Nintendo lines up big guns for H1 2004

The latest release schedule from Nintendo reveals the company's plans for the first half of 2004, which include key releases on both GBA and GameCube from some of the biggest franchises in the industry.

On GameCube, the key exclusives for the console include Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life (February 15th), Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (March 11th), Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (also in March), Pokemon Channel (April) and Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (Q2).

The Cube will also be getting the first full-size console RPG set in the Pokemon universe, Pokemon Colosseum, at some point in Q2. This line-up is supported by key multiplatform titles including James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, Spawn Armageddon, R: Racing (the latest title in Namco's Ridge Racer series), and Sonic Heroes.

Meanwhile the Game Boy Advance also has an impressive selection of software in the first half of the year, kicking off with the handheld version of EA's Need for Speed Underground on January 16th and continuing with the latest addition to Konami's Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise on January 30th.

February 15th brings Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, while March sees the launch of Square Enix' Sword of Mana and Rare's Sabre Wulf. The first half release schedule also includes Sonic Battle, Metroid Zero Mission, Donkey Kong Country 2, F-Zero 2, Shining Soul 2 and Hideo Kojima's quirky and critically acclaimed Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand.

GameCube

Game Boy Advance