Game suggestions for GB/GBC/GBA?

[Umbra]

So here's the deal. I recently decided, after toying around with someone's DS and watching someone emulate Minish Cap, that I should try to get into handhelds more. Problem is, I was browsing around in the local retro store and realized that I know next to nothing.

My question is: What are some Nintendo handheld games I should check out (don't have a DS but considering it so those are welcome as well)?

So far I have these for those who would ask.
  GameBoy- Tetris, Pokemon: Yellow Version
  GameBoy Color- LoZ: Oracle of Ages, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Pokemon: Gold Version, Donkey Kong Country
  GBA- Legend of Zelda, Lego Star Wars, Namco Museum, YuGiOh World Championship '04

[scarmullet]

I would get both a GBA SP (101 model), and a DSi or a 3DS. A GBA SP has the benefit of playing GB, GBC, and GBA games, and 3DS can play DS games as well.

but things can be said about a Gameboy Player on gamecube, it has the same functionality of a GBA SP but made of pure sex.

[Umbra]

I have an SP. It's not a question about the system, it's about what games are out there for it; I know of tons of them but idk which are good/worth looking at. I'm trying to broaden my horizons so I'm asking, what games are best for the GameBoys and for DS once I get one?

[Beastman1975]

Dont forget legend of zelda Links awakeneing DX it was the color version of that release  and all castlevania games on gba  and metroid releases on gba as well

[Umbra]

Never played Castlevania; I'll give it a try. And if possible does anyone know of any lesser-known games for GB/GBA that are good? I'm sure there are some

[madrocsz]

GB -
Super mario land 1-3
Kirby's Adventure
Final Fantasy Legend

GBC-
Oracle of Ages/Seasons

GBA-

Super mario advance 1-4
Metroid Fusion
Final Fantasy VI
Castlevania Dual Pack
Sword of Mana
+ a ton to list, great rpg's etc

[unreal4evr]

This might give you some ideas: http://www.racketboy.com/guide/hidden-gems

[JDavis]

For Gameboy, I've got to point you in the direction of Donkey Kong (AKA Donkey Kong '94 AKA Donkey Kong Gameboy). On the surface, it's a remake of the original arcade game Donkey Kong, but once you get past those initial four stages it becomes a fantastic puzzle platformer.

[Retro Deckades]

For Gameboy, I've got to point you in the direction of Donkey Kong (AKA Donkey Kong '94 AKA Donkey Kong Gameboy). On the surface, it's a remake of the original arcade game Donkey Kong, but once you get past those initial four stages it becomes a fantastic puzzle platformer.

This. One-thousand times this!

If you are considering Castlevania, I would recommend picking up the second game, Belmont's Revenge, first. It's quite good. Though I haven't played the first game, I hear it is rife with slowdown. The music is good though.

A few that haven't yet been mentioned:

Operation C (a good, albeit short, Contra game)
Nemesis (a good but short game in the Gradius series)
Kid Dracula (a Castlevania spin-off)
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Wario Land II
Wario Land III (GBC)
Metal Gear Solid (GBC)
Dragon Warrior I & II (GBC)
Dragon Warrior III (GBC)

There are plenty more, too. These are just a few first thoughts.

[SirCorn]

For sure go for LoZ: Link's Awakening. DX version or be a bad-a and just rock the original version.

As far as GBC goes, the Mega Man Xtreme games are pretty fun. Game & Watch Gallery games are certainly charming and guarantee some fun if you're not wanting to invest any time. All the RPG suggestions are surely great. Here are a few games I remember playing that I really enjoyed:

GB: Battletoads. Do it.

GBC: R-Type DX, Blaster Master, Game & Watch Galleries, Wario Land 2/3,

GBA:
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga - freaking amazing. So fun and hilarious.
- Sonic Advance (only played the first one, but I assume they are all above decent. Loved the pace and visuals of sonic advance vs. other ports).
- The Donkey Kong Country ports are all good as are all the Mario Advance games.
- Gunstar Super Heroes.
- Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo REVIVAL (yes this is just the name of one game).
- Advance wars?
- Mega Man Zero 1-4
- Final Fantasy (any)
- Sword of Mana
- Mario Kart Super Circuit - I still enjoy this game
- Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land and The Amazing Mirror are both great
- Golden Sun?


I dunno a whole lot of super obscure titles or anything, but I was fortunate enough to find out that these games are great.

Now, as far as DS goes, I have a personal list of games that I think every DS owner should at least play once.

- Elite Beat Agents - in any given clearance bin. Worth at least one playthrough for it's hilarity.
- Any game from the Scribblenauts franchise.
- Kirby SuperStar Ultra. Not just a port, but an elaboration of the game itself. Goes beyond what the snes version offered while keeping it intact. It's the best Kirby game in my opinion and easily the best one to play with a friend.
- Mario & Luigi. Both games (partners in time and bowser's inside story) are hilarious and sport the same tried and true yet rewarding battle systems as the GBA title.
- Tetris DS is awesome. Just sayin'
- if you get a dsi or 3DS, be sure to get Cave Story. It will likely change your life.
- Chrono Trigger. If you want...
- Lunar?
- Dragon Warrior?

Well I've pretty much exhausted my personal experience. I could start naming titles I'm sure you'd enjoy, but I'm trying to give you a some suggestions based on stuff I've actually played and enjoyed.

[Umbra]

- Cave Story. It will likely change your life.
- Chrono Trigger.

Isn't Cave Story free on PC though? It also has an official port for modded Xboxes but not sure if that was made with the hacked XDK or not. Is there a difference?

Also I have Chrono Trigger on PS1 so I'm not looking for duplicates of games I already own (yet).

[JDavis]

The original PC version of Cave Story is free. It was originally released only in Japanese, but received a fan translation.

When Nicalis ported the game to WiiWare, they added some extra modes, and some of those were also included on the DSiWare port (also by Nicalis). Not everybody was pleased with the new translation.

Then there was Cave Story 3D (the cart-based 3DS release, with 3D models and such), which is best ignored, IMO.

Then came Cave Story+, a new PC version with all the extra modes and then some. I haven't played this one yet myself (though I do have it, thanks to one of the Humble Indie Bundles), but it's fairly well regarded by fans compared to the other enhanced versions. I don't know if it uses the same translation as the WiiWare an DSiWare ports, or if Nicalis tweaked the script to meet fan demand.

THEN there's Cave Story for the 3DS eshop (not to be confused with Cave Story 3D), which is basically the same as Cave Story+ from what I've read, with the backgrounds recessed in if you have the 3D on.

[Staf]

My favorites that I own for the GBA:

Fire Emblem
Golden Sun
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Zero Mission
All Pokemon
Sonic Advance 1/2/3
Wario Land 4
WarioWare: Twisted

I have more, but those are my favorites that aren't rereleases aside from Kirby and Zero Mission.

[satoshi_matrix]

I'll get to GBA later, but for now, I've started a top 100 GameBoy and GameBoy Color game list similar to my NES and Famicom list. I've only got two entries finished so far, but already there should be games you likely haven't played, or possibly even heard of.

http://satoshimatrix.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/top-100-gameboy-games-100-91/

and

http://satoshimatrix.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/top-100-gameboy-games-90-81/

[Umbra]

k, thanks. I'll give it a look-see.