Gamecube Console Platinum Reviews

• Gamecube: An Honest and Qualified Breakdown

  
  By A4U1I1SAIVJGP on 2003-06-04
  With great frustration, I find the overabundance of misguided preconception and unsubstantiated opinion surrounding Nintendo's Gamecube too much to keep quiet any longer. First and foremost I would like to concede to the fact that I am 22 year old, multi-platform gamer. Since my very early introduction to gaming with my first console, the Atari XE, I have since been privy enough to have experienced nearly every other console that subsequently followed. Included in this list are the NES, Sega Master System, Turbo Graphics 16, Game Boy, Genesis, Sega CD, Sega 32X, Super NES, 3DO, Jaguar, Lynx, Gamegear, Virtual Boy, Saturn, PS, N64, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, PS2, XBox, Gamecube and Game Boy Advanced. In addition to all that, I have a background in PC gaming that began all too clearly with the likes of ID's original Wolfenstein 3D and Lucas Arts' original X-Wing. Now for the breakdown:

  HARDWARE:
  The first somewhat obvious advantage of the Gamecube is it's sheer processing power. The hardware architectural scheme is simply unparalleled when compared to the likes of the PS2 and Xbox. With the help of hardware development giants like IBM, NEC and ATI, Nintendo was able to assemble a very powerful machine that is cost effective and easy to code for. The beauty of the Gamecube's hardware design is in it's high emphasis on multi-processor resource sharing. With a CPU developed by IBM, a main graphics processor developed by ATI and a slew of other hardware components dedicated to such environmental effects as dynamic light sourcing, bump mapping, tri-linear vector shading, DLPII surround sound support to name a few. Given that all of these components work in tandem and are (for the most part) independent of each other, it is easy to see how resource burden is effectively reduced. Couple this with super-high-speed DRAM (best showcased in the loading-time-free Metroid Prime), and you've got the potential for more performance than you could ask for. Keeping all of this in mind, let us first take a look at PS2 when making comparison. The PS2's general processing scheme is dependant on 3 separate processors: the CPU and two "Emotion-Engine" co-processors. At first glance one may look at this layout and think, "that's not so bad, sounds like Nintendo's design." The truth is, although the intention of the 3 processors was to share processing burden, only but a handful of software titles for the PS2 have effectively been able to pull this off. In my research, I've found that the common, major complaint stemming from production houses was the inefficiency to which it takes in order to couple the processors. Rather than being an automatic component of the hardware (e.g. one processor starts to lag so it automatically routes data crunching to the next processor), whether or not the co-processors go to work is dependant on whether or not that instruction is explicitly stated in the software engine architecture (source code). In most cases, software development houses (especially those who specialize in making cross-platform software) will simply limit processor utilization to the CPU. Take a second to consider how much needs to be processed by the CPU: polygon draw, dynamic light sourcing, shadows, environmental mapping, reflections... this list goes on. Point being, the PS2 is really only barely hanging on in the hardware development. Now, to something a little harder to see is the Xbox architecture. Being the fair an honest critic that I am, I have been quite impressed by the visual and audio processing of the Xbox. Coupled with the fact that it has a built-in hard drive and ethernet card, I must say it is a good design in general. What turns me off about the Xbox is its incredibly striking resemblance to a PC (e.g. CPU, graphics card, sound card, hard drive setup). For God's sake, the thing supports Direct X. What turns me off to this set up is the sheer redundancy of it all. Why not just buy a computer? It does more, and is easily upgraded to last into the future. Granted I have enjoyed Halo, but I've enjoyed UT 2003 on my Pentium 4 1.4Ghz / Nvidia GeForce 4 Ti a heck of a lot more... especially with my mouse and keyboard.

  SOFTWARE:
  This is where the debate can truly get ugly. I'll be forthright, Nintendo's Gamecube has hands-down the best and most diverse software catalogue among all three next-gen platforms. First and foremost, when considering this statement you've got to look at console-specific games. Sure, the PS2 may have a ridiculous slew of games over both Xbox and Gamecube, but consider the fact that you can attribute this to PS2's earlier launch. Generally speaking, the majority of PS2's console specific games were developed from launch through to the first year of release. Given this fact coupled with the knowledge of PS2 being a less powerful system altogether, who wants these games anyway? If there is credit to be had on the PS2 side of things, it's that of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, the Gran Turismo Franchise, and a couple of good RPGs like Suikoden and Zenosaga... that's it. Both Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy are coming to the Gamecube, so both of those Franchises can no longer be used as bargaining chips. Also, consider that Grand Theft Auto exclusivity expires in 2004. Many experts are weary to assume that exclusivity will continue. You wanna talk Xbox now? Only one word: Halo. That's it. Other than Halo, all you have are other multi-platform games that you'll find on both PS2 and Gamecube anyway. Oh, and don't be so naïve as to effetely fall victim to the whole "Only on Xbox" campaign. Given the financial backing of a corporate giant such as Microsoft, how much more obvious is the fact that they pay out big bucks for limited (insome cases 1 to 2 weeks of) exclusivity. Don't be a fool, open your eyes... honestly what else is there for Xbox? Nothing. Now, lets look at Ninetendo's more notable exclusive franchises: Metroid, Zelda, Mario, F-Zero, Starfox, Resident Evil, to name only a few. Couple that with every other multi-platform game that is being published for Gamecube anyway, and you have the strongest software line-up. That's, it. Simple.

  VALUE:
  $... plus a free game? Are you kidding? Need I say more? Buy it now, you will not be dissapointed.
  
  

• **Real Reasons to consider the GameCube vs PS2 or Xbox**

  
  By A22WEJBAI1WO9 on 2003-02-18
  I was doing research on game consoles and I felt that the reviews for the Gamecube were very limited in scope. Yes, every system has its pros and cons, but where do they stand and more importantly why.
  Of the current game consoles (2003) this is my ranking for them:
  1. Nintendo's GameCube
  2. Sony's Playstation 2
  3. Microsoft's XBOX

  **PS2**
  The biggest advantage of the PS2 is its library. PERIOD. Due to backward compatibility with the PS1 it has the most games available. Some will tout PS2's ability to play dvds a reason to buy, but it isn't a "dvd player". What does that mean? It means it won't replace any decent dvd player. If you want it for that reason you will sorely be disappointed when you discover it wont play certain dvds to the fact that it doesnt have a real remote.
  ~Remember... you are in the market for a "gaming console"

  **XBox**
  The Xbox is by far has the best and fastest hardware. Some people will say it is a pc in a box, and they are pretty much right. Xbox does have some impressive games, but the word that comes to mind when I think Xbox is "limited". Everyone I know who owns an Xbox really isn't getting *excited* about anything anymore. Get an Xbox if you plan to *hack* it. I know people who have done this to create a multi-functioning device that does many-a-things. Very cool... but again I repeat:
  ~Remember... you are in the market for a "gaming console"

  **Gamecube**
  Why does the GC come up on top? Quality. It does not have the fastest processor onboard like MS's solution nor does it have a library of games like Sony's, but where Nintendo innovates is in its quality of games. Sound trivial? Look up any Gamecube game on Amazon and read the reviews, compare with any other system. Nintendo is very picky about who they let develop games for their system. And on top of this the Nintendo franchise has alot of VERY promising games coming out from the new Zelda to Soul Caliber II. And now is the time to get a GameCube... Why? because they are offering one of their hot titles for FREE w/ the purchase. This brings the console price drastically!

  There are imperfections with every system, but the GameCube holds its ground. The only STRONG reason to not buy the GC right now would be Sega's recent announcement of not supporting its line of Sports Games for the GC (only applies to sega sports). If you primarily play Sports games then you may want to go with a PS2.

