What the hell were we thinking?!?!

Another year that proved popular around the GR offices. Think the lack of '80s years in these features is shocking? One of them could have made it, but our Nintendo editor looked at the blistering pace Nintendo set in 2002, and this later year won out. This was a magical point when the diminutive console still had powerful third-party support and fresh takes on well-established series - a true banner year for the Cube and a fresh beginning for all three consoles.

Metroid Prime brought space huntress Samus Aran back from an eight year absence, thrusting players into a pulsating, breathing planet coursing with secret passages and wildly vicious creatures. Eternal Darkness and two exclusive Resident Evils proved the candy-colored console could scare the life out of you, while Super Mario Sunshine and Star Fox Adventures pulled you back into a blue-skied, smiley faced world packed with platforming goodness.

Ramping up the cuteness was Animal Crossing. Millions were lured into the daily chores and materialistic madness of those adorable forest creatures. Then you could tear all kinds of ass in the Cube-only Smuggler's Run: Warzones, bringing a much-needed adrenaline rush to slower-paced gamers. The seven people who took the GameCube online no doubt wish Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II would have caught on, though fans of bringing cities to their knees were too busy with Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee to notice.