GameCube

Nintendo GameCube
Released: 2001
Created By: Nintendo
Price: $99.99 / / £79.99 / €99,99

As the holidays close in on us the video game industry is about to make another big transition as the newest batch of video game consoles close in. Microsoft’s Xbox follow-up, the Xbox 360, dropped on Nov. 22nd in North America, and will be released in all major territories by the end of January. Nintendo’s Wii will likely follow up in mid-2006, and the PS3 will likely fall either late 2006 or early 2007, though these are just estimates and subject to change.

With all this talk of new systems, a video gamer newcomer might be wondering where exactly to start. That’s what this guide is for, and we’ll fill you in on Nintendo’s fourth home console, the GameCube (abbr. “GCN” or just “GC”).


First off, a little bit of history. The GameCube was released in 2001 at about the same time as Microsoft’s Xbox, and was the follow-up to Nintendo’s previous, cartridge-based console, the Nintendo 64. GameCube was a big evolution for Nintendo, as their previous console took a lot of flack for sticking with the expensive cartridge format for its games, while Sony and Sega stuck with the cheaper-to-make CD-ROMs, which had many advantages over cartridges, mainly being the fact that they could hold a ton more data in comparison. While more data doesn’t necessarily add up to better gameplay, it did allow Playstation games to offer slick, impressive, high-quality computer generated graphics during movie-scenes, as well as a lot more speech at a higher quality than what could be held on a cartridge. CD ROMs are also cheaper to produce than cartridges. This, among other things, caused a lot of developers to side with Sony during the Playstation/Nintendo 64-era. Wherein Nintendo lost a large group of developers (not to mention customers wooed by the Playstation’s impressive CG graphics, high quality voice-work and huge game library) who gave the N64 little support and thus some of the biggest franchises were birthed on Sony’s Playstation.

Luckily for Nintendo, they know how to make great games. And thus some of the best games ever were released on the Nintendo 64, almost all of which were published and developed by Nintendo themselves and Nintendo was able to keep the N64 afloat even if it’s market share was tiny compared to that of the Playstation. That in itself is a testament to the strength of the Nintendo-brand and fan-loyalty to the company and its numerous franchises, which are almost always outstanding in any right.

Add all this together, and Nintendo had a somewhat big act to follow with the GameCube. They not only needed to fix the many mistakes made during the Nintendo 64 era, but they also had to show people that they could still compete and that third-party companies would support their system with lots of games (the Playstation had a huge library of games compared to the relatively small library of the N64).

So, for the first time, Nintendo chose to use a disc-based medium for its system. Of course, Nintendo is never one to do things conventionally, so they went with propriety disc by Panasonic, custom-made for the GameCube. To fight off piracy (among other reasons), they chose to make the disc mini-size, and also to have the system read the disc in the opposite direction of standard disc-players. When it comes down to it, the GameCube disc is basically a small DVD, holding more space than a CD but not as much as a standard DVD would.

So what does all that mean? It basically means that it’s almost like Nintendo took one step forward (disc-based medium) but also one-step backward (still at a “disadvantage” when compared to their competitors due to limited space on the disc). Nintendo however claimed that the smaller size wouldn’t be a problem due to advanced compression methods and the fact that simply having more space available doesn’t mean developers will use it. Since it can be difficult to fill all that space when it’s not technically needed all the time, and the more space you fill the more it’s going to cost the developer to make the game. And that assertion proved to pretty much be the case, as developers found ways to fit nearly everything from a game on Xbox and PS2 onto the tiny GCN discs, without having to compromise in most cases. And if it didn’t fit on one disc, all they had to do was include another. Just as developers would do in the Playstation days when they needed more space.

The GameCube ended up being a little more powerful than the PS2 hardware-wise, but less powerful than the Xbox. Even so, the cube-shaped console has been able to hold it’s own against Sony and Microsoft, and has a dedicated fan base with a great library of games, even if Nintendo is trailing behind Microsoft & Sony in 3rd place sales-wise.

Probably the biggest knock to the GameCube is the fact that online-enabled games have been virtually non-existent on the system with the exception of two Sega games (Both are Phantasy Star Online titles). This is a big deal since it puts the GCN version of games at a disadvantage when compared to other versions. Why buy the GameCube version if you can get the same game on a different console with online features included (not to mention better graphics, a higher framerate, and everything else that comes with the powerful Xbox hardware)? Even if you don’t play online, it’s still better to have the option in case you ever do.

Nintendo does know this, and has tried to incorporate exclusive offline features into their version of the games to offset the lack of online play (examples include being able to unlock a Nintendo-themed court and play with a team that includes Mario, Peach and Luigi as players in NBA Street Vol. 3 or being able to unlock Little Mac as a playable character in Fight Night Round 2 along with the entire Super Punch-Out) but the lack of even basic online features has really put Nintendo in a bad light when compared to their competitors, in the mind of many people.

