Phalanx - The Enforce Fighter A-144 is one of those weirdly charming GBA shooters that sticks with you. At first glance, it looks like your standard side-scrolling space shooter—until you realize your ship handles like a brick and enemy patterns are brutal. But that’s the fun of it. You’re not some nimble fighter; you’re a hulking gunship barely dodging bullet hell while your screen fills with explosions.

The weapon upgrades are satisfying when you finally grab them (good luck keeping them alive), and the pixel art has this gritty, industrial vibe that makes every boss fight feel massive. It’s the kind of game where you’ll die a lot early on, but once you learn the rhythm, pulling off a no-miss run feels incredible. Just don’t expect it to go easy on you.