What lies below is a listing of my Nintendo GameCube collection along with some history behind the system's purchase. One thing to keep in mind is that these are all the games I currently own. I've actually had other games throughout the years. But I got rid of some of them for whatever reason. Please note that all of the games listed below are actual mini-DVDs. I'm not into pirating the latest games.
For multiple reasons, my Nintendo GameCube purchasing experience was never quite right. First off, because I landed my first job out-of-college literally weeks before GameCube was scheduled for launch, I didn't believe I would have enough money to purchase it, especially because I was relocating to a different city. Whether it was impulsive or not, I decided that I could afford GCN just mere days before it came out.
Secondly, because Nintendo 64 released early, I had assumed GameCube that would come out early, too. Nope. Then I had heard that Wal-Mart would start selling the system at midnight on Saturday night. Since I wasn't in a large city, I figured I would arrive around 11:30 p.m. and snag one. Wrong. When I arrived, I saw a line that was over a hundred deep. At midnight, an employee said over the loudspeaker that there were only 57 systems available. D'oh! That ticked me off. I quickly came up with the idea of going to Target on Sunday morning. I had remembered that it opened at 8 a.m. seven days a week. I arrived at Target around 6:45 a.m., and there were two people waiting at most. Score! Eventually, the line built to over a dozen people, but the line didn't get too crazy. After standing outside in 30-some degree weather for about an hour, the store finally opened—and I was able to acquire my GameCube on Sunday, November 18, 2001. However, Target had some great deals that caused me to spend more money that I originally intended!
Finally, and most interestingly, I had to re-purchase GameCube only a few weeks after I originally got it. Why? My first GameCube, including several games and controllers, were stolen after my place was burglarized. Fortunately, nothing else valuable was stolen, and I was able to find a replacement GameCube quickly in spite of the fact that it was almost Christmas.
Over its lifespan, I definitely was a lot choosier when it came to adding GameCube games to my game library. My GameCube library is much smaller compared to Nintendo’s other home consoles, and I did not play the system anywhere near as much as the others. Whether it’s because GameCube was released during my transition into working adult/husband, or if it’s just because the system really didn’t have that many special games, I’d have to say that Nintendo GameCube was a disappointment. Nevertheless, the GameCube always will have a place on this Nintendo fan’s shelves.
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One of the first GameCube games will go down in history as one of the best. Super Smash Bros. Melee is every Nintendo fan’s dream. Aside from the wickedly cool multi-player matches, the game astounds with an endless number of options and secrets and just oozes Nintendo history. Even solo gamers will love it. The rare sequel that outdoes the original in every aspect. |
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2. Madden NFL 2004 In my opinion, the Madden series was the "killer app" of the 128-bit generation. For starters, the game's presentation and graphics are phenomenal. Once the awe factor wears off, you realize that the gameplay, control, and intelligence are incredibly authentic, too. Madden NFL 2004 sets new benchmarks with its deep Franchise mode and versatile scrimmage control. |
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For my money, the Tony Hawk series is one of the most fun and addicting. You can skate around in short sessions. You can play for hours and hours, trying to complete the goals in the Career mode. Or you can go head-to-head in the two-player Graffiti mode. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 is set apart, because it was the last game in the series based on the classic timed gameplay. |
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4. Super Monkey Ball I'm not sure if I'm just getting older and have less free time, or if video games have started to become too ordinary and not very original. Whatever the case, Super Monkey Ball is so simple to play—yet refreshingly original—that it has become a favorite of mine. This addicting game not only is fun for four but is extremely enjoyable for one as well. |
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Something tells me that this game always will have a special place on GameCube. It is impossible to appreciate the breadth of depth and detail until you play it for yourself. Eternal Darkness impresses with its graphics, its sound, and its gameplay. Most importantly, though, is that the story is far beyond what you would expect from a video game—it's impressive. |
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6. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Mario Kart Double Dash!! almost seems a little slower and dumbed down, yet it is hard for any fan not to enjoy the multi-player races. Fresh dual-character and kart combination strategies, interesting special weapons, less blatant AI cheating, smooth frame rates, and nifty course design commingle into classic Mario Kart chaos. Warning: The Battle mode is a stinker. |
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Everyone knows that this game is not the Halo series on Xbox. Paying homage to GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark, however, is a good thing. Stealth and action are blended seamlessly in TimeSplitters 2, with tight control, rock-solid frame rates, and very well-designed levels. Now add a sweet two-player cooperative mode and tons of multi-player options. Oh yeah. |
Honorable Mention: F-Zero GX
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The following bulleted points are some random notes and thoughts about the Nintendo GameCube. In the list, you will find information about the system and games that I could not place anywhere else.
Currently, I own 19 games for the Nintendo GameCube.
I want to make these games part of my permanent collection: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time / Master Quest (bonus disc), Luigi's Mansion, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, and Midway Arcade Treasures.
My memories of GameCube will mostly be from playing multi-player games—e.g., Super Monkey Ball, Super Smash Bros. Melee, TimeSplitters 2, and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!—with some buddies. I never had enough time or desire to get into its one-player games, as I never really started The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, just barely scratched the surface of Metroid Prime, and was never able to get into Super Mario Sunshine.
There are many great one-player games that I never had the chance to play, including Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Metroid Prime 2, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Pikmin, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time , Resident Evil (Remake), Resident Evil 4, Soulcalibur II, and Viewtiful Joe.
I missed out on a lot of good unique and spin-off titles from Nintendo, too, such as Animal Crossing, Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Donkey Konga, Mario Superstar Baseball, Super Mario Strikers, and WarioWare Inc.: Mega Party Game$.
GameCube does not evoke anywhere near the same sense of nostalgia or emotion in me as other Nintendo systems.
1. Super Smash Bros. Melee
3. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
5. Eternal Darkness
7. TimeSplitters 2