Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand

"Best. GBA. Game. EVER!"

Introduction - Boktai is brought to us by Konami CEJ, but Namely by Hideo Kojima, the man known for the MGS titles. The thing that makes this game unique, if havent heard already, is the Solar Sensor in the cartridge. This is something that has never been done in gaming: the idea of a video game you have to play outside. Yes, theres a glich that you can constantly trick the game into thinkin your outside, but why would you? The Sunlight powers you weapons, and you cant beat the Bosses without it.

Gameplay - This stuff is great. you can sneak against walls and hit them to make noise, shoot in many different ways, launch grenades, and so much more! You can play the whole game without sneaking, or go on a guns ablazing assault, alot like Metal Gear Solid. But this is a Kojima game, so u gotta expect that. As your probably wondering, the sun ties into the game play in many ways. As I mentioned before, your weapon of choice, the Gun Del Sol, is powered by the sun. You see, the sunlight hittin the cartridge is recognized, and your gun uses that energy. all u need to do is be in an outside area (in the game) and hold (A) and youll absorb sunlight into your gun. The sun also relates in alot of other ways, but reviews cant have spoliers now can they?
On the weapon issue, your gun is customizable in alot of different ways. Theres Lenses for it (you can fire sunlight, fire, ice, wind, earth, and lunar energy) and they can all be leveled up. Theres Batteries (each one has a different amount of energy tanks, which you can use to hold more solar energy for your gun. Theres Frames (divied into shot, multishot (shot and spray), burst, sword, automatic, and rotation spray) lastly, theres Grenades (bombs, scanners for hidden treasure, rising suns which create sunlight, flash for knockin out enemies (these have the same function as the Flash Grenades in Metal Gear Solid)

Story - Heres the deal: You are the son of Ringo, a famous vampire hunter. You are the heir to the title SOLAR BOY, and are the wielder of the famour Gun Del Sol. Your mission is to take out supernatural life forms called Immortals. Your the only one who can, and your the only guy who can protect the human race from apocalypse. The Undead are zombies that are Immortal minions. These guys are fun to take down, and are involved in alot of the puzzles.

Graphics/Sound - IMO best looking GBA game. Only game you can identify most of the characters body, and view them in proportion to a real human. The enemies are also detailed, and the environments are beautiful. Better looking then any game on any portable title, and even most PSX games. The sound is amazing. Whoda thunk that the GBA would have full voice acted speaches. The game is mostly text words, but theres a good amount of voice, especially for GBA. And the sound effects are great. you can hear anything thats going on.

Play Time/Replayability -Play time all depends on several things: How much sunlight you had access too, your difficulty, and how much you wanted to get around to seeing. If you didnt get sunlight much, then ull take awile because the game requires it. But dont worry, you only need a lil bit of light. I completed the whole game my first time with 2 bars, and it took me about 8 hours. Im currenly trying a harder difficullty, and Im trying to get alot done. All in all, the rpelay value is enormous or low, depending on how much you get done ur first time (you reload the same file with the same items whever u beat the game, u take everything back with you). You might not want too accomplish everything, but thats your choice. Youll just give up the Gun Del Hell.......

Final Recommendation - BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY! This is the best Game Boy Advance game to date. Pick it up, youll love it. If you dont, you either "have very specific tastes or are hopelessly unhip" (EGM said that)

Sarc Chigaimasu Signin out, and May the Sun be with you!TAIYOOOOOH!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/24/04