Posted: August 31st, 2003.
Nintendo reveal an incredible software line up for Christmas, featuring a hostof gaming legends. For further info on the featured-image titles, please clickon them. For all other titles please click on the Amazon link on the left-handmenu.
2003 has been an incredible year for Nintendo so far having launched manyamazing games such as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime onNINTENDO GAMECUBE and Pokmon Ruby and Pokmon Sapphire on Game Boy Advance.As well as fantastic software Nintendo also launched the stylish new handheldconsole, the Game Boy Advance SP and Nintendo are set to continue this successfor Christmas 2003, with a fantastic line up that will appeal to players ofall ages.
In the run up to Christmas 2003 players will see NINTENDO hit top gear withsome of the most anticipated games for both the NINTENDO GAMECUBE and the GameBoy Advance. There are over 60 games still to launch for NINTENDO GAMECUBEbringing the total library to over 200 in Europe. There are also over 60 GameBoy Advance games still to launch in 2003 which will bring the total libraryto over 400!
Just in time for Christmas Nintendo are launching the fantastic new title,Mario Kart: Double Dash!! That’s right! All your favourite Nintendo charactersand more are back for some serious kart action. At least 16 characters will bethere to choose from including the likes of Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, BabyMario, Baby Luigi, Koopa Trooper and the hairy hero himself, Donkey Kong. Forthe first time ever, players will be able to choose two characters to race oneach vehicle simultaneously. Mario Kart fans have never had so much tochoose from!
The F-Zero series continues exclusively on NINTENDO GAMECUBE this year in theall-new F-Zero GX. With a fantastic story mode plus the regular grand prix andmultiplayer modes, F-Zero GX now offers some insights into its famous lead man,Captain Falcon, and the many other racers. F-Zero GX not only looks amazing,but it also controls exceptionally well, with the cornering, acceleration, boosting, and sliding all executed with pixel-perfect precision.
Eagerly awaited Soulcalibur II arrives on NINTENDO GAMECUBE, with Link from theclassic Legend of Zelda series making a special exclusive appearance as aplayable character. A new page in history begins with the highly anticipatedreturn of the Soulcalibur franchise. Soulcalibur II is one of the greatest3-D weapons-based fighting games, providing non-stop action, excitement andsurprises as players go one-on-one against their favourite challengers.
2003 will see the return of the little flower people in the new Pikmin 2.The previous game, Pikmin, first launched for NINTENDO GAMECUBE in June 2002and people were instantly charmed by these industrious, quirky and off beatlittle creatures. With more than 60 different species of enemy characters andrandomly generated dungeons that span the planet, Pikmin 2 features even moregame play than the original. Pikmin 2 can also be enjoyed with friends as itfeatures the fantastic 2-player function.
Sports fans are anticipating the latest in the 1080§ Snowboarding series,1080ø Avalanche. From the team that produced the critically-lauded Wave Race:Blue Storm at development house NST, 1080ø Avalanche will be the essentialadrenalin game.
Mario and his closest friends are back for Mario Party 5! This time they’retrying to restore peace to Dream World by racing around a collection ofall-new game boards-and tons of surprises await! The new game sports new gameboards, more than 60 new mini-games, new playable characters, an expandedone-player mode and, of course, the multi-player madness that made it famousin the first place. This sequel extends Mario Party’s reign as the king of theparty game.
Gameboy Advance
The run up to Christmas 2003 is also an exciting time for the Game Boy Advancewith many fantastic titles coming up. Golden Sun 2: The Lost Age continuesthe story where the smash hit title Golden Sun left off. In this stunningcontinuation of the first title, players must once again venture forth into anew realm where evil creatures lurk at every corner and the safety of theworld depends on their success. But this time, players must light the tworemaining lighthouses whilst being pursued by the brave warriors who defeatedthe Mars clan in the first Golden Sun.
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3 sees the return of the dynamic duoto the Game Boy Advance. In what many consider to be the best Mario game ever,players will have to jump bottomless pits, battle familiar foes and use newand classic power-ups.
