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When a big name video game console launches, heads turn. Last fall, a heavy-weight titan launched a week before the little white console that could. Three months after these launches, it is much easier to compare the pros and cons of each launch. As a Nintendo fanboy, I am quite content with the fact that Nintendo has out sold the PS3 thus far at nearly a 4:1 margin. However, it has not been a complete cake walk. Today, I want to take a look at how Nintendo could succeed so well while making many mistakes with their North American launch.

Five reasons why Nintendo has a better launch then the PS3.

1. Launch games - Some people have stated that the Wii is currently in a software drought. I would highly argue this. Hands down, the Wii had a stronger line-up of software then the PS3. Many Wii titles might have been last-gen ports, however those titles still produced relatively great games. The Wii also has a great amount of GameCube games which are much more relevant to gamers because NO ONE owned a GameCube. These games are brand new to many of the 4.5 million Wii owners. Nintendo has also dished out some great games through the Virtual Console. Many great hits are now available for cheap downloads.

2. The system is fun - I arrived home at about 1:00 AM on November 20th, 2006 after waiting at Wal-Mart over 12 hours for a launch system. Upon entering the house, my mother was waiting up in order to play "that tennis game I saw them talking about on CNN and NBC." People like my mom don't understand Blue-Ray and what it does for gaming. They do realize that swinging a remote control like a tennis racket can be fun.

3. The Wii is a social hit - The "Wii would like to play" commercials were a hit. Playing was believing. Upon returning back to college with my Wii, I found my room full of people nearly twenty-four hours a day playing Wii Sports. WarioWare and ExciteTruck have kept our interest lately. The system is a social phenomenon.

4. The price is right - $250 was about $50 more than I had originally hoped the Wii would be. However, nearly everyone I have met finds this price to be more than satisfactory. The system is the cheapest of the next generation consoles and it arguably offers the most fun. What a bargain.

5. Modesty - I have not seen the Regginator offer $1200 for any Wii found lying on a store shelf. Miyamoto did not state that the Wii would sell 5 million units even if it didn't have any games. Nintendo has been much more modest then their competitors thus far. Consumers seem to be loving this corporate attitude.

Five reasons why Nintendo had a worse launch then the PS3.

1. Nintendo failed to build up enough hype - People waited in line for over 48 hours in order to buy a PS3. This pre-launch hype might not benefit Sony right now. It will benefit Sony in the future when the price of the system drops and parents see "that thing that people waited 3 days for" at an affordable price.

2. Lack of an on-line vision - Sony seems to have a decent plan ahead of them with their online network. Nintendo has been a mixed bag. The Virtual Console has been a success, but what about the other online components? We know very little about Nintendo's future online plans which has scared away many potential buyers.

3. Availability - While the PS3 hasn't sold as many units as the Wii, Sony has been outgoing with the fact that they have ramped up unit production. I have seen PS3s in store and have had the opportunity to purchase about 20 of the units if I wanted to. I have not seen a Wii in store since launch night. Nintendo needs to ramp up production in order to meet demand. This also applies to the DS Lite. The portable brother of the Wii has been almost as hard to find in the same period. People can't buy units if they aren't available.

4. Wiinjuries - Injuries caused by playing the Wii have been the only cause of bad press for the system so far. Web sites have been formed in order to showcase horrific bodily injuries. Wiimotes flying through televisions have also been the focus of many fansites. Nintendo did take quick action by changing the Wiimote strap design. However, that doesn't help the guy who tore his ACL or the family with a hole in their new 42' plasma.

5. Nintendo still has the kiddy image - Games like Sadness and Manhunt 2 look to fix this problem. Nevertheless, Nintendo still has a "kiddy" reputation in the gaming world. Nintendo needs to fix this problem by luring in several big name third-party developers in order to ditch the long standing image and win over the hard-core gaming audience.


