BEST OF THE BEST: Part 11 (11/01)

Today we’re looking at two systems that are now in the console graveyard: the Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo Game Cube. At one time both systems won Console of the Year from us. Now, they’ve been surpassed by the new line from Nintendo: The DS and the Wii. Let’s look back at these recently deceased systems and see what we thought were the best games for each system over the past 4 years.

26. Best Game Boy Advance Game

Award Winner in 2003: Wario Ware, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 05/21/2003
Genre: Minigame Collection

Award Winner in 2004: Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon
Publisher: Atlus USA
Developer: Amusement Vision
Release Date: 06/08/2004
Genre: SRPG

Award Winner in 2005: Sigma Star Saga
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Wayforward
Release Date: 08/16/2005
Genre: 2-D Shooter/RPG

Award Winner in 2006: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Chunsoft
Release Date: 09/18/2006
Genre: Turn Based RPG

Man, just looking at these four games reminds me why the GBA was just SO MUCH BETTER than the DS for me. Each of these four games is an easy system seller to me, and to a lot of other people. The GBA is the best selling video game system of all time, and with titles like these, it’s no wonder.

Warioware defined for many people what mini-games are and is still a huge franchise for Nintendo, even heading over to the Wii. Shining Force: RotDD was a remake of the original Sega Genesis classic. Although it wasn’t as good as the original, it still showed people how good RPG’s can be and how amazing an SRPG can be. Hell, Bebito voted this game for GOTY in 2004 he loved it so much. If you’re interested in the original, it can be downloaded on the Wii. There is no reason not to have it!

Sigma Star Saga was a nice blend of RPG and SHMUP gameplay. It was a fun game with a few issues, but it was still highly enjoyed by everyone on staff who picked it up. Finally, we have Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, which was a fun, but niche, game. 2005 and 2006 were a definite drop in quality for the system from 2003-2004, but the award winners were still amongst some of the best games released that year, regardless of system.

Reviews:
Wario Ware (Alex Williams)
Shining Force (Lucard)
Sigma Star Saga (Lucard)
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (Lucard)

27. Best Nintendo Game Cube Game

Award Winner in 2003: Pokemon Channel
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Ambrella
Release Date: 12/01/2003
Genre: Unique

Award Winner in 2004: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Retro Studios
Release Date: 11/15/2004
Genre: FPS

Award Winner in 2005: Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Genius Sonority
Release Date: 09/28/2005
Genre: Turn Based RPG

Award Winner in 2006: Chibi Robo
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Skip Ltd.
Release Date: 02/06/2006
Genre: Simulation

Man, was this ever a wild award ride. In 2003, the entire Kliq (save Liquidcross) fell in love with Pokemon Channel, even over The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. There are multiple reasons for this. The first is that we were all huge Pokemon fans, the second is that Pokemon Channel was one of the most unique games we’d ever played and the third reason is that Pokemon Channel brought in more girls to gaming that we’d ever seen a single title do that wasn’t specific geared for that gender. It won hands down because of that and I still no girls who are like “Gaming sucks” with give Pokemon Channel a try and become utterly engrossed. Don’t ask me why. They just do/

Metroid Prime 2 was pretty much a given. Although 2003 was an amazing year for the Cube, 2004-2006 were pretty dismal. I’m personally not a FPS fan, but it was hard to argue with this choice. Metroid reinvented itself as a killer FPS franchise and many people preferred the sequel to the original.

2005 was the big year of controversy. Although Pokemon XD won the vote amongst the staff, the published award winner was Resident Evil 4. I won’t go into the how or why, but this particular snafu caused a lot of internal controversy and is why I am the only original Kliq member still kicking it at Inside Pulse to this day. Mainly because I stayed neutral on the whole issue. Personally, awards should be fun, and if they aren’t why even do them? That’s my thought on the issue.

2006 was…Chibi Robo. Man, if that is your best game for a system, well you can see why the end was nigh for the Nintendo Game Cube. Poor little system. Rest in peace.

Reviews:
Pokemon Channel (Lucard)
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes(A.J.)
Pokemon XD (Lucard)
Chibi Robo(Mark B.)

That’s it for today. Wave good bye to these two old systems of Nintendo. It’s hard to believe we can call them old, but it is in fact so. Tomorrow it’s the best Xbox game, and the most improved franchise awards. I’ll be back same bat time, same bat URL.


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