TheGame Boy Advance, commonly known as the GBA, was a revolutionary handheld placing several ports of SNES classics, such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, in the palm of your hand. Although that doesn’t mean that it was short on its own unique library of timeless classics, such as Metroid Fusion.
Some of these titles were given new life on modern systems with refreshed and updated graphics as well as new features. These remakes not only allow older fans the opportunity to jump back into them with added surprises, but they also provide accessibility to newer audiences, while keeping their classic feel.
Originally a remake of the SNES classic, Final Fantasy 4 Advance tells the story of Cecil Harvey, a dark knight working for the kingdom of Baron. Once he realizes the error of his ways, Cecil embarks on a journey to redeem himself and become a paladin.
The Complete Collection for PSP not only features both an animated intro and voicework, but it also includes Advance’s bonus dungeon that unlocks after you’ve beaten the game. If that isn’t enough extra content, it also contains an entire sequel, Final Fantasy 4: The After Years, as well as a new story, Final Fantasy 4 Interlude, an interquel taking place between both games.
A remake of the spinoff series, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team sees you becoming a pokemon. With allied pokemon by your side, you take on various missions, trek through dungeons, fight others, and find hidden treasure.
The remake features a new cell shaded aesthetic, includes pokemon from both versions of the originals, along with new pokemon, mega evolutions featured in Pokemon X and Y, an auto-save feature, and a bonus dungeon unlocked after completing the main story.
Two Brothers And A Turtle’s Army
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions
Save Princess Peach’s voice, the Beanbean Kingdom, and… Bowser?! Join Mario and Luigi on a journey to the Beanbean Kingdom in this remastered classic, featuring a whirlwind adventure, special missions, colorful characters, and the chance to fight as a duo. Embark on the Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser, where you can play as a Goomba, gather your troops, and lead them into battle.
The only Mario RPG released on the GBA, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga follows Mario and Luigi’s adventures through the Beanbean Kingdom as they search for Cackletta, a witch who stole Princess Peach’s voice.
While the original was already critically acclaimed, the 3DS remake overhauls the graphics and sound. Gameplay wise, it’s packed with quality-of-life enhancements, such as a tracker for the main story, an enhanced map, and better controls. It also comes with a new story mode, Bowser’s Minions, where you take control of Bowser’s underlings and fight your way through the Beanbean Kingdom.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories was a unique game, being an interquel to the first two installments of the main series, bridging the storyline gap. Following on from Kingdom Hearts, Chain of Memories reveals how Sora went from searching for Riku and Mickey, to sleeping in a pod. In the game, Sora, Donald and Goofy face a new group of villains, Organization 13, while exploring the mysterious Castle Oblivion.
Unlike the main series’ action RPG gameplay, Chain of Memories uses a card-based battle system. The PS2 remake features the same graphics and voice acting as the mainline games, along with additional story elements and boss fights.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is a Switch remake of Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town for GBA. You play as a young farmer who inherited a desolate farm at the edge of Mineral Town, tasked with restoring it while making friends with the townspeople.
The remake spices things up by having a cartoonish art style, allowing you to choose between one of four customizable playable characters, quality-of-life enhancements, and new townspeople to interact with, including new marriage candidates. There’s also several DLC animal costumes to make your farming journey fun.
What’s better than one game remake? How about an entire series? The Mega Man Zero games were ported alongside the Mega Man ZX games from the GBA onto the Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Windows.
The Mega Man Zero series follows Zero, one of the protagonists of the Mega Man X series. Here, Zero’s the star, awakening after a century-long coma to continue his fight against the reploids. The remake includes an easy mode for beginners and checkpoints, both of which were absent in the GBA version. It also includes an unlockable gallery, and a time-attack mode called ‘Z Chaser’.
The Advance Wars series centers on turn-based strategy, similar to Fire Emblem. You take control of commanders of different army units to take out enemy units and capture bases. Each map has different terrain for different features, such as limiting movement in wooded areas.
Aside from newer graphics, the Switch remake also includes customizable maps that can be used for online multiplayer. While mostly faithful to the originals, this version adds a few differences, such as weaker units releasing smoke on the battlefield.
Taking place in a different continuity outside the main Mega Man timeline, Battle Network centers on a world where nearly everything is connected to the internet, and because of this, online viruses are a constant threat to everyday life. The protagonists, Lan Hikari and Mega Man.Exe, use a card-based battle system to fight these viruses and villains.
The Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection for the Switch, PS4, and Windows features an art gallery, music gallery, and an achievement system. Multiplayer has also been changed to support online play. If you’re having a hard time, the collection now features ‘Buster MAX mode’, making Mega Man.Exe’s default buster stronger.
The original Mario Vs Donkey Kong for GBA was based on Donkey Kong 94 on the original Gameboy, which itself is a continuation of the arcade classic. Here, Donkey Kong has stolen all the Mini Mario toys, which Mario must retrieve by going through different levels, completing puzzles, and even fighting the ape himself in boss battles.
Besides a fresh coat of paint, the Switch remake includes an easy mode for casual play, and a co-op mode with modified levels. If that’s not enough, it also comes packed with brand-new levels not in the GBA version.
These remakes for the 3DS retell the stories of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire for a new age. Once more, you’re a new pokemon trainer in the Hoenn region, seeking to obtain eight badges and stopping the local team criminal group.
Released as part of Pokemon generation six, they feature the same gameplay elements from Pokemon X and Y, including the same battle mechanics and new mega evolutions. Later, you’re allowed to fly around the region on either Latios or Latias like theairships of early Final Fantasy games. In addition to quality-of-life upgrades, the games also feature online multiplayer and unlockable legendary pokemon, making them the definitive way to play Ruby and Sapphire.
