Car Battler Joe is a GameBoy Advance game released in 2002. The story follows Joe, a 16-year-old boy who receives a powerful and rare car and a robot on his birthday. He embarks on a journey to find his lost father, a renowned car battler, and become a car battler himself.
In the game, players use cars to fight opponents in action-styled battles with role-playing elements. As Joe gathers different parts, he can build new cars and store them at his garage. There are four types of vehicles: light buggy, medium car, heavy truck, and hovercraft, each with its strengths and weaknesses.
Each car can mount two to four different weapons, including cannons, machine guns, and close-range attacks. Weapons are divided into three groups based on damage type: missile, flame, and beam. Players earn money by completing randomly generated missions, which involve delivering goods, destroying enemies, gathering lost items, and duels.
Missions have time limits for players to complete them faster than expected and earn extra money. Story missions have no time limit but are longer and harder. The game requires strategy and quick reflexes as players navigate through levels and battles.