Many of the Atari 2600 games back in the day were two player experiences. To recreate this environment, Activision Anthology only requires one copy of the game for the second player. The only catch: the player with the second system has to watch the action on the system with the cartridge; the multi-boot mode only sends a small file that turns system two into a controller exclusively.

The Handheld Game of the Year in 2001 supports up to four players with one cartridge, but it's just a sample of what's possible if you actually had a cartridge per system. The Multi-Boot feature offers a few selective maps of the strategy gameplay, a handful of which puts all players on a non-scrolling screen.

Konami really went all out with their Multi-Boot support for its compilation cartridge. Four of the six games have two-player support: Frogger, Time Pilot, Yie Ar Kung Fu, and Rush'n Attack. The super-long loadtimes are eliminated if both players have a copy of the cartridge, but that's the only difference...the single-cartridge multiplayer is identical to the multi-cartridge multiplayer.

Blender Bros. actually features three individual minigames that can be played between systems: a kart-racer using the system's Mode-7 style graphics, and two side-scrolling platform races. And the challenges are simple enough to keep the load-times to a minimum.

The sequel to the Game Boy Color adventure game hit the GBA in June 2002, and in the game design players can link up their systems for a little single cartridge multiplayer action. But even though the title is Bomberman, the multiplayer design isn't the familiar Bomberman gameplay. Instead, Hudson designed a mini-game that borrows heavily from Namco's classic Mappy arcade game, and throws bombs into the mix. It's different, we'll give it that...but it's not balanced very well. If you want the real Bomberman experience, go with Activision's Bomberman Tournament.

The classic multiplayer bomb-blasting game made a return to the scene on the Game Boy Advance as a launch title...and it was also one of the first third-party games to support the Multi-Boot function on the system as well. And it's great that it does, because this title really shines when four players get into the action. The only real downside, though, is that the title poorly manages the booting...so it has to load the victory screen after every round. And it doesn't support multiple cartridges to get rid of the load times. Odd.

It looks like Kemco didn't realize that players don't need a copy of the game per system if they want to take advantage of this link cable battle mode. Just link up to four systems together, put one cartridge in a system, and it's off to the fight where players try to squash or blow up each other in a game that looks like it borrows from the whole Bomberman multiplayer idea. But only a little bit.

We'd probably rip the publisher a new one if it didn't offer a single cartridge link mode...it's not like chess games need to be graphically or code intensive. Chessmaster's a better chess game than Virtual Kasparov since players can even save the link games in progress. Now that's handy.

This Sega puzzle game is an amazing package, especially if you're looking to play with other Game Boy Advance owners. If everyone's got a copy of the cartridge, you can take advantage of some really nifty features, like data transferring. But if all you're looking to do is challenge your opponents, just hook up the link cables to empty systems, and away you go.

Ubi Soft and Spellbound have created one of the most fun and realistic-playing rally games on the GBA, and it's even more fun when you can race against your buddies in its multi-boot mode for up to four players. Everyone plays as the same car selected by the host of the network session, but there are six different closed-circuit tracks to race.

It may not be as classic as Tetris, but Sega's puzzle game features a decent Multi-Boot mode...but only if the player's cartridge has unlocked all the good gems. The single-cartridge mode offers all the power-ups that have been unlocked on the cartridge...so if nothing's been unlocked, the multiplayer action won't be all that exciting.

This platformer isn't exactly the classic that everyone in the Super NES days seem to remember it as, but at least the GBA port features several two-player multi-boot challenges where players leap around specially-designed side-scrolling maps as Mickey and Minnie.

Though the single-player gameplay isn't the tops, it does get better when you get a few friends out on the road. The Multi-Boot function only offers a single track for up to four players, so it's basically a taste-test for the full-on multiple cartridge multiplayer modes.

It may not be the next Tetris, but HotGen and Kemco's cute action puzzler has a few merits to make it worth a look. Especially in its two player mode, where only one copy of the game is needed. Players can just compete against each other in the standard gameplay mode, or add a bomb or two into the mix in a clever variation on the "hot potato" idea.

Like Driven, this Multi-Boot feature is only a sample of what you get when you have cartridges in each system. In the single-cartridge mode, you can only play one track ("Silence"), with a generic car, with no background music. But it's a great demonstration of the gameplay.

When the original Frogger Adventures shipped on the Game Boy Advance a year ago, the one element we wished the game had was some sort of multiplayer function. For the sequel released for the holiday season 2002, Konami brought back the original old-school gameplay and gave us what we wanted: single cartridge support with several different modes of play. Play a game of tag, or race your frog against other players. Fun!

Nintendo's latest collection of classic mini-games on the Game Boy Advance features several multiplayer versions of the old-school game designs. All that's needed is a second system and a link cable...no additional cartridge needed. Play Boxing, Donkey Kong 3, or other competition Game & Watch games that can be unlocked.

The fighting gameplay may be lacking, but at least this WayForward-developed game offers a small bonus: link-up play between four players. What's more, the team managed to squeeze in single-cartridge play. Oh, sure, everyone has to play as Godzilla...but really, he's the man. Or rather, the giant lizard.

Hop around in this four-player deathmatch, blasting opponents with the rabbit's large arsenal of weapons. Only one copy of the game is needed for this mode, and completing portions of the main game will unlock as many as four different areas that can be used in single-cartridge mode.

This Nickelodeon-licensed platformer for the Game Boy Advance features a cool, little mini-game for single-cartridge link fans. The game is based upon the classic Atari game Asteroids, where players fly around space blasting away at tumbling rocks, trying to secure the most gems before the other players do. Unfortunately, the game can go on way longer than it should.

