The Nintendo Gamecube!

[fdurso224]

Hi guys,

 

What's your thoughts on the Nintendo Gamecube? Do you feel it was an underrated system?

 

 

Anthony....

[PFL]

Yes. I think it's a great system with some wonderful exclusive and/or quirky games on it. Metroid Prime, Windwaker, PN 07, Wario World, Killer 7, Resident Evil Remake, RE 4, Pacman Vs, Crystal Chronicles,Battalion Wars, F-Zero GX and tons of other games that are just great.

 

One of the 'Cubes biggest assets, for me, is the Game Boy Player. That thing is invaluable to me. I love that I can play any GB, GBC and GBA (except Kirby's Tilt'n'Tumble!) on my TV with hifi stereo and then take the same games on the go. And that was years before the PSP/Vita things...

 

The system has a personality all it's own, what with the Easter Egg boot up sounds and the slick settings menu.

 

Physically, I think the 'Cube is the nicest looking system of that generation. A black 'Cube with a GB Player attached and a Hori GBP controller is just too sexy. Then throw in a Wavebird (especially the silver one!) and you've got one lovely looking system. The XBox, on the other hand, is just a massive black box and the PS2 looks like a stereo heat sink out of the trunk of some gangster's low ride!

 

The controller is also the most comfortable for me and the analogue stick is second to none.

 

I love the 'Cube! Got it on day one and still have hooked up to my telly! Such a shame it was dismissed as a kiddie system.

[Chuck D. Head]

Totally underrated; my favorite stock controller, my all time favorite game (Metroid Prime), tons of fun games that load quickly and of course the Gameboy player!

[BydoEmpire]

I really enjoyed the system - tons of great games, and a super comfortable controller. I think people forget there was actually a lot of 3rd party support for most of the system's life. Tons of big name 3rd party games saw release on ps2, xbox AND GC.

[Rex Dart]

I thought it was appropriately-rated. Had some great graphical ability, for sure, but too many games that were just "alright". I didn't care for the controller apart from the triggers; it was so "ergonomically" crafted that it was a real pain if your hands didn't fit it. Crap C-stick and worthless sunken d-pad too.

I do still keep mine around for the handful of original titles I enjoy & the gameboy player ability, not that I really use that anymore.

[CorTat-G]

The Gamecube is my 2nd Favorite Game console(N64 is #1). It's small, Compact and includes a handle to make it easier to carry. The controller is, without a doubt, The greatest video game controller ever made IMHO. The C-Stick was a smart change from the N64's C-Buttons for more precise camera angles. It fits in my hands PERFECTLY!, I also love how the A-Button and the Thumbstick are the same size and are the same distance from the edge on the controller and how the L and R Buttons and curved so your fingers can rest easy on them, and how they click when they are down all the way, Perfectly used in Super Mario Sunshine. My Favorite game for the console (And one of my favorite games of all time) is Sonic Adventure 2:Battle. Though the Mario games were great. The Sonic games were even better. The Wii doubles as a Gamecube, But nothing beats using the original Console, IMHO.

[godslabrat]

A VERY underrated system, both in its day and mostly now. Graphically just a hair behind the more popular Xbox, and a more diverse library (I would argue a stronger library too, unless you lived for racers). Add in the GBA compatibility, and Gamecube easily held its own against the PS2.

 

In college, while most of our friends had a PS2, my buddies and I did a lot of Dreamcast/Gamecube gaming. I don't feel like we got the short end of the stick at all.

 

Nintendo should have had much more success with the Cube, all things considered.

[sqoon]

I love the Gamecube, its controller, and exclusives like Luigi's Mansion and Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. My only complaint: Hardly and racers on the system, and that is why I ended up getting a PS2.

[fiddlepaddle]

I've found a half a dozen GCs over the last couple of years at flea markets and thrifts and every one still worked. It seems more solid physically than the PS2. I also like the small disks (despite the obvious capacity limitations). Just finished playing a couple of hours of Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2, quite enjoyed it. I also second the recommendation of using the GB Player.

[raskar42]

GC is played constantly in my house. it's a fun machine and the kids love it.

[roland p]

The gamecube is my favorite console. It boots quick, built like a tank, good controllers, and some really nice games (Zelda windwaker, Metal Gear, Resident Evil, Metroid etc,). Just finished Super Mario Sunshine, and I just bought Luigi's Mansion to play with my son (3). He really likes the gamecube and just hates it when I play something on the xbox360

 

I also have Zelda four swords. Not sure about that title though. I'm not too fond of the level-based approach,

[DemonoidTentacle]

The Cube is great in terms of library. A lot of people just don't give it a chance. The only reason I stopped playing Melee was cause Brawl was released.

[Petran79]

If I hadnt an NES as a kid, I'd have bought a Gamecube instead of a Dreamcast.

the Gamecube could have done better but it was caught in the middle between N64 success and the rise of PS2, so it did not fare that well, even if it featured more titles for older ages, compared to N64.

Unfortunately the Wii later focused on the more family friendly approach so as to boost sales.

 

still I think the Saturn was more underrated. the Xbox was a failure anyway.

[Emehr]

I love the GameCube. I love the form factor and the mini discs. It can play every Zelda game from the original to Twilight Princess. Zelda: Four Swords is something you could envision as a four-player cabinet in an arcade. Tons of fun. I've spent many hours with Metroid Prime 1 & 2. Pac Man vs. is a great twist on the original Pac Man. The controller is excellent for games that are designed for it and the Wavebird is flawless. As mentioned, the Game Boy Player is a fantastic addition. I only wish Nintendo would have come out with a re-arranged controller that had a button layout more like the Super NES. That would have been perfect for Game Boy games and Mega Man Collection.

