Iridion II is one of those GBA shooters that makes you wonder how they squeezed so much action into a tiny cartridge. It's a sequel to Iridion 3D, but ditches the first game's polygonal style for slick 2D sprite work that really pops on the GBA screen.

You start off picking from three ships—each handles differently, and I remember spending way too long in the hangar just testing their firing patterns. The first level throws you right into a neon-drenched asteroid field with enemies swarming in from all sides. The music's got this intense techno vibe that somehow never gets old, even after a dozen retries.

What surprised me was how smooth it feels—no slowdown even when the screen's packed with bullets and explosions. Later levels get absolutely brutal, but in that good way where you know it's your fault when you explode. If you're into classic shoot 'em ups, this one's a hidden gem on the GBA.