The reception for that demo was so positive, Nintendo decided to turn it into a full game for the launch of the system. The early concepts for Luigi’s Mansion essentially started from a tech demo for the graphic capabilities of the Gamecube. Luigi’s Mansion for the Gamecube was the first of the series, dropping players in a spooky mansion full of ghosts (à la Super Mario World), armed with a flashlight, Game Boy “Horror” (Color) and spirit-sucking vacuum cleaner. So I envy those who were able to have that new experience when it first hit the Gamecube in 2001. It ended up making its way on my top 10 games of all time list. When Luigi’s Mansion 3 was announced in late 2018, I thought it looked cool, but I did not have that nostalgia for the series.
There are a handful of classics that were just never on my radar. I was late to the party when it comes to a lot of franchises on this list, because I did not own a Gamecube growing up. To this day, Metroid Prime is still one of the most critically acclaimed video games ever created, appearing on nearly every “Top” list in gaming and the sales are clear evidence of the support of gamers making it a must for this best selling Gamecube games list. It was also intentionally designed to be approachable and encourage exploration without risk of punishment for doing so, with its more challenging moments occurring primarily at the boss battles. Its gameplay putting emphasis on the formula of exploration and back-tracking that the Metroid franchise has come to be known for. Nintendo classifies this entry as a “first-person adventure” rather than a first-person shooter. The fourth in the franchise, and the first to see players enter into first-person perspective in a fully 3d world. And Metroid Prime is one of those titles that demands universal respect. Whether you are a Metroid fan or not (I am one of the ostracized few who just cannot get into it), it is an undeniable force in the gaming world. And this game laid the foundation for what eventually became one of the most successful games in Nintendo’s history with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You either love it or hate it, but sales and reviews seem to prove that this attempt at trying something new was a wild success for Nintendo. Using the Gamecube’s Game Boy Advance link cable, players could visit an exclusive island and trade those islands with other players. It introduced many unique multiplayer options, including the ability to travel to eachothers village.
This release defined the “cozy” genre of gaming, giving players a casual experience void of anxiety, pressure or difficult challenges.īesides establishing a new style of gameplay, Animal Crossing also came packed with many features not fully utilized on the Gamecube before it. It was a unique approach to a simulation game focusing on non-linear role playing, with little obligation to fulfill any particular tasks in the game. Pokémon Colosseum (2003)Īnimal Crossing on the Gamecube was developed as an enhanced version of the Japan-only release “Dōbutsu no Mori” from the Nintendo 64. But nitpicking aside, over eight hundred thousand consumers were convinced that this release was well worth the purchase.Īnd the countless hours spent at the friends house who had the most lax parents and an ample stock of juice boxes and fruit snacks should be a testament to the game’s cemented spot in this best selling Gamecube games list. Some criticizing its lack of originality and perhaps being a little stuck in the past. Sticking to its familiar gameplay popularized by previous titles in the series, the game was received with mixed reviews. The console had a carrying handle, for heaven’s sake! Clearly Nintendo knew you would be meeting up with friends to battle it out for bragging rights, and the loser likely paying the pizza bill. The first three entries made their appearance on the Nintendo 64, but it was the semi-portability of the Gamecube that made Mario Party a true party game. The Mario Party franchise is probably one of the first to come to mind when you think of the Gamecube.