Glory Days is this weird little GBA gem that mashes up side-scrolling shooter action with light RTS elements—you control a helicopter (or later, a jet) while also managing ground troops and defenses. At first, it feels like a standard shoot 'em up, but then you realize you’ve got to juggle rescuing soldiers, building bases, and fending off enemy waves. The controls take a minute to click, but once they do, it’s oddly satisfying.

Visually, it’s got that early 2000s GBA charm—pixelated explosions, chunky sprites, and a surprisingly decent soundtrack for a handheld. The campaign’s got some teeth, too; you’ll hit a few missions where the enemy just won’t let up, and suddenly you’re scrambling to rebuild your defenses mid-fight. Not gonna lie, I restarted a couple levels just to get my strategy right.

If you’re into niche retro games that try something different, this one’s worth dusting off.