QOTW: What GBA Games Are You Looking Forward To?

Take me to the Question of the Week Archive Nintendo's Game Boy, in its various incarnations, is undoubtedly the most successful video game platform in history. From its black-and-white origins to its colorful yet nonbacklit present state, The Game Boy has managed to entrench itself into society like no other gaming device before it. The platform's next incarnation--the Game Boy Advance--is set for release in Japan on March 21, and by all accounts, it's going to be as massive as we'd expect. Three million people have preordered a GBA, and Nintendo is shipping only 1 million, so there's demand at the very least.

What makes these things move so, you ask? Pokémon, Zelda, and Mario, among other things. In short, any platform graced by Nintendo's wonderful first-party products is destined to enjoy stellar sales. Gamers know that Nintendo puts out quality stuff, and with an industry so full of mediocre me-too games, it's hard to turn down the real deal. The short attention span of youngsters may be another culprit. Whatever the reason, it looks as if the GBA will sell like hotcakes.

This week, our editors are looking at the system's games. What games are exciting them? What games are they hoping for? You'll read it all here. Share with us your thoughts, and, as always, keep the questions coming--yours might be the next we answer.

Share your thoughts on the GBA in GameSpot's forums.

The Game Boy Advance, as wonderful as it has looked so far, doesn't quite have me as excited as the next-generation consoles do. However, I've had a soft spot in my heart for the SNES for many years, so the prospect of handheld versions of some of my favorite 16-bit titles is a promising one. I'm looking forward to Mario Kart Advance the most, which will hopefully re-create what made Super Mario Kart my longtime most beloved racing game. From what we've seen, it's even better than the original, and getting my hands on this game will be my main reason for grabbing a GBA whenever I get around to it. The idea of four-player kart racing on the GBA seems enjoyable, but I can't think of a practical use for it in my case. If I'm ever with three other gamers, a console is usually nearby unless we're on the move, and in that case, I can't feasibly see four of us carrying our GBAs and kart games with us. I still haven't played a link-cable game on any handheld, so I'll eventually see whether or not this is as entertaining as it's being hyped up to be.

Being a fan of RPGs and strategy games has always made handhelds seem lackluster, but the proposed lineup of games for the GBA has gotten me excited lately. Silent Hill GBA. I appreciate story-driven games, like some of the recent Final Fantasy games, where the gameplay isn't as groundbreaking as the storytelling and cinematic sequences, so this type of game might be refreshing. And need I say more than the following: Super Street Fighter II and Final Fight. Wow.

So, hopefully the GBA can pull me out of this handheld-hating rut I've stuck myself into and make me a gamer on the go.

Wipeout XL would appease me better, F-Zero is acceptable as well) and Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. You just can't go wrong with any of those.

I'll be interested in seeing how Silent Hill turns out for the GBA and whether or not Konami will be able to maintain the level of horror found on the PlayStation version. Silent Hill 2 for the PlayStation 2 seems to be on track for exceeding the first in levels of gore and creepiness, so I can only hope that the GBA Silent Hill will attain the same. It'd be amusing to see someone jump in fright and drop his or her precious piece of hardware on the ground.

And finally, of the announced games, I'm looking forward to Super Street Fighter 2 as well. I originally bought my SNES for Street Fighter 2, and I can see myself doing the same for the Game Boy Advance. As long as it turns out as well as Street Fighter Alpha did for the GameBoy Color, I'll be a very happy gamer indeed.

Now, on to my wanted list. Topping it, of course, are the games that I assume everybody wants to see and the ones that Nintendo would be hideously stupid to neglect. Metroid and Zelda, first and foremost. I'd love to play a good side-scrolling Metroid before Retro Studios turns it into another soulless FPS for the GameCube. Rereleasing some of the SNES classics as ports with or without updates and such would be a wise idea as well. I'd stand in line for Final Fantasy VI, Rock 'N' Roll Racing, and the Super Star Wars series, and I think that many other gamers will echo that sentiment. It might be considered cheap by some to see games ported from one system to the next and from PC to console, etc., but I wouldn't mind being able to play any number of SNES games on the GBA. It just makes good sense.

