Pikmin

Excellent.

A phenomenal game that only falters a bit on its extreme balance near the end, but I still think it's a must play due to its brilliantly creative take on puzzle adventure. Despite appearing to be a game for little kids, it can be brutal and unforgiving, and the ticking time clock really forces you to be as well-planned and efficient as possible.

This teeters on the razor edge between an 8 and 9 rating for me; I love it and it's one of my favorite games on the GameCube. It balances a remarkable atmosphere that is both tense and eerie with the ever present timer ticking you toward doom, but also serene and adorable all at once. It was a strategic blast figuring out how to tackle the various levels in the most efficient way possible to get as many ship parts as you can in a day.