Phalanx - The Enforce Fighter A-144 is one of those GBA shooters that looks simple at first—just another spaceship blasting stuff—but then throws some weird curveballs. You start off dodging asteroids and taking down basic enemy ships, but before long, the screen fills with bullets and these chunky mechs that take way too many hits to kill. The controls are tight, though, and the power-ups actually matter—like, if you skip the spread shot early, you’re gonna regret it when the screen gets crowded.

Weirdly, the Japanese/Eurasia version has slightly different enemy patterns compared to other releases, so if you’ve played another version, don’t expect the same rhythm. Also, that title screen with the old dude playing a banjo? Never gets less bizarre. It’s a solid shooter if you’re into the genre, but be ready for some cheap hits in the later stages.