This is finally being remedied however with Nintendo’s upcoming Wii console (in which Nintendo’s own titles will feature FREE online play) and their newest portable system, the Nintendo DS, which finally went online with Mario Kart DS, the first online game for the system. More online games from Nintendo and 3rd parties are in the works.

The Wii will also be backwards compatible with GameCube games, which means all your GameCube titles will be playable on the Wii, which is a big plus.


So, should you buy a GameCube now if you don’t have one (or another console), or wait for the Wii? Is the GameCube the right system for you?

It really depends on how hardcore of a gamer you are, and whether or not you are on a tight budget. At $100 the GameCube is the most affordable system (and there are even packages for you to get a game along with the system for $100 which basically means you are getting the game for free) and there are a ton of games that you can get for really good prices, in the $20-$30 range. The GameCube also has enough exclusive, great games to warrant a purchase for those that would like to jump onto the GameCube bandwagon now and have no regrets.

However, DON’T buy a GameCube if you are buying it for sports, fighting or racing games (Unless you’re a big Mario Kart fan), as there are very few of these types of games and you can usually find a better version of what is on GameCube on PS2 or Xbox.

Hold out on buying a GameCube and save up for a Wii if you can wait for a few months (probably late 2006) before having to get your Nintendo game-on, or if $99 is too much for you to spend at the moment. But keep in mind that the Wii will likely cost between $200-$300, but will also most likely be the cheapest (in price) next-gen system, which is a major plus.

In the end, the GameCube is a great system altogether and has something for everyone. Nintendo is the king when it comes to family-friendly titles, and titles that are easy to pick-up and play without a difficult learning curve, but are deep enough to satisfy the hardcore. And while it may first seem that the GameCube is geared only towards a younger crowd, that isn’t necessarily true, since most of Nintendo’s titles can be enjoyed by anyone, including hardcore gamers, and there are Mature rated games for the system, such as Capcom’s Resident Evil series (three of which were made from the ground-up for Nintendo’s GameCube) and Silicon Knights’ Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, there just aren’t as many as on other consoles.

Nintendo’s greatest asset though will always be its stable of popular, well-known and well-liked characters, and the franchises that these characters hail from. Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Kirby, Donkey Kong and Pokemon are franchises that have been going strong for years, some since Nintendo’s 8-bit glory days, and show know signs of slowing. Gamers the world over, some of the hardest of hardcore, froth at the mouth whenever new installments in Nintendo’s classic franchises are announced, and with good reason. Nintendo games simply can’t be contested, they are some of the best of the best, and as any gamer will tell you, Nintendo games themselves should be reason enough to own a Nintendo system, and the GameCube, with games like Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime and Super Mario Sunshine, is no different.

Features: Four controller ports, compact design, does NOT play CDs or DVDs, some games interface with the Game Boy Advance system or GBA games by linking up to them through the GameCube Game Boy Advance cable (sold separately), only place to find Nintendo titles.

Pros: Great four-player party games available, many games are family friendly, lots of games are easy to pick-up and play without much complication, cheapest price, tons of top-quality Nintendo-developed games, first-party wireless controller, the Wavebird, available (sold separately), Game Boy Advance games can be played on the system through the Game Boy Player (sold separately)

Cons: Small library compared to competing consoles, has a lack of fighting, sports, simulation racing, and, to some extent, RPG and first-person shooting style games compared to competing systems, online-play is basically none-existent (note: say something about the visual display and sound compared to competing systems), has few adult, Mature-rated games compared to competitors, like horror titles or the GTA or GTA-inspired series of games.

Launch Line-up Included: All-Star Baseball 2002, Batman Vengeance, Crazy Taxi, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2, Disney’s Tarzan Untamed, Luigi’s Mansion, Madden NFL 2002, NHL Hitz 2002, Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2, Super Monkey Ball, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and Wave Race: Blue Storm

Great GameCube Exclusives Include: Metroid Prime 1 & 2, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pikmin 1 & 2, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Baten Kaitos, Super Mario Sunshine, Resident Evil, Resident Evil Zero, Animal Crossing, Wario World, Luigi’s Mansion, Wario Ware: Mega Party Games, Tales of Symphonia, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, Lost Kingdoms 1 & 2, Donkey Konga, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, the Mario sports titles (Mario Power Tennis, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Mario Superstar Baseball and Super Mario Strikers), Star Fox Adventures, Star Fox Armada, Viewtiful Joe, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Geist, the Mario Party series, Pokemon Colossuem, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness.

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