GameCube Feature – Part 1

The GameCube was a console with a few ups and plenty of downs amongst the gaming world but ultimately, to those loyal Nintendo fans including most if not all of the Vooks community, was a system with some of the best software we have seen in any generation. Inside we have 5 long-time members discussing what they thought were the Top 10 GameCube Games. Zelda saw the darker side of fans when it took on a cel-shaded approach that worked out in the end. The classic 2-D Scroller Metroid took its first step into the 3-D realm and became a game that put Halo to shame. There were a couple of disappointments; Super Mario Sunshine was not a fan favourite and the Star Fox series took a dive.

As the GameCubes life draws to a close this Holiday season when Nintendos next generation console, the Wii will be released worldwide we thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on a history of entertainment by compiling our Top 10 GameCube Games. This week we look at 10 to 6.

10
Forum Member: Spirit (Sean Jones)
Title: Reviewer
Game: F Zero GX

Im not sure what was so good about this game. Oh wait, yes I do. It was faster than Sonic by about a thousand miles and still looked fantastic at such explosive speeds. F Zero GX is a Racer first and foremost where its your job to come first in every race. Sega however decided to throw in a Mission Mode and the ability to customise your own vehicle as well as some nifty little cut scenes here and there. Did I mention SEGA were behind this title? With any luck Nintendo will get SEGA back on the helm for an F Zero Wii.

Forum Member: NX Monkey
Title: Reviewer
Game: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

The flames of Fire Emblem were finally reignited on the GameCube in the first console instalment of the series since the days of the Super Nintendo. The GCN version delivers new units and new strategy plus everything that is familiar and favoured about the gameplay. Couple that with beautifully rendered CG battle sequences and Path of Radiance is arguably one of the best instalments in the series yet, and an amicable title for the GameCube.

Forum Member: ENKC
Title: Member/ Contributor Reviewer
Game: Metroid Prime

Much of what Ive said about Resident Evil 4 also applies here. Im not much of a fan myself, but I can still appreciate Prime as the all-conquering masterpiece of gaming design it was and is. Retro Studios took on the difficult task of not only resurrecting gamings most legendary heroin, but also bringing the distinctive Metroid gameplay into the third dimension.

They succeeded admirably. To this day, Prime and its sequels remain a genre unto themselves. A far cry from mindless sci-fi shooters like Halo, their mix of problem solving, exploration and a unique method of storytelling make games that Samus herself would love to play. What a pity she only has one hand.

Forum Member: Ninja Catfish
Title: Long Standing Member
Game: Dancing Stage: Mario Mix

I know not many people will agree with me here, but this is one fun game with friends. I brought this to a get-together once and it was played for hours! I barely got to play it myself! It may not please all people, some people are put off by the Mario elements like characters and music style, and some are not. This game is simply fun for almost anyone, easily accessible by the most casual of casuals. This game s very much on par with Donkey Konga, the only reason that DS:MM beat DKa is that I have tested it in a social environment, something which I have yet to do with DKa.

Forum Member: Takora (Andrew Proudley)
Title: Long Standing Member
Game: Soul Calibur 2

Soul Calibur 2 was an excellent fighting game, one of the best on the Cube. It stunned me graphically, it had amazing gameplay and it had a bunch of game modes. My favourite part of this game however was the Weapon Master mode – while teaching you how to play it gave you difficult challenges and weapon unlockables to use in the normal game modes. Brilliant.

9
Forum Member: Spirit (Sean Jones)
Game: Prince of Persia: Two Thrones

Now I have to admit something. I never quite finished this game but I tried, oh did I try. In the brief time I play this game however I was left with an impression that is very rarely left. Prince of Persia was brutal and action packed, sneaking up behind enemies and stabbing them in the neck becoming one of my favourite aspects of this game. Perhaps if I had spent more time with it the game would be placed higher but until the next version already promised to be coming to the Wii, a Top 10 position will suffice enough.

Forum Member: NX Monkey
Game: Mario Power Tennis

Another sequel to a N64 fan favourite, Power Tennis combined the fluent gameplay of its predecessor with an all-new twist in the form of insane power shots. Again this is one of Nintendos multiplayer gems and its a ball playing doubles in what is quite literally souped up tennis with your friends. Simple to pick up and play but difficult to master Mario Power Tennis is an example of simple addictive Nintendo style fun.

