Gamecube Sleeper Hits?

[Starcade]

I need to know some good, unrecognized GCN games, I need to add some gamecube games to my collection, and I figure Ill go after these first. Any help would be appreciated.

[SoulBlazer]

I would say Pikmin. Pretty unique game.

Also, I have'nt seen Skies of Arcadia Legends talked about much. Not only does it seem a lot better over the original Dreamcast version, but it's really the first 'true' RPG that the GC has.

Eternal Darkness got a lot of praise, and rightly so -- GREAT horror game, a little like Resident Evil.

I also happen to like the console version of Sims better then the PC one -- and the GC version seems to have the best graphics and game controls.

[Dobie]

If you like puzzlers, I enjoy playing Zoocube and Super Bubble Pop... A lot. Super Bubble Pop is available on Xbox too, I believe.

[Six Switch]

I like Bomberman Generations,but mostly forthe multiplayer.And Animal Crossing is pretty fun too,but it gets old.

[hezeuschrist]

Excellent question, I'd love to beef up my cube collection as well. The only game on my list at the moment is Skies of Arcadia Legends... and it's still too expensive.

To think I would buy games the day they came out once upon a time... now paying $50 for a game requires it to be the Holy Grail or a damn good replica.

[ubersaurus]

Ikaruga rocks...I know its praised alot, but it doesn't seem too well known by people who aren't hardcore gamers.

[Half Japanese]

Ikaruga - anything I would say has already been said

Bomberman Generation - solid single player + excellent multi player

Vexx - a platformer that's better in my opinion than Super Mario Sunshine (yeah, I just said that, sue me)

[le geek]

Go for Cubivore!

Cheers,
Ben

[brandver3]

I second Cubivore.

Also, everyone I have talked to has said the Ultamite Muscle game is really good, if you like wrestling.

And if you like side scrollers, go for Mega Man: Network Transmission

[Mustang93]

defintely Eternal Darkness. this game doesnt deserve to be sold for $15 but it is so its a must have.

and for $8 at Best Buy theres HomeRun King, i mean come on $8 for any game is a good deal.

[norkusa]

and for $8 at Best Buy theres HomeRun King, i mean come on $8 for any game is a good deal.

Oh man, I LOVE Home Run King! Total sleeper hit right there. Without a doubt my favorite baseball game of all-time. Stadiums and players are rendered so perfectly. Pitching is also incredibly realistic. Has a real arcade-feel to it as well. Basicly as the same graphics as WSB2k for Dreamcast, but you can control the fielders and base running is allot easier.

[nesman85]

i like the 007 games a lot. starfox adventures is also a very good game IMO, but it is EXTREMEMLY easy.

[norkusa]

i like the 007 games a lot. starfox adventures is also a very good game IMO, but it is EXTREMEMLY easy.

Starfox is a pretty good game, but I wouldn't classify it as a "sleeper" because it's one of the more popular titles for the system.

If you are into sports games, Virtua Striker 2002 is a good soccer game I don't hear mentioned much. Also a Gamecube exclusive I think. Although it doesn't have any real teams or players, it has a nice arcade feel and an in-depth season/world cup mode that rivals some of the more popular soccer titles.

[Mustang93]

and for $8 at Best Buy theres HomeRun King, i mean come on $8 for any game is a good deal.

Oh man, I LOVE Home Run King! Total sleeper hit right there. Without a doubt my favorite baseball game of all-time. Stadiums and players are rendered so perfectly. Pitching is also incredibly realistic. Has a real arcade-feel to it as well. Basicly as the same graphics as WSB2k for Dreamcast, but you can control the fielders and base running is allot easier.

and IMO HomeRun King has the best groundball/throw to first action in any baseball game ever. like when the camera switches to behind the fielder when he throws, its great.

[Nature Boy]

I'd vote for Eternal Darkness too. Didn't get a lot of press but I freaking *loved* the game. If they release a sequel (and I'm sure they will) I'd but it in a heartbeat.

I bought Luigi's Mansion as a launch day purchase - it's not great, but I enjoyed it. It's short, so if that bothers you beware. I wouldn't say it's easy but it's certainly not that hard either.

Lastly, Wave Race: Blue Storm is a decent sequel to the N64 game. It kinda got slammed in the press from what I remember but I also remember that the press looks too much for innovation and lighting and blah blah sometimes and not for what's simply fun to play. Didn't like it as much as the first but it's still good.

[stonecutter]

I second the Zoocube and Ultimate Muscle votes. I wouldn't call them sleepers but you must have both Super Monkey Balls as well.

[kobunheatforum]

Not to nitpick, but isn't a sleeper hit defined as a game/movie/book released with little fanfare that garners an unexpected groundswell of popularity?

