Action and Game Boy Advance have always gone hand-in-hand. The portable handheld is the perfect format to deliver instant access to high-octane thrills anytime, anywhere, with almost no loading time. The GBA's capabilities also make it the perfect platform for old school gaming, ports of classic titles and all new game concepts as well. At the 2006 E3 Expo publishers and developers proved once again that GBA still delivers the best in 2D non-stop action.
With previews of classic ports and all new games as well. This years offerings are an old-school action lovers dream come true. Over the years most of the more popular releases for the GBA have been ports of classic NES, and SNES titles, with the most famous ones having already been released. Because of this many companies are going into their vaults and pulling out some of the best, lesser known classics that are now getting their day on the GBA. It's especially exciting to see Bionic Commando released in Capcom Classics Mini Mix which also features two other quality, yet obscure, NES originals. Another major classic console title long overdue for a GBA port is the original Metal Slug that will finally make its handheld début this holiday season. From the looks of the demos the transition of these classic titles to the GBA appears seamless. If it's a new game your looking for but still crave the old-school style 2D action then Naruto: Ninja Council 2 might be the game for you. Naruto pays tribute to those traditional 2D fighter games but with but with a greater mix of anime style and special moves. You no longer have to be tied down to your entertainment center to enjoy all the thrills, because now you can take them with you.
Don't you worry, there are also some exciting original action titles coming out as well. One of the more anticipated demos to see was Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend. This marks the first of the series released for the GBA. The Tomb Raider franchise has always been known as 3D action shooters, so trying to recreate a quality game with an equally fun experience pose a bit of a challenge, but it looks like developers Human Soft Inc. are off to a terrific start. The demo shown is in the early stages of production so it was a bit rough, but the graphics are top-notch and the gameplay seems smooth and fun.