Metacritic Games

Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games (GameBoy Advance)

(Also known as "Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Sports") Put your athletic skills to the test with Hamtaro and his Ham-Ham pals as they compete for the championship title in the 2004 Ham-Ham Games. Hamtaro's latest Game Boy Advance title is an action-packed sports festival that will put your skills to the test in more than a dozen events. Compete in 15 different sporting events, including archery, sprinting, sailing, beach volleyball, pole vaulting, swimming, tennis and more. Root for your favorite Hamtaro characters from the television series as they compete against all-new Ham-Hams like the pirates of Team Seaham. Trade statistics and collectible costumes with your friends using the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable. Do your best to earn a gold medal in each event. The games may be easy to learn, but they're super-tough to master. Unlike Hamtaro's previous games which were based on solving Ham-Chat puzzles, Ham-Ham Games is all about intense sporting action. The Rainbow Kingdom is sponsoring the 2004 Ham-Ham Games, and Hamtaro and his friends are participating as part of the Ham-Ham team. You control different Ham-Hams as they compete in the seven-day festival of sporting events. [Nintendo]

Nintendo
Sports
Players: 1
E (Everyone)
Developer: Nintendo
Released July 26, 2004

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

77 / 100

Critic Reviews

90 GamePro
If the cute characters don’t hook you, the gameplay definitely will.
85 GameCube Advanced
Only one thing will prevent this game from potential success, and that is its appeal. Many gamers are too concerned with their public appearance, and they cannot see themselves walking into the store to buy (what they think is) a cute and cuddly game –- they fear humiliation. But how can you resist such an amazing and fun game such as this one?
85 eToychest
Entertaining, addictive, and hard to put down. Next thing you know I'll be watching the sugary sweet anime on Cartoon Network. Just don't tell anyone I know that you heard me say that.
85 GameSpy
Once you get past all the rainbows and happiness, you'll find one of the best portable sports games around. And hey, those Ham-Hams ARE pretty cute.
80 Cheat Code Central
A solid effort that can be enjoyed by all ages. Even hamster-haters from way back will find something they like here.
80 AceGamez
It is very cute and the humour is silly and childish but it is incredibly endearing and just plain good fun.
80 GameShark
The graphics are bright and clear, even a little cutesy, and the mechanics for the minigames are, for the most part, simple and well thought out. If you like track and field games don't let the name on the box turn you off.
80 Times Online
The thing that sets Ham-Ham Games apart from other recent GBA releases is its dazzling colour. This game is refreshingly bright and cheerful, bucking the current trend in handheld games for darker, neutral colours.
80 IGN
Despite its cutesy appearance, Ham-Ham Games is a clever evolution of the "Track & Field" design that fits the handheld market better than the rapid-fire buttonmasher ever could.
80 GameZone
The majority of the games are fun and well-designed. However, having a multi-player option is needed for even more fun and replayability.
75 Nintendojo
Not to be confused with any old button-masher, Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games requires a good deal of manual tact and the precision of a true gamer.
75 NintendoWorldReport
The lack of link play makes the game’s replay value pretty slim.
75 Weekly Famitsu
7 / 8 / 8 / 7 - 30 silver [Vol 814; 23 July 2004]
74 Nintendo Power
Side stories abound, and Ham Studios keeps you entertained with music and news. [Sept 2004, p.116]
70 GMR Magazine
Even if the image of the precious Hamtaro in an apple suit makes you cringe, there's a solid game behind the cuteness. [Sept 2004, p.94]
70 Siliconera
A nice diversion from other taxing games. It also makes a great mini game for the road, but if you're looking for something that will last for over 20 hours look for another game. [JPN Import]
70 GamerFeed
Older gamers may want to give this a spin for kicks, but younger gamers will appreciate the challenges and fun that Hamtaro: Ham Ham Games brings to the table.
67 Cinescape
From the prospective of an Olympic game to play, this is a great choice for any kid, or even for you if you’re on the road a lot and get in plenty of Game Boy time.
60 games(TM)
Ham-Ham Games delivers everything you could hope for from a GBA title. It’s not particularly big and it’s not especially clever, but it is good fun and that’s what matters. [Sept 2004, p.114]
60 Gamestyle
If Ham Ham Games had a stronger RPG element (a Mario Golf GBA level of involvement would have been fine) and the ability to record high scores by name (it just saves the score, not the scorer) and it would have scored a point or two higher.

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