Man, Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City on GBA still holds up. You start off with some beat-up ride, but after a few midnight races through neon-lit streets, you’re dumping cash into engine upgrades and flashy paint jobs. The city’s split into zones, and each crew you take down unlocks new parts—I always went for the tuners first because those things corner like they’re on rails.

It’s not just about speed, though. You recruit wingmen who actually matter—blockers, scouts, even a guy who drafts for you. Mess up your picks, and you’ll eat concrete on the next hairpin turn. The cops show up sometimes, but honestly? They’re more of a nuisance than a real threat unless you let them box you in.

For a GBA game, the sense of speed is ridiculous. You’ll scrape guardrails, barely dodge traffic, and yeah, wipe out spectacularly when you misjudge a drift. The soundtrack’s all muffled MIDI beats, but it weirdly works when you’re neck-and-neck in the final lap. Just don’t expect Carbon’s canyon duels—this is pure street racing chaos.