If you grew up with Robotech or just love mech battles, this GBA game nails the vibe. You start off in a Veritech fighter—those things still look cool when they transform mid-combat—and immediately get thrown into chaotic dogfights against alien swarms. The controls take a second to get used to, but once you figure out how to switch between jet and robot modes smoothly, it feels awesome.

The missions mix space battles with ground assaults, and some of the later stages get seriously tough. I remember getting wrecked a few times by those Zentraedi bosses until I learned their patterns. The pixel art does a surprisingly good job capturing the anime’s style, especially during the big explosion sequences. Just don’t expect deep storytelling—it’s mostly about blowing stuff up with lasers and missiles.

It’s not perfect (the camera can be janky in tight spaces), but if you’re into retro mech action, this one’s a solid pick. The soundtrack even sneaks in a few classic Robotech tunes.