This week marked the twenty fifth anniversary of the Nintendo GameCube, and boy do I really feel outdated. I nonetheless have vivid reminiscences of the GameCube’s North American launch (which got here just a few months after Japan, in November 2001), as a result of it was the primary online game console that was really mine, moderately than one I shared with my brother. For some cause, I additionally nonetheless have the console’s launch lineup burned into my mind. I can see each single piece of field artwork in my thoughts, proper all the way down to Disney’s Tarzan: Untamed.
To rejoice the GameCube’s anniversary, and to check that my noggin nonetheless works, let’s take a stroll down reminiscence lane and reminisce in regards to the console’s finest launch video games. Although the GameCube had a number of day one video games in North America due to an inflow of sports activities titles, there have been 5 standouts that had been must-own video games proper out the gate.
5
Wave Race: Blue Storm
Wave Race: Blue Storm is a kind of Nintendo launch video games that’s simple to underappreciate. A jet ski racing recreation was actually much less thrilling on paper than a very new franchise starring a beloved Mario character. It was the console’s second banana on the time, but it surely deserves its flowers looking back. It was a rock strong racing recreation that efficiently confirmed off what was doable on new {hardware}. Speedy races and spectacular water results make for the type of GameCube pioneer that it’s important to respect.
4
Luigi’s Mansion
For those who weren’t round for the GameCube’s launch, you’d in all probability assume that Luigi’s Mansion was the console’s must-have launch recreation. That’s not totally correct. Sure, Luigi’s Mansion was pushed as Nintendo’s massive first-party unique, and it did launch to optimistic buzz. However a lot of the dialog round it on the time was centered round its difficult management scheme that took gamers off guard. It was a troublesome introduction to the GameCube controller’s uncommon design. That apart, although, Luigi’s Mansion holds up as a pleasant left-field oddity that set the tone for a creatively experimental console technology.
3
Tremendous Monkey Ball
Consider it or not, all of the GameCube’s finest launch video games got here from third-party companions. That listing began with Sega due to Tremendous Monkey Ball. The physics-based recreation was a novel idea on the time, combining puzzle and platform components right into a never-racking recreation of stability. The cartoon mascots match proper in with Nintendo’s family-friendly vibe on the time, virtually making it really feel like a creation of its personal. It has solely gotten higher over time too due to its place within the speedrunning group; it’s probably the most enjoyable spectator sports activities there may be.
2
Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Chief
Although Luigi’s Mansion was positioned because the GameCube’s massive recreation, all of the cool youngsters had been enjoying Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Chief on day one — and for good cause. To at the present time, it’s nonetheless top-of-the-line Star Wars video games of all time. Its intense aerial canine fights have solely since been rivaled by Star Wars Squadrons. Even then, Rogue Chief nonetheless has the sting due to a slew of memorable missions, together with one that permits you to tackle a bombing run on the Dying Star. It’s the type of Star Wars want achievement that hasn’t fairly been topped since.
1
Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3
For my cash, Tony Hawks’ Professional Skater 3 would possibly simply be the most effective launch recreation of all time. Okay, it solely will get into that dialog on a technicality contemplating that it got here out on different platforms just a few weeks earlier than the GameCube launched, however I’m counting it. The skateboarding recreation was a cultural phenomenon on the time, taking an already widespread sequence to new heights. (Take a look at its absurdly excessive Metacritic rating for proof.) It was proof that the GameCube wouldn’t solely be outlined by its Nintendo exclusives, however by third-party assist from companions who had been simply as desirous to develop for it as they had been for Xbox and PS2.