The last few years I could already calm myself down with some Metroid Prime or Resident Evil, but hack 'n slash games are still the best for this purpose. Is there anything better to get your aggression out than to bash some buttons? My colleague Roman has recently reviewed Dynasty Warriors 5 which is about the king of all modern button mashing games, but there are also portable versions to bash buttons on your way to, from, or during your exams. The PSP-version is very similar to the console versions, but the Game Boy Advance isn't capable of displaying all those 3D graphics and gets a whole new version. Just like the others, it's set in the Three Kingdoms era of ancient China.

As for the story, it was quite educational for me since I knew very little about the history of China. Of course the story has some incorrect parts but the most important historical elements are present nevertheless. Around the year 190, China is basically divided in three dynasties: Wei, Shu and Wu. Your task is to be a (once real existent) general and conquer the other two areas. The battles have been split up in two phases: the movement- and battle phase. The movement phase shows you the to be conquered area from the top and divides it into small dots. On those dots is either an ally, an enemy or no one. Your task is to figure out what's the best way to get to your target (read: just follow the road). If you come across an enemy dot on the way, you'll enter the battle phase.

Point of this phase is to eliminate a batch of enemies in a certain time. Fighting consists of pure button mashing. The B-button causes a fast but weak attack, the A-button a slower but stronger one. In the mean time a little bar fills itself until it's full, whereafter you can do a Musou-attack, obviously the strongest attack of them all. Unlike the console versions, the GBA isn't capable of displaying whole battlefields full of enemies. In the contrary, the enemies come at you in small groups of six, which isn't really spectacular. Within moments you notice the GBA just isn't created for this genre of games. It's still pure button mashing though, but every fight can be completed in no time. On top of that you get stronger every fight and occasionally find a new, better weapon so the game doesn't really get harder.

Repetitivity is present everywhere. First time you play everything looks fairly good, but after some time the flaws become visible. All the areas look the same, next to some subtle movements. The special effects are quite bland when comparing to masterpieces like Golden Sun. In total there are about three different enemies so you'll wind up fighting against the same enemy over and over again (in groups of six!) which are only a wee bit stronger. Same goes for the soundtrack: everything sounds quite well at first, but after hearing the same rock tune over and over again you begin to long for something different. Not to mention the repeating groans and screams.