On March 21, 2001, Japan opened its arms to Nintendo’s newest handheld: The Game Boy Advance. The previous system, the Game Boy was launched on April 21st, 1989 and had stuck around in the US until September 2001, when the last title that was compatible for the original black and white behemoth was released: Dragon Warrior Monsters 2. In Japan, the final title for it was released in June 2002, and was TV Animation – One Piece: Maboroshi no Grand Line Boukenhen!. This gave the original game Boy a life span of an amazing 13 years on the direct market, second only to the Neo Geo (14 year lifespan). Of course the Game Boy Color continued, until Nov 2002, only a scant five months later, with the US release of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This game the Game Boy Color a lifespan from October 21st 1998 to Nov, 2002; only four years. Felt like a lot longer though, didn’t it?

Currently the Game Boy Advance looks to expire on November 14th, 2006 with the release of Totally Spies 2. After that there are no more games listed to be published. Five years, eight months. The GBA outlasted the GBC, and managed to give us a lot of great games. Seeing as we have less than two months before the GBA gets shunted over to RETROGRADING, I’d like to spend the next two weeks talking about my ten favorite GBA games. One a day (I don’t do weekends. You people know that.). Don’t worry, only one title has Pokemon in it. I feel Pokemon was at its best with Gold/Silver/Crystal, a GBC product. There’s no Top Ten order going on. There’s no review format. It’s simply freeform writing. I have the games picked out, and I’ll say what I want on them.