Goldrunner on the GBA is one of those games that nails that old-school arcade feel—you’re weaving through asteroid fields, dodging enemy fire, and blasting ships apart with this satisfying little pew-pew laser. The controls are tight, which is good because some of those later levels get brutal. I remember thinking the first few stages were easy… until I hit level 5 and got wrecked by a swarm of drones.

The pixel art holds up surprisingly well, especially the explosions—there’s something about that chunky, colorful debris flying everywhere that just feels right. And yeah, it’s nostalgic, but not in a lazy way. You actually have to think about when to speed up, when to hang back, and when to just unload on everything. If you’ve got a soft spot for classic shooters, this one’s a solid pick.