  Other than that... claims such saying the GC is a "kid's system" really are weak arguments. We all become kids when we play anyhow. And there are alot of games coming out from Nintendo that are not intended for children.

  All in all... I prefer the Gamecube and the PS2 over the Xbox. Get the GC if you want a system that will last you 2-3 years w/ quality games before the next generation comes out.

  So if you are in the market for a "gaming console"...
  
  

• The Best Game Console?

  
  By on 2002-12-26
  When PS2 came out, it was sold for a long time, and was overprised and auctioned at very high prices.

  A year later, two new consoles came out, Xbox and GameCube. Everyone thought that GameCube was a little kid system and the games were for little wussies. Everyone thought that the graphics were kiddish. This is what Xbox and PS2 owners thought. They were obviously jealous. Here are reasons why it's not a piece of [junk].

  1. Kid games? Eternal Darkness, Metroid Prime, BMX XXX, Dead to Rights, Resident Evil 0,1,2,3,and 4, Red Faction II, Mortal Kombat:Deadly Alliance, Die Hard:Vendetta, Bloodrayne. Convinced?
  2. It's more powerful than PS2, yet smaller.
  3. Graphics are the same as Xbox.
  4. It doesn't break, like Xbox.
  5. It hardly freezes.
  6. It has the fastest loading times.
  7. The best controller and wireless controller.
  8. It has a built in fan so it doesn't overheat.
  9. GameCube is really durible, it doesn't break that easily.
  10. Really compact (It even has a built in carrying handle).

  The only really bad thing about GameCube is that there aren't that many online games.
  
  

• How Nintendo won me back...

  
  By A1BHK6FFUZNKSN on 2002-11-21
  I haven't owned a Nintendo product since the Super Nintendo many years ago, when Sony introduced the original PlayStation they won me because of the CD-ROM media format, excellent graphics (at the time) and the support for well known third-party developers. But the second time around Sony hasn't made the splash with me they did years ago, don't misunderstand, the PlayStation 2 and the XBox have some incredible titles, but these systems are bulky and cost a lot more than I'm willing to pay. Also, I have small children and I want a system that's kid friendly, but also has a game catalog to support my taste. Gamecube was the only one that fit that bill.

  To me Gamecube has the most compelling exclusive titles, trademark games like: Metroid, Mario, Zelda, etc.. are being done justice on the new platform, the GameCube Metriod game is the most outstanding console game I've ever played. In addition to Nintendo's exclusive's Sega is porting more exlcusive titles to Gamecube than any other system they develop for. True it doesn't have a DVD drive, but the truth is, DVD doesn't do much for games, it just provides more storage space (mostly wasted on prerendered movie scenes). The inclusion of the DVD drives on XBox and PS2 are keeping their prices up and their systems bulky. Consider Gamecube.
  
  

• Top 10 Reasons why should should get this masterpeice...

  
  By on 2002-07-30
  The Jet Black Gamecube is just like the Indigo Gamecube. I will tell you some reasons why you should own this:

  Reason 1:

  It is compact sized, wwith a handle for easy holding.

  Reason 2:

  It features many favorite characters. You cannot find Super Smash Bros. on the Xbox or PS2!

  Reason 3:

  The graphics are wondeful, and they get better with Star Fox Adventures.

  Reason 4:

  The game discs are small and are also compact-sized.

  Reason 5:

  The controller. It has some colors and is small enough for hands of most ages. Not like the XBox controller

  Reason 6:

  More games are coming out soon-big hits, too!

  Reason 7:

  It is not a violent-prone game like the XBox for example-it has about only over 5 E games. The Gamecube only has 2 M games out now! So other games will be okay for children.

  Reason 8:

  It is made by Nintendo- a famous company.

  Reason 9:

  It is now much cheaper.

  Reason 10:

  It has TWO colors to pick from. The Xbox is just black and green. The PS2 is just black and blue. The Gamecube has two colors!

  Now, what else do I have to prove to make you buy it? Oh yeah...I have some more reasons why you should get it!

  Reason 11:

  It as a MOBILE MONITOR TO USE IN THE CAR.

  Reason 12:

  It will soon feature online broadband capability gaming.

  Okay, now for the good part...

  THE GAMES ARSENAL!!!!!!

  Smuggler's Run 2:Warzones
  Bomberman Generation
  Crazy Taxi
  007:Agent Under Fire
  SpyHunter
  Super Smash Bros. Melee
  Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
  Luigi's Mansion
  Pikmin
  Pac-Man World 2
  Resident Evil
  Eterernal Darkness:Sanity's Requiem
  Red Card 20-03
  Virtua Striker
  All-Star Baseball 2003
  NBA Street
  Wave Race:Blue Storm
  Zoocube
  Legends of Wrestling
  Wrestlemania X8
  Star Wars:Rouge Squadron:Rouge Leader II
  Top Gun:Combat Zones
  Beach Spikers
  Dark Summit
  Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX
  MX Superfly Featuring Ricky Carmichael
  Lost Kingdoms
  Extreme G-3
  Driven

  Any more convincing?
  
  

• It's all about the games
  By AE7WX7VY993TE on 2002-10-18
  The GameCube is not the most powerful system. It does not play your DVDs or CDs and it does not store your MP3s for you. What it does do is give you access to the most fun games around.

  I have both an Xbox and a GameCube (I was never big on the whole Playstation thing). While some of the games on the Xbox are "prettier" (Dead or Alive 3 and, to a lesser extent, Halo), there really just aren't a whole lot of games on the system that are tons of fun.

  Halo's a great game - definitely the best one on the Xbox and probably one of the only ones worth playing (aside from the recently released Blinx). However, when you go over to the Nintendo side of things, you'll find games like Mario Sunshine, Resident Evil, the Super Monkey Ball series, Super Smash Bros., etc. as well as upcoming sure-to-be-smash hits such as Metroid Prime, The Legend of Zelda, Resident Evil Zero, and Mario Party 4. Further down the road, you've got Mario Kart, Donkey Kong Racing and Resident Evil 4.

  When it comes down to it, GameCube games are sometimes topped in the graphics department by Xbox games (though almost never by PS2 games), but there will ALWAYS be a larger volume of really fun games (we're talking truly fun gameplay) for the GameCube simply because Nintendo is *THE* best game developer bar none.
  
  

• Now it's worth 5 stars....
  By A9UH6I9GVQZU2 on 2002-11-14
  I bought my Gamecube a year ago, they were all out of the black ones so I had to settle for indigo. Anyway, this new color is arguably the best and makes the GC look a little more sophisticated and cooler. But that's just on the surface and rather superficial. I'm not writing this to convince you to get a GC based on a color, but rather what the machine has going for it.

  Last year, I would've rated the GC only 4 stars at best due to the lack of great games and no built-in cd/dvd player to tide me over till the great games came along. But this year, with all the games available and coming up, to use a game machine for anything other than playing great games is ludicrous. Seriously, if you bought a next-generation game machine to mainly play your music cd's or watch a movie, you basically bought the wrong machine to play games with didn't you? But I'm not here to put down the PS2 or X-Box, just to point out why you'll be too busy playing games to worry about anything else.

