Tech: Top 5 Overlooked GameCube Games, Part 5

While it's technically not a GC-exclusive title (Namco released a port for Japanese PS2s), "Tales of Symphonia" definitely stands out on the RPG-starved GameCube. The fact that it failed to resonate in the popular consciousness like FFX or Xenosaga is just added reason to put it in this Top 5.

The game is pretty, with an attractive cel-shaded anime style made possible by Kosuke Fujishima (of "Ah! My Goddess" fame), and the voice-acting is competent. The story, like many RPGs, is ultimately forgettable, but while you're playing, it's easily strong enough to motivate you to finish, especially with the appealing, strongly drawn characters.

More importantly, the battle system uses a frenetic, action/fighting game system of control (you take command of a character, moving around and dishing out attacks in real-time). Gone are the half-hour long combat sequences of some RPGs - the longest battle in the game is five minutes, and even dungeons are nice and short.

The game is a good 25 odd hours straight through, with plenty more stuff to do if you're a completist. Like most of the games on this list, it's readily available at most game stores for under $20. If you've got a GC or a Wii, it's worth checking out.