The Gamecube preview CD-ROM isn't the only surprise in issue 150 of Nintendo Power this month. Another surprise lies in the ratings given by Nintendo Power to some of the GameCube launch titles.

Rogue Leader, widely considered to be the GameCube's "killer app" due to the lack of a Mario title at launch, was given a 5 star rating (nearly perfect, since two reviewers gave it 4.5 stars, and the score rounds up).

Another surprise was that Sega's Super Monkey Ball received a perfect 5 star rating. A port of an Arcade title, Monkey Ball's depth and fun have earned high praise all over.

Unexpectedly from Nintendo's in-house magazine, Luigi's Mansion received only 4 stars. It appears that the game's short and repetitive nature is apparent to even Nintendo's own reviewers.

An even more disappointing score was given to Wave Race: Blue Storm ... a 3 1/2 star rating. Being a rehash of the N64 title, albeit an amazing rehash, is clearly not earning points with gamers.

Madden 2002 earned 4 1/2 stars.

On the GameBoy Advance front, Golden Sun earned a perfect five star rating, while Wario Land 4 earned a four star rating.