The Best First-Person Shooters on the GameCube

Right off the bat, let's go ahead and establish that the Nintendo GameCube was not a console known for its shooters. Instead, one of the primary appeals of the GameCube was its stellar library of first-party titles, which included groundbreaking hits like Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and many more now-legendary classics. But among those first-party games were also two titles that are two of the best Nintendo GameCube exclusives and two of the console's greatest shooters: Metroid Prime and its sequel, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. These timeless Metroidvania/FPS hybrids lead a pack of first-person shooter titles on the GameCube that mostly consists of ports of other 6th-gen console shooters and a very select few system exclusives.

The GameCube's relative lack of first-person shooters compared to both the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox comes as a bit of a surprise, given how important the genre was to the Nintendo 64 in the previous console generation. Still, the GameCube would actually end up having the superior version of more than a few third-party FPS titles that were cross-platform releases, which largely boiled down to those games' GameCube ports being handled by contracted studios who really knew the hardware inside and out. But for the most part, many of the GameCube's best first-person shooters shine brighter on either the PS2 or the Xbox, making Nintendo's 6th-gen console the weakest of the three when it came to its FPS library.

• Release Date — September 1, 2002
• Developer — Acclaim Studios Austin
• Publisher — Acclaim Entertainment
• Review Aggregate Score — 70% (Mixed or Average)
• User Score — 67% (Mixed or Average)

Long before the studio was re-branded to Acclaim Studios Austin, that team went by the name Iguana Entertainment — the same Iguana Entertainment that delivered the three classic Turok games on the Nintendo 64. One of the first titles it would develop as Acclaim Studios Austin would be the 6th-gen follow-up to the Turok trilogy with Turok: Evolution. Despite what the name "Turok: Evolution" might have you believe, Evolution is actually a prequel to the events of the first Turok: Dinosaur Hunter that explains how Tal'Set came to claim the mantle of being the next Turok and his journey through the Lost Lands to get there. Accordingly, Turok: Evolution takes the series' formula back to the basics of the first Turok on Nintendo 64, and it's a fun, if not flawed, FPS gem with a worthwhile single-player campaign.

• Release Date — September 27, 2005
• Developer — Red Storm Entertainment
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Review Aggregate Score — 72% (Mixed or Average)
• User Score — N/A

The long list of console first-person shooters released during the 6th hardware generation shows that there weren't very many tactical shooters, with that particular FPS subgenre mostly relegated to PC. One of the few that did make its way to consoles, though, was Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown, which is both the perfect bridge between the old-school Rainbow Six games and the series' evolution with Rainbow Six Vegas and one of the best FPS titles on the GameCube. The GameCube version is the only console release of Lockdown that doesn't feature online multiplayer, but it makes up for it with some new sniper missions and the inclusion of the GameCube-exclusive co-op mode for the game's story mode.

• Release Date — August 15, 2005
• Developer — n-Space
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Review Aggregate Score — 66% (Mixed or Average)
• User Score — 76% (Generally Favorable)

n-Space's Geist is one of the more interesting games in the GameCube library and a first-person shooter unlike any other. Part FPS and part just first-person action-adventure game, Geist was an incredibly ambitious title for its time, where players take on the role of a counter-terrorism agent-turned-ghost who must possess different bodies in a quest to reclaim his identity and put a stop to the nefarious Project Z. The title would famously suffer multiple delays and go through a bit of troubled development, with Geist originally planned as an earlier title for the GameCube and not releasing until near the end of the console's lifespan. But while the action sequences and visuals could have used a bit more polish, Geist gets some points for being a GameCube exclusive and for its wholly original premise and possession mechanics.

• Release Date — March 12, 2002
• Developer — EA Redwood Shores
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Review Aggregate Score — 74% (Mixed or Average)
• User Score — 66% (Mixed or Average)

Thanks to GoldenEye 007, first-person shooters starring James Bond and Nintendo consoles seemed to go hand-in-hand, which made James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire's arrival on the system as a cross-platform release feel like a bit of a homecoming. To its credit, EA Redwood Shores did a fantastic job creating its own unique version of James Bond that was a sort of amalgamation of all the previous actors who had portrayed the super spy, and Agent Under Fire's mix of both first-person shooting and arcade-style driving sections would serve as the template for just about every future James Bond game moving forward. Just like the excellent PS2 version of Agent Under Fire, the GameCube port of the title features a short and sweet single-player campaign, bolstered by an excellent 4-player split-screen multiplayer mode.

• Release Date — November 1, 2005
• Developer — Treyarch, High Voltage Software
• Publisher — Activision
• Review Aggregate Score — 76% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score — 69% (Mixed or Average)

Treyarch has grown to become one of the most important teams to have stewardship over the Call of Duty franchise (with more than 10 mainline entries in the series under its belt), and the first game in the series that it would work on is Call of Duty 2: Big Red One. Big Red One is one of the better offshoots from the mainline Call of Duty 2 released on PC and Xbox 360, and the GameCube version (which was co-developed and ported to the system by High Voltage Software) maintains the excellent single-player campaign at the cost of losing most of its multiplayer functionality (including the PS2 and Xbox versions' 16-player online modes). Still, there wouldn't be very many military shooters on the GameCube, and that the system has one as good as Big Red One in its limited library is a silver lining.

• Release Date — November 25, 2003
• Developer — Ubisoft Paris
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Review Aggregate Score — 73% (Mixed or Average)
• User Score — 78% (Generally Favorable)

Each of the 6th-generation consoles had its own very specific merits over the other options available, and one of the strengths of the GameCube was its ability to make cel-shaded games somehow look better than on either the PS2 or Xbox. This resulted in the first-person shooter XIII (based on the Belgian comic of the same name) to look and run better on the GameCube than on any other console, with the GameCube version of XIII arguably coming closest to mimicking the PC version. XIII is an excellent first-person shooter with some fantastic comic book-style presentation and a compelling mix of stealth sequences (which are satisfying to pull off without detection) and all-out assault with an impressive variety of weaponry. XIII is a great cult-classic shooter of the era, and there's a strong case for the GameCube version being its best release.

• Release Date — April 1, 2003
• Developer — Volition, Cranky Pants Games
• Publisher — THQ
• Review Aggregate Score — 79% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score — N/A

Despite the original Red Faction being a PS2 console exclusive, the version of Red Faction II that made its way to Sony's 6th-generation hardware was arguably the worst of the three cross-platform versions of the title. Surprisingly, it would be the GameCube release of Red Faction II that would feature the best version of the game's single-player campaign, along with what's arguably the greatest version of Red Faction II's local-only multiplayer mode. Thanks to the GameCube's 4 controller ports, players could easily get in on some classic 4v4 deathmatch utilizing Red Faction II's impressive weapon variety and the fantastic GeoMod technology that made environments destructible, with all-out mayhem ensuing in each match. There are a few great multiplayer shooters on the GameCube, and Red Faction II is easily one of the best.

• Release Date — November 7, 2002
• Developer — EA Los Angeles
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score — 77% (Generally Favorable)

The PS2 version of Medal of Honor: Frontline was easily one of the consoles's greatest early first-person shooter titles, so it only makes sense that Electronic Arts would bring the title to the GameCube and Xbox upon those systems' releases, with both Nintendo and Microsoft's new 6th-gen consoles getting Frontline as a launch title. Not much changed between the PS2 original and the GameCube port of Frontline, but as the saying goes — if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Frontline's GameCube version still retains the excellent single-player story mode (one of the best World War II-themed FPS campaigns) as well as the 4-player split-screen multiplayer mode that cemented it as one of the best-selling early shooters on the console, and it looks and sounds just as good (or maybe even better) than its PS2 counterpart.

• Release Date — November 19, 2002
• Developer — Raven Software, Vicarious Visions
• Publisher — LucasArts
• Review Aggregate Score — 75% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score — 85% (Generally Favorable)

A legitimate contender for one of the greatest Star Wars games of all time, Raven Software's Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is a 6th-gen classic whose GameCube port is surprisingly one of the greatest versions of the title. Jedi Knight II definitely errs more on the third-person action side of things this time around, but the ability to control Kyle Katarn as a Jedi in both first and third-person, and the game's early first-person shooting-centric stages, cement it as an easy inclusion in a list of the best GameCube FPS titles. Credit belongs to Vicarious Visions, who worked on both the GameCube and Xbox ports of Jedi Knight II, and managed to do the PC original justice in the process. It's almost hard to believe this game is more than 20 years old, considering how great it still feels to play.

• Release Date — November 19, 2002
• Developer — Eurocom
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score — 83% (Generally Favorable)

Just like it is on the PlayStation 2, 007: Nightfire is the best James Bond game on the GameCube, improving the shooting and driving mix from Agent Under Fire in just about every way and including the likeness of the one and only Pierce Brosnan as the infamous MI6 super spy. The main area where Nightfire improves over Agent Under Fire is with its shooting, with guns generally feeling and sounding more satisfying and being easier to aim. Plus, the inclusion of a generous auto-aim makes Nightfire a breezy experience that's light on the challenge but heavy on the fun factor. And like a lot of other titles on this list, the single-player campaign of Nightfire is bolstered by an incredibly fun and addictive split-screen multiplayer suite with expanded options over the PS2 version.

