Your weekly update of GBA news and screens.

And here we are once again, gathered for the 36th edition of Advance Weekly. Not much news, but a fair amount of screenshots and a nice exclusive story for you...

Let's begin with the sudden announcement of four new Disney titles for the Game Boy Advance. Nintendo of Sweden supplied us with 4 titles by either Disney Interactive or Buena Vista Interactive (both the same company). First we'll see Nightmare before Christmas released 2 months before X-mas (2004-10-15). Two weeks after that we'll go Around the World in 80 Days or start shooting with Tron 2.0 (yes, it's coming to the GBA). On the 18th of November, Disney will release a game called Stitch. Whether this last game will be based on the next Lilo & Stitch movie remains unknown.

More new game announcements came from Japan. Nintendo announced the second series of Famicom Mini games, another batch of 10 revivals. This time the games will be: Mario Brothers, Clu Clu Land, Balloon Fight, Wrecking Crew, Dr. Mario, Dig Dug, Adventure Island, Ghosts'n'Goblins, Twinbee and Ganbare Goemon! Karakuri Douchuu (don't ask). Of each of the games one whole screenshot was released already. You can find the link near the end of this article.

Like every week, Majesco announces something which has to do with the upcoming Video-Packs. This week, Majesco announced an agreement with Cartoon Network to publish Game Boy Advance Video products based upon several Cartoon Network Original shows. This way Majesco secured the North American and European rights to publish titles based on Cartoon Network properties, including Codename: Kids Next Door, Ed, Edd n Eddy, The Powerpuff Girls, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Johnny Bravo, Courage the Cowardly Dog and Dexter's Laboratory.

Majesco also announced the joint agreement with Nintendo to publish two Pokémon video titles.

Metal Slug Advance was supposed to be released almost a year ago already, but was pushed forward over and over again. However, Metal Slug Advance received a new release date...

SNK Playmore announced that the game will hit the Japanese stores on the 22nd of July, 2004. Metal Slug Advance was also said be be displayed during the upcoming E3 event. On the same day as Metal Slug, Konami will release Tsuzuki: Bokura no Taiyo or Boktai 2 for short.

Time for some gossip. Online reseller EBGames has added a new Dragonball Z title in its GBA listings: Dragonball Z: Buu's Fury, an RPG developed by Atari set for a release on the 28th of September 2004. No information was given yet (nor confirmation by Atari), but with E3 coming up we might hear something soon.

Ok, back to reality. Fans of The Sims must've heard or read this already, but after The Sims: Bustin' Out the Game Boy Advance will get a new The Sims adventure. The Urbz is name of the sequel in which the players will hit the big city and work to increase the reputation of their Urbz to gain access to the hottest spots in town. Players start out in a city on the brink of ruin. After getting fired from their job, they'll stumble upon Daddy BigBucks' devious plot to take over the city. Players are challenged to thwart his evil schemes, while building their rep to become the biggest "player" in the city. New vehicles like a hover craft, 25 brand new locations, eight lively mini-games and over 120 new objectsare just a few of the features mentioned by EA. The game will also feature Game Link support to play head-to-head mini-games, unlock new features and trade rare items.

In the meantime, EA continues announcing sequels. After the huge success of Need for Speed: Underground, EA decided it's time for a sequel: Need for Speed: Underground 2 is set for a release in Fall 2004.

Ok, just one more sequel before I'll end this edition with the 'exclusive' I promised you. The honor goes to Tak from Tak & The Power Of JuJu. Tak will be back in fall 2004 in Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams. The game will continue following Tak on his adventures against evil. However, players will take on the role of a more experienced Tak as he goes on an adventure that will require him to learn all new Juju magic in order to recover the Nightmare Scepter and defeat the evil shaman Tlaloc once and for all. Players will maneuver Tak as he's armed with new Juju abilities. He will master the ancient Juju magic of the animals, allowing him to possess various creatures and turn himself into a Spirit Animal. This innovative sequel will also feature nine interactively designed linear environments and a returning cast of favorite characters, along with three brand new Juju gods and the introduction of Jibolba's brother, JB. Nine new Nightmare Creatures will also help to further the action. In addition, Tak will be outfitted with new Juju powered artifacts, including the powerful Dream Shaker, which affords him the power to close dream rifts.

The first screens are promised to be shown during E3 so only a few weeks to wait...

Ok, time for the 'exclusive'. Remember the huge list of upcoming games published by Zoo Digital (see previous edition of Advance Weekly)? I managed to get some information and screen material from one of the unfinished games. And it's not the smallest title either: I-Ninja, already known from the GameCube, PS2, PC and XBOX versions.

The GBA version is a mixture of fast paced 'Inertia Run' levels, combat arena's, 'Ball Rolling' levels requiring pin point accuracy and cool showdowns in the 'Final Boss' levels. Despite his size, I-Ninja is the consummate warrior and has spent years mastering his weapons and honing his fighting skills.

Challenged by the world's most wicked villain, Master O-Dor, and his menacing army of Ranx, I-Ninja is fierce in his attacks and deadly in combat. With extreme agility he navigates environments and conquers all that is evil!

Features:

• Fully textured 3D engine on the GBA
• Run, jump, grind and swing through fast paced Inertia levels
• Fight against 5 giant bespoke end of level bosses
• 5 worlds (Robot Island, Bomb Raft Island, Jungle Island, Mountain Island, Moon Base)
• 23 Inertia Runs, 18 Combat Arena's, 5 Boss Battles
• Use pinpoint accuracy to guide the 'Ninja Ball' through challenging Ball Runs

The game looks quite nice if you'd ask me, mind you: none of these are approved artwork and subject to changes.

Just like in every edition, I'll end with a small list of game-assets:

• Banjo Pilot (info & screens)
• Dead to Rights (info & boxart)
• Duel Master: Sempi Legends (screens)
• Donkey Kong Country 2 (movie)
• Famicom Mini Series 2 (screens)
• Final Fantasy I & II (screens, screens from scans)
• I-Ninja (screens & boxart)
• Mario Golf: Advance Tour (screens)
• Rockman Zero 3 (screens)
• Serious Sam Advance (1 screen)
• Ten Pin Alley 2 (info & screens)
• Thunder Alley (info & screens)

And that was everything for this edition. Comments are welcome (I'm not gonna start about 'especially positive ones' due to last weeks' comments) and can be send to [email protected], or simply drop a message at the boards.

Dennis Stam
(aka Blackbird on the boards)