Forum Member: ENKC
Game: Resident Evil 4

The way most gamers bang on about this, youd think it was a cross between an all expenses paid date with Shiggy and the second coming. Im not a fan myself, but I can appreciate why it scooped every award imaginable in 2005. Discarding the outmoded traditions of the series, Capcom started from scratch to create an action game unrivalled in its intensity.

Featuring quite simply the most awe-inspiring graphics of its generation, RE 4 was a non-stop thrill ride of gunplay, brilliant scripted sequences and the occasional scary bit. The action and violence were utterly relentless and the enemies were both intelligent and ruthless. It wasnt intellectual, but it did what it did better than any game before or since.

Forum Member: Ninja Catfish
Game: Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Similar to Wind Waker, this title didnt manage to dethrone its predecessor, but damn it is still a fun game. I often grab it out at small get-togethers and even non-gamers enjoy playing it. Everyone loves Mario Kart, its a fact. Except for those too shallow to try it out because it looks kiddy or is on Nintendo. Whenever Mario Kart is mentioned, almost 90% of the time people have good memories. This was the Mario Kart game I spent the most time with, and its the one I still grab out every now and then for a bash.

Forum Member: Takora (Andrew Proudley)
Game: Mario Kart Double Dash!!

This game was my first foray into the Mario Kart series, and I loved it. The courses were fun to just race around on, blasting all your opponents with shells. However, I loved the multiplayer modes most – I can’t remember how many hours my brother and I played battle mode and raced each other in the Grand Prix mode.

8
Forum Member: Spirit (Sean Jones)
Game: Super Mario Sunshine

I remember the first time playing this I was blown away by the impressive graphics that stood before me. Im a sucker for colourful worlds rather than photo realistic forests like Oblivion and Mario Sunshine was the brightest any game will ever get. While the FLUDD system took a little bit of getting used to Sunshine was full of excitement and odd dialogue when Bowser Jr announced that Peach was his Mum.

Forum Member: NX Monkey
Game: Tales of Symphonia

The epic RPG and instalment in the Namco tales series that graced the GameCube. TOS provided RPG lovers with hours upon hours of action, with an engrossing real time battle system and a multitude of side quests. Although let down a little by some low quality voice acting, TOS was one of the most celebrated RPGs on the GameCube, especially since up to 4 players could enjoy the adventure together. In terms of content, quests and playtime Tales of Symphonia is a truly epic adventure.

Forum Member: ENKC
Game: Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee

Apart from having one of the most interesting acronyms ever (God: DAMM), Godzilla has plenty else going for it. Some loved it; many panned it. Im one of the former. The ancient art of little Japanese men in rubber suits pretending to be big stompy monsters was crying out for a decent gaming conversion, and DAMM was the first to deliver.

Ramping up the silliness and throwing realism out the window, the game was all the better for it. A fitting homage to half a century of Godzilla films, it gathered together many of his famous friends and foes to hurl apartment blocks, cargo ships and miscellaneous large objects at each other. Despite having more cheese than Switzerland, it still featured a surprisingly deep and truly unique fighting system. An under-rated gem.

Forum Member: Ninja Catfish
Game: Resident Evil

Upon release, this was one of the best looking games ever made. People thought the cinematics in the PSX game were good, and this game looked even better during game play! It made a good game better, it was fresh with enough new ideas for it to warrant another play by RE veterans, and was a good enough game in its own right for those new to the series. Rather than simply make the original look nicer, Capcom went the whole way and created complete new areas, and tweaked existing ones to make this the best version of Resident Evil to date.

Forum Member: Takora (Andrew Proudley)
Game: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

A game that got a lot of attention over its graphics, The Wind Waker was a wonderful experience. Those who could look past its cel-shaded look could find a truly compelling game. While it was no Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker was a top-notch Zelda experience.

7
Forum Member: Spirit (Sean Jones)
Game: Tales of Symphonia

This game surprised me the most and surprised most Nintendo fans I am sure. From the creative minds at Namco came this game that also featured cel shaded graphics but also anime cut scenes which unfortunately were only used vacantly at the very end of the game. TOS gave you full control over your battles and allowed up to Four players to jump in and help you strategically defeat your enemies. A lasting game of over a hundred hours as well made it just that more special.

