Wii consoles are flying off store shelves around
the country, with many newcomers enticed to buy their first video game console.
One feature gaming virgins might not be aware of
is Wii's backward compatibility with Nintendo's previous console, the GameCube.
Fortunately, there are many terrific GameCube
titles that can be picked up for mere pennies on eBay or at retail stores like
EB Games.
Today Gamesmaster has assembled a list of 20
must-have GameCube titles guaranteed to thrill any new Wii owner.
Start trawling those bargain bins and eBay
listings for these great games, or if you're a longtime Nintendo fan with a
shelf full of games already, you might instead like to recommend some of your own
favourite GameCube titles.
1. Resident Evil 4
A
relentlessly gripping thriller that assaults the senses. The over-the-shoulder
view provides more immediacy and tension, and hero Leon can perform acrobatic
manoeuvres like kicking and leaping. Pacing is exquisitely judged, with
puzzles, side quests and item collection complementing the rousing combat.
2. Metroid Prime
Exploring superbly designed worlds in this
tense adventure is absolutely gripping, whether scanning for clues, blasting
enemies or transforming into the fabulous morph ball.
3. Pikmin II
Blooming marvelous puzzler with players commanding hundreds of
delightful plant-like critters. The Pikmin must be
guided to battle predators, demolish obstacles, build bridges, solve ingenious puzzles,
carry treasures and, of course, multiply.
4. Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
An absolutely enchanting adventure with
fascinating locations, delightful characters and rewarding challenges. Make sure you try to pick up the collector's edition which includes the
bonus Ocarina of Time disc - the best extra ever offered with a game.
5. Super Monkey Ball 2
Tricky and addictive puzzler with hilarious
bonus multiplayer party games that are worth the purchase price alone.
6. Animal Crossing
A
unique, living town full of amusing characters and fun activities. Absolutely
engrossing and strangely therapeutic.
7. Killer 7
A macabre circus of horrors, with players switching
between the multiple personalities of a schizophrenic assassin. A wildly
creative, pretentious, violent and dazzling game.
8. Donkey Konga
Monkey maestros will go ape for this bongo
bashing hit. Players drum and clap their way through 30 delightfully cheesy
songs as coloured icons scroll across the screen. Multiplayer sessions will
leave you giggling like a chimp.
9. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
A memorable and innovative psychological
thriller simulating the descent into insanity. The adventure spans countless centuries
and allows you to control a dozen characters throughout time, each with
different abilities. Players will battle hordes of zombies, cast powerful
spells and must fight to keep their sanity.
10. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
A charming role-playing adventure with plenty of
action. The lengthy journey is filled with entertaining scenes and a clever,
self-referential script.
11. Mario Kart Double Dash
A fun
crazy racer with 16 vibrant tracks that anyone can enjoy when played with a
crowd.
12. Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
Control
the manic monkey using plastic bongos. It sounds bananas, but never feels like
a gimmick, despite its very brief length.
13. Viewtiful Joe
A delightfully charming example of quirky
Japanese design. At first it just seems like an ancient side-scrolling
beat-‘em-up, but Joe’s wonderful selection of superpowers like speeding or
slowing time quickly elevates it into the realm of something much more special.
14. Super Smash Bros Melee
Frantic, riotous fun with mates, this is an
entertaining pick-up-and-play fighting game featuring many of Nintendo’s best
characters.
15. Super Mario Sunshine
Certainly not in the same league as Mario 64,
but still a very entertaining platform game showing glimpses of Nintendo's
design genius.
16. F-Zero GX
A dazzling futuristic racer offering
exhilarating speed as you jostle for position with a pack of aggressive
opponents. Races on the imaginative circuits are nearly always tightly
contested; the margin between a mediocre placing and a podium finish is just a
well-timed boost away.
17. Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
Great fun for Star Wars fanatics, with
entertaining space dogfights, plus the chance to pilot vehicles like
snowspeeders, ride animals and fight on foot. The entire Rogue Leader game is
included as a terrific bonus with a new two-player mode.
18. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
A flawed but fun golf game with six increasingly
exotic courses plus several hidden tournaments,
including a par-three challenge in Donkey Kong’s treetops.
19. Luigi's Mansion
Underrated, short-but-sweet game offering
surprising depth. The appeal of sucking up ghosts would
wane quickly if that was all the game offered, but every room offers its own
surprises, personality and ingenious puzzles.
20. Wave Race: Blue Storm
Veterans of the N64 classic were
disappointed at Blue Storm's lack of innovation, but this still offers great
water physics, sumptuous controls and a tough championship structure.