Over recent years, nostalgic games and game consoles have become increasingly popular. New generation consoles offer upgraded technology that would have been almost unimaginable years ago when the Game Boy Advance was released in 2001. In 2003, the Game Boy Advance SP arrived. The SP console was the next step up from Nintendo's Game Boy, offering higher quality graphic specifications while being small enough to fit into gamers' pockets.
Many successful games were created for both handheld consoles. A few games designed for them, such as Pokemon, have already made their way onto Nintendo's newest console the Switch. However, there are still plenty of games from the older consoles that need to be taken over to it.
9 Robocop (2003)
Robocop was released in March 2003 and allows gamers to play as the well-known intimidating cop, Officer Murphy. It is a classic 2D platformer where the screen scrolls according to which way the player is moving. The graphics definitely look questionable by modern standards but for 2003, it was pretty good.
The game would do well on The Switch as 2D platformers consistently perform well for Nintendo. The gameplay of Robocop was by no means complex but the simplicity of going through Delta City to destroy bad guys would definitely appeal to certain gamers.
8 Yoshi Topsy-Turvy (2005 USA)
Yoshi is a well-known character that is synonymous with Nintendo. He is the sweet little green dragon from the Mario franchise and back in the early 2000's he got his own games! One of the more memorable games was Yoshi Topsy-Turvy. In this game, Yoshi has to stop Bowser so that an Island spirit will release the residents after trapping them inside a book.
It is another 2D platformer (these were very popular back in the day). The vibrant colors and level design were not the only things that made the game stand out. It made use of motion tilt technology. The player could tilt their console and the universe in the game would respond. This is why the game would be perfect for the upgraded motion technology within the Switch that so many modern games take advantage of.
7 The Incredibles (2004)
The Incredibles animated film by Disney took the world by storm when it came out in 2004. The game of the same name released the same year was no exception. For fans, there was nothing better than being able to play through the movie as their favorite character. The gameplay itself boasted rather impressive and responsive graphics.
Granted, it was definitely still pixelated but the quality of it rose above many predecessors. It was another 2D platformer however there was more depth to the platforms, any hero could move towards the back of the screen or further towards the front of it. With fans still loving the movie franchise now, it would do well on The Switch for sheer nostalgia purposes.
6 007 Nightfire (2003)
007 Nightfire started its life on the Game Cube in 2002 then expanded to Game Boy Advance in 2003. It is a first-person shooter where the gamer gets to play as the famously suave and effortlessly cool British agent, James Bond. The graphic rendering of certain missions in the game is terrible, there is no arguing about that. However, the levels themselves were designed to be beautifully simple which is missing from a lot of newer games.
The last original Bond game, 007 Legends was released in 2012 which makes a new game long overdue. The easy first-person gameplay and the simplicity of the levels would make Nightfire the perfect Bond game to upgrade to the Switch. It would work well as a handheld game but it would be brilliant for using the detachable controllers with gamers moving around in their homes feeling like 007.
5 Spyro: Attack Of The Rhynocs (2003)
Spyro: Attack Of The Rhynocs was released in 2003. It was the final Spyro game to be developed by Digital Eclipse. By the time of its release, the purple dragon had become well known in the gaming world. It was a platformer but it did not have the stereotypical side-on view of other platformers at the time. It was an isometric platformer (a 3D environment). That makes it perfect to be brought over to the Switch as the graphics still look good today, meaning little would need to be done to it.
Spyro has to save the world, again, from Ripto who has ripped a hole in the fabric of the universe. To do this, the gamer has to help Spyro travel through many different levels and collect many items. Gamers even had the chance to play as other characters such as Sgt. Bird in side-games within the main story. A game as well-rounded as this would be the perfect addition to the Nintendo Switch library.
4 Metal Slug Advance (2004)
Metal Slug Advance was a popular run and gun game for Game Boy. It was part of an already established franchise of games. The player had to choose between two characters who had to fight their way through enemies on an Island to save the other troops. The detailing of each level was incredible.
Every detail was thought about from the texture of dirt on the ground to each individual brick. The enemies were challenging and the gameplay kept players on their toes. Even though the game is old, the technical aspects of it would still boast a challenge for new gamers. There are other Metal Slug games available on the Nintendo E-Shop but Metal Slug Advance had a charm about it that the other games sorely missed.
3 Rayman 3 (2003)
Rayman is a character that has been around the gaming world for a long time and the games centered around him have never been disappointing. Rayman 3 was released in 2003 and was no exception, the game to many players was brilliant. Critics had a few things to say about it but the masses enjoyed it. Players need to help Rayman find a cure for his best friend Globox after he swallowed a Dark Lum, all whilst protecting Globox from Admiral Razorbeard. The latter wants to use the Dark Lum for evil.
It stood out among other games in the franchise as it was the first one that made multiplayer gameplay possible with the Game Boy Advance link cable. This cable connected to the handheld console and the Game Cube which meant that gamers could play with their friends if they were in the same room. Though there is a Rayman game available on the eShop, Rayman 3 has multiple side games for up to 4 players. The mini-games make it brilliant for the family-friendly console.
2 Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy (2004)
Spyro Orange saw fans' dreams come true. Crash Bandicoot crossed games with Spyro and the duo teamed up. In Spyro's version, only he was playable. The duo thwarts the plans of Ripto and Neo Cortex who also teamed up. The game was a set of mini-games within main worlds and each increased difficulty the more the player completed them.
The variety of levels within each world kept the gameplay from becoming monotonous. However, the gameplay was not so difficult as to put less experienced players off of trying it. For some, it was one of the best Spyro games of the 2000s but some fans tag it as one of the worst Spyro games. The style of it was a perfect way for children to be introduced to the franchise. The layout would suit the motion controls of the Switch, particularly the levels where Spyro has to fly.
1 The Simpsons: Road Rage (2003)
Originally released in 2001, The Simpsons: Road Rage had a Game Boy Advance version released in 2003. The gamer gets to play as a variety of Simpsons characters who drive around Springfield completing missions. The missions consist of transporting other characters from A-B or collecting objects within a time limit. The playable characters never leave their car.
The game itself would suit The Switch as there are multiplayer modes available in the original which could make use of the multiple controllers. Motion control would be perfect to use in steering the vehicles and speeding around Springfield. Also, Road Rage has the perfect premise for creating an online mode.