GameCube Reviews O-R

Grade: C+
Publisher: Nintendo (2006)
Reviewed: 2006/5/30
Rating: Everyone (10+)


1 player 

One Piece: Grand Battle
Grade: C-
Publisher: Bandai (2005)
Reviewed: 2012/5/22
Rating: Teen (cartoon violence)


1 or 2 players 

One Piece: Pirate's Carnival
Grade: D-


1 to 4 players 

Outlaw Golf
Grade: F
Publisher: Simon and Shuster (2002)
Reviewed: 2003/2/7


1 to 4 players 

Pac-Man Fever
Grade: C-
Publisher: Namco (2002)
Reviewed: 2007/3/27
Rating: Everyone


1 to 4 players 

Pac-Man World Rally
Grade: C-


1 to 4 players 

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Grade: B+
Publisher: Nintendo (2004)
Reviewed: 2007/12/26
Rating: Everyone

screenshotSubmitted by RPG correspondent Jonathan Hawk
Completed In: 31 Hours
Favorite Character: Vivian © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

1 player 

Grade: B+
Publisher: Nintendo (2001)
Reviewed: 2008/4/7
Rating: Everyone


1 player 

Pool Paradise
Grade: D+
Publisher: Ignition (2004)
Reviewed: 2014/11/16
Rating: Everyone (gambling)

screenshotWere you expecting a swimming game? Pool Paradise is a billiards title with a tropical island theme. Instead of playing in a seedy smoke-filled lounge, the table is situated in an open-air beach bar. The tropical vegetable and shimmering ocean look inviting, and you'll also enjoy ambient sounds of seagulls, crashing waves, and soothing jazz music. The challenge mode lets you ascend the ranks against 30 colorful characters that include several monsters (mummy, zombie, frankenstein) and caricatures of OJ Simpson and Bill Gates. Each opponent plays his own flavor of pool, and at first I resented having to play unfamiliar variations like "Killer", "6-ball", or "UK Pool". The format grew on me however, mainly because the games tend to be short and easy to learn. What's most remarkable about Paradise Pool is how your opponents are completely invisible except for their hands. It looks pretty amazing (and a little creepy) as you watch the disembodied hands meander around the table and move into position for the next shot. The animation must have been motioned-captured considering how smooth it is. Your opponents don't speak so the matches are generally quiet and relaxing. The action moves at a brisk pace and most variations do a nice job of pre-positioning you for your next shot. Variations where you have to manually select your shot (like 6-ball) are more problematic because it's hard to make out the numbers on the balls. The shooting controls could be better. Your power is limited and sometimes the end of your cue stick obstructs your vision. The balls also tend to "cut" more than I expected. Still, it's satisfying to sink shots due to the crisp sound effects. Paradise Pool also looks surprisingly good on my HDTV. I just wish the time of day didn't cycle between day and night so frequently, since it kind of takes you out of the moment. I couldn't figure out how to save my progress until I discovered the save option was buried in the pause menu. It's not the best pool game I've played, but if you're looking for a virtual pool experience Pool Paradise has a stylish flair that sets it apart. © Copyright 2014 The Video Game Critic.

1 or 2 players 

Pro Rally 2002
Grade: C
Publisher: Ubisoft (2002)
Reviewed: 2019/2/2
Rating: Everyone

screenshotMake sure you watch the intro video when you turn on Pro Rally or you'll miss the best part. There are five mechanics working on a car while being directed by a babe sporting a form-fitting outfit and an amazing rack. My friends maintain this brief sequence alone is worth a letter grade. The game itself is pretty standard but leans more toward realism than arcade. Rally racing isn't too big in the states but I'm told it's the number two sport in the rest of the world! You'll race on-and-offroad on a wide variety of tracks with varying weather conditions, but first Pro Rally subjects you to a rigorous "driving school" course. Each of its ten lessons are timed with a very small margin of error. You can't even touch a cone or barrel without being disqualified! Personally I'd prefer to hone my skills on a track - not a freaking parking lot. The GameCube controller isn't ideal for driving. The soft triggers are imprecise so when you touch your accelerator your car tends to jerk forward and turn sharply. I didn't have much luck with the normal brake or handbrake, but squeezing them both around turns works pretty well. I love the sound effects of my wheels rolling over the crunchy gravel. Once the championship mode is unlocked you can race in a variety of locations. The hazy dirt tracks of Argentina and Greece are boring but later you get to race along the coast of Italy and scenic English countryside. I like how the trees sway in the wind. You don't race head-to-head in rally; you race for time. A co-driver provides constant instructions ("right hairpin and left 5"), but sometimes I feel like he's getting too far ahead of me. After a few races of "making fools of my team" I got the hang of it and started winning. You can get into a zone playing this. You never gain much speed but it's very relaxing drifting around one turn after the next. I enjoyed Pro Rally but the arcade mode is still locked and I'm still waiting for a snow track like the one on the box! The split-screen head-to-head mode is surprisingly smooth, but when a guy runs off the track he often gets "reset" ahead of the other. Hmmm. Pro Rally isn't likely excite casual players (intro notwithstanding) but this is a solid entry for rally racing fans. © Copyright 2019 The Video Game Critic.