In general, I am pleased with the progress of the GBA and am looking forward to its release. I never ended up buying a Game Boy Color, because anytime I'd be in a position to play it, I'd seem to have some good comic books handy as well. The GBA seems to quite literally be advanced enough for it to grab my attention and hold it. Now, if only somebody would combine the two and get a good Batman game. Maybe on this new platform, if I hold my breath long enough, I will.

Unlike its dealings with the Game Boy Advance games. Considering the company has little competition in the handheld market, it makes perfect sense. Without Game Boy Advance information coming in on a regular basis, there wouldn't be much Nintendo news to speak of. Nintendo is dusting off a lot of its older games for the GBA launch--games that have already appeared on its previous consoles. While it will be great to play handheld versions of games such as Super Mario Kart and Super Mario Bros. 2, I would prefer to play something entirely new. It's not like there will be a shortage of software to choose from. The Game Boy Advance already enjoys more third-party support than the Nintendo 64 ever did.

While there are well more than a dozen games I'm looking forward to, the Game Boy Advance game I'm most excited for has to be Castlevania--the one that appeared on the Nintendo 64-- was adequate, it was enough to tell Konami that the series should stay in two dimensions. Whether it's a coincidence that the 3D version of Castlevania for the Dreamcast was canned shortly thereafter is up for debate.

It's been almost four years since Symphony of the Night was released, and I'm ready for another 2D Castlevania. I long for the dark atmosphere, challenging 2D gameplay, and the busting of Dracula's chops. It's hard to argue that there's a better 2D adventure series in existence, and I'm counting on Konami delivering the goods with Circle of the Moon. Considering Konami has been one of the few developers able to get the maximum out of the PlayStation 2 thus far, I have faith that the company will be able to push the GBA's simplistic hardware as well. So far, the early screenshots aren't all that promising, but I doubt Konami will whisk the next installment of the Castlevania franchise out the door--unless it lives up to expectations.

Circle of the Moon isn't the only GBA game I'm looking forward to, however. Playing Golden Sun , is the most visually impressive of all the GBA software thus far. But not being a big RPG fan, I probably won't end up picking it up. As far as sports games go, I wouldn't mind seeing NHL 94 or an old-school version of Madden on the GBA. And what about two-player Super Tecmo Bowl? That would be an absolute dream.

Perhaps what I'm anticipating the most from the Game Boy Advance is the rebirth of 2D gaming in general. It's going to be fun watching companies dust off the old 2D skills. With a popular platform that wholeheartedly supports the format, there should be some great days of 2D gaming ahead for all of us. Most importantly, Nintendo should take Konami's cue with Castlevania and make the next Metroid for the Game Boy Advance instead of the GameCube. Metroid just won't feel right in 3D, and instead of Retro Studios breaking its back trying to create a 3D Metroid that people won't complain about, why not just bust out a new 2D Metroid?

No matter how you slice it, the Game Boy Advance is virtually guaranteed success. Based upon the fact that nearly 3 million preorders have been taken for the handheld in Japan, it might be even more difficult than anticipated to obtain one for the US launch. No matter what sort of games you're into, the Game Boy Advance already looks to have something for everyone. I can't wait until June 11.

Final Fight-- As my DJ and carpool buddy Ryan Davis once said, "Final Fight is the bomb." He then went on to talk about how much he loved the game, swearing quite a bit in the process. He and I share the same love of Capcom's classic "walk around and beat people up" game. Hopefully, the GBA version won't mirror the original SNES release and leave out Guy...even though everyone knows that Guy is a total punk when put up against Cody or part-time mayor and full-time hustler Mike Haggar [Editor's note: Say that to his face.]. It'd be nice if Final Fight GBA added some new levels, but to be honest, I'd be happy with a portable port of the arcade original.

NFL Blitz 2002--We still play the arcade version of NFL Blitz '99 around here. While I don't expect the GBA to put on a show worthy of a reasonably recent arcade game, anything would be better than the atrocious Blitz games that have appeared on the Game Boy Color. Bleh! On a similar note, I'm interested to see some arcade-style hockey on the system (remember Ice Hockey for the NES? Awww yeeeah!), so Midway's NHL Hitz sounds intriguing as well.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2--Well, it's good to know that Activision is bringing skateboarding to the GBA. Personally, I'm hoping for a game that either sticks a little closer to the console versions (Mode 7 skaters! Rock!) or maybe mixes the Tony Hawk gameplay with the perspective of 720. Aw, heck, maybe EA should just resurrect Skate or Die and put it out on the GBA as well. That would be pretty rad, provided Rodney the skate-shop owner remained in the game.

