The Nintendo GameCube had one of the smallest game libraries at the time of its release, and for the duration of that entire console generation, it was frequently overlooked by players for the more powerful Playstation 2 and Xbox.
Looking back on the Nintendo GameCube, however, it becomes clear that Nintendo’s “little console could” was home to a plethora of fantastic games and memorable characters, especially villains.
In fact, some of gaming’s greatest villains came to us by way of the Nintendo GameCube. This means, of course, that the GameCube was also home to some of the best final boss battles ever made.
And that is what we are going to talk about today, the greatest villains and the badass boss fights that made them so memorable. Spoilers Ahead! Here are the
5 Best Final Boss Battles On The Nintendo Gamecube
Master Hand – Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee took the world by storm when it arrived in 2001. The concept, a crossover brawler, had been unprecedented until Super Smash Bros introduced it to millions, the execution was near flawless and an overall improvement over the original fighter.
Master Hand, the final boss of the series, was introduced in 1999’s Super Smash Bros for the Nintendo 64 and represented the creative spirit of the player.
It is a stand-in for the metaphysical whimsy of playing video games. But let’s not get too philosophical here, Master Hand is on this list because it is a badass opponent.
While the battle with the giant hand is mechanically simple, this fight shines when it comes to atmosphere and style.
Dark Samus – Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
When you are at the top of the food chain, who better to test your mettle than yourself?
This is the logic behind Rare’s underrated gem, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. The final boss here is Dark Samus, a near-perfect evil replica of our favorite space bounty hunter, Samus Aran.
By the time you reach the final boss arena you will have already fought Dark Samus twice before, but if you think she’s a walk in the park then you couldn’t be more wrong.
The third and final fight is a true challenge and you need to bring your A-game if you wish to succeed.
Each fight against Dark Samus gets more complex and difficult, with the addition of new attacks, movement patterns, and tricky environmental obstacles. The third and final fight in particular is extremely tough due to the presence of a toxic Phazon all over the arena.
Without a doubt, Dark Samus is one of the hardest villains in all of Nintendo’s history.
Shadow Queen – Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
The Thousand-Year Door is not your average Mario Bros game, and the Shadow Queen is a fitting final challenge before you close the book.
The Shadow Queen has a varied arsenal of dangerous attacks that include slaps that pierce armor and drag you down, purple-colored lightning, a stream of darkness that applies negative status conditions, and more.
If you are not careful and plan your strategy well, the Shadow Queen will make short work of your party.
The Shadow Queen is no joke and if you ask me, she ranks as one of the most powerful beings in the entire Mario Bros franchise.
King Boo – Luigi’s Mansion
King Boo debuted as the lead antagonist of Luigi’s Mansion, Nintendo’s quirky action/adventure game from 2011.
King Boo is the supreme leader of the Boos, Mario and Luigi’s eternal ghost enemies. While most people expect Bowser or King Koopa to be the ultimate nemesis in a Mario Bros game, King Boo is quite a formidable character and sincerely deserves the spot here.
The final encounter against King Boo takes place on a spooky rooftop and is one of the toughest battles on this list, don’t let the game’s cartoony style fool you.
The fight requires that you put everything you’ve learned throughout the game into practice if you want to avoid the slew of varied attacks at King Boo’s disposal.
Ganondorf – The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda is one of my favorite video game franchises of all time. So it is no surprise that my list of the best final bosses on the Nintendo GameCube includes Hyrule’s eternal nemesis, Ganondorf!
Ganondorf, as always, represents the ultimate embodiment of Evil in the land of Hyrule and, as always, when he gains possession of the Triforce of Power, he instantly becomes one of the most formidable final bosses on the Nintendo GameCube
Wind Waker Ganondorf possesses a boundless strength, he is a tank and his power level nears god-like. This is why it takes the mystical Hero of Time, the sacred Master Sword, and the aid of Princess Zelda and her arrows of light to defeat him.