1 or 2 players 

Rampage: Total Destruction
Grade: D-
Publisher: Midway (2006)
Reviewed: 2007/2/19
Rating: Everyone (violence)


1 or 4 players 

Reign of Fire
Grade: C
Publisher: Bam (2002)
Reviewed: 2003/7/20
Rating: Teen (Violence)


1 player 

Resident Evil
Grade: A-
Publisher: Capcom (2002)
Reviewed: 2002/5/18
Rating: Mature (Blood and Gore, Violence)

screenshotThe granddaddy of survival horror has returned to reclaim its crown! The original Resident Evil (PS1, 1996) was (arguably) the first genuinely frightening video game. Trapped in a house full of zombies, traps, and puzzles, you had to brace yourself for each new room. Several sequels expanded the scope of the original but rarely matched its level of hair-raising thrills. In light of that, remaking the first Resident Evil makes a lot of sense. Even those who played through it the first time around shouldn't hesitate to pick this up. With dramatically improved graphics, new room layouts, relocated monsters, and better puzzles, it's practically a new game. For horror movie buffs it's kind of like the difference between Evil Dead I and II. The cheesy live-action scenes from the first game have been replaced with some jaw-dropping CGI work. The mansion interior is spectacularly detailed and magnificently gothic. Lightning flashes and shadows from trees reflect on the walls, and new areas include a decrepit old graveyard. The scenery is pre-rendered which is both good and bad. On the positive side, pre-positioned camera angles allow for some downright creepy cinematography. For example, at the end of one long hallway you may see the faint image of a mysterious figure. On the other hand you can't adjust your view and that's occasionally frustrating. The music effectively builds tension and improved voice acting makes the awkward dialog sound halfway credible. Shrill screams and ominous groans will send tingles down your spine. While the graphics and audio are stellar, you still have to deal with a rather clumsy control scheme that really hasn't changed much since 1996. The targeting system makes it easy to locate monsters but aiming at close range can be maddeningly difficult. As with past Resident Evil games you'll need to juggle a lot of items, and your carrying capacity is very limited. It seems like whenever I find a new item I need I don't have any place to put it! One clever new gameplay element is the "defensive weapon", which let you subdue enemies after they've gotten a hold of you. Just don't confuse the defensive dagger with the knife like I did. Also new is the ability of certain monsters to follow you from room to room, removing what little sense of security you had. The monsters don't go down easily, so remember: they aren't dead until the music stops! Resident Evil is an all-time classic and you're sure to be terrified by this slick, updated two-disk edition. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

1 player 

Resident Evil 4
Grade: A+
Publisher: Capcom (2005)
Reviewed: 2005/3/10
Rating: Mature (blood and gore, intense violence)

screenshotNo game is perfect but Resident Evil 4 (RE4) comes about as close as you can get. While playing it I was actually thinking "this is the best video game ever". A masterpiece of great length and substance, RE4 is such a huge leap for the series it doesn't even feel like a Resident Evil game. Cleverly conceived with originality to burn, the game is madly addictive and supremely satisfying. What makes RE4 so compelling? Well the rural mountainside conjures up films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Blair Witch, and Night of the Living Dead. The desolate forest is practically a character in and of itself. Although your movements are limited to a predetermined path you'd never know by the natural-looking surroundings. The dilapidated old house you stumble upon looks authentic and foreboding. Later you explore an old church on a hill surrounded by a graveyard, and it just doesn't get much more Halloween than that. Your adventure begins on a dark cloudy day and only gets scarier as night falls and a thunderstorm rages. RE4's audio track adds to the sense of urgency with harrowing sound effects that seamlessly meld with a haunting musical score. The gameplay offers brisk pacing, reasonable difficulty, and extraordinary variety. Don't rest during the cut-scenes, because "quick action events" prompt you to hit buttons at critical moments to escape injury. The game keeps you on guard but you never feel hopelessly stuck. Even when you die you continue close to where you left off. Your mission is to rescue the President's daughter from a cult, and you'll spend a large portion of the game escorting her to safety. Instead of conventional zombies RE4 opts for chanting monks and brainwashed townsfolk armed with pitchforks, torches, and axes. The violence is unflinching. When a farmwoman freaks out after being shot in the face, it's actually quite disturbing. But nothing strikes more fear in this game than the sound of a chainsaw. RE4's control scheme may seem awkward at first due to the lack of a strafe button, but the limited mobility just adds to the challenge. The over-the-shoulder view is a nice compromise between a first-person shooter and third-person adventure, and the jumping is practically automatic. Your firepower is so astounding that a shotgun can blow several attackers across a room with a single blast. The game incorporates a surprising amount of sniping action, so before you enter a new area you'll want to weed out as many enemies as you can from a distance. Unlike previous RE games item management is not tedious at all, and a mysterious cloaked figure appears every so often to buy and sell goods. A testament to RE4's greatness is how many memorable moments are packed into this single game, including a battle with a giant "troll" monster, a wild encounter on a ski lift, a crazy mine cart ride, and a row-boat sequence as thrilling as the movie Jaws. It should be noted that the game is definitely intended for mature audiences due to excessive violence and gore, along with some profanity. While it never takes itself too seriously there are some genuinely intense moments and gruesome images. Resident Evil 4 is one for the ages. The bar for survival horror has now been set very, very high. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

1 player 

Resident Evil Zero
Grade: B+
Publisher: Capcom (2002)
Reviewed: 2003/10/15
Rating: Mature (blood and gore, violence)


1 player 


[GameCube index]  [Back to Top]

Screen shots courtesy of, Gaming Age Online,,, Moby Games, Video Games Museum