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Nintendo has sold more than 20 million Wii consoles worldwide since launching its motion-controlled sensation in Nov. 2006. The system has become a global phenomenon, and over the next few months, it is likely Wii will eclipse the total worldwide hardware sales of Nintendo’s last console, the ill-fated and underappreciated GameCube.
What took GameCube six years to achieve, Wii will have surpassed in less than two. But negative connotations stemming from GameCube’s relatively disappointing sales should not necessarily be reflected upon its software. Despite its smaller market share, GameCube hosted some of the best exclusive titles of the last half-decade.
Given Wii’s remarkable sales figures, it seems safe to assume that many Wii owners missed out on GameCube. Fortunately for gamers incognizant of the satisfaction to be found within tiny purple cubes, Wii is compatible with all GameCube software. Landmark GameCube releases from years gone by can be played on Wii and enjoyed by players who may have never had a chance to experience them.
On Saturday’s edition of Infendo Radio, Blake and Scott discussed this topic when listener Paul phoned in asking for their GameCube recommendations. Their guidance is included in this list of the best GameCube games for ‘Cube-deprived Nintendo newcomers.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Millions have wholeheartedly fallen into the immersive world of Nintendo’s epic Wii launch title, Twilight Princess. But much of what makes it such an outstanding Wii experience is drawn from the Wind Waker, one of GameCube’s finest masterpieces. Wind Waker not only made dramatic refinements to the Zelda control scheme, but it introduced some of the advanced sword tactics elaborated on in Twilight Princess, such as the vicious helm-splitter and the crucial back-slice parry. Even in the wake of Twilight Princess’ naturalistic visual approach, the cel-shaded art style of Wind Waker retains its undeniable charm, and it still looks remarkably slick in 480p on Wii. Blake even recommends Wind Waker over Twilight Princess.
Available for less than $20 on Amazon and eBay.
Beyond Good and Evil
The creation of French game designer Michel Ancel, Beyond Good and Evil suffered poor sales when it released in Nov. 2003. Perhaps this Ubisoft gem simply came four years too soon; it is a great choice for the “hardcore” Wii owner who begs for more deep Wii adventure titles. Taking strong influence from Nintendo’s Zelda series, Beyond Good and Evil is a rich action-adventure game that introduces players to the staff-wielding Jade, a reporter bent on exposing a military conspiracy. Masterful level design, great puzzle solving and controls, and visuals that hold up respectfully well in 480p, Beyond Good and Evil is one of those special games backward compatibility was invented for.
Available for less than $30 on Amazon and eBay.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Before Nintendo gave it a fresh coat of paint, the Paper Mario franchise was actually more RPG than platformer. Of course, those roles were reversed with the stylized 2007 Wii hit, Super Paper Mario. And for the millions who made that game such a success, The Thousand-Year Door is a natural choice. One of the best hybrid RPG experiences available for GameCube, The Thousand-Year Door offers players a clever battle system, classic Nintendo music and endearing dialogue wrapped in almost 40 hours of addictive gameplay. Nintendo newcomers charmed by Super Paper Mario and wanting more should definitely consider The Thousand-Year Door; it exemplifies Nintendo-fun at its best.
Available for less than $20 on Amazon and eBay.
Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Regardless of whether or not they owned a GameCube, Wii owners should certainly have noticed the glaring absence of space shooters on Nintendo’s new console. With no new Star Fox game yet announced and no available Wii jet-fighters worth playing, Factor5’s masterful Rogue Leader still stands as Wii’s best option. While film-based games usually scrape the bottom of the quality barrel, Rogue Leader completely captures the frantic spirit of epic dogfights so prevalent in the Star Wars films. Fast, furious and ultra-polished, fans of space shooters and the Star Wars films will both find plenty to love about Rogue Leader. It not only fills a massive hole in Wii’s library, but is still an impressive visual stunner more than six years after its release.
Available for less than $10 on Amazon and eBay.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Eternal Darkness is more than just a horror game, a genre painfully lacking in non-Resident Evil representation on Wii. It is a psychological thriller in the truest sense. Developed by Silicon Knights, Eternal Darkness transcends horror stereotypes to deliver genuine scares and thrills to the player, sometimes reaching beyond the confines of the television screen and into the real world. I won’t spoil anything by going into specifics, but rest assured that if you play this game alone in the dark with the volume turned up, your heart will race, your eyes will wander and your body will leap out of its chair. On several occasions, in fact. Blake and Scott both recommended this one on Saturday, and so have the majority of critics who’ve played it. You need to play this game.
Available for less than $20 on Amazon and eBay.
Super Mario Sunshine
Now that Super Mario Galaxy has reinvigorated platform gaming and brought Mario back into the spotlight, Sunshine stands perfectly suited for the Wii audience. Perhaps one of Nintendo’s most unfairly overlooked games, Sunshine takes Mario on a well-deserved vacation to tropical Isle Delfino, but unfortunately for the portly plumber, Bowser isn’t far behind. Sunshine follows the same basic structure as Galaxy; Mario visits ten unique Delfino locales, each with a challenging series of Shine Sprites to collect. One of the most colorful, vibrant GameCube titles ever made, Sunshine still looks stunning in 480p on Wii, and its classic platforming gameplay is as much fun today as it was in 2002.
