92 ACTIVISION ANTHOLOGY (Activision/Aspyr, December 2003)
Remember when Activision released a massive collection of 40 Atari 2600 games for the Playstation2 a while back? This Gameboy edition is even better because it not only includes the 40 plus games like Pitfall, Frostbite, and Megmania but it also has some cool and rare homebrew 2600 games as well. Perhaps this game's best feature is the new save feature that actually saves your high scores this time which is a dream come true for many of us who grew up on these legends. The only issues I have is the games are a little slower now and the TV commercials are gone but these are very minor complaints. If you're a hardcore retro gamer, it doesn't get much better then this!
*Battery back up game
For 1 or 2 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 2
sound: 2
gameplay: 10
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90 ADVANCE WARS (Nintendo/Intelligent Systems, 2001)
In the first Advanve Wars here you get introduced to a wacky batch of characters who love to lead their armies to combat and victory. The adventure starts out as you and the Orange Star army must push back a invading country army while you figure out why everyone wants to fight you. Is there a unknown enemy at work here? The game has a lot in common with the sequel since many of the maps, sounds, graphics, and more is the same but it's still more great turn based strategy action on the small screen and that's all I wanted.
*Battery back up game
For 1 to 4 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 10
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96 ADVANCE WARS 2: Black Hole Rising (Nintendo/Intelligent Systems, 2003)
Does anyone remember the TurboGrafx-16 game Military Madness? Prepare for a turn-based strategy game that's just as addictive as that cool classic because Advance Wars 2 has a lot more to offer then your usual Game Boy title. In Advance Wars 2 you must fight back against the mysterious Lord Sturm and his the Black Hole army who wants to conquer your land. You must guide soldiers, tanks, boats, and even aircrafts to push back your enemy but be careful of your funds and of the environmental hazzards. What makes AW2 so appealing is that you can do so much here like fight the computer, unlock new missions, buy more maps, and you can even fight your friends in the Versus game. If only real war was this user friendly and cute then maybe you'll have a lot more people wanting to enlist?
*Battery back up game
For 1 to 4 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 10
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76 ARCADE ADVANCED (Konami, 2002)
Frogger, Gyruss, Rush N' Attack, Scramble, Time Pilot, and Ye Aire Kung Fu in one big arcade collection. This sounds like a very good set of games from the past but this Konami collection isn't without some minor problems. Although you get 6 games in one package the cart doesn't even save your high scores because their is no battery back up support like most Game boy Advance games. Why do these type of games usually not have a save feature?
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 5
sound: 6
gameplay: 8
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80 BANJO KAZOOIE Grunty's Revenge (THQ/Rareware, 2003)
The Banjo Kazooie series really started to make a name for itself on the Nintendo 64 and did you know that they also moved it to the Gameboy Advance too? Although the game is limited to a flat 2D universe and it can be hard to tell what platforms you can actually jump on, still this game here reminded me a lot of the challenging 3D cousins and that's good enough for me. If you a looking for a fun adventure game then Banjo Kazooie Grunty's Revenge is a great pick.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 8
sound: 6
gameplay: 8
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65 BOXING FEVER (Majesco, 2001)
Boxing Fever is a comical boxing game that comes packed with some incredible artwork, interesting characters, and fast action. If you love the classic Punch Out game then maybe this game will impress you but a save option here would have been nice.
For 1 or 2 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
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75 BREATH of FIRE (Capcom, 1993, 2001)
Capcom is here to bring out their own RPG series to hungry players out there. Although this is a carbon copy of the original SNES game, there is a new running option to speed up the game play so the game doesn't seem that slow now. Breath of Fire is a little typical as Role Playing Games and the graphics and sounds are nothing too impressive go but it is still a heck of a lot of fun to play.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 6
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77 BREATH Of FIRE II (Capcom, 1995, 2002)
This is a interesting Role playing semi-prequel by Capcom once released close to the SNES's death. Part II in the Breath of Fire series is not very impressive looking and the game play in nothing new but it is still a very addictive and fun quest that only gets better on the GBA thanks to the speed up option.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 6
Find Breath of Fire II on eBay here!

