Okay, so Juka and the Monophonic Menace is one of those GBA games that slipped under the radar but absolutely shouldn’t have. You play as Juka, this alchemist kid with a magic staff, and the whole thing feels like a weird, wonderful mix of Zelda and a puzzle game—except instead of swords, you’re shooting colored orbs to solve environmental puzzles while fending off these musical-themed monsters (hence the "Monophonic Menace").

The first thing you’ll notice is how bright and chunky the pixel art is—it’s got that early 2000s charm where everything pops. The puzzles start simple (match the orb color to the barrier, duh), but halfway through the first dungeon, you’re juggling multiple mechanics like bouncing shots off walls or timing switches. Combat’s a little clunky at first, but once you get the rhythm of dodging and charging your shots, it clicks.

Also, the NPCs are bizarre in the best way. There’s a guy who’s just a floating head in a jar, and the dialogue’s got this dry humor that keeps things from feeling too serious. It’s not perfect—some puzzles are trial-and-error frustrating—but it’s got way more personality than most GBA games from that era. If you dig action-adventure games with a puzzle twist, this one’s a solid deep cut.