IGN holiday buyer Guide GCN.

GCN top-10 Games:
10)Battalion Wars
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Kuju Entertainment
"Once billed as an official sequel to Nintendo's hit Advance Wars handheld games, Battalion Wars successfully marries real-time control mechanics and large scale military battles with strategy elements. Gone is the turn-based battle system from Advance Wars. In its place is an action-oriented setup that enables players to take full control of units or of individual soldiers. Gamers can shoot a wide assortment of guns, from rifles to flamethrowers, and even commandeer vehicles such as tanks and bombers to use against the enemy. But those who forego the option of planning attacks will find themselves losing again and again. A thinking man's action game that should be on every GameCube owner's holiday wish list."

9)Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Konami Studios
"Gamers ready to bust a move are in luck because Dance Dance Revolution developer Konami has teamed up with Nintendo to offer GCN owners a unique take on rhythm titles. In DDr. Mario Mix for GameCube, players become their favorite Nintendo mascots, including Mario and Luigi, and embark on a quest through the Mushroom Kingdom to restore the magical music keys to the land. Mario Mix mixes Nintendo themes with DDR-style mechanics. An included dance mat enables players to step to remixed Nintendo songs and groove against such dancing foes as Waluigi. Fun for the entire family, but be warned: an additional dance pad will need to be purchased from Nintendo's online store."

WWE Day of Reckoning 2
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's Media Creations
"There's a reason we've called WWE Day of Reckoning 2 the best wrestler available for Nintendo's console. The game features more than 40 of today's most popular brawlers, each meticulously modeled and animated to look like their real life counterpart. Moreover, there are dozens of playable venues to explore, a detailed create-a-character option, and an improved single-player storyline. Bringing all of this together are some of the best wrestling mechanics, from tight, speedy controls to intuitive grappling and counter systems, to hit the genre yet. And with four-player support, the title is poised to keep players fighting through the holiday season. Is there anything merrier than that?"

7)SSX On Tour
Publisher: Electronic Arts |
"Extreme sports fans are in for a holiday treat and it's called SSX On Tour. The title delivers the same intensely air-a-riffic snowboarding experience of previous SSX titles. Big, unpredictable mountains complemented by big, unpredictable air time and out of this world tricks, in other words. But the game adds in new skiing situations, which serve to change up the gameplay dynamic. And Nintendo fans in particular have something to cheer about. The GCN build of On Tour features exclusive playable characters: Mario, Luigi and Peach! Better yet, they can shred along a Nintendo-themed course."

6)Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
"Players looking for something a little deeper than the latest Mario sports title will definitely want to check out Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. The game, which is a sequel to the acclaimed Fire Emblem offerings of old, brandishes a unique storyline set to the backdrop of swords and sorcery and garnished with gorgeous full-motion cinematics. But it's the project's heavy emphasis on turn-based strategy with role-playing elements that positions it as a must have for fans of either genre. Emblem fans, meanwhile, will be pleased to see new character classes, an improved magic system, and an all-new 3D fight presentation in place."

5)Mario Party 7
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Hudson Soft
"Nintendo's long-running board game simulation series is back for another round in Mario Party 7. The Hudson Soft-developed sequel incorporates more of the features and mechanics that made previous entries in the series so popular -- namely, brand new game boards to play on, as well as 86 new mini-games. As usual, a slower single-player experience makes the game less attractive for those without friends, but when up to four players compete the title is addictive and fun. Add in the (gimmicky, but still enjoyable) microphone support (for 11 mini-games) and somehow the Mario Party franchise still entertains."

4)Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was an action-platformer innovator and the third title in the reborn franchise, The Two Thrones, takes the style and mechanics of the universe to the next level. Prince finds himself on an all-new adventure spanning a wide-open ancient city where enemies and obstacles lurk beyond every corner. In addition to brand new chariot races, the character will have to battle his inner demons, splitting into two characters -- the Light and Dark Prince -- to mercifully or mercilessly destroy the opposition. Amazing new platforming challenges, an enhanced combat system and drop-dead beautiful graphics make The Two Thrones a mandatory purchase."

3)King Kong
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft France
"The King Kong story may be old, but director Peter Jackson's re-telling of it is entirely new. And developer Ubisoft has teamed with Jackson to deliver GameCube owners a brand new adventure game based on the feature film. In King Kong, created by Michel Ancel and the Beyond Good & Evil team, players control both man and beast in first and third-person challenges respectively, which take place in lush jungle environments. The game's stylized visuals and HUD-less level of immersion promise to captivate players on the small screen just as the movie grabs audiences on the big screen. A smart buy for any fantasy fan."

2)Super Mario Strikers
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Next Level Games
"From the maker of Soccer Slam comes Super Mario Strikers and despite a gimmicky premise the game is downright addictive. Players take control of such classic Mushroom Kingdom characters as Mario, Wario, Peach, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi, and guide them across varying soccer fields while dishing out explosive, cinematic moves and using POWer-ups to their advantage. Gamers can send giant shells at foes, or bananas to slip them up, and then jump into a bullet-time-like slow-motion mode to send blazing shots hurling toward the Goals. Spot-on control and some hilariously mean spirited multiplayer mechanics mix with competent visuals for a fantastic sports outing."

1)Gun
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Neversoft Entertainment
"GameCube owners may never see a Grand Theft Auto, but they will be able to get their hands on the next best thing this holiday season. Gun from developer Neversoft utilizes the wide-open, go-anywhere-and-do-anything mechanics of the GTA series and applies them in a brand new setting: the Wild West. When they're not stealing horses or planning heists, players take control of a gunslinger and draw against anybody who crosses their path. Like GTA, Gun is a title purely targeted at the adult gamer and its violent themes drive that truth home. Players who liked Red Dead Revolver will undoubtedly love Gun."

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