Nintendo has never released a console without causing a commotion. As one of the longest-lived and most popular brands in gaming, everything Nintendo does is followed attentively. That's as it should be, considering the consistency and overwhelming quality of its offerings.

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In 2001 Nintendo released the next console that Mario, Link, and the company's other stars would call home: the GameCube. While the unusual disc size may have thrown some players for a loop, there was no disputing the value of its multiplayer offerings. The GameCube had some of the best cooperative and competitive games of its generation, many of which are just as much fun today.

7 F-Zero GX

F-Zero GX Nintendo Game Cube

F-Zero doesn't come up as often as it should in discussions of arcade racing games. F-Zero GX stands as a reminder about just how fun the franchise can be with friends, even when compared to some of the genre's more popular titles. F-Zero GX's gravity-defying antics take some getting used to, but the skill required to run these courses without wiping out only adds to the fun and the tension, especially for competitive gamers.

Four-players can go head-to-head with some of the most tense and over-the-top racing on the GameCube. The track design alone is enough to entice one to get their friends back together for another race, and while the game can be unforgiving, that only makes it sweeter when one actually wins.

6 Pikmin 2

Pikmin 2 is a bizarre mashup of real-time strategy and puzzle game. In it, players explore a mysterious planet while commanding an army of cute plant creatures called Pikmin. Directing the Pikmin to fetch items, break things, and fight enemies is fun by oneself, but even better with a friend.

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Though the heart of the game is its single-player mode, Pikmin 2 includes both competitive and cooperative offerings. Whether the player wants to race against the clock to escape from caves or fight one another for control of marbles, ordering around a swarm of plant people with a friend is as fun today as it was when the game first launched.

5 Pokémon Colosseum

Pokemon Colosseum

Gaming franchises don't get much bigger or more popular than Pokémon. Whether the player wants a solo collect-em-all journey, head-to-head Poké battles with their friends, or even a leisurely photo-op, there's a game that will deliver. Pokémon Colosseum builds upon the popular Stadium formula with the addition of 2v2 battles, greatly expanding the available strategic options.

The game also introduces players to Shadow Pokémon which must be caught and tamed in a unique way. Quick Battles, Gang Battles, and the ability to connect to the Game Boy Advance to use one's Ruby and Sapphire collection all help put Colosseum ahead of the pack when it comes to gaming with friends. There's a good reason the Pokémon franchise didn't end after one generation.

4 Mario Kart Double Dash

The main gimmick in Mario Kart Double Dash is the inclusion of a second character on every Kart: one driving while the other uses items against opponents. Mechanically this feature is pretty inconsequential, but fans of the series don't really need another reason to jump back into the zany racing fray.

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Great graphics for the time, solid track design, and the same pitch-perfect racing that fans of the series expect make Double Dash a staple in many fans homes to this day. With co-op, LAN compatibility, and a roster of 20 drivers to choose from, Mario Kart Double Dash remains a solid pick for racing fans looking for a lighthearted take on the genre. The Grand Prix is there for those with a few hours to kill, and there's Versus, Battle, and Time Trial modes for those who just want to jump into the action.

3 TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect artwork

Take the arcade shooter formula perfected by games like GoldenEye and Doom, add time travel, zombie monkeys, and robot cat racing, and the result is TimeSplitters: Future Perfect. With a ton of wacky mini-games and a solid co-op shooting campaign, it's easy to get lost with a friend for hours in this game. If there's a game in the series that deserves a remake, it's this one.

It's almost impossible to exhaust the game's original content, but if players somehow managed to do so, there's yet another option to keep them busy. The game offers a surprisingly great level editor, allowing players to make their own custom maps and use them in a variety of game modes. Whether its classic deathmatch or a game of radioactive zombie tag, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect has something to offer.

2 SoulCalibur II

Soul Calibur II

Though SoulCalibur II doesn't include the popular Character Creation or Chronicles of the Sword modes that would be introduced later, it's a quality fighting game in its own right. Precise mechanics and an attractive presentation make fights fun, and new characters Talim, Yunsung, Raphael, and Cassandra are all welcome additions to the roster. SoulCalibur has only gotten better with time, something that was already evident when the second entry in the series debuted.

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The biggest selling point for Nintendo fans is the console-exclusive addition of Link to the roster. Legend of Zelda enthusiasts who want a venue other than Smash Bros. to practice their Master Sword skills against friends have it here. Whether playing as or against Link, SoulCalibur II is a blast, finding the perfect balance between welcoming arcade action and serious competitive content.

1 Super Smash Bros. Melee

Promo art featuring characters from Super Smash Bros. Melee

The best thing about Super Smash Bros. is arguably the ability to pit iconic characters against one another. Super Smash Bros. Melee takes the biggest selling point of the original and doubles down, adding even more beloved character to its signature fights. Being able to tag-team Bowser and the Ice Climbers with Pichu and Marth is more than worth the price of admission.

Though Melee isn't perfectly balanced, it's the ideal party fighting game and has even managed to maintain a dedicated pro scene. With 25 playable characters, Melee more than doubles the roster of the previous game, and it's a roster that has held up well years later. For those who want the go-to GameCube fighting experience, there's simply no substitute for Super Smash Bros. Melee.

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