Some things were better in the early '90s. Stock prices were high, Arnold Schwarzenegger was putting out comedies about getting pregnant (Junior) and the nation was still blissfully unaware of the Macarena.

Publisher THQ has now gone back to that time of yore to unearth three nuggets from Sega's vault. Developer Codefire has ably ported these classics to the Game Boy Advance.

Golden Axe

Back in 1989, Sega released a side-scrolling hack-and-slash game in the arcades (to be followed by releases on just about every other Sega game machine) called Golden Axe.

Golden Axe offers three playable characters, each with their own unique attack and magical techniques. Gilius Thunderhead, the dwarf, wields a mighty battle axe and controls the element of thunder. Ax Battler, the barbarian, fights with his broadsword and commands the powers of earth. Tyris Flare, the amazon, also fights with a sword and uses powerful fire spells.

Game play remains identical to that found in the arcade. Players must clear screen after screen of thugs, giants, skeletons and amazon warriors loosed upon the world by the evil Death Adder. When battles become too tough to handle, players can call upon their magical powers to attack all enemies on the screen. Our heroes can also enlist the aid of fire-breathing dragons and magical dwarves.

Demon-slaying not your thing? Players can also duke it out in gladiator-style Head To Head mode. Two GBAs, a GBA Game Link cable and two Game Paks are required for multiplayer action.

Compared to the arcade original, the Game Boy Advance version holds up pretty well. The large characters are well-animated and the magic attacks fill the screen with impressive digital pyrotechnics. Not to be outdone, the music and meaty sound effects have also made the transition fully intact.

Ecco the Dolphin

If slaying hordes of the undead gets to be too much, THQ has also included the 1992 Genesis classic Ecco the Dolphin. You must explore over 30 levels as nature's second smartest mammal (sorry chimps) in this single-player quest to locate your missing family.

It's a shame that most ocean areas aren't safe for dolphins. Ecco must fend off shark attacks, jellyfish, giant octopus and other watery foes that would make Captain Nemo seasick.

Not every fish in the sea is hostile. Ecco can get help from certain underwater creatures or special glyph crystals. He also has a charge attack that can break through barriers. If brute force isn't your style, Ecco can also learn special songs that will avert certain enemies.

While most of the action takes place underwater, Ecco can also jump out of the water and over obstacles to reach secret areas. Going airborne isn't just for looks as players must also keep an eye on their oxygen meter.

Much of the appeal in this underwater adventure is the excellent sense of immersion. Ecco the Dolphin broke graphical boundaries when it was introduced in 1993 on the Sega Genesis and still holds up well.

The characters are well-animated and the environments feature beautiful parallax scrolling effects. Every level makes you feel as though you were exploring the ocean depths. The sound effects also get the job done while interjecting solemn melodies from time to time. The soundtrack may not appeal to everyone, but it definitely fits the mood of the game.

Sonic Spinball

Not to be outdone by Mario in mascot spin-off titles, Sonic Spinball showcases Sega's favorite hedgehog in a pinball game unlike any other. To save his animal buddies, Sonic must infiltrate Doctor Robotnik's Pinball Fortress.

If that's not enough, Sonic also has to locate three emeralds and defeat the boss of each of the four gigantic pinball zones. It's a good thing that Sonic still has his patented spin, dash and jump techniques to help him navigate the bumpers, levers and slides spread throughout the levels. Much of the game play is indirect, requiring players to activate flippers to give our hedgehog hero boosts.

Everything looks and sounds just as good as it did in 1993, when the game was introduced on the Sega Genesis. Each of the areas has a unique look, although some are a little dark. Expect plenty of Sonic's trademark animations. Music and sound effects are also reminiscent of previous Sonic titles and add to the arcade feel of the game.