These were the hottest holiday toys 20 years ago

In 1997, the world was still reeling from Tickle Me Elmo madness. Interactive toys and video games were in vogue. Do you remember wishing for these hot holiday toys of 1997?

The Barbie Sun Jammer 4x4 was just like its predecessor, the Power Wheels Jeep, save for one detail: it was pink and white and decked out in Barbie stickers.

Though the initial brawl-inducing popularity of this toy had passed by '97, Tickle Me Elmo was still a popular buy.

The Tamagotchi arrived in the United States in May 1997 and started a digital-pet fad that defined the holiday season. Virtual pets held three of the top five spots on their 1997 holiday best-seller list, according to the Toy Manufacturers of America, with the Tamagotchi leading the group at No. 2 overall.

Squealing in at the year's finish line, "Diddy Kong Racing" was released in November 1997 and became an immediate favorite among kids and critics alike for its improvements over "Mario Kart 64."

Unlike the nonspecific alien creature of the Tamagotchi, Nano Pets featured animations of real animals like puppies and ponies.

The Sony PlayStation was the go-to gaming console for older cousins across the country. The original PlayStation was released in North America in 1995, and the lineup of games for the console was tailored to an older audience than that of the Nintendo.

Tiger Electronics created Giga Pets to compete with Bandai's Tamagotchi. This version of the Giga Pet, Floppy Frog, was introduced in September 1997.

This pint-size truck, with its red body and black trim, introduced a generation of kids to off-roading... and to troubleshooting an underpowered car battery.

The N64 was released in the fall of 1996 to positive reviews for its advanced 3D graphics and gameplay. The console maintained its popularity through the 1997 holiday season with help from games like "GoldenEye 007."

"GoldenEye 007" was released in August 1997, just before the holiday shopping rush, and became the third best-selling Nintendo 64 game of all time.

Barbie had already had many jobs, from astronaut to veterinarian, by the time she became a dentist in 1997. Dentist barbie came with a dentist chair and a patient.

Final Fantasy VII was released in 1997. The game is credited with popularizing the Japanese role-playing game in the mainstream gaming audience in the United States.

Beanie Babies were first introduced in 1993, but the toys took a few years to reach the peak of their powers. The pellet-stuffed animals first gained popularity in Chicago, near the TY Inc. company headquarters. They became a national fad in 1996 and 1997.

When the Special Edition of the original Star Wars trilogy was released in 1997, Kenner produced a line of action figures to accompany the digitally restored movies. The line included plastic likenesses of Han, Luke, Leia and more.

Building toys like K'Nex saw a boost in popularity in 1997.

The George Clooney era of the Batman movie franchise was great for the toy business. "Batman & Robin" hit theaters in June of 1997, and Batman action figures were among the most popular toys that holiday season.