Actual Gamecube sleeper hits, for example, would include Super Monkey Ball and Animal Crossing.

If a game is unrecognized, then it's not a 'hit' by any measure.

[ubersaurus]

Beach Spikers. Now there is an underappreciated and lots o fun title. Simple controls, but addictive as hell. Multiplayer matches are really intense, too.

[cheesystick]

Godzilla: Destroy all monster melee doesnt get as much credit as it deserves. It is very much like a wrestler brawler. It was excellent 4 player action. Having 4 big monster beat the snot out of each other and breaking buildings is a hell of a lot of fun.
It didnt get rave revues, but hey, its a good party game after SSBM gets old.
-crispy

[devilman]

Despite it being rather buggy and discounted in most shops in the UK, I'm a big fan of Mat Hoffman Pro Bmx 2. At the moment I prefer it to Tony Hawk 4.

[Starcade]

Thanks for helpingme find some sleeper titles, I have written down some of these games that sound worthwhile to me, and next time I am out, I will be picking up a few, I need to start a Gamecube collection anyways. :)

[josekortez]

Bloodrayne
Bomberman Jetters
Crazy Taxi
Lost Kingdoms
Red Faction II
Sonic Mega Collection

[neuropolitique]

Not to nitpick, but isn't a sleeper hit defined as a game/movie/book released with little fanfare that garners an unexpected groundswell of popularity?

Actual Gamecube sleeper hits, for example, would include Super Monkey Ball and Animal Crossing.

If a game is unrecognized, then it's not a 'hit' by any measure.

Maybe, then, these games would be just plain Sleepers?

My votes go for Cubivore and P.N.03.
Cubivore has a very strange premise, and actually delivers. It has a consistent graphical presentation throughout the game, which adds quite a bit to the charm.
P.N.03 is pretty much hated by most, but I've had a good time with it. It is Very hard, in part (admittedly) because of the controls. The only other downside is that it can get a bit repetative. Otherwise, the game is great. The game has a very minimalist approach to the graphics, which appeals very much to me. It doesn't hurt that Vanessa is decent to look at. :-P

[lendelin]

Sonic Mega collection and Skies of Arcadia Legends, even if you have the DC version. Both dropped finally in price, at Amazon Sonic is $20 and Skies of Arcadia is $25. (hear, hear, heuzechrist)

I second Eternal Darkness as well, although it's not a sleeper hit, just a GREAT game which you can get very cheap.

[tholly]

Cubivore --- This is probably one of the best, most unique games I have ever played and would highly recommend it, because it doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

Go!Go! Hypergrind --- Same makers as Cubivore. I found it a fun skateboarding game (which I don't usually like skateboarding games.)

Zoocube --- I spent a limited amount of time on this, but it is unique and lots of people seem to like it.

Skies Of Arcadia Legends --- First RPG I have played that I actually liked.

Animal Crossing --- I was way too addicted to this. You will love this game.

Luigi's Mansion --- Luigi never gets any respect, so I thought I'd add it.

Wario World --- Was a fun game I got pretty cheap as was actually impressed by it.

[tholly]

Excellent question, I'd love to beef up my cube collection as well. The only game on my list at the moment is Skies of Arcadia Legends... and it's still too expensive.

To think I would buy games the day they came out once upon a time... now paying $50 for a game requires it to be the Holy Grail or a damn good replica.

I just noticed you said that after I posted.....SOAL isn't too expensive anymore. I backordered it on outpost.com and had it like 2 weeks later for $20. Check there, I don't know if they still have it up for order at that price.

[Doonzmore]

I'll go with Vexx, Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, and Casper Spirit Dimensions although it is VERY short, and it's kinda rare.

[Crush Crawfish]

As far a underrated GC games go, I must recommend:

Gotcha Force
I-Ninja
Harvest Moon: A Wonderful life
Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
Viewtiful Joe

Buy these, especially Gotcha Force and Viewtiful Joe, and you WON'T REGRET IT!!!!!!!!!!

[calthaer]

Pac Man Vs. + Pac Man World 2
I like Beyond Good & Evil for GCN the best. Excellent controls.
Viewtiful Joe
I actually enjoyed Super Mario Sunshine
Animal Crossing is amusing for a decent length of time.

[§ Gideon §]

Oh yeah. PacMan Vs. is a great game. Sleeper? I suppose; it doesn't even have its own box. Under-rated? By the general public, yes. According to reviews, no.

[DigitalSpace]

Bloodrayne has dropped to $9.99 used for the Gamecube version at Gamestop. Well worth the price.

And if you like racing, Burnout 2 is around $20 new and is a blast.

