If you grew up with the Rave Master manga or anime, this GBA game is a solid little adaptation. You play as Haru, swinging your Ten Powers sword through a mix of side-scrolling beat 'em up sections and RPG-style boss fights. The sprites are chunky and nostalgic—exactly what you'd expect from a 2002 GBA title—and the music’s got that upbeat adventure vibe.

What surprised me was how much story they crammed in. Between fights, there are these dialogue-heavy cutscenes (in Japanese, but the fan translations help) that actually follow the manga’s plot. Some battles feel a bit repetitive after a while, but unlocking new sword abilities keeps things interesting. The dark mode twist halfway through? That’s where it gets good.

It’s not the deepest game, but for a licensed title, it’s way better than it had any right to be. Still holds up if you’re into retro action-RPGs.