The Wii is out and doing spectacularly well, but let’s not forget about the fact it can also play some great GameCube games! The best thing about some of the GameCube games is that you can get some of the better titles for only $5-$15 making for some great gaming for much, much less than the price of some of the newer Wii titles. Playing through Metroid Prime again, I was amazed at how well the game held up in the sound and graphics department and when compared to some of the Wii titles that are out, you might have more fun buying these five games from the GameCube days than one $50 Wii title. Here’s my picks for five games that rocked on the GameCube; all of which can be had for under $50 combined and links to all of their ratings from GameRankings.com and where to buy them from GameStop.

1) Metroid Prime - $5.99 (used) at GameStop - 96% from GameRankings.com
While we’re waiting for Metroid Prime 3 to arrive, there is no reason why you shouldn’t check out the original Metroid Prime from the GameCube on your shiny new Wii systems. Even if you’ve played it to death on the GC, it’s still a great addition to your collection and you may want to play through it again before Prime 3 hits. Under the guidance of Shigeru Miyamoto, this version of Metroid was the first to venture into the 3D realm and made the crossover gracefully with great graphics, sound, and that keen attention to classic Metroid game play. Starting with the graphics, Metroid Prime surpasses a few of the Wii launch titles I can name in many ways including giving a great sense of atmosphere and throwing all kinds of little things into the mix that make you say, “Wow!”. The way the inside of the mask steams up when you pass through fog, the effects that occur when coming out of the water, the landscapes and atmosphere itself - the game has style and is jaw dropping at times. The sound is also top notch with the very familiar “Metroid item collection noise” that is sure to bring back memories as you play and other very well produced sounds and music that compliments the game nicely.

Gameplay revolves around the same concept of exploring and finding items that help power up your suit while you work your way through various levels and baddies, many of which make a return in 3D glory from the 2D days. Fight huge bosses and work your way through levels that vary from looking natural and leafy with rain falling to the snowy Phendrana Drifts and into lava filled depths or even underwater. The controls do take a bit to get used to, but a nice intro level helps acquaint you with the 3D movement and control scheme. Once you pick them up, you’ll be on your way to blasting, jumping, and yes, rolling your way through the spectacular title. I highly recommend this title for anyone that has a Nintendo Wii and at $6, you’re only doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t played the game.

2) Viewtiful Joe - $6.99 (used) at GameStop - 91% from GameRankings.com
Let it first be said that Viewtiful Joe is a very challenging game that is relentless with it’s lack of a decent save system, but at the same time, very rewarding with lots of cool game play elements tossed in and a graphical style all it’s own. Done in a very comic book fashion, Viewtiful Joe from Capcom provides you with level after level of beating up bad guys while using special abilities and transforming Joe into a superhero with even more power to get the job done. Slow time down, speed it up, and zoom in close to the action to see every “BIFF!”, “BOFF!”, and “SMACK!” as you whip the enemies into shape along the way.

It’s definitely got great visual effects and the game is done in a cell shaded style that really makes the game even more original and fun. Bonus items and minigames are also a plenty in the game which help add to the crazy variety of the nature of the title. If you are a fan of side scrolling beat ‘em ups or just want to have fun with something fresh and different, I highly recommend you try your hand at Viewtiful Joe, especially for $7 and especially the GameCube version which works perfectly with the GC controller. It’s a highly satisfying game and I recommend it to all Wii owners that haven’t given this game a shot.

3) Pikmin - $9.99 (used) at GameStop - 87% from GameRankings.com
Another game from the brain of Shigeru Miyamoto, Pikmin is a very.. interesting real time strategy/adventure type game where you control tiny creatures named Pikmin through larger than life sized stages featuring some very cool game play elements. It has a whole backstory concerning a spaceship that was hit by an asteroid and forced to land on a very odd planet inhabited with the Pikmin. The spaceship is damaged beyond immediate repair and it’s up to you, the player, to send in the Pikmin to help find the pieces needed to repair the ship. Another twist in the game that was fairly controversial for some players was the inclusion of an in-game timer which pushes you to finish the game under said time limit. You only have a certain amount of time (30 days in game) to complete the tasks at hand and escape the planet.