  Here's why it's essential you pick up a Gamecube this year if you didn't last year:
  * There are more games available this holiday season than last, from ports(Tony Hawk, Madden, X-Men, college sports games, etc) to exclusives, the GC will have most of your needs.
  * Nintendo carries on the tradition of fun multiplayer games: Godzilla's Destroy All Monsters Melee, Super Smash Brothers Melee, Mario Party 4, Bomberman, etc, not to mention upcoming ones like Mario Kart for GC(you know you want it)
  * Powerhouse exclusives like the Zelda, Metroid, Resident Evil franchises not to mention certain specific Star Wars and Sonic games.
  * Bigger emphasis on more 'mature' oriented games like Eternal Darkness, Biohazard, Killer 7, etc.
  * recent announcement by Capcom that they have 5 exclusive games that seem to be more mature-oriented for the GC(check their web-site out for proof)
  * Online rpg's like Sega's PSO(although on-line games are still rare and new to the GC, it is possible), excellent fighters like Soul Calibur 2, racers like 1080 and F-Zero X(Sega's doing this one!), and while Rare says goodbye Namco will take over and make the next Star Fox game, a new Final Fantasy-esque game from Square for GC, plus popular ports of games once thought exclusive to other systems like Capcom vs SNK 2, Medal of Honor, Baldur's Gate, Wreckless, Splinter Cell, Dead to Rights, Blood Omen 2, Red Faction 2, etc.
  * The GC has the first major wireless controller(the wavebird) available for any system and works perfectly.
  * Certain GC games can be connected to or interact with certain games on your GB Advance(i don't own a GBA so i haven't even enjoyed this aspect yet)
  * Also, I've noticed the fan-noise is a little quieter on the GC and the load times are a little shorter on the games(on average, generally speaking). Plus, the durability of a Nintendo built product(one year with my GC, no problems yet; and I'm sure a few of you still have working NES's and Super NES's to back up my claim of Nintendo-made durability).
  * recent announcement of a Gameboy adaptor that allows you to play thousands of Gameboy/color/advance games on your GC!!

  In closing, if you thought the GC was just a toy, or just for kids, think again. Some great games are here, and some even better ones are around the corner. To be honest, I'm very pleased to see Nintendo trying harder to build up their game library(already more varied than the N64's imo) and working hard with some major companies to get some quality games(Capcom's 5-game deal, Sega's ports of their major franchises, joint effort with Namco on Star Fox, ports of rpg's and fighting games--both genres of which suffered on the N64, and the return of Squaresoft incl. an exclusive rpg). But I bought the GC mainly for their world-class exclusives that only GC owners can play. If you can go one-generation in the gaming world without revisiting Link and Hyrule, holding those hours-long multiplayer sessions of Mario Kart or SSB Melee, or finally getting your hands on the new adventure in Metroid Prime...then you have much more restraint than me. But if you want pure gaming addiction, memories, and fun, do yourself a favor and pick up a great system, at a great price, for great gaming value.
  
  

• Quit the bashing, boys...
  By A3TXPVSQ4LUQGK on 2004-04-12
  Okay, first off, I'm a girl. I know a lot of people are under the impression that that piece of information excludes me from being a serious gamer, but come on... welcome to the year 2004! That aside, I must say that I have had experience with all three consoles. Here's my comparison.

  X-box: by no means can you bash the graphics or the innovation behind this system. The games, while usually featuring unfamiliar characters, are superb. My own personal favorite was the X-box version of Prince of Persia: Sand of time, which I have played for every system available. The disadvantage: for a 20 year old out on their own, the price can be a bit steep for a system rivaled by two others with their own pros and cons. Rating: 3 stars.

  Playstation 2: best value for someone looking for options outside of the gamers world. Like other reviewers noted, has the only rights to the GTA series, and in my opinion has a superior controller setup to the other two. Graphics are excellent, but not as good as Gamecube or X-box. Pricing is midrange, and also is compatable with most DVD's, making it space and money efficient. Rating: 4 stars.

  Gamecube: easily portable, excellent graphics and game selection (Zelda, Mario, Starfox... the list goes on and on), and lowest priced game system available. While the game selection is not as large as with the other consoles, the selections available are sure to keep you occupied for a while. Overall, pricing and other factors considered, I rate this 5 stars.

  While I would have purchased this console solely for The Legend of Zelda: the Windwaker (which was slightly disappointing compared to Ocarina of Time), I find it the best value for what is available.
  
  

• The best system on the market!
  By APDUBJEB4QYOW on 2002-11-24
  I have deliberated for months and months over the decision on which game system to get. I researched over and over again to make sure I would get the best for my oh-so hard-earned money. When I get money, it is usually not very much and extremely rarely, so the decision to get a game system was a big one. After hours upon hours of tireless research, these are my findings when it comes to game systems:

  Microsoft X-Box Pros- this is the most powerful game system on the market. It has many bells and whistles such as Internet connectivity and multi-player action through a built-in modem. It also boasts the fact that it has built-in memory cache, which does not need memory cards to work with basic saving options.

  Microsoft X-Box Cons- the Internet connectivity costs and extra fifty bucks. You cannot have the multi-player feature without many friends with the same system and the same game as you. Processing is the very slowest of all of the systems and it freezes all too often. The buttons on the too-large controller jam in, making you have to purchase a new controller whenever this happens. The system is extremely fragile and overheats all the time. Plus, most games require memory cards for the system. The DVD player requires a special remote that costs an extra thirty dollars. Also, the most expensive price of all of them: over two hundred bucks (not including the extra DVD remote, an extra controller or two, a game and the X-Box Live kit). I don�t know about you, but I ain�t made of money, honey.

  Nintendo Game Cube Pros- compact and stylish, the best graphics and controllers of any system, and the fact that it comes in multiple colors. The most important reason is because Nintendo makes many of our favorite game characters (StarFox, Samus, Mario, Luigi, Link, Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong, and many more) and only makes them for their system. You will never find a game with any of the characters earlier mentioned on any system other than GCN. They make Metroid, StarFox, the Mario series, Zelda, and Super Smash Brothers, as well as Donkey Kong and many others. It is quick to load and has many games (including all of the SEGA games) only for their system. The most ergonomically designed controller fits all hands. It also is coming out with Internet connectivity very soon.

  Nintendo Game Cube Cons- still searching�

  Sony PlayStation 2 Pros- absolutely none.

  Sony PlayStation 2 Cons- slow loading, the worst graphics, small fragile controllers, big, bulky and heavy, and many more.

  The obvious best choice is the Nintendo Game Cube. Over and out.
  
  

• Not Enough Titles!
  By A3L1MEXXDI4Q77 on 2003-12-23
  The GameCube is a fine console, but there aren't enough titles to make it really worth owning. The only worthwhile titles for GameCube that you can't get for the other consoles are the Mario games, the Zelda games, and Pikmin.

  Well, the Mario games so far for GameCube ("Luigi's Mansion," "Super Mario Sunshine," "Mario Party 4," "Mario Party 5" and "Mario Kart Double Dash") don't add much to the franchise, truthfully. The Party games have more minigames, but they still get old quickly. "Double Dash" adds nothing of real use -- you could always drive and throw things at the same time; who really cares that now it's separate characters doing the two things? And "Sunshine" is one of the most overrated games ever.

  The lone Zelda title for GameCube ("The Wind Waker") was an OK entry in that series, but nowhere near as good as its best ("A Link to the Past," for SNES, and "Ocarina of Time," for N64).

  "Pikmin" is a really innovative, cute and entertaining (if frustrating) game. But worth buying a console for? Not really.

  Practically all of the other worthwhile games for GameCube are also available for XBox and PS2 ("SSX Tricky," "SSX 3," the Simpsons games, "Gauntlet: Dark Legacy," "Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance," etc.) In addition, there are *lots* of games worth playing that are not available on Nintendo, like the Grand Theft Auto games (and many other adult-skewing titles).

  This was the first of the new consoles that I bought. I wish I had gone with a PS2 (which I eventually bought anyway). The siren song of Zelda lured me to Nintendo, but in the end, unless you're buying the system for a young child, you're better off with PS2 or XBox.
  
