If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re actually in the ring, Hajime No Ippo: The Fighting! on GBA gets weirdly close for a tiny handheld. You start off as Ippo, this scrawny kid who gets wrecked in his first fight—until you learn the rhythm of dodging, weaving, and timing those satisfying counter punches. The controls are simple but deep; mess up your stamina management, and you’ll be gasping by round three.

What’s cool is how it nails the anime’s vibe—you’ll recognize moves like the Dempsey Roll, and the pixel art somehow makes the punches feel heavy. The training minigames are brutal (good luck with that sandbag), but nailing a perfect combo against a rival feels amazing. Just don’t expect flashy graphics—this is pure, old-school boxing with a ton of heart.

It’s one of those games where losing actually teaches you something instead of just pissing you off.