Top 5 GameCube Picks

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

Publisher: Nintendo - Rated: Teen

Loyal fans of the original Metroid for the Nintendo Entertainment System felt a great reprieve when Metroid Prime was released for the GameCube in 2002 by the geniuses at Retro Studios. Oh, what a happy day it was. By blending all the elements that make first person shooters, platforming, and puzzle solving adventure games great, Retro Studios vastly improved upon an already magnanimous franchise. Re-living the glory days again in this sequel, we once again take control of Samus Aran, the intergalactic bounty hunter, with all the goodies of the past and some upgrades. The game not only contains your classic action/adventure type play but also features a cool Light and Dark World theme, and a new arena-based multiplayer mode that kicks much booty.

Mario Power Tennis

Publisher: Nintendo - Rated: Everyone

Chad is an avid lover of Tennis, any game that comes along centering on Tennis is heavily scrutinized. One thing he looks for in Tennis game is character range of skill, court type (ranging from, clay, to grass, to sand, etc) and ball movement. The folks over at Camelot Software Planning have accomplished all that and introduced a wickedly fun play system. Mario Power Tennis, is a balanced, fast paced fun tennis game complete with a new power move system and tighter controls. Chad himself can't wait for the game. Looks like he'll be broke again this holiday season.

Viewtiful Joe 2

Publisher: Capcom - Rated: Teen

If you didn't pick up the original, get the sequel to last year's GameCube "Game of the Year". It's got the same beautiful cartoon cell-shading of the original as well as the thrilling special moves. Fast paced action, humor, more action and colorful environments! What else could you ask for?

Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean

Publisher: Namco - Rated: Teen

This is definitely a sleeper hit for the GameCube. Brought to you by the creators of Shogo, the first and third person shooter/action/adventure game back in the late 90's and the Xenosaga series, Monolith Software has managed yet again to put a unique twist on play mechanics. Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (BK) [whew! what a long title], uses a rather unconventional battle and leveling system that really makes this RPG a killer hit for the GC. With Magna cards, players will be given access to items, special attacks, healing and weaponry that they can then use to fight powerful monsters or to help solve a really twisted puzzle, further developing the intricate story line.

The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

Publisher: EA - Rated: Teen

Our friends at EA Redwood Shores didn't waist anytime on developing a kick ass action/adventure type RPG based on J.R.R Tolkien's triliogy, The Lord of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings: Third Age, combines all the massively cool imagery of Middle Earth and all it's inhabitants from the cute and disgustingly loveable hobbits, powerful dwarves, brave humans, intelligent wizards, and strikingly cool elves to the massively evil hordes of Mordor. Something about those pointy ears! Aside from the rather rigid movement of the characters, the FFX-like combat system and the vastness of Middle Earth, The Lord of the Rings: Third Age puts you right into the adventure that we all loved to watch. Just wait until you summon your first Dragon or a Mythical Ent and you will see what we mean.