Wildcat’s Fifteen Favorite Gamecube Games

I noticed while surfing Nintendo Life that the Gamecube is 10 years old now.  Wow.  As I tend to do on anniversaries, it’s time to share my favorite games from the system.  I loved my ‘Cube, despite the console biting it a long time ago, but I do have a Wii that can play these wonders, so it’s not a huge loss for me to not have it anymore.  Several favorites of mine are on this console, including three in my Absolute list!

Skies of Arcadia Legends (Sega/Overworks)

What more could I say about Skies that I already haven’t?  Not too much, methinks.  While I’ve formatted my favorite games list to remove the tiers, I still consider Skies to be an incredible experience I won’t forget.

Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)

Capcom did an amazing job with the revitalization of the Resident Evil franchise here, making a game that would deeply influence the industry for years to come.  A marvelous treat, although I must say that the Wii version is definitive.

Beyond Good & Evil (UBI Soft)

UBI Soft’s Michel Ancel and his team created a wondrous game that I like to go on and on about on this site.  So, for the sake of not parroting myself further, I’ll just say that I love this game so much.

Metroid Prime (Nintendo/Retro Studios)

This was a controversial resurrection of Samus Aran, but luckily, it turned out extremely well and is one of the few first person view games I adore.  Kudos, Retro!

Tales of Symphonia (Namco Bandai)

This more action-based JRPG is the best original title of that particular genre on the ‘Cube, with a fun battle engine, likable characters and tons of things to do.  Definitely worth a look.

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintendo)

While Wind Waker left me a little uncertain of the future of Zelda, Twilight Princess swung things back into the right for me.  It feels a little unfinished at times, but I really enjoyed my playthrough of the game and especially meeting Midna, the best character the franchise has produced.

Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (Sierra/Radical Ent.)

Sheer chaotic fun, this one.  Running around and rampaging as the Hulk is a riot to control, and the game takes its sandbox concepts to astoundingly good heights.  One of the best superhero games ever made.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (UBI Soft)

UBI Soft’s first stab at this classic franchise remains the best to me – the ambiance is wonderful, and platforming is a major highlight, with some of the best 3D has yet produced.  Combat is a bit wonky and irritating, but the overall quality overpowers it.

Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO (Capcom)

Most pick Soul Calibur II as the ‘Cube’s fighter of choice, but that game really does pale in comparison to its predecessor, Link or no Link.  Meanwhile, Capcom released the finest cross-up between their rival SNK and themselves for the ‘Cube, and it’s my easy pick for the console’s best representation of the genre.

Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (Nintendo)

I really liked Four Swords Adventures.  It takes a unique concept of four Links that can be arranged into formations, throws them into self-contained levels, but manages to maintain the Zelda 2D vibe beautifully.

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (Nintendo/Intelligent Systems)

The sequel to the N64 Paper Mario improves the battle system, throws incredible spritework at you, and ups the kookiness factor to new heights (which its sequel may have overdone).  In my book, this is the Mario game you want to invest in for the ‘Cube.

Metroid Prime 2 Echoes (Nintendo/Retro Studios)

Echoes makes some questionable design choices – ammo being the main culprit, along with a puzzling Dark/Light world mechanic that gets a little wearisome after a bit, but despite these missteps it is a fine sequel to the pioneering original.

Second Sight (Codemasters/Free Radical)

Free Radical tends to have its Timesplitters series garner up the attention, but to me Second Sight was their gem.  It’s not as highly polished as some other games, but it does create a fascinating world that offers exploration and features a delightful storyline that twists and turns quite nicely.  More here.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (Nintendo/Intelligent Systems)

I’ve yet to figure out why I’ve never finished this one up.  It’s got a good cast (not as good as FE7), fun gameplay and keeps the FE traditions alive, but I tend to get sidelined whenever I try to play through it.  Still the best strat-RPG on the ‘Cube, though.

SSX 3 (EA)

Thanks to Nester’s fandom of this title, I decided to pick it up and found a similar joy in soaring down the slopes in SSX 3.  I may not have been quite as enamored with it as he was, but I definitely see the appeal of the game and it’s the best sports/racing title on the console as far as I’m concerned.

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (Nintendo/Camelot)

In my never-ending battle to poo all over the N64 Mario Golf, I present you its superior successor, Toadstool Tour.  Much more fair in its stat distribution (making all of the golfers viable), far more fascinating courses and a refined golf swing control scheme, this ought to be the Mario Golf people adore.

Contenders:

Pikmin 2 (Nintendo)

Mario Power Tennis (Nintendo)

Animal Crossing (Nintendo)