Kirby's first Game Boy Advance game might be a port of the NES title released a decade ago, but Nintendo made the design its own game by adding mini-games that feature four-player challenges, all through the multi-boot capability. Grind on rails in a race, toss a bomb around, or play a game of Quickdraw with other friends.

One of the best multiplayer games on the GBA also has one of the best single-cartridge multiplayer features. In the game's Multi-Boot option, up to four players can race on four classic SNES tracks, with each player controlling a different colored Yoshi.

Lame gameplay aside, Konami continues to push the Multi-Boot function...in this case, they let up to four players kick up a lot of dirt in the race, as well as the strange Bomb Tag and the Zombie Attack challenges. Just keep in mind that this racer isn't the most impressive of the bunch.

It's not a huge surprise that Infogrames' first NASCAR game supports the multi-boot feature of the Game Boy Advance, seeing that the game is using the exact same engine as Crawfish Interactive's previous racing game, Driven. But instead of zooming around the track in a Formula One racer, you can scurry around in a stock car. The game isn't that hot, though, so keep that in mind before you front the bucks for a multiplayer, single cartridge racer.

Where Columns Crown only featured two players in its link cable mode, this other Sega puzzle game lets up to four players duke it out in its Multi-Boot option. The single cartridge multiplayer is as basic as they come, so if you want all the power-ups and graphics to show up, you're going to need a copy for yourself.

For a company that started out with some seriously sloppy Game Boy Advance titles, Midway sure surprised us with their puzzle game that not only supported the link cable...but also the system's Multi-Boot function. Two players can go at it in this unique puzzler...you won't get much graphic glitz or glamour in the single cartridge mode, but it's at least something...and hopefully Midway will keep using the mode for its future GBA product.

Rayman really received the ultra royal treatment on the Game Boy Advance, not only receiving four-player multi-cart link support and GameCube connectivity, but also a special mini-game that two players can play using one copy of the game. It's a basic "Space War" design, but it's simplistic fun.

We were a bit surprised to see that Tose, the developer of this clever little Shrek platformer, included a multi-boot mode for a cute four-player platform battle. In this Fight mode, Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona, and Lord Farquaad leap around a side-scrolling map trying to collect more tokens than the other players. There's only one map in multi-boot mode...players will have to grab a copy of the game to take advantage of the other areas.

In the main game, players are taking out bad guys...but in the single-cartridge multiplayer mode, players compete against each other to pop the most balloons. Rising rubber spheres rise off into the distance, and each competitor tries to target and shoot the most in the alotted time. Not a bad little game.

Hoo-yeah. Sonic's first adventure on a Nintendo system features full-on Multi-Boot support. Players can challenge each other in a race to get the most rings. Each player takes the role of one of the four characters in the game (no choice, though) and scurries around a single level scooping up rings...after three minutes, the person with the most wins. There are more features in multiple cartridge mode, though...so keep that in mind.

The sequel to one of the top GBA platformers has hit the Game Boy Advance, and again, the development team included a single-cartridge multiplayer mode in the form of a ring-collection mini-game. It's very similar to what was included in the original Sonic Advance, but new additions include the new, playable Cream the Rabbit, as well as a couple of nifty collectable hazards.

To encourage players to fight their way through the extensive single player story mode, the developers of this brawler have created five different single cartridge multiplayer games and locked 'em away as collectible rewards. The first one's readily available: a cool little Bey Blade style top fight against up to four players. The others...well, you'll just have to play the game to open them up.

Sonic Team returns to the GBA in a game that flaunts the team's past titles, in pinball form. This collection of pinball games also feature a "party" mode for up to four players. There are three different mini-games in this mode: Hockey, Hot Potato, and a cooperative game, Ladder...all utilizing Sonic Pinball Party's pinball engine.

Though you can't play multiplayer in the game's main adventure, Nintendo created a separate mode for up to four players. Mario Bros. Classic is based around the original Mario game from way back when, and anyone with a system can take advantage of this battle mode in the game's Multi-Boot function.

For whatever reason, Nintendo didn't create a brand-new battle mode for its remake of Super Mario World on the Game Boy Advance. Instead, it simply took the same Mario Bros. Classic game that's in Super Mario Advance and put it in the sequel's cartridge. No changes were made...so if you already own Super Mario Advance, you're not going to get a new multiplayer mode.

If this chess game didn't support the Multi-Boot function, I would have cried foul...I mean, how hard is it to create a tiny chess program that can fit into 256K, right? Well, Titus did it...the game only requires one copy of the game for two-system play. Just keep in mind that you'll have to shout "Check" when putting the other player's king at risk...the game stupidly won't do that for you.

Once again, Nintendo offers the exact same Mario Bros. battle mode that's been included in the past two Super Mario remakes on the Game Boy Advance. Which is somewhat annoying considering that Yoshi's Island has several really cool mini-games to uncover in the single player mode...why couldn't Nintendo offer these as multi-boot challenges?

Eight games in one package is almost always a good thing, but when the developer puts multi-boot support in for each of these eight games, you've got something special on your hands. Chess, checkers, dominoes, reversi, backgammon, Battleship, Connect Four, and Shanghai...all two player, and they only need one copy of the game. Outstanding.

The multiplayer support in this Frogger clone is pretty much the only reason to pick up this game. Connect up to four systems together and play. Zipper Soccer is a simple sport where players try to hurl the Zipper icon into one of the two open goals. Stranglehold puts players to the challenge of holding onto Zipper for the longest amount of time. Deathmatch and Last Man Standing are pretty self explanatory. And they're all pretty fun. Now, about the main game...