  

• Gamecube, best console!
  By AIZUNOF1WS1P4 on 2003-12-03
  "nintendo only make games for kids" is what i get when i talk about the gamecube. obviously they dont look deep in the library of games nintendo has. I've been playing videogames since i can remember, and still today, at the age of 17, i consider videogames great. Lets compare the latest consoles to the gamecube:

  Games
  Xbox: not a great variety, only game thats exclusive for xbox AND is worth having is Halo.

  Playstation 2: when talking about PS2, only 2 names come up: Grand Theft Auto and Grand Turismo. The rest are either on gamecube or not worth having

  Gamecube: 2 words, fun factor. all games that are exclusive for nintendo are adictive, tell me that you get bored playind Zelda, Metroid or simply, Mario. Kids games, you say? Resident evil, Tony hawk, Metal gear, kids games?

  looks:

  Xbox: dont get me started, you know how much it weights? and how big the controler is?

  PS2: acceptable size and controler is somewhat confortable, but your hands get tired after long hours of gameplay

  Gamecube: smallest of the 3, very easy to take around, controller is specially designed so that your hand doenst get tired of holding the pad.

  Graphics:

  Xbox: to be honest, Xbox does have the best graphics but its not a HUGE different
  PS2: out of the 3, it has the worst graphics

  Gamecube: 2nd in graphics and not far behind

  Price:

  Xbox: 180$
  PS2: 170$
  Gamecube: 100$

  make your desition... in my opinion Gamecube is by far the best console game today
  
  

• Pretty Decent System
  By on 2003-01-01
  PROS:
  -better and updated hardware than PS2... a litte weaker console specs compared to Xbox.
  -known for its excellent 1st party games (internally Nintendo made games such as Mario, Metroid, etc.)
  -Resident Evil exclusive.
  -cheaper than the PS2 and Xbox (currently on 12-31-02)
  -partners up with Gameboy Advance for many functions.
  -very small and portable console, as well as game cds.
  -best gaming experience in the market.
  CONS:
  -non compatible with DVD's or music cds.
  -sales of console aren't great, but not bad.
  -not very involved in online gaming as Xbox or PS2.
  -memory cards not that great in capacity.
  -lost Rare to Microsoft (they made Fox Adventures, Perfect Dark, etc.)
  -may be considered "kiddy" with games such as Super Monkey Ball; and not having a considerable amount of Mature games compared to Xbox and PS2.
  -not a good game base so far... of course it hasn't been released as long as PS2.
  -no high-profile games like Grand Theft Auto, Metal Gear Solid, etc.

  OVERALL:
  excellent system for ages 6-15. Before making a choice between Xbox, PS2, and GC... look at which types of games you are looking to play with most, for all 3 systems hardware are almost all the same.
  
  

• Excellent system with something for everyone
  By on 2002-12-05
  The GameCube reflects the philosophy of having a system do just one thing, but do it well. The GCN is built solely as a gaming machiene, and in my opinion, one of the best avaliable on the market today with the most promise.

  There is a wide selection of games for the GameCube ranging from those targeted towards "mature audiences (read: insecure 15 year olds) such as Eternal Darkness, Dead to Rights, and Resident EVil, as well as fun games that are suitable for all ages, i.e. Super Smash Brothers, Metroid Prime... etc., with plenty more on the way.

  An added incentive is the presence Nintendo's excellent first party titles and franchises, such as Mario, Zelda (coming soon), Metroid Prime... etc.

  The hardware itself is well built and comes with a one year warranty for peace of mind. Fortunetely I've never had to make use of it, but from what I hear from those who have, Nintendo's service is first rate. The controllers are hands down, the most comfertable ones I've used on any console, though your milage may vary. The small size of the console also comes in handy if you live in a crowded dorm room or if you enjoy hauling your Cube to a friend's place.

  Graphicswise the Cube is on par with the other next generation systems. Most games run smoothly at framerates of 30-60 fps, with virtually no slowdown whatsoever even when you have four people playing multiplayer.

  Overall, an excellent system, if you're in the market for a gaming console, I'd reccomend the Cube for your consideration. I've had mine for over six months now and am quite pleased.

  Now if you'll excuse me, my Cube is calling....
  
  

• The 2nd best system I have ever owned
  By on 2002-06-12
  Like many people, I didn't know which system to buy. Theres Xbox, PS2 and the Gamecube. I've heard bad things about the Xbox like theres not enough good games and the games that are good don't last long. I've also heard it freezes up and over heats. I automatically said no to Xbox. Then theres the PS2. I've heard MANY good things about this system. There are many good games and has a DVD player right out of the box. I don't have a DVD player so that would be a huge advantge. It also plays old PS1 games and I have a Playstation. This sounded like the console to get. I almost forgot about the Gamecube but then I rememberd it. I heard it doesnt play DVDs or CDs or any old Nintendo games. Thats bad. But I rememberd the old NES, SNES, and N64. I had always liked those the best (SNES is my favorite system of all time). I also looked at the Gamecube games. They all looked great. Super Smash Bros. Melee, Luigi's Mansion, Rouge Leader, Pikmin and others that were Nintendo exclusives. Then theres many othere great games to look foward to such as Super Mario Sunshine, Legend of Zelda, Metroid Prime, Mario Tennis, Mario Party 4 and many other great titles. The Gamecube is also going online. I decited to buy a Gamecube. I haven't regretted it for one second.
  
  
• An Excellent Machine, but will it fit your needs?
  By A3E0MSKBIWMU6F on 2002-12-27
  When Nintendo came out with this little purple (or black, or platinum) box called the Gamecube, most people's first thoughts were of how small it was, how odd the controller looks, and how kiddie the games are. This led to people thinking it was a bad system, and even as far as to say it didn't belong in the class of the XBOX and PS2. Well, people mis-judged, as this tiny little machine out-does in almost every category the PS2, and in some aspects, the XBOX.

  1. The system: The GC is easily better than the DC or the PS2 for these 3 simple reasons. 1) It's small, compact, and yet twice as powerful as either of the other 2. This little cube has enough graphics power to dish out beautiful, splashing water, sharp fighting details, sweat dripping from athletes faces, and fiery eruptions that will make u put your hands over your eyes. This thing can bring a convincing world to your screen, and is highly reccomended for anyone buying a game system for kids younger than 8, and even those of 8-14. "Why?" is this not reccomended for adults. It's not that it isn't a good system, or that it doesn't have good games.

  1) The games are aimed at kids, not adults. Ok, sure, any Mario game or Donkey Kong adventure can entertain an adult for a few hours. But it just looses interest, as the computer AI isn't very good, the riddles aren't very challenging, and the skill required to beat them isn't going to make you work very hard. Most adults also don't like the controller (which I'll get to more detail in a minute), which is quite small and cramped in many areas for adults, and just looks a bit...odd for those hardcore HALO, GTA, or even all those great sports titles. This system is aimed at kids.

  2) Capabilties: This system is great for setting up in the car for a long trip accross the country, or even state to state, but it doesn't do much else but play those kid games. The memory units are extremely small compared to the massive XBOX hard disk and PS2 Memory Card, so you'll often find yourself buying more memory units then games. That's NO fun! This system also has no way to play DVD's, play music, and can't be cleaned or fixed when the drive brakes (the CD drive can't contain CD cleaners, and can't be replaced with a regular DVD tray like the PS2 and XBOX). The size of CD's can also be a problem, as many adults can't even fit their finger through the little circle in the middle, or could loose them quite easily. It hasn't been the case for me, but I have rather small hands (still only 16).

