--- title: Retro Video Game Reviews – The Old School Game Vault - Page 9 description: Read retro video game reviews from The Old School Game Vault. Explore gameplay, history, and collector value for NES, SNES, PlayStation, Sega, and more. - Page 9 canonical_url: https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews language: en-GB date: 2025-12-08T20:35:17Z notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews. markdown-tokens: 1447 --- > **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content. > **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above. [ ![Final Fantasy IX PS1 Review – Logo over fantasy cityscape background with PlayStation and bold Review text overlay.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/PS1%20FF9%20Review.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews/873-final-fantasy-ix-ps1 "Final Fantasy IX PS1 Review: Why Vivi's Story Still Matters") Discover why Final Fantasy IX features the most lovable cast in JRPG history. But, its slow battles can make random encounters feel like they last forever. Details Written by: Brandon Perton Last Updated: 09 June 2026 [ ![Fire Emblem GBA cartridge with review label – Tactical RPG review by The Old School Game Vault for Game Boy Advance collectors and fans.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/GBA%20Fire%20Emblem.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews/fire-emblem-gba "Fire Emblem Review - The GBA Game That Made Strategy Personal") Fire Emblem for the Game Boy Advance made me restart battles for hours to keep certain characters alive. That's the power of permadeath - every unit isn't a tactical piece; it's a character whose story ends if you make the wrong move. [ ![Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon GBA cartridge with review overlay – Tactical RPG review by The Old School Game Vault.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/Shining%20Force%20GBA.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews/gba-shining-force-resurrection "Shining Force Dark Dragon Review: Game Boy Advance") Shining Force for GBA is a great tactical RPG. But it has one big problem: if you don’t use a guide, you might create a weak party on your first run. Some characters begin weak but grow strong. Others start strong but fade away. Then there are those like Jogurt, who are useless the whole time. [ ![This Final Fantasy VI Advance Game Boy Advance cartridge has a review badge. It is a Retro RPG review by The Old School Game Vault.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/GBA%20Final%20Fantasy%206.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews/gba-final-fantasy-vi "Final Fantasy VI GBA Review - Better Than You'd Expect") I became a Final Fantasy fan back in 1997 with the release of Final Fantasy VII—and I’ve played every mainline (non-MMO) entry in the series since. [ ![Final Fantasy IV Advance Game Boy Advance cartridge with review label – The Old School Game Vault retro RPG review.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/GBA%20FF4%20.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews/final-fantasy-iv-advance "Final Fantasy IV Advance Review - GBA - Still Worth Playing?") Originally named Final Fantasy II on the SNES, this classic is now Final Fantasy IV Advance on the Game Boy Advance. It stands out as one of the best RPGs of the '90s handheld era. [ ![Contra NES title screen – iconic run-and-gun shooter with 2-player co-op and classic 8-bit action](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/Contra%20Nintendo%20NES%20Intro.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews/contra "The Konami Code, Spread Gun Chaos, and Why Contra Still Kicks Ass") This NES game gave us 30 lives, the spread gun, and endless basement memories with friends. Contra is still fun almost 40 years later. Here's my retro review and collecting guide. [ ![Super Mario Bros. 3 NES title screen – iconic platformer that revolutionized the Mario franchise.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/90s%20Mario%20Games/NES%20Super%20Mario%20Bros%203%20.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews/super-mario-bros-3-review "Super Mario Bros. 3 Review: Tanooki Suit, World Maps, and 9.5/10") Find out what makes Super Mario Bros. special. Meet classic foes like Boos and Chain Chomps. The Frog Suit lets you swim easily in underwater stages. Even after 30 years, this NES game is still a favorite for retro game nights and gets a 9.5 out of 10. [ ![Advance Wars GBA cartridge with The Old School Game Vault logo and bold red Review text overlay](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/GBA%20Advance%20Wars%20.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/reviews/advance-wars-gba "Advance Wars GBA Review - Easy to Learn, Impossible to Put Down") Advance Wars proved Nintendo wrong about Western audiences and turn-based strategy. Released in 2001 for GBA, it's easy to learn, hard to master, and still holds up today. Here's why it earned a 9/10. ### Sell Your Retro Video Games for Cash The Old School Game Vault has been buying since 2008 with an A+ BBB rating and 4.99 on Trustpilot. - Instant quotes, no listing fees - Free shipping - Cash payment in 3 to 4 days [ Sell Your Retro Video Games ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/search-results) [ ![BBB Accredited Business A+ Rating](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/BBB_TheOSGVault-Seal.webp) ](https://www.bbb.org/us/il/morton-grove/profile/video-game-dealers/the-old-school-game-vault-0654-88378868) [ ![4.99 on Trustpilot](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/trustpilot-theosgv-image.webp) ](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/theoldschoolgamevault.com)