This is not a forum game its an article to by the way.
The Ultimate Library
From the launch of the system to the present, we list all of the must-have games for Nintendo's console.
by Juan Castro and Matt Casamassina
February 2005 - Nintendo's tiny, powerful console has been resting comfortably in the homes of consumers for four years now. The platform has amassed a library of hundreds of games, including spectacular first and third party hits in just about every genre. With hundreds of titles to choose from, two things are certain: first, the chances are good that veteran gamers may have unwittingly passed over a beauty at one time or another during the system's life cycle. And second, newcomers to GameCube have missed dozens and dozens of truly remarkable games.
Just because we care, we've gone back to the launch of GameCube in 2001 and retraced the days and months through to the present. In doing so, we created what we consider to be the ultimate list of absolutely must-own GameCube titles. There are some no-brainers in this ongoing feature. What self-respecting GameCube owner wouldn't already know about The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker? But in the days ahead, there will also be some surprises -- some overlooked gems that would make worthy additions to any GCN owner's library.
Below, we list 10 of the biggest, most popular, and highest rated GameCube games to date. These are the cream of the crop. The get-at-all-costs. The ones hardcore gamers and newcomers to Nintendo's console alike cannot live without.
We will update the feature frequently with 10 new games until the list is complete. So without further ado, we present viewers the Greatest GameCube Games Ever Made:
Metroid Prime
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Retro Studios
Genre: Action Adventure
Original Release Date: November 18, 2002
MSRP: $19.99
With Metroid Prime, Retro Studios reinvented a classic franchise for a new generation of gamers. Foregoing its 2D roots, Retro Studios designed Metroid Prime as a first person adventure. Certain gamers scoffed at the notion of Samus in 3D, and in the first person no less, but all fears and concerns subsided mere moments after playing the game. It delivered one of the most genuinely atmospheric and thoroughly engrossing experiences ever created for a home console. And the more one thinks about it, it's actually one of the most engrossing virtual experiences ever produced. It sports jaw dropping visuals and fantastic sound, not to mention innovative design and an impressive attention to detail. The boss battles were also wicked cool, boasting impressive size and design. A definite must have for GameCube owners.
Resident Evil 4
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action Adventure
Original Release Date: January 11, 2005
MSRP: $49.99
From an aesthetic standpoint, no title in the GameCube library comes close to matching the level of visceral flair in Resident Evil 4. It smokes just about every other game in existence, for that matter. But it's not just graphics that make Resident Evil 4 one of the best games of this generation, it's the finely tuned game mechanics, story and music, too. Capcom combined the best aspects of the series, namely the creepy atmosphere and story arch, to create a fast-paced jaunt through infested castles, villages and strongholds. The retooled camera and game engine make for some fantastic shootouts, not to mention the grizzliest death animations ever created. Also, the new item inventory system adds a welcome amount of strategic depth. And the new save system will help ease players into all the new changes - no more hoarding ink cartridges, you can save as many times as you want, provided there's a typewriter nearby. A perfect game to show off the Cube.
Viewtiful Joe
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom Production Studio 4
Genre: Fighting Action
Original Release Date: October 7, 2003
MSRP: $19.99
Now here's a game that commands the attention of any onlooker. It's not that Viewtiful Joe looks so ::Dolphin Noise:: cool, although it does; it's that it embraces a funky side to gaming that most developers seem to shy away from. It bucks the trend of any 2D sidescroller on the market, past or present. Just the fact that it's in 2D is a major shift in modern gaming trends. By mixing this with super tight controls, kick ::Dolphin Noise:: action and ultra-funk level design, the developers birthed a retro game of the highest caliber. The insane difficultly level also harkened back to games of old, and only the most stalwart of gamers ever made it to the end on the "Adult" difficulty setting. While somewhat short, Viewtfiul Joe dished out hours of satisfying action, not to mention some of the funniest (and frustrating) boss encounters ever seen.
Wave Race: Blue Storm
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: NST
Genre: Racing
Original Release Date:November 18, 2001
MSRP: $19.99
Every Nintendo fan has fond memories of Wave Race 64, which appeared on the late Nintendo 64. At the time, it featured the most realistic wave physics ever seen in a console game. It really felt as though the virtual characters on screen were jetting through enormous waves. The stages boasted various weather conditions, all of which greatly affected the race. Tearing through the water on a stormy day would cause the waves to rock your jet ski, where calm skies would let you race through gracefully. Wave Race: Blue Storm doesn't innovate much when compared to its predecessor, but it's a fine-tuned remake of a classic game. Players can customize their racers to fit a specific style and race in all-new environments, including Aspen Lake, Ocean City Harbor and Southern Island. It's also one of the prettiest aquatic racing games, hands down.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Genre: Fighting
Original Release Date: December 3, 2001
MSRP: $29.99
The original Super Smash Bros., released on the Nintendo 64, sold over five million copies worldwide. And for good reason: it's one of the most addictive brawlers ever made. Nintendo released a sequel, Super Smash Bros. Melee, shortly after the launch of the GameCube system. It addicted gamers all over again. The game features some 14 playable characters, with 11 more hidden. Not a bad number of franchise brawlers. Players could rock 18 familiar stages ripped from Metroid, Super Mario Bros. , The Legend of Zelda and other famous franchises. Super Smash Bros. Melee also included an all-new single-player mode where gamers could take characters through a sidescrolling adventure. The game also looked amazing. Even by current standards, the game's style and level of polish never fails to impress. Furthermore, it's an excellent stress reliever and a great title to own incase friends drop by unannounced.
