5 Best GameCube Beat ‘Em Ups That Still Hold Up Today

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While the GameCube wasn’t Nintendo’s biggest hit – they still had trouble getting major third-party developers on board – it’s remembered fondly by fans for its great games, including some excellent fighting games. The beat ’em up genre wasn’t thriving at the time, just like Nintendo was facing challenges, but a few dedicated developers kept it going, creating really enjoyable games that were especially fun to play with friends.

If you want to get into a GameCube beat ’em up these days, these are the five games to check out.

5) Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu

Batman games have been a mixed bag over the years. While some, like Batman: Arkham Asylum, are considered classics, others, such as Batman Forever: Rise of Sin Tzu, haven’t been so well-received. Rise of Sin Tzu falls somewhere in between – it’s a decent adaptation of The New Batman Adventures cartoon.

The highlight of Sin Tzu is easily Kevin Conroy’s incredible performance as Batman. As the longtime voice of the character, his work is consistently excellent, and this game is no exception. While Sin Tzu doesn’t really innovate within the genre, it offers a fun cooperative mode and a rewarding progression system. It’s a shame the titular character, created specifically for this game, didn’t become a lasting part of the Batman universe and wasn’t revisited until 2016.

4) Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds

It’s understandable to be skeptical about a Buffy the Vampire Slayer game. Previous attempts, especially the ones on Game Boy Advance, were pretty bad. While the 2002 Xbox game offered some promise, this new version was the first to try adding a multiplayer mode.

The game adaptation of Buffy’s fifth season could have easily been a mess, but Eurocom Entertainment did a surprisingly good job. Interestingly, the GameCube version of Chaos Bleeds was actually preferred over the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions. While the graphics might look a bit old-fashioned now, the game still offers fun combat, a strong atmosphere, and a decent story. The multiplayer isn’t much to speak of these days, but it’s available if you’re interested in some Buffy deathmatch action.

3) Viewtiful Joe 2

The follow-up to Clover Studio’s fantastic beat ‘em up (we’ll discuss it further down the line) continues immediately after the original game’s story. You can choose to play as either Veiwtiful Joe or his partner, Sexy Silvia, and your mission is to defeat the evil Gedow organization that has taken over Movieland.

Just like the first game, Viewtiful Joe 2 boasts a cool blend of 2D and 3D cartoon-style graphics. It looks fantastic, and the special effects powers you unlock add a lot of flair to the combat. The new character, Silvia, introduces a ‘Replay’ ability that lets you record and repeat actions, adding another layer of strategy. Despite not being a huge commercial success, Viewtiful Joe 2 remains one of the best action games available.

2) Gotcha Force

When Gotcha Force came out in 2003, it didn’t receive much praise from critics or sell very well. This was mainly because the battles were fairly basic, which turned some reviewers off. Though the combat isn’t particularly exciting, the game has a unique and fun core idea, and it really deserves more recognition.

Gotcha Force is a unique game that combines the addictive nature of collecting characters (like in ‘gacha’ games) with exciting beat ’em up action. You collect Gotcha Borgs and use them in battles, and figuring out all their different abilities makes the game incredibly engaging – it’s easy to lose track of time! With its bright, anime-style graphics, this solid beat ’em up has rightfully gained a dedicated following.

1) Viewtiful Joe

The original Viewtiful Joe was a huge surprise and a hit with critics in the beat ’em up genre. However, it didn’t sell many copies, partly because it was initially only available on the GameCube. While it was later released for the PlayStation 2 about a year after, most gamers had already lost interest by then.

Despite being made with limited funds, Viewtiful Joe stood out as a truly creative beat ’em up for its time, largely due to its unique visual effects powers. Its appealing and memorable style also helped it gain popularity. This success led to a sequel, which fans appreciate, though many believe there’s still potential for more games in the series. Hopefully, Capcom will revisit Viewtiful Joe in the future.

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2026-06-15 23:15