Mario has special super powers for the first time ever in this game, becominglarger than life to jump and battle his way through eight huge new worlds.The game also contains a multiplayer function when you link up with any of theother three Super Mario Advance games for even more fun in the classic MarioBros game. This game looks all set to be a Christmas must have.
Mario is also making an appearance in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. An evilwitch has magically stolen Princess Peach’s voice and replaced it withexplosives, causing chaos in the Mushroom Kingdom. Rushing to the Princess’saide as the trusty duo, Mario and Luigi, who set out together to brave theperils standing between them and the evil witch. This Mario and Luigiadventure is definitely not to be missed.
Hailed by many as the best handheld strategic title for the Game Boy Advancethe original Advance Wars game shot to fame and became an instant classic.Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising is the sequel to this Academy InteractiveArts & Sciences handheld Game of the Year 2001 with an array of new missionsand features to capture the minds of players all over Europe once again. Ifhandheld strategy is what you’re looking for then you can also lose yourselfin Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. An epic fantasy adventure bringing the magicof the Final Fantasy series to the Game Boy Advance. Challenging minds ratherthan quick trigger fingers, Advance Wars 2 and Final Fantasy Tactics Advanceare set to be the greatest cerebral challenges for the handheld console yet.
Gotta catch ’em all, but his time it’s with fast flipper action in PokmonPinball: Ruby and Sapphire. With highly addictive gameplay and endlessamounts of fun Pokmon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire is the ideal for gamers ofall ages!
Let’s not forget everyones favourite pink character with a healthy appetite,Kirby! In Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land players accompany Kirby on hismission to find the pieces of the Star Rod and restore peace to Dream Land.
And that’s not all! Several awesome titles are coming soon from third partypublishers for NINTENDO GAMECUBE. Use the force once again in Star Wars RogueSquadron III: Rebel Strike from Lucas Arts. This thrilling third chapterfeatures the intense flight battles of Luke Skywalker and his elite unit ofX-wing starfighter pilots and adds highly desired multiplayer capability tothe classic gaming series. Viewtiful Joe and P.N.03 from Capcom will becreating a storm when they appear with their unique appearances on NINTENDOGAMECUBE. Think you’ve got what it takes to star in a blockbuster, then giveJoe a call! Need to take out your rage upon mechanical monstrosities thendefeat them with your special dancing moves in PN03.
In Sega’s beautifully rendered Billy Hatcher and The Giant Egg from SEGA,players collect magical eggs and use them to solve puzzles and nurture themwith items found while exploring the world. Solid Snake debuts on NINTENDOGAMECUBE in Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes from Konami. With astoundingnew gameplay features and an intricately woven plot, Solid Snake is backwith a vengeance, in this unforgettable stealth action adventure.
There is also a great line up of games from EA coming to the NINTENDO GAMECUBEin 2003 which includes FIFA Football 2004, Harry Potter Quidditch World Cup,& The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King. All these and more arecoming soon!
On Game Boy Advance, prepare yourself for an amazing third party lineup,including James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, The Lord of the Rings: TheReturn of the King, & FIFA Football 2004 from EA, Tony Hawk’s Undergroundfrom Activision, Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Banjo Kazooie from THQ andSpyro Adventure & The Hobbit from Vivendi. All these and more are comingsoon!
In 2004, there’s also plenty to look forward to! Upcoming titles for NINTENDOGAMECUBE include – Pokmon Channel, Pokmon Colosseum, The Legend of Zelda:The Four Swords, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Kirby Air Ride & MarioTennis! For Game Boy Advance – Hamtaro: Rainbow Rescue, Sword of Mana, MarioGolf: Advance Tour, Mario Tennis & Fire Emblem are on the way.
The message is clear: The most anticipated games are launching on NINTENDOGAMECUBE and Game Boy Advance this Christmas.
Click ontoNintendo Europe.comfor all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo.
News page content input by Dominic Robinson, 2003.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.