Honorable Mention: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Make no mistake: this game is one of the most critically acclaimed and best-selling games for the GameCube. I put this here because I have seen very little, if any, discussion about it. Perhaps the general consensus is that it's a great game and people just acknowledge it, but it deserves to be gushed about. That's all.
10. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is probably the best Spider-Man video game ever made, and it's extremely underrated. Many people talk it down and say it's bad, but it's actually a very fun, interesting, and well-made adventure, and it's probably as close to a perfect Spider-Man game as we'll ever get.
9. Pokemon Ranger Series
Pokemon spin-offs are usually fun and entertaining side games, but Pokemon Ranger tends to live in the shadow of its cousins, Colosseum and Mystery Dungeon (not to mention its overrated one, Snap). As such, I'm placing the Ranger series on this list because it deserves to held in higher regard. They're actually very good games, with plots and mechanics to rival even the core series games and at times even surpassing the other spin-offs.
Pokemon spin-offs are usually fun and entertaining side games, but Pokemon Ranger tends to live in the shadow of its cousins, Colosseum and Mystery Dungeon (not to mention its overrated one, Snap). As such, I'm placing the Ranger series on this list because it deserves to held in higher regard. They're actually very good games, with plots and mechanics to rival even the core series games and at times even surpassing the other spin-offs.
8. Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
This is another rather unknown game on this list. Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is a fun little diversion of a series about a boomerang-slinging Aussie and his friends in their quest to collect Thunder Eggs and stop Boss Cass and his cronies. It's actually a very fun and well-made set of games, and it's definitely worth your time and money if you want to pick them up.
This is another rather unknown game on this list. Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is a fun little diversion of a series about a boomerang-slinging Aussie and his friends in their quest to collect Thunder Eggs and stop Boss Cass and his cronies. It's actually a very fun and well-made set of games, and it's definitely worth your time and money if you want to pick them up.
7. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Some games are on this list because they are unknown or undiscussed. Brawl is on here because it's one of the most overhated games in existence. It gets a bad wrap for not being an exact copy of Melee and being far less competitive than any other Super Smash Bros. game. However, saying that Brawl is a bad game is simply not true. At its core, Smash Bros. is a party game, and Brawl is the perfect example of this. It appeals to casual gamers and has fun stages, items, and physics. The single-player mode is enthralling and huge. And overall, this game has much more going for it than most give it credit for because at the end of the day, Brawl is the most fun party game of the bunch.
Some games are on this list because they are unknown or undiscussed. Brawl is on here because it's one of the most overhated games in existence. It gets a bad wrap for not being an exact copy of Melee and being far less competitive than any other Super Smash Bros. game. However, saying that Brawl is a bad game is simply not true. At its core, Smash Bros. is a party game, and Brawl is the perfect example of this. It appeals to casual gamers and has fun stages, items, and physics. The single-player mode is enthralling and huge. And overall, this game has much more going for it than most give it credit for because at the end of the day, Brawl is the most fun party game of the bunch.
6. Pokemon Generations III and IV
Again, I put these two generations of Pokemon here because more often than not, they are either brushed off as just average sequels or even regarded as the worst parts of the Pokemon franchise, while they are actually both amazing sets of games that deserve recognition, and I consider them to be the best of the series.
Again, I put these two generations of Pokemon here because more often than not, they are either brushed off as just average sequels or even regarded as the worst parts of the Pokemon franchise, while they are actually both amazing sets of games that deserve recognition, and I consider them to be the best of the series.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Although The Legend of Zelda is one of the most acclaimed franchises in the world, there are a few games that are despised on the Internet and in general. Phantom Hourglass is often despised mainly for the Temple of the Ocean King and its repetition, as well as glitchy touch screen controls. What appears to happen here is that people see one glaring flaw and ignore everything else the game has to offer. Phantom Hourglass has comedy, interesting characters, great boss fights, inventive items, and is just an all-around great high-sea hijinks game, and it deserves more love than it gets.
Although The Legend of Zelda is one of the most acclaimed franchises in the world, there are a few games that are despised on the Internet and in general. Phantom Hourglass is often despised mainly for the Temple of the Ocean King and its repetition, as well as glitchy touch screen controls. What appears to happen here is that people see one glaring flaw and ignore everything else the game has to offer. Phantom Hourglass has comedy, interesting characters, great boss fights, inventive items, and is just an all-around great high-sea hijinks game, and it deserves more love than it gets.