90 CASTLEVANIA: Aria Of Sorrow (Konami, May, 2003)
"What the heck is this! A CASTLEVANIA GAME IN THE FUTURE!?" Don't get too worried though, this game still plays like the last two great GBA adventure games and they were already some of the best games on the system. Sure there are a few minor flaws now and again but see why Aria of Sorrow could be one of the better Game boy Advance games you played in a while. Aria of Sorrow may seem a bit shorter to some fans and the new soul system can be a little clumsy at times because you have switch spells every so often to complete certain objectives but finding every item and technique becomes very addicting plus I love the fact you can trade souls with other players out there. The story was interesting, the sounds were impressive, and the list of items you can collect over this is simply outstanding.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 9
Find Castlevania Aria of Sorrow on eBay here!

GAME OF THE MONTH COLLECTION!
92 CASTLEVANIA: Circle Of The Moon (Konami, June 13, 2001)
One of the premiere launch games for the new Game boy Advance is this awesome action/RRG based on the long running CastleVania series. CastleVania Circle of the Moon returns back to it's 2D roots and it's plays a lot like the acclaimed CastleVania Symphony of the Night on Playstation. COTN is a great game for fans of the series because its not only a challenging, non linear game that will take weeks to finish but it also includes a little of everything from all of the past games. There are even secret codes you can enter once you finish the game to add to the replay value.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 9
Find Castlevania Circle of the Moon on eBay here!

85 CASTLEVANIA: Harmony of Dissonance (Konami, September, 2002)
When the first CastleVania was released for the then new Game boy Advance it was one of the most critically acclaimed games for the GBA and it was a great selling piece for hardcore fans of classic 2d game play. Unfortunately even a great game like Circle of the Moon has its problems. So did this new CastleVania fix some of those complaints like the dark screen, is the music worth turning up now, and did the controls become more user friendly? We'll see. The new CastleVania game is still a great game with the same addictive game play that we all know and love but it's not perfect and some may actually prefer the older Circle of the Moon to the newer Harmony of Dissonance. I miss all the cool secret stuff like randomly hitting a wall and finding some hiding goodies, that's not really in this game for some reason. I also miss the mystery of the Card system from before and there are very little surprises in this magic system which is kind of disappointing as well. Despite that the game is still a must have for CastleVania fans.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 8
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27 DONKEY KONG (Nintendo, June 2004)
*NES Classic Series
It's inexcusable that this game isn't arcade perfect because the almighty Gameboy Advance should be able to this type of game in its sleep. I like being able to save my high score to the cart and the sleep mode was helpful as well but if you want to play a arcade perfect addition of this legendary action title complete with all four stages than play Donkey Kong 64 and unlock the original Donkey Kong in it. Unfortunately, that's as close as you may after get now of days to playing the original because this 3 level only game here isn't. Donkey Kong for the GBA may be good to have around for sentimental value but I can't see anybody playing this on a regular basis thanks to simple game play and Nintendo's Atari-like effort (that's bad by the way) with their own game.*Battery back up game
For 1 or 2 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 3
sound: 2
gameplay: 3
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82 DOUBLE DRAGON (Atlus/Million, December 2003)
After facing some very ugly fighting games in the popular series like the third one below, the original DD finally gets a special remake on the Game Boy Advance here. So how good is this remake here? Double Dragon Advance is just as vicious as the first time I played the original DD arcade game and I've always been a fan of that game. Beat up gang members, pick up weapons, and use a wide list of moves. This GBA game also includes 4 new levels, new moves and techniques, plus the game even has new enemies as well. Can the brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee fight their way to save their kidnapped girlfriend from a powerful gang, you have to survive eight levels first? With every going for it, Double Dragon Advance is a excellent purchase whether you're a fan of the series or not.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 8
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61 FINAL FIGHT ONE (Capcom, 2002)
The popular Super Nintendo, Sega CD, and Arcade fighting game comes to the Gameboy Advance and Capcom did a good job porting their classic to a new generation; good but not great. If you don't know the story here, you play has one of three tough heroes out to save the Mayor's daughter from the powerful Madgear gang. Each character has their own strenghts and techniques like Hagger is the big wrestler type, Cody is good with knifes, and Guy is the quick speed demon. The game looks just like the arcade title with large and colourful characters but the animation is still pretty weak and the scantily clad female cops are still missing as well. Capcom added some new secrets and extra story text here and there but the game play remains intact and it still gets way too repetitive and cheap in a hurry and gamers will tire of this one quickly.
*Battery back up game
For 1 to 2 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 7
sound: 5
gameplay: 6
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67 F ZERO Maximum Velocity (Nintendo, June 13, 2001)
Although this game looks and sounds even better than it's famous 16-bit counterpart, it's still just another F Zero game which means just more really fast, but routine, flat racing action here in the future.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 5
Find F Zero on eBay here!

