The Gamecube was such a criminally underrated console, with so many beloved games that are still appreciated to this day. So, with the Gamecube always being a favorite console of mine, I decided to do a list on what I think are the best games on the system. Now, I am not going to include any of the games from my top ten list, so no Resident Evil 4 or Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, because those two games would obviously make the list, and for good reason. Also, these are all games that only I have played. So, no F Zero GX or Baten Kaitos. Also, these games have to be Gamecube exclusives. It can count if they were games that started as exclusives, like Resident Evil 4, and moved to more consoles over time. But, no games that were released on several consoles at once. Now, let us start the list.
#10: Viewtiful Joe
We’ll start the list with one of the five Capcom games planned for the Gamecube (A plan that failed miserably when three games were released on PS2 later and one of them wasn’t even released.) The game follows an average joe, by the name of Joe (Ha). While at the movies with his girlfriend Silvia, a large robot pulls Silvia into the movie, and Joe follows them in, where he becomes the superhero named Viewtiful Joe. You then travel across the movie world looking for the main villain. You’re able to speed up and slow down time to beat up enemies and solve puzzles in the game. There’s eventually this one Zoom In thing, but I only used it for puzzles and the occasional boss battle. The cel shading on this game looks pretty good, and it is pretty impressive to look at even today. That’s the best thing about these cel shading games. Wind Waker, Jet Set Radio, and many of the Shin Megami Tensei games are all still visually pleasing than games today because of this style, and Viewtiful Joe is no exception. Another thing about this game is how hard it is. It isn’t Dark Souls hard, but there are some times that this game can be a bit unforgiving, yet it never gets to a point where it’s completely unfair. It still manages to be challenging and fun, and that is exactly what I want in a beat ‘em up game.
#9: Pikmin
When I first got my hands on Pikmin, I wasn’t really expecting much. I mean, it just looked like some sort of gardening game with aliens. I’m sure it would have some charm, but nothing more. Thankfully, those doubts were dashed when I played Pikmin. You play as an astronaut named Olimar, who is stranded on an alien planet with his ship’s part scattered across it. Here, he meets a race of aliens called Pikmin, weak and frail creatures who are not able to protect themselves from harm. So, Olimar decides to help these creatures defend themselves while Olimar searches the dangerous planet for his ships parts to get back home. It was such a charming game that I had a lot of fun with. You really connect with the little Pikmin and want to help them survive, just as they want to help you get back home. You both help each other out on this planet filled with predators wanting to eat the Pikmin and attack you, and you do what you can to keep them safe while they fight to protect you. Sure, I joked about how Olimar was a tyrant who ordered them to die for him, but I’m sure that’s not at all what Nintendo meant to put… Just like they never meant to make Tom Nook an angry loan shark.Oh, and speaking of Animal Crossing…
#8: Animal Crossing
I always loved the Sims and I did play a bit of Harvest Moon, so when I saw that there was a life simulator with animals at the young age of eight, I thought to myself, “This game looks neat.” And neat it was. This game isn’t all that story heavy. You’re just a guy who goes to a small town with animals, becomes a member of it, and tries to just live your everyday life while making friends with all your neighbors. That’s about it really. And yet, with such a simple concept, it still manages to be one of the best games out there. What amazes me is how much fun a person can have with this game by doing the very things you’d never want to do in reality. Pulling weeds, shaking trees, working to pay off loans. No one wants to do that in the real world, and yet, in Animal Crossing, you want to do all those things. You want to do them so you can make money. You want pay off loans just so you can do more with your house. It’s odd to imagine, but that’s how the game works, and it works in the best way possible.
#7: Luigi’s Mansion
I’m so happy that this game was able to get a sequel on the 3DS. It makes me so happy. But, we’re talking about the original Gamecube version. In this game, instead of playing as Mario, you play as his less popular younger brother, Luigi. Luigi won a contest that he never entered for a mansion. As it turns out, the mansion is haunted and overrun by ghosts, that scientist by the name of Professor E. Gadd has been trying to capture. So, Luigi steps up to capture the ghosts and find Mario, who he finds out is trapped in the mansion. This was probably the first horror game I played, and I gotta admit, the dark atmosphere and the ghosts that could appear at any second is a little scary. But, when I play it today, it’s just a fun little game about capturing ghosts. There are many different bosses to face and many different endings depending on how much money you collect while inside the mansion. If I had one problem with the game, it’s that it’s too short. The game can be completed within a few hours, and I wish it was a little longer. But, no matter what, it still manages to be a great game that I always enjoy playing, even if it’s not as popular as other Mario games.