4. Age of Mythology
Much like Pokemon Ranger, Age of Mythology lives in the shadow of its better known cousin, Age of Empires. While I do love a good game of Brits vs. Turks every once in a while, Age of Mythology is a far better game due to its myth units, god powers, great graphics, and massively amazing campaign mode. Frankly, it has everything Empires has and then some, and it's one of the best real-time-strategy games ever.
Much like Pokemon Ranger, Age of Mythology lives in the shadow of its better known cousin, Age of Empires. While I do love a good game of Brits vs. Turks every once in a while, Age of Mythology is a far better game due to its myth units, god powers, great graphics, and massively amazing campaign mode. Frankly, it has everything Empires has and then some, and it's one of the best real-time-strategy games ever.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Remember what I said about Phantom Hourglass being an overhated Zelda game? Well, everything I said about it is true here as well--except it's exponentially greater. Initially, Twilight Princess was hailed as the modern Ocarina of Time, but nowadays, everybody sees it as a boring, lifeless rehash of Ocarina of Time with absolutely no originality, which simply isn't true. Although Twilight Princess follows the Ocarina formula to the letter, it improves on it in many ways and has plenty of twists and tweaks to make it just as good, if not better than, its predecessor. This game is Ocarina of Time, but bigger and better, and there's nothing wrong with improving what's already great.
Remember what I said about Phantom Hourglass being an overhated Zelda game? Well, everything I said about it is true here as well--except it's exponentially greater. Initially, Twilight Princess was hailed as the modern Ocarina of Time, but nowadays, everybody sees it as a boring, lifeless rehash of Ocarina of Time with absolutely no originality, which simply isn't true. Although Twilight Princess follows the Ocarina formula to the letter, it improves on it in many ways and has plenty of twists and tweaks to make it just as good, if not better than, its predecessor. This game is Ocarina of Time, but bigger and better, and there's nothing wrong with improving what's already great.
2. Sonic Heroes
Sonic Heroes is the middle child of the Sonic franchise. The 2D games have a faithful following, and Adventure 1 and 2 each have their fans. On the other hand, most of the newer games like Unleashed, Black Knight, 06, and Boom are pronounced terrible (which some of them are, but that's beside the point). As such, most people see Heroes as an interesting diversion, a middle of the road affair that represents the last decent attempt by Sega before Sonic finally went under. I say that to call Sonic Heroes average is blasphemous. It's far from bad; Sonic Heroes is a fun, high-speed, colorful, and memorable game. It's not without its problems, but it's definitely one of Sonic's best outings, and it deserves to be treated as such.
Sonic Heroes is the middle child of the Sonic franchise. The 2D games have a faithful following, and Adventure 1 and 2 each have their fans. On the other hand, most of the newer games like Unleashed, Black Knight, 06, and Boom are pronounced terrible (which some of them are, but that's beside the point). As such, most people see Heroes as an interesting diversion, a middle of the road affair that represents the last decent attempt by Sega before Sonic finally went under. I say that to call Sonic Heroes average is blasphemous. It's far from bad; Sonic Heroes is a fun, high-speed, colorful, and memorable game. It's not without its problems, but it's definitely one of Sonic's best outings, and it deserves to be treated as such.
1. Kirby Air Ride
Now, there are many underrated and unknown games on this list, but none are less acclaimed or less talked about than Kirby Air Ride, an unambitious little racing game for the GameCube. This game has three modes of play, over a dozen vehicles, and it's an excellent way to spend hours of fun times with your friends. City Trial in particular is the highlight of the game, and unlocking Hydra and Dragoon in Free Run allows for excellent shenanigans. Kirby Air Ride is one of the greatest party games out there, and it's virtually unknown or undiscussed everywhere. I hope that this ends and that Kirby Air Ride gets the recognition that it so rightfully deserves.
Now, there are many underrated and unknown games on this list, but none are less acclaimed or less talked about than Kirby Air Ride, an unambitious little racing game for the GameCube. This game has three modes of play, over a dozen vehicles, and it's an excellent way to spend hours of fun times with your friends. City Trial in particular is the highlight of the game, and unlocking Hydra and Dragoon in Free Run allows for excellent shenanigans. Kirby Air Ride is one of the greatest party games out there, and it's virtually unknown or undiscussed everywhere. I hope that this ends and that Kirby Air Ride gets the recognition that it so rightfully deserves.
