Shining Soul II is one of those GBA gems that somehow flew under the radar. It's like Diablo-lite but with that classic handheld charm—you pick from eight classes (I always go for the samurai, though the wizard's fireballs are stupidly satisfying) and just dive into dungeons swinging.

The combat feels weightier than you'd expect, with each weapon having its own rhythm. At first I thought it was just another mindless hack-and-slash, but there's actually some strategy in how you build your character and when you use skills. And the pixel art? Still holds up, especially when spells light up the screen.

It's got that perfect "just one more floor" hook, especially when you start finding rare gear. My only gripe is the inventory management—good luck fitting all those potions.