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Raven, the psychically gifted teen protagonist of the The Disney Channel television series, is the star of this GBA action game. Players control Raven through a total of 16 levels in four separate adventures, each based on a different episode of the show: “Run Raven Run,” “Clothes Minded,” “Smell of Victory,” and “Four’s a Crowd.” As on TV, Raven’s premonitions are often warnings of what may happen, instead of visions of an unavoidable future, so players can often avoid disaster by using special moves, such as the purse swing, the perfume spray, and the waterbottle toss. Raven’s friends, including Cory, Chelsea, Eddie, Loca, and Alana, are also on hand to help her out of tough spots, and players can unlock cast photos by completing minigames and sidechallenges. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

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The longrunning Need for Speed series races into new territory with this crossplatform, crossgenerational release. Most Wanted is built upon many of the fanfavorite features and modes from previous games in the series, including a forgiving yet credible physics engine, vehicles of reallife makes and models, and stateoftheart graphics. As with the previous Need for Speed: Underground, much of the game is styled around the illicit street racing scene, and as in earlier games such as Need for Speed III and Hot Pursuit 2, many of the Most Wanted’s challenges involve not only getting from one place to another in the fastest time, but avoiding ambitious law enforcement officers (in soupedup vehicles of their own) all along the way. ~ All Game Guide

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Nintendo offers classic, oldfashioned Mario platform action on a brand new system with Mario Advance. Produced as a launch title for the Game Boy Advance, Super Mario Advance marks the first appearance of the Mario franchise on the 32bit handheld system. The game is based on the classic Super Mario Bros. 2, released for the original Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988. Although characters and gameplay remain true to the original, the cartridge makes use of the increased technical abilities of the handheld Game Boy Advance over 1985’s original 8bit Nintendo console, featuring detailed graphics and animations.

Much of the action in Super Mario Advance concerns lifting items to throw at enemies or carry to a special location. Instead of hopping on a Shy Guy’s head, for example, Mario may need to pull a turnip from the ground and throw it at the enemy to get him out of the way. Often, characters will need to carry a key from one part of the level to another. GBA gamers choose to play as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or Toad. Each character has a different combination of strength and agility. The Princess can jump very high and float gracefully to the ground, but if she is carrying an item she moves much more slowly and cannot leap as far. Toad can’t jump as far as the others, but he can carry items without any effect on his speed or leaping ability.

Going even further back in the characters’ history, Super Mario Advance also features a multiplayercompatible minigame based on the original Mario Bros. arcade game. Players will have to hop their way to the top of the screen, quickly and carefully, avoiding turtlelike Koopas and other enemies. This enhanced version of the arcade game can be played in “Classic” or “Battle” modes. In all, Nintendo makes an effort to send their best characters ahead to welcome the handheld system to their product line. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

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