What Games Pushed The Limits of the GBA?

[fastbilly1]

Though I prefer Ecks v Sever, Ballistic Ecks v Sever, the sequel, is by far a better game. Plus it adds in bots.
So technically impressive games? Well I have to go with Sabrewulf for one.
Smashing Drive did things with the hardware that scared me, same with SSX3. I mean sure they are pixelated, but they did things I thought impossible.

[GSZX1337]

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. It was the first (and I think it's still the only one) to have an FMV cutscene.

[Mozgus]

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. It was the first (and I think it's still the only one) to have an FMV cutscene.

There are dozens of games that used FMV on GBA.

[GSZX1337]

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. It was the first (and I think it's still the only one) to have an FMV cutscene.

There are dozens of games that used FMV on GBA.

Before or after KH?

[gradualmeltdown]

fo sure. Iridion 3D ran FMV as backgrounds!

[Mozgus]

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. It was the first (and I think it's still the only one) to have an FMV cutscene.

There are dozens of games that used FMV on GBA.

Before or after KH?

I'm pretty sure before. Squaresoft certainly didn't invent any of the codecs.

http://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php?tit ... oy_Advance

And here's a bit from the IGN review of the game:

The game kicks its story off pretty much at the tail end of the original Kingdom Hearts with a fantastic full-motion video sequence that must take up a serious amount of space on the GBA cartridge. FMV on the GBA is nothing new; Majesco's making a fortune putting 44 minutes of animation for 19.99 a pop, and this trend is going to continue for as long as consumers are willing to spend the cash on the cartoon series. But the quality of video being used in Chain of Memories is significantly better than the Majesco codec. Whether this is due to the programming prowess, Square-Enix and Jupiter loosening up the compression, or offering an absolutely massive cartridge for it...but it's hard to argue how much better this video looks. And from what's been said by Square-Enix, there's far more video intermissions later in the game.

I am sure it's because they increased the bitrate.

[metaleggman]

I think most of the games use actimagine's codec...

but I think Super Gunstar Heroes, most of the later FPS titles, Driv3r, and then Payback pretty much round out games that use most of the system's potential.

[Daniel Primed]

I'm suprised that no one has mentioned the Tony Hawks series, this was the first thing to spring to mind. The game took the console Tony Hawk titles and shrunk them down into isometric 3D. THPS2 would probably the best choice as it had the full levels from the console games.

As for the FMVs I believe that Batman Vengence(the one based on the cartoon) was actually the first game to use FMVs on the system.

Metroid Zero Missions was also a great game, nicely detailed sprites and animations, very sharp and errie(?) music. I'd also have to agree with Ecks Vs Sever 2, the game was a gorgeous FPS, I think that it had up to 4 player multiplayer(possibly 2, I forget now, just jogging these off), there was also a variety of other nice effects such as clever AI, a wide variety of levels and night vision mode.

There was also one of the Street Fighter games ported accross to the GBA from the Playstation. Not sure what one though, I'm guesing Alpha 3 although I could be completely off as I know nothing about SF. The game basically had everything from the PS version, plus either 2 extra characters or a multiplayer mode. Not sure.

Other possibilities Final Fantasy Tactics, Castlevania games, Mario and Luigi, Mario Sports games, Tekken Advance, thats all that I can think of ATM.

If you want me to clarify some of these details I can do some hunting around some old magazines if you'd like? I look forward to hearing your write up.

[Ivo]

I don't think they actually push much of the existing hardware (in terms of graphics or the occasional voices etc). But they do include the solar sensor... If you think that fits, it's up to you.

[fastbilly1]

Daniel Primed, it was alpha 3.