I finally took the plunge...

[2600Lives]

With the nice chunk-a-change I made from OKGE, I figured it was time to get myself a real modern gaming console. Now, I've had a Dreamcast since the day they came out, but it's no longer supported (duh), so my choice in this was...the GameCube. Yep. There was a reason, though. Metroid Prime. I'm a gigantic Metroid NUT (as anyone who attended OKGE could attest to with my uber-cool retro Metroid shirt), and Prime has just been calling to me. Anyway, I also nabbed Resident Evil Zero, and I must say that both games are spectacular. I love them both, and I'm glad I got the "underdog" system. I think it's got some really nice features (such as the controller, which while no where near as good as Sony's controllers, is still a helluva good controller), and the games are top notch. Looks like I'll be joining Nintendo's bandwagon yet again!

[chrisbid]

pick up either super monkey ball title (theyre going to be tough to come by in the future) for some TOUGH old school gaming

[Jasoco]

God, Sony's controllers are so horrible.

[JB]

pick up either super monkey ball title (theyre going to be tough to come by in the future) for some TOUGH old school gaming

Yes. Grab the Monkey Balls.

*whistles innocently*

[Inky]

pick up either super monkey ball title (theyre going to be tough to come by in the future) for some TOUGH old school gaming

Yes. Grab the Monkey Balls.

*whistles innocently*

Do you want to touch my monkey?  Touch him!  Love him!

[2600Lives]

What, seriously Jasoco? I thought the Sony controllers were one of the most brilliant designs of all time. Easy to hold, easy to use, what more could you ask for? They were basically just an extension of the Super Nintendo controllers, but that's a good thing. The analog joysticks were a great idea, too. But, NOTHING in the world comes close to my all time favorite controller, my beloved SNES ASCII Pad.

[chrisbid]

lol, back to the controller debate

 

sony's initial design was decent, but the four face buttons arent enough for fighting games. Then when they designed the dual shock, the position of the analog sticks are lame. The cube has terrible button arrangement, but the position of the analog stick is nearly perfect, and the digital pad isn't nearly as bad as others make it out to be (it gets lots of use with the GBA player and the Sonic Mega Collection)

[Ze_ro]

God, Sony's controllers are so horrible.

 

I definitely agree... I never liked them at all; too small, stupid button labelling, too many shoulder buttons, and a bad "D-pad". In fact, I have an old Gravis Gamepad Pro for my PC that is shaped like an old PSX controller (minus the analog, and with a normal pad), and it's almost unusable... I've been thinking of buying a new one... in fact, maybe I'll start a seperate topic asking for opinions...

 

--Zero

[Lost Monkey]

I like the alignment of the buttons on the GCN controller.. it is just like the 3 button Genesis or Jaguar layout with a fourth button above.. you can easily access all four buttons and can press 3 (B, A, X) all at the same time with your thumb, since they are in a row.

 

The only button on the GCN controller I have a problem with is the Z button.. it was okay for Zelda, but every other game I've used it in was uncomfortable.

[devils advocate]

I love my gamecube. Especially with their INCREDIBLE first party titles..... But that's all I use it for... First party titles...

 

I find that N seems to make their controllers with only their own titles in mind, and leave the third party guys out to dry, because of their odd button layouts....A little hockey on th GC? Probably not.

 

I still like the controller though, I just find it useless for third party titles. That said, I just either purchase the third party titles for my PS2 or Xbox...Problem solved, Gamecube still loved!

[Ze_ro]

The only button on the GCN controller I have a problem with is the Z button.. it was okay for Zelda, but every other game I've used it in was uncomfortable.

 

I think that's intentional... that way it can be used for weird stuff that you really don't want to hit by accident, like large bombs or actions that will take a long time.

 

I just bought a Gamecube today, and I'm very happy with it too I only have Mario Sunshine for the moment, but I'll be getting more soon enough. What are people's thoughts on Eternal Darkness and Defender? I've seen these around for good prices.

 

--Zero

[JB]

I like the alignment of the buttons on the GCN controller.. it is just like the 3 button Genesis or Jaguar layout with a fourth button above.. you can easily access all four buttons and can press 3 (B, A, X) all at the same time with your thumb, since they are in a row.

 

Look at the Genesis again.

In one of the most brilliant moves in the history of japanese consoles, and a massive upgraed forom teh Master System's pause button on deck setup, Sega put the START BUTTON where the GC's X button is, for instant-access pause.

 

The only button on the GCN controller I have a problem with is the Z button.. it was okay for Zelda, but every other game I've used it in was uncomfortable.

That's because it was an afterthought.

It wans't intended to be there originally, and then someone realized they needed another button for Smash Brothers and demanded they add a button.

[2600Lives]

I thought Eternal Darkness was pretty damn cool. Trippy, too. I got Starfox Adventures and Hunter: The Reckoning today. Starfox is pretty sweet, but then again, all Nintendo games usually are. Now, Hunter was a nice little surprise. I like it! The multiplayer version is SWEET. Defender I've not played, so I dunno.

[Jasoco]

I still haven't bought Mario Sunshine. I thought I would get it when it first came out. But I'm glad I waited.

 

I'm waiting for it to get cheap enough. It doesn't seem Mario enough for me. Mario 64 was great. I was hoping for a sequel. It wasn't a sequel. So I'm waiting.

 

Soon. I'll get it soon. It's getting low enough. But not low enough.

