GBA Holiday Buyer's Guide 2002 Special @ Gaming Target

Written by Matt Swider on December 15, 2002

Special: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

She exterminated the Space Pirate threat twice on Zebes. She followed their activity to Tallon IV and thwarted their plans yet again. She succeeded in ending the Metroid's threat to civilization on their home world of SR-388. Finally, Samus Aran, the Chozo-raised intergalactic bounty hunter returns to gamers everywhere in the fourth installment of the franchise. Samus' eradication of the Metroids on their home world threw that planet's entire ecosystem off-kilter, with ramifications that once again threaten the Galactic Federation. Gameboy Advance owners everywhere will be able to revisit the Super Metroid phenomenon in Samus' all-new adventure, which blends classic gameplay with a story-driven dynamic new to the series. Metroid Fusion pushes the standards for graphics, sound, atmosphere, and gameplay on the GBA, gracing enthusiasts with one of the greatest games ever released on the system.
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Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

Yoshi is quite possibly the greatest side character ever created in console lore. In fact, he's so great that the geniuses at Nintendo decided that our little green lizard like creature deserved his own game in the form of Yoshi's Island a few years ago on the Super Nintendo. Not only did this game focus solely on Yoshi, but it also featured a new game play mechanic where your goal is to escort new-born Mario across eight wonderfully animated levels while eating and destroying everything in your path. But now, it's portable on your GBA and everything that was great on the Super Nintendo years back is just as wonderful and original today with all new levels that can be played upon fully completing others.
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The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past: The Four Swords

The Super Nintendo was known for having arguably the best game line-up ever seen on a console and the first game mentioned by all who knew anything about it was Zelda: A Link to the Past. Now, nostalgic players and those new to the series alike can play quite possibly the greatest Zelda game ever released on their Gameboy Advance. The game has been faithfully recreated on the GBA with quite a few new surprises including the all-new multiplayer adventure spanning four all new and unique dungeons known as The Four Swords. Just like for the Super Nintendo, Link to the Past is quite possibly the greatest game released for the GBA.
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Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

Fans of the Castlevania series yearning for the next 2D game in the series need look no further thanks to the Gameboy Advance. Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance is the second game in the Castlevania saga to be released on the GBA and not only remedies certain lighting problems of last years Circle of the Moon, but also enhances the experience greatly with superb graphics and an excellent and lengthy experience that no GBA fan should be without. As Juste, grandson to the famed Simon Belmont, it's your job to save your friend, known as Lydie, from the nefarious clutches of the evil Dracula. Go forth and pick this game up from your local retailer and save the day! Whip sold separately.
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Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland

Some of you may not have known this about him, but Kirby, that little pink ball in Super Smash Bros., has been around for a great deal of time on Nintendo consoles. Now, fans of Kirby games, or the Kirby character alike, can enjoy a full on recreation of his first game released over 10 years ago on the Gameboy Advance. Today, the game has been graphically updated with a number of artistic features and the advent of cooperative play has been included for up to four players along with three mini-games utilizing the GBA's single-pak features. Suck up your enemies and take all their worth. No GBA collection should be without a short and unique platform title.
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Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis

The Ogre Saga has gathered a cult following since its Super Nintendo inception and subsequent follow-ups on the Playstation. Tactics Ogre for the Gameboy Advance is a stunning entry into both the series and the GBA's library. This strategy RPG is truly unique on the system, and follows the story of 15-year-old Alphonse Loeher and his exploits on Ovis Island on behalf of the Holy Lodis Empire. As always, this entry into the Ogre Saga tells a lengthy, winding, and unpredictable story rife with triumphs, failures, betrayals, political intrigue, and religious conflicts. The turn-based strategy RPG combat is as unique as it is engaging, a must own for RPG aficionados.
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Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX

First, there was the Super Nintendo, and it was good. Then, there was Contra III: The Alien Wars, and it too was good. Then there came the Game Boy Advance, and the people cried out: it is the second coming of the Super Nintendo! And now, at long last, there is Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX. Contra Advance is a pitch perfect recreation of Contra III, probably the greatest Contra game of them all. Everything but the two overhead levels were carried over into this portable version. To make up for that, Konami has created two entirely new levels of alien blasting fun. So now Konami has you covered whenever you need a portable Contra fix.
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Doom II

The impact that Doom left on Game Boy Advance was massive. Since then, many more shooters have already release and production has begun on additional games like it. In less than a year, Activision has returned with the port of its sequel that makes another great mindless first person shooting game with all the classic value of the original. Plus, with extras like a four-player deathmatch and two-person cooperative mode, the fun is extended for the simple but still entertaining shooter from almost a decade ago.
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Continue with the Holiday Buyer's Guide 2002
Multi-Console ╖ GameCube ╖ PS2 ╖ Xbox ╖ GBA