The Nintendo GameCube, the little field that would. Nintendo’s fourth dwelling console ran by its share of issues and finally offered on the decrease finish for a Nintendo system, nevertheless it’s gained fairly a cult following through the years (it’s one among this author’s favourite methods). And why not? It’s acquired a very large library of video games, and it’s dwelling to a few of Nintendo’s most artistic, ingenious, and memorable titles but. It’s been particularly nice to see some unbelievable GameCube titles return on the Swap, giving folks one other likelihood to expertise some really outstanding video games.
As nice because the GameCube is, nonetheless, it’s definitely acquired some stinkers. Very like any nice console, some builders could look to make one thing to earn a fast buck, thus focusing much less on making an important, high quality title at first. And little question, the GameCube is dwelling to some rubbish. Listed here are 10 of the worst Nintendo GameCube video games that we like to hate.
Pokémon Channel
![pokemon channel gameplay](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/pokemon-channel.jpeg?resize=640%2C360)
Sure, it could seem to be sacrilege to incorporate any first-party Nintendo recreation on an inventory of “dangerous” video games, however even one of the best fall down generally. Pokémon Channel was one among many experiments from Nintendo and The Pokémon Firm made to purchase in on the hype of the franchise, and it turned out arguably the worst. In it, you play as Pikachu and assist Professor Oak together with his new TV community. Whereas that’s cute on the floor, the issue is that there’s hardly something to do.
A lot of the sport is spent watching TV, which implies there isn’t actually a ton of interactivity at play right here. Thus, it feels prefer it was solely actually made for the youngest of younger players. It’s so lackluster within the gameplay division that it makes its predecessor – the additionally polarizing Hey You, Pikachu! – appear like fireworks by comparability. There are much better Pokémon video games to spend your time with, and even with its kid-friendly enchantment, this one would possibly go away the youngins a bit extra bored than something.
Shadow the Hedgehog
![shadow the hedgehog key art](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/shadow-the-hedgehog.jpeg?resize=640%2C360)
The sixth technology of gaming was a rocky one for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Sega’s flagship mascot and system vendor, the as soon as can’t-miss sequence began to take some hits when the writer went third-party and the franchise landed on a number of platforms for the primary time. There are a few video games that would match right here, however Shadow the Hedgehog needs to be the worst of the bunch. Already, a Sonic recreation this “mature” and loaded with weapons felt like an id disaster, however even past that, the sport simply wasn’t superb.
Its largely washed-out, purple-and-grey aesthetic loses the vibrance of earlier entries, and the gameplay is murdered by the totally slippery controls, uncooperative digital camera, and boring stage design. What makes it worse is how the sport requires you to play by it a minimum of 10 occasions in an effort to get the complete, “true” ending. Daring of you to imagine I’d need to proceed after ONE playthrough, Shadow the Hedgehog. The Sonic franchise has little question bounced again since this, however Shadow the Hedgehog really stays a stinker amongst stinkers on this long-running franchise.
Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly
![spyro enter the dragonfly title screen](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/spyro-enter-the-dragonfly.jpeg?resize=640%2C360)
Sonic the Hedgehog was not the one “mascot platformer” franchise that misplaced its approach in the course of the sixth technology. As a matter of reality, he was joined by one other sequence that was beforehand unique to 1 system: Spyro the Dragon. Whereas the unique PlayStation video games are nonetheless nice enjoyable as we speak, the sequence actually began to lose itself virtually instantly after it went multiplatform, beginning with Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly. What’s most unlucky about Enter the Dragonfly is what it may’ve been; initially, the sport was set to be content-loaded with the everyday stage of polish Spyro was recognized for having.
As a substitute, writer disagreements and a rushed growth led to a downsized recreation that was loaded with bugs and poor efficiency. Maybe complaints concerning the total “extra of the identical” expertise would’ve been quieter if the sport functioned effectively, however that wasn’t the case, and it grew to become a stain on the franchise’s status. You already know it’s dangerous when Ted Value, president of Spyro’s unique developer Insomniac Video games, referred to as the sport an “absolute travesty” in an interview. And whereas he’s had some first rate adventures since (and the Spyro Reignited Trilogy was unbelievable), the franchise has by no means been the identical since Enter the Dragonfly.
