The Best GBA Platform Games I Have Ever Played

A platform game (or platformer) is a video game genre characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles (jumping puzzles). It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps.

Although not much, here is 4 of the best that I have played.

Gunstar Super Heroes

Gunstar Super Heroes (Gunstar Future Heroes in Europe) is a side scroller shooting game, kind of like Contra but with faster pace, also Gunstar adds more combat technique to use like sliding, uppercut, jump kick and slash, but all you need is your gun and some sliding to maneuver.

The gun itself can be charge up by killing an enemy unit, making them stronger, or when the gauge is full you can released them to shoot a super weapon.

In the game you must choose between 2 character, where each has their own unique weapon and storyline. the storyline also affected by which difficulty level you choose.

Apart from the greatness of the gameplay the sprite animation is also very cool, smooth and colorful. which make this one of the best side scrolling action game in GBA. The downside of this game is the total area is too short, you can finish this game in an hour or less.

Megaman Zero / Rockman Zero Series

Megaman Zero is the continuation of the megaman X series, it takes place around 100 year after the end of the megaman X series, Zero was resurected to help a group of Reploids trying to escape from the Neo Arcadian army, the current government who mercilesly slaughtering them fearing them to become maverick.

Differs from the X series, in Megaman Zero you will be given additional weapons apart from the original X buster and Z Saber, which are the triple rod and shield boomerang. You can also power up your weapon by using it to kill enemies.

Another additional feature is the cyber elf system which can help you in battle, some can give you instant benefit like refiling Zero is life energy, while others can give you permanent bonus like increasing your defense.

If you are familiar with the megaman X series then you should know that every megaman game is very challenging, this game is not an exception, I even found this game is harder by far compared to the X series.

For example in the X series if you manage to kill a boss you will surely get his special ability. But in Megaman Zero you will need to get a good rank first to get one.

A good rank determined by: how fast you finish a stage, how less you receive damage, and by not using any cyber elf, which is quite a shame, since cyber elf were suppose to boost your effectiveness in battle.

But then again, this game will surely test your reflex and your ability to read enemy patern to find every bosses weaknesses. A very recommended game for you who is up to the challenge.

Metroid Series

The story of Samus Aran the space bounty hunter carry on from Nintendo console to GBA handheld. There are two release of Metroid series for GBA, Metroid Fusion and Metroid: Zero Mission.

While Metroid Fusion brings out a new story to the metroid series. Metroid: Zero Mission is a remake from the original Metroid in Nintendo Console that shines even better with new graphic, and the addition of cut-scenes. So if you miss the story when playing the original Metroid you'd sure want to try this game.

Castlevania Series

The best dracula hunting game has arrived for GBA player. Castlevania series root back to the classic Castlevania game from Nintendo Console, and their legendary dracula hunter Simon Belmont.

There are three release of Castlevania game in GBA handheld : Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow where each carry their own stories.

In Circle of the Moon you play as Nathan Graves trying to defeat the Dracula who've just been resurrected. You start off by using your standard whip and sub-weapon, and would not be able to do anything other than jump and attack.

But later on you'll learn new moves like running, double jump, wall jump, underwater breathing, and high jump that will let you jump very high vertically.

This game also comes with a new system called DSS (Dual Setup System) a card based power-ups which will allow you to use many different abilities.

The cards itself divided into two group (Action card and Attribute card) pairing each will resulting in different effect. Finishing the game will also unlock a new mode that surely will make you play this game with different approach.

In Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance you will be playing as Juste Belmont a descendent from the legendary Belmont family line. Aside from the basic move Juste will also be able to do a short dash at the beginning of the game, which helps a lot in getting in and out of enemy attack range.

You can also combine your sub weapon with one of the spellbook which are fire, ice, bolt, wind and summoning tome creating a new spell with the book atribute.

Last is Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. Although Circle of the Moon and Harmony of Dissonance is a great game, Aria of Sorrow wins them all and makes it the best GBA castlevania available.

In Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow you will be playing as Soma Cruz a young boy who is a potential vessel for Dracula is reincanation. unlike other castlevania you are not equiped with a whip this time, only a dagger.

But later on you can equip many variety of weapon ranging from fists, sword, axe, hammer to guns. You also would not be needing to collect hearts to use your sub-weapon since it has been replaced with a gauge bar which depletes every time you use it, the bar itself regenerate over time though.

Your choice of sub-weapon also being replaced with a Tactical Soul system, where each time you kill an enemy there is a chance you get the creature is soul obtaining it special ability.

Beating this game also will let you play as Julius Belmont a Vampire Hunter equiped with your standard whip, and play with your standard Castlevania taste. This game also spawned a sequel for NDS titled Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow