Best Gamecube Sports Games

[noiseredux]

Bumping an old thread, because I still think it's a good one. So far, these are my votes for best GCN sports games:

Basketball = NBA 2K3
Hockey = NHL 06
Football = Madden 2004
Volleyball = Beach Spikers

I still need to figure these out:

Best baseball?
Best tennis?
Best golf
Best soccer?
other?

It would also really help if instead of just naming games you sort of gave reasons WHY you feel each game is the best -- and of course screenshots are fun.

[dsheinem]

The NHL Hitz titles continue to be popular - especially the 2003 version. They are like the NBA Jam of Hockey, and almost as fun.

[noiseredux]

Oh I forgot -- Fight Night Round 2 for boxing!

DSH, do you have a favorite baseball game (and why?) -- I'm really really lost when it comes to baseball games. My last one was Major League Baseball for NES, so...

[swiftzx]

I enjoyed 2002 fifa world cup and I'd nominate that for best soccer game Awesome controls

[noiseredux]

I think for GCN sports titles, what really I'm after is a balance of realism -- but with simple enough controls. Meaning, I want something that is realistic and impressive looking/sounding, but I don't want it to take hours to learn the controls or ins-and-outs of the game.

[Josh]

Still a huge fan of the over-the-top arcade style hockey in NHL Hitz 2002 and 2003. NHL 06 is good for realism, though I'm biased because NHL 94 is included and Vinny Lecavalier is on the cover. *shot for being a Lightning fan*

For baseball, you of all people should know where I stand...Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 12, though it's a Japan exclusive, hard to find for a decent price on eBay, and not exactly import friendly for all the modes as it is VERY dialogue intensive. But I'm sure everyone is tired of me recommending that series of games so I'll shut up and say MVP Baseball 2005 or Mario Superstar Baseball.

Best tennis would have to be, at least from what I've played, Mario Power Tennis, but that game is incredibly broken with the power shots in the game. I haven't played any other one.

Best soccer for me would be Super Mario Strikers, but for the same reason as above.

I also notice you don't have racing on there. I like to play around with NASCAR 2005: Chase For The Cup. If you're into unrealistic racing, go with F-Zero or Mario Kart. But for "real" racing, I'd go with Nascar 2005. Just a personal preference.

[noiseredux]

NHL 06 is good for realism, though I'm biased because NHL 94 is included

not on the Gamecube version.

so I'll shut up and say MVP Baseball 2005

so what makes you like this one so much?

I also notice you don't have racing on there.

I never think of racing as "sports"... I just think of racing games as driving games.

[sevin0seven]

NBA Courtside 2002

after playing it again (thanks to noise)this game it's kinda fun. Not too realistic though, more arcade type.

[noiseredux]

besides Mario Golf, nobody seems to have much of a golf preference?

[Josh]

NHL 06 is good for realism, though I'm biased because NHL 94 is included

not on the Gamecube version.

so I'll shut up and say MVP Baseball 2005

so what makes you like this one so much?

I also notice you don't have racing on there.

I never think of racing as "sports"... I just think of racing games as driving games.

It's not on the cube? That's kinda crappy. I have the PS2 version. The only hockey games I have on the Cube is NHL 2003, which I actually think is pretty solid, what with the fast-paced-ness and the NHL Cards feature, not to mention the announcers are pretty funny to listen to. Then again, I played the game since I bought the Cube as a younger child, so most of my opinions are nostalgic.

From playing MVP Baseball 05, I like the visuals and the gameplay. I'm also a pretty big fan of the music in the game. Pitching seemed kind of sketchy, but it WAS 2005 after all. It's not like you get big, high budget controls for pitching like you do nowadays. Again, mostly personal preference and nostalgia talking here.