PreemptivE3 2004 GameCube Coverage

Nintendo knows how to make a great game. I don't think that there is anyone out there that will disagree with me. So what do we want most from Nintendo? That's right kids, more games! You catch on quick.

Well, with E3 just around the corner you can bet that there will be a bunch of new games to ogle at by this time next week. For now, here are some of the titles showing up on Nintendo's GameCube that will turn a few heads next week.

Title: Geist
Publisher: Nintendo
It's amazing how much difference a year makes. At E3 2003, Geist was surrounded by buzz. It was (and still is) a unique offering in which possession is the name of the game. Being a bizarre twist on the fps genre could go either way for this game and you can put even money on it being a featured title in Nintendo's booth this year.

Title: Donkey Konga
Publisher: Nintendo
Nintendo's foray into the rhythm genre will take a slightly different approach than we've seen before. Shipping with a unique DK Bongo drum controller, One to Four player madness will ensue. Really. Madness will ensue.

Title: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Publisher: Nintendo
Talk about "highly anticipated sequel." Metroid Prime 2 is the highest profile title on the immediate horizon and will again see Samus Aran slaughtering alien ass. First-person action will dominate, especially as MP2 will introduce multi-player action to the fold.

Title: Paper Mario 2
Publisher: Nintendo
Two-dimensional role-playing has never looked more fun. As a sequel to one of the N64's sleeper hits, Paper Mario 2 is a little bit of a conundrum. On the one hand, it's a Mario game. On the other it is a role-playing game (kind of). Either way, this sequel promises that more emphasis will be put on Mario's paper abilities, including the fact that he can fold himself into a paper airplane, roll into a tube, and slip sideways through cracks.

Title: Pikmin 2
Publisher: Nintendo
A featured title at last year's E3, Pikmin 2 is just nearing the end of development and should be in near final form next week. Not only will this sequel expand the gameplay that was innovated by the original by adding new colors of Pikmin, but it will feature two-player head to head action.

Title: Star Fox 2
Publisher: Nintendo
Another title that debuted at E3 2003, Star Fox 2 is the sequel to the SNES & N64 space combat titles. With the emphasis moving back to Arwing action, you can guarantee that crowds will receive this game better than they did Dinosaur Planet. DP wasn't a bad game, mind you. This is just what Star Fox fans are looking for.

Title: Resident Evil 4
Publisher: Capcom
How much really needs to be said about Resident Evil 4. Sure to be one of the highlights at Capcom's booth next week, RE4 is the GameCube exclusive new chapter in the Resident Evil saga. Beautiful backgrounds, flesh eating zombies and evil corporations will abound. Oh yes, they will abound.

Title: Goldeneye: Rogue Agent
Publisher: EA
"No, Mr. Bond...Iаexpect you to die." Now you will be in those shoes as you will actually be playing a Bond villian. An interesting twist for the franchise, Rogue Agent will be the true sequel to the game that made first-person-shooters a staple on video game consoles. Expect total multiplayer mayhem.

Title: Tales of Symphonia
Publisher: Namco
Another title to help fill out the waning GameCube RPG ranks. As the first iteration of the 'Tales' series that is based on the current generation of hardware, Tales of Symphonia will place more emphasis on moral choices than we have seen before. Not only will this be one of the few RPGs on the 'Cube but it will be a fantastically innovative one.

Title: Baten Kaitos
Publisher: Namco
Part of Namco's one-two RPG punch on the GameCube, Baten Kaitos is taking a different approach from Tales of Symphonia. Doffing the garb of a traditional role-playing titles, Baten Kaitos will deliver card based adventure in the vein of Lost Kingdoms. However, with Namco behind the title you can expect a lot more character to be packed into BK than the LK titles combined. Heck, with more than 1000 'Magnus' cards to draw from, Baten Kaitos sounds like it will never get old.