These are 10 small things that I saw present throughout the Wii launch. Like the list or not, Nintendo still had a very successful launch. Still, 3 months do not determine a console race. It will be interesting to see how Nintendo's system preforms in 2007.

We are nearly a full month into the year 2007 A.D. With eleven months left on the calendar, a whole lot could still happen in the world of gaming. 2006 was a great year for Nintendo. The DS was a huge seller and the Wii saw an unbelievable launch. That being said, we should expect a huge year from Nintendo in 2007. Here are some things to keep an eye out for this year in the world of Nintendo. This list is only speculation, however it should give you a fairly good idea about what to expect from the Big N in 2007.

1. Revised Wiimote to simultaneously launch with a new system color. - Revised Wiimote rumors have been all the rage on the internets. Expect to see a slightly revised Wiimote sometime around August or September. The revision will feature some sort of rubber grip to prevent controller throwage. It might also feature the plus and minus buttons in slightly different positions in order to make them more accessible. This new Wiimote will be paired with the launch of the Wii system in blue or platinum.

2. Release dates finally revealed. - Nintendo has been keeping the release dates of their big releases secret for quite a while. Everyone knows that we will see Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl released this year, it is only a matter of when. Metroid Prime: Corruption will be announced with a June release and take the majority of summer sales. Super Mario Galaxy will follow in September to rave reviews. Super Smash Bros. Brawl will be released in mid-November in order to go up against Halo 3.

3. Multi-player games take gaming by storm. - 2007 will be known as the year that brought back off-line multi-player. While XBOX Live might be the on-line king, Nintendo games will remind gamers that real life friends are still cool too. WarioWare, Wii Play, Mario Party 8, Metroid Prime: Corruption, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Soul Caliber 4, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, and several unannounced projects will remind us how much we enjoy gaming with friends.

4. DS to Wii capabilities will finally take off. - Pokemon Battle Revolution and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers will help get us in the DS-Wii mood. This year, Nintendo will announce a new game series which will focus on DS-Wii networking. Imagine a Mario Party-like multi-player game in which each player used a DS as a controller. WiiConnect24 will also begin a DS demo download service.

5. Great new games in old series. - We might not see these games released this year, but we will see them announced. Expect Pikmin Wii, Donkey Konga Wii, Star Fox, F-Zero, Wave Race, Mario Golf, Donkey Kong Jungle Beats, Earthbound, and 1080 Snowboarding games announced this year.

6. Nintendo to gain sales ground. - Just how many systems will Nintendo sell in 2007? This is a tough question to answer. Let's look at some numbers. The XBOX 360 sold 10 million units in just over a year. The Wii has sold about 3 million units in 2 months and the PS3 has sold about 1.5 million in 2 months also. I see the XBOX 360 selling about 6-7 million systems this year. The PS3 will most likely ship 7-8 million, but only sell 5 million. Nintendo should see an advantage this year because of strong sales in all three major territories. The XBOX 360 has seen horrible sales in Japan and the PS3 has seen lackluster sales in the United States with no European launch until March. Expect the Wii to sell about 11 million units worldwide this year, leaving Nintendo in 2nd place slightly behind the XBOX 360.

7. Virtual Console to have a great year will plenty of great releases. - The Virtual Console has already sold 1.5 million games. Expect to see the release of many great classic games this year. Nintendo will also announce a new service which allows for independent developers to release new games for download through WiiConnect24. Expect to see some solid N64 games released this spring and summer when the release schedule is thin.

Anyways, I hope that this list gives everyone a good idea about what we should expect from Nintendo in the next year. Feel free to leave a comment or e-mail if you feel like I have left anything out.



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The Nintendo Wii had an exceptional launch line-up. However, if you have saved Hyrule and ran out of carrot juice to shoot at Rabbids, you might be looking for some new titles to play. Here are 10 titles that everyone should be anticipating in 2007.

