As we patiently wait for Nintendo to turn on the Switch’s Virtual Console, we’ve begun to brainstorm what GameCube games they should bring to their new, portable console. The GameCube is one of my favorite consoles of all time, and it’s sad that it came in third place during its generation. The little purple cube had some amazing titles, most of which are super expensive now, which makes it difficult for new gamers to find the titles. So, in the spirit of fairness and my love of history, these are ten games (five for now) in no particular order that I would most likely repurchase once I get myself an elusive Switch console.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Survival horror is my favorite genre and I always chomp at the bit for new survival horror IPs. Eternal Darkness was once such IP that unfortunately never got the sequel it deserved. You play as Alexandra Roivas who is currently investigating her grandfather’s murder while at his mansion in Rhode Island. As you search for clues, you discover a secret room that contains many occult items, including a book bound in human flesh; where’s Ash when you need him? The title has a really cool insanity system, where your game can actually end if you go insane. If you see something that is unsettling, your avatar freaks out a bit and your insanity meter fills. I wish more games would implement this concept; Resident Evil VII definitely could have benefitted from an insanity mechanic. This is one of the better Lovecraftian games around, and more gamers need to get their hands it.
Star Wars Rogue Squadron: Rogue Leader
Nintendo and the Star Wars franchise used to have an amazing relationship: if you wanted the best Star Wars game, you had to have a Super Nintendo, N64, and a GameCube. Rogue Squadron was one of the best flight simulators on the Nintendo 64–thankfully Factor 5 decided to do two follow-ups to their hit game. Both of these titles deserve to be on the list, but I just decided to go with the sophomore entry into the series due to the fact that you get more time in the air instead of “Battlefront-ing” around during some of the missions. I still remember playing this for the first time on my tubed television and legitimately getting airsick. I had never played a title that was so faced paced and just in your face with the battling. EA’s recent Battlefront attempted to have a huge, epic space battle, but it just didn’t have the feel that Factor 5 created on the GameCube.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
I’m going to be honest here, this game is on the list simply because I want to have another way to purchase it. I haven’t had much luck finding an actual copy of the game, and I just can’t bring myself to drop fifty bucks on a decade’s old game, no matter how badly I’d like to play it. Every Smash fan that I speak to says that this is the pinnacle of the Smash series. I was also told that this is the title they use in all the Nintendo tournaments, so why would they not want to release it onto their Switch VC? I’m sure they could even get a company to create a USB GameCube controller so that the professionals can enjoy the game on their Switch as well. What would be a nice boon to this title is if they added an online component so that you could relive your glory days with buddies, since there’s a chance all your buddies have moved away. I would buy this immediately if they released it, and even quicker if it had an online component.
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine is sadly the forgotten Mario game, and it is one of the best. Nintendo took the standard platformer and turned it on its head. In this game Mario is on vacation on a beautiful tropical island, but when an evil doppelganger arrives everything is ruined. Since the whole island thinks that Mario is the culprit, he must clean up everything that his doppelganger ruined with black sludge. You are given a water pack that can be refilled as you spray off all the black goo from the gorgeous island. As with every Mario game, you must collect stars as they unlock things along the way. Nintendo strayed from their normal Mario formula and came up with a huge gem here: this is one of my favorite games, and I would love another excuse to go through it again.
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
Fans had been waiting for a full-on console RPG for their favorite little pocket monster, and Pokémon XD is what they were gifted. With the disappointment of Nintendo’s recent Pokémon Direct, this would seem to be a nice peace offering. Many of the newer Pokémon fans missed this game when it came out, and plenty of the older Pokémon fans are probably kicking themselves in the butt for getting rid of it. In this game, an evil group named Cipher is creating and then releasing Pokémon into the wild who have closed off their hearts. Professor Krane gives your character some goodies to help identify these Pokémon and is suddenly kidnapped by Cipher. You must save him and all the Pokémon who’s hearts have been closed. It wasn’t a perfect Pokémon RPG on console, but it’s better than the others we’ve been given.
That’s the first part of this long list of Cube games I feel need to be digitized for our enjoyment! what do you think? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter: @SuperJerry13.