#6: Metroid Prime
Yes, I put Metroid Prime at number six. I don’t know. I guess that most of the other games, I have a nostalgic attachment to. Metroid Prime, I got only a few months ago. I had no history with Metroid Prime when I bought it and there is not much I can talk about with this. But don’t get me wrong, Metroid Prime is an amazing game. I love this game very much. You play as Samus as she travels across different areas, fighting massive bosses, while also being able to find the story around you. This game doesn’t give you much of the story. It makes you scan items to find out the story yourself. It doesn’t tell the story, it only tells it if you care enough to see it, and that is what I love about this game. The fighting with the blaster and the several different power ups is also really fun to use, and the bosses in this game are some of the best I’ve seen in a Metroid game. I don’t play many Metroid games, so my logic of the lore with these games are pretty limited, but from what I’ve seen in Metroid Prime, I can tell that I have been missing out big time on what seems to be a great franchise.
#5: Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes
Some timer after buying my Gamecube, my older brother came home with a Playstation 1 he bought from a yard sale on his way home, all of them complete with games. Those games were SimCity 2000, Rugrats: Studio Tour, Final Fantasy VII (Sudden turn in game quality), and Metal Gear Solid…. We all only played Final Fantasy VII and never touched the other games. It was a shame, because after playing Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes, I missed out big time. Twin Snakes is a remake of the original Metal Gear Solid on the Playstation, where you play as Solid Snake, who must infiltrate Shadow Moses, and destroy the Metal Gear that is in the hands of FOXHOUND. The remake has enhanced graphics, new cutscenes that were created, and even more game mechanics that weren’t in the original game. I always loved the Metal Gear Solid franchise, and being able to play a visually advanced version of one of the best Playstation games of all time is just so much fun. The story, gameplay, and characters are some of the best in gaming, and I hope to see more Metal Gear Solid…. Note, I said Metal Gear Solid. I never want to see Metal Gear Survive ever again.
#4: Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Probably the most obscure game on this list, Eternal Darkness follows a woman by the name of Alexandra, whose grandfather is mysteriously killed. While she explore her uncle's mansion, she finds a book about a Roman soldier who is lead into a tomb by voices and becomes an undead warriors for the Darkness, which, if they are released into the world, they will devour the souls of the living and turn the world into darkness. This was one of the most unique horror games that I have ever played, and for one thing that everyone actually knows this game for; The Sanity Meter. This little thing is both the best thing about this game, but also your worst nightmare in it. The Sanity Meter will start up high, and everything will be fine. But, as things get worse, your Sanity Meter will begin to drop. If it does, many things will happen, including the walls bleeding, your character losing their head, and who could forget that part where the game tricks you into thinking that it’s deleting your memory card. This horror game actually makes you think your going crazy, and I love it so much. It’s easily one of the best horror games I’ve ever played, and this little Sanity Meter is the very reason for it.
#3: Super Smash Bros. Melee
Sure, by today's standards, Super Smash Bros. Melee is dated. It isn’t as advanced with it’s combat, and some of the characters are just reskins of other characters. But damn if it wasn’t the talk in elementary school back in the day. Super Smash Bros. follows a simple concept. Nintendo characters are trophies and are given life just so they can beat the crap out of each other. That’s it. And it worked so well. You have dozens of characters to collect, many stages to unlock, and a LOT of trophies that you need to do some crazy things to get. These trophies could take people a long time to collect, but they always had to get all of them. That is some dedication. There is also a lot of variety with modes. Story, Battle, Tournament, Training, Targets, and of course, four player split screen mode, which is the best thing to have if you ever want to invite three other friends over. And who could ever forget the hammer, where you can send your opponents flying across the screen. Everyone in a match will be scrambling to get there hands on that hammer, I can assure you that. Super Smash Bros. Melee is a multiplayer game just begging for complete chaos between friends. It may be dated now, but it was one of the biggest games of the time.
