I've always considered the GameCube my top preference when it comes to multiplayer goodness. Here are some of my personal favorites, titles I consider instant classics as far as their four-player support is concerned.
Bomberman Generation
The simple design behind Bomberman has been around for years, but the appeal is just as strong today as it was back on the NES. This GameCube iteration doesn't stand out much aside from a graphical facelift, but its customizable deathmatches are very frantic, fun, and engaging. Even though each round is technically the same, the slight touch of randomness and "One more time!" attitude keeps it a party favorite.
Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure
The hardware requirements are kind of hefty, and it's difficult to find three other people who have a GBA and link cable and are willing to invest the time. Given that, however, Four Swords is the most unique multiplayer experience ever created. The blend of cooperation and competition is fantastic. It forces you to work with your teammates, but deep down inside, you are secretly waiting for that chance to shortchange your friends. Strongly recommended for three or four players.
Mario Kart: Double Dash
While there are things about Mario Kart 64 which I like better than Double Dash, I will always choose the latter for the simple fact that it's faster, smoother, and a little more intricate. The battle mode feels awkward compared to its 64-bit counterpart, but even with only two players, taking on a 150cc cup is a fun way to burn an evening. No matter how many times I play this one, I always want to play it again.
Mario Power Tennis
The original Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64 was a favorite amongst my friends. This "Power" version cleans up the game a little bit but manages to retain what makes a Mario sports game fun: a simplicity that invites anyone to play, even if you don't like tennis. Best played in groups of four, Mario Power Tennis is fast, furious, and a perfect hotspot for plenty of trash talk.
Pac Man Vs
Only one GBA is needed to enjoy this one, and it's definitely worth it. It's Pac-Man in his original form, but this time, human players control the ghosts on the TV screen while Pac-Man is trying to solve the puzzle on the GBA. The sharpness and stupidity so present in human thinking make the ghosts more sporadic than if they were AI-controlled. This a delight to play, a game which almost anybody can join in on (even my mom). Note: Pac Man Vs is best played with all four players present.
Smuggler's Run: Warzones
It's capture the flag with a touch of vehicular combat! Everybody enjoys driving recklessly, and the huge maps in Smuggler's Run are perfect for it. Ramming into another player's vehicle and stealing their contraband is a joy which is becoming increasingly hard to find in video games.
Soul Calibur 2
While Soul Calibur may only be a 2-player game, that shouldn't limit you to just inviting one friend over. Because rounds can be finished so quickly, it's a lot of fun to set up small tournaments to pass the controller around. As much as I don't care for fighting games, Soul Calibur has an initially easy interface with deeper mechanics for veterans to toy around with while still making the fight feel balanced and fair. There's just something about Soul Calibur which draws me to it. Maybe it's the CG babes...
Super Monkey Ball 2
Super Monkey Ball was great and all, but its sequel included even more mini-games and a few nice touches to those which existed previously (like some pretty crazy bowling lanes). Tired of racing? Move onto fighting! Or mini golf! Or target flying! The large variety available in Super Monkey Ball makes this a great choice for your multiplayer library.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
This one should be obvious. If you don't own this game, then why the heck did you buy a GameCube?! This is one of the most intense and amusing four-player games ever. Who doesn't enjoy a free-for-all with Nintendo's greatest mascots? With a great selection of characters, locations, and options, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not picking this one up.
Timesplitters
It's no Halo, but for the GameCube, Timesplitters does what Goldeneye 007 did for the Nintendo 64. Yes, it's that good. You can pick up Timesplitters 2 or Timesplitters: Future Perfect. It doesn't matter, because you're going to get a fast, thrilling first-person shooter either way. Totally customizable with nearly a hundred different characters to pick from, Timesplitters is the best of its genre on the GameCube.
Bomberman GenerationThe simple design behind Bomberman has been around for years, but the appeal is just as strong today as it was back on the NES. This GameCube iteration doesn't stand out much aside from a graphical facelift, but its customizable deathmatches are very frantic, fun, and engaging. Even though each round is technically the same, the slight touch of randomness and "One more time!" attitude keeps it a party favorite.
Legend of Zelda: Four Swords AdventureThe hardware requirements are kind of hefty, and it's difficult to find three other people who have a GBA and link cable and are willing to invest the time. Given that, however, Four Swords is the most unique multiplayer experience ever created. The blend of cooperation and competition is fantastic. It forces you to work with your teammates, but deep down inside, you are secretly waiting for that chance to shortchange your friends. Strongly recommended for three or four players.
Mario Kart: Double DashWhile there are things about Mario Kart 64 which I like better than Double Dash, I will always choose the latter for the simple fact that it's faster, smoother, and a little more intricate. The battle mode feels awkward compared to its 64-bit counterpart, but even with only two players, taking on a 150cc cup is a fun way to burn an evening. No matter how many times I play this one, I always want to play it again.
Mario Power TennisThe original Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64 was a favorite amongst my friends. This "Power" version cleans up the game a little bit but manages to retain what makes a Mario sports game fun: a simplicity that invites anyone to play, even if you don't like tennis. Best played in groups of four, Mario Power Tennis is fast, furious, and a perfect hotspot for plenty of trash talk.
Pac Man VsOnly one GBA is needed to enjoy this one, and it's definitely worth it. It's Pac-Man in his original form, but this time, human players control the ghosts on the TV screen while Pac-Man is trying to solve the puzzle on the GBA. The sharpness and stupidity so present in human thinking make the ghosts more sporadic than if they were AI-controlled. This a delight to play, a game which almost anybody can join in on (even my mom). Note: Pac Man Vs is best played with all four players present.
Smuggler's Run: WarzonesIt's capture the flag with a touch of vehicular combat! Everybody enjoys driving recklessly, and the huge maps in Smuggler's Run are perfect for it. Ramming into another player's vehicle and stealing their contraband is a joy which is becoming increasingly hard to find in video games.
Soul Calibur 2While Soul Calibur may only be a 2-player game, that shouldn't limit you to just inviting one friend over. Because rounds can be finished so quickly, it's a lot of fun to set up small tournaments to pass the controller around. As much as I don't care for fighting games, Soul Calibur has an initially easy interface with deeper mechanics for veterans to toy around with while still making the fight feel balanced and fair. There's just something about Soul Calibur which draws me to it. Maybe it's the CG babes...
Super Monkey Ball 2Super Monkey Ball was great and all, but its sequel included even more mini-games and a few nice touches to those which existed previously (like some pretty crazy bowling lanes). Tired of racing? Move onto fighting! Or mini golf! Or target flying! The large variety available in Super Monkey Ball makes this a great choice for your multiplayer library.
Super Smash Bros. MeleeThis one should be obvious. If you don't own this game, then why the heck did you buy a GameCube?! This is one of the most intense and amusing four-player games ever. Who doesn't enjoy a free-for-all with Nintendo's greatest mascots? With a great selection of characters, locations, and options, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not picking this one up.
TimesplittersIt's no Halo, but for the GameCube, Timesplitters does what Goldeneye 007 did for the Nintendo 64. Yes, it's that good. You can pick up Timesplitters 2 or Timesplitters: Future Perfect. It doesn't matter, because you're going to get a fast, thrilling first-person shooter either way. Totally customizable with nearly a hundred different characters to pick from, Timesplitters is the best of its genre on the GameCube.
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