Forgotten GameCube games that I’d love to see on the Nintendo Switch

A report published a few weeks ago suggested that the upcoming Nintendo Switch may be the very first Nintendo console to offer playable GameCube titles via the Virtual Console.

For the unaware, the Virtual Console is Nintendo’s digital store for downloading classic games — the service started life on the original Wii, and is currently open for business on the Wii U and 3DS.

To date the Virtual Console has offered up a range of classic NES and SNES titles, along with a slow trickle of N64 games. A library of handheld (Game Boy, GBA, DS) titles have also gradually been made available.

Notably absent from the Virtual Console of today is anything from the GameCube era and beyond.

However, if this recent report is to be believed, that could change when the Switch arrives in March 2017.

If old GameCube games do end up being added to the Switch Virtual Console then an entirely new audience will be granted the opportunity to play various smash hit GameCube games for the very first time.

There are several obvious heavy hitters from the GameCube’s varied back-catalogue that people will consider as the essential must plays — games like the Wind Waker, Mario Kart: Double Dash and Metroid Prime definetly spring to mind.

Yet the GameCube was also home to plenty of other, possibly forgottenexperiences. Games that offered something unique, or peculiar, or clever — or were just downright fun and don’t seem to be as well remembered (for any number of reasons).

So, here’s a rundown of fun GameCube games (not all console exclusives, and presented in no particular order) that although may be overlooked as first choices for the Virtual Console, I’d love to see made available on the Nintendo Switch someday:

1: Alien Hominid

2004

Alien Hominid started life as a Flash game on gaming site Newgrounds before making the leap to consoles. Although multiplatform, this side-scrolling shooter remains a personal favourite.

You assume the role of an little yellow alien, who having crash landed on earth, must fend off attacks from FBI and Russian agents.

Although really challenging, it lends itself well to quick play sessions, and has a co-op option. As such, you and a friend could quickly take on a lively level or two during a lunch break — perfect with the Switch in handheld mode and a JoyCon each.

2: Freedom Fighters

2003

This first-person-shooter takes place in an alternative reality in which the Soviet Union are still a thing, and they’ve assumed control of New York City following an invasion. Yup.

You get to play as the leader of a growing resistance gang who want to take back control of the city.

What’s unique here is the way in which you build your group of ‘freedom fighters’ — through doing good deeds and favours you can recruit people to join your cause, who you can then instruct to help you complete missions.

Talk of a sequel to Freedom Fighters has popped up a few times over the past decade, so putting the original in front of fresh eyes on the Switch can’t hurt as a way to drum up interest. 😉

3: Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

2002

This horror action-adventure game has a jump-scare within the first half hour which scared the crap out of fifteen-year-old me.

Filled with clever, varied gameplay, multiple paths and numerous characters, Eternal Darkness boasts something called the ‘Sanity meter’.

This meter will rise up and down as your character experiences various terrors, with the game being warped to match — you can expect the walls to start bleeding, your path ahead may begin to tilt, and your game save may even ‘delete’ itself. Plenty of interesting little touches like this, along with a rich story make this a must.

I’d love to see a HD remaster of this game, as I never feel it got the recognition it deserved — but I’d settle for a VC re-release to get it in front of a new audience.

4: Pac Man Vs.

2003

This game started something of a trend — taking an old arcade hit and remixing it become something of a thing in recent years.

The set-up for Pac Man Vs. was slightly elaborate: You needed a Gamecube, hooked up to a Game Boy Advance, by way of a link cable. Once set-up, the games unique asymmetrical gameplay proved really addictive.

You play Pac-Man on the attached Game Boy Advance, with a view of the entire map. The ghosts, playing on the TV, can only see their immediate surroundings. Communication quickly becomes key for the ghosts if they want to find Pac Man — players must talk to each other in order for their hunt to be a success.

The Switch would be a perfect home for experiences like this — (the Luigi’s Mansion mini-game from NintendoLand also springs to mind here) allowing multiple machines to be linked together for a shared experience sounds like the perfect use case.

5: Beyond Good & Evil

2003

More people should play this action-adventure game from Rayman creator Michel Ancel. Take pictures, enjoy the odd universe you find yourself in, talk to your sidekick pig, save the day.

The long awaited sequel may finally become a reality — with hints suggesting the game possibly coming to the Switch. So now could be the perfect time to play through the first.

6: TimeSplitters 2

2002

This shooter was a ton of fun. The single player saw you travelling to a range of locations and time periods, tasked with grabbing time crystals. But it was the multiplayer mode which really left a lasting impression.

TimeSplitters 2 put forward a really solid multiplayer experience, not just because of some great maps and tight gameplay, but due to the impressive level of customisation.

Loads of modes, an energetic cast of characters, a sizeable assortment of weapons and a ton of options to tweak made this hugely replayable. The well designed map-maker only added to the hours I sunk into this gem.

I’d love to see TimeSplitters return in some form.

7: Viewtiful Joe

2003

This side-scrolling beat-em-up serves up a meaty challenge with hella stylish visuals and fluid gameplay.

You play as Joe, who having been dragged from reality into ‘Movieland’, must use his newfound skills to fight a range of oddball baddies to rescue his girlfriend. These skills, dubbed VFX, allow the player to slow down gameplay to dodge hits, speed it up to hit more bad guys, or zoom in to land more powerful punches.

I love the flair and overall aesthetic put forward by Viewtiful Joe. A new entry in the series (or even an HD remake) would be amazing — but a Virtual Console appearance, allowing me to play this on the move, would be hugely welcome.

These are just a handful of games I loved from the GameCube era that I’d love to replay on the Switch. ❤️ Reply with any old GameCube games you’d like to revisit in the comments.

[Originally published on Medium]