The GameCube remains a firm fan favorite console for Nintendo lovers, despite having sales figures which were a fraction of other consoles around at the time. This is due to the fact that the GameCube brought with it some incredible Nintendo games, including The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Mario Party 4 through 7. It also contained some unexpected gems like Wave Race: Blue Storm, alongside other well received games more widely available at the time.
The Gamecube has an extensive back catalogue that has been largely untouched so far. So which of these titles deserve a remake and which should be consigned to history? Here are 5 GameCube games that need a remaster and 5 that don’t but will probably get one.
10 Deserves A Remaster: Paper Mario The Thousand-Year Door
This choice is an obvious one. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the most enjoyable Paper Mario game ever made. Its storyline is engaging, the gameplay is creative and the graphics are unique. While later games tried too hard and failed because of it, the beauty of The Thousand-year Door is in its simplicity.
This role-playing classic is so loved that a campaign is currently taking place on social media, proposing a remake. Here’s hoping Nintendo pay attention, because this gem deserves a remaster.
9 Will Probably Get A Remaster: Mario Power Tennis
There is so much Mario love in the world that the GameCube back catalogue of titles starring everyone’s favorite ex-plumber is certain to be pillaged for remasters. One title from the line up which we hope they skip is Mario Power Tennis.
The Mario Tennis franchise is incredibly successful, and Mario Power Tennis isn’t a bad game. It’s just that there are so many more Mario games which are far superior. This franchise is best continued, rather than remastered.
8 Deserves A Remaster: The Simpsons Hit and Run
The Simpsons Hit And Run was an inspired addition to the GameCube catalogue and is one of the strongest franchised games around, even now. It takes inspiration from both the TV series and the Grand Theft Auto franchise. The result is carnage light with buckets of humor.
It was created with input from the show's writers and cast, who helped with the story and dialogue. The game is still a firm favorite years later and many fans would love to see a remaster. It earned several awards and would likely sell incredibly well if it returned.
7 Will Probably Get A Remaster: The Simpsons: Road Rage
The predecessor to the masterful Hit and Run, The Simpsons: Road Rage was a poor imitation of Crazy Taxi and it showed. Instead of using the concept and adding a twist it simply used the concept.
Playing the game is exactly like playing Crazy Taxi, just with Simpsons characters. The result is a feeling of deja-vu and a sense of disappointment which you just can’t shake. What could have been an amazing new take on a great idea was instead a damp squib which left many feeling like they’d paid a lot of money, just for The Simpsons name.
6 Deserves A Remaster: Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine is the third best-selling GameCube game of all time and a remaster right now would be perfectly timed. In the game Mario has to clean up the tropical Isle Delfino, using his F.L.U.D.D, which is a water based jetpack style item. The F.L.U.D.D. allows Mario to clean, hover and manoeuvrer to difficult places.
The game has quirky mechanics, a great story and a message about keeping your environment clean and beautiful, very on topic right now. What’s not to love?
5 Will Probably Get A Remaster: Frogger Beyond
The Frogger series is quite the retro flashback and would likely be in line for a remaster. This GameCube title adds a twist to the series, with new enemies, obstacles and challenges. It has puzzles and problems and even some neat graphics, there’s just one big problem with it: the difficulty.
It starts off hard and gets even harder very, very quickly. Unless you’re incredibly skilled at these types of games then you’ll be throwing your controller in frustration in record time.
4 Deserves A Remaster: Chibi-Robo!
Chibi-Robo! Is a relatively niche game, which was more successful than expected. It’s a platform-adventure game which almost didn’t get made. Luckily for fans, the project was overhauled by Shigeru Miyamoto and made into the game we loved so dearly.
It allows you to take control of a cute and tiny robot, who has to navigate the Sanderson family house, helping out and solving problems. A reboot of this classic would fit nicely into our current gaming world, where I Am Bread exists.
3 Will Probably Get A Remaster: Bomberman Jetters
The Bomberman franchise has been around since the early 1980’s and peaked during the 1990’s and early 2000's. With such a prestige heritage, Bomberman is ripe for a remaster, we just have to hope they skip over Bomberman: Jetters.
It plays like a poor copy of Bomberman Generation, making no attempt to right the wrongs in the previous title. Combine this with terrible voice-acting and too many differences compared to the anime it's based on, and this is one Bomberman which is best forgotten.
2 Deserves A Remaster: Mario Kart Double Dash
Mario Kart: Double Dash still stands up as a unique game, even to this day. It introduced a system of allowing two players to play co-operatively; with one driving the kart and one in charge of items. The game also supported multiplayer, allowing up to 16 players to race at once.
With its wide range of tracks, improved powerslides and unique two player system, this game is still one of the best in the series. Here’s hoping that the success of Crash Team Racing helps a remaster become a reality.
1 Will Probably Get A Remaster: Kirby Air Ride
The Kirby series is a much loved Nintendo staple, with most games being action-platformers. Kirby Air Ride exists purely to remind us that taking the lovable pink alien and trying to put him into a racing game is a very bad idea.
Using vehicles from previous games, such as the warpstar, Kirby Air Ride attempted to do for Kirby what Mario Kart did for Mario. Except Mario Kart is every bit as good as this game is bad. It’s so simple you don’t even have to press a button to move forward.