  2. Games: This system has a ton of great games...aimed at kids. If your an adult looking for a little gore, smart, fast computer AI, or even the casual sports title to build a franchise through, the GC is NOT FOR U! The major games are for the most part the Mario's, Zeldas, Donkey Kong's, Star Foxx, etc...all cartoons. You won't find the HALO's, GTA's, SOCOM: Navy Seals, or even games like Splinter Cell (nor the controller to use them). If u want ALL of your games to be Mario-like (nothing wrong with that), this system is ok. But for the more hard-core gamer like me, an XBOX, or even a PS2, would be a better choice.

  3) Controller: For games like Pikmin, perfect. Huge buttons, small joy sticks, springy trigger buttons. It's perfect! But for sport's games like those that I love, HALO, Splinter Cell, games like that, the controller is awful. It just doesn't work. Notice that SEGA pulled all of their 2k sports titles as no one with a CUBE bought them. If u look at the top 10 selling GC titles, you won't find a shooter (except maybe Metroid Prime by Nintendo). This system, or controller, just doesn't work for these games. On the other hand; for games like Mario, Melee, Zelda, Pikmin, Animal Crossing, etc...it's the best EVER MADE! And if you've got lots of money to spend, and don't mind owning a system just for one type of game, then the GC will do just fine. But for someone with a low budget and wanting a little bit of Sports, RPG, some Shooters, Stealth, and even Mario-like games (Blinx, Crash Bandicoot), the XBOX was for me (also a DVD play and CD player, GC doesn't support).

  4) Online Plan: None! It has a 56K adapter and works on broadband, but nothing like XBOX Live or even the PS2's online network. No headset, no stat tracking, no buddy list, and not a very big list of games. No real plan, it just seems to be there. If u want to be left behind without the online gameplay of the future, I guess the GC will do fine. But I am a gamer who loves playing other games like me, keeping stat track, trash talking, and enjoying good competition besides my little sister or next door neighbor. The GC didn't suppport that! "Why?" I don't know.

  Overall, the GC is great for kids, and good for the casual gamer. But for someone who is A) Low on money and would like a DVD player too!, B) Wants a controller and system that works with shooters and Sports, and C) Want's a few M titles in his collection, the GC was NOT for me. This system will satisfy those looking for a system for kids, a second system, or even a first if they have a great PC. But I needed more, and the GC didn't have it!

  Still a great system with great games, and is very reliable, I'd reccomend the system to anyone who can live with the above problems!

  Thx!
  
  

• A mixed little box...
  By A25O0GQIBO4VHH on 2003-01-21
  Zelda, Metroid, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Monkey Ball, and more. Sounds like a long, varied list of interesting games, and it is, by and large. But look beyond the first-tier lineup, and Nintendo's software schedule begins to look somewhat bleak. That's the Gamecube's biggest weakness. If you don't buy more than five games a year, then you might be satisfied with the lineup that's available, but if you're always hungry for something new, the Gamecube's probably not for you.

  While the system is stripped down to a certain degree - it only plays games - what it does, it does reasonably well. The graphics are sharp, the first party titles are uniformly excellent, and the flexibility of four controller ports, and a slew of party games make the Gamecube *the* multiplayer game box to own, if you've got friends over for games.

  However, having played every console out there, the biggest hardware problem for me is the Gamecube's controller. With an unconventional button layout, and missing some features from the competitor's controllers, the unique Gamecube controller makes games that aren't native to the GC somewhat difficult to control. Because the GC has the fewest number of buttons, and no analog stick "click" functionality, games that maximize the use of the PS2 and xbox controllers never survive the porting process intact. The size of the controller itself can also be problematic. I don't have huge hands, but after an hour or two, the size of the GC's controller makes for an uncomfortable gaming experience. it's a shame, too, because the analog stick is the best analog stick available.

  The Gamecube, as a *primary* console, isn't a bad bet. It has some really stellar first party titles, and a reasonably varied list of third party titles to fill the void. But, if you're looking for a constant influx of new content, you'll find more varied libraries on the PS2 or xbox, and the Gamecube's online experience is a pale shadow of the excellent Live service, on the xbox.

  As a secondary console, just know what you're getting into. Virtually every port will be better on another console, due to the superior graphics of the xbox, or the more flexible controller Sony offers. You'll need a GC to experience a masterpiece like Metroid Prime, and as long as you know that the Nintendo first party titles are relatively few and far between, it'll give you an excellent gaming experience.
  
  

• GameCube-Not a little kiddie toy!
  By A3R7VPIEJP5EET on 2003-11-12
  Many people have taken a backhanded slap at the GameCube. It may look like a little box, but it has a TON of great games and graphics! You can't beat the LOW price of the system! Oct.2003 the systems price was lowered to bring in more people to be able to afford a gaming system. Nintendo assured me in an email that they intend to continue game support for the GameCube for at least another 2 years(2004/2005) then they will have a newer system out by 2005/2006. I have a ton of games for the Gamecube. I also own the gameboy player for it. What can be cooler then playing your old gameboy Black & white games or Gameboy color games, and your Gameboy Advance games on your TV?
  I have been a fan of Nintendo since the NES came out. I still own the NES, SNES,N64,Gameboy,Gameboy Color,GameBoy Advance,Gameboy Advance SP,Nintendo VirtualBoy. All are great systems! Don't listen to people that were slapping Nintendo in the face a year before the GameCube came out, or listen to people that review games before they come out. They base their reviews on just seeing screen shots from the games, and they criticize from only seeing just that.
  Yes, there are some games aimed at the younger crowds, But Super Mario Sunshine is a good game. It's not some game aimed at a 5 yr old child.
  I love my GameCube. I would recommend it for anyone out there that is a True Nintendo fan!

  Thank you!
  
  

• A Quality System
  By A31LTYJI65HN2Q on 2004-04-06
  This is a quality system. I have all 3 next-gen consoles and I find them to be very equal. They all have their pros and cons. Here are the pros and cons for the gamecube followed by a list of quality titles with brief descriptions:

  PROS:
  -Good first-party games
  -Lots of classic franchises (Metroid, Zelda, Super Mario)
  -A carrying handle
  -Small
  -Looks cool
  -Has a cool logo
  -Is made by Nintendo. you can't diss Nintendo.
  -Fun offline multiplayer games
  -4 controller jacks
  -Inexpensive
  -Can hook up to Gameboy Advances for extra features/is necessary to play some games (Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Four Swords Plus)
  -Fast Load times

  CONS:
  -Barely any/no online support.
  -No DVD player

  Games to buy for Gamecube:

  Metroid Prime: A fun first person shooter based on the classic Metroid franchise. It's basically like they took Super Metroid and made it 3-D. Quality game.

  The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker: Once again, you take on the role of Link in this epic quest to save your sister and weild off Ganondorf. Probably the second best zelda game next to Ocarina of Time.

  Soul Calibur 2 (available on other 2 systems): A sequel to the classic fighter Soul Calibur for Dreamcast. This game is a very good fighting game, is fun in multiplayer, and has Link (the main character from The Legend of Zelda series) as a playable character which is exclusive to Gamecube. Xbox has Spawn and PS2 has that old guy from Tekken 3.

  Viewtiful Joe: The story of an average joe who, while at the movie theater with his girlfriend, gets sucked into the movie as his girlfriend is taken away by the bad guy in the movie. He then gets powers such as slow motion, fast motion and zoom in. The graphics are very unique and beautiful in this game. Also, the camera is set so the game plays like a 2-D sidescroller but it is actually 3-D...well, sorta...Just play it, it's great.

