GameCube titles for waiting Wii owners

george | default, video games | Sunday, December 3rd, 2006

The Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess is a great game, but after the third dungeon and 10 extra hours of sub quests, along with many sessions spent moving like a professional bowler and tennis player, I’m ready for something else.

Unfortunately, the Nintendo Wii’s launch titles aren’t very substantial for a PC gamer like me returning to consoles. Call of Duty 3 is the same as ever. I quit playing it on PC a long time ago, why would I return to a shitty war FPS on a console? Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz and Rayman: Raving Rabbids, I’m not looking for another party title my girlfriend will like, there will be plenty of time and future releases for that. Red Steel, it seems like an action game made just so that Wii owners can shoot a gun and swing a sword. Not interested. Trauma Center, If I wanted to play Trauma Center I’d get it for DS. Cars, no comment.

Many first time console owners, especially owners who were brought back to console ownership by the revolutionary Wii controller, are not familiar with the GC games their Wii can play. For the casual gamers who just bought their first console since NES, and the PC gamers who are back for all that the Wii has in it’s future, this is a list of GC games to keep you happy until the next Wii releases. So pick up some used GC controllers, don’t forget the memory card, and choose from one of many GC games to pass the time.

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The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Great Zelda story, cell rendered graphics.

Resident Evil 4

Awesome horror action story.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

More horror action.

Super Mario Sunshine

Great game, easy to play hard to master. Unique game mechanics using the water hose.

Metroid Prime

Classic metriod first person shooter.

SSX 3

Basic snowboarding and easy to pull some neat stunts. Awesome visuals. If you really get into it though, there’s plenty of depth.

Super Smash Bros: Melee

Almost a party title, however it’s a great “arcade” title. Easy to jump into, hard to master.

Mario Kart: Double Dash

Mario Kart is a fast fun racing game. The real fun is playing two players per Kart. Get four controllers for this one.

Mario Party 4, 5, 6, 7

You’re going to have plenty of these party titles with the Nintendo Wii, but if you can’t wait, pick one of these up. Play these with four players and beers for maximum enjoyment.

Animal Crossing

I’m not going to write as if I have played this game. I haven’t. But I do know that some of my friends, who I would not take as someone who would be interested in virtual farming, have become almost addicted to this game. If you’re into secret vices, check this out.

For me, I got Mario Kart: Double Dash, SSX 3, and two controllers. This should hold me over until January. If anyone has any other suggestions, leave a comment.

39 Comments »

  1. [...] For Wii owners who are waiting for new titles and new gamers brought by the Wii controller, why not checkout some of these awesome GC titles your Wii can play?read more | digg story [...]

    Pingback by Later Nerdz » GameCube titles for waiting Wii owners — December 3, 2006 @ 8:44 pm

  2. [...] For Wii owners who are waiting for new titles and new gamers brought by the Wii controller, why not checkout some of these awesome GC titles your Wii can play?read more | digg story [...]

    Pingback by Prime News Blog » Blog Archive » GameCube titles for waiting Wii owners — December 4, 2006 @ 5:29 pm

  3. Don’t forget Paper Mario Thousand Year Door!

    Comment by Dusty — December 4, 2006 @ 5:32 pm

  4. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is by far the best mature game Nintendo has made by far. Scared the living crap out of me the first time I played it. The only downside is you have to go through the game three times to get the real ending. But plenty of hidden stuff you probably did not get the first time around. Well worth it (although very hard to find)!

    Comment by OrGoN3 — December 4, 2006 @ 5:35 pm

  5. dude what about veautiful joe. tenchi a go go baby

    Comment by Jules — December 4, 2006 @ 5:39 pm

  6. Don’t forget Wario Warez for some good Multiplayer, Pikmin 1&2, Super Monkey Ball 1&2, and Donkey Konga!

    Comment by Greg — December 4, 2006 @ 5:40 pm

  7. One of the big draws of the Wii was the ability to play GameCube games. When I first got it, I also got a Wavebird controller, Metroid Prime 1&2, Super Mario Sunshine, and Resident Evil 4. The problem was, I set up the Wii in the living room downstairs, and when we weren’t playing Wii, someone was watching TV… So I ended up getting a used GameCube and setting it up in my room =)

    Comment by LinkDJ — December 4, 2006 @ 5:47 pm

  8. I’ll add Wario Ware.

    Comment by george — December 4, 2006 @ 5:49 pm

  9. You need to try Madden 07 for the Wii. Even if you’re not a huge football fan, the control scheme is so well done for the Wii, it’s easy to get addicted (assuming you have at least a fleeting interest in football).

    Anyone tried Excite Truck? I’ve been debating getting that.

