CIMA: The Enemy - Game Boy Advance

CIMA: The Enemy for Game Boy Advance is a hybrid action RPG and strategy title that blends dungeon exploration, real-time combat, and escort-based puzzle-solving into a truly unique handheld experience. Developed by Neverland—the studio behind the Lufia and Rune Factory series—and published by Natsume, CIMA (short for "Cimagraphy") offers a story-driven adventure with tactical depth and an emotional core that sets it apart from typical fantasy RPGs.

You play as Ark J, a Gate Guardian assigned to protect a group of civilians trapped in a mysterious and shifting world controlled by hostile beings known as the CIMA. These invaders feed on human hope and trap people in ever-changing dungeons filled with monsters, traps, and mind-bending layouts. Your job isn’t just to fight your way through—it’s to guide and protect the civilians as you work to lead them back to safety.

Gameplay in CIMA: The Enemy is split between real-time combat and strategic resource and group management. Each dungeon is a series of puzzles that must be solved by safely navigating your group through hazards, unlocking doors, defeating enemies, and solving environmental challenges. Every NPC has distinct personalities and skills, and losing one can affect both the story and your ability to progress. Escorting them through danger while also managing combat and exploration creates a gameplay experience that is both tense and rewarding.

The game’s isometric perspective, pixel art style, and atmospheric soundtrack complement the mysterious tone of the story, which unfolds gradually with character interactions, flashbacks, and moral dilemmas about duty, fear, and sacrifice.

Often referred to as a hidden gem of the GBA library, CIMA: The Enemy is ideal for fans of Lufia II, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, or any RPG player looking for something thoughtful, tactical, and emotionally engaging.