Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Most Overlooked Gamecube Games - Part Two

A month or two ago we took a first look at last generation's overlooked and underappreciated games starting with the Nintendo Gamecube, a glazed over console all to itself. Well, I'm back with five more games that I find that are worth checking out whether they were underrated, unappreciated, or not purchased by the majority of the gaming world. Let's kick things off right, shall we?

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

The first of what has become a long-running Nintendo-exclusive series, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles wasn't your standard dungeon crawler. One annoying part was having to carry a chalice around that would protect you from the poisonous miasma smoke that covered the land. With four Game Boy Advances, four link cables, and four friends you could play the game together, battling familiar Final Fantasy monsters and picking up rare treasure. Even alone the game was fun for fans of action-RPG gameplay and hack-and-slash excitement. Here's hoping a future Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles game offers up a similar experience online.


Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg

An above-average title to me, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg isn't without its frustrations. Though those who persevere will find a fantastic platforming adventure awaiting them. Players control Billy Hatcher who uses an egg to attack enemies, transport through colored rings, and tackle fierce trials and tribulations in his quest to save Morning Island from the evil Bossy Crow gang. Add in some colorful and vibrant visuals, several themed worlds, interesting boss battles, and a Super Mario Galaxy-like game progression, and you have a platformer that while often aggravating is charming enough to complete.


Geist

Play as a spectral operative as you search for your missing physical body inside a strange military facility. As a specter or ghost, you have the ability to possess a host of interesting objects and human beings. Human beings can only be possessed when they're frightened, so it's in your best interest to possess objects nearby them to spook them into becoming vessels for your bidding. Part adventure game, part first-person shooter, Geist was a very intriguing game from Nintendo Software and Technology. The multi-player was a blast to play either alone or with bots adding to the longevity of this ghoulish game.


Chibi-Robo!

The Sandersons are in possession of a brand-new miniature housekeeper in the guise of the mechanical Chibi-Robo. As Chibi-Robo, you guide him around the house as he takes on odd-jobs and chores around the house, battle enemies, powers his battery charger to stay alive, and makes his way to become the best Chibi-Robo bot on the block. Like a chapter out of Toy Story, Chibi-Robo will need to partner up and coexist with the toys that live in the Sanderson household to reach new places inside the house. Perhaps the release of this game so late in the Gamecube's life cycle sealed the deal on the fate of this lovable and small robotic household hero.


Wario World

Ground pound or power bomb anything and everything that gets in Wario's way! Wario World is a 3-D action-platformer with lots of fun and frantic fighting. Each world is two levels long each with a mid-boss and final boss that will take all of Wario's cunning to defeat. When a black jewel takes over Wario's castle, it's up to Wario to get the job done and get it back! He has a wide assortment of moves to do this from grabs, spinning throws, punches, kicks, and the occasional power bomb, of course! Each level has a multitude of hidden treasures to uncover and discover offering loads of longevity to this otherwise short game.


Did I leave any of your Gamecube favorites out? Let me and everyone else know in the comments section.

5 comments:

The Dread Pirate Guy said...

Crystal Chronicles had beautiful music and graphics on the GC.

I do wish that I had checked out Billy Hatcher and Chibi Robo, though. I had gotten the impression the latter title would have made the Wii's NPC roster, unless Nintendo abandoned that line.

Unknown said...

Yeah, I'm still waiting on Pikmin 2 on NPC. Hopefully they continue the line since it was originally just created to fill holes in their line-up.

coffeewithgames said...

I never played any of these games. I wouldn't mind trying to find Geist and Chibi-Robo! though.
I like FPS games, and I remember reading how Geist was a different concept on it.

Chibi-Robo! I think I would like, because of the whole, little guy in a bigger world perspective.

The Dread Pirate Guy said...

You know, I would have figured Luigi's Mansion and Wind Waker would have made the transition.

I REALLY want to try the Cube's F-Zero since I missed it the first time out, and everyone just gushes about that title.

Unknown said...

I don't think F-Zero would lend well to motion controls. It's way too fast and uses way too intricate driving, but I thought the same of Jungle Beat and that turned out great,