Gradius Advance is that classic side-scrolling shooter you remember from the arcades, but now crammed into your GBA. Right off the bat, you’re dodging bullet patterns and weaving through enemy swarms—it’s the kind of game where one wrong move means starting over, but in a way that makes you mutter "okay, one more run" under your breath.

The power-up system is still genius: collect those floating orbs to upgrade your ship’s speed, lasers, or missiles, but die once and you’re back to pea-shooter basics. Boss fights are these screen-filling monstrosities that feel impossible until you memorize their patterns (that third one still wrecks me). It’s tough as nails, but that’s the point—this isn’t some casual space jaunt.

If you’ve got a soft spot for retro shooters or just want to punish your thumbs, this one’s a no-brainer. Just don’t blame me when you’re three hours deep and still stuck on stage 4.