74 GRADIUS GALAXIES (Konami, November 7, 2001)
Gradius finally comes back to the Game Boy (GB Advance anyways) after all these years. If you are not familiar with the Gradius series than your missing a great shoot em up with a long and storied career in video games. What makes this series such a cult hit is the very unique weapon system of the 6 capsules of power ups to pick from. They are: Speed, Missiles, Double, Lasers, Options, and Shields in that order, it's up to the player to decide what to get first giving the gamer more choice than the average shoot em up. Gradius Galaxies almost got a average rating if it wasn't for the build in save feature. The save feature added additional replay value to a game that can be finished in a hour or two. Learning how to master the game is key to getting the best records and beating your friends in the top score board. Gradius Galaxies is a smart purchase for any shooter fan!
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 8
sound: 4
gameplay: 7
Find Gradius on eBay here!

83 GUNSTAR SUPER HEROES (Sega/Treasure, October 2005)
It took 12 years to see cult favourite and Game of the Month winner Gunstar Heroes return back to the gaming world but was it worth the wait you ask? Like the Sega Genesis original this is a intense 2D action platformer where you control one of two gun experts trying to stop the evil Emperor Gray and all his minions. Although the game has some great new colourful and well detailed graphics, the weapon system is now dumbed down so you only have three preselected weapons that can't be used in combos. Because of that Gunstar Super Heroes isn't quite as good as the original but the game is still very action packed and the Save feature was a cool bonus as well. Gunstar Super Heroes is definitely one of the last great GBA games for the system.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 9
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
Find Gunstar Super Heroes on eBay here!

25 ICE CLIMBERS (Nintendo, October 1985)
*Nes classic series
In this original Nintendo title here you control one of two little Eskimos with hammers trying to reach the top of the stage. Enemies like polar bears and other fuzzy creatures will try to kill you as well but you knock them out if they get in the way but sadly Nintendo took out the baby seals in the North American version so you can't beat them with hammers like in the original Japanese game. Once you reach the top there is a timed bonus game where you either try to get the food or go after the giant bird instead to complete the stage. It starts out easy and the concept is good but the reason this game was never a success was because the controls of the jumps are super slow and really sluggish here. Ice Climbers doesn't age well and it should have stayed buried in the NES graveyard.
For 1 or 2 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 2
sound: 3
gameplay: 3
Find Ice Climbers on eBay here!

52 IRIDION 3D (Majesco Sales, June 13, 2001)
Ever heard of the expression: "million dollar body, 10 cent brain?" Iridion 3D really shows off the power 32-bit engine of the Gameboy Advance with its amazing 3 dimensional graphics and highly detailed opponents. Sadly this 3D shooting game isn't much fun when you can't really tell how far away an object or enemy really is before it hits you. Iridion 3D is a good cheap purchase but that's about it.
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 5
Find Inidion 3D on eBay here!

78 MARIO GOLF ADVANCE TOUR (Nintendo/Camelot, 2003)
Just like the Gameboy Color original this game has a odd story line segment where two young heroes try to make their name in the Mario golfing world. Because the game is now on the GBA the graphics and sounds are vastly improved but it really doesn't feel like a completely new title since the role playing element are nothing new plus the three button press game play is getting old as well. Mario Golf AT is still a lot of fun then the limited Gamecube version and if you loved the original GBC game you'll like this too.
*Battery back up game
For 1 to 4 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 8
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88 MARIO KART Super Circuit (Nintendo, August 2001)
This game marks the debut of the popular Mario Kart series to a portable gaming system. I'm sure a lot people will be dying to play it, but is this really a Super Crcuit or a Super Sucker like all those other want to be's like South Park Rally, and Atari Karts? Even though the series is nearly ten years now the Mario Kart series is still the best there is in its category. The graphics are some of the best for the GBA, the controls are dead on, and there are tons of levels here too. You won't regret picking this kart racer up unlike all the other copy cats out there.
*Battery back up game
For 1 to 4 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 9
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70 MARIO VS. DONKEY KONG (Nintendo, 2004)
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong should please fans of the legendary 1981 Donkey Kong since the game doesn't have the adventure elements of past titles. The game play tries to keep things simple but with nicer graphics and sounds of course. The odd story behind this one is good old Mario is on a rescue mission to save toy versions of himself from the giant ape Donkey Kong. Mario Vs. Donkey Kong isn't for everybody but it only takes a few minutes to learn and it is quite fun to play.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 7
Find Boxing Fever on eBay here!

