Randomly recommend an unknown or underrated game.

[darsparx]

That reminds me of V-Rally 3, a graphically-impressive racer for GBA. It was one of the first texture-mapped 3D racers (maybe even the first) on the system, and it was insane to see something like that on GBA hardware.

I have no idea if it holds up, though.

I'm still impressed at what the gba could do back in the day. For a console more known as a 2d gaming portable the 3d on it when done right isn't half bad. There's that monster trucks(i think that's all there is to the name) that I remember playing back when it was still possible to buy gba games in major retailers. Was a lot of fun but I think I ended up trading it to get M&L SSS. I think all of these are still in that bargain bin pricing last I checked XD

[ExedExes]

Dexter's Laboratory: Robot Rampage (GBC)



Do not, I repeat, DO NOT be fooled by the license! It will be good, otherwise I'd not have put it in here! This is a re-skin of Taito's Elevator Action EX (as it is known in Japan & Europe). Much like an earlier suggestion of mine, Sgt. Rock on the Frontline, this is the 2nd of 3 GBC Taito/Altron games that bam! Entertainment slapped a Warner Bros. license on.

If you are even remotely a fan of Elevator Action, give this one a try. 16 stages and it gets a lot harder at the end!

[Sarge]

Speaking of racing games...





Racing Gears Advance is an awesome R.C. Pro-Am style racer for the system. Which leads me to another Orbital Media game...







...Scurge: Hive, a tough-as-nails isometric Metroid-style game. That final battle was brutal, but I enjoyed nearly all my time with the game. Good stuff, and the superior version is apparently the GBA one, although it is also on DS.

[Gunstar Green]

Scurge Hive is pretty cool and should've got more love. What makes it better on the GBA? I've only ever played it on the DS and liked it there.

[disrupture]

Damn that's my new favorite thread. I hope I'll be able to contribute.

Keep 'em coming, I'll try to find some of your suggestions when game hunting season begins here.

[Sarge]

Scurge Hive is pretty cool and should've got more love. What makes it better on the GBA? I've only ever played it on the DS and liked it there.

Oh, right, sorry. I remember reading the IGN review back in the day, and I knew a few of the little graphical flourishes weren't there in the DS version, for whatever reason. Stuff like haze effects, and supposedly the animations in spots aren't quite as fluid.

[Exhuminator]

Black★Rock Shooter THE GAME | PSP / Vita | 2011-13



Did you know in 2011 the JRPG saviors Imageepoch developed a third person rail shootin' RPG hybrid based on an obscure anime? And did you know in 2013 NIS America actually published it in English on the PSN?

From Mobygames:

Description
In the year 2032, aliens have invaded Earth. Humanity bands together and fights back valiantly, but they are simply no match for the invading force, and their numbers steadily dwindle as fighting continues. At the brink of extinction after years of war, one last hope for humanity appears: Black Rock Shooter, a young girl who is also the most powerful biological weapon ever created. Working together with the last remnants of the human race, will she be able to repel the alien invasion and save the Earth?

Black Rock Shooter is an action-RPG based on the anime of the same name. It is in many ways a standard Japanese-style RPG. The player controls the eponymous Black Rock Shooter as she explores the battle-ravaged landscape, and enemies will approach her when they notice her. If they get close enough, the game will switch to battle mode, which is closer to a rail shooter rather than a standard turn-based battle system.

During battle, enemies will attack in real time. The player controls a cursor to aim Black Rock's rock cannon, and can shoot freely, as well as block, dodge, and use various items and special skills, but she cannot move freely around the battlefield. Certain actions will increase a heat gauge, which will only lower if she is allowed to rest. If the gauge gets too high, she will become temporarily unable to attack.

The game is divided into stages, each of which contains a number of missions and optional objectives. The stage ends when these missions are cleared. Optional objectives in each stage will reward the player with additional abilities and unlockable bonuses such as weapons, costumes, and concept art. Completed stages can be returned to in order to complete additional objectives.

The WIKI: http://blackrockshooter.wikia.com/wiki/ ... r_THE_GAME

The anime: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_B ... r_episodes

Official game trailer:

Buy it on PSN:

https://store.playstation.com/#!/en-us/ ... 0000001111

[Snatch1414]

Nice. Definitely interested in cheap Game Boy gems of any variety.

[laurenhiya21]

I am still mad about Black Rock Shooter since I was excited to get it but for some dumb reason it's not available in Canada >:l

I guess I could make a US account but I'm still not sure how that works on the PSP... Doing that on the Vita is a pain though so not doing that

[marlowe221]

Dungeon Quest - iOS/Android

It's a Diablo-style ARPG game. I can't quite believe it but the touchscreen controls actually work really well. It's not super deep but it's good, cartoony hack-and-slash fun.

It is free to play but I haven't felt the need to spend any money on anything yet. I've played somewhere between 5-10 hours.