Games

Claw focuses on the misadventures of Captain Claw, a cat whose main mission is to defeat the Cocker Spaniard Armada. The daring pirate Captain Claw and his cat forces are defeated and Claw is imprisoned. While locked up, he finds a letter that puts him on the trail of finding the legendary (Amulet of Nine Lives) that will not only help him defeat his rival but promises near immortality. Claw escapes the dungeon and explores 14 levels that contain more than 40 enemies and bosses. The game features sprawling levels with numerous puzzles and features a multiplayer mode that supports up to 64 players at www.captainclaw.com. The Internet site includes a player forum, a high-scores listing, rankings, art, tips and codes, a treasure guide, and many Claw site links as well.

The Adventure of Link bears little resemblance to the first game in the series. The Adventure of Link features side-scrolling areas within a larger world map rather than the bird's eye view of the previous title. The game incorporates a strategic combat system and more RPG elements, including an experience points (EXP) system, magic spells, and more interaction with non-player characters (NPCs). Link has extra lives; no other game in the series includes this feature.

Invaders from space have landed on Earth, but you have a housewarming gift they're not going to like. Hop into your Solvalou and take back Earth in Xevious, part of the NES Classics Series on the Game Boy Advance. In this vertical-scrolling game, it's up to you to shoot air targets and bomb ground forces in the effort to bring down the alien motherships. Each level contains hidden bonus points, extra lives, and more secrets.

The player controls Pac-Man through a maze, eating pac-dots. When all dots are eaten, Pac-Man is taken to the next stage, between some stages one of three intermission animations plays. Four enemies (Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde) roam the maze, trying to catch Pac-Man. If an enemy touches Pac-Man, a life is lost. When all lives have been lost, the game ends.

The original Metroid game makes its way to the Game Boy Advance as part of the Classic NES Series. As Samus Aran, your mission is to keep space pirates from destroying the galaxy with their Metroids. To do this, you must penetrate Zebes, the pirates' home planet, while collecting special items to attack enemies in new ways. Metroid offers side-scrolling action that tests your dexterity and brings you back to classic '80s gaming.

Twenty years after their debut on the NES, mountain climbers Popo and Nana return to scale the heights as part of the NES Classic Series for the Game Boy Advance. As Popo (player two plays as Nana), you must use your trusty mallet to work your way up the mountain by chipping away at the blocks overhead and then jumping through the resulting hole. Your mallet is also useful for eliminating pesky enemies, including polar bears, seals, and mountain men.

Nintendo rereleases Excitebike on the Game Boy Advance, complete with all the high-flying action from the original NES game. As in the original, your biker must keep his balance while flying through the air, avoid getting clipped by other racers, and prevent his bike from overheating. In Design mode, you can make your own course--with all the ramps, mounds, bridges, and other obstacles in the game--and then save the design for your friends to race on.