Iridion II

The second attempt is often the one where a studio finally hits the mark. Iridion II from 2003 is a textbook example: where the first instalment stumbled, this follow-up shooter from Germany's Shin'en Multimedia showed what brisk handheld action should look like.

Unlike the first Iridion, which was a classic horizontal shooter, the sequel shifts to a vertical and half-isometric view and bets on dynamic movement across the screen. The player collects three types of weapons that can be upgraded separately, and juggling between them according to the type of enemies forms the tactical layer of the game. The pace is fast, there are lots of enemies and the emphasis lies on smooth, arcade-styled action with bonus collecting.

Shin'en built a reputation as a technical master on the GBA. Its games were famous for how they squeezed the maximum out of the Game Boy Advance hardware, whether it was graphics or sound based on their own audio engine. Iridion II, both visually and audiovisually, belongs to what the platform could boast about, and to this day it is prized among connoisseurs as the studio's technical showcase.

Culturally, it is a title that recalls the golden era of smaller but ambitious European developers who made games on Nintendo's handhelds with care and craftsmanlike integrity. Shin'en later continued on Nintendo's other platforms and remained a respected name.

Iridion II is thus a lesser gem for shooter fans looking for something fast, tuned and visually above average on the GBA. It is not the best-known title in the library, but all the more pleasant a discovery.

Why play it: A technically polished shooter from the masters at Shin'en that shows what the GBA can do, ideal for players longing for fast arcade action.