I'm still a little depressed about the NeoGeo Pocket Color's domestic failure, so it'll be nice to have a new, more powerful portable unit to play with, especially with all these long flights to Japan coming up a little later in the year. Nine hours on a plane without any gaming is simply unbearable.

We were asked a question that is similar to this week's question last September, which asked us to talk about games that we would like to see but haven't necessarily been announced. None of the unannounced games that I discussed have been announced since the time, but others that have are right up there for me.

The game I think I am most excited about is Mario Advance, better known as Super Mario Bros. 2 to people in the US. For those who have never gotten a chance to play Super Mario Bros. 2, it's a game that is drastically different from all the others in the Mario Bros. series. When Super Mario Bros. 2 was released in Japan, Nintendo of America thought the game was too difficult for the US market, so they rehauled a game called Yumekojo Doki Doki Panic and released it in the US under the Super Mario Bros. 2 name. The new version of the game featured better sound effects, some graphical improvements, and the insertion of the main characters from the Super Mario Bros. Universe, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool into the game. Each of the main characters had a drastically different feel to them--Luigi could jump really high, Princess could kind of hover along the ground for a good distance when you jumped, and so on. None of the enemies in the game are found in any other Super Mario Bros. games. Also, please note that Princess Toadstool's name is being changed to Peach in Mario Advance.

Anyhow, I'm disappointed in myself about not even mentioning this game in the previous question of the week response concerning the GBA. Super Mario Bros. 2 is up there with one of my favorite games of all times and is a game that I think all gamers who never got a chance to play on the NES should try.

Another game that I am really excited about is Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. I am a rather avid fan of the Castlevania series, and the fact that Circle of the Moon strongly resembles Symphony of the Night, one of the best Castlevania games ever, excites me. Not much is really known about the game, but we'll get a firsthand experience when we get ahold of the import version later this month when the Game Boy Advance launches in Japan.

There are too many other announced games that I can't wait to play and talk about, including Mario Kart Advance, Final Fight, Super Street Fighter 2, Sonic Advance, and many others. One thing that strikes me is how most of the launch games or games that will be released soon after are rereleases from systems of the past. Some people are worried that this is all the system is going to turn into--a system with rehashed games that everyone has already played in the past. Personally, I'm not that worried. I think it's just a way for the GBA library to get large really fast, and there are millions of gamers out there who have never had a chance to play some of the games that are going to be rereleased on the GBA. I feel that by the end of the year, we will start seeing a barrage of original games coming out for the system in Japan and following in the US in early 2002.

Naturally, a true Metroid sequel, or a Gaiden-type thing, would be most appealing. The Metroid series has a tradition of incredibly rich gameplay, and there is still so much that can be done with it, from a 2D standpoint. I've always wondered why no further installments to the series have seen the light of day, and I'm inclined to believe that several, albeit unsuccessful, attempts have been made. Here's my theory as to why: Metroid, by nature, requires a certain set of variables to be pulled off successfully--the ambiance, the tight controls, the stylized visuals, etc. Nintendo has managed to transfer its other big franchises to 3D, but in the process greatly altering the gameplay mechanics, if not the overall feel of the games. A game like Metroid would simply not work if the gameplay were seriously altered. And given the inherent constraints of the 3D platform/adventure, it's hard to fathom a faithful transfer of such gameplay. All the recent jive about Retro Studios' upcoming Metroid GameCube game is further evidence that Nintendo isn't all that comfortable with the idea of a 3D Metroid--according to rumor, the game has undergone serious concept changes, and that simply isn't done to a game that is "coming along." That's why a 2D Metroid could be the best thing for fans of the series. Nintendo has a whole lot banking on this game, and fans simply won't let the company live down a failure.

