Fire Emblem: The Ostian Princess is one of those GBA gems that still holds up years later. You start off controlling Lyn, this exiled princess with a sword and a serious grudge, and right away you're thrown into these tight tactical battles where positioning matters way more than you'd think. One wrong move and suddenly your archer gets swarmed by axe guys—learned that the hard way.

The story's got that classic Fire Emblem drama—betrayals, secret lineages, the whole deal—but Lyn's journey feels personal, not just some grand save-the-world thing. And the permadeath? Brutal. I still remember losing my first healer because I got cocky on chapter 5. The sprite work and battle animations are crisp too, especially for a GBA title. If you like your strategy with actual stakes and characters you grow weirdly attached to, this one's a no-brainer. Just don't blame me when Matthew dies because you forgot about that cavalier in the fog.