  Super Mario Sunshine: A lot of debate and harsh words are said about this game because people think the idea of the game is to clean up pollution. Although this is part of the game, it is in no way ALL of the game. Aside from having to occasionally clean up some crap this imposter Mario leaves around, it plays similar to Super Mario 64. It's very fun.

  Super Mario Bros. Melee - Probably one of the most fun multiplayer games out there next to Bomberman 64, Goldeneye and the Super Mario Kart series. This game supports 4 simultaneous players and if you get you and 3 friends playing this game at the same time it's hours of fun.

  Resident Evil - basically a rehash of the PS1 classic. I've never played it but I hear it's very scary and very fun. Unfortunately, it costs more than the PS1 version which is why it recieved lower scores.

  Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Reqiuem: A fun horror game for Gamecube. You take on the role of a girl whose grandfather is mysteriously decapitated in his mansion with no sign of intrusion. It's up to his grandaughter to search the mansion for clues. What she uncovers is a book called "The Tome of Eternal Darkness" which tells a very unique story of the universe which spans through many different characters from various time periods who all have a role in the story, which you all play as. A very fun gaming experience.

  Mario Kart Double Dash: Although mediocre in singleplayer, multiplayer in this game is very fun.

  Games to look forward to:

  Metroid Prime 2: Nothing is really known about this game yet except that it is a sequel to Metroid Prime.

  TLOZ: Wind Waker 2: A sequel to Wind Waker.

  TLOZ: Four Swords Plus: You and your friends take on the role of little Links (the character from Legend of Zelda) and use puzzle solving and classic zelda items to get through levels with each other. So far, it's shaping up to be a very fun looking game.

  If you had to choose between one of the 3 systems to buy, I'd say they're all pretty equal. I would base your decision on which pros and cons you care more about.
  
  

• Nintendo Gamecube: The Perfect System
  By A10299KRN85L7Q on 2003-10-03
  The Nintendo Gamecube is the perfect system. It has perfect games, and perfect accessories. What other system can give you such a large amount of unbelievable games, which receive a rating of over 95% on major websites? A lot of the games are Family-Oriented, meaning that it is very fun for all ages. But don't get me wrong. The Nintendo Gamecube has tons (and tons) of exclusive Mature and teen games too; such as Metroid Prime, Resident Evil, Star Fox, Geist, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and F-Zero GX--and more, all exclusives!

  >> The Gamecube has 4 controller ports, two more then the PS2.
  >> It can play all of your Gameboy, Gameboy Color, and Gameboy Advance games!
  >> The Nintendo Gamecube controller has a greater rumble feature, and a better and easier button layout then the Playstation 2 or the Xbox.
  >> The GC (Gamecube) is small and compact, it also has a handle, perfect for carrying it around.
  >> It has a wireless controller called the Nintendo Wavebird, which has 16 signals, which means 16 Wavebird Controllers can be connected at the same time--without any problems!!!
  >> It loads 6 times faster then the Playstation 2, and loads 4 times faster then the Microsoft Xbox.
  >> It has Online Games, such as Phantasy Star Online I and II.
  >> Can connect to your Game Boy Advance or your Gameboy Advance SP
  >> Has the most exclusive games!
  >> Has 3 air fans meaning the system will never ever overheat.
  >> Only $99.99!!! Cheaper then all the other consoles by at least $80.00!
  >> Has all your favorite exclusive characters, which means these characters can ONLY be on the Nintendo Gamecube... Mario, Luigi, Sonic the Hedgehog, Link [Zelda], Donkey Kong, Star Fox, Yoshi, Kirby, Samus (Metroid), Captain Falcon (F-Zero), and More!

  I will list you just some of the exclusive games that are on the Nintendo Gamecube:

  Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

  Super Mario Sunshine
  Pokemon Stadium
  Sonic Adventure 2: Battle
  Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
  Mario Tennis
  Sonic Adventure DX: Directors Cut
  F-Zero GX
  Metroid Prime
  Animal Crossing
  Sonic the Hedgehog Mega Collection
  Mario Golf
  Super Smash Bros. Melee
  The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
  The Legend of Zelda: The Four Swords
  Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
  Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
  Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time / Master Quest
  Wave Race: Blue Storm
  Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II
  Super Monkey Ball 2
  Star Fox Adventures
  Star Fox Armada
  Star Fox 2
  1080: Avalanche
  Resident Evil 0
  Resident Evil 1
  Resident Evil 2
  Resident Evil 3
  Resident Evil 4
  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  FIFA Soccer 2004
  Metroid Prime 2
  Skies of Arcadia Legends
  The Simpsons: Hit & Run
  Wario World
  Luigi's Mansion
  Pac-Man World 2
  Mario Part 4
  Mario Party 5
  Donkey Konga
  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
  Viewtiful Joe
  Kirby Air Ride
  Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
  Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution
  Mario 128
  Pokemon Box
  The Legend of Zelda: Tetra's Trackers
  Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life
  Sonic Heroes
  Mega Man Anniversary Collection

  And the Nintendo Gamecube is only $99.99! What a deal, look at all of those exclusive games and amazing features! Nintendo Gamecube: The Perfect System.
  
  

• Gamecube takes a backseat to no one!!!
  By A29Z8XYDD5UZF8 on 2004-11-20
  "PS2 is the best!" "Gamecube sucks!" "XBox rules!" If you've read the reviews for any of these three systems, it's the same thing over and over. Let me ask a question. How many of you have actually played/owned a Gamecube and did NOT like it? My guess is not many. Don't get me wrong Playstation 2 and XBox are both wonderful systems and are worth purchasing. If you only have money for one however, I would choose the Gamecube, and here's why:
  Let me first start by saying it IS the cheapest of the three systems, but that doesn't mean it sacrifices anything in quality. What it means is that it can't play DVD's, doesn't have a hard drive, and cannot basically run your life for you! What it is a compact, diverse, and just plain fun system!
  
  The graphics are wonderful. (and only cartoony in cartoon-like games) They are better than PS2 (not bad but this is better) and fall just a hair short of the XBox.
  
  Loading times are basically nonexistent on all but just a few games and those load very quickly. That is a huge advantage over their two competitors.
  
  I feel that they have the most diverse selection of games out of the 3 systems. They have Zelda, Mario, and Metroid Prime 1&2 to name a few, but they also have excellent third party games such as Madden, NBA Live, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, WWE: Day of Reckoning, and countless others. For you mature gamers you have Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat, etc. So everyone get this myth out of your head, THIS IS NOT A KID'S SYSTEM! Sure it has games tailored to kids but it has plenty to keep older gamers coming back for more.
  
  I think the Gamecube controller is excellent. It is a bit different but you will find that the button scheme works well on all but just a couple of games. It works about as well as the PS2 controller, and we won't even discuss the mammoth XBox controller.
  
  The only real drawback is the lack of online play, but that isn't particularly devastating. The fact that there are four controller ports (as opposed to just 2 on the other systems) and several addictive four player games more than makes up for that. If, however, you really enjoy playing online PS2 would be the way to go.
  
  Just to wrap up, I think the Gamecube is an excellent system to purchase, although I would still recommend PS2 and XBox as well. What I don't want to see are people that have never played the NGC spouting that it sucks, because people depend on these reviews to make an important decision and I feel it is an injustice to comment on something for which you have little knowledge about. The Gamecube is a wonderful system and definitely worth your $99!
  