But enough about Metroid--I'd hate to shanghai this question for that purpose. The GBA is set to be one of the hottest things this year, and I'm definitely importing one, provided I will eventually be able to play US games on it. Castlevania: Circle of the Moon is a no-brainer for me--I'm getting it on launch day. Aside from that, the SNES and arcade ports will keep me more than happy. While the handheld's two-button layout could be a little problematic as far as it applies to playing some of my old-school favorites, I have faith in Nintendo's control-scheme designing skills. It'll find a way to make things work.

Then there's F-Zero Advance. Sherman and Mr. Peabody will tell you that before I owned an SNES or a Genesis, I used to rent an SNES from a small video rental place near my house. Back then, there were only a few games out for the SNES, very few of which were available for rental at the independent shop I frequented. But they did have F-Zero, and I spent more time renting and playing that game than any of the shop's other SNES games. F-Zero was pretty tight--it was the first time I had played a racing game that was fast and futuristic, and it had me hooked. F-Zero X, the follow-up to F-Zero, was pretty lame, and I was left to reminisce about the good ole days. And from the looks of the screenshots released for F-Zero Advance, the game is going to be pretty fly. Based on the original game, F-Zero Advance looks like it could bring the simple but addictive gameplay of the first game back to the series.

So, as a person who was pretty happy with the first-party SNES games, I'm glad to hear that Nintendo is making a console that will support games that look and play like SNES games. And I'm glad that Nintendo is ditching the lame cereal box design of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color in favor of a more ergonomic design similar to that of the Game Gear or the Lynx. The GBA looks like it's going to be dope, and if any company has proven that it can keep a handheld in the money, it's Nintendo.

Final Fight. Final Fight! I loved Final Fight! In recent times, I've gotten into lengthy verbal scuffles with certain GameSpot editors over the merits of Final Fight. It would appear that I'm not the only person who wants the Alpha and the Omega of side-scrolling beat-'em-ups brought back into the spotlight.

Tekken Advanced. I don't know a damn thing about this title, but Tekken 3 is my all-time favorite fighting game, so I'm curious to see what they can do with the series in a handheld format.

Sonic the Hedgehog Advanced. Sonic was always at his best when he was 2D. Who doesn't love Sonic? If it's anything like the Sonic game for the NeoGeo Pocket Color--heck, if it is the Sonic game for the NeoGeo Pocket Color, then I'm already sold.

And what about those crazy import titles? I want to see what Boku ha Kouku Kanseikan (I'm an Air Traffic Controller) is about, based on its absurd title alone.

There are other SNES titles I'd like to see ported to the GBA. As far as my wish list goes, Out of This World is at the top. The style of this game blew me away when I first saw it, and to this day, the game still impresses me. Heck, I'd even settle for Flashback.

Now to some games that haven't been announced, would make cool additions to the GBA software list. I would like to see remakes of games in the Phantasy Star series, Contra, Road Rash, Chrono Trigger, Last Battle, Streets of Rage, Revenge of Shinobi, and perhaps Black Belt. That last one might have you scratching your head, but this side scrolling beat 'em up has both nostalgic and gameplay value for me personally. Growing up, my best friend and I were absolutely obsessed with Black Belt, and we used to play it religiously--we played through it several times. It would be nice to take control of Riki once again on the Game Boy Advance, with enhanced visuals on the 32-bit handheld.

Nintendo should continue to dominate the handheld gaming market with the Game Boy Advance and that essentially translates to virtually universal software support from third-parties. Combine that with the powerful hardware and we'll get some hot games on the GBA.

Readers Respond: Impressions of Conker's Bad Fur Day

Last week, we gave you our impressions of this much-lauded N64 game. The feature generated mad amounts of mail, and we've chosen some representative letters. Here's what you thought of Conker's BFD!

New Age of Video Games

It's about time that Nintendo enters the new age of video games. I have bought every system to ever come out, and I love to see quips about nudity and vulgarity--it's what we've been raised on, these past few years. Now, as a 20-year-old college student, this game has me wiping the dust off my N64 and actually plugging it back in. Nintendo has screwed all of us in the years past with their squeaky clean family crap. It's nice they've finally joined the real game--a bit too late, though, in my opinion. You can vouch that Nintendo will pay for its stubbornness in the next few years, because I refuse to give them more money for a Dolphin and will continue getting second-hand games. I'm glad that we've had Sony and Sega to compensate in the years past, with stuff like Tomb Raider and Mortal Kombat (with blood!). Go Sega and Sony! Go Conker!

