Hunting for Value (1/4/2023) - Unique Finds

Whether you're new to the hobby of graded video games or a seasoned veteran, everyone likes to get a good deal. Prices on games can vary widely depending on where you look and games on marketplaces like eBay are often listed without context. At Standard Gaming, we have games for every type of collector, all available for immediate purchase. Below are a few titles that stand out, and may help you as you Hunt for Value in the graded video game market.

The Pinball of the Dead

The game of pinball has been an arcade staple for generations – at one point, pinball was considered so addictive to youth that it was even banned in certain states. But what if you love pinball but don’t have access to a machine? Video game pinball is the next best thing. The Pinball of the Dead is a fun, horror-themed pinball game based on The House of the Dead games. The game was released in July 2002 with positive feedback from both players and critics. Pinball video games can be very hit or miss, as there is a lot lost when you port a pinball to a virtual format. Yet Den of Geek noted it as one of the best games for the Game Boy Advance. Players and critics were overall pleased with the game, a rare find for this genre. 

This complete in-box 8.5 WATA-graded copy is a beautiful example. With a box grade of 9.2, a cartridge grade of 7.0, and a manual grade of 9.2, this game is in overall beautiful shape. This is a very affordable copy and would be perfect for House of the Dead fans, pinball enthusiasts, horror fans, and Game Boy collectors.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

The holiday season doesn’t seem complete without watching Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The second movie gave us iconic scenes from The Plaza Hotel, the Talk Boy – my absolute favorite toy of that season – and a video game spinoff. Home Alone 2 for the Nintendo Game Boy is a fairly standard single-player action game. The game features select famous areas in New York City, such as The Plaza and Central Park, with Kevin acting as the player's avatar. 

This sealed 9.2 A+ WATA-graded copy is an impressive find for a 30-year-old game of which sealed copies can be difficult to locate! If you’re a nostalgia fan, a Game Boy collector, or a movie tie-in collector, this game is as good as it gets.

Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick

Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead is one of the most iconic camp horror franchises put to film. The series made Bruce Campbell a cult star – in fact, Campbell has reprised his role as protagonist Ash in every live-action adaptation, as well as some of the video games. Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick was released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, and takes place within the canonical Evil Dead timeline. This single-player action game is admittedly a ton of fun and an absolute must for all Deadites!

This sealed 9.6 A+ WATA-graded copy for the Xbox is absolutely groovy. Featuring Campbell’s iconic Ash and his boomstick front and center, this cover art doesn’t mince words with what it is. Sales for graded copies of this game don’t come up too often, so if you need this for your collection, this is a prime opportunity. This game is perfect for horror collectors, Evil Dead collectors, cross-platform collectors, and movie-tie-in collectors.

Elmo's Letter Adventure

Sesame Street introduced the Muppet known as Elmo in 1980, but it wasn’t until 1985 that Elmo was given a proper voice and characteristics. It’s nearly impossible to quantify just how popular Elmo is – a toy based on the Muppet, Tickle Me Elmo, is best known for one of the most well-known toy shortages during the holiday shopping season of 1996. Elmo has also been the subject of video games, such as Elmo’s Letter Adventure. Video games are a perfect way to trick children into learning, and Sesame Street wasn’t afraid to take advantage of that medium. 

This complete in-box 7.5 WATA-graded copy still has bright, happy colors, and absolutely radiates fun. The full breakdown of the grades is as follows: The box is a 7.5, the cartridge is a 7.0, and the manual grade is a 9.0. This was a well loved copy, and would look great in many different collections. This game is perfect for Muppet collectors, Sesame Street collectors, Elmo collectors, and Nintendo completionists.

Bass Master 2000

Fishing-based video games have been a popular genre of games since the Nintendo Entertainment System days. Publisher THQ continued that tradition with Bass Master 2000, released in December 1999. The game may not be everyone’s idea of a fun video game time, but Bass Master 2000 is surprisingly relaxing and features easy game controls and good graphics. 

This sealed 9.2 A+ WATA-graded copy is clean and presents well. This is certainly a unique video game, and shouldn’t be overlooked by general video game collectors. While this game is ideal for fishing enthusiasts, this is also a great title for sports collectors, Nintendo completionists, and anyone who wants to collect off-the-beaten-path video games.

Looking For More General Information on Graded Games?

· If any of the terminology used in this guide was confusing or new to you, please refer to our convenient glossary of terms here.
· Need more information about graded games in general? Check out this intro to the different types of certified video games here.