  
• Nintendo comes through for us gamers again!!
  By A1OW8KS4GXX8C6 on 2002-08-16
  I've owned all the nintendo systems there are...now some gamers will write, "the gamecube has the best graphics out of all the nintendo systems. Lets me think a moment here...we didn't have the technology in 1985!!! Out of all the next generation consoles out there Ps2 has the best games...but gamecube is in a dead tie when it comes to graphics. A lot of people are talking [stuff] about Xbox, but you got to give it to them, microsoft didn't do a bad job for there first system...they could improve in the years to come. The gamecube controller is one of the best...it fits perfectly to your hand, though the "Z" button could have been put in a better place. The classic games, and the new games coming out...all fantastic! Gamecube also has a revolutionary 3 in" game disc that is awsome! The jet black gamecube looks like a piece of art! It really is great! Nintendo will also be coming out with a 56k and broadband modem for online play. Gamecube is a must for all gamers
  
  
• Its to awesome
  By on 2002-12-21
  (From a 14 year old). When I first heard about the gamecube and saw screenshots of the games like smash bros and luigis mansion I wanted a gamecube so freaken badly. I had to wait forever to play the system. My friend got one and I played some games on it. After that I really wanted one for christmas. So I got it. This system is so cool. Its got the best games like Smash bros, luigis mansion, pikmin, eternal darkness, spider man, James bond nightfire, mario sunshine, starfox, the resident evil games, metroid prime, and believe me it will have lots of other great games. THIS ISNT A KIDDIE SYSTEM. It has a great selection of games for all ages. The controller is the best. The graphics are awesome. Nintendo is the best at games and systems. I think the ps2 is good but gamecube is alot better. I hate the xbox because it has sucky games. Xbox has no good games. Get a gamecube.
  
  
• An Excellent Machine, but will it fit your needs?
  By A3E0MSKBIWMU6F on 2002-12-27
  When Nintendo came out with this little purple (or black, or platinum) box called the Gamecube, most people's first thoughts were of how small it was, how odd the controller looks, and how kiddie the games are. This led to people thinking it was a bad system, and even as far as to say it didn't belong in the class of the XBOX and PS2. Well, people mis-judged, as this tiny little machine out-does in almost every category the PS2, and in some aspects, the XBOX.

  1. The system: The GC is easily better than the DC or the PS2 for these 3 simple reasons. 1) It's small, compact, and yet twice as powerful as either of the other 2. This little cube has enough graphics power to dish out beautiful, splashing water, sharp fighting details, sweat dripping from athletes faces, and fiery eruptions that will make u put your hands over your eyes. This thing can bring a convincing world to your screen, and is highly reccomended for anyone buying a game system for kids younger than 8, and even those of 8-14. "Why?" is this not reccomended for adults. It's not that it isn't a good system, or that it doesn't have good games.

  1) The games are aimed at kids, not adults. Ok, sure, any Mario game or Donkey Kong adventure can entertain an adult for a few hours. But it just looses interest, as the computer AI isn't very good, the riddles aren't very challenging, and the skill required to beat them isn't going to make you work very hard. Most adults also don't like the controller (which I'll get to more detail in a minute), which is quite small and cramped in many areas for adults, and just looks a bit...odd for those hardcore HALO, GTA, or even all those great sports titles. This system is aimed at kids.

  2) Capabilties: This system is great for setting up in the car for a long trip accross the country, or even state to state, but it doesn't do much else but play those kid games. The memory units are extremely small compared to the massive XBOX hard disk and PS2 Memory Card, so you'll often find yourself buying more memory units then games. That's NO fun! This system also has no way to play DVD's, play music, and can't be cleaned or fixed when the drive brakes (the CD drive can't contain CD cleaners, and can't be replaced with a regular DVD tray like the PS2 and XBOX). The size of CD's can also be a problem, as many adults can't even fit their finger through the little circle in the middle, or could loose them quite easily. It hasn't been the case for me, but I have rather small hands (still only 16).

  2. Games: This system has a ton of great games...aimed at kids. If your an adult looking for a little gore, smart, fast computer AI, or even the casual sports title to build a franchise through, the GC is NOT FOR U!!! The major games are for the most part the Mario's, Zeldas, Donkey Kong's, Star Foxx, etc...all cartoons. You won't find the HALO's, GTA's, SOCOM: Navy Seals, or even games like Splinter Cell (nor the controller to use them). If u want ALL of your games to be Mario-like (nothing wrong with that), this system is ok. But for the more hard-core gamer like me, an XBOX, or even a PS2, would be a better choice.

  3) Controller: For games like Pikmin, perfect. Huge buttons, small joy sticks, springy trigger buttons. It's perfect! But for sport's games like those that I love, HALO, Splinter Cell, games like that, the controller is awful. It just doesn't work. Notice that SEGA pulled all of their 2k sports titles as no one with a CUBE bought them. If u look at the top 10 selling GC titles, you won't find a shooter (except maybe Metroid Prime by Nintendo). This system, or controller, just doesn't work for these games. On the other hand; for games like Mario, Melee, Zelda, Pikmin, Animal Crossing, etc...it's the best EVER MADE!!! And if you've got lots of money to spend, and don't mind owning a system just for one type of game, then the GC will do just fine. But for someone with a low budget and wanting a little bit of Sports, RPG, some Shooters, Stealth, and even Mario-like games (Blinx, Crash Bandicoot), the XBOX was for me (also a DVD play and CD player, GC doesn't support).

  4) Online Plan: None! It has a 56K adapter and works on broadband, but nothing like XBOX Live or even the PS2's online network. No headset, no stat tracking, no buddy list, and not a very big list of games. No real plan, it just seems to be there. If u want to be left behind without the online gameplay of the future, I guess the GC will do fine. But I am a gamer who loves playing other games like me, keeping stat track, trash talking, and enjoying good competition besides my little sister or next door neighbor. The GC didn't suppport that! "Why?" I don't know.

  Overall, the GC is great for kids, and good for the casual gamer. But for someone who is A) Low on money and would like a DVD player too!, B) Wants a controller and system that works with shooters and Sports, and C) Want's a few M titles in his collection, the GC was NOT for me. This system will satisfy those looking for a system for kids, a second system, or even a first if they have a great PC. But I needed more, and the GC didn't have it!

  Still a great system with great games, and is very reliable, I'd reccomend the system to anyone who can live with the above problems!

  Thx!
  
  

• Great System w/ excellent 1st party games
  By A24M1DAMRGDL on 2004-01-30
  The Gamecube is another excellent system from Nintendo. Unfortunately, third party support for the system is somewhat lukewarm. Luckily, as usual, Nintendo's first party games are instant classics and must play games for people of all ages.

  Pros:

  Awesome first party games (Metroid Prime, Zelda: The Wind Waker, Mario Sunshine, Mario Party 5, Wario, Resident Evil, Mario Kart Double Dash!!)

  Controller, while confusing at first, is pretty good. The Wireless Wavebird is awesome.

  Awesome accesories (Game Boy Player, Wavebird, GBA to Gamecube link)
  Compact Design

  Comes in lots of cool colors

  It's only 100 dollars!!!

  4 controller ports
  Cons:

  Third Party support is waning (although there are still some good 3rd party games)

  Not the best for sports games

  Regarded as "kiddie" by older gamers, so you might not want to bring this to college (although Resident Evil is available, among many other mature games)

  Can't play DVDs or CDs (Xbox and PS2 can play both)

  Basically no online games and Nintendo is not making any online games

  The game devolper Rare (who made Donkey Kong Country and Banjo Kazooie) was sold to Microsoft, so no more awesome Rare games for Gamecube.

  Overall, the Gamecube's excellent first party games and cheap price make it a solid buy for gamers. This system is excellent for any gamer. It brings you hours of classic Nintendo fun for an economical price. If you are a fan of Nintendo or don't have a lot of money to spend, I highly recomend this system.
  
