For the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, Nintendo added another benefit for the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers who get their new console – a new app to play classic GameCube games! There are only three titles to start with, but what a great three titles to kick things off!
Here’s what I thought of these games:
Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics
| Game | Genre | # of Players | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-Zero GX | Futuristic Racing | 1-4 Competitive (Local Split-Screen / Online Split-Screen) | A+ |
tl;drIn my opinion (and in the opinion of many others) this is still the greatest game in the F-Zero franchise, with blazing fast speeds, silky-smooth framerates, and fantastic gameplay. The visuals seem a bit overly-clean and sparsely-decorated by today’s standards, but aside from this the game still looks great today. An absolute must-play on the GameCuve app. | |||
| SoulCalibur II | 3D Fighting Game | 1-2 Competitive (Local Split-Screen / Online Split-Screen) | B+ |
tl;drWhile a bit simple by today’s standards, SoulCalibur II is still a well-crafted Fighting Game, and the Weapon Master mode adds a lot of depth and replay value to the game, acting both as a tutorial and a campaign mode. Plus, many players hold the opinion that the GameCube version of the game is the best due to the inclusion of Link as a guest character. | |||
| The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | Action-RPG | 1 | A |
tl;drThis version of The Wind Waker lacks the improvements added to the Wii U HD remastered version, including the Swift Sail and the simplified triforce quest toward the end of the game. As a result, I tend to see this as an inferior version. However, it’s an inferior version of a truly great Zelda game, and one of the most beloved games in its franchise. Don’t be fooled by the cartoony visuals – this is a fantastic Action-RPG. | |||
It’s only three games to start with, but it’s an excellent trio of games, not only covering a wide spread of genres, but presenting quality all-around. F-Zero GX is widely considered the best game in the series, and is still a fantastic Racing game even today. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker lacks the HD Remastered version’s quality-of-life upgrades, but it is still an outstanding Action-RPG. And SoulCalibur II is a top-notch Fighting game that may have aged a bit compared to modern entries in the genre, but it’s still a superb game that still plays great, and a good reminder that we may well see third-party games join this app in addition to Nintendo’s own classics.
All in all, this is a great trio that gives a hint of the promise this app has to bring some truly great games.
tl;dr – The GameCube app on Nintendo Switch 2 starts out with a trio of superb games all worth playing. What a fantastic beginning to what is hopefully an incredible new app!
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