NINTENDO UNVEILS GREAT GAME LINE UP FOR Q1 2005

Nintendo | Nintendo reveals an exciting and eagerly anticipated software line up for early 2005, with games such as Donkey Kong Jungle Beat for Nintendo GameCube and more NES Classics for the Game Boy Advance SP among some of the incredible games on the horizon. Suddenly those long dark winter nights don't seem so bad after all...

2005 will see Nintendo GameCube fans everywhere enjoying even more hours of fun and with the many excellent titles it looks set to be another very exciting year for gamers. Check out some of the games coming up:

Nintendo GameCube

The Legend of Zelda Four Swords Adventures - 7th January 2005

In this classic action-packed adventure game up to four players can link their Game Boy Advance SPs to a Nintendo GameCube and explore the eight huge worlds of Hyrule. On this mystical journey to save Princess Zelda, players can keep secrets from friends by taking their game play onto their Game Boy Advance screen, or on other occasions all Links must join together on the big screen to solve puzzles together.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat - 4th February 2005

Grab your bongos once again as the legendary gorilla returns. The new jungle adventure for Nintendo GameCube allows players to use the DK Bongos to guide Donkey Kong through wild jungle scenery, complete with ravenous enemies and challenging obstacles. This outrageously fun game requires players to bang their bongos to make Donkey Kong run, jump, battle and swing from trees. After the success of Donkey Konga, this is going to be the must-have for fun-loving gamers.

Mario Power Tennis - 25th February 2005

Join Mario and friends in this explosive tennis tournament like no other. Players can choose from a number of all-time classic characters such as Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong or Bowser, then take to the courts for a crazy game of tennis. Up to four players can join in and compete against each other at one time, building up more and more skills as they go along. This is a great pick-up-and-play game that players of all ages will love.

Mario Party 6 - 18th March 2005

The next game in the popular Mario Party series takes game play to the next level, with over 80 all-new mini-games, six fresh game boards and even faster movement. Players can clash with friends in Party Mode, taking it in turns to travel around the game boards, competing with friends for coins and star in a variety of mini-games. In single-player Story Mode, it is up to Mario and chums to settle the disagreement between sun and moon, restoring order to the cosmos. As a completely new feature to the Mario Party series, this game comes with a Nintendo GameCube Microphone which means mini games now have a whole new level of fun as they can be controlled with the sound of your voice.

Resident Evil 4 - March 2005

This eagerly awaited game for Nintendo GameCube is the latest installment in Capcom's massively popular franchise. Players move through the game as Special Agent Leon S. Kennedy who is on a top secret mission. His investigation into the abduction of the President's daughter has led him to a mysterious location in Europe. Along with its faster pace, new camera system, new enemies, advanced AI, and interactive environments, this game makes full use of Nintendo GameCube's technological powers to create truly astounding 3D graphics and effects. Resident Evil 4's mix of intense action, fear and intrigue is sure to be a must have game for Q1 2005.

Game Boy Advance

Whether you own a Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP, Nintendo has even more treats in store in for all those that love gaming on go.

NES Classics - 7th January 2005

Following on from the success of the NES Classic games which launched in Europe in July this year, 4 more classic, era defining, NES games will be joining the range at the beginning of 2005. Metroid, Zelda II The Adventure of Link, Dr. Mario and Castlevania will launch for the Game Boy Advance meaning gamers can see the return of the bounty hunter Samus Aran in Metroid plus the legendary Nintendo characters Link and Mario are also back to join the fun. The NES Classics series has something for everyone.

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories (Disney/Square Enix) - March 2005

This RPG adventure combines the well-known worlds of Disney and FINAL FANTASY to create a unique and individual gaming experience. The game begins where the original KINGDOM HEARTS left off: Sora, Donald and Goofy continue their exciting adventure in search of Sora's friend Riku and the king of Disney Castle. Use the innovative card battle system to navigate through the game-but choose your moves wisely, as each unique card is linked to a particular attack or ability. By "stocking" multiple cards, players can amplify their power and unleash powerful combos, cast formidable magic, and create unique battle strategies. With beautiful graphics, an in-depth storyline and an intriguing cast, this is a must-have game for 2005.

This is just a selection of some the great games due out in the first quarter of 2005. In addition, fans of the Game Boy Advance can also look forward to games such as Smashing Drive from ZOO Digital and Advance Guardian Heroes from Ubisoft. Nintendo GameCube fans can also look forward to a whole host of excellent third party games such as Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams from THQ and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory from Ubisoft and Viewtiful Joe 2 from Capcom.

Watch this space!

Click onto www.nintendo-europe.com for all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo.

Nintendo GameCube

Title - Release Date

The Legend of Zelda Four Swords (Nintendo) - 7th January 2005

Megaman X Command Mission (Capcom) - January 2005

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (Nintendo) - 4th February 2005

Mario Power Tennis (Nintendo) - 25th February 2005

Jimmy Neutron Attack of the Twonkies (THQ) - February 2005

Spongebob Squarepants The Movie (THQ) - February 2005

TimeSplitters Future Perfect (EA) - 11th March 2005

Mario Party 6 (Nintendo) - 18th March 2005

Resident Evil 4 (Capcom) - March 2005

Viewtiful Joe 2 (Capcom) - March 2005

Fairly Odd Parents: Shadow Showdown (THQ) - March 2005

Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams (THQ) - March 2005

Killer 7 (Capcom) - Early 2005

Disney's Winnie the Pooh Rumbly Tumbly Adventure (Ubisoft) - Q1 2005

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (Ubisoft) - Q1 2005

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 (Ubisoft) - Q1 2005

Game Boy Advance SP

Title - Release Date

NES Classics (Nintendo) - 7th January 2005

- Metroid

- Zelda II The Adventure of Link

- Dr. Mario

- Castlevania

Smashing Drive (ZOO Digital) - 21st January 2005

It's Mr Pants (THQ) - January 2005

Banjo Pilot (THQ) - February 2005

Jimmy Neutron Attack of the Twonkies (THQ) - February 2005

Spongebob Squarepants The Movie (THQ) - February 2005

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories (Disney/Square Enix) - March 2005

Bionicle 2 (THQ/LEGO) - March 2005

Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams (THQ) - March 2005

Advance Guardian Heroes (Ubisoft) - Q1 2005

Disney's Winnie the Pooh Rumbly Tumbly Adventure (Ubisoft) - Q1 2005

For further information please contact the Nintendo Press Office on 020 7307 3103 or register at www.nintendo-europe-media.com.

Nintendo Co., Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than 1.9 billion video games worldwide, created such industry icons as Mario^® and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda^® and Pokémon*. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64, NINTENDO GAMECUBE, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy - the world's best-selling video game system which has sold over 170 million units. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.