#2: Resident Evil
If you thought Twin Snakes was a great video game remake, Resident Evil is THE great video game remake. This is the one that topped all remakes. The original Resident Evil is laughable today. I mean, just watch some videos of the voice acting and you can see just how bad it really is. A few years later, Resident Evil got remade for the Gamecube. And it was the greatest thing ever. The S.T.A.R.S team, consisting of Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Albert Wesker, and the greatest character in the series, Barry Burton, and some other guys, who are trapped in the Spencer Mansion in the Arklay Mountains, which is filled with zombies and monsters. The entire mansion is so creepy. The dark rooms, the caverns, the outside courtyard, and the lab that is underneath that became a thing with every Resident Evil game. The game looks pretty beautiful as well. Sure, the backgrounds are pre rendered, but they still look amazing to me. The monsters are also so much better. I plan on doing a major review on this game soon, so I won’t talk about it much here. I’ll gush about it completely in the review instead. But, for now, the best remake in video games. At least in my eyes.
#1: Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
If it wasn’t Wind Waker, it would probably be this game. And that’s to be believed. Twilight Princess has Link travel across Hyrule with his new partner, Midna the imp, as they try to stop an evil madman by the name of Zant, who has taken control over Hyrule with his unique Shadow Monsters (I forgot their names) after getting his power from the evil Ganondorf. The story is about what you’d expect, only much darker. Now, I don’t think this is the best dark Zelda game. I think Majora’s Mask did the whole dark setting a little bit better, but damn if Twilight Princess isn’t impressive. It has so much that the original didn’t have. Much newer items to use to solve puzzles, new ideas for creative dungeons, and probably one of the best villains in the Zelda franchise, a man who appears to be all calm and collective, but is really a crazy person that doesn’t have mental control. Midna is also the best companion in the entire franchise, with her personality being sarcastic, but also being caring for others around her that she learns from Link and Zelda. The game was also released on the Wii with a flipped overworld to help put the sword in Link’s right hand. A simple but very effective change if you ask me. Twilight Princess is just such an amazing game. Great story, incredible characters, and some of the best dungeons in the franchise and a new way to tell the story, it’s easily one of the best Gamecube games ever (Aside from Resident Evil 4 and Wind Waker of course)
Well, that about does it. Did you enjoy the list? Tell me what you thought of it. With that said, I will see you all next time.
#10: Viewtiful Joe
We’ll start the list with one of the five Capcom games planned for the Gamecube (A plan that failed miserably when three games were released on PS2 later and one of them wasn’t even released.) The game follows an average joe, by the name of Joe (Ha). While at the movies with his girlfriend Silvia, a large robot pulls Silvia into the movie, and Joe follows them in, where he becomes the superhero named Viewtiful Joe. You then travel across the movie world looking for the main villain. You’re able to speed up and slow down time to beat up enemies and solve puzzles in the game. There’s eventually this one Zoom In thing, but I only used it for puzzles and the occasional boss battle. The cel shading on this game looks pretty good, and it is pretty impressive to look at even today. That’s the best thing about these cel shading games. Wind Waker, Jet Set Radio, and many of the Shin Megami Tensei games are all still visually pleasing than games today because of this style, and Viewtiful Joe is no exception. Another thing about this game is how hard it is. It isn’t Dark Souls hard, but there are some times that this game can be a bit unforgiving, yet it never gets to a point where it’s completely unfair. It still manages to be challenging and fun, and that is exactly what I want in a beat ‘em up game.
