CIMA: The Enemy (2003). Play Free Online

Summary

CIMA: The Enemy (known as Frontier Stories in Japan) is a quirky RPG that landed on the Game Boy Advance and quickly earned a cult following among handheld collectors. Developed by Neverland and published stateside by Natsume, it feels like a mash‑up of classic turn‑based tactics and light‑action puzzles. I love how the game pushes you to explore multiple worlds without a strict linear map, letting you backtrack and experiment whenever a new area unlocks.

The combat system blends real‑time positioning with strategic switching: up to fourteen party members can be placed on separate switches to trigger abilities or open new paths. You can also “activate” NPCs, each carrying a unique power that helps you clear obstacles or boost your team. The mix of button‑mashing and brain‑teasing keeps the difficulty surprisingly fresh.

Thanks to its vibrant sprites and a soundtrack that swaps between melancholy and hopeful, CIMA remains a hidden gem that proves the GBA could still surprise players in the mid‑2000s.

Storyline

CIMA: The Enemy follows Ark and Ivy, two aspiring Gate Guardians tasked with protecting humanity from the alien CIMA, a race that feeds on human hope. The adventure begins on the Blue Creek train bound for the frontier, a promised new land, when CIMA attack and pull the train into one of their worlds. Jester R, one of the Six Stars and the only holder of the rare Purple Majesty, appears early with Chief Esswood to teach the newcomers the true meaning of the Guardian’s motto, “Protect Everyone.”

Ark J, initially immature and constantly bickering with Ivy F over age and experience, gradually embraces his role under Jester’s watchful eye. Ivy, who claims seniority by a month, softens as the story progresses and ultimately saves the people she vowed to protect.

Among the fourteen pioneers, Vanrose U is distrustful and often runs off, while his companion Shelley Y, armed and observant, points out dangers the duo miss.

Edited by Maya Carter