David's Top Ten GameCube Games of 2005

By David Rasmussen
22nd Jan 06

Who would have ever thought we’d be talking about “top” anything when it comes to the GameCube, but at 2005 ends we still have to take stock of what Nintendo did right in 2005 by listing what Nintendo put out on the GameCube that was worth talking about last year. Oh, and I didn’t play enough Nintendo games to warrant drafting up a Ten Worst list… I just focused on what drew me to the Cube this year.

Batalion Wars
Believe it or not this game is from the same people who brought you, wait for it… Advance Wars! Yes, the game that is burning up on both the GBA (2 versions) and the Nintendo DS (just out) is now on the GameCube! Yes it’s a different game since apparently the third party company that made it wasn’t allowed to reproduce the Advance Wars gameplay engine for the GameCube, but that means you’ve been treated in this game to a 3rd person hard hitting shoot em’ up joyous combat sim shooter that more than makes up for the GameCube not having Star Wars Battlefront II (which the PS2 and Xbox has).
A must have for action fanatics since the GameCube is not exactly swimming in action games.

Fire Emblem : Path of Radiance
After two versions on the GameBoy Advance it finally comes to the GameCube. And since there isn’t enough RPG style games on the GameCube worth playing (there isn’t much on the GameCube worth playing is there) this is worth checking out.

Geist
While it’s not the best 1st Person shooter out there, it is a fair one and it’s a GameCube exclusive (which is something different for the GameCube)! Since there isn’t enough 1st Person Shooters for the GameCube having one at least halfway worth playing can only be a good thing.

Harvest Moon : Another Wonderful Life
Yes, it is basically a rethread of the original Wonderful Life (with a girl instead of a boy) but if this is your first exposure to the Wonderful Life game on the GameCube then this is a good purchase for you. And if you have a GameBoy Advance (or a Nintendo DS) and Harvest Moon : More Friends of Mineral Town? Then this can only be that much better (the two games can be tied together via link cable though stick to a GBA for linking since I don‘t remember seeing anything to date allowing someone to link a DS to a GameCube despite the fact you can play GBA games on the DS).

Incredible Hulk : Ultimate Destruction
Read my PS2 review of the game to see why I recommend it so. Nuff said.

Killer 7
Another exclusive for the GameCube that gives you another reason to own it. It’s abit unique and distinct, with it’s special look and gameplay though it seems to suffer from a bad case of theatricalitis similar to Xenosaga Episode II… only you won’t be as pissy (or bored silly) about the theatrics here as you will be with Xenosaga Episode II, they‘re better than Xenosaga Episode II‘s cutscenes.

Poke’mon XD : Gale of Darkness
OK, so not many people are that hot on the Poke’mon franchise, with even 4Kids giving up the ghost by forsaking the Poke’mon TV franchise at the start of 2006 with their run on the series ending with this year’s 8th season, but it’s still worth checking on the GameCube. Like I said above with Fire Emblem, there is not enough RPGs worth checking out on the GameCube and, well, Poke’mon XD is at least worth checking out. It’s not as good as Poke’mon Coloseum (and is basically the same game but without the cool characters) but again it’s one of the few RPGs worth checking out if you’re desperate for RPG style gaming.

Resident Evil 4
Originally out of the GameCube, this Best Game candidate of 2005 now calls both the GameCube and PS2 home… though obviously Nintendo did not do enough to capitolize on the game’s success by luring more players to own a GameCube, especially since there was too few games on the GameCube to follow up on the interest in RE4 to lure people to GameCube ownership.

Mario Superstar Baseball
If you are tired of traditional baseball games try a Mario game. If you played the well done Mario Tennis for the GameCube you know that Mario + sports equal something different, and this is no exception.

X-Men Legends 2 : Rise of Apocalypse
If you’ve played the first X-Men Legends you know how good this is. If not? Well… now is as good a time as any to find out what you’ve been missing. One of the few super hero genre games worth playing.

That’s it. Now while I’d like to think that 2006 will turn it around for the GameCube? It seems more than likely that we’re looking at the last days of the GameCube. What with the Nintendo DS taking center stage (now is a good time to get one, like I did), the GameBoy Advance holding on with new games worth playing coming out now, and Nintendo gearing up to launch the must misaligned and maimed “Revolution” next gen console, the GameCube is looking down the barrel of it’s own imminent extinction.
It’s only a matter of time before it’s snuffed, that is of course unless the release of Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess turns it about for the GameCube… that is unless Nintendo shifts it to the Revolution, then the GameCube is finally doomed. Rest in peace little mulitcolored lunchbox, rest in peace, and get ready to join your predecessors the Super NES and Nintendo 64 on the shelves of the local Salvation Army.

-- David Rasmussen 22nd Jan 06