• Release Date — March 22, 2005
• Developer — Free Radical Design
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Review Aggregate Score — 82% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)

The first game in the TimeSplitters trilogy might have been a PS2 exclusive, but the second and third games in the series were just as well-known for being two of the greatest shooters on the GameCube and Xbox as much as they were in the PS2 library of FPS titles. The final TimeSplitters game, Future Perfect, is probably the best-looking in the TimeSplitters series and is only outdone by its predecessor in terms of its level design for the single-player Story mode. Arcade mode and the Map Maker make a triumphant return in Future Perfect, delivering potentially dozens (if not hundreds) of hours of single and multiplayer thrills long after you've finished the excellent single-player campaign, making Future Perfect a future-proof shooter to have in the GameCube library.

• Release Date — October 15, 2002
• Developer — Free Radical Design
• Publisher — Eidos Interactive
• Review Aggregate Score — 88% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score — 82% (Generally Favorable)

Were it not for the three shooters above it (each of which is GameCube-exclusive), TimeSplitters 2 would easily rank as the best FPS on the GameCube just based on its legendary campaign. Across 10 levels set during different periods, you take on the role of series hero Agent Cortez as he tracks down the time-traveling aliens from which the series takes its name, and each of these levels is chock-full of incredible shooting, some interesting and varied objectives (calling GoldenEye and Perfect Dark to mind — which makes sense given Free Radical Design being home to several former Rare employees), and plenty of tonal variety, shifting between humor and horror at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately, the GameCube version is the only console release to not include a 16-player deathmatch via system link, but the classic 4-player split-screen mode remains.

• Release Date — March 9, 2004
• Developer — Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, Silicon Knights
• Publisher — Konami
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score — 87% (Generally Favorable)

This one might be a bit of a stretch to include as one of the GameCube's best first-person shooters, but Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes actually makes great use of its new first-person mode (pulled directly from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty) and can be played almost entirely in first-person POV during combat, which makes the game significantly easier than the PS1 original.

The Twin Snakes is not without a few faults as a remake of one of the greatest games ever made — namely, its changes to the original's story, tonality, and even voice acting — but its competent implementation of a new perspective in which to play Metal Gear Solid makes it one of the best GameCube exclusives and one of its best FPS titles. After experiencing how excellent the first-person shooting is in Twin Snakes, it's honestly a bit of an adjustment to switch back to the standard aiming controls.

• Release Date — November 15, 2004
• Developer — Retro Studios
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Review Aggregate Score — 92% (Universal Acclaim)
• User Score — 88% (Generally Favorable)

To absolutely no one's surprise, the top two spots on our list of the best first-person shooters on the GameCube go to the excellent Metroid Prime and its sequel, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. The first Metroid Prime ekes out a slight win over its successor thanks to it generally having better pacing, a better mix of first-person shooting and Metroidvania elements, and the importance it holds in establishing how a 3D Metroid game can and should be done. But don't let that fool you into thinking that Metroid Prime 2 isn't worth playing or isn't a worthwhile follow-up, because it is on both accounts.

The main draw of Echoes is its world-swapping mechanic, which has a major effect on how both the game's platforming and combat play out, with certain enemies only visible or vulnerable while Samus is in Dark Aether. Combined with the inclusion of some new abilities, Samus' combat sandbox is expanded in the game's single-player story mode, and that's just half the draw. Metroid Prime 2 would end up being the first Metroid game to include a multiplayer mode, and its split-screen deathmatch is as good or better than any other FPS title on the console, thanks to its addictive simplicity and relentless fun.

• Release Date — November 18, 2002
• Developer — Retro Studios
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Review Aggregate Score — 97% (Universal Acclaim)
• User Score — 90% (Universal Acclaim)

At the time of Metroid Prime's release, there were some faithful fans of the franchise who remained uncertain whether the series' formula could work in 3D. After all, the last game in the series had been Super Metroid, which helped to inspire both Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and the creation of the Metroidvania subgenre, forever changing action-platformers in the process. At its core, Metroid was a 2D series, so imagining how that formula could work in the third dimension left many understandably skeptical.

Of course, Retro Studios proved to be the exact team to transition Metroid into 3D, turning the series into a rock-solid first-person shooter that also somehow retained many of the elements essential to the Metroid series, like nonlinear exploration and ability gating. It lacks the multiplayer mode of the later Metroid Prime games, but it makes up for it by featuring the best campaign in the series, along with some of the absolute best boss battles in any first-person shooter, proving that these high-spectacle encounters can be a lot more than just damage sponges or more aggressive versions of standard enemies.