There was a stage in my life where the handheld console took up much of my time. It was just easier to play my PSP or GBA in bed or on long car drives and I didn’t have to fight over a TV. I was feeling in a nostalgic mood so I figure I would talk about 5 of my favorite Game Boy Advance and 5 of my favorite PSP Games. In no certain order, let’s start with:

Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga (GBA):

This is one of my favorite Mario games. I didn’t play Super Mario RPG, to this game was my first “experience” with Mario and crew in an RPG setting and not in a traditional platformer. The game had so much charm to it and I enjoyed the Bean Kingdom. I was super excited when they released a 3DS version, though the art style took away a bit of its charm. If you have chance to play this game on the GBA or 3DS I highly recommend it.

Daxter (PSP):

The Jak and Daxter series on the PS2 was one of my favorite series growing up and when I saw they gave Daxter his own game, I was very excited. I enjoyed the game and did a good job of filling in the time gap between Jak and Daxter and Jak 2. Also, loved the movie themed mini-games, were a nice break from the action.

Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure (GBA):

Crash Bandicoot was one of the earliest series I remember getting into and loving and when it was finally time to upgrade from the Gameboy Color to the Gameboy Advance, Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure (as it was called in the states) was the first GBA game I owned and I loved it. Being able to play Crash on the game was dream come true for me.

Secret Agent Clank (PSP):

When I wasn’t playing Jak and Daxter, more than likely I was playing a Ratchet and Clank game. Though Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters didn’t hit all the right spots, Secret Agent Clank did. I think this game was built better for the system it was on and though it still had had the feel of Ratchet and Clank games, I think it added enough of its own twist to give Clank a unique feel and playstyle.

Sonic Battle (GBA):

The Sonic series have always been a hit and miss with me and don’t have much history with the series. However, this game was one of my earliest Sonic games. Sonic Battle is a fighting game with a descent story and a cool art style. The fighting part of the game was interesting as each character had a unique skill set and could switch out special attacks. It has been lost to the sands of time and is probably one of the most unique Sonic games and if some company wants to make a another or remaster this game, I would probably throw money at it.

Naruto Ultimate Ninja 2: The Phantom Fortress (PSP):

Games based on popular Anime IPs is a guilty pleasure of mine and though most of them are just retellings of story it is always nice. Naruto Ultimate Ninja 2: The Phantom Fortress was my first experience where there was an original story and it was descent enough. This was a 2D Platform Fighter and that fighting system was done well and was fun to play.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA):

The ongoing battle of Mario vs. Donkey Kong have gone on for years and now Donkey Kong has gone to far, this time he kidnapped……toys? Each section, adds a new gimmick and though it doesn’t expand a lot on that, there are plenty of levels and challenges to keep you busy.   

Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core (PSP):

I never really got into the Final Fantasy series, but for some reason when I saw the case for Crisis Core, I figure I give it a shot. I really enjoyed the game and it was the first Final Fantasy game I played from beginning to end. It was cool to see the backstory of some of the characters in one of the popular Final Fantasy games.

Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku 2 (GBA):

As stated earlier, games based on Anime are a guilty pleasure of mine and Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku 2 was my first Anime based game. Though this followed the Cell Saga of the series, there was still a several areas to explore and find bonus fights.

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (PSP):

I put a lot of time into this game. Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is my favorite game in the series, at least combat wise, and the multiplayer content was a nice addition to series. I kind of wish they would they used this system moving forward, especially the option to craft spells and special attacks.

I really do like being able to play games on the go and it’s always nice to talk about games I grew up with. Maybe next time I will cover 3DS and PS Vita games, but that wraps it up for this post, thank you for taking the time to read this. Remember to stay safe, be kind to each other and game on.