60 MEGA MAN & BASS (Capcom, 2002)
Now this was one game I was really looking forward to. I originally heard this Mega Man game was once a Japanese only exclusive but with the popularity of the Gameboy Advance, Capcom needed more games to sell and they finally agreed to bring it over. This is great news for us Mega Man fans but it just doesn't translate well to the GBA. Like Mega Man 1 through 207 this is fun run and gun 2D action game but now you can either pick the heroic Mega Man or the robot out for himself: Bass. One big problem I found was the controls were very stiff so doing Bass's speed boost is nearly impossible. Also since this is a portable game, Mega Man & Bass has the view zoomed in so it's a lot harder to see important jumps or enemies in the distance. I like a challenging game and all but that's just unfair. The game is still fun but there are still better games in Japan I rather see here then this.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 5
sound: 6
gameplay: 6
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75 MEGA MAN Battle Network (Capcom, 2001)
Those expecting another action Mega Man game here are in for a bit of a shock. Battle Network still stars Mega Man but now he fights computer viruses now the web while his human friend named Lan controls what happens in the real world. Fairly innovative idea and the game heavily relies on strategy rather then jumping and shooting! Some of the continuious switching back and forth is a little annoying and the 3/4 perspective can be awkward at times but finding the new chips makes the game worth while.
*Battery back up game
For 1 to 2 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 8
Find Mega Man Battle Network on eBay here!

62 MEGA MAN Battle Network 3 White (Capcom, 2003)
Although the original Battle Network was pretty cool and different, as soon as started this one I thought I was playing the same game. Not only is the game play the same as you battle viruses on the net but even a lot of the locations and artwork is the same as well. If you liked the other ones then you'll like this one too but you won't love it.
*Battery back up game
For 1 to 2 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 5
sound: 6
gameplay: 8
Find Mega Man Battle Network 3 on eBay here!

65 MEGA MAN ZERO (Capcom, 2002)
In the distance future, Zero lost his memory and he is forced to fight to save the Rebelling robots but the man leading the strike against the rebels is none other then X, Zero old friend. The graphics are on the GBA are fairly good but the game's difficulty may be too overwhelming for most players because if you only die once it's game over. Mega Man Zero is still a fun action game though.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 8
Find Mega Man Zero on eBay here!

83 METROID FUSION (Nintendo, November 19, 2002)
2002's the year of the Metroid!" Not only to we get Metroid Prime for the Nintendo GameCube but we also get this brand new 2D Metroid adventure exclusively for the Game boy Advance. Just to get idea a how long it's been seen new Metroid game arrived on the Game boy, it's been over a decade since Metroid II the Return of Samus came out for the old Black and White portable unit. The game is more story driven than ever before and there is always a lot of action to find here. One thing I didn't like here in MF was the limited excess after each assignment, you can't really backtrack as much as you want anymore unlike in the original Metroids. A minor complaint to a very addictive video game that will not only test your brain but also your gaming reflexes. Metroid Fusion continues the game's legacy and it's one of the best action Game boy Advance titles currently available. Hopefully I won't be waiting another decade to play another one?
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 9
Find Metroid Fusion on eBay here!

88 METROID Zero Mission (Nintendo, February 9, 2004)
Gunpei Yokoi's legendary NES original Metroid set the standard for intense action/adventure and now we get the chance to relive Samus's first mission all over again in this very special remake. Although I was a little disappointed in the game's new more linear design and overall short length, Zero Mission still adds a lot to the plate thanks to all the secrets to discover. This title even gives you 8 slightly different endings and the original NES Metroid as well.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 7
sound: 8
gameplay: 9
Find Metroid Zero Mission on eBay here!


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