In 2005, Nintendo was thriving with three consoles on the market – the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and DS. The GameCube had been around since 2001 but was nearing its end as the Wii was about to reshape the gaming industry in 2006. The Game Boy Advance also debuted in 2001, but it was essentially obsolete due to the DS taking over in 2004.
Regardless of their various stages of development, Nintendo and other gaming companies offered a variety of games for each system. It’s time to honor the top picks from those systems as they approach their 20th anniversary in 2025, hoping it will be a successful and enjoyable milestone for all involved.
8. Castlevania: Dawn Of Sorrow
Dracula In The Future
In 2005, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow made its debut as the first installment in the series for the DS and served as a direct sequel to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. The game retained the same mechanics where players could gather gear for Soma, upgrade his abilities by defeating enemies, and capture monster essences to customize Soma’s moveset. This included skills like gliding and throwing axes. Moreover, the DS’ unique touch controls were incorporated, enabling players to shatter seals or confine bosses within them, adding a fresh twist. In 2024, the Castlevania Dominus Collection was unveiled, compiling all three DS games along with additional perks for fans to savor.
7. Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure!
Better Than A Roomba
The unique platformer/sim series titled “Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure!” started with its debut in Japan in 2006, followed by a North American release a year later. After this initial game, there were two additional games for the DS console, one of which was exclusively available at Walmart in North America and the other only in Japan. Subsequently, there were also two games released for the Nintendo 3DS, with the last being “Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash!” in 2015. Despite some re-releases by Nintendo, Chibi-Robo has continued to appear as a character in popular titles such as “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.” Former developers of the series are currently working on a spiritual successor called “koROBO” which looks promising based on its 2024 crowdfunding campaign.
6. Ganbare Goemon: Tokaidochu Oedo Tengu Ri Kaeshi No Maki
The Mystical Ninja’s Last Hurrah
- Developer: Konami
- Publisher: Konami
- Released: June 23, 2005
- Platform: DS
The popular Ganbare Goemon series, primarily recognized in Japan due to Konami’s continuous release of sequels and spinoffs, may be familiar to Western fans as The Legend of the Mystical Ninja, one of their SNES games. These games generally fall into the action-adventure, RPG, and platformer genres. However, among them, Ganbare Goemon: Tokaidochu Oedo Tengu ri kaeshi no Maki stands out, being more focused on action-adventure. Despite its release only in Japan for the DS and lacking fan translations, it is notable due to its unique blend of storytelling and gameplay within the series.
This game holds special significance since it marks the last console installment in the series, approximately two decades ago, excluding slot machines in Japan. Regrettably, numerous captivating tales from this series remain untouched on a hard drive somewhere in Japan, given its visually appealing watercolor design for the DS. Although the series may have concluded, a spiritual successor titled “Bakeru” debuted in North America in 2024. Enthusiasts of “Ganbare Goemon” should definitely give it a try.
5. Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time
Four Times The Trouble
The game titled “Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time” is the second installment of the Mario & Luigi series, released following “Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga” on the Game Boy Advance in 2003. This game incorporates time travel mechanics, allowing the two plumbers to collaborate with their infant forms, initially introduced in “Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island“. In combat and exploration, each brother is assigned a face button for control. While moving around the overworld, the adult versions primarily handle movement, except when they separate into different groups. Unlike the first and third games, “Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time” has not been re-released or remade, making it one of the less remembered titles among the various role-playing spinoffs.
4. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red/Blue Rescue Team
The Franchise’s First Roguelike
In 2005, two different games titled “Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team” and “Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team” were launched. The first one was released for the Game Boy Advance (GBA), while the second was released for the Nintendo DS. Even though they came out in Japan initially, it wasn’t until 2006 that they made their way to North America. These two games marked the debut of roguelike spinoffs within the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series. Some other notable franchise spinoffs include those of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. More Pokemon sequels followed, and in 2020, these original games were combined into one adventure for the Nintendo Switch as “Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX”. Fans can look forward to celebrating other significant Pokemon anniversaries from 2005, such as “Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness” and “Pokemon Trozei”, in 2025.
3. Resident Evil 4
What Are Ya Buying?
Initially, Resident Evil 4 was intended to be an exclusive title for the GameCube, but this exclusivity lasted just a few months. Later in 2005, it was also released for the PS2. To this day, the GameCube version can still boast of its charm, despite numerous remasters and a complete remake in 2023. Even today, the original GameCube version continues to impress with its visuals.
Twenty years ago, the roughness of the game world, its free-flowing gameplay, and Leon’s transformation as a character from his initial appearance in the series were key factors in making it a timeless classic that fans continue to cherish. Moreover, the enigmatic merchant character left an indelible mark on players’ memories.
2. Super Princess Peach
Mario, Where Are You?
In a novel twist, Super Princess Peach marked the debut of an independent adventure for everyone’s favorite princess. It premiered initially in Japan, with North America following suit a year later in 2006. Unlike traditional platformers, this game allowed players to navigate the world using Peach’s emotions – crying, for instance, could water a plant to climb it. Although it has never been physically re-released or remade, Princess Peach: Showtime! for the Switch in 2024 can be considered as its spiritual successor. Regrettably, only two solo games have been released for this renowned princess over a span of twenty years, so let’s hope Nintendo increases their production rate in 2025.
1. Trauma Center: Under The Knife
Shin Megami Tinnitus
Trauma Center: Under the Knife, developed by Atlus, was a noteworthy game to celebrate Nintendo’s anniversary in recent years. This title offered an earthbound narrative centered around doctors and nurses treating critically ill patients, blending elements of drama with mini-games that required surgical precision. The DS’s touchscreen interface made it a perfect fit for this type of interactive gameplay, and the game was popular enough to receive a remake on the Wii in 2006, followed by numerous sequels across various platforms. Trauma Team, released in 2010 for the Wii, marked the end of the series, although it left a lasting impression on Atlus fans. Like a fever that burned brightly before fading away, the Trauma Center franchise has since gone quiet but remains fondly remembered by its dedicated fanbase.
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2025-01-09 18:34