Action 52
For as long as I've been collecting and playing video games, I never thought I'd actually run across a copy of Action 52 -- much less a graded copy. You've likely heard of this if you've spent any time around the video game fandom. Action 52 promised 52 unique video games in one (expensive) cartridge, but each game got progressively worse as you went through the library. The Angry Video Game Nerd's game review is worth watching if you're curious to learn more.
This sealed 9.2 A+ WATA-graded copy is nothing short of amazing. I've written about a lot of graded video games in my career, but none have actually made me go "Wow, this was graded". The current one-year average for 9.2 WATA-graded copies is $820, and I have a feeling this will be one of those games that will become a sought-after collector's piece as time goes on.
Pinball Quest
If you like role-playing games and pinball, then this game is for you. Pinball Quest combines both into a surprisingly fun game that mimics a real pinball machine. Reviews for the game labeled it as "bizarre", but I believe this game was ahead of its time. If we look at modern pinball machines, there is an argument that some machines use RPG elements in their story. Pinball Quest was ambitious, and maybe now we can appreciate it for what it was going for.
This sealed 9.2 B+ WATA-graded copy is awesome. I personally love the box art. The creepy skeleton inside of the ball might seem unique, but there is a fair share of "designer" balls you can buy for your pinball machines. The basic playfield against a white background is effective and simple. While there is no sales data for 9.2 WATA-graded copies, a 9.8 WATA-graded has a one-year average of $1,400, while a 9.6 WATA-graded has a one-year average of $528.
Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy X-2 did was no prior Final Fantasy game did before -- it continued the store of Final Fantasy X. This all-female main cast made waves on its release in 2003 and still remains one of the most popular Final Fantasy games. By March 2022 the game has sold over 21 million copies and would serve as a catalyst for Square to release more direct sequels.
This game was huge with cosplayers as well -- for several years Yuna and the rest of the FF X-2 team were some of the most cosplayed video game characters at anime cons. You can sometimes still find a FF X-2 cosplayer at your local anime con to this day, but in 2003/2004 it seemed as though everyone was wild about this game.
This sealed 9.6 A+ WATA-graded copy is great. While it's not a 9.8, it's still a great-looking and affordable copy. The one-year average on other 9.6 WATA-graded copies is $194. By comparison, a 9.8 WATA-graded copy has a one-year average of $363. While I don't see this game becoming a hot investment piece in the short term, this is still a worthwhile collectible.
