better than I have ever seen on any other RPG. Then they brought out a second one which had the best summons out there. If I had to compare any other games to the two Goldens it would be Final Fantasy #7 and FF 1&2 as well as Fire Emblem. The only problems, toooo much talking ( as with all RPG's ), limitations ( like trying to trip over a fellow villager which is best left to Fable ), you can't attack an enemy that you have selected but died before your guy could attack it, and I have heard of people liking to change the plot but why would you want to because the plot is that good. The advantages: phynergy (magic) is more than attack and you can't beat the game with out it, and the summons are the best in the business.

superb japanese atmosphere
This game is worth at least $30 (i got an original secondhand for about e14) and is a must have. It sets the standard for the GBA games. You really do need a walkthrough at a few points - I did, and haven't even finished the game (did about 60%) The puzzles are great and breathe that old 80's sokoban style. Absolutely amazing and lovely for older gamers.

One more thing: Buy all the Feathers in the shops, using them puts an end to the random encounters "Monsters won't attack you so often" it says. So much for that complaint!

Awesome!
I seriously believe there is not enough good that can be said about these games.They are the prime examples of good gaming, not only for the system, but also as an RPG.No game for the system has been able to surpass them in quality since the release of each, and likely, no game ever will.They're not just good GBA games; they're great video games, period.

There are dozens of aspects of the game that would make a good game cool; but the fact that there are so many, makes these amazing games extraordinary.I tend to prefer real time combat to turn based, but out of all the turn based I've ever played, this is easily the best.Not only is there the progressively interesting psynergy, and not only are there releases from various weapons, and not only are there the djinn, collected over the course of the game, with their own, unique releases, but there are also the spectacular summons and combo summons (introduced in The Lost Age) that can be used with stand-by djinn, which, alone, puts these games ahead by leaps and bounds in terms of graphics, over any other game for the system.And all of these contributions make combat far more strategic and engaging.

My absolute favorite aspect of these games are the dungeons.I've grown tired of the RPG where, upon entering a dungeon, the only difficultly comes from the overly incessant monster attacks and the boss battle which, traditionally, comes at the end.In Golden Sun and The Lost Age, monster attacks are on a more limited basis--meaning they don't get boring fast, like other RPGs.But the real challenge in the dungeons are the complex puzzles, most of which require the use of various psynergy.And the psynergy (magic) system is very intelligently taught to the player as the game progresses, as to recognize when a specific psynergetic power is required.It's the only RPG I've ever played where magic isn't just a convenience; it's a necessity.And while many of the puzzles are hard, they're fun, and all the more satisfying when the solution is achieved.It's one of the few games I've played that required serious thinking on the part of the player, as opposed to mindless, repetitive combat.It's one of the few I've played where I actually looked *forward* to the dungeons--and even some of the boss battles.(My favorite dungeons include all four lighthouses, the Elemental Rocks in The Lost Age, and the Ankohl Ruins, which requires the use of my personal favorite psynergy--sand.)

My only gripes for the game include the fact that I'm a little tired of the standard RPG that's from the point of view of a male protagonist, as well as a minor flaw such as the fact that, when in battle, a character is assigned to attack a monster but the monster is killed before they can attack, the character automatically goes into defense mode, and the turn is wasted.

Overall, I would seriously recommend this to anyone who's ever been an RPG fan, and agree with the statement that it is worth buying a GB soley for Golden Sun and The Lost Age.And while you can start with The Lost Age, I would recommend starting with the first one, simply so that you can appreciate the awe and splendor of both games together.

On the downside, I almost wish I hadn't played these games first.Because now, nothing else I ever play will even compare.

Is this an RPG or a puzzle solving game?
The running around solving puzzles by pushing logs, rocks around, and freezing water puddles, etc, dominates more than 80% of the game play.The story is almost pushed aside and practically neglected as the primary objective of the game.The puzzles are fun in their own ways however. ... Read more

Reviews (51)

May be quite possibly the best Castlevania ever...
While the past two GBA Castlevania's were good, this one is leaps and bounds ahead of them.

The Soul system of this game is brilliant and is quite addicting. However, getting the souls of every monster in this game can be quite time consuming. Though, one expensive ring does make this task much easier...

And the main character, Soma, just looks downright cool.
Plus the dozens of swords, hammers, spears, and even guns he can get all behave differently and are unique. No two weapons look or act the same.
And its just plain fun to swing a sword twice the size of your main character. :)

The challenge in this game can be a bit high in some areas but never leaves you frustrated.

Add to the fact that this game has hidden final bosses, hidden areas, a special arena mode which earns you rare and awesome weapons, a hidden playable character, and a mode which allows you to restart the game with all your items intact makes this game a gem and a real joy to play. Also, there is a special Hard mode which can earn you rare items like Deaths Scythe and a werewolf killing Silver Gun.

All in all, this game plain old rocks and will give you plenty of enjoyment and fun for your money. Pick it up, you wont be sorry.

Every bit as good, and better, than Symphony of the Night!
For people who fell in love with Castelvania: Symphony of the Night for the PSX, prepare to be dazzled yet again by Aria of Sorrow! The Soul system is easy and fun to use, the locales you'll explore in the castle are beautiful, the music is awesome, and plays as smoothly as you could ask.

If you are a big fan of Castlevania, this is THE Castlevania to pick up. If you aren't a big fan of Castlevania, then this is still the one game you should run out and buy! I couldn't recommend it any higher.

If HoD was the Test...This is the Result.
Iga's second game on the GBA