Final Fantasy IV Advance is one of those RPGs that just sticks with you. You start off as Cecil, this brooding dark knight with a serious case of moral conflict, and before long you're dragged into a wild adventure with airships, betrayals, and a party that actually feels like real people (well, as real as fantasy characters get). The pixel art still holds up, especially with the GBA's brighter colors—the spell effects pop way more than the SNES original.

What surprised me was how fast the story moves. No endless tutorials here—you're fighting mist dragons and dealing with political drama within the first hour. The new translation helps too; Kain’s angsty speeches hit harder now. And yeah, the bonus dungeons are neat if you’re into post-game grinding, but honestly? The main quest’s twists and that killer soundtrack are what’ll keep you glued to your GBA screen. It’s the kind of game you finish and immediately want to replay just to catch all the little foreshadowing you missed.