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Ah, Gamecube. The little purple lunchbox that could. With a tiny figure, a new-fangled controller, pint sized discs, a never used handle, and only 2 launch titles, Nintendo's fourth console was the definition of underdog. However, using that mysterious Nintendo magic, it eventually released some stellar titles and gained quite the following. Even with this reputation of being often overlooked, most gamers have instant memories of one or two titles when the Gamecube is mentioned.
From first party staples to third party gambles, there's no shortage of titles you should have played or should rediscover via your old Gamecube or Wii. To help along your process of sorting out the men from the boys, The BBPS has chosen our Top 10 Gamecube games. Enjoy.
10. Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Rogue Squadron on the N64 was a tease. A competent space shooter with some technical chops made for a very good Star Wars experience. Mind you, nothing was quite as sweet as it's successor on the Gamecube, the thrilling Rougue Squadron II: Rogue Leader. At its heart, it's a very simple game - fly, shoot, fly and shoot some more. But when it comes to mimicking the space action sequences of the most beloved space action trilogy of all time, this game knocked it out of the park with fantastic design, phenomenal visuals, brilliant sound and sound gameplay. Worthy of many a replay, it is still often overlooked as one of the best and most authentic Star Wars experiences you'll ever have.
9. Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door
One wouldn't assume the the Mario universe would be well-suited for an RPG. But we all know what they say about assuming. The simplistic, yet satisfying gameplay makes this one of the best Mario spin-offs around. Just being an RPG isn't what separates this game from most of the other Mario titles; the Italian plumber's lack of a Z-axis lets him pratice the ancient art of origami by transforming into a paper airplane, a boat, and whatever other shapes may come in handy. Sorry, no paper cranes, though. The story of The Thousand Year Door is above average, too. Yup, Princess Peach has gone missing again, but the plot often thickens with complications, leading Mario everywhere, from a wrestling ring to Earth orbit. Oh, and then there's the visual style of the game. An exotic blend of 2D and 3D, the Mushroom Kingdom is even trippier than before. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is an excellent RPG, and that's not due to the Gamecube's lack of dungeon crawlers and androgenous sword-weilders, but to everything that went into making this a fun, exciting, and fresh game.
8. Resident Evil
In 1996 I got my first taste of the Resident Evil universe, and from then on I've been hooked. The clever puzzles, deliciously cheesy dialogue, and zombie kickassery made Capcom's series stand above the rest. My first stroll through the Spencer Mansion is something I won't ever forget. And in 2002, I got to relive the chills and thrills I felt six years ago with the Resident Evil REmake. The GameCube had its fair share of excellent survival horror games, but the 2002 remake of the original Resident Evil remains as one of the best. This game had way more then prettier graphics, it also included a reworked script, new game modes, secrets, and multiple endings. For a Resident Evil fan, this was and still is the premier version to have.
7. Viewtiful Joe
Henshin-a-go-go, baby! Capcom's Viewtiful Joe was a wonderful and bizarre change of pace. Last generation's market was full of generic 3D games, but Viewtiful Joe broke that mold with its 2D beat-em-up style gameplay. Not only was the game fun to play, but the characters were unforgettable. Joe, a regular otaku who is granted the power of going super-sentai OR Keanu Reaves on your ass is one of the best character designs of the generation. And let's not forget about supporting characters like the geriatric Captin Blue and that dastardly Alastor. And damn this game is hard. If you're looking for a hilarious, fun, and challenging title for the Gamecube, Viewtiful Joe is your perfect match.
6. Super Smash Bros. Melee
Taking the pick-up-and-play party fighting sensation that was the original Smash Bros. on N64, adding next-gen graphics, and a HUGE roster, Super Smash Bros. Melee was a no-brainer for the Gamecube. It had everything we gamers love. From unapologetic fighting, with both a simple learning curve and a deep strategy system, to the nostalgia factor of kicking major ass as Dr. Mario or Mr. Game & Watch, Melee was well-rounded, appealed to many, and kept many a group of friends up all night with trash talking. Smash Bros. style is still in a league of it’s own, and Melee was probably the first introduction many had to the series. It def. paved the way for the huge success that Smash. Bros. Brawl was on the Wii.