In the game, you control and put the Pikmin creatures to work, each of them differently colored and able to perform different tasks. Blue Pikmin can help you in the levels where you need a Pikmin to cross the water as they are the only ones that can survive the stuff. Red Pikmin can withstand any fire in the way and are great land fighters. The yellow ones can be thrown much farther than the others and they can also take out rock walls with their ability to use bombing rocks. Using a combination of these roles and by upgrading your Pikmin, you make your way through the levels to complete the tasks at hand. It’s a very strange and at the same time completely original game concept that worked well enough to provide a sequel that was even better than the original in a few ways. That’s not to put this first effort in bad light in any way as you would truly be missing out if you never played the game. It cannot come recommended highly enough and at $10, it’s nearly a steal. Definitely check out Pikmin from the GameCube for your Nintendo Wii.

4) Zelda: The Wind Waker - $14.99 (used) at GameStop - 95% from GameRankings.com
This version of Zelda is one of the best and was panned by some when it came out for it’s choice in art direction. There are plenty of gamers that perhaps missed out on a wonderful Zelda game that made great use of the chosen style of graphics. While you are playing the game, it’s almost hard to forget you’re not watching a cartoon and you are in fact control of a much younger Link. It has a stunning level of presentation from graphics to sound and the controls are tight and top notch. Coming after the Ocarina or Time, this version retains game play elements that helped make the 3D versions of Zelda so much fun to play like the Z-targeting system. Classic Zelda game play is abound in this version, as you take on the role of Link who is set for adventure on his birthday no less after a local is kidnapped by a strange looking bird.

Set sail for the seas as you control Link on water and on land through his adventures across many islands and into various dungeons. Item collecting is again the name of the game as you build your inventory, using each new item to explore new areas and sometimes discover hidden secrets. Find new towns, caves, fortresses and more to explore as Link in this version; it’s classic Zelda with some new twists and will keep you busy for dozens of hours. Grab this one and play it before or after the Twilight Princess as the story lines are completely separate. It’s packed full of exciting and beautiful gaming experiences that shouldn’t be missed. Zelda: The Wind Waker was a hit game for the GameCube and a perfect addition to your Wii collection at only $15.

5) Soul Caliber II - $9.99 (used) at GameStop - 93% from GameRankings.com
Is that Link from The Legend of Zelda we see on the front cover? Why yes, it is. Super Smash Bros Melee isn’t the only game to feature Link as a fighter, Soul Caliber II from Namco also featured Link in the GameCube version of the game. Featuring over 15 fighters, each with their own abilities and moves, Soul Caliber II didn’t take too many risks this time around and is a great sequel to the original Dreamcast version. The presentation, graphics, and sound are top notch as are the controls; fans of fighters will feel right at home with the familiar play style and the game is easy enough for new folks to the fighting genre to get into.

Fight with low, medium, and high attacks on various stages with each character capable of dozens of various moves. You can fight the computer or go toe to toe against your pals; there’s even a weapon master mode which is a mission mode of sorts that pits you against enemies in challenges you must complete with certain conditions needing to be met. Make your way through the mission mode to unlock bonus characters, play modes, and even earn Gold you can spend on buying special weapons and other content for the characters. The graphics are top notch and the game runs at a very smooth 60 frames per second. At $10, it’s hard to pass up this great fighter for the original GameCube that plays very well on your Nintendo Wii system.

And there we have it, 5 fantastic titles from the Nintendo GameCube that work flawlessly on the Nintendo Wii and promise to deliver more than their monies worth, all combined right at the price of one new Wii game. Sure, there’s better games from the GameCube and we could go on and on with other titles, but the point here is that you can have a ton of fun on the Wii with these titles for the same price as a perhaps less than stellar Wii game. These titles are especially recommended to those that haven’t played them, if you have any tips on other cheap GC games, pass them along to me here at The Wii Experience email address and I might just have another round of great, affordable games in the future. Here’s to the Wii and killer GameCube games on the cheap!