Nintendo went all out on the GameCube’s hardware. It was a graphical powerhouse with Nintendo IPs to help support it.
While it ended up not being a mega hit, it was a mega hit to the fans. The GameCube introduced us to many unique and innovative games that we might not have seen without the system.
We witnessed some companies like Capcom bring exclusives with the Resident Evil series. Who would’ve thought Nintendo could pry them from Sony? The PS2 only outsold it because it was also a DVD player, and I’m standing by that point.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
One of the greatest survival horror titles ever is trapped on the GambeCube, which is the only way to play it.
Following different characters through different time periods mixed with the sanity meter made Eternal Darkness stand out in the survival horror genre and GameCube. The game would pop up fake errors. The game would say your controller disconnected or say it was erasing your save file. Eternal Darkness had the perfect mix of puzzles and combat.
An innovative title with twelve playable characters spanning over thousands of years deserves a remake.
Viewtiful Joe
Viewtiful Joe didn’t look like anything else on the market. It was fresh and very creative.
The visuals were striking, and the graphics were cel-shaded in comic book style. With a relatable, charismatic main character and a story that had a strong sense of style and personality. It helped redefine action games by creatively using side-scrolling action and time manipulation. The combat was treated like a puzzle; you had to use creative problem-solving with your abilities to beat enemies.
Lovable characters, innovative, action-packed gameplay, and a strong sense of style helped Viewtiful Joe create a strong and loyal fan base.
Resident Evil 4
Leon returned as a grizzled vet and not the rookie we once knew. Horrors awaited him, but he took care of it with the style of an action movie.
Resident Evil 4 is the series’ peak; nothing compared until Capcom rebooted the franchise with Resident Evil 7. It perfected the third-person shooter and action game all in one title. The scares were still there, but Leon felt more capable of tackling the situation.
This was exclusive to the GameCube, and it moved systems. Action-packed perfection.
Follow us on MSN for more of the content you love.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
I remember the discourse over the art style during the announcement of Wind Waker, but Nintendo delivered another classic.
We were introduced to a vast, open world to sail around. It featured great dungeons with challenging puzzles. Sailing around made you feel like you were discovering things that had never been seen before. Ganondorf is portrayed with more depth than we have ever seen up to this point in the series. The cartoonish cel-shaded graphics have aged well and helped to make this Legend of Zelda game timeless.
Wind Waker wasn’t afraid to be different, and we love it for that reason. We desperately need a Switch port of the game.
Metroid Prime
With the GameCube pushing the limits of graphics, it felt like a new era. The new era meant a new look for the Metroid series.
The GameCube brought Metroid to modern 3D graphics in the form of a first-person shooter. It translated the series perfectly to first person. The boss fights were epic, and the puzzles were challenging. The sense of isolation and discovery truly feels like it is being performed in an alien world. The world was richly detailed and an amazing sight. Metroid Prime was visually impressive, and the gameplay was top-notch. It became a fan favorite in the Metroid series.
Nintendo made an innovative entry into the Metroid series that fans still love. All thanks to the GameCube.
Pikmin 2
Pikmin was a strange concept that Nintendo fans fell in love with. The sequel was even better.
Removing the thirty-minute timer of the first game meant fans could explore at their own pace. We also got new environments like caves, which were challenging dungeons. Optimizing strategies during revisits of areas was encouraged to gain better performance and rewards. Having two characters made it easier to multitask challenges.
Pikmin 2 is a GameCube title that really showcased that Nintendo could create unique and memorable experiences.
Super Mario Sunshine
A divisive Mario title still has a place on this list.
Following up on Super Mario 64 was a tough task. That might be why the team decided to do something so different for the GameCube Mario title. FLUDD was a water-spraying rechargeable backpack that added a lot of different mechanics to Mario. It was one of the few games in the series with extensive voice acting. Spraying down enemies and flying around with FLUDD was a fun experience.
Super Mario Sunshine might not be the best Mario game, but it is one of the GameCube’s best titles.
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
The series gets a 3D upgrade with a well-written story and great strategic combat.
Fans of the GBA games could rejoice because the console version of Fire Emblem finally hit the market. Its long, difficult battles could have a hold on you for hours.
This was a good jumping-on point for new players, and boy, did they jump on. It was widely considered the best Strategy RPG to be released. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is one of the best RPGs players can experience on the GameCube.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
More modes and characters proved bigger is better with the Super Smash Bros. sequel.
Nintendo could’ve never guessed the cultural impact the Melee would have on the fighting game scene. Going from twelve playable characters to twenty-five was a big jump, and it felt like everyone was included. There were tons of unlockables and secrets to find while playing all the different modes. Competitive Smash players still play Melee even to this day, as long as Nintendo doesn’t block it from being played in the tournament.
Super Smash Bros. Melee was some of the most fun you could have with four players on your couch.
Resident Evil
The original remake of Resident Evil being exclusive to the GameCube was a big deal, and it is still one of the best remakes ever made.
No one will forget seeing the REmake being announced. The graphics and gameplay were jaw dropping. The GameCube was a graphical powerhouse, and Capcom made sure we saw it as such. With quality-of-life fixes and adding a bit of content, Capcom made sure the DNA of the original was there, but they improved everything about it. The remake is so well done that fans still think it doesn’t need a modern remake because this version is still available, and it is perfect.
Who would’ve guessed that Nintendo would house some of the best survival horror games of that era?
Follow us on MSN for more of the content you love.
Read More:
Leave a Reply