Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Nintendo

In this highly anticipated sequel to Metroid Prime, become the bounty hunter behind the visor once more and travel to a planet torn into light and darkness. Hunted by a mysterious entity and a warring race called the Ing, Samus Aran must explore the light and dark worlds of this doomed planet to discover secrets and augment her suit's weapons and abilities.

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Nintendo

Time passes, the pages turn...and a new chapter unfolds in an unfamiliar land! Get ready for a two-dimensional role-playing adventure for the ages as Mario returns to paper form in pursuit of a threat unlike any he's ever faced.

Where is it now?

For the first time in the history of the Metroid franchise, up to four players can battle each other as they search for weapons, grapple across ceilings, and turn into Morph Balls to make their escapes. On a console that does not get its fair share of action titles, Metroid is a top tier franchise homegrown by Nintendo itself. When it comes to moving systems, this should well be the "system mover" for Nintendo this holiday season.

Where is it now?

This time around, more emphasis is placed on the paper abilities of Mario and his friends. He can turn sideways to slip through cracks, fold into a paper airplane to fly, roll into a tube, and much more. He can also use tons of items like hammers and thunderbolts.

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Buy at Amazon.com: GameCube

Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Activision

The sizable team at Spark Unlimited has gone to great lengths to make sure you are playing the most accurate depiction of WWII possible. Team members traveled to actual locations to get texture and architecture reference, examined and fired all of the weapons used in the game, visited museums and armories, and hit the books hard to ensure the game was as realistic as possible. Every asset and mission in the game has been created from scratch. The game is 100% new content specifically engineered for the console.

WWE Day of Reckoning
THQ

The most creative twist about Day of Reckoning is that it doesn't revolve around pre-existing athletes; the focus instead is on the unknown grappler trying to get a break into the industry. This effectively ties the create-a-wrestler feature that's been commonly included in previous WWE titles to the story mode. Players won't find themselves restricted in the creation of their alter ego. In fact, Reckoning features one of the deepest create-a-player modes ever seen in a game – sports, wrestling or otherwise.

Where is it now?

Like its PC sister, Call of Duty: Finest Hour has one clear goal in mind: “No one fights alone.” This isn’t about a one man wrecking crew going in and mowing down everyone in its path; it’s more about teamwork, tactics, and a wealth of different scenarios, from protecting convoys to sniping from afar. If it achieves a level of success even remotly close to its PC sister, it will be due for a sequel not too long from now.

Where is it now?

Since WWE: Day of Reckoning is not relying on premade characters, the game has a more dynamic feel to it compared to your typical wrestling title. The ability to shape and mold characters should keep wrestling fans enthused even with the absence of multiplayer features.

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Buy at Amazon.com: GameCube

Alien Hominid
O~3 Entertainment

This version of Alien Hominid has been built specifically for consoles and it shows! There are 16 hot levels, complete with mini-bosses and main-bosses. The creators have brought back all your old favorites from the original and thrown in tons more. This game is overflowing with enemies, and they come armed to the teeth!

Mega Man Anniversary Collection
Capcom

Fifteen years have passed since Mega Man took on the fight against Dr. Wily, and to celebrate the action champ, Capcom is providing the definitive historical collection for action fans everywhere. Grab your blue helmet and your arm cannon, because it’s time to take on Mega Man Anniversary Collection.

Where is it now?

If that isn't enough, Alien Hominid also has an awesome soundtrack, with original music for every level. They've added a bunch of mini-games, including over 200 levels of 1-4 player "PDA Games". These are single-screen platformers where the goal is to clear the enemies, avoid the traps and get to the exit. It isn't as easy as it sounds! If the 200+ levels aren't enough for you, the level editor allows you to build your own and save them to a memory card.

Where is it now?

The Anniversary Collection essentially boils down to a simple matter of degrees of Mega Man fandom. Younger players will have to decide if they can put up with old sprite based gameplay and 2D side scrolling action titles with limited environmental details. This is classic gaming done right with one of the industries best heroes finally getting his just due and future compilations from other companies would do well to take heed of how Capcom delivered this tribute to fans.

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Buy from the Behemoth: GameCube