6 Underrated Hero Characters of the Nintendo GameCube Era

Highlights

• Tak from Tak and the Power of Juju had the potential to be a lasting video game presence but was abandoned due to bankruptcy.
• Chibi-Robo, Nintendo’s household robot, never gained popularity despite its wholesome concept and failed to become an iconic character.
• Viewtiful Joe was critically acclaimed but didn’t sell well, leading Capcom to abandon the series instead of making it a video game icon.

The Nintendo GameCube is home to some of the most iconic video games of all time, particularly from Nintendo’s historical library. There were unique takes on the Mario franchise with Luigi’s Mansion and Super Mario Sunshine, as well as memorable titles like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, and Pokemon Colosseum.

However, there were plenty of video games, both first-party and third-party, that didn’t receive as much love as they deserved at the time. This lack of appreciation extended to the game’s characters, many of whom – such as the ones on this list – have been branded as underrated, as they had all the potential to become household names but fell considerably short and were thus forgotten by many gamers.

1 Tak

This Hero Has Been Dormant For Over A Decade

It really seemed like Tak from Tak and the Power of Juju had the potential to be an ongoing presence in the video game world. The 3D platformer resembles the likes of Banjo-Kazooie and Sly Cooper, centering on the young tribe boy Tak on a mission to save the prophesied hero of the Pupanunu people from an untimely transformation into a sheep.

Although Tak and the Power of Juju received numerous sequels on platforms like GameCube, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 2, as well as a Nickelodeon animated series, the character has long since been abandoned and likely won’t return thanks to THQ filing for bankruptcy. It’s sad, considering Tak deserved a long legacy on Nintendo consoles.

2 Chibi-Robo

Nintendo’s Household Robot Never Caught On

Chibi-Robo has a curious place in Nintendo’s history of first-party games, considering it was originally released for the GameCube in 2005, a year before the debut of the Wii. The game, which stars the titular miniature robot covertly assisting in the daily lives of a family, launched a franchise that never seemed to catch on outside of hardcore Nintendo fanboys.

Chibi-Robo’s most recent appearance was in Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash! for the Nintendo 3DS, which received mixed reviews and, based on its lackluster sales, ultimately canned the series altogether. It’s a mystery why video game audiences didn’t latch on to the wholesome fun of a robot heroically protecting an average family from everyday obstacles.

3 Viewtiful Joe

Capcom Abandoned This Stereotypical Hero

Developed by Capcom, Viewtiful Joe came out on the GameCube in 2003, featuring a movie fanatic named Joe whose girlfriend is kidnapped, forcing him to become the crime-fighting titular superhero and adventure through a 2D sidescrolling adventure in Movieland.

Although Viewtiful Joe was critically acclaimed, its sales were disappointing. After further sequels, an anime adaptation, and a Marvel vs. Capcom appearance failed to turn the character into a video game icon, the series was abandoned.

4 Ty

This Character Was Always Kept Down Under

Ty the Tasmanian Tiger was released on GameCube in 2002 and featured lots of Australian wildlife as its cast, as the boomerang-wielding Ty, a Tasmanian tiger, is tasked with collecting five talismans in order to free his family from a world-dominating cassowary. Surprisingly, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger didn’t hit off with audiences upon its release.

Though the game was followed up by several sequels, most recently with 2015’s PC-exclusive Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 4, the game struggled to find a strong audience on the GameCube. Perhaps it blended in too much with similar 3D platformers of the era, or maybe its Australian setting and references just didn’t catch on with a Japanese or American crowd.

5 Krystal

The Only Character To Be Underrated By Her Own Creators

When it comes to Star Fox games, no one needs to be reminded of the heroic nature of Fox McCloud, the series’ protagonist. However, the GameCube title Star Fox Adventures features another hero, Krystal, who was actually intended to be the hero of the game prior to Nintendo’s re-imagining of Rare’s Dinosaur Island as a Star Fox game.

As a result, Krystal is unfortunately sidelined at the top of the game, becoming a damsel and love interest to Fox McCloud. It’s a shame, considering that she shows great promise as a potential video game hero in the game’s opening sequence. This is a rare case where it’s not the audience who made Krystal underrated but the developers themselves.

6 Billy Hatcher

Sega’s GameCube Mascot Was Quickly Forgotten

By the GameCube era, Sega was still notable for the Sonic the Hedgehog series, including GameCube titles like Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes. However, Sega also tried their hand at creating a new iconic character with Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg, centering on the titular character, a human boy who is chosen as a hero to The Chicken Elders.

Although Billy has re-appeared in Sega titles like Sega Superstars and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, Sega opted not to make a sequel to Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg in response to poor sales. It was obviously a bad idea for Sega to try and recreate the magic of Sonic the Hedgehog, but it still feels like Billy Hatcher warranted more attention from Sega.

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