How the Capcom Five Built the GameCube's Legacy

Capcom Five was a promise that felt almost too good to be true. In 2002, during a surprise press event in Japan, Capcom announced five titles that would be exclusive to Nintendo's struggling GameCube. The lineup included Viewtiful Joe, P.N.03, Dead Phoenix, Killer7, and the most shocking reveal of all: Resident Evil 4, which was to be a Nintendo GameCube exclusive. It was a big, bold swing, and for a moment, it looked like Nintendo might finally have the third-party muscle it desperately needed.

The Hard Times Before the Promise

You have to look at where Nintendo was sitting in the late ‘90s and early 2000s to understand why the Capcom Five mattered. Their hardware relied exclusively on cartridges throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. That was limiting. It restricted space and the type of content you could put into a single game, but talented teams still made it work with clever design and coding. Then CD-based gaming became a concrete reality as the 1990s continued. But Nintendo stuck with carts for the N64 while Sega and Sony took the initiative with the Saturn and PlayStation, focusing on high-end CD gaming.

The price of those cartridges, combined with what was possible on other platforms, meant Nintendo missed out on certified '90s classics like Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 7. But Capcom stuck by their side like any good friend. While other developers sought greener pastures, Capcom continued to produce games for Nintendo, even bringing Resident Evil 2 to the N64 in what is still considered a miracle port. It's impressive.

Facing a New Competitor

The GameCube launched in 2001. Nintendo faced even more competition, as Microsoft announced it was entering the console scene with the Xbox, competing directly with Sony and Nintendo for the sixth-generation crown. The GameCube opted to join the CD trend with a MiniDVD format and was incredibly powerful on its own, but it lagged behind both Sony and Microsoft. Third-party support dried up quickly. And the console faced hard times.

It was worrying. But Capcom remained surprisingly committed. They produced a remake of the original Resident Evil and an original game in the franchise known as Resident Evil 0. There was hope. Then came the meeting between Capcom and Nintendo that led to the plan to save the GameCube.

The Grand Plan and Its Five Pillars

That press event in Japan in 2002 was huge. The Capcom Five was officially announced there, and the simple concept was to increase GameCube hardware sales by making each title exclusive to Nintendo's console. So the games themselves were a mix of established franchises and new IP. Resident Evil 4 was the crown jewel. It was a monumental release that later led to the industry's obsession with third-person over-the-shoulder action games, and it's no exaggeration to say the survival horror genre was irrevocably changed as a result.

But the other four titles had their own stories. Viewtiful Joe and Killer7 would go on to find unique cult audiences. Dead Phoenix would ultimately be canceled. And P.N.03, directed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, was an unmitigated disaster. It became one of the worst-selling games of the year and the most critically panned game of the Capcom Five.

The Fallout

Of the five titles, one was canceled and the rest, except Resident Evil 4, suffered from remarkably poor sales. It wasn't just Nintendo that felt the blow. Capcom also felt the heat. The games got eyes on Nintendo's hardware for a moment, but there was little to no movement in regard to consoles actually selling better as a result. The goal of boosting GameCube hardware sales had failed.

In totality, the Capcom Five produced a timeless classic and some cult favorites, but is considered one of the biggest failures in the history of video games.

Resident Evil 4 needs no explanation. It was a monumental release that changed the survival horror genre and influenced a generation of action games. The other titles are largely forgotten today outside of dedicated retro circles. P.N.03 is remembered mainly as a cautionary tale. Dead Phoenix never saw the light of day.

The Birth of Modern Nintendo

The Capcom Five's poor end result pushed Nintendo further into the direction we see them in today.

It told them that advanced hardware wasn't their strong suit. So while that may mean somewhat muted support from their third-party partners, it created a culture and identity that is very much their own. Failure to launch shaped today's Nintendo.

That failure taught Nintendo something valuable. They had tried to compete on raw power and third-party exclusives, but the strategy didn't work. Instead, they leaned into what made them unique. The Wii, the DS, the Switch;none of those consoles would exist in the same way if the Capcom Five had succeeded in boosting GameCube sales. Sometimes failure is the best teacher.

What Remains

Looking back, it's clear the Capcom Five is a fascinating case study in ambition versus reality. But the gamble didn't pay off in the way anyone hoped. This was a joint venture between two companies with a long history, and Capcom's legacy of survival horror and pre-rendered backgrounds had left quite an impression on Nintendo's hardware.

• Resident Evil 4: Timeless classic, genre-defining.
• Viewtiful Joe: Cult favorite, still beloved.
• Killer7: Cult favorite, unique and strange.
• P.N.03: Commercial and critical disaster.
• Dead Phoenix: Canceled, never released.

Nintendo learned from the failure. Capcom moved on. But for a brief moment in 2002, the Capcom Five represented hope. It was a reminder that even during some of Nintendo's darkest times, when it seemed like no third-party developer wanted to put their game on their hardware, Capcom was usually hanging around. That relationship built the GameCube's legacy, even if the plan itself didn't work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Capcom Five and when was it announced?

The Capcom Five was a set of five titles announced in 2002 at a surprise press event in Japan. These games were promised to be exclusive to the GameCube in an effort to boost hardware sales.

Why did Nintendo need the Capcom Five according to the article?

Nintendo's GameCube lagged behind Sony and Microsoft in sales and third-party support had dried up. Nintendo had previously missed out on major titles like Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 7 due to sticking with cartridges, so the Capcom Five represented hope for gaining third-party muscle.

How did the Capcom Five ultimately impact GameCube hardware sales?

The goal of boosting GameCube hardware sales failed, as there was little to no movement in consoles actually selling better as a result. Most titles except Resident Evil 4 suffered from remarkably poor sales.

Which game in the Capcom Five was canceled and which was a commercial and critical disaster?

Dead Phoenix was canceled and never released. P.N.03, directed by Shinji Mikami, was an unmitigated disaster and became one of the worst-selling games of the year and the most critically panned game of the Capcom Five.

How did the failure of the Capcom Five shape Nintendo's later strategy?

The failure pushed Nintendo away from competing on raw power and third-party exclusives. Instead, they leaned into their unique identity, leading to consoles like the Wii, DS, and Switch, which the article says would not exist in the same way if the Capcom Five had succeeded.