Best Tactical JRPGs On The Game Boy Advance

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Best Tactical JRPGs On The Game Boy Advance

Highlights

  • Classic turn-based games on GBA include Pokemon, Mother 3, and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.
  • Tactical RPGs like Yggdra Union and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance offer strategic gameplay.
  • Standout titles like Tactics Ogre and Fire Emblem brought beloved franchises to the GBA audience.

As a long-time strategy RPG enthusiast who grew up with Nintendo and Square Enix consoles, I can confidently say that these games have shaped my gaming preferences significantly. Each of them offers unique experiences that cater to different playstyles, yet they all share the same addictive gameplay loop that keeps me coming back for more.

On the Game Boy Advance, you’ll find two exceptional categories of turn-based games. One type is reminiscent of classic Japanese games where players navigate menus and alternately move heroes and villains. Games like Pokemon, such as Pokemon FireRed and Pokemon LeafGreen, are excellent illustrations of this style.

Some other classic, time-honored turn-based games include “Mother 3”, “Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga”, and “Golden Sun”. These games share characteristics with tactical RPGs, where players often command small armies and navigate them across a map, much like a strategy-oriented version of Chess. The strategy required in these games is significant, making them challenging and engaging for many gamers. Today, let’s delve into some exceptional examples of this genre.

8 Super Robot Taisen J

Mechs In High School

Best Tactical JRPGs On The Game Boy Advance
  • Metacritic Score: N/A

Super Robot Taisen J is one of the numerous installments in this Japanese series primarily focused on Game Boy Advance (GBA). It’s packed with robots from various anime universes. Notably, it features characters from Gundam SEED and G Gundam, as well as introducing new franchises like Full Metal Panic and Tekkaman Blade for dedicated mech enthusiasts. The game stands out with its school-themed setting, where a group of high school students find themselves entangled in an unusual sci-fi storyline. Combat takes place on a basic grid, but the attacks become more spectacular once executed. Originally exclusive to Japan, there’s been an English fan translation available.

7 Onimusha Tactics

Fighting Demons In Feudal Japan

Best Tactical JRPGs On The Game Boy Advance
  • Released: November 11, 2003 (NA)
  • Developer: Capcom
  • Publisher: Capcom
  • Metacritic Score: 64

As a devoted fan, I’d share that my journey with the Onimusha series initially felt like stepping into a horror-action realm reminiscent of Resident Evil. However, Capcom took an unexpected turn, creating some peculiar spinoffs such as Onimusha Blade Warriors, which had a Super Smash Bros.-like feel, and Onimusha Tactics, a strategy RPG. Despite the eccentric characters, it veered away from the grotesque horror of the mainline games. It was an intriguing shift from Capcom, but it resulted in a decent RPG experience on the Game Boy Advance. The characters could traverse grids, engage in battles, level up, and essentially perform all the typical actions you’d find in this fantasy-infused portrayal of feudal Japan.

6 Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars

Kojima’s Legacy Continues On Handheld

Best Tactical JRPGs On The Game Boy Advance
  • Released: February 26, 2002 (NA)
  • Developer: Winkysoft
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Metacritic Score: 71

On the PlayStation 2, there were two games known as “Zone of the Enders,” both offering fast-paced mech action. Although not directly overseen by Hideo Kojima, renowned for his work on Metal Gear, he contributed to their production. Subsequently, an anime titled “Zone of the Enders: Dolores, I” was developed, and the upcoming game, “Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars,” seems to align more with this anime’s universe.

The grid layouts on the map resemble the ease of playing Super Robot Taisen video games, however, the action sequences demand more engagement. Players get to control the cockpit and target opponents for brief periods. It’s challenging to become proficient at this game but enjoyable to pick up and learn.

5 Yggdra Union: We’ll Never Fight Alone

Advance Anime Wars

Best Tactical JRPGs On The Game Boy Advance
  • Metacritic Score: 77

The game titled “Yggdra Union: We’ll Never Fight Alone” bears some resemblance to the anime-styled strategy game “Advance Wars,” with a key difference being that instead of using planes, tanks, and other motorized vehicles, players command large armies. Each character on the map was accompanied by approximately ten soldiers, whose numbers and ranks differed. The loss of soldiers in this game functioned similarly to losing hit points (HP) in other role-playing games. This creative approach served to illustrate the hardships of war in a more playful manner, even though the narrative didn’t shy away from delving into darker themes.

4 Shining Force: Resurrection Of The Dark Dragon

Sega’s Tactical Series Comes To Nintendo

Best Tactical JRPGs On The Game Boy Advance
  • Released: June 8, 2004 (NA)
  • Developer: Amusement Vision
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Metacritic Score: 77

After ending the Dreamcast, Sega shifted many of their popular series, such as Shining, onto Nintendo consoles. The Shining series initially started with a dungeon crawler called Shining in the Darkness. Its sequel transitioned the gameplay into something different, and Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon is a remake of that game for the Game Boy Advance. In this strategy RPG, players could move their units, ranging from soldiers to archers, on intricately designed top-down maps, including unique creatures like centaurs, which was a hallmark of the series. This update brought a hidden gem to Nintendo fans, enriching their strategy RPG experience.

3 Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

A Tactical Isekai

Best Tactical JRPGs On The Game Boy Advance
  • Metacritic Score: 87

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance represents a striking departure from its dark and spiritual predecessor on the PlayStation 1. Similar to Onimusha Tactics, it signified a shift towards catering to a younger audience. The narrative becomes more evident as a band of children are transported into the world of Ivalice, thus classifying Final Fantasy Tactics Advance as an Isekai title.

Characters, assuming the role of protagonist Marche, swiftly rose to command a band of mercenaries. They had the ability to expand their team, switch professions, and strategize a course through the ever-growing cosmos, all while tackling additional missions. Though it lacked mature content, the game was still captivating as a strategy title.

2 Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis

A Decent Rival To Final Fantasy

Best Tactical JRPGs On The Game Boy Advance
  • Metacritic Score: 88

In the series of strategy games owned by Square Enix, Tactics Ogre is sometimes underestimated. Before Square Enix acquired its developer, Quest, Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis was published by Atlus in North America. This was a clever move as it aligned well with Atlus’ niche RPG market. Similar to other tactical games on the Game Boy Advance, players could gather a team of units and customize their classes and equipment to create an elite army. However, this game was particularly challenging due to its harsh accuracy statistic.

1 Fire Emblem

This Beloved Nintendo Series Debuts In The West

Best Tactical JRPGs On The Game Boy Advance
  • Metacritic Score: 88

Fire Emblem, which originally started on the NES in 1990, was the first game of this series to be released in North America. In Japan, it’s known as “Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade”. Due to its newness in North America, Nintendo simplified the title for us. This game is famously difficult because of its permadeath feature, a characteristic common to many entries in the series. However, this challenge is what drew in tactical game enthusiasts, and since then, Fire Emblem has grown into a significant franchise in the West, despite several games still being exclusive to Japan.

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2024-08-03 07:05