[Zubiac666]

Gotcha Force
Buy these, especially Gotcha Force and Viewtiful Joe, and you WON'T REGRET IT!!!!!!!!!!

I second that anytime
Gotcha Force must be the most-underrated and most overlooked game ever!Maybe cause it's pretty hard to find a copy in U.S.(that's what i heard).
This game kicks so major ass....just amazing.
Get this one damnit!

other sleepers:
Superman-Shadow of the Apokalips (way better than x-box ver.)
Pacman VS (fun anyone?)
Pokemon Channel (yeah burn me,nail me to the cross but I still think it's something special and I LOVE iT.....and yeah I AM 25 years old :D )
Summoner - A goddess reborn (if u like mature RPGs: this is the game to get:great graphics and sound; lots of charakters and VERY long and hard)
Mystic Heroes

all others were mentioned in preview posts

[Jasoco]

And Animal Crossing is pretty fun too,but it gets old. X_x BLASPHEMER!

I'll third Vexx. I have the Xbox version, and it truly is the Super Mario 128 that never was. The controls are so much like SM64, it was amazing. But it gets really hard at the end. The boss is impossible! And there are a couple Hearts I can't get because they're really challenging. Especially most of the final world.

But the levels are extremely well detailed with minimal pop-up, huge environments, really nice use of time and a hub system.

[Avenger]

i think by sleeper hits you guys mean hided gems? either way im now lookin hard to find Cubivore!

[chrisbid]

ill second Beach Spikers, its almost as fun as Virtua Tennis... but with a sprinkle of lesbianism :-P

my only gripe about the game is the constantly moving camera, if it had stayed static like Virtua Tennis, it wouldve been awesome

[Oobgarm]

Excellent question, I'd love to beef up my cube collection as well. The only game on my list at the moment is Skies of Arcadia Legends... and it's still too expensive.

To think I would buy games the day they came out once upon a time... now paying $50 for a game requires it to be the Holy Grail or a damn good replica.

I just noticed you said that after I posted.....SOAL isn't too expensive anymore. I backordered it on outpost.com and had it like 2 weeks later for $20. Check there, I don't know if they still have it up for order at that price.

Just a quick note to those hunting for Skies:

Our Gamestop, and a couple other local GS stores got new copies of Skies in, and they're retailing for $20.

Just a friendly heads-up.

[JB Lars]

All the candidates I had in mind have alread been listed (Cubivore, Ikagruga, SoAL), except one: Sega Soccer Slam. MAN, is this one a blast. I dunno if Beyond Good and Evil counts as a sleeper, since despite sluggish sales it's gotten loads of enthusiastic press. Either way, the press is deserved, and I can't endorse the game strongly enough.

[dogbowl2]

This game is fairly new, so it too early to say if it will be a hit or not, but WarioWare is great. its a $30 port of a gameboy game, but the multiplayer is great.

[Querjek]

Pacman World 2 is a very fun game, even if the swimming levels (second to last world) are impossible and the music is the same damn tune put to different instruments.

[Arcade Antics]

Beach Spikers. Now there is an underappreciated and lots o fun title. Simple controls, but addictive as hell. Multiplayer matches are really intense, too.

Amen to that. It's FANtastic, one of the best GameCube games out there, period. You can easily spend an entire weekend playing Beach Spikers and trash talkin' your opposition.

Beach Spikers alone is reason enough to own a Cube.

[josekortez]

Let me take this opportunity to add Bomberman Jetters and Space Raiders before anyone else does.

Jetters might not have the great art style of Generation, but it plays much the same way. The multiplayer is the best part. Battle for Balloons and Knockout Battle are really fun revisions of the standard battle mode. I still miss Coin Battle from Generation, though.

As an update to Space Invaders, Space Raiders is a really good shooter. I was skeptical at first, but now that I own it, I'm sold. There's even a 2 player coop mode.

[Crush Crawfish]

I'm going to fourth Vexx. I just got the game, but I must say that it is one of the most Kick-Ass platformers I've played in a long time. I loved fighting the sumo guy and then kicking him off the cliff! LOL

[vincewy]

I'm starting to get Gamecube games now, so far, most games are not too hard to find except Ikaruga and Cubivore, I'd recommend picking up Go Go Hypergrind if you're serious about collecting.

Besides Super Bubble Pop and Zoo Cube, is there any other good puzzle for GC? Same ?? for shooters, looks like Ikaruga is the only one I"ve heard of.

Also is there a list of all GC games? plus all games published with Player's Choice label?