Name withheld

A World of Hurt

The only reason that Conker's BFD exists is because Rare was behind it. If any other company on the planet wanted to make that game, Nintendo would have held the title to their normal standards and said, "No way." Why is Rare any different? Maybe, just maybe, could it have something to do with the fact that Rare is the only company still making N64 games that anyone wants to play? Nah, that couldn't be it.

I can picture the conversation:

Rare: So, we want to do this game about a cussing, drinking, pissing squirrel.

N: Uh, wh...what!? Of course not! You know the deal. That'll get through Mario Club when hell freezes over.

Rare: Oh, really. So, what are the sales like for all of our recent titles?

N: Hmmm... Perfect Dark is doing very well. So is Banjo-Tooie. We don't need this brand of filthy humor in our product line. Even GoldenEye continues to bring people over to the system. Wh...why do you ask? Oh, God.

Rare: Gee. Funny that. So, whaddya say you, uh, look the other way? Just this once? I think we can swing that, no?

N: *sigh* Fine.

Without Rare, Nintendo is nothing. They'd still have a few of their own titles, but honestly, they'd be in a world of hurt without the sales being generated by Rare. And the same cannot be said for any other developer. Nintendo clings to their image desperately, but in this case, I don't think they had a choice. End of story.

--Brian Osman

Readers Respond: Impressions of Conker's Bad Fur Day

Goombah!

I simply don't understand how anyone with an appreciation for both the good and the bad of video game history would think Conker goes too far. I need merely point to the eminently X-rated, behind-the-counter Mystique games in the early '80s for Atari 2600. True, Custer's Revenge may have been the worst game ever, but it's hard to argue that Conker and its spiritual brother (sister?) Fear Effect 2 go farther than it. Everyone calls it a giant step forward for mature video games aimed at adult audiences, and rightfully so. But remember: Even though the technology hadn't caught up, we were already there in 1983 before Big N and their then-puritanical censorship policies wrested games from the masses and flung them to the kiddies in a giant step backward. Goombah!

--Anatole

Desperate and Pathetic

This move by Nintendo comes off as desperate and pathetic. After years of censoring great titles, they throw their weight behind this rather unimaginative brand of "humor" and expect people to swallow it like so much Conker crap. Well, it would seem that Nintendo will now find themselves unable to defend their company policy on any front. Why shouldn't other developers be given this leeway? Why try to make a game that's offensive for offensiveness' sake? In a market in which companies need strong images, Nintendo has just blurred theirs. This is a gimmick title, and even if it has great gameplay or graphics, its primary selling point is nothing more than WWF-market style humor. Those people that Nintendo is trying to sell this garbage to have gotten older, but they seem to think that we haven't gotten smarter than we were when we were 12.

Name withheld

One (Lu)Man Writes...

I will just step up onto my soapbox for a moment to give you guys a little lesson about why Rare and Nintendo needed to make a game like Conker's BFD to ever be taken seriously. Nintendo and Rare have for a long time been known to produce excellent FPS, and platform games.

The problem is, the platform genre is generally a kids' genre. Most people of this generation won't seriously take into consideration any platform game out there. This genre has been over run with cutesy, sickeningly sweet games with colorful, vibrant characters and cut and paste story lines: "Someone has been kidnapped! Only [insert hero's name here] can save [insert name of victim here]." And as I recall, there haven't been too many adult-themed games for this genre. The Tomb Raider series is the only one I can think of off hand.

So it was only by shocking the public (and you must admit a curse word in a Nintendo game is quite shocking) that they could ever be taken seriously. Now if this is the only road they'll take, they may find their path to glory leading into a dead end. I don't watch South Park, and stopped watching Beavis and Butthead a long time ago. But if they can expand on this idea, say a game based upon a Stephen King book like Desperation, or use more adult oriented themes in the next Zelda game, then there may truly be bright times for both Rare and Nintendo.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.

--LU-MAN

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