List: Best 30 Gamecube Games (What do you want on yr shelf)

[noiseredux]

or if is playable offline.

Yes and no. There is a single player mode - which is basically making a one-player party. However, it does require an internet connection, so it's not "offline."

[Exhuminator]

Okay then. So as far as we know, the GC version is the only version of the game that includes Episode 2 and is also playable offline. That makes this version of the game definitive in my book.

Did some research and Blue Burst is only playable online because it keeps your save games server-side to prevent cheating.

[samsonlonghair]

Greetings,

Similar to the wii thread...without the added difficulty of having to project how something might hold up over the next 10 years.

Some of you have no GCN games, some have less then 30, some more...some have hundreds.

If you had to limit your list to 30 - what would they be (and why).

Things to consider (but not dealbreakers...just considerations):
- Is there a better version on another console
- Have subsequent sequels left the GCN version obsolete
- Have you played it recently and is it holding up?
- Please don't say Cubivore because it's rare. Say Cubivore because you've played it and it is in the 30 best GCN games.

Argue for and against in efforts to get the best consensus we can...

The List (in no particular order)
1. Super Mario Sunshine
2. Super Smash Bros Melee
3. Super Mario Strikers
4. Chibi Robo
5. Phantasy Star Online Ep. I & II Plus
6. Battalion Wars
7. Resident Evil 0
8. F-Zero GX
9. Resident Evil 4
10. Super Mario Kart Double-Dash
11. Star Wars Rogue Squadron II
12. Luigi's Mansion
13. Wario Land
14. Gauntlet Dark Legacy
15. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
16. Phantasy Star III Card Revolution
17. Zelda Four Swords Adventures
18. P.N. 03
19. Kirby Air Ride
20. Mario Golf
21. Starfox Assault
22. Fire Emblem Path of Radiance
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Need more discussion / Honorable Mention
Incredible Hulk Ultimate Destruction
Ikaruga
Baten Kaitos Origins
Super Monkey Ball
Super Monkey Ball 2
Sega Soccer Slam
Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes
Viewtiful Joe
Alien Hominid
Billy Hatcher
Zelda Windwaker
Pacman vs (does this require 4 GBA's?)
Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Melee
Beach Spikers
Starfox Adventures
Beyond Good and Evil
Lost Kingdoms
Lost Kingdoms 2
Skies of Arcadia Legends
Tales of Symphonia
Animal Crossing

Ikaruga is the best shmup on GCN. Also, this is (I believe) the only physical copy of Ikaruga available in North America. Those are the reasons It's on my shelf.

Pac-man Vs. requires only one GBA and one link cable, not four.

Please include Sonic Gems Collecton. Both prfsnl_gmr and I have argued in its favor.

By the way, Wario World is the Gamecube game; Wario Land is a Game Boy game.

Don't forget Soul Calibur II. This is the best 3D fighting game on GCN, and it's the best version of Soul Calibur II because of the inclusion of Link - who fits in the game better than Spawn or Heihachi.

Incredible Hulk Ultimate Destruction utilizes Dolby DTS sound on the Gamecube. That's why I prefer the GCN version.

[Blu]

In some ways it's true that the PC version of Phantasy Star Online I & II is the one to get, although it's actually called Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst. It contains the exclusive Episode IV extending gameplay further, along with everything else from previous versions. (Episode III remains exclusive to GC as C.A.R.D. Revolution.) And the usual fun PC abilities of upping the resolution and frame rate of course. That said, Blue Burst is something I've never seen for sale in the wild or online, despite getting a USA release in 2005. I don't know how you'd legally obtain it, or if Blue Burst is even playable offline.

That's why I said the GC version is the best. It's expensive but you can still obtain it. The Xbox one is not playable anymore (we think), and the DC version doesn't even have Episode II.

I've played all four versions, when they were live. I beta tested and played Blue Burst when it was live. There was no physical release, you downloaded the client. No offline play, all server side. The game generated revenue by creating a subscription base. Episode IV didn't really offer too much in expanding the gameplay, it has a new story, some new monsters to kill. Don't get me wrong, it's a good time. This is true for all versions, online demographics, US servers were the smaller and it's always been bigger scale for Japan. It has negligible difference in graphics really. But here's the thing: On PC, dungeon crawler-wise, Diablo II is better. MMO wise, WoW is better. PSO was designed for consoles, and is one of the best offerings of a dungeon crawler on consoles there is.

But, which one of y'all lovelies has one of these:

Released for Phantasy Star Online:
Or one of these:


The GameCube received its online capabilities, albeit paltry, only because of Phantasy Star Online. The games that were able to be configured like Kirby's Air Ride, Double Dash, 1080 Avalance, Homeland (JP only) were only because the hardware existed. At the time, I don't think Nintendo really developed a strategy for online. The amount of support this game received from Nintendo alone deserves a nod.

And the Xbox version is only playable if you have an account that is locally stored on your machine. It does have Episode II though. If today you went out and bought a copy of it, but didn't have an Xbox Live Handle to choose at the first menu, you're out of luck.

[Ack]

Seriously, you guys. Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and Harvest Moon: Magical Melody. Seriously.

And why the hell is Resident Evil 4, which had a superior release on the Wii(can use the Wii nunchuck, the classic controller, or the Gamecube controller and includes all bonus content of the PC and PS2 versions that did not appear in the GC version) on the list when Eternal Darkness isn't?

You should all hang your heads in shame.

And I would argue against Soul Calibur II. It may be the best fighter on the GC, but I don't think Link makes as much sense as Heihachi in the grand scheme, and both the PS2 and Xbox ports saw later HD releases on the PS3 and Xbox 360, both of which included online play.

[Sarge]

Wait, several folks mentioned Eternal Darkness, including yours truly. Definitely at least needs to be in the "needs more discussion" category. Although really, we all know it belongs.

I'm also curious as to how Heihachi makes more sense than Link. He doesn't even use weapons, he just punches people! At least Link has a blade. I'd definitely consider Soul Calibur II for the list. Unless you're just talking about them both being Namco properties.

[terrin707]

Eternal Darkness needs to be on the list most definitely. I am so happy to see Chibi Robo on there as well!

[ExedExes]

Racketboy is a very good place for to clean out your wallet.

Yeah, this thread will be good for me to do just that. Apparently 60 games isn't enough....

[BoneSnapDeez]

Eff it.

I need the GC version of PSO. Price be damned.

Looks like Blue Burst had a physical release in Japan. It's on Amazon Japan.

Interesting how Phantasy Star Online always generates tons of discussion. It's because it rules, amirite?

[Ack]

For the games to discuss:

Sega Soccer Slam is better on Xbox.

The Viewtiful Joe PS2 port lacks progressive scan but does feature Dante from the Devil May Cry series as an unlockable character.

Sonic Gems Collection - Only on GC in the NTSC-U region, but this version also lacks the Streets of Rage series.

Alien Hominid has since been released as an HD version on Xbox Live.

Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee has a better version on Xbox.

Beyond Good and Evil has had an HD version released on Xbox Live and PSN.

Tales of Symphonia was released as part of the Tales of Symphonia Collection for PS3 and features improved graphics and extra content.