Okay, so Tales of the World: Summoner’s Lineage is one of those GBA RPGs that somehow flew under the radar, which is a shame because it’s got that classic Tales vibe but with a twist—you’re not just swinging swords, you’re summoning monsters to fight alongside you. The pixel art’s gorgeous, all bright colors and expressive sprites, and the battles? Fast, chaotic, and way more fun once you figure out how to chain summons together.

At first, I wasn’t sure about the summoning system—some of the early creatures feel a little weak—but then you start unlocking the bigger ones, and suddenly you’re dropping a dragon on enemies mid-combo. The story’s pretty standard "save the world" stuff, but the writing’s got that cozy, slightly cheesy charm the series is known for. Also, no random encounters, which is always a win.

If you’ve got a soft spot for GBA-era RPGs or just want a Tales game that does something different, this one’s worth digging up.