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Action Adventure
Original Release Date: March 25, 2003
MSRP: $19.99
Undoubtedly one of the most controversial titles in the Zelda series, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker also happens to be one of the best. Sure, it looks kiddie. And yes, there's an absolute lack of gore and a "mature" storyline, but the game delivered what fans have always loved about the series: exploration, puzzles and riveting combat. The dungeons never fail to intrigue, and neither do the boss battles. In fact, the bosses in Wind Waker were probably some of coolest in any Zelda title. Continuing the music theme, players would control the weather using a magical instrument called the Wind Waker, which helped them navigate a vast ocean. It could have been total gimmick, but it worked remarkably well and fit the overall theme, tone and style of the game. Players could spend hours just sailing the open seas in search of buried treasure. Few titles let a gamer revel in digital artistry, yet Wind Waker openly invited gamers to freely explore several islands filled with obstacles, monsters and quaint towns brimming with life.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Silicon Knights
Genre: Action Adventure
Original Release Date: June 24, 2002
MSRP: $14.99 at some retailers
While not exactly a survival horror game, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem fills a void in the GameCube library. The Silicon Knights developed psychological thriller tossed gamers through 20 centuries of intrigue and terror, not to mention combat and puzzle solving. There's no game quite like it on the GameCube. Players assumed the role of Alexandra Roivas, a young woman whose grandfather's body has been found mutilated and torn apart. In pursuit of answers, players would take the role of 12 different characters, taking each through different eras. From modern times to Ancient Rome, players needed to solve cleverly designed puzzles and battle undead enemies to unravel the Roivas family mystery. The combat system deserves special note, as it let players target specific body parts and hack them off. The game's spell system also impressed with fantastic particle effects, not to mention variety and design. One of the scariest games on the Cube, and one of the best games on the system all around.
Pikmin
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Strategy
Original Release Date: December 3, 2001
MSRP: $19.99
Definitely one of the most unique and innovative games on the Cube, Pikmin marks the only original property from Nintendo this generation. By commanding a vast army of intelligent plants, players needed to confront the supposedly unseen challenges found within the average backyard. What first looked like an average real time strategy game, Pikmin delivered super slick puzzle design and genuinely innovative gameplay. In order to clear objectives, for example, players needed to raise different types of Pikmin, with each class specializing in different jobs. Eventually, players would amass a multihued legion of Pikmin with which to lift and move objects, and to battle giant insects. The formula provided hours of entertainment -- intellectually and with regards to visuals, sound and general polish.
Soul Calibur II
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Fighting
Original Release Date: August 27, 2003
MSRP: $19.99
Unquestionably the best "traditional" fighting game on the GameCube. To be fair, Soul Calibur II doesn't revolutionize the formula set by its predecessor. Then again, the original Soul Calibur was ::Dolphin Noise:: near perfect. For starters, Soul Calibur II features refined control, a must for any fighting game of worth. It also deepens the level of strategy through a complex, yet flexible combo system. Weapons also factored in quite a bit. Of course, the coolest addition to Soul Calibur II on the GameCube was the inclusion of Link as a playable character. For those who remember, Link appeared just as he did in the old Space World 2000 demo: older and ready to kick a whole lot of ::Dolphin Noise::. The best fighter on the system and a must own for Cube enthusiasts.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Genre: Action Adventure
Original Release Date: November 18, 2003
MSRP: $19.99
It's a safe bet most GameCube fans love platformers. Well, it simply doesn't get any better than Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Like Metroid Prime, Prince takes a classic formula and updates it with modern design, visuals and sound. Fans of the original game will cry tears of joy as they swing, leap and run across walls to avoid traps. The puzzles, a vital aspect in any adventure, reflect the utmost care in terms of design - logically challenging without too much frustration. The combat, while the least polished aspect of the game, still offered plenty of satisfying action. But where the game really stood out was in level design. The developers masterfully created each area, with each displayed beautifully through sharp textures, awesome lighting and smooth animation.
~ this has been an article by IGN
