Genre: Game Compilation
Players: 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online)
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Review:
I’ll start by saying that this isn’t going to be a normal review. You won’t find an overall grade at the end telling you what I think of this collection of classic Game Boy Advance games ranging from the console’s original release in 2001 through to when the console was discontinued in 2008. This is for multiple reasons – firstly, the service is still receiving (presumably sporadic) updates that add more content. Secondly, this is not a collection you can purchase and own – rather, this is an included perk of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscription, and as such every player who subscribes to that service will have access to this compilation as long as they continue to have that subscription.
This app currently provides access to 27 games. All of the games in this collection have added display options, the ability to create multiple save states, and the games with multiplayer can now be played both via local wireless connection and online (but not on the same screen, except in cases where the original game was designed to do that). In addition, this collection allows players to sort games by title, release date, play time or last date played, or even create a custom order.
So… out of 27 games, what’s still worth playing today, and what isn’t? Well, here’s a rundown of what I thought of each and every one of these titles:
| Game | Genre | # of Players | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Densetsu no Starfy | Platformer | 1 | C+ |
tl;drOtherwise known as The Legendary Starfy, this previously Japan-only game is really adorable and features fairly simple gameplay that draws comparison to the Kirby series. However, for such simple gameplay it’s absolutely loaded with (untranslated) text, which doesn’t hinder its playability but drags down its pacing. This one is still worth a look for Platformer fans, but it’s hardly a great of the genre. | |||
| Densetsu no Starfy 2 | Platformer | 1 | B- |
tl;drThis game has all the charm of its predecessor, but with better level design and somewhat better pacing. There’s still a lot of untranslated text though. | |||
| Densetsu no Starfy 3 | Platformer | 1-4 Competitive Minigames (Local / Online) | B |
tl;drAgain, it’s untranslated, but this series keeps getting better, with better level design and now gorgeous multilevel scrolling backgrounds. | |||
| F-Zero: Maximum Velocity | Futuristic Racing | 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | B |
tl;drThis F-Zero game lacks many of the standard elements of the franchise, like Captain Falcon and his trademark racing craft. Its high-inertia gameplay also gives it a really steep learning curve. But those who are up for a challenge will find this to be a solid Racing game nonetheless. | |||
| F-Zero GP Legend | Futuristic Racing | 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | B |
tl;drThis game controls better than its Game Boy Advance predecessor, F-Zero: Maximum Impact, has more options, sees the return of classic series characters, and has a new campaign mode based on the F-Zero anime. This campaign mode is pretty terrible (terrible story plus short linear poorly-designed tracks), but the standard championship mode is still excellent, making this a solid entry in the series. | |||
| F-Zero Climax | Futuristic Racing | 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | B |
tl;drPreviously never released in the West, this Futuristic Racing game seems a bit more slippery to control than the prior game, and the options menu is unfortunately still in untranslated Japanese. That said, the other menus are mostly in English, and this game adds F-Zero X’s spin attack, as well as a custom course builder. As a result, on balance, I think this is about on par with GP Legend. | |||
| Fire Emblem | Turn-Based Strategy-RPG | 1 | A- |
tl;drReleased elsewhere with the subtitle “The Blazing Blade”, this is actually the seventh game in the Fire Emblem series, but the first one to be released in the West. Not everyone will appreciate this game’s linear progression and character permadeath, and fans of Three Houses may be disappointed at the lack of that game’s training and relationship dynamics, but otherwise this is an absolutely phenomenal Strategy-RPG that should be considered a must-play for fans of the genre. | |||
| Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones | Turn-Based Strategy-RPG | 1 | A- |
tl;drThe eighth game in the Fire Emblem franchise adds in a few minor new elements to the series like multiple “class evolution” options. However, for the most part, this is the same sort of gameplay that was in the prior Fire Emblem game, with the same strengths and weaknesses – again, the linear progression and permadeath aren’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but regardless this is still an outstanding Strategy-RPG that genre fans should consider a must-have. | |||
| Golden Sun | Turn-Based JRPG | 1-2 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | C+ |
tl;drI know this game is fiercely loved by a cult following of fans, but as far as I’m concerned it’s just a reasonably well-polished but otherwise unspectacular JRPG with somewhat slow pacing. Not bad, but nothing particularly special either. | |||
| Golden Sun: The Lost Age | Turn-Based JRPG | 1-2 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | B- |
tl;drThis is essentially Golden Sun: Part Two (this game and its predecessor were originally conceived as one game and then split into two parts), meaning that players will really want to complete the first game to understand the plot of this one (and if they do, they can use a password to transfer elements of their save file over). However, players who manage to do so will discover this game’s narrative does something clever by picking up right where the previous game left off, but telling the story from the perspective of the first game’s antagonists. It’s otherwise still a fairly standard and unspectacular JRPG, but it’s an absolute must for anyone who enjoyed the first game. | |||