    Comment by Niraj — December 4, 2006 @ 5:54 pm

  10. Skies of Arcadia

    Skies of Arcadia (although originally a Dreamcast game) is a great, great game. While many people argue that Zelda Windwaker is a pain to boat through, Skies of Arcadia’s flying ship is much better - and with more action! Oddly enough many people haven’t played or even heard of this title. Take the time to find it - you won’t be disappointed.

    Comment by AJ — December 4, 2006 @ 6:04 pm

  11. I’d like to put in another vote for Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door. I used to be into RPGs a long time ago, but they’ve gotten far too complex recently. PM brings fun back to that genre.

    Also worth getting (if you can find it) is Beyond Good & Evil. Fantastic adventure game along the lines of a Zelda title, but it was perhaps a bit too complex in premise for the general public and had miserable sales.

    You also forgot Super Smash Bros. Melee. Yeah, there’s a Wii version coming out soon, but the GC one was for many people the only reason to own a GameCube.

    Comment by matt l — December 4, 2006 @ 6:20 pm

  12. To Jules: I’m sorry, but you have a fault memory. The famous phrase was “Henshin a go-go, baby”

    Anyway, I’ve gotta add Chibi-Robo, Skies of Arcadia Legends, Cubivore (if you can find it), Super Monkey Ball 2, and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat.

    Great list, on the whole!

    Comment by Tom — December 4, 2006 @ 6:35 pm

  13. Check out Killer 7. I just picked it up for 12 bucks on half.com, its easily the most bizarre, most surreal game ive played to date. Its like playing a full-on anime. Like nothing else youve ever played.

    Comment by Chump — December 4, 2006 @ 6:43 pm

  14. >I’m not going to write as if I have played this game. I haven’t. But I do know that some of my friends, who I would not take as someone who would be interested in virtual farming, have become almost addicted to this game. If you’re into secret vices, check this out.

    Animal Crossing is a GREAT game, it is different, however, than what you’re used to. I had been hoping that a new Wii version would have been ready with the Wii. I bought our GameCube to play this game back in 02. Excellent play value.

    Comment by Gordon Wagner — December 4, 2006 @ 7:02 pm

  15. IKARUGA

    one of the hardest, most beautiful, and most ‘pure’ videogames I’ve ever played

    Comment by wharpua — December 4, 2006 @ 7:15 pm

  16. @Nira

    I own excite truck and its awsome! the controls are really good, and its a fast passed action racing game =D much fun. Multiplay is good too.

    Comment by Raznog — December 4, 2006 @ 7:15 pm

  17. Where did you find SSX3? I can’t find SSX3 for gamecube on EBGames.com, but I loved that game, but unfortunaitly can’t find my Xbox either. :(

    Comment by AlexMax — December 4, 2006 @ 7:28 pm

  18. [...] The list [...]

    Pingback by randyrathbun.org :: GC games — December 4, 2006 @ 7:29 pm

  19. Give excite truck a try. I absolutely love it. I just beat it last night and now I’m obsessed with unlocking the mirror mode. Its probably the funnest racing game I’ve ever played on any console. I’m not a big racing simulation fan so this game is perfect for me.

    Comment by used routers — December 4, 2006 @ 7:38 pm

  20. seriously dude you are too picky and are an spoild brat who cannot appreciate any game for more than 5 seconds

    Comment by meleemaster500 — December 4, 2006 @ 8:17 pm

  21. smash bros is tha truth!

    Comment by swade — December 4, 2006 @ 8:19 pm

  22. No one will suggest tales of symphonia??

    Comment by brad — December 4, 2006 @ 8:21 pm

  23. Do the Gamecube games that are presented in progressive scan (480p) such as windraker/final fantasy CC/etc display as progressive scan on the Wii as well (given you have the Wii component cable)?

    Comment by progressive scan — December 4, 2006 @ 8:23 pm

  24. This is all just my opinion, obviously, but here goes, in no particular order:

    Beyond Good & Evil, but only if you’re up for more Zelda-esque gameplay since that’s the game it most closely resembles.

    Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes if you never played the original PS1 game

    Pikmin 1 & 2 are surprisingly good. I’d give the nod to 1 over 2, but 2 is much longer.

    Timesplitters 2 is probably the best FPS on the Cube, but I don’t know if that’s really saying much. If you prefer PC FPSs, there’s nothing here that will convince you otherwise.

    Rogue Squadron is pretty good, particularly considering it was a GameCube launch game.

    Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is one of my favorite games from the last generation and the GC controller works well for the game - just go in knowing that the sequels will probably disappoint you.

    FZero GX is beautiful but frustratingly difficult.

    Paper Mario was good but, I found, ultimately forgettable. But then I’d probably say the same thing for Mario Sunshine.

    Animal Crossing is highly addictive for about a month, but then you’ll wake up one day and wonder what the hell the appeal is. Until you get to that point, though, you’ll live and breathe that game. It helps that some of the NES games that Nintendo is now charging $5 for on the Virtual Console are free unlockables in Animal Crossing. That alone probably makes Animal Crossing worth the admission.