10. Project H.A.M.M.E.R. - Not too much is known about this game from Nintendo. We do know that you will use the Wiimote to smash things in a completely destructible environment. Any game that involves destruction and Nintendo polish at least deserves a look.

9. Sonic and the Secret Rings - The trailers have looked pretty good. This game would easily be number 2 or 3 on any list 5 years ago. SEGA could really add some value back into a dying Sonic franchise with a good showing in this game.

8. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers - SquareEnix revived a relationship with Nintendo after the release of the first Crystal Chronicles game back on the GameCube. The original game featured a solid combat system and a great multi-player mode that was hampered by the requirement of four GameBoy Advance systems. This game definitely carries a lot of potential, especially if SquareEnix creates a multi-player mode that doesn't require $300 worth of additional hardware.

7. Wii Play - This game could turn into Wii Sports x 2. Imagine the same great game play of Wii Sports along with more games and depth. This might be the multi-player game of the year.

6. SSX Blur - EA Big is bringing an exclusive SSX game to the Wii this spring. This game's biggest feature might be the unique controls. The nunchuck controls the racer on the ground and the Wiimote controls the racer in air. If only Nintendo could create another attachment to control my excitement for this game.

5. Animal Crossing Wii - We know that it is in development, but we don't know anything about it. The game is heavily rumored to redefine the series by using Miis instead of the trademark animals. Expect online multi-player when this game is released most likely by the end of the year.

4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - This game might deliver the first great FPS experience on the Wii even though it technically is not a FPS. Many people worry that Nintendo will ruin the franchise with the new control system. Those people also worried about the franchise moving to 3D.

3. WarioWare: Smooth Moves - If you need a game that will show off the "fun-factor" of your new Nintendo Wii, this is your game. It almost seems like Nintendo had this game in mind when they designed the system. Tons of crazy mini-games use the unique controller better than any other game on the system so far.

2. Super Mario Galaxy - Will people finally look at this game as a true successor to Super Mario 64? I doubt it. The game will still be one of the best selling titles on the system this upcoming year. Mario and the Wiimote are a perfect match. This game might just redefine Mario as we know him.

1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl - It has been about 5 years since Super Smash Bros. Melee was released on the GameCube. Nearly every GameCube owner I know still plays that game semi-regularly. Every couple of years, a game comes along that defines a generation and Brawl could be that game. The game is already looking like it will contain more characters and arenas than ever before. If Nintendo can get some on-line play in the game, we might see the best console fighter of all time.

Enough with the 10 games I think you should be hyped about in the upcoming year, I want to hear your opinion. Feel free to e-mail me at TeenageFanboy@gmail.com or leave a comment either in the comment section or on the message boards. I love your feedback!





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Nintendo has been adding to the Virtual Console library every Monday. The current line-up is full of great hits and horrible stinkers. Nintendo has not yet released any sales numbers for the online store, but sales seem doing fairly well. Critics have claimed that the X-Box 360 and even the PS3's online stores have gone beyond what Nintendo has produced thus far. The truth is, Nintendo is sitting on a goldmine of classic games awaiting re-release on the Virtual Console.

Nintendo will really need to step up in the next year and put some great games on the Virtual Console. The Wii is looking to have a stellar year with many great triple-A releases. However, Nintendo must continue to release killer Virtual Console games in order to fill in any weak points in the Wii line-up.

I have compiled a list of the 10 games Nintendo must release for the Virtual Console this year. This list is not an official list from Nintendo. It is merely a list of games I feel that Nintendo should put out in order for the Virtual Console, and ultimately the Wii, to remain successful.

10. Paper Mario - A classic Nintendo 64 game which never quite go the attention it deserved. The game was released late into the system's lifespan and in limited quantities. This game would be a bargain for $10 and a great edition to the VC library.

9. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask - A game widely considered to be the "bastard-child" of the Legend of Zelda series. The game follows Link in the world of Termina. The game was criticized by hardcore fans for straying so far away from Ocarina of Time. This game would be great for new Zelda fans and would also give a chance for hardcore fans to play the game again without comparing it to the legendary Ocarina of Time.

8. Super Mario World - Easily one of the best platformers of all-time. This game would be a welcome addition to any Mario fanatic waiting for the release of Super Mario Galaxy. Nintendo should maybe even allow a promotion which would give gamers this game as a free download if they pre-ordered Galaxy.

7. Star Fox 64 - The best game in the Star Fox series and one of the best space-shooters ever created. Nintendo has thrown the Star Fox series into the shitter the last few years and this series deserves a re-release in order to show off the potential this franchise still has.

6. Zombies Ate My Neighbors - This is more of a personal wish rather than an actual possibility. I have no idea about who actually owns the rights to this title now. This game is a great zombie shooter which would be a blast with multi-player on the VC. A cult hit that is worth any price if you can still find it for the Sega Genesis.

5. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - Sega has killed the Sonic series over the last 8 years. Sonic Adventure might be the only decent 3D Sonic game and even that is arguable. Sega needs to show off Sonic in 2D glory in order to drive up sales of the upcoming Sonic and the Secret Rings. No game shows off Sonic's 2D beauty better than Sonic 3.

4. Mario Kart 64 - This game has already been confirmed for a Q1 Virtual Console launch. Mario Kart 64 is the best of the Mario Kart series and this game will easily take up $10 of my money. This is easily one of the best multi-player console games of all-time.

3. Super Metroid - 2007 will see the monumental release of Metroid Prime: Corruption. This game would show new Nintendo gamers the classic 2D feel of Metroid before they pick up the new game this fall.

2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - The game was repackaged several years ago on the GBA. This game would be a great release on the VC too. This game has already been released on the Japanese VC. One can only assume that we will see a North American release soon.

1. Earthbound - A SNES cult classic that Nintendo has teased gamers with for over 10 years. A sequel was released on the GBA, but that game has not seen the light of day in North America. This release of this game on the Virtual Console would sell Wii systems by itself. Nintendo needs to revive this franchise and the release of Earthbound of the VC would be a great way to start the revival.



I hope you all enjoyed my list. I hope I didn't leave out any favorites. I was going to add it Ocarina of Time, however that game has seen two re-releases on the GameCube and will be release for sure on the VC this spring. I don't really see the title as a necessary addition because nearly everyone who will buy it has already played it. Feel free to add other games to list in the comments section. I also encourage you to e-mail your comments, suggestions, and rants to TeenageFanboy@gmail.com


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Time Magazine certainly thinks so. I recently read a story on Time's website which claims that the game is the best game of the year. That story can be found here.

When I first read this article, I couldn't disagree more. This year saw the release of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Gears of War, Resistance: Fall of Man, Final Fantasy 12, and Oblivion just to name a few titles. A crappy looking game packed in with the Nintendo Wii console couldn't compete or can it?

I cringed when Nintendo announced that Wii Sports would be packed in with the Nintendo Wii system. I felt that Nintendo only included the game to justify the $250 dollar price point. I didn't want to play Wii Sports, nor did I want to think about paying for it. Why would I want five mini-games? I felt like Nintendo should have included Zelda if they were going to pack any game in at all.

I kept this philosophy until the day I bought my Wii console. I wasn't extremely happy that a portion of my money was going to pay for the game. However, after waiting in line for over 12 hours, I wasn't in the mood to argue.

My thoughts changed completely almost immediately after I turned on the system. I was immediately convinced after my first game of tennis. The game just worked. If I swing my hand, my little Mii does the same thing. It was nearly perfect.

I was totally convinced when my parents started playing. I never would of ever imagined my parents sitting with me at nearly 1 AM fighting over game controllers. It was exactly what Nintendo wanted. My mom still plays a game of tennis almost every day.