| Kirby and the Amazing Mirror | Platformer | 1-4 Co-Op (Local Wireless / Online) | B- |
tl;drHonestly, my previous distaste for this game has softened somewhat since the last time I reviewed it. I still feel like this game’s interconnected world aims for something akin to a Metroidvania but fails, resulting in overly-confusing level design without any reason for it to be that way. However, the core gameplay and traditional Kirby-style Platforming is overall pretty solid here. It also helps that unlike the Wii U Virtual Console release of the game, this version of the game supports multiplayer co-op, one of this game’s key features. Overall, this is a decent Kirby game, although it’s far from the best the series has to offer. | |||
| Klonoa: Empire of Dreams | Platformer | 1 | B+ |
tl;drWhile not as graphically impressive as the console games, Klonoa’s first handheld adventure was still bursting with charm, with solid gameplay, great level design, and a catchy soundtrack. | |||
| Kuru Kuru Kururin | Arcade | 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | B- |
tl;drOriginally released only in Japan, Europe, and Australia, this game has players navigating a rotating rod through obstacle courses while trying to avoid touching walls. It’s a simple and slightly repetitive game, but it’s surprisingly compelling and has a delightful presentation. | |||
| Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga | Compilation / Turn-Based JRPG / Platformer | 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | A+ |
tl;drThe first game in the Mario & Luigi JRPG series is wildly inventive, having players individually coordinate each brother’s attacks and combining their abilities in interesting ways. It’s also full of charm and personality. A must-play RPG. And also there’s the excellent remake of Mario Bros. that was tossed in with every Mario Advance game… because why not? Together, they form an outstanding must-have pairing that everyone should play. | |||
| Mario Kart: Super Circuit | Kart Racing | 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | B+ |
tl;drFor its time, this game was extremely impressive, replicating the same experience of the Super Nintendo game on a handheld platform. However, the visuals haven’t aged as well as the Super Nintendo game, looking horribly pixelated, even for those who might otherwise be forgiving of retro-style visuals. It’s still a fun Racing game though, and it earns bonus points for having every map from the Super Nintendo game unlockable in addition to a full game’s worth of new courses. | |||
| Metroid Fusion | Metroidvania | 1 | B+ |
tl;drThe fourth game in the mainline Metroid series, Metroid Fusion is a superb Metroidvania, and an important part of the Metroid saga leading into Metroid Dread, but in my opinion it is the weakest game in the mainline series (if we substitute Metroid Zero Mission and Metroid: Samus Returns for Metroid 1 and 2). However, it’s still a must-play if you’re a fan of the genre and especially if you’re a fan of the series. | |||
| Metroid: Zero Mission | Metroidvania | 1 | A+ |
tl;drThis remake of the first Metroid game brings the gameplay closer to the series’ pinnacle, Super Metroid, and the result is one of the best games in the series, and I’d say that its biggest flaw is that it’s relatively short. If you enjoy a good Metroidvania, you absolutely need to play this game. | |||
| Mr. Driller 2 | Puzzle-Platformer | 1-2 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | C+ |
tl;drThe Game Boy Advance version of the second game in the series about digging downward through multicolored blocks without getting crushed by falling blocks or running out of air is still visually-appealing, but lacks the variety of later entries in the series, with gameplay I just don’t find especially compelling. | |||
| Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team | Dungeon-Crawler / RPG | 1 | C+ |
tl;drOriginally released as a pair with Blue Rescue Team, the two games mark the first entries in the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series, which combines mechanics of both the Pokemon franchise and the Mystery Dungeon franchise. However, the Pokemon side of things gets the short end of the stick here, as this game isn’t nearly as deep or compelling as mainline Pokemon titles. Still, it’s a fun change of pace that fans of the series should enjoy. | |||
| Super Mario Advance | Compilation / Platformer | 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | A |
tl;drThis game is primarily a port of the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. 2 (along with the same remake of the original Mario Bros. that is in countless other Mario games on Game Boy Advance). The changes here compared to other versions of Super Mario Bros. 2 are mostly minor, including a more limited screen size, slightly altered visuals, new voice clips for characters, and unlockable challenges. Some will prefer this version of the game, some will prefer the All-Stars version, and some will prefer the original. However, this is still largely the same game that we already have twice over on Nintendo Switch Online. | |||
| Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 | Compilation / Platformer | 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | A+ |