    Comment by dave — December 4, 2006 @ 8:25 pm

  25. GET THIS RPG IF YOU NEED AN RPG
    SKIES OF ARCADIA

    it’s a remake of the dreamcast version with updated stuff. really REALLY long AMAZING rpg

    Comment by RPG — December 4, 2006 @ 8:41 pm

  26. Also…

    Gun

    Luigi’s Mansion

    and of course Donkey Konga

    Comment by phrogXIX — December 4, 2006 @ 8:57 pm

  27. Additional votes here for:

    Ikaruga
    Pikmin series
    Beyond Good and Evil
    Animal Crossing
    Viewtiful Joe (though I personally found it very, very hard)
    Resident Evil 4
    WarioWare

    Let me also add Alien Hominid to the list. I would add the Super Monkey Ball series, but the Wii’s version is enough to satisfy those cravings.

    Also, though it hasn’t come out in America yet, Hajimete No Wii (Wii Play in the European/American release) is great fun and well worth the price, as it comes with a second controller. The Duck Hunt scenario’s targetting accuracy makes me excited for the potential of Time Crisis and House of the Dead compilations. Light gun railed shooters FTW!

    Comment by ChristopherD — December 4, 2006 @ 11:41 pm

  28. Is this really all you could come up with? Tales Of Symphonia is a must for anyone who like RPG’s, and Viewtiful Joe is something new and different.

    Comment by David — December 5, 2006 @ 1:19 am

  29. @David
    This is a pretty scant, but concise, list. I think I will do a revision once comments have died down and repost a follow-up with additions from the comments like yours.

    Comment by george — December 5, 2006 @ 1:27 am

  30. You really are missing out on Rayman. It’s pretty good & yes my girlfriend loves it, but she’s not the only one. :)
    Killer 7 is good if you don’t come to it thinking it’s going to be an FPS. It’s an adventure game cleverly disguised as a rail shooter. The bosses are cool, the gameplay is pretty unique and the story is David Lynch meets All Your Base Are Belong To Us.

    To top it all off the guy who made it Suda 51 is coming out with two games for the Wii, “No More Heroes” (formally “Heroes”—I wonder if NBC has plans for that title) and one with Hideo Kojima called Project S.

    Comment by jp — December 5, 2006 @ 4:30 am

  31. [...] read more | digg story [...]

    Pingback by GameCube titles for waiting Wii owners « Universe_JDJ’s Digg Blog — December 5, 2006 @ 8:30 am

  32. [...] For Wii owners who are waiting for new titles and new gamers brought by the Wii controller, why not checkout some of these awesome GC titles your Wii can play?read more | digg story [...]

    Pingback by PinoyWii.com » GameCube titles for waiting Wii owners — December 5, 2006 @ 3:12 pm

  33. you forgot SOUL CALIBUR 2, best fighting game für GC

    Comment by fanboy — December 5, 2006 @ 9:45 pm

  34. [...] The World of Warcraft 2.0.1 patch has sucked me back in. I’ve ground out 99 AB tokens and I’m working on AV. It’s just so easy to get nice, high-warlord/warlord gear I can’t help myself. It’s so good that I’m actually playing as if they might take it away tomorrow. Laternerdz is going to have a follow up to the Game Cube Titles for Waiting Wii Owners article covering impressions of the Wii after fully exploring it’s features and having time to let it soak in. Look for it sometime this week. Finally, I really enjoyed this rant about DS Buttons from celialove (you should really read her profile) who says she is “married to Celia from Harvest Moon”. I wonder how many games of Harvest Moon and Kosplay conventions it takes to actually feel repulsed by the idea of social interaction. [...]

    Pingback by Later Nerdz » Tuesday Morning Catch-Up — December 12, 2006 @ 6:30 pm

  35. for anybody who has played Wii Madden 07 please let me know what you like better about it or worse about it than playing on a PS2 or Xbox or Xbox 360 or PS3

    thanks in advance

    Comment by yaddayadda — December 22, 2006 @ 5:50 pm

  36. PS3 and thats it.

    Comment by jewel — March 2, 2007 @ 3:49 am

  37. I would like to see HALO type of game being made for Wii

    Comment by Scott Miler — March 8, 2007 @ 3:51 am

  38. [...] For Wii owners who are waiting for new titles and new gamers brought by the Wii controller, why not checkout some of these awesome GC titles your Wii can play?read more | digg story [...]

    Pingback by Gaming News » GameCube titles for waiting Wii owners — April 17, 2007 @ 12:33 pm

  39. [...] read more | digg story [...]

    Pingback by Peter Gamez » GameCube titles for waiting Wii owners — November 9, 2007 @ 2:52 pm

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