Nintendo Switch: 15 GameCube Games That Must Be On Virtual Console
If the Virtual Console rumours are true, here's what should be included.
With freshly served rumours that the Nintendo Switch will allow for Nintendo GameCube games to be downloaded via the Virtual Console - or perhaps the eShop - there's no better time to recall just what made that little purple box great in the first place.
From childish-looking games to severely restricted LAN options, the GameCube had a tough time making its mark in the sixth generation of consoles. Ironic, really, when you consider that their biggest earlier competitor, SEGA, had just bowed out of the hardware business with the demise of the Dreamcast.
But this was a time when console gaming had gotten all serious and mature. Microsoft had thrown down their gauntlet with the huge black Xbox that was to be the vision of the future of gaming consoles and the PlayStation 2 had already spent a year or so impressing absolutely everyone that bought it.
The GameCube didn’t do so well in securing multiplatform ports but (as usual) did do well with Nintendo tried and trusted franchises.
Nevertheless, as always, it’s the games that make the system and so here’s our guide to 15 of the best Nintendo GameCube games that really ought to make it to the Switch.
15. Ikaruga
Ikaruga was vicious.
A true hardcore gamer’s game, this was a shoot ‘em up made in the style of shooters from the days of yore before first-person shooters were all the rage. Originally released in arcades in 2001 and SEGA Dreamcast in 2002, Ikaruga made the jump across to GameCube in 2003.
The beauty of the gameplay in Ikaruga was in the black-red/white-blue dynamic. Your ship would alternately take damage or absorb energy from different colour projectiles and you could swap states at any time. There were just five levels but ask any SHMUP fan and you’ll know that quantity doesn’t matter a damn with Ikaruga: quality does.
The graphical presentation was also excellent as stages were rendered in full 3D and yet because of the colour dynamic, enemy projectiles never got “lost” amongst the screen.
You’ll never best this in one day: this is a game where you’ll have to hone your skills repeatedly with thousands of deaths. Git gud and all that.