Batman: Darkish Tomorrow
![batman dark tomorrow ending](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/batman-dark-tomorrow.jpeg?resize=640%2C360)
Yep, right here’s the place we get to the enjoyable a part of an inventory like this; the sixth technology was dwelling to loads of low-rent licensed video games made for little greater than making a fast buck off of a longtime property. Batman: Darkish Tomorrow is a type of video games, though it’s a bit sadder than a few of the different titles right here. When it was first introduced at E3 2001, it was set to be an open-world Batman recreation that may primarily be a precursor to the Batman: Arkham sequence. Whereas a few of developer Kemco’s concepts have been fairly bold, the group finally needed to scale the venture down into one thing extra linear… and likewise one thing fairly dangerous.
A lot criticism was lobbied on the recreation’s stage of polish, which is to say that there was none. Controls have been stiff and unresponsive, and the sport was completely affected by bugs. Whereas some reward went to the writing, that wasn’t almost sufficient to avoid wasting this from simply how inconceivably dangerous it was. It may’ve been one thing particular, nevertheless it wasn’t, and there are many well-written Batman video games that additionally occur to be way more enjoyable to play. Save your time and a focus for these, and don’t waste it on video games like this.
Charlie’s Angels
![charlie's angels poster](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/charlies-angels.jpeg?resize=640%2C360)
Whereas I attempted my greatest with Batman: Darkish Tomorrow, Charlie’s Angels is a bit tougher to defend and play the “what if” recreation with. This was a film tie-in recreation based mostly on the 2000 Charlie’s Angels movie…that was launched in 2003. Logic. And like many film tie-in video games launched in that period (and plenty of eras, for that matter), this turned out to be FAR worse than the film it was based mostly on.
It shouldn’t be stunning once I say that ANOTHER licensed movie-based recreation is crammed with bugs, however even when it wasn’t, Charlie’s Angels nonetheless suffers. It’s horrid to take a look at, the digital camera is totally horrible, and the fight is a joke. It’s particularly dangerous that the GameCube model apparently has a bug the place you may’t progress previous the primary stage except you might have a reminiscence card inserted. Absolutely, a technical hitch like that may’ve been regarded over by most builders, however apparently, the first-timers at Neko Leisure couldn’t do it. Don’t waste your time right here.
Nickelodeon Celebration Blast
![nickelodeon party blast logo](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/nickeldeon-party-blast.webp?resize=640%2C360)
Yeah, the remainder of this checklist is licensed video games. Buckle up. On the floor, Nickelodeon Celebration Blast is just not a nasty concept: having a enjoyable social gathering recreation that crosses over some traditional Nickelodeon franchises seems like a slam dunk. And hey, as a fan of traditional Nickelodeon, there are few issues that sound extra thrilling than a crossover of franchises like Rocket Energy, Jimmy Neutron, Rugrats, and Invader ZIM (with CatDog because the hosts). In the best palms, this might’ve been nice. Sadly, Knowledge Design Interactive has not often been the best palms for any type of recreation, and Nickelodeon Celebration Blast was one other of their lengthy line of shovelware.
Frankly, it’s exhausting to seek out many good issues to say concerning the recreation. It seems hideous, it sounds hideous, it performs hideously… it’s only a poor excuse of a recreation that would’ve been a lot greater than what it was. Sadly, it was dealt with by a developer most recognized for shovelware, and thus, it’s only one title in an extended pile of rubbish. If you’d like something near a very good Nickelodeon social gathering recreation, SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Digicam, Pants! is a legitimately enjoyable title that’s nonetheless value your time. In any other case, if you would like a celebration recreation that crosses over a number of Nickelodeon franchises, preserve dreaming…or search for that in a style that isn’t “social gathering video games.”
Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility
![charlie and the chocolate factory gameplay](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory.jpeg?resize=640%2C360)
Oh, however right here’s the place it will get good; a licensed tie-in to a film that truly managed to launch across the similar time because the film…in different phrases, it was rushed to market to get in on the hype. And this time, we have now one other Charlie on our checklist, however this one didn’t have any Angels. All he had was a large fall into the Chocolate River, à la Augustus Gloop. 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility stays a film I’ll defend as an important adaptation of the e-book, however the online game tie-in…yeah, I acquired nothing, there’s no defending right here.
