The Nintendo GameCube was released in 2001, and while it fell behind the sales of the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox, it still holds a big place in my heart. The collection of memories it has created also developed my love for video games. While it would be impossible to pick just 5 of the best games this console has to offer, it would be like choosing my favorite cat or which child is my favorite. Let’s ignore the fact I only have one kid.
Here are some of my absolute favorite Nintendo GameCube titles, and while they’re not in any particular order, I am going to rank them to the best of my ability.
5. Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars was an incredible Star Wars game for the GameCube. This game follows the events of the Battle of Genosis as you pilot land-based fighters through various missions. While the campaign was good, most of the memories I have from this game come from the multiplayer.
The Academy is this game’s multiplayer mode. Since the GameCube had four controller slots, this game made full use of them. You can have up to four players on a split-screen, all working towards a common goal of survival. While the campaign also had co-op, it wasn’t as memorable to me as The Academy. The hours I have spent playing this with my cousins will forever be burned into my memory, something I will always cherish.
4. Need for Speed: Underground series for the GameCube
While not the most visually impressive version of these games, there is something about the way the GameCube controller handles racing that makes it feel really good. The feedback you get from the shoulder buttons feels satisfying, not to mention the soundtrack is amazing. The Underground series actually covered multiple games from Need for Speed: Underground to Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Need for Speed: Carbon.
I spent so much time playing this game with my brother listening to Meteora and The Killers. It was the whole reason why my brother got a Mitsubishi Eclipse; it’s the whole reason why I got my Toyota Celica. It was the game that turned us from gamers into car guys. In fact, I still play this game to this day. It has had a massive impact on my life.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
When this game was first released for the GameCube, I remember it splitting the fanbase. Some people really loved this game while others loathed it. With its cartoonish, cell-shaded style graphics and its light-hearted demeanor, it was hard for people to get into. It was supposed to be the first follow-up in the console line of Zelda games following Majora’s Mask, so when fans got a glimpse of what was to come, most were disappointed.
This game really surprised me when I was finally able to play it. I let the thoughts and feelings steer me away from this amazing game. This is the quirky little brother in the Zelda family; it didn’t look like the other games, and it definitely had a different atmosphere. While most say this isn’t a proper Zelda game, I ask you: was this not the most Zelda game ever?
Think about it. Zelda is full of quirky characters, different art styles, and gimmicks. This was the most Zelda-like game Nintendo would release at this point. It has a charming sense of humor and easily one of the most expressive Link’s we have gotten at this point. I say that is a win.
2. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
It’s no secret that I’m a huge Zelda fan. I would not forgive myself had I left this game out. This was the first game I had bought with my own money, and I remember the excitement I felt when I saw the trailer for the first time. Nintendo developed this game for the GameCube in response to the criticism that Wind Waker got from the fans. Those fans wanted a darker, more serious Zelda game. Oh boy they got their wish.
This was the first realistic-looking Zelda title we got, and it changed a few things. Along with its darker, more realistic graphics also came a darker and more serious story. This was also the last Zelda mainline game to feature Link as a left-handed warrior chosen by the Goddesses of Hyrule. This has to be one of my favorite games of all time.
1. Super Smash Bros. Melee
This game is the best-selling game on the Nintendo GameCube, selling over 7 million units. It is also my favorite game of all time. What was supposed to be a fun platform fighter party game turned into a phenomenon among those who dedicated their lives to pushing this game as far as it could go. This game remains popular due to a growing competitive fanbase.
I’ve played countless hours of this game. I spent even more time when I realized there was a tournament scene still going on, and I was getting into it during its golden age. I have very fond memories of playing this with my friends and cousins. This is the greatest game on the Nintendo GameCube, not in any tangible way, but because of the memories of fun it created for me.
That is what gaming is all about. It’s about the fun of playing and creating your own stories from your adventures. It’s about creating memories with your friends and family that’ll last a lifetime. It’s about bonding with your loved ones. It’s also an escape, so even if your favorite games didn’t appear on this list, it doesn’t make that game any less of a good game. It doesn’t even mean it doesn’t deserve a place on this list.
If your favorite game didn’t appear on this list, I want you to go play it and enjoy what made you happy.
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