For those living in the Midwest and Mountain West, ShopKo is having a sale of a selection of $20 games, BUY ONE and get ANOTHER FOR $1, both games have to be in the same sales bin, those worth picking up are:

Gamecube:

18 Wheeler
Crazy Taxi
Burnout
Whirl Tour
Vex
Dark Angel
Outlaw Volleyball
Crash
Defender
Super Bubble Pop
plus Jeremy McGrath and Dave Mirra

PS2:

Armored Core 3
Onimusha
Onimusha 2
Seek & Destroy
Music Maker
Space Channel 5: SE (pick this one if you see it)
Hard Hitter Tennis
Bloody Roar

XB:

Tony Hawks 2
Tom and Jerry: War of Whiskies
Roadkill

There're other games I can't think of or aren't worth picking up at all, I can look more if needed, the sale ends Sat.

[Jasoco]

I'm going to fourth Vexx. I just got the game, but I must say that it is one of the most Kick-Ass platformers I've played in a long time. I loved fighting the sumo guy and then kicking him off the cliff! LOLYou're not gonna like him when you meet him for a rematch. I'll tell you that! LOL

How far are you already?

[cheesystick]

I'll have to second Go Go Hypergrind! THis was the best 15 bucks I have spent on a next gen game. ITs like tony hawk, but well, a lot funner! The animantion is done by Spumco, the game guys that brought you Ren & stimpy and the ripping friends. It is very well animated and exciting to play. The replay value is only so-so, but I love trying to get a 300 plus combo when i only have 10 minutes to blow. For 15 bucks new, this game is a freaking steal. Get it now.
-crispy

[josekortez]

Eggmania is another good puzzle game for the Cube. It's like Tetris in reverse. You have to build a tower with four-block arranged pieces while avoiding rising water. The little egg characters have cliched personalities, but it's a really fun game once you get into the later stages. I have it on the Xbox, and I like the fact you can use custom soundtrack while you play.

And we're still waiting on Nintendo to release the damn Puzzle Collection in the States. :angry:

[vincewy]

Just got Road Trip: Arcade Edition at ShopKO, but when I checked the web sites, it's not released officially yet? Is it possible that a game came out before official release date? I got this game at clearance BIN, BTW.

[digitalpress]

Also is there a list of all GC games? plus all games published with Player's Choice label?

Believe it or not, we're keeping up with this on our Rarity Guide (see above). No rarities or prices listed but the complete game list is in there. You can thank Orrimarko for his diligence. I'd never attempt to document a currently running system (even if it is slow with the releases).

[josekortez]

I have to add these:

Dead to Rights
Roadkill
Space Raiders

Each of these adds to the appeal of the GameCube for "older" players.

[aremid23]

P.N.03

That is all. ;)

[vincewy]

I have 30 new GC games now, and there're about 60 other games I really want to get, wow, this makes it the best of the 3 current systems, what's cool about Gamecube is, all the quirky, older style games (puzzle in particular) that were rejected by SCEA end up on Gamecube while most ultra violent trash stays away from Gamecube, I'm also looking forward to add the upcoming release to my collection:

Alien Hominid
Puzzle Trouble
Mega Man X CM
PSO 1 & 2 Plus

Another type of games that I really enjoy on GC are arcade style sports games by Sega, normally I don't like sports titles, don't even get me started on Madden, but Sega Soccer Slam, Virtua Strikers 2002, and Beach Spikers are all enjoyable. BTW, I just won Gotch Force GC from an eBay seller, I think another one will end later today as I got one last night for $17 after shipping, can't get any cheaper than that, Capcom wants $40 for it.

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=shammysgames&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50

So I'll double check the puzzle games already on GC:

Bust A Move 3000
Eggmania
Puyo Pop Fever
Super Bubble Pop
Tetris
Worms Blast
Worms 3D
Zoocube

Did I miss any?

[GameNinja]

I think that the Lost Kingdoms series is great, even though it is kind of short. Phantasy Star Online is also one of the best 50$ i have spent.

[grayrobertos]

how about conflict desert storm 4 player co op, awsome, is there any other games with 4 player co op? like this? Only other one I can think of is mario kart sort off.

Also wario world was slated by some but is a fun fun game.

My best buy on the cube was winning eleven 6 add that to your collections its an awsome game. Better with the cube analog as well.

[TougherToast]

Two games that come to mind are Super Monkey Ball 2 and Viewtiful Joe.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Animal Crossing...never had a game suck the hell out of my hours so fast...and the hidden NES games were so worth it...I can't wait to see it on Nintendo DS...that was the only reason I got Animal Crossing...all those wonderful NES games...just right..the nearest thing to an actual "Nintendo Collection" Disk we will ever get

[Jasoco]

I wonder if the DS version will even include the NES games. And if it'll utilize the "Code based" item sending structure.

[Psycho Mantis]

cubivore is a very odd game. it's not talked about much, but the game is loads of fun. a sleeper hit indeed.