#9: Pikmin
When I first got my hands on Pikmin, I wasn’t really expecting much. I mean, it just looked like some sort of gardening game with aliens. I’m sure it would have some charm, but nothing more. Thankfully, those doubts were dashed when I played Pikmin. You play as an astronaut named Olimar, who is stranded on an alien planet with his ship’s part scattered across it. Here, he meets a race of aliens called Pikmin, weak and frail creatures who are not able to protect themselves from harm. So, Olimar decides to help these creatures defend themselves while Olimar searches the dangerous planet for his ships parts to get back home. It was such a charming game that I had a lot of fun with. You really connect with the little Pikmin and want to help them survive, just as they want to help you get back home. You both help each other out on this planet filled with predators wanting to eat the Pikmin and attack you, and you do what you can to keep them safe while they fight to protect you. Sure, I joked about how Olimar was a tyrant who ordered them to die for him, but I’m sure that’s not at all what Nintendo meant to put… Just like they never meant to make Tom Nook an angry loan shark.Oh, and speaking of Animal Crossing…
#8: Animal Crossing
I always loved the Sims and I did play a bit of Harvest Moon, so when I saw that there was a life simulator with animals at the young age of eight, I thought to myself, “This game looks neat.” And neat it was. This game isn’t all that story heavy. You’re just a guy who goes to a small town with animals, becomes a member of it, and tries to just live your everyday life while making friends with all your neighbors. That’s about it really. And yet, with such a simple concept, it still manages to be one of the best games out there. What amazes me is how much fun a person can have with this game by doing the very things you’d never want to do in reality. Pulling weeds, shaking trees, working to pay off loans. No one wants to do that in the real world, and yet, in Animal Crossing, you want to do all those things. You want to do them so you can make money. You want pay off loans just so you can do more with your house. It’s odd to imagine, but that’s how the game works, and it works in the best way possible.
#7: Luigi’s Mansion
I’m so happy that this game was able to get a sequel on the 3DS. It makes me so happy. But, we’re talking about the original Gamecube version. In this game, instead of playing as Mario, you play as his less popular younger brother, Luigi. Luigi won a contest that he never entered for a mansion. As it turns out, the mansion is haunted and overrun by ghosts, that scientist by the name of Professor E. Gadd has been trying to capture. So, Luigi steps up to capture the ghosts and find Mario, who he finds out is trapped in the mansion. This was probably the first horror game I played, and I gotta admit, the dark atmosphere and the ghosts that could appear at any second is a little scary. But, when I play it today, it’s just a fun little game about capturing ghosts. There are many different bosses to face and many different endings depending on how much money you collect while inside the mansion. If I had one problem with the game, it’s that it’s too short. The game can be completed within a few hours, and I wish it was a little longer. But, no matter what, it still manages to be a great game that I always enjoy playing, even if it’s not as popular as other Mario games.
#6: Metroid Prime
Yes, I put Metroid Prime at number six. I don’t know. I guess that most of the other games, I have a nostalgic attachment to. Metroid Prime, I got only a few months ago. I had no history with Metroid Prime when I bought it and there is not much I can talk about with this. But don’t get me wrong, Metroid Prime is an amazing game. I love this game very much. You play as Samus as she travels across different areas, fighting massive bosses, while also being able to find the story around you. This game doesn’t give you much of the story. It makes you scan items to find out the story yourself. It doesn’t tell the story, it only tells it if you care enough to see it, and that is what I love about this game. The fighting with the blaster and the several different power ups is also really fun to use, and the bosses in this game are some of the best I’ve seen in a Metroid game. I don’t play many Metroid games, so my logic of the lore with these games are pretty limited, but from what I’ve seen in Metroid Prime, I can tell that I have been missing out big time on what seems to be a great franchise.
#5: Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes
Some timer after buying my Gamecube, my older brother came home with a Playstation 1 he bought from a yard sale on his way home, all of them complete with games. Those games were SimCity 2000, Rugrats: Studio Tour, Final Fantasy VII (Sudden turn in game quality), and Metal Gear Solid…. We all only played Final Fantasy VII and never touched the other games. It was a shame, because after playing Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes, I missed out big time. Twin Snakes is a remake of the original Metal Gear Solid on the Playstation, where you play as Solid Snake, who must infiltrate Shadow Moses, and destroy the Metal Gear that is in the hands of FOXHOUND. The remake has enhanced graphics, new cutscenes that were created, and even more game mechanics that weren’t in the original game. I always loved the Metal Gear Solid franchise, and being able to play a visually advanced version of one of the best Playstation games of all time is just so much fun. The story, gameplay, and characters are some of the best in gaming, and I hope to see more Metal Gear Solid…. Note, I said Metal Gear Solid. I never want to see Metal Gear Survive ever again.
