The 2003 gaming season has come to a close. And even though we're still trying to get caught up with the dozens of titles that were released over the course of just a few weeks, there are plenty of games we're looking forward to playing in 2004. We thought you'd like to see the Game Boy Advance titles that'll be hot hot hot just after the new year.
This is far from a complete list of games for next year. Many titles due out for 2004 have either A) not entered the development cycle, or B) not been announced. It'll definitely be worth your while to check back often next year for a look at the games as they progress into development.
As always, you can check our frequently updated release list to see what the latest date for your favorite upcoming title is currently slated for, and be sure to hit the links below to check out the other channels' choices for the games to watch for.
A Sound of Thunder
Publisher: BAM Entertainment
Developer: Mobius Entertainment
Release Date: February 2003
The pitch: Based upon the Ray Bradbury book and the long-delayed-in-production movie, one man must stop the destruction of the time stream when a hunter goes back to the past and kills something he wasn't meant to.
Why it's going to rock: Will this game finally see a release next year? Latest lists put this game, the technology precursor to the excellent GBA Max Payne, sometime in February. We hope so, because as good as Max Payne is, A Sound of Thunder has a kickass multiplayer mode for four players...and only needing one copy of the game.
Metroid Zero Mission
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: February 2004
The pitch: Nintendo returns to its roots by sending Samus back to Zebes in her first ever mission. The game will link up to Metroid Fusion as well as have the original NES version unlockable.
Why it's going to rock: After experiencing the wonder that was Metroid Fusion on the Game Boy Advance, we definitely can't wait to zoom through some old-school Metroid level remakes in February.
Ultimate Card Games
Publisher: Telegames
Developer: Cosmigo
Release Date: March 2004
The pitch: More than a dozen card games on the go, including Cribbage, Pinoccle, Hearts, and more.
Why it's going to rock: One of the must-have games released in 2003 was, believe it or not, Ultimate Brain Games. The team that worked on that title for Telegames is putting together a compilation of several card games that feature four player connectivity, and only requiring one copy of the game to pull that off.
River City Ransom
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Million
Release Date: April 2004
The pitch: Kick, punch, and fight your way through the rough and ready streets of River City, based the original Nintendo Entertainment System version. Developed by the same team that brought us the Game Boy Advance version of Double Dragon.
Why it's going to rock: Many people consider this game to be the best NES title ever...while we won't go that far, we'll definitely say we're looking forward to playing around with the GBA port of the classic beat-em-up game. Double Dragon turned out incredibly well, and the same team's working on this one.
Mario Golf: Advance Tour
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Camelot
Release Date: TBA 2004
The pitch: Mario hits the links in the next iteration of the golf series made famous by Camelot on the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, and GameCube.
Why it's going to rock: This one's been a long time coming. The Game Boy Advance version will link up with the GameCube game in some fashion, most likely doing the same "transfer character" element that the original N64 and Game Boy Color versions had...just on a much more interactive level.
Donkey Kong Country 2
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Rare
Release Date: Spring 2004
The pitch: The Super NES sequel gets shrunk down for play on the Game Boy Advance. The team that worked on last year's port of the original is at the helm of this GBA sequel.
Why it's going to rock: The original Donkey Kong Country didn't turn out too terribly on the Game Boy Advance...it just didn't look nearly as graphically impressive as the Super NES version did. Hopefully Rare heard our complaints and will address them for this sequel, due out in the spring of next year.
F-Zero 2
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: TBA 2004
The pitch: The continuation of the fast-paced racing series on the Game Boy Advance, with a lot more plotpoints to follow between all of the combatants.
Why it's going to rock: Nintendo's following up its Maximum Velocity GBA launch title with another F-Zero game, this one following many of the characters' storylines established in the upcoming anime. It's been announced for release in Europe, but not North America...but count on a shipdate sometime this spring.
It's Mr. Pants
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Rare
Release Date: Spring 2004
The pitch: It's next season's big surprise from Rare...the company's avoided the question every time someone asks.
Why it's going to rock: We don't know what it is, and we don't know if it's going to be any good. And you know what? We don't care. It's probably going to end up a renamed Donkey Kong Coconut Crackers...we just want the mystery to be solved.
