Our Favorite GameCube Games | Vol. 2

We're back with more of our favorite GameCube games! Let's see what some more of the fine folks at SuperPod Network had to say.

Metroid Prime

As someone stepping into the Metroid universe for the first time with Metroid Prime, the experience was both exciting and challenging in unexpected ways. The game’s story unfolds with a great balance of mystery and discovery. From the very beginning, you feel isolated and immersed in the alien world of Tallon IV, where everything, from the hostile environment to the creatures lurking in the shadows, enhances that eerie sense of exploration. The atmosphere is incredible, driven by subtle storytelling told through environmental cues and lore gathered throughout the journey.

Combat in Metroid Prime felt challenging, especially as someone new to the series. The difficulty ramps up steadily, forcing you to think on your feet as you manage different weapons, scan enemies for weak points, and adapt to increasingly complex boss battles. While the core shooting mechanics worked well, the challenge was more mental than just aiming skill, which kept things fresh.

The scanning mechanic was a novel idea at first. It adds a layer of depth, encouraging you to slow down and explore the rich backstory of the world. Scanning different objects, enemies, and lore felt rewarding early on. However, as the game progressed, it started to detract from the pacing. Stopping mid-action to scan enemies or environmental clues often felt tedious, especially in heated combat or while exploring new areas. It sometimes broke the immersion that the game worked so hard to build, making it feel more like a chore than a natural part of exploration.

The GameCube controller, while great for many games, presented a bit of a hurdle in a first-person shooter. The lack of dual-analouge controls, common in modern shooters, made precise aiming and movement slightly clunky. Adjusting to this took some time, and while the lock-on feature helped, it never quite felt as fluid as expected in a first-person experience. That said, once accustomed to the controller's limitations, the game offered moments of pure satisfaction, especially during intense boss fights or while navigating complex environments.

Overall, Metroid Prime as a first entry into the series was an eye-opener. The world-building and sense of exploration were fantastic, though the scanning and the GameCube’s FPS controls slightly detracted from an otherwise stellar experience. For a newcomer, this was an unforgettable journey into the world of Samus, combining atmosphere, challenge, and discovery in a way few games at the time could match.

~ Adam

Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 on the GameCube is one of those games that just sticks with you long after you’ve finished it. It marked a major turning point for the series and set the bar for action-horror games to come. Here are all the reasons why I hold it in such high regard:

The Camera Angle Change

The switch to an over-the-shoulder view was a game-changer. Gone were the fixed camera angles, and in their place was a perspective that made every fight feel more personal and intense. It put you right into the action and made aiming and movement much smoother. You felt more in control of Leon as he fought his way through hordes of enemies.

The Weapons Feel Amazing

One of the best things about the game is how great the weapons feel. Each one has its own unique punch, from the standard handgun to the devastating rocket launcher. There’s a real sense of satisfaction when you take down an enemy, especially after upgrading your weapons. The sound design and animation work together perfectly to make every shot count.

Characters Full of Personality

The game is filled with a cast of characters that are hard to forget. Leon is the calm and cool protagonist, but even the side characters are memorable. From the Merchant, who somehow always knows where you are, to Ada with her mysterious agenda, they add personality and keep things interesting throughout the story.

Dialogue That's Just the Right Kind of Cheesy

The writing has its fair share of cheesy lines, and honestly, that’s part of the game’s charm. The over-the-top dialogue fits perfectly with the slightly campy tone of the Resident Evil series. It provides moments of levity in an otherwise tense and action-packed adventure, and it never takes itself too seriously.

Boss Battles That Stick with You

The bosses are not only challenging but also unforgettable. Each one feels like a unique test of your skills, with their own set of tricks and patterns. From facing off against gigantic creatures to more intimate, close-quarters fights, every encounter feels epic and satisfying when you finally bring them down.

Enemies That Make Your Skin Crawl

The enemy design in Resident Evil 4 is brilliant. Whether it’s the eerie chanting of the villagers or the unsettling way a creature moves, they make you constantly feel on edge. The first time I saw a Regenerator, I was so freaked out I nearly had a panic attack. Its slow movements and creepy breathing were enough to keep me on edge for the rest of the game.

Extra Modes That Add Replay Value

The game doesn’t just stop after you finish the story. There's a mercenaries mode that’s perfect for those who want to test their skills in a fast-paced, arcade-style experience. It’s all about surviving and racking up high scores, and it’s an absolute blast, adding hours of extra gameplay.

Hidden Extras Like Project Ada

Another great addition is the side mission with Ada Wong, which gives you more insight into the story from a different angle. It’s not just a throwaway mission; it adds to the narrative and gives more depth to the overall experience, making it feel like you’re getting even more out of the game.

A Balanced Difficulty System

What I love about this game is how it secretly adapts to your skill level. The difficulty adjusts itself as you play, so if you’re having a rough time, the game gets a little easier without ever making it obvious. On the flip side, if you’re breezing through, it ramps things up to keep the challenge alive. It’s a subtle but genius system that makes the experience feel just right for everyone.

