2002 proved to be a huge year for Nintendo. That’s because it was the second year for its two new consoles that were released in 2001: the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance. The first year for each system was good, but 2002 was even better.
The Game Boy Advance had an especially good year with some all-time classics that are still being discussed today. It might be tricky to play some of these Nintendo classics now on modern hardware, but gamers always manage to find a way. Also, the year is still early in 2022, so maybe some of these games will return in some form on Switch. Let’s look forward to that first Nintendo Direct!
10 Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing is bigger than ever thanks to the Switch game from 2020. The series began twenty years ago, or at least that’s the case for North America. It’s hard to believe that such a simple series has lasted this long. This simple little life sim was released on September 16, 2002 for the GameCube. This was a year after Japan, which was also just an enhanced port of the Nintendo 64 original, which never came to the West. That was also a 2001 release.
9 Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
Castlevania: Harmony Of Dissonance was the second Metroidvania entry in the series on this portable marvel. It fixed a lot of problems over the first game, Circle of the Moon. It was hard to see, which was also partly the system’s fault since the original hardware wasn’t backlit. The movement also felt stiff and slow. The new hero, Juste, was more agile, which was refreshing. It was released on September 16, 2002 for the Game Boy Advance.
8 Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy Of Goku
Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku was the beginning of a good set of action RPGs. This first one only had Goku be the only playable character. The second put his son Gohan in the player's seat. It went through a variety of the anime’s arcs, although they were expanded to fit in more gameplay.
The filler content wasn’t needed but without it, the game might have been too short, so it’s understandable. It was released on May 14, 2002 for the Game Boy Advance.
7 Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime took the series into a new dimension: 3D. It was the next series Nintendo had to convert into a new perspective. It worked for Mario and The Legend of Zelda on the N64 but nothing ever happened with Metroid on that system.
Turning the series into a first-person shooter may have felt off at first, but it worked well in the end. Now, if only that rumored trilogy would come out on Switch this year. That would be perfect to honor this anniversary for Samus and her adventures in bounty hunting. The game was originally released on November 17, 2002 for the GameCube.
6 Metroid Fusion
Metroid Prime was not the only game in the series to release that day. Metroid Fusion was also there for some classic, Metroidvania action. It was an interesting take for the series that saw Samus get infected with a parasite.
This gave her new powers which resulted in most normal upgrades like missiles and various beam weapons, but with a twist. Until Metroid Dread, it was the latest canonically in the series. It was released on November 17, 2002 for the Game Boy Advance.
5 Mega Man Zero
Mega Man Zero was the first spinoff starring Zero from the Mega Man X series. It was still about defeating bosses and taking their powers but there was an overworld as well. It had Metroidvania elements in a way. It was also brutally hard.
Thankfully, re-releases of this game and its sequels included easier modes. Unlike most games on this list, the entire collection is on Switch. It was originally released on September 10, 2002 for the Game Boy Advance.
4 Resident Evil
Resident Evil’s remake on the GameCube was huge. It showcased the power of what the little box could do. Even though it has been remastered again, the original version still looks good on the GameCube. It can be cheesy, for sure, but that’s part of the game’s charm. It wavers between pure action horror and hilarious meme-worthy lines like Jill Sandwich. It redefined what a remake could be. It was released on April 30, 2002 for the GameCube.
3 Sonic Advance
Sonic Advance was a return to form for the Blue Blur. It had been a while since the last good 2D Sonic game came out and was a true surprise. However, it didn’t push the franchise forward. Rather, it looked back at the past, modified it, and then created a decent fast-paced platformer. It’s too bad this sub-series has remained trapped for so long. Sonic Advance was released on February 3, 2002 for the Game Boy Advance. This occurred one year after the Japanese release.
2 Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine was another game that was trapped on its original hardware for decades. That is until the Switch got a port of it in 2020. This may be one of the most divisive entries in Mario’s history. Reviews at the time were mostly glowing. Going back now is a different story even with the modern port. It’s a bit clunky in its design but still fun with patience. It was released on August 26, 2002 for the GameCube.
1 Tactics Ogre: The Knight Of Lodis
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis is an excellent strategy RPG. It’s a bit unknown since this series never made a huge splash in the West. It doesn’t carry the same clout as Final Fantasy Tactics but it has a lot in common with it. From the darker story filled with political intrigue to the job-based battle system, this is one RPG tactical fans shouldn’t want to pass up on any longer. It was released on May 7, 2002 for the Game Boy Advance, one year after its release in Japan.