[sqoon]

I only wish Nintendo would have come out with a re-arranged controller that had a button layout more like the Super NES. That would have been perfect for Game Boy games and Mega Man Collection.

 

Look on ebay for the Hori Gameboy controller. It is what you are seeking, and is for the Gamecube. Not cheap though.

[high voltage]

My fave Nintendo console.

Compared to all other Nintendo consoles more quality than quantity games on Game Cube. The only Nintendo console I purchased on release day (came with a free purple blow up chair)

[Austin]

Like someone else said, I don't think it was ever "underrated". It sold quite a bit in the US and was relatively popular. Sure, not quite to the level of the XBOX (and neither the XBOX or Game Cube were close to the same level of the PS2 in terms of sales). Underrated though? A term like to to me would go to something like the Saturn or the Turbo Grafx, which both performed poorly in comparison. I could also say the Dreamcast, but it at least performed well until Sega decided to pull the plug.

 

My main complaint with the Game Cube is the lack of quality third-party games when sat next to its competitors. Of course there is a decent selection of them compared to prior failed platforms (just trying to keep things in perspective here), but every time I look at the Game Cube section at a store it screams "crappy licensed third-party games galore!". On the other hand though, I feel Nintendo put more effort into quality first-party releases here than they did on the Wii. There is a lot to choose from just from Nintendo alone, and that really helps carry the system. Sega also did an awesome job, supporting the system pretty heavily (like on the XBOX with its specific titles).

 

Some other remarks: The controller itself is decent, but not the best for every scenario (i.e., it's not great for oldschool platformers or traditional fighting games). It is fantastic for racing, first-person shooting and modern platforming games. The Game Boy Player is excellent, and is the reason I just recently purchased another system (had no need for one as I could play the Cube games on my Wii).

[NE146]

I've said this before.. but EVERYONE said the Wii is just a Gamecube with motion controls.

 

So in other words the Gamecube seems to be doing just fine and is still being sold.

[Emehr]

I only wish Nintendo would have come out with a re-arranged controller that had a button layout more like the Super NES. That would have been perfect for Game Boy games and Mega Man Collection.

 

Look on ebay for the Hori Gameboy controller. It is what you are seeking, and is for the Gamecube. Not cheap though.

 

Thanks. I saw one on ebay and it looks like they got everything right...except the button layout. It has the GameCube button layout on an SNES pad.

[sqoon]

Thanks. I saw one on ebay and it looks like they got everything right...except the button layout. It has the GameCube button layout on an SNES pad.

 

I don't have one as they are expensive, but have read others who love to play Gameboy games raving about them on other forums.

[PFL]

Yeah, I mentioned the Hori pad near the top of this very thread. I have 2 of them just in case one dies on me. The quality and comfort of them is second to none. The D pad is similar to the SNES but is a bit easier on your thumb and though the button layout is the same as the 'Cube the form factor of the pad negates the A-B button bias. All in all, the buttons feel really nice.

 

They are expensive but it really does make a huge difference to Game Boy game-play.

 

The reason I would call the 'Cube under-rated is because most people I know just shrug off the system to the kids' bedroom and just don't rate it as a 'serious' gaming system. The system sold well but I don't think it was really understood to be such a quality piece of kit.

 

I used to have a game shop and had loads of returns on PS2's and XBox's but I honestly can't remember getting a 'Cube return. The disc drive in that thing is just rock solid and, of course, the discs are just super cool.

[godslabrat]

I've said this before.. but EVERYONE said the Wii is just a Gamecube with motion controls.

 

I was going to say something similar, in that the Wii is always called "Two Gamecubes duct-taped together" as if that were a bad thing... and THAT is why I think it's underrated. The Gamecube, then and now, is seen as a "kiddie system" and as being less powerful than its contemporaries, thus getting fewer great games. All of that is untrue.

 

As for the third party support... yeah, it could have been better. :-/ However, of the multi-platform titles it got, the Cube version was usually a bit better than the PS2 version, and at least on par with the Xbox version.

[+Cafeman]

_{Gamecube games have been getting a lot of love in my house lately - played on a 46" thru the Wii and component cables. We've gone through 2 GCN's and they both are finicky about loading games. I need to find how to repair that, so I can use my Gameboy Player. It's tough to find replacement GCN controllers - even used, they are expensive and hard to locate around here. Fortunately 1 of our Wavebirds still works great, and we use a GCN controller with a too-short cable for multiplayer.}

 

_{My son likes GCN version of Animal Crossing, he's been playing (replaying actually) for the past few weeks. He seems to enjoy it more than the Wii version. Both boys also tried the GCN Smash Brothers and found it (in ways) more enjoyable than the newer Wii version. (!) I still enjoy me some Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II every now & then, plus many other games we own. Fun system whose graphics are still nice and .. NO MOTION CONTROLS!}

[sqoon]

_{It's tough to find replacement GCN controllers - even used, they are expensive and hard to locate around here.}

 

Family Dollar stores in my area carry the white GCN controllers for $10 a piece. PS2 and Xbox Dukes for $10 a piece too.

[Reaperman]

I'll take a gamecube over a wii or n64 any day, but I don't really care too much for the system.

 

It's got a nice form factor, and the controller was 'nice enough.' (not a wavebird fan) I bought one early on but was unhappy with the game library. I don't care for 'nintendo characters' at all, so for me gamecube was a gameboy player, that also played some rogue squadron games, and some me-too ports of multi-platform games that aren't my style.

What's my style? Sci-Fi RPG, Flight, Economic Strategy, and most of all, (sim) Racing. Yep, obviously didn't care much for the gamecube based on that list.

 

I don't think gamecube was either over or under rated. It was just another system designed for a target market that I'm nowhere near.