Metroid Prime (2002)

Author: Retro Studios & Nintendo

The words Metroid Prime should resonate with anyone around for the birth of the GameCube. It's been consistently labeled the console's best title, even among games like Smash Bros. Melee and Animal Crossing. Part of that is thanks to its established pedigree, the brain child of Shigeru Miyamoto, known for Donkey Kong, Legend of Zelda, Mario, and more. However, more credit must be given to Retro Studio's seamless transition into 3D. The team built a beautiful world, with great textures, lighting, and shadows, all at sixty frames per second. It does away with the closed levels of the time and presents a fantastic open world experience, driven by adventure and exploration as much as story combat. Despite this, the plot does do justice to the Metroid franchise. It begins where the previous title left off, in the shoes of bounty hunter Samus Aran on her ship Talon IV as she tries to put an end to Zebesian space pirates. It's an action-based quest, with the opportunity to use classic Metroid weapons like the power, ice and plasma beams. Despite this, the title is punctuated with puzzle elements. You'll discover items as the game progresses, and then piece them and the story together. It's not a combination you would expect to work, but Miyamoto's expertise shines through, creating a title that will always have a place in gamer's hearts.