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Matt's Ten Most Wanted
11/08/02, by Matt

Christmas is fast approaching, which of course, means the best time to excuse an excessive purchase of games. Below are the ten games I am looking forward to most, some will be available for Christmas, some have a while to go yet, but all are undeniably interesting prospects for hours of entertainment.

10. Golden Sun 2

Visitors who frequent the forums would likely know that I am not the greatest of fans of the original Golden Sun, as when I played it, all I was ever rewarded with was the feeling that I had in my hands a poor man’s version of a Final Fantasy tale. That said, to dismiss Golden Sun 2 for its predecessor’s faults would be a ridiculous mistake. I hold every faith that Camelot will improve the problems of the overly linear progression through the game that the original fell into, and expand the battle system to capitalise on the superb possibilities that both the Djinn and Psyenergy offer. Camelot does hold the makings of a great franchise in their hands, and I look forward to watching the series mature and develop into a feasible rival to Final Fantasy.
> Full Preview (by Eman)

9. Demon Hunter

Diablo was a brilliant and highly addictive adventure, even if the incessant clicking that was required resulted in painful injuries. Enter Demon Hunter, potentially the Game Boy Advance’s answer to the PC classic. With a vastly more epic storyline, moody and stylish graphics and what looks to be a solid copy of the gameplay found in Diablo, Demon Hunter may appear a little clichéd for PC gaming regulars, but it should be relatively unique to the portable. Besides, but any game that takes the player to hell has to be worth a look-in.
> Full Preview (by Matt)

8. Super Monkey Ball Jr.

Monkey Ball on the GameCube had everything required of an instantly addictive experience. A simple concept, frustratingly difficult but never uninteresting levels, and one can never forget the monkeys! Promising to bring everything that made the GC title great to the little handheld, Sega seem to have pulled off an amazing feat with Super Monkey Ball Junior, translating not only the main game, with some 60 levels of rolling mayhem, but four of the simple, but highly entertaining mini games! Throw in the multiplayer option and we have here a game that will be a must for virtually all puzzle or arcade fans.
> Full Preview (by John)

7. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicle

The limited information on this game as yet is not a detriment to the interest I have in it. Although at this early stage it seems almost like Crystal Chronicle will choose a more action orientated path than the traditional turn-based experience I would love to see, it is not to say that this game will be of any less quality. Whether the game will be able to match the style of the other major adventure game soon to be released, Zelda, remains to be seen, but with this and Final Fantasy Tactics, plus the promised ability to link Crystal Chronicle with the GameCube version, the lack of Final Fantasy games available for a Nintendo system throughout the N64 days is more than being made up for.

6. Phantasy Star Collection

I have never had the pleasure of playing a Phantasy Star title, so my interest in playing the original three before I throw myself at the GameCube title; Phantasy Star Online, is obvious. Really, this is the way classic games should be given an update, three long RPG’s… that’s a lot of gaming to be had. Much like all archaic RPG’s, the story will be laughable, the graphics incredibly plain and the gameplay little more than hunting out the next battle, but that’s what was addictive and beautiful about the games, and given that the cartridge will surely remain firmly in the GBA until all three adventures have been completed, I am expecting Phantasy Star Online will more than justify its price tag.
> Full Preview (by Matt)

5. Pokémon Ruby/ Sapphire

Forget the cartoon, the card game, the stuffed toys, the pillows and matching blanket covers, the games have always been nothing but the highest quality. Although not looking significantly different to the GBC titles in the series (not a terrible thing mind you, Pokémon’s graphics have always oozed style by the bucket load), Nintendo promises the game will feature a number of new gameplay elements to make us fall in love with the series all over again. Plus, of course, there is the inevitable new horde of Poke-critters to collect, trade and raise. Pokémon must be the one RPG I’ve ever come across where raising your team up all the way to level 100 is fun, and that there is the definition of quality RPG gaming. Of course this title is an exciting upcoming release, even if it means a wading through a whole new marketing campaign of toys, cartoons and sausage roll boxes.

4. Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Link’s epic adventure is getting what appears to be a high quality port to the Game Boy Advance! Everything from the SNES epic, considered by many to be the best in the franchise, is being ported over. But Nintendo, finally showing some respect with their ports, are including a massive multiplayer game, in which players work together and beat the living daylights out of each other for the eventual treasure hidden within a dungeon. Any one who is familiar with a Zelda title will know the quality that is synonymous with the series, and would know just how ‘right’ Nintendo will be with this game. An absolute must-buy upon release.
> Full Preview (by Matt)

3. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Tactics Ogre was, and is (at least, until I find a copy of Dungeons and Dragons: Eye of the Beholder) my favourite GBA game, and so the chance to play more of a very similar concept painted in Final Fantasy colours is very appealing to me. No doubt the game will have a story that is very “Final Fantasy” in nature, the graphics look to have a lovely style to them and the gameplay will do doubt equal, if not excel the quality found in Tactics Ogre. It cannot of course be forgotten that the Final Fantasy name generally does equate to solid production values and quality. An epic in the making, I’m expecting Final Fantasy Tactics to hold a special place in any self-respecting RPG or strategy fan games collection.

2. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

An all-action look at a franchise that is surely more suited to the traditional RPG form than any other, Lord of the Rings. To say I was sceptical at first would be an understatement; Pocket Studio’s more traditional RPG looked far more interesting when both were announced. Yet it was rushed out, and failed. Then appeared the Lord of the Rings DVD, complete with footage of the Playstation 2 version of EA’s upcoming vision of Tolkien and I found myself converted. If the GBA developers manage to include a millionth of the fun that the PS2 game seems to offer, I will be one happy man indeed.
> Full Preview (by Matt)

1. Wizards

Warlocked on the Game Boy Color was a feat of programming brilliance few would have thought possible. A complete Real Time Strategy game, it came complete with resource management, a (somewhat small) variety of units and an extensive campaign. The developers even had the good taste to include a two-player mode! The GBA sequel promises to improve and refine the machine to the point where Wizards could very well be the greatest game for the system. A vastly expanded wizard system shows good developer instinct, as the wizards were by far the most enjoyable unit of the original, the promise of a more balanced an accessible game style and the updated graphics are all truly exciting. Perhaps the best news to come with the game is that it will incorporate a complete and extensive multiplayer mode! Here’s hoping the game receives a more extensive release than its predecessor, which was nigh on impossible to find a copy of.
> Full Preview (by Dan)