All the things that would go flawed for a licensed online game went flawed right here. Terrible controls and poor stage design uninteresting the sport from the leap, as does its relative misunderstanding of the unique plot. All through the sport, Charlie Bucket is tasked with primarily fixing the chocolate manufacturing facility. Positive, the sport must have *some* function, however doesn’t fixing the manufacturing facility take away the purpose of, …touring it? It’s simply one other case of a licensed recreation that, fairly frankly, didn’t have to be made. Polarizing because the movie is, it’s little question a greater expertise than enjoying the sport.
Common Studios Theme Park Journey
I do know…sure, this was truly a factor. In 2001, not lengthy after the discharge of the GameCube, somebody thought it was a unbelievable concept to launch a online game centered round Common Studios Theme Parks. As a lover of such theme parks, this author as soon as thought that sounded fairly nice…earlier than truly seeing the sport in motion. That’s when Common Studios Theme Park Journey began making approach much less sense. Like really, is that this recreation ANYONE’S concept of what a very good Common Studios-based recreation ought to be?
To condense Common Studios Theme Park Journey as greatest as I can, you principally spend your time selecting up trash across the park to earn factors to go on the rides. Already fairly nugatory, however made even worse by the truth that the rides themselves are nowhere close to as cool as they may’ve been. When you might have nice points of interest like Again to the Future: The Experience, Jaws, and E.T. Journey, you’d count on much more than the mind-numbing minigames thrown haphazardly in your route. When you have been in search of an opportunity to expertise Common with out having to spend exorbitant quantities of cash for a visit, this is not going to fulfill you…however perhaps the Disneyland recreation would possibly?
Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis
![aquaman battle for atlantis gameplay](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/aquaman-battle-for-atlantis.jpeg?resize=640%2C360)
Lengthy earlier than Jason Momoa made folks notice Aquaman was cool, DC’s water-based superhero was the butt of many a joke within the comedian e-book world. And certain, perhaps a low-rent licensed GameCube online game shouldn’t be held towards a personality THAT closely within the grand scheme of issues…however Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis most definitely did him no favors. And actually, I’m working out of artistic and distinctive methods to say, “This can be a licensed recreation on the GameCube so there are many points.”
What I can say – and maybe it is a bit unhappy – is that very like Batman: Darkish Tomorrow, there’s truly some first rate writing at play right here. It’s only a disgrace then that extra stable DC writing needed to be wasted on a recreation that’s ungodly ranges of repetitive. And in contrast to Batman, Aquaman can’t say he’s had a greater recreation since this, so followers of the character are caught right here in the event that they really need your repair in online game type. Chances are high, although, that you just in all probability don’t, so it’s greatest to let this one sink to the seabed.
Shrek Tremendous Celebration
![shrek super party gameplay](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/shrek-super-party.jpeg?resize=640%2C360)
Oh boy, right here we go. Pardon the non-public anecdotes right here, however Shrek Tremendous Celebration is a recreation this author has a bit extra expertise with than he’d wish to admit. Having buddies who truly OWN the sport will do this to you. In consequence, I’ve seen and performed it sufficient occasions that I’ve been modified by it. Once I hear my buddies ask if I’d wish to play the sport they affectionately consult with as “Huge Head Shrek,” my fight-or-flight instincts kick in.
Typically, I awake in the midst of the evening (which for me is 10 AM) in a chilly sweat as a result of I’ve simply had nightmares about “Huge Head Shrek.” I turn out to be shaken every time I hear “You’re taking the cake, Thelonious!” I’ve stared down demise within the eyes of a smiling man, and his title is Monsieur Hood. Shrek Tremendous Celebration has damaged me in methods I’ll by no means really get well from, and my life has by no means really been the identical since…
Okay, not likely, however the recreation is admittedly dangerous. It’s an utter mess of gross gameplay and completely cursed visuals. Shrek has had a variety of online game tie-ins – too many, I’d even argue – and Shrek Tremendous Celebration is simply unbelievably terrible. However in contrast to a few of the different video games on right here, that is one I’d oddly advocate. Maybe Shrek’s meme standing in recent times trumps my practicality a bit – or perhaps my buddies have really brainwashed me – but when nothing else, its sheer stupidity would possibly make it value a glance. Seize a few buddies, be sure you have some…apple juice…children recreation we’re speaking about right here…and go nuts.
Wait, did I truly simply advocate Shrek Tremendous Celebration? What have I changed into?
Okay, whereas I am going ponder absolutely the demon that I’ve turn out to be, what are another actually dangerous GameCube video video games? Tell us within the feedback.