A game doesn't become game of the year after the first sitting. A game must continue to impress over a substantial period of time in order to be named the best game of the year. This is where Wii Sports has several flaws. To discuss depth, I have decided to analyze each game individually.

Tennis - This game continues to impress me. The game feels amazingly simple upon first play. Over time, it is easy to see the depth of the game. It takes tons of time to master certain shots and shot speeds. Multi-player matches remain amazing even after hundreds of matches.

Baseball - This might be the most disappointing game on the disc. Single-player mode becomes a bore after only several plays. The game does use many different Mii characters which is a plus. Nothing is better than hitting a game winning homer with my best friend's mom at bat.

Bowling - Bowling is easily the most polished game out of the bunch. This game might be one of the most perfect sports games I have ever played. I dare anyone to play a multi-player match without having fun.

Boxing - This is a love-hate game. You will either love it or hate it with no middle of the road. This game is a great party game if you are playing single-player. It might seem odd, but this game is a total blast when one player is beating up the computer with a room full of friends cheering the boxer on. The controls in this game feel rushed but nothing is better than hitting a Mii in the face with an uppercut.

Golf - I really wish Nintendo would of thrown out this title. The controls are WAY too inconsistent. Two similar swings can produce two insanely different results. This game needs more holes and more swing consistency.

I think any gamer will notice after several plays that Wii Sports only contains MAYBE two games which are above average. The other three are average at best. How does this make Wii Sports a possible game of the year? It is quite simple. Wii Sports offers something no other title did this year. Wii Sports was new and innovative. In a year full of sequels and remakes, Nintendo took a huge chance and came out on top. Wii Sports offers game play that no gamer has ever experienced at home.

Wii Sports has all had mass appeal. Games like Gears of War and Final Fantasy 12 might only appeal to a certain age group or audience. Wii Sports appeals to children as well as adults. Microsoft can't sell Gears of War to Mom. Nintendo can sell Wii Sports to Grandma.

So, was Time correct in naming Wii Sports as its game of the year? I would actually have to agree. Wii Sports redefines gaming to many people much like Super Mario 64 redefined gaming in 1996. Many people have been turned onto gaming thanks to Wii Sports interesting controls and fun game play. In the end, the game of the year isn't really the best game. Instead, the game of the year is the game which turns the most heads and interests the most people.



I hope you all enjoyed the third installment of my blog. I hope you leave your comments and opinions in my comments section. If you have any personal questions, comments, or suggestions for myself, please e-mail me at TeenageFanboy@gmail.com

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I have been playing around with the idea of a tech blog for a while now. I love reading and talking about technology related issues, so I guess a blog is the next big step. Anyway, I have been thinking about putting together a blog for quite a while. I just so happened to be on my favorite site this morning, Digg, and I stumbled across this link by a guy named GeekIdiot.

I guess I should explain the "Fanboy" word in the title of this blog. Hello everyone, my name is Cameron and I am a Nintendoholic. Nintendo has had me under their horribly wonderful grasp for the last ten years. I didn't go wacko like Nintendo 64 kid when I unwrapped the paper on my present that faithful Christmas day. However, I was sucked into the Nintendo magic and have loved it ever since.

One feature of the recently released Wii I see as Nintendo's biggest advantage is backwards compatibility with the GameCube. This feature is never given enough attention because the PS3 has this feature as well as the XBOX 360 to a lesser extent. Except, Nintendo has a huge advantage over Sony or Microsoft simply because no one bought the GameCube. Backwards compatibility means nothing when everyone already owns a system which plays old games. The success of the Wii translates into new Nintendo gamers who never had the luxury of playing old GameCube games. Sony doesn't have this luxury because approximately 8 trillion people bought a PS2 and have already played any old games worth adding to a collection.

