Summary
Game Boy Advancewas the follow-up to one of the most phenomenally successful devices ever created: Nintendo’sGame Boy. Originally released in 2001, GBA continued the legacy of its legendary predecessor but with beefier specs. It boasted better graphics, improved sound, and more processing power. At the same time, it provided compelling gameplay in hardware that could fit in a pocket and was affordable to most people.
It boasted a stack of great games, some of which belonged tothe simulation genre. Traditionally, simulations were the domain of PCs and high-spec consoles due to the detailed graphics, sound, and complex and intricate gameplay. The GBA may not be the most likely home for some of these games, but it boasted some top-tier titles. Seven of the stand-outs from the GBA library are presented here, ranked.
The originalSim Citywas one of the most successful games of its era, putting players in charge of their very own city. The game mechanic required the player to combine a zest for planning and logistics with a godlike power that gave them ultimate power over the metropolis, what shape it would take, and what it could offer its residents. The game’s popularity was such that it was ported to a number of other systems, Game Boy Advance among them.
The GBA version of the sequelSimCity 2000pulls off an impressive feat, carrying over the source material while leaving the core experience intact. Some sacrifices have had to be made to fit the game into the Game Boy Advance cartridge - it is no longer possible to create subways, for example, or manage underground sewage systems, and the limits of the hardware mean the overall pace of the gameplay is a tad slower than its PC cousin, but it still offers hours of great gameplay and is an essential addition to the library.
6F-14 Tomcat
Take To The Skies In This Jet Fighter Extravaganza
F-14 Tomcatcashed in on the wave of nostalgia for the iconic warplane from which it takes its name. Made famous by the movieTop Gunand Sega’sAfter-Burnerseries, the aircraft is the subject of this cheerful attempt to put a flight simulator onto the Game Boy Advance, complete with an ’80s-style rock soundtrack pumping through the speakers. In the game, the pilot must fly missions after an enemy superpower is discovered to be carrying out military maneuvers.
While not necessarily the most advancedflight simulatorof its type, the game is still a lot of fun and makes great use of the hardware’s graphical and sound capabilities. The gameplay involves engaging rogue aircraft in enemy dogfights over water before returning to the aircraft carrier and making precarious landings, all the while monitoring fuel, ammo, and altitude. The title does a superb job of creating white-knuckle arcade thrills in a modest piece of hardware.
5Pinball Of The Dead
It’s So Good, You’ll Flip
It’s one of those ideas that, on paper at least, looks questionable at best and a cheap cash-in at worst - a pinball simulator on a handheld based on a much-loved arcade hit. Sega’sThe House Of The Deadwas an on-rails shooter that created a string of sequels and spin-offs, most of which used cutting-edge hardware to deliver bloody zombie fun. It seemed somewhat unlikely that the then state-of-the-art experience would make the jump to the humble GBA.
And yet. Making ingenious use of the GBA’s graphics and sound,Pinball Of The Deaddelivers an experience that captures the spooky atmosphere of its source material. Using the ball to hit enemies, players rack up points and must complete challenges to unlock more of the game. The title uses settings and locations from the first two THOTD games, with shuffling zombies, boss battles, and full-motion video and audio samples. A hidden gem that will delight pinball fans and zombie aficionados alike.
There have been a string ofJurassic Park games,and this one moves away from the more action-oriented efforts of other titles, offering up a construction and management simulator. The game does its best to follow some of the story elements laid out by the first Jurassic Park, as the player must first source dino DNA found in fossilized mosquitos. From there, players can oversee the formation of their own dinosaur park, controlling the layout of everything from holding pens to gift shops.
From there, it’s everything a fan of films could hope for - activities include organizing tours of the park, generating revenue, adding more facilities, and tending to any sick dinosaurs, all the while trying to ensure that things don’t get out of hand. The game boasts a total of 140 dinosaurs to collect, with everything from Tyrannosaurs to Pteranodons. The amount of multi-tasking and stat-monitoring that the game offers is fierce, but it also makes for one of the most in-depth simulators on GBA.
3Let’s Ride - Sunshine Stables
Silence The Neigh-sayers With This Stable Simulator
For anyone who has ever wanted to run their own horse stable but without the smell, mess, or risk of injury - this is the game. A charming, wistful title that mixes a pet simulator with a sports game and building management, it puts players in the boots of a stable master tasked with managing a farm in a quaint village somewhere in the countryside. The tasks that the player is charged with include developing facilities and training horses, in addition to keeping the equines groomed and well-fed.
The horse-riding aspects also provide plenty of challenge for players, as they are expected to breed animals and put them through their paces in order to unlock new features in the game. Horses have to be trained, and the farm has to be expanded until it is a world-class operation, complete with its own stallions bred on the premises. One of the more light-hearted games on this list, it still presents challenges and varied gameplay in a whimsical setting.
2The Tower SP
They Will See Us Waving From Such Great Heights
The sky’s the limit in The Tower SP, a construction and building management simulator from video game design legend Yoot Saito, who would later go on to make the legendary title Seaman forSega Dreamcast. Built from the ground up for Game Boy Advance, it takes its cues from one of his earlier titles, SimTower, and charges the player with the task of constructing and maintaining a skyscraper from scratch.
There’s a great degree of flexibility in the game, as the player can add all sorts of facilities to the premises, ranging from offices and apartments to hotels and restaurants. Their building has to not only make money and remain upright (a more challenging task than one might think) but also keep tenants satisfied. There are a number of micro-tasks that have to be performed as the game progresses, and a capacity for multi-tasking helps, but overall, this is a cheerful addition to the Game Boty Advance sim library.
When the franchise originally launched in the mid-90s, gamers had never quite seen anything likeHarvest Moon.It combined cute characters and a unique gameplay mechanic whereby crops had to be tended, and livestock cared for so that a humble farm could thrive and return bountiful goods to the owner. It was an action game of a different sort and was a huge hit with players, so much so that the franchise is still going strong today.
Harvest Moon: Friends Of Mineral Townis essentially a remake of the very first SNES game, rejigged and tweaked for Game Boy Advance. It featured aspects that would go on to be a staple in many other games, such as an increased socializing aspect as well as the ability to marry one of six different bachelorettes living in the town. It also offered connectivity for Nintendo’sGameCube, connecting with its companion title,Harvest Moon: It’s A Wonderful Life. One of the coziest gaming experiences on the handheld, it delivered hours of immersive entertainment.
