Introduction
Nintendo has spawned many elite franchises and most of them are odd in every way possible. I mean, who thought Poke’Mon a game about catching furry little creatures would be so successful in America. Well those who did also knew that even after the trend died out, it would not be the last odd commodity to come around in the video gaming world. This time though, the newest craze did not come from Nintendo, but from another well known company called Konami. They must have had some idea that it would have been a hit in Japan, but for it to strike as powerfully as it did here, they must have been lightheaded when they thought of it. Once again it is an odd franchise that sticks to a set formula that will most likely take it into history as another trend of the ages. For its first outing on the Game Boy Advance, Konami has decided to alter very little of what makes the card game so popular and decides to emulate the concept to the core, in an effort to make it a worthwhile experience. Did they succeed? Well read on to find out.

Gameplay
The graphics for card games ported to video game systems have always been a mixed bag. I am happy to report that the visuals in this new Yu-Gi-Oh game are refreshing, colorful and do the best job any game ever has at recreating a card collection. The visuals are not perfect by any means but they do the best they can to convey the card game experience. Many gamers will be in awe by how well the cards have been rendered. The battle boards are not too bad either. A more cinematic approach to the graphics would have been welcome but it seems the aim of this game was to make a faithful card game translation. Overall the visuals on the first Yu-Gi-Oh game for the Game Boy Advance far outshine any other card game translations on the market.

Story
Yu-Gi-Oh has taken the world be storm with its captivating card game, and it may do the same for the Game Boy Advance. The developers have kept everything intact from the card game down to every single card currently seen in America. The gameplay sounds quite simple at first but then when you get into it, you realize that the mechanics are not as cut and dry as they seem. The game quickly becomes a complex experience that will take a great deal of time to master, especially if you have had no past experience with the card game. The rules are not explained as well as they should be for people new to the series, which will make it harder for them to get the hang of the game. The gameplay is pure fun when you finally get the ropes down. There are endless options for you to choose from and the tides of battle can quickly turn if you are not careful. The AI is quite good for a handheld card game. The skill of each computer opponent varies from time to time making it either difficult or easy to win battles. There are hundreds of cards to choose from and the deck building aspect is really deep. You must plan ahead so you know how you will fight in a battle. The replay value is high for one reason only. The multiplayer of course. The multiplayer is deep and will keep you and your friends busy for hours thinking of an endless amount of strategies to use against one another. Overall the gameplay is the aspect of this game that shines in greatness.

Graphics
Sound in card game translations have always been far from great. They usually consist of simple sounds and generic music. The good thing here is that while the sound effects are quite dull, the music on the other hand is energetic and enjoyable. It never becomes repetitive mainly because it flows with the battles so nicely. The sound effects are as I expected, generic and mediocre. Thankfully, the music makes that aspect of the game so invisible that it does not have any affect on my judgment towards the game. Overall the sound is half and half. Bland sounds fixed up with great musical tunes.

Sound
Yu-Gi-Oh has surprised me in every way possible. It has had little critical success in the world of American video games so far, and this game looks to fix all of that. It provides a genuine experience of great, deep battles and detailed faithful visuals. It is everything gamers have been looking for in a Yu-Gi-Oh game and lets hope that Konami can score once again with another game for this growing franchise. Go pick this up because if you are a fan of the card game, there is no better fan purchase out there.