Available for less than $20 on Amazon and eBay.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
While anticipation for Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Brawl reaches ludicrous levels of lunacy, Wii owners ignorant about the hype would do well to pick up Melee. While the original N64 classic Super Smash Bros. set the blueprint for Nintendo’s mascot brawling franchise, Melee set the standard. It offers 25 characters from Nintendo games past and present, as well as 18 character-themed stages for them to pummel each other upon. Add great music, huge modes and infinite unlockables, and you just start to get to the core of what makes Melee so special. There are a few quality fighters available for Wii, but none of them can touch the massive depth, sheer multiplayer appeal and addictive nature of Melee. Until, of course, Brawl hits in a few weeks.
Available for less than $25 on Amazon and eBay.
Metroid Prime/Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
While their once smooth gameplay has lost a step to the remarkable controls afforded by Wii in Metroid Prime 3, the first two Metroid Prime games are as perfect a gaming experience as one could hope for. They chronicle the first two chapters of the epic story of universal Phazon corruption, as concluded on Wii last August. Though there is virtually no dialogue and minimal cut-scenes, both games offer a compelling story for those invested in the action. They also boast unparalleled atmosphere, unguided exploration with a real sense of traversal and lots of intense first-person combat. New Metroid fans unable to wait for the franchise’s next step, as well as “hardcore” Wii gamers looking for more Corruption-like experiences, shouldn’t even think twice.
Available on Amazon (Prime and Echoes) and eBay.
Pikmin/Pikmin 2
There is a reason long-time Nintendo fans have been calling on Shigeru Miyamoto to bring his Pikmin series to Wii. If there were ever a Nintendo franchise capable of bringing out the best of the Wii hardware, it is Pikmin. Players assume the role of Captain Olimar, who has crash landed on a strange planet. If he wants to get back home, he’ll need the help of the Pikmin, small Elebits-like creatures with different abilities based on their color. These are beautifully assembled adventure games with lots of strategy and puzzle elements sprinkled throughout, and they are still one of the most fun, engaging options on Wii. Pikmin is the type of game new Wii owners owe it to themselves to play.
Available on Amazon (Pikmin and Pikmin 2) and eBay.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Mario Kart is coming to Wii sometime this year, but given Nintendo’s track record of delaying hit titles, Wii owners shouldn’t hold their breath. Thankfully, Double Dash is the same awesome, raucous time it was on GameCube. And if you thought you had a great time with multiplayer Wii Sports sessions, just wait until you fire up Mario Kart. Players choose two characters among nearly 20 from across the Nintendo pantheon, pick a vehicle and hit the road, racing on 16 wacky, well-designed courses. Double Dash was harshly scrutinized when it released in 2003, but something was lost in the reviews and criticisms; Double Dash is an absolute blast with friends and really brings a gaming party to life, the embodiment of much of the Wii spirit. Every console needs a little Mario Kart.
Available for less than $30 on Amazon and eBay.
F-Zero GX
For those who want a more intense racing experience than Mario Kart can provide and have already had their fill of Excite Truck and Nitrobike, there simply isn’t a better option on Wii than F-Zero GX. One of the fastest racers ever made, the futuristic F-Zero GX moves along at light-speed as players maneuver blazingly fast hover-craft through massive alien worlds, each with unpredictable twists and turns that even the most seasoned racer will find challenging. F-Zero GX offers lots of unlockables, insane difficulty, a challenging single-player mode, a garage for craft customization and more. “Hardcore” Wii gamers willing to put their twitch-reflexes to the test should look no further than F-Zero GX.
Available for less than $10 on Amazon and eBay.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
Wii has been praised for getting players active and making gaming a more physical endeavor. But long before Wii-elbow was pandemic, Nintendo was increasing heart rates with one of its most beloved icons, Donkey Kong. In Jungle Beat, players control DK through massive jungle environments similar to the classic Donkey Kong Country series. Only this time, there is no directional pad or analog stick; DK is controlled entirely by the DK Bongos. Players must pound the drums to move and jump, and clap to collect bananas. One of the most physical Nintendo games ever, Jungle Beat boasts gorgeous environments, detailed character models, great level design and ingenious boss battles. It was also developed by the same team responsible for Super Mario Galaxy, which is kind of a big deal.
Available for less than $15 on Amazon and eBay.
Killer 7
Design mastermind Suda 51 and his Grasshopper Manufacture development studio have gained notoriety on Wii for their recent avant-garde gaming statement, No More Heroes. It provided one of the most unique, exhilarating and mature experiences on the console, and garnered Suda 51 some new fans in the process. Those new to the genius of Suda 51 would be well-rewarded to check out Killer 7. In this psychotic piece of adventure gaming, players control seven unique assassins on a mission to eradicate the Heaven Smile, an inhuman (literally) terrorist group, through wickedly surreal cel-shaded environments. Wii gamers mesmerized by the alluring insanity of No More Heroes will be shocked to find that Suda’s latest work is almost mainstream when compared to the irreverent, indescribable Killer 7.
Available for less than $15 on Amazon and eBay.
So there you have it. That’s our take on which GameCube games are still relevant and worth buying for the Wii owner who missed out the first time and is looking for some great experiences on Wii. Did we miss any? Any disputes? Let us know in the comments.
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