Anyways, enough with my rambling and back to my first paragraph. I read an article on the 40 essential GameCube games. As a GameCube owner, I would agree with most of the titles on the list. I am also aware of nearly every title because I have followed the system throughout an entire generation. New Wii owners have never heard of many of these titles and therefore have no idea which of these games to pick up first or which are actually worth cold hard cash. I don't want to criticize Geek Idiot because I feel like he put together a great list. I just wish he would of given a little look into each of the games.

I decided to cut the list into 20 games. That should keep any gamer busy for the next couple months. I am placing the games in a top 20 order AND giving some details about each game. I hope you all enjoy the list!

20. Pikmin 2 - A RTS done right on a console. Pikmin 2 is the same great gameplay from Pikmin with more depth and detail. Controlling the Pikmin is over half the fun in the game. Pikmin isn't for everyone though. Some might find the controls tricky and complicated if they aren't familiar with RTS games.

19. Mario Power Tennis - I had a hard time deciding on if I should add this game to the list. With Wii Sports bundled in with the Wii, gamers can play tennis to their hearts content. However, Power Tennis offers more depth and detail and will keep tennis fans busy for a long time.

18. Super Monkey Ball 2 - If you haven't played any Monkey Ball game before, you're missing out on one of Sega's greatest gaming gems. Anyone can enjoy this puzzle hit. The later stages will push even the most skilled gamers into an intense level of concentration. Everyone should own either Super Monkey Ball 1 or 2 for the GameCube.

17. Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II - This game has held a special place in my heart ever since I picked it up on the GameCube's launch night. The missions are varied and interesting enough to keep any gamer happy for hours.

16. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour - A great solid golf game. Much better than the golf game thrown together in Wii Sports. It doesn't feature motion control, but this game offers a fair amount of unlockable characters and courses. I do think that Mario Golf for the N64 is a better game. If your willing to wait, I would hold out and spend my money on the N64 version of this game whenever it is released for the Virtual Console.

15. Resident Evil (aka REmake) - The original Resident Evil won the hearts of many gamers when it was released for the PS1. I had never played the original, so this was perfect for me. Controls can be a little lackluster at times, however this is still a quality game.

14. Super Mario Sunshine - This game might have received more shit than any other game in the GameCube's lifespan. I guess that is what happens when you are technically a sequel to Super Mario 64. No, this game does not revolutionize gaming like Super Mario 64 did in 1996. That doesn't make it a bad platformer. I recommend that everyone checks out this game, just don't expect anything to be leaps and bounds over Super Mario 64.

13. F-Zero GX - It didn't sell too well and it wasn't well recieved by many. Plainly stated, this game was hard. Very hard. If you have the patience to practice and master this game, it could be one of the most rewarding things you have ever done in gaming. ONLY FOR RACING DIE HARDS.

12. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes - Poor sales of this game and Eternal Darkness lead to the end of Nintendo's friendship with Silicon Knights studio. Don't let sale numbers fool you, this game is of superb quality. This game is another quality rerelease on the 'Cube. Again, if you have played the original, you might want to take a pass. If you have never played this Kojima classic, be sure to pick it up and enjoy. It only takes about 15 hours to complete, but I guarantee that it will be the best hours of your life.

11. Animal Crossing - Many will argue with me about placing this game so high up on the list. Simply stated, this game created a new genre of sorts. It was often compared to the popular "Sims" games which doesn't quite do this title justice. You WERE an inhabitant of the world in which you created. Day and night passed and people changed. The DS version released a little over a year ago was a better game. The GameCube version just helped create and define a title which will carry great power on Nintendo systems for years to come. That alone deserves a top position.

10. Lost Kingdoms - One of two real sleeper titles I still have on my list. This game is amazing and I almost promise that you have never heard of it. The story and graphics might be typical but the gameplay isn't. This game focuses on collecting a team on monsters in a deck of cards. The concept it hard to explain in words, but the game is wonderful in action. Definitely worth the seven bucks or so you will find it for at your local GameStop.

