It's hard to be a GameCube-only gamer these days. With the majority of the whopping games of 2004 coming to PlayStation 2 and Xbox but not the 'Cube, one might start to feel a little unloved. Fear not, sweet Nintendo lover! We're here to point out the larger-than-life games that you can expect to be playing on your beloved 'Cube for the rest of the year, and while you won't be taking down suckas in San Andreas anytime soon, you will, however, have some of the coolest first- and third-party games at your disposal. Highlights include Metroid Prime 2 Echoes, Viewtiful Joe 2, Mario Tennis, and GoldenEye: Rogue Agent. See? It's not all that bad, eh? Dive into our GameCube Fall 2004 preview and get those preorders in. Santa's going to be pretty busy this year!



Def Jam: Fight for NY
Developer: EA Canada/Aki Corporation | Publisher: EA Games
Release Date: September 20

Hip-hop music and wrestling a match made in heaven? Who would have thunk it? Well, apparently, the suits at EA are betting on this concept, and from what we've played of this Def Jam Vendetta sequel, they might not be totally off base. With a fighting engine developed by the legendary Aki Corporation (WWF: No Mercy for the N64), and a smorgasbord of "urban" licenses, Def Jam: Fight for NY looks and plays the part.

While it may feel funny to play dress-up with a thug of your own creation, the number of options are available are truly astounding, and the fighting feels very satisfying so far. They just might be on to something, here.

Our Prediction: If the substance-to-style ratio can stay high, then Fight for NY will definitely be a winner. And we ain't mad at that. (Read the Review)



NHL 2005
Developer: EA Canada | Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 20

EA's venerable hockey franchise returns for its thirteenth season, and it's looking to take back the throne that it once occupied. Since last year's iteration had people complaining about the frustrating amount of hitting, the developers added some mechanics to open up the ice, allowing the game to flow more smoothly. There are also some new skating animations that let your players glide along the ice after they hit their top speed, making for more precise maneuvering, as well as an enhanced backward skating that's perfect for keeping your man in front of you.

Our Prediction: There might not be an NHL season this year, but there's still plenty of exciting hockey action! (Read the Review)



Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005
Developer: Electronic Arts | Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 20

While many consider last year's version to be the greatest golf game ever made, EA wasn't content to rest on its laurels. An upgraded Game Face feature allows you to create the golfer of your dreams, be they 8 or 80, as well as a custom swing that actually affects your play. As is the case in real life, you can now Tigerproof your courses, changing everything from the shape of the fairways to the depth of the bunkers.

Our Prediction: Do you have what it takes to beat Tiger (as well as legends like Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan) at his own game?



Mega Man X: Command Mission
Developer: Capcom Production Studio 3 | Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: September 21

Mega Man has been around for over 15 years now, and he's finally getting an RPG to call his own. Specifically, it's the Mega Man X series that's taking the first step into a brave, new, turn-based world. Joining Mega Man's party will be fellow Maverick hunter, Zero, Mega Man X7's new hero, Axl, and a few never before seen characters. All the standard RPG staples like upgradable weapons and armor are present, as are "Action Triggers," a new method of attack that brings a bit of Mega Man's action roots to the RPG genre.

Our Prediction: This new direction for the X series should please fans of the Blue Bomber.