While it often takes a backseat to gameplay in importance, a gripping video game narrative can help draw gamers in and keep them engaged. Rich and interesting world-building can captivate players and further immerse them inside their virtual worlds.
Nintendo's GameCube tends to be known for being home to "the best version of Smash Bros," its robust Resident Evil library, and its purple lunchbox design. And yet, it also hosts a surprising number of games with excellent plots, dynamic characters, and enthralling worlds. So let's journey back to the early 2000s as we take a look at the 10 GameCube games with the very best storylines on the console.
10 Geist
This little known gem from the now-defunct developer, n-Space, is unique simply since it's an FPS on the GameCube alone. But it also shines as a surprisingly creative shooter with an imaginative concept, which is likely why it's one of the few M-rated titles Nintendo decided to publish themselves.
The game stars John Raimi, an expert in biological weaponry sent to investigate the Volks Corporation. But things go south quickly and, in his attempt to escape, he gets captured by a possessed crew member, and his soul gets sapped from his body by an experimental machine. He soon finds himself being a pawn for Project Z, an experiment by the company to possess and kill the world leaders. It's a neat concept and one that's cleverly embedded into the gameplay itself - as your soul shifts from vessel to vessel while you seek your original body.
9 Baten Kaitos
You know you're in for a pretty entertaining tale when you're dealing with many of the minds behind the epic Xeno series.
The game kicks off with an awesome cut scene and tosses you into a number of distinct colorful floating islands dripping with artistic style. Both the gameplay and premise revolve around a system of magical cards known as "Magnus," which basically act as vessels for objects or powers. The game draws you in with an imaginative post-apocalyptic origin story of destruction and evolution (specifically humans growing wings). It keeps you hooked with an array of interesting characters, tremendous world-building, and an intriguing narrative.
8 Viewtiful Joe
You won't find a ton of nuance with this Capcom brawler - but sometimes the most entertaining stories are can be the most simple. The crux of this Marvel-esque narrative lies in the experience - namely its fun comic strip style and action-hero plot. The action-packed gameplay is injected with epic cutscenes that make you feel like you're watching a Saturday morning cartoon.
The game runs with a Matrix-like concept with our tight-wearing hero being drawn into a hostile fictional world - in this case, "Movieland." Throughout the game, Joe must fight his way through colorful environments like underwater bases, submarines, and bustling cities as he travels in his robot ship to save his girlfriend. It a premise that's not afraid to have fun, and it's one that's well-executed as well.
7 Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Another game that plays with dual realities (but in a very different manner), Metroid Prime 2 takes that rich atmosphere and lore of the first game and dials it up even more. A darker, alternate dimension called the caustic Dark Aether has formed as a result of a meteor collision. Thanks to these warped conditions, and monster-morphing mutagens, Samus must run, gun, and roll her way through landscapes that are more eerie and hostile than ever before.
Like the first game, most of the narrative is explored and experienced by the player themselves, with bits of exposition unearthed through in-game discoveries. Yet, this is part of what makes the story so rich and captivating.
6 The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker
While Link's debut in cell-shaded form, The Wind Waker, has garnered mixed reception from Zelda fans, most cannot deny the game's unique and intriguing plot.
The game has a distinct desolate aura similar to Breath of the Wild... only in this post-apocalyptic version of Hyrule, much of the lands have been submerged underwater. Link must sail from island to island, seeking the Hero of Time's power and clashing with tons of colorful foes. The lore feels as authentic and creative as it ever has, as the game plays creatively with mythology and even time-freezing that makes for a memorable tale. The story starts slow but accelerates and builds to a thrilling crescendo as you dig deeper.
5 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
The epic title of this game alone should tip you off to the fact that we're dealing with a pretty imaginative plot here, especially for Mario standards.
While fans will recognize many of the characters, the settings contain never-before explored regions of the Mushroom Kingdom, like the floating city of Glitzville. The game contains plenty of charming dialogue to keep things moving, too. The plot begins with a fairly typical "go find Princess Peach" objective, but blossoms into a truly awesome adventure that blends Mario settings with LOTR-style fantasy. The Thousand-Year Door's also brimming with fun, unique settings such as the lunar-based X-Naut Fortress. The premise starts simple and just continues to escalate in its scope and imagination.
4 The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess
While Twilight Princess has more of a classic fantasy narrative, lacking the distinct post-apocalyptic vibe of Wind Waker, it still sports an enthralling and often dark aura. It also boasts larger, more enriching landscapes and an experience that balances linearity with vast exploration. The game runs with an intriguing plot that juxtaposes a "light" and "dark" world similar to Link to the Past with its eerie Twilight Realm. At the same time, TP makes the concept feel fresh again with the introduction of Link's wolf transformation.
This epic tale is a reminder of The Legend of Zelda's ability to captivate fantasy and Nintendo fans alike. It superbly blends classic Zelda elements with unique concepts and some neat revelations.
3 Beyond Good And Evil
This action-adventure from Ubisoft often feels more like a cinematic odyssey. It hosts a diversity of neat environments and an epic futuristic plot involving a planet-wide alien conspiracy. It also offers a number of likable characters, including one of the all-time best female protagonists in gaming, Jade. The gameplay contains fun bouts of espionage cleverly woven into the story as you seek to uncover a malicious plot by the DomZ and Alphas. The towns you visit are bustling with activity that feels rich and organic, further coloring the narrative.
Beyond Good And Evil just might have one of the most interesting stories on the GameCube... and one with a wide appeal to boot.
2 Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Taking its place as another rare mature title published by Nintendo, Eternal Darkness is similarly rife with imagination and wonder, even more than its counterpart, Geist.
Eternal Darkness stars Alexandra Roivas, who arrives at her family's estate only to find her grandfather murdered. The game plays like a trippy, mythological mystery that spans thousands of years. You explore the history of the Roivas family through the eyes of a different ancestor for each chapter. This naturally makes for a diversity of rich settings that range from Ancient Rome to the 18th century American colonies to the present day. The plot contains a mystical element of dark fantasy combined with horror that makes for a truly gripping tale. This is a psychological thriller that will leave an impression on you.
1 Tales Of Symphonia
This majestic RPG is often referred to as one of the high points in Namco's Tales series. Not only this - it might just have one of the most entertaining and creative narratives in gaming. The plot feels typical and slow-paced to begin with as you're tasked with restoring mana to the world of Sylvarant.
Yet, players who put in the time are rewarded with some increasingly epic landscapes, thrilling cutscenes, and a few particularly awesome plot twists that add a new dimension. Just about every character is interesting - including the clumsy, naive protagonist who adds comic relief during the charming dialogue exchanges. Tales of Symphonia is an enjoyable journey that only gets better as you progress. Despite the nearly 50 hour runtime of this epic RPG, it completely flies by.