9. Eternal Darkness - A game that defines the GameCube. It is amazing, yet it sold like shit. If Nintendo has a kiddy image, this game didn't help create it. The story and gameplay are better than any other horror game on the market. What made ED stand out was a certain gameplay element which I really won't go into detail in because it ruins the game. Want to know what that element is? Do yourself a favor and go purchase this game.

8. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door - I just finished this game less than 24 hours ago. Never before has a game given me such mixed feelings. Part of me wants to praise this game as a great RPG that should be number 2 or 3 on this list. The other part of me placed this game at number 8. This game is slowly paced and involves several fetch quests. The battle system is great and I want to keep finding bigger and badder enemies and bosses. The game would rather send me on a fetch quest and that just pisses me off. This game does have depth on it's side. If you find every badge and shine, you will easily put 50-60 hours into the adventure.

7. Viewtiful Joe - An amazing franchise that saw it's rise and fall before the Wii was even released. The original VJ was a wonderfully fresh side scroller that made games feel like kids again. Capcom would overkill the franchise with too many sequels in too short a time span. That shouldn't stop you from picking up the first game. Just a friendly tip, go through the game first on child mode. Adult mode will kick your ass.

6. Metroid Prime - Considered by many to be the greatest Metroid game. I think 2D Samus is a little better, however this is still a great game. FTS fans and adventure fans will both find this game amazing as it wonderfully intertwines the two genres.

5. Tales of Symphonia - The RPG that PS2 owners wished they had. It made up for the lack of any meaningful Final Fantasy on the system. This game provided a hell of an adventure with a great story and even better gameplay. Battles never got old and the game offered tons of collectible items that could make fights even better. The game does have several fetch quests which do piss me off. They are however placed out evenly enough and sparsely enough that I never even cared.

4. Beyond Good and Evil - This game is easily the Cinderella of the list. Ubisoft delivered a gem which was released on all last-generation systems. It also sold poorly on all last-gen systems. This game was a hit on every level. Story, music, character design, level design, difficulty, and gameplay were all perfect. The game's one flaw is it's length. It is only about 13 hours or so long. I do give Ubisoft credit for keeping the game short instead of just adding in a big cup of boredom to extend the game's length. I bought this game for ten bucks about two years ago and it is still one of the best investments I have ever made.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker - Another Nintendo game that received a ton of flak. Cell-shading or not, this game is a triple A title. Don't let the colorful appearance fool you, this game is beautiful. The game is polished and a welcome addition to the Zelda series. The game is unbelievably polished. Every moment is wonderful. Well, except for the Tri-Force shard hunting late in the game. Damn fetch quests.

2. Resident Evil 4 - The most amazing survival horror game of all-time. Easily one of the best games of the last generation. Personally, I still think the controls are a wee (wow a bad pun) bit wack. Don't let that make you think twice about this game. It is still an unbelievable experience. The best part about it is the price. You can find this game for around $15 or even in the Resident Evil 10th Anniversary Pack which includes RE 0, REmake, and RE4 for a great reasonable price.

1. Super Smash Bros. Melee - Every once in a game comes along that is damn near perfect. Melee is that game. No other game on the GameCube provides the hours of fun of this first generation GameCube game. I will go out on a limb and say this game could quite possibly change your life. The amount of depth in this game is enough to drive any perfectionist to insanity. Collecting trophies, unlocking characters and levels, and playing countless multi-player matches against your friends will continue to be fun even after as much as 100 hours of gameplay. If you have a Wii or a GameCube, go buy this game now. If you don't have the cash, sell the computer your reading this on and go buy this game. You'll make the right decision.

Well, that's it for my top 20 list of GameCube games. If your a new Wii owner who has never owned a Nintendo system, go pick yourself up a WaveBird controller and a few of those games. Any game on this list will be a great addition to any library. If I missed any games or if you want to argue with my order, be sure to leave a comment or e-mail me at Cameron@CameronBanga.com




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