5. Pikmin 2
The banner lied. We did harm a lot of Pikmin while writing this article, and you know what? It’s some of the best fun we’ve ever had. Pikmin 2 improved in almost every way on the original, a major feat in itself. Selecting up to 100 Pikmin of different classes and sending them out to find little treasures like Duracell batteries put our Wavebirds through many a recharge. Pikmin 2 is the best RTS the Cube has to offer, and one of the very best of all time. When the New Play Control version inevitably releases on the Wii, you could do a lot worse than buying it again.
4. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Silicon Knights... what happened to you? How can the developer behind a title as amazing as Sanity's Requiem also be responsible for Too Human? For survival horror fans 2002 got even better when Eternal Darkness darkened our summer. I'm pretty sure I never left the house all summer long, and I can thank Sanity's Requiem for keeping my pale complexion in tact. Even though the game didn't do as well commercially as it did critically, Eternal Darkness and it's unforgettable Sanity Meter will always hold a special place in my heart as one of the more innovative horror games I've ever played.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Love it or hate it, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker was surely one of the staples of the Gamecube. With perhaps the most radical approach and change to the series ever, Wind Waker introduced us to a new Hyrule with a new Link and a new, unmistakable art style. If only most of the “Celda haters” would have given the game a tiny chance, they’d have realized it was one of the best games of not only the console, but of the entire generation. With a huge ocean to explore, excellent new game mechanics, an inventory of ingenious items, and a solid mix of action, humor, and awe, Wind Waker cemented itself as a truly outstanding Zelda title. It gets my top vote for receiving the Wii’s “New Play Control” branding. With Twilight Princess-esque controls, Nintendo could get many more people to experience one of Link’s most overlooked and underrated quests ever.
2. Metroid Prime
Retro Studios managed to pull off one of the most ambitious and risky endeavors ever taken with Metroid Prime. Nintendo had neglected the series on consoles since Super Metroid, a 2D side-scroller. Retro's pitch was revolutionary: turn Metroid into a first-person shooter - er, first-person adventure. Fanboys screamed bloody murder, and less crazy people raised a skeptical eyebrow. Then everyone who got their hands on the game realized something truly amazing happened: Retro had created one of the best Metroid games ever produced and in an entirely different package. Capturing the adventurous spirit, the puzzles, the eerie atmosphere, the massive bosses, the upgrades, and perhaps best of all, the action, Metroid Prime is about as close to perfection a conversion of an old classic can get.
1. Resident Evil 4
Not since our junior prom have we ever feared so much for our lives. Resident Evil 4 was a radical facelift for the already terrific series. Every change Capcom made paid off, earning it our industry's most coveted award: TheBBPS’s #1 GameCube game of all time. RE4 would see ports on the PS2, PC, Wii, and even cell phone, but nothing could match the feeling we had when we got our hands on those two magical minidiscs. As Leon Kennedy we set out to save Ashley Graham, the President’s foolish daughter. Armed with an over-the-shoulder camera (which would influence the perspective of many games to come), we shot, chopped, and dodged enemies infected by mind-controlling parasites called Las Plagas. Battling Los Ganados (human enemies whose name translates as “the cattle”) made us think differently: how do you handle zombies who are intelligent enough to strategize? RE4’s influence can be felt four years later, and will continue to be felt as long as people play video games.
Honorable Mention: Luigi's Mansion
Looking back it was probably a mistake for Nintendo to launch a system without a Mario game (of course they've since recovered) but nevertheless I personally dug the hell out of Luigi's Mansion. For far too long Mario's brother has gotten the shaft and forced to play backup to that pudgy bastard. The haunted house setting let the Gamecube show off some nice lighting and smoke effects, and the gameplay was part puzzle part action blended perfectly. The Puzzle bits being finding and scaring the ghosts into the open, and the action being the trapping part in your super sucking vacuum the Poltergust 3000 (or as I call it "your mom"). It never got the acclaim it woul've recieved if it was called Mario's Mansion, and deserves a place among the remembered Gamecube titles.
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And I'm honestly surprised that Animal Crossing isn't on this list, wow.