#4: Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Probably the most obscure game on this list, Eternal Darkness follows a woman by the name of Alexandra, whose grandfather is mysteriously killed. While she explore her uncle's mansion, she finds a book about a Roman soldier who is lead into a tomb by voices and becomes an undead warriors for the Darkness, which, if they are released into the world, they will devour the souls of the living and turn the world into darkness. This was one of the most unique horror games that I have ever played, and for one thing that everyone actually knows this game for; The Sanity Meter. This little thing is both the best thing about this game, but also your worst nightmare in it. The Sanity Meter will start up high, and everything will be fine. But, as things get worse, your Sanity Meter will begin to drop. If it does, many things will happen, including the walls bleeding, your character losing their head, and who could forget that part where the game tricks you into thinking that it’s deleting your memory card. This horror game actually makes you think your going crazy, and I love it so much. It’s easily one of the best horror games I’ve ever played, and this little Sanity Meter is the very reason for it.
#3: Super Smash Bros. Melee
Sure, by today's standards, Super Smash Bros. Melee is dated. It isn’t as advanced with it’s combat, and some of the characters are just reskins of other characters. But damn if it wasn’t the talk in elementary school back in the day. Super Smash Bros. follows a simple concept. Nintendo characters are trophies and are given life just so they can beat the crap out of each other. That’s it. And it worked so well. You have dozens of characters to collect, many stages to unlock, and a LOT of trophies that you need to do some crazy things to get. These trophies could take people a long time to collect, but they always had to get all of them. That is some dedication. There is also a lot of variety with modes. Story, Battle, Tournament, Training, Targets, and of course, four player split screen mode, which is the best thing to have if you ever want to invite three other friends over. And who could ever forget the hammer, where you can send your opponents flying across the screen. Everyone in a match will be scrambling to get there hands on that hammer, I can assure you that. Super Smash Bros. Melee is a multiplayer game just begging for complete chaos between friends. It may be dated now, but it was one of the biggest games of the time.
#2: Resident Evil
If you thought Twin Snakes was a great video game remake, Resident Evil is THE great video game remake. This is the one that topped all remakes. The original Resident Evil is laughable today. I mean, just watch some videos of the voice acting and you can see just how bad it really is. A few years later, Resident Evil got remade for the Gamecube. And it was the greatest thing ever. The S.T.A.R.S team, consisting of Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Albert Wesker, and the greatest character in the series, Barry Burton, and some other guys, who are trapped in the Spencer Mansion in the Arklay Mountains, which is filled with zombies and monsters. The entire mansion is so creepy. The dark rooms, the caverns, the outside courtyard, and the lab that is underneath that became a thing with every Resident Evil game. The game looks pretty beautiful as well. Sure, the backgrounds are pre rendered, but they still look amazing to me. The monsters are also so much better. I plan on doing a major review on this game soon, so I won’t talk about it much here. I’ll gush about it completely in the review instead. But, for now, the best remake in video games. At least in my eyes.
#1: Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
If it wasn’t Wind Waker, it would probably be this game. And that’s to be believed. Twilight Princess has Link travel across Hyrule with his new partner, Midna the imp, as they try to stop an evil madman by the name of Zant, who has taken control over Hyrule with his unique Shadow Monsters (I forgot their names) after getting his power from the evil Ganondorf. The story is about what you’d expect, only much darker. Now, I don’t think this is the best dark Zelda game. I think Majora’s Mask did the whole dark setting a little bit better, but damn if Twilight Princess isn’t impressive. It has so much that the original didn’t have. Much newer items to use to solve puzzles, new ideas for creative dungeons, and probably one of the best villains in the Zelda franchise, a man who appears to be all calm and collective, but is really a crazy person that doesn’t have mental control. Midna is also the best companion in the entire franchise, with her personality being sarcastic, but also being caring for others around her that she learns from Link and Zelda. The game was also released on the Wii with a flipped overworld to help put the sword in Link’s right hand. A simple but very effective change if you ask me. Twilight Princess is just such an amazing game. Great story, incredible characters, and some of the best dungeons in the franchise and a new way to tell the story, it’s easily one of the best Gamecube games ever (Aside from Resident Evil 4 and Wind Waker of course)
Well, that about does it. Did you enjoy the list? Tell me what you thought of it. With that said, I will see you all next time.
