Best GameCube games: Top 10 titles on Nintendo’s purple powerhouse


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Throughout its six-year lifespan, the Nintendo GameCube has managed to amass a large library of games. Officially, 653 games have been released to the system by proprietary Nintendo Studios and other secondary and third-party developers. In the years since production on GameCube ceased, Nintendo at times tapped into this game vault and re-released them on newer consoles. There was some hope that with the console turning 20, Nintendo would announce a dedicated GameCube virtual console for the Switch, but so far nothing concrete has emerged. We’ve put together a list of the best GameCube games – in alphabetical order – to celebrate the enduring legacy of Nintendo’s box-shaped underdog with a carrying handle.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Long before the Fire Emblem franchise made a huge bet on the Nintendo 3DS to determine its fate and was given a new revival, it was making a name for itself in Japan and largely shunned the idea of ​​a Western release. That changed after the release of Super Smash Bros. Melee, and in 2005 we had Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, building on localization efforts put in place by Fire Emblem and Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. All of the franchise’s signature tactical action has been tweaked to a new level, bringing with it an addicting layer of turn-based strategy, challenging maps, and the infamous permanent death system that could negate hours of hard work when ‘a beloved comrade has fallen in battle.

With animated videos, a rich history, and a ton of stats to consider in every battle, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance was a strategy game well worth the investment of the time, creating an unforgettable and mature experience on the go. Nintendo’s colorful console.

Check out our Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance review.

Ikaruga

Ikaruga
Ikaruga

Shooter games have generally had a niche appeal over the years, but Ikaruga’s approach to the genre was a visual feast for the eyes when it was first released. Combining the hellish action of trademark bullets of its kind with a fresh approach to clearing the screen of waves of relentless enemies, Ikaruga was an absolute blast to play then. What made the game such a memorable classic was its visual flair that turned it into a vertically scrolling masterclass of graphics and intensity.

With a ruthless demeanor for anyone brave enough to go for it, Ikaruga finally got a second chance at living on subsequent consoles. Receiving a mixed reception at its launch, the Time March revealed that Ikaruga was simply ahead of its time and that today it is widely regarded not only as a work of art, but also as the ‘one of the greatest shoot-’em-ups of all time and a major influence on acclaimed mainstream titles like Nier.

See our Ikaruga review.

Mario Kart: Double dash

Mario Kart: Double dash
Mario Kart: Double dash

Mario Kart: Double Dash played it safe when he hit the racetrack in 2003, reiterating the ideas of Mario Kart 64 and Super Circuit with a number of terrific technical improvements. New weapons would make you curse the AI ​​if you were targeted, the courses were wilder than ever and the vehicles on offer were mind-boggling to say the least. But where the game really made a name for itself was in the multiplayer department, thanks to a creative setup that allowed two players to control a single kart.

With the conduct and offense separated between them, this specialization created a surprisingly tactical experience that either strengthened bonds between friends or was single-handedly responsible for breaking long-standing friendships, but the concept has survived as l one of the most original concepts in the entire Mario Kart franchise, and one that has never been repeated again. A beautiful and brilliantly executed example of Nintendo innovation, Mario Kart: Double Dash provided some of the best multiplayer chaos for anyone willing to risk letting their friends get behind the wheel.

See our review of Mario kart: Double Dash.

Metroid Prime

Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime

Thinking back to the troubled history of Metroid Prime’s development, it’s amazing how not only did the game end with incredible odds against him, but essentially rewrote the entire franchise. Jumping from the second dimension of platforming and straight into the territory of first-person action, Samus Aran’s latest adventure was the game to have on your GameCube if you wanted to show it off. A visual showcase of exotic level design, gripping boss battles and breathtaking puzzles, Metroid Prime revitalized the series and would be followed by two excellent sequels, creating what is arguably one of the best trilogies in the world. history of video games.

Whatever developer Retro Studios has planned for Samus Aran in Metroid Prime 4, he’ll have some chunky Varia Suit boots to fill out when he finally arrives, as this Metroid masterpiece still holds up brilliantly two decades later.