tl;drThis game is primarily a port of the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. 3 (along with the same remake of the original Mario Bros. that is in countless other Mario games on Game Boy Advance), but that’s just the beginning. Like all Super Mario Advance games, this also includes an excellent remake of the original Mario Bros. arcade game, but the real treat here is that this version includes all of the levels that were added to this version of the game by the E-Reader peripheral. That’s nearly 50 levels, many of them only playable in this version of the game (well, unless you want to track down all the E-Reader stuff). If you’re a Mario fan, this is an absolute must-have, and even if you’re not it’s still an exceptional Platformer with a wealth of great content. | |||
| Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 | Compilation / Platformer | 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | A |
tl;drThis game is primarily a port of Super Mario World (along with the same remake of the original Mario Bros. that is in countless other Mario games on Game Boy Advance). The changes here compared to the original are mostly minor, including a more limited screen size, slightly altered visuals, new voice clips for characters, unlockable challenges, and a version of Luigi who plays slightly differently than Mario. Some will prefer this version of the game, and some will prefer the original. However, this is still largely the same game that we already have on the Nintendo Switch Online Super Nintendo App. | |||
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords | Top-Down Action-RPG | 1-4 Co-Op (Online) | A |
tl;drIf you’re going to play A Link to the Past, you’re better off just playing the version on the Super Nintendo app, which has a larger screen size and doesn’t have the annoying Link voice. The main appeal of this version is Four Swords, a co-op adventure for up to four players, and this is the first time since the original Game Boy Advance release you could enjoy it this way. Definitely worth a look for co-op Zelda fans! | |||
| The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap | Top-Down Action-RPG | 1 | A- |
tl;drThis game sticks close to the formula established by Link to the Past, but its unique characters, fun new items, and it’s “grow/shrink” gimmick differentiate it enough to make it distinct in the series, even after all these years. | |||
| Wario Land 4 | Platformer | 1 | A- |
tl;drThis game abandons the shape-changing and most of the puzzle elements of Wario Land 2 and 3 to be a more traditional Platformer like the original Wario Land, while adding in a colorful, detailed, delightfully expressive presentation in line with the WarioWare series. The result is a game I would argue is one of the best in the Wario Land series, second only to Virtual Boy Wario Land. If you’re a fan of Platformers, this is absolutely a game you should want in your collection. | |||
| WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! | Arcade / Misc. | 1-2 Competitive (Local) | A- |
tl;drThe first game in the WarioWare franchise is still a huge breath of fresh air in the world of videogames even today, with tons of personality, variety, and extra content. The only real complaint I have is that the signature rapid-fire 5-second microgames can get repetitive a bit too quickly. Even so, this game is still an absolute blast, and still well worth getting. | |||
| Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3 | Compilation / Platformer | 1-4 Competitive (Local Wireless / Online) | A+ |
tl;drThis game is primarily a port of Yoshi’s Island (along with the same remake of the original Mario Bros. that is in countless other Mario games on Game Boy Advance). The changes here compared to the original include a more limited screen size, slightly altered visuals, new voice clips for characters, and six entirely new “Secret Stage” levels. The addition of new levels is great, but the added Yoshi noises join Baby Mario’s crying to make this game’s sound something that will be like nails on a chalkboard to some players. However, overall, this is still largely the same game that we already have on the Nintendo Switch Online Super Nintendo App. | |||
When it all comes down to it, the truly must-play games (A- grade or higher) are as follows: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Metroid: Zero Mission, Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, Super Mario Advance, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords, Fire Emblem, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Wario Land 4, and WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!.
And in addition to that, other worthwhile games well worth playing (B+ or B grade) are F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, F-Zero GP Legend, F-Zero Climax, Klonoa: Empire of Dreams, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, and Densetsu no Starfy 3.
Or, for those wanting a Top 10 list (because those are always fun), my suggestions would be as follows:
10. Wario Land 4
9. Fire Emblem
8. WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
7. Super Mario Advance
6. Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
5. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords
4. Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3
3. Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
2. Metroid: Zero Mission
1. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Of course, all of this is just how it stands now – Nintendo will undoubtedly update this list with additional titles later… and when they do, I’ll try to make it a point to update this list as well.
tl;dr – Nintendo Switch Online members currently have access to 27 Game Boy Advance games, including some true classics, and all of these games have added save states and online and local wireless play for those games with multiplayer. There’s definitely quite a few games here well worth checking out.
Grade: N/A
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