A Perfect Game in Every Way

All in all, Resident Evil 4 on the GameCube is as close to perfect as a game can get for me. The mix of action, horror, memorable characters, and gameplay that’s both challenging and rewarding makes it a game I’ll never forget. It’s easily a 10/10 in my book, and it’s no surprise that it’s still regarded as one of the best games of all time.

~ Anubis Hero

Nearly Every Wrestling Game

Around the time I got my GameCube, I was a huge fan of professional wrestling. I watched Smackdown every Thursday on UPN (remember them?) with my dad, and it was a mind-altering experience. Watching these larger-than-life characters beat the snot out of each other and talk all kinds of trash, mix in the production value, and it hooked a 9-year-old me like nothing else at the time. Naturally, discovering there were video games for this to have my own wrestling experiences outside of throwing myself through tables in the backyard was super enticing. There are nine wrestling games for the GameCube and I’m going to do my best to summarize them all.

WrestleMania X8: The first WWE game. It was developed by Yuke’s exclusively for the GameCube and is meant to be a spiritual successor to the beloved No Mercy on the N64 developed by AKI corporation. Yuke’s hired some AKI devs to help on this game, but the result is not great. It has a solid roster of wrestlers, but the lack of a great presentation and a compelling story mode makes this the weakest of the bunch for WWE fans.

WrestleMania XIX: Released one year after X8, this is a notable improvement. The presentation is great, the roster is still solid, and the controls have greatly improved from the previous game. The highlight of this game is Revenge Mode where you are hired by Stephanie McMahon to sabotage WrestleMania after being fired by her father and owner of the WWE, Vince McMahon. It may not have aged as well as some of the PS2 WWE games, but Revenge Mode is enough to warrant playing this one.

Day of Reckoning 1: A soft reboot to the WWE games on GC, this benefits from an ever-great advancement in presentation and a fantastic storyline where you are a created wrestler who works your way up to winning the world title on either Raw or Smackdown, depending on where you pick. However, the roster takes a severe hit this time around, but the game is still a fantastic game to play even today. 

Day of Reckoning 2: The final WWE game on Gamecube follows the story directly on from Day of Reckoning 1 where your title gets stolen and now you must get it back. It’s a shame this game assumes you picked Raw in the last game, but for a wrestling game to have a direct sequel plot-wise was unfounded at the time. Graphically it’s on par with the last game, but the roster has increased, and they add in stamina bars and a unique submission mini game to make this a cult classic for pro wrestling video game fans.

Legends of Wrestling: Developed by Acclaim after losing the ECW license, this is them trying to reinvent their painfully average wrestling games by adding in an amazing roster of legends and having a less combo-heavy gameplay system. The results are a game of plastic action figures sloppily throwing each other around with a stilted grappling system. I played this one a lot as a kid and it’s far from perfect, but it holds a soft spot in my heart.

Legends of Wrestling II: Released one year later, this game is much better than the last one. The graphics have taken a considerable leap along with new arenas, improved entrances and an even better roster of legends featuring greats like Andre the Giant and Eddie Guerrero. Improving upon the last game is easy, but it’s still the same not fantastic gameplay as before. Couple that with a ludicrously long story mode and unlockables that are nearly impossible to get, and you have another mixed bag. This one I played to death as a child and will always love it, flaws and all.

Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation: Developed by AKI corporation after losing the WWE license, this is based on the Ultimate Muscle/Kinnikuman anime series that was having it’s early 00s moment on the Fox Box. I loved that show so naturally I played the hell out of this one. It’s close to games like No Mercy, but they add in the over-the-top moves from the show and has a decent story mode with all the voice actors reprising their roles. It does not hold up to AKI’s previous offerings, but if you like Kinnikuman, I highly recommend this one.

Def Jam Vendetta: Originally recruited by EA to make a sequel to WCW Mayhem, this game, also developed by AKI, instead decides to take rappers from the Def Jam label to wrestle in back-alley rings with a heavy emphasis on the 2000s hip-hop aesthetic. Have you ever wanted Ghostface Killah to body slam Ludacris? Well, now you can! The game features more OC’s than rappers but retains the fun of the N64 AKI games in a whole new light. It is fun, but I don’t highly recommend this one, due to the sequel.

Def Jam Fight for NY: THE CREAM OF THE CROP! This game has become legendary among gamers of the sixth generation of consoles. I remember renting this game multiple times back when it was new, and I absolutely loved it. Today, I still absolutely love it. A bigger roster of rap icons, a story that follows on from the first and improves upon it with mild RPG elements and the game turns into more of a fighting game with wrestling elements, but wrestling is still predominant. Despite some issues with the GC version compared to the PS2 and Xbox versions due to the mini-disc format, this is still an amazing game that is probably the best of the wrestling bunch on GameCube. A bunch that I had hundreds of hours playing over the years.

~ Thrak

There's (basically) three more! Swing on by next Saturday for the third and final volume!