No news and just one release this week. It's going to be a short article. Amiga developers Apex designs have announced an ambitious new GBA title: Payback. Nothing to do with the boring Mel Gibson movie, it is instead a Grand theft Auto style game that sees you driving (and walking) around a city killing mob bosses and the like, but it will also add some depth by having RPG-alike experience points. no publisher or release date has been announced though. Bear in mind this has nothing to do with the impressive 3D GTA3-like engine shown at ECTS last month. TDK Mediactive has acquired the rights to publish Spy Vs. Spy games across all next generation formats. It hasn't been confirmed whether a GBA version will appear, but with a successful GBC incarnation already in existence, I'd bet on it.

the popular arcade puzzler, bubble Bobble, is coming to the GBA thanks to Empire Interactive. It is a mix of elements from the original arcade game and elements of it's sequel, Rainbow Islands. Expect it early next year. that's all there is for news, really.

THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASE

You know last week when I said twelve games were scheduled to appear on the GBA this friday? WELL I WASN'T LYING! There WERE twelve games on the list for the fourth of October, and now there's only one. And to make matters worse I can't track down release dates for any of the 11 missing titles. Does this mean they've been released early? I'm taking down the names of all of NEXT week's games to make sure this doesn't happen again.

MONSTER FORCE: Universal Interactive and my favourite GBA developers Digital Eclipse are responsible for this one. Monster Forceis a Gauntlet style 'Trapsing through mazes and killing monsters kind of game' with very nice graphics. IGN says "Monster Force looks wonderful, sounds great, and has a lot of extras, but it's the controls that hurt the enjoyment of this game.

That "sputtering" run is downright irritating, and the locked-down camera gives off a feeling of claustrophobia since you honestly can't see more than six feet in any direction. Monster Force is a great idea marred by some poor choices in control implementation." and scores it a not bad, but disappointing 6.5

THIS WEEK'S TOP 5: Capcom games

The current rumours of Microsoft buying Capcom have put me in mind of how great a software company they are. Let's hope they stay third party.

1. MegaMan Battle Network 2
2. Breath of Fire 2
3. Sheep
4. Breath of fire
5. MegaMan Battle Network

Written By: Max