 

My first big dilemma is whether to get Simpsons Hit and Run on the Xbox or the GameCube. I got Road Rage on the Cube. But Hit and Run.. hmm.. I'll have to try it out first to decide.

[liveinabin]

What are people's thoughts on Eternal Darkness and Defender? I've seen these around for good prices.

 

--Zero

 

Don't know about Defender (though it looks a poor mans Rogue Leader - which is cheap too:) ) but Eternal Darkness absolutely rules - especially if you have either of the following:-

Widescreen TV

Some kind of Dolby Surround setup.

 

The game positively oozes atmosphere and it has a much better control system that any Resident Evil game (not hard, I know)

[MegaManFan]

Make sure you get Soul Calibur II, Zelda Wind Waker, Mario Sunshine, F-Zero and Smash Bros. Melee. With those five games alone, you'll be r0x0ring your ass off.

[Ze_ro]

Eternal Darkness absolutely rules - The game positively oozes atmosphere and it has a much better control system that any Resident Evil game (not hard, I know)

 

Hmm... maybe I should pick it up after all. It looks good, and the reviews are glowing... the only thing holding me back is that I never much cared for survival horror games. But then again, my only experience with them has been Resident Evil and Blue Stinger

 

I also saw Dr. Muto for $20, but I haven't picked it up yet... it sounds good, and you can't beat that price. Pac-Man Worlds 2 was $25... However, since I already have Super Mario Sunshine, I'm a little hesitant to buy a whole bunch of other 3D platformers.. (Don't get me wrong, I love the genre... I just don't want to overdo it). In comparison, F-Zero GX and Wind Waker are both $60... a little pricey at the moment. PN 03 looks amazing, but I think I'll give it some time to come down in price.

 

I'd also like to pick up that demo disc... it's weird though, only a few stores in town carry it (and they have about a hundred copies on the shelf), and none of them are in my end of town

 

--Zero

[Brian R.]

With the nice chunk-a-change I made from OKGE, I figured it was time to get myself a real modern gaming console. Now, I've had a Dreamcast since the day they came out, but it's no longer supported (duh), so my choice in this was...the GameCube. Yep. There was a reason, though. Metroid Prime. I'm a gigantic Metroid NUT (as anyone who attended OKGE could attest to with my uber-cool retro Metroid shirt), and Prime has just been calling to me. Anyway, I also nabbed Resident Evil Zero, and I must say that both games are spectacular. I love them both, and I'm glad I got the "underdog" system. I think it's got some really nice features (such as the controller, which while no where near as good as Sony's controllers, is still a helluva good controller), and the games are top notch. Looks like I'll be joining Nintendo's bandwagon yet again!

 

So, did you get it before or after the price drop?

 

Or to ask another way - Did you pay $50 too much?

 

[Raijin Z]

I've come to the conclusion that nearly all of you are circus freaks with frightfully malformed hands. The Dual Shock 2 is the greatest gamepad made to date, with the best thumb-operable analog sticks EVER. Well, Gamecube's primary analog stick might surpass them, but their d-pad is retardedly microscopic, so negative points there. The Gamecube pad is indeed nigh-heavenly. I have few qualms about it, but NONE about the DS2.

 

On topic, Nintendo has SINNED in my eyes by removing network support from F Zero GX. REAL BRILLIANT, GUYS. YEAH, EVERYONE LOVES THAT CHOPPY, TINY SPLITSCREEN ACTION. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!

[Jasoco]

Nope. PS controllers suck and you can't handle it.

 

Admit it. Come on. I know you wanna. They feel so uncomfortable and look like if you squeeze too hard, it'll pop out of your hands!

 

And they did WHAT? Removing NETWORK SUPPORT?

 

Nintendo is really losing it.

[2600Lives]

Nah, I just got a used one for a hundred bucks. Not bad, but a new one for that price would have been better. I'm not gonna complain.

[RCmodeler]

The Cube... the Box... the Playstation... they all felt the same to me. Just rearranged buttons. (I find the Cube's non-symmetrical analog control to be annoying, because I play lots of flying sims, and having left/right joysticks in line is absolutely essential.) But otherwise, all 3 controllers "feel" the same to me.

 

The only controller I didn't like was the Dreamcast. It's too large for my small hands.

 

I wonder what you guys would think of radio control airplane controls? They are box-shaped and not the least bit comfortable. Worst Controller Ever.

[Paralistalon]

PN 03 looks amazing, but I think I'll give it some time to come down in price.

--Zero

 

EGM gave it a crap rating just to warn you. It might be a good rental.

[Ze_ro]

EGM gave it a crap rating just to warn you.  It might be a good rental.

 

Well, I don't put much faith in EGM... but looking at the somewhat mediocre reviews it got on GameFAQs, you may be right. I guess I'll have to rent it to find out. That's too bad, it looks so good...

 

(I find the Cube's non-symmetrical analog control to be annoying.) But otherwise, all 3 controllers "feel" the same to me.

 

The X-Box controller is like that too... in fact, the Playstation controllers (and some PC gamepads that copy it's design) are the only ones that do have symmetrical analog sticks. It's not that big of a deal to me, since I don't have any games that make heavy use of both at once. Playing Robotron or Smash TV might be odd though.

 

--Zero

[Brian R.]

Last console I "took the plunge" for was the Dreamcast. Not long after, Sega pulled the plug.

 

You might have the same thing happen with the GC.

 

But I don't regret getting my DC, even at the $149 price point I bought it at. At least I got a free second controller when I bought it.