Forum Member: NX Monkey
Game: Timesplitters 2

It didnt come straight from Nintendo, but most of the team that worked on an old favourite, Goldeneye, were in the employ of Free Radical at the time of this games creation. Zany characters including monkeys and zombie clowns, it was another memorable multiplayer bash. The gameplay was everything classic and lovable about shooters, in fact it was perfect. Couple vast numbers of multiplayer options with a freakish amount of single player challenges to complete and you have the best frag-fest on the GameCube.

Forum Member: ENKC
Game: Super Smash Bros Melee

What more do you need to know about Smash Bros? Its place on this list is so obvious it requires no explanation. But heres one anyway. Building on the N64 original and massively expanding upon it, SSBM is a treasure trove of every character, object, world and everything else imaginable from Nintendos formidable gaming history.

If the gameplay had existed without any of the licensing, it would still be a minor multiplayer favourite. But when you add the best the Big N has to offer into the mix, its like pumping pure, high-grade Ninty fanboyism directly into your veins. Its fast, furious, absolutely flipping enormous and looks darn good to boot. One of the greatest multiplayer titles ever made.

Forum Member: Ninja Catfish
Game: F-Zero GX

A word of warning, do not play this if you take failure badly. You will be seeing the Game Over screen a lot. But if you persevere, this is certainly a game that will test your skill and reflexes. Other platforms have their contenders to the futuristic high speed racing crown, but never has the illusion of speed been so great than in F-Zero GX. You actually feel like youre going at the speed that the speedometer tells you youre going, rather than the screen saying 700KPH and feeling like 60.

Forum Member: Takora (Andrew Proudley)
Game: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

Paper Mario might seem like an odd idea, but the way it was implemented was genius. All of the Paper abilities Mario gamed were great, the game was long and challenging, and the Badge system worked well. One of the Cube’s best RPGs.

6
Forum Member: Spirit (Sean Jones)
Game: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

I was strongly considering not putting this on the list at all. Maybe it was the fact Retro Studios told us everything about this game before it came out or the fact it was smaller and shorter than the original, despite a promise of it being more open. In the end I cant deny this game from a honest placement on my Top 10. Metroid Prime 2 tried something different by adding an ammo system of which I applaud it for and took the series into a whole new universe of adventure, bringing new characters in Samus usual isolated existence.

Forum Member: NX Monkey
Game: F-Zero GX

Nintendo lending out one of its favourite franchises to Sega could have been the best possible choice to make. F-zero is the very best racer on the cube and in my opinion on of the hardest games to master. The game captures the very essence of speed and plants it firmly into your Nintendo GameCube system. Sure its damn hard sometimes the satisfaction of victory is unparalleled. No other game will push you to your limits like F-Zero GX. With near perfected gameplay F-Zero was the must have title for the racing enthusiast on the GameCube.

Forum Member: ENKC
Game: Aggressive Inline

It would be easy to pass off Aggressive Inline as merely Tony Hawk on rollerblades. In truth, when this game came out between Pro Skaters 3 and 4, it did a lot of revolutionary things. The huge change for the better from Pro Skater 3 to 4 is in large part due to ripping off ideas from Aggressive Inline.

Sure it was glitchy as hell and for everything it did better than Tony Hawks, it did something worse. But it was an innovative title that changed the genre permanently. And it had a brilliant (though short) soundtrack which used Hoobastanks Crawling in the Dark as its theme song. That alone qualifies it for this list.

Forum Member: Ninja Catfish
Game: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Unfortunately many people were too put off by the new cel-shading graphics style used in this game, and these people prevented themselves from experiencing a truly good game. It might not reach the pinnacle of Ocarina of Time, but its still damn good. This new graphics style allows for such expression with the characters, real emotion can be expressed through their exaggerated facial features etc. Plus this childish image meant that you could lose yourself in pure fun, an attitude not influenced by the worries of adulthood.

Forum Member: Takora (Andrew Proudley)
Game: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

A turn-based strategy RPG set in the world of Tellius, Fire Emblem PoR was an incredibly fun game to play. It was easy to pick up, but hard to master. I also liked the fact that if one of your characters died, they were lost forever. This added some difficulty to the game, and was an incentive to be extra careful with all your characters.

Check back next week for the Final 5 as well as your chance to decide what were the Top 10 GameCube games. Forum registration will be required for participation.