7 GameCube Games We’d Love to See on the Wii U

Save room on your Wii U for F-Zero and Super Mario Sunshine.

With Nintendo releasing a GameCube controller adapter for the Wii U to work with its forthcoming Super Smash Bros. game, it’s only a matter of time before the company begins releasing downloadable classics from that system on the eShop. It’s already played around with a number of platforms – Game Boy Advance, SNES and NES – so it’s about time the GameCube got a turn with some downloadable favorites.

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Now the real question is, what games should be considered for release? There’s no question that classics like Super Smash Bros. Melee should make the cut, but there are other games to consider, especially with the hardcore crowd in mind.

That said, here are seven favorites we’d love to see on the Wii U eShop.

Super Mario Sunshine

That’s right, we said it. The oddball in Nintendo’s GameCube line-up – something easily eclipsed by the Super Mario Galaxy games on the Wii – is still enough of a cult classic to receive consideration for download. Super Mario Sunshine twisted the classic platforming formula around a new element – a water cannon named FLUDD – that changed the gameplay tremendously, adding boost and shooting capabilities. The game earned a devoted following, and thus deserves a re-release for a whole new generation to enjoy.

Viewtiful Joe

One of the most unique games to come out of Capcom’s camp in years, Viewtiful Joe deserves a second chance on the Wii U. This platforming/action game still hits the spot, thanks to its unique rewind/fast-forward gameplay and tons of beat-em-up action. Whether you’re pummeling bad guys into the middle of next week with a rapid-fire combo or utilizing strategy to defeat a boss, Joe is more than capable of holding his own. We’d happily take the sequel or Red Hot Rumble as well.

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader

This one’s more of a long shot, mainly because Disney and Electronic Arts hold the exclusive rights to the Star Wars franchise, but if Nintendo could find a way to negotiate with the two to give this classic GameCube shooter a re-release – especially in time for Star Wars: Episode VII’s arrival next year – it’d be a real treat for fans. This is easily one of the greatest Star Wars games available, with its terrific flight controls and non-stop action. In addition, several classic moments from the film are recreated, including the infamous Trench Run from the 1977 classic.

Resident Evil 4

Seeing as how the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 got their own versions of Resident Evil 4 – in HD, no less – why can’t the Wii U? The game would be an instant classic for the platform, as players could take down horrendous enemies either through the comfort of their GamePad display or on the TV screen. The game is still a gem after all these years, with plenty of intense moments throughout, whether it’s the big ogre-like gargantuan trying to squash you flat, or that chainsaw dude that we’ll let you discover for yourself.

Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

The Prime games still have a high level of respect among die-hard Nintendo fans – there’s a big reason why Metroid Prime Trilogy is one of the most wanted games on the Wii platform. That said, the first two Metroid Prime games could make a comeback on the eShop, allowing players to re-experience every tense and exciting moment of first-person shooting action. Furthermore, if Nintendo could somehow reconfigure Echoes’ online multiplayer to work with the Nintendo Network, it could have a big cult hit on its hands – and for just a few bucks to boot. After all, we need something to play until another Metroid comes around.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Come on, this is a given. Twilight Princess easily ranks among the best Zelda adventures we’ve seen over the past few years, and even though the Wii version remains completely playable on the Wii U, there’s something about having a re-mastered version available on the eShop, without having to worry about weird Wii controls. Here’s hoping that Nintendo gives this classic some consideration, since we’re waiting so long for the new Zelda game anyway.

F-Zero GX

Finally, here’s a title worth hitting the road with. F-Zero GX, a joint creation between Nintendo and Sega’s AM2 team (creators of the Daytona series), is one of the fastest games in the GameCube library, with tricky, futuristic track design, solid controls and beautiful 60-frames-per-second speed. That would be a perfect fit for the Wii U’s eShop.

BONUS: Eternal Darkness

How about a bonus entry? Silicon Knights’ twisted adventure game is easily heralded as a GameCube classic, and it’d easily do the same for the Wii U. It’s the sort of game that truly messes with your head, between creative level design, interesting character developments, and situations that may genuinely freak you out — like when the game tells you that it’s erasing your memory card. (Relax, it isn’t.) This cult favorite would easily find a place in today’s line-up…especially since we won’t be getting the sequel anytime soon…


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Prima Games Staff
The staff at Prima Games.