See our Metroid Prime review.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

The GameCube wasn’t lacking in charm thanks to its original selection of games, but you’d be hard pressed to find a game more instantly adorable than Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Nintendo took the idea of ​​a more two-dimensional Mario in crazy new directions, using the paper medium to come up with eerie storylines and imaginative environments that required innovative thinking to explore.

This level of creativity made the game unique for its time, while its smooth learning curve hid a surprisingly deep combat system that made it consistently interesting. Charming and hilarious in equal measure, it was an adventure of Mario wearing his papercraft heart on his sleeve.

See our Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door review.

Pikmin 2

Pikmin 2
Pikmin 2

The first Pikmin game didn’t really make a great first impression, as its beloved cast of cute creatures were hampered by weird gameplay decisions and a boring time limit. Pikmin 2, meanwhile, freed itself from these constraints and developed its ideas, creating an imaginative, enjoyable adventure and cleverly adding new features to its formula. New Pikmin entered the scene, an additional captain was able to guide the helpful natives, and each level was a clever step forward that could be resolved in a number of ways. As a lesson in how to make a great sequel, Pikmin 2 was an absolute joy that made owning a GameCube interesting.

See our Pikmin 2 review.

Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4

A GameCube exclusive until it didn’t, Resident Evil 4 was the biggest evolution yet for a series that had remained largely stuck in Racoon City for far too many years. Gone is the metropolitan maze of zombie infested streets, replaced instead by a European village teeming with a new generation of infected wickedness. What made Resident Evil so special at the time was its balance of suspense, puzzles, and action, as Leon Kennedy used every bullet in an arsenal large enough to level a town.

At its best, Resident Evil 4 was a cinematic version of the series that would raise your heart rate and leave you drenched in sweat from the adrenaline rush it brought you, setting a benchmark for the franchise that future ones will be following. games would build. of. Considered one of the all-time best entries in Resident Evil history, for a while Nintendo had a monopoly on Capcom’s goose-to-the-living-dead, much to the chagrin of all who didn’t own it. more from GameCube.

See our Resident Evil 4 review.

Super monkey ball

Super monkey ball
Super monkey ball

Here we had a monkey stuck inside a ball, rolling it on an endless mission to score all the bananas on a level that was a combination of maze-like genius and treacherous traps. The big catch here? Instead of controlling the momentum of an adorable monkey, you’ve changed the world around them and tipped the level up. If your monkey made it to the end, you would win the stage, but it was easier said than done.

You couldn’t ask for a better launch title on the GameCube, especially with a game that had already nailed its core game concepts and was just great at translating those ideas into addicting, monkey-spinning action. It was silly, but Super Monkey Ball was also an example of the stars lining up with the right studio to deliver wacky fun on the GameCube.

See our Super Monkey Ball review.

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Super Smash Bros.  Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee

Video games come and go, but the most enduring legacy of Super Smash Bros. Melee is perhaps years after its release, it still has a community of die-hard fans who regularly come together to hit each other’s minds at tournaments. Taking Nintendo’s most iconic characters and throwing them into a winner battling to brag on perfectly crafted stages was already a winning recipe, but the game took it a step further with its gameplay, which was fun to learn and slyly difficult to learn. to master .

With a memorable adventure mode, original attacks and rewarding content, Super Smash Bros. Melee still remains the definitive entry into a series of deadly match action at the height of perfection.

See our review of Super Smash Bros. Melee.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Following the Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask on N64, Zelda fans were ready for another dark and mature return to Hyrule on GameCube. Expectations were set with a tech demo at E3, but what fans got was a tonally different adventure that remains one of the best in the series. Gone is the focus on a realistically rendered hero in green, as Link now sported a more cartoonish aesthetic and explored a world brighter and more upbeat than ever.

Anyone who complains about the visuals from the Saturday morning cartoons missed out on a visually timeless game, containing a world that is a joy to explore and some signature action that proudly carried the franchise flag. An HD port of the game to Wii U solved many of the game’s more annoying issues, and with a re-release of Skyward Sword on Nintendo Switch, it’s high time Link’s vibrant adventure got the chance to sail on a platform. -Even newer Nintendo form.

See our review of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

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