Croket! Great - Toki no Boukensha (Japan)

Whether you’re a first-time player or returning to this GBA classic after decades, these tips will help you get the most out of Croket! Great - Toki no Boukensha. Start by mastering core controls: use the D-pad to move, A to jump, B to attack with your hammer, and L/R to cycle through your collected time-based tools. Your first priority should be upgrading your hammer as early as possible by collecting common copper coins scattered through every level. A higher-level hammer deals more damage and can break stronger blocks that block access to hidden areas and rare collectibles. The game’s signature mechanic is time travel, so always remember to revisit old areas after unlocking new time eras. Many hidden Kinkai coins and rare items are only accessible by using tools from future eras on objects in the past. For example, the hidden Kinkai coin in Ancient Forest requires you to use a future-era bomb on a cracked boulder that you cannot break with your starting hammer. When fighting bosses, always target their visible glowing weak points instead of attacking blindly. The first boss, the Ancient Golem, takes extra damage only when you hit the glowing spots on its feet, so avoid wasting attacks on its durable rock body. For the mid-game boss, the Time Mage, make sure you pick up the Time Stop item from the hidden room in Future Factory before the fight — this will freeze the mage in place long enough to deal massive damage before he can teleport away. To unlock the game’s true ending, you’ll need to collect all 100 Kinkai coins. Many easy-to-miss coins are found by interacting with objects across timelines: plant a seed you find in the prehistoric era in the future to grow a giant tree that leads to a high ledge with a rare coin. Always save your game at the time portal save points before exploring a new area, as the game has no auto-save, and dying will send you back to your last save with half of your collected unspent coins lost.