  

• Best System Out There
  By A1WUK9K5YB8Z6A on 2002-07-01
  I would prefer to give it 4 1/2 stars because every system does have it's flaws. Yet, of all the systems GCN (GameCube) has the least amount of flaws. Currently the games selection is limited but just wait till Fall 2002 swings around; then you can play Metroid Prime, Star Fox, Mario Sunshine, etc. and then in early 2003 you can get a hold of Zelda. This system is also perfect for the cost concious. You can get a GameCube and 1 game for the price of a PS2 or Xbox alone. Another thing to look forward to is Sega's Phantasy Star Online, a better version of both the Dreamcast games. Although Xbox is supposedly more powerfull GameCube has the power to run along. It's processor is made better and compete with Xbox and blow away PS2. GameCube is "Born to Play" and doesn't have a DVD player but that's ok because PS2 and Xbox have problems with some DVDs. If you want a DVD player just get one of the Apex players off of the site you're on right now .... Get a GameCube and be happy.
  
  
• Purple Pleasure
  By A3EW2L59UBHQSG on 2003-01-28
  Well, I am a self-proclaimed Nintendo fanatic and could never pass up a new gaming machine from them, but how can anyone pass up on such a cool videogame system? There are tons of amazing games to attract a multitude of gaming tastes. Everything from simple games for kids to role playing games, action adventure, sports and first person shooters. Add into that mix the unsurpassed franchises Nintendo supports that rarely fail to rock the videogaming industry to it's foundation and you've got a system that has appeal to all gamers.

  But Nintendo doesn't stop there. With this gaming machine you can add adapters for online play (broadband or dial up) and connect your Game Boy Advance (GBA) to it for trading gaming information between the two devices, opening up hidden ares and expanding your gaming experience. Soon, you'll even be able to play your GBA games on your TV through your GameCube with the Game Boy Player!

  The Nintendo GameCube is quite simply a gaming powerhouse! Expanding our ideas of what videogames can do and where they can take us. It's designed from the ground up to take us into the next level of gaming. Join the fun! Don't miss the ride of a lifetime!
  
  

• Excellent game system for all ages
  By A423XLYS1Q1D6 on 2003-11-21
  As a games retailer, I have become keenly aware of the assets and drawbacks of each game system. The Nintendo Gamecube is often given short shrift when compared to the PS2 and the XBox. It's often seen as a "kiddy system," appealing only to children and preteens. But when stacked up against the other two systems, it is second (barely) to the XBox in overall quality. The Gamecube features excellent graphics (a 485 MHz aluminum processor and an IBM CPU, second only to the XBox's 733 MHz) and smooth, even gameplay thanks to a three linked processors and twin Emotion Engines. This keeps framerates smooth, load times to a minimum, and allows for gorgeous graphics. Its hardware isn't as complex as the XBox's, but it makes better, more efficient use of what it has. Like the XBox, it has four controller ports for mulitplayer use (the PS2 has but two, and requires a separate multi-tap for extra players), and two memory card slots. It does have a couple of drawbacks when compared to the other systems, though: It won't play DVDs (Cube games are minidisc-based, not DVD-based) and currently there's no online play to speak of.

  In terms of games, the Cube does have a smaller selection of titles than the other two systems. However, this is largely due to the fact that Nintendo keeps most of its gaming licenses in-house, doling out a few to select companies. This means that although there are fewer games, the ones available are of good quality (unlike PS2, which will license anything, no matter how bad). Certainly, there are some bad games for the Cube--just a lot fewer than the other systems. Plus, certain titles and characters are Nintendo exclusives; you won't find Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Starfox, or Donkey Kong anywhere else. They also have exclusive rights to the excellent Star Wars: Rebel Strike. Plus, one can get Madden, Medal of Honor, NBA Street, and other popular titles for the Cube. Also, Nintendo has recently released a nice piece of hardware that expands the number of games available: The Gameboy Player (about fifty dollars) hooks up to the Cube and allows one to play Gameboy games on the television. Nintendo has often been criticized for having few Mature-rated games; this is largely due to their focus on keeping games kid- and family-friendly. Between the quality of games and the first-rate graphics and gameplay, I have to say that this system is an exceptional value, and is highly recommended.

  Suggested games: Mario Party 4 and 5, Luigi's Mansion, Metroid Prime, Animal Crossing, Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Brothers Melee, Starfox Adventures, Legend of Zelda: Windwaker, F-Zero GX, Soul Calibre, Mario Kart: Double Dash.

  Suggested accessories (when possible, stick with the Nintendo brand. They're the best quality): Memory card 251 (a must-have, as this is the only way to save games); a second controller (available in blue, black, and spice orange); for wireless play, get the Nintendo Wavebird, an excellent controller at a great price; the Gameboy Player (for playing GB games on the TV); if you have an older TV without RCA A/V jacks (red, yellow and white) that has a cable jack in the back, you'll need an RF adapter (about $15); racing wheel (I recommend the Logitech brand); if travelling with the system, I recommend the Intec gamescreen, which includes everything you need for portability.
  
  

• My system of choice
  By AHCVWPLA1O4X8 on 2003-08-22
  It took me a while to decide which game console to buy. After all, there are now three major consoles on the market, each boasting its advantages. In the end, however, I stuck with my old and stalwart friend, Nintendo. Ever since the days of my original Nintendo system back in the mid 80s, I have frittered away countless precious hours of my life to playing games, games, and more games. I hoped the Gamecube would live up to the standard of its predecessors, and I was not disappointed.

  To me, one thing matters more than graphics, sound, etc. That thing is gameplay. And, for a variety of utterly enjoyable and very playable games, its hard to beat Nintendo. My friend has a PS2, but since I got my Gamecube I find we haven't used it much. The Gamecube is great because it contains such classic series as the Mario series, Zelda, Starfox, and one which recently returned to the forefront--Metroid. All in all, I absolutely love Nintendo's games, and find myself much more entertained with the games available on this system than those on the PS2 or the Xbox.

  To me, this is the best system out there. It's also the cheapest. If you're struggling with the decision of which console to pick, I highly recommend the Gamecube.
  
  

• Incredible system, don't overlook this one
  By A2MESGKKDC5E9X on 2002-06-20
  The Nintendo GameCube. The first thing you'll probably say when you see this system is, "I didn't know it was that small!" But please, don't pass this one by because of it's size. This system is incredible, and the indigo color looks great. Sure, it may not be the most powerful or have the most games (yet), but it sure is fun!

  I've had my GameCube since the day it came out, and I still play it nearly every day, if I get the chance. The system is just so fun, and you would never think that cute little thing on the ground in front of your television would be capable of creating such a great time.

  I'll start with the controller. This controller is the best ever. It fits nearly perfect in any size hands, and it causes no pain at all to fingers (unless you have arthritis I guess) or hands. There is now an enlarged "A" button for games where a single button is used often. The "L" and "R" shoulder buttons now fit perfectly with your index fingers. There is now a "C-stick" instead of the previous "C" buttons on the N64 controller. It moves very smoothly. There are easily accessible "X" and "Y" buttons on top of the "A" button. The "Z" button has been moved beside the right trigger, and that is probably the single worst part about this controller. Overall, the controller is excellent, with only one major flaw (the "Z" button).

  Next, the memory card. This memory card is alright, but it doesn't really compare to its counterparts. The XBOX has a hard drive, and the PS2 has a much larger card. The standard Nintendo-brand memory card carries 59 blocks (hence the name Memory Card 59). The average GameCube game can use from three to fifteen blocks, but some of the seasons on sports games can be pretty high, with blocks over the limit of the card. This card definitely needs some improvement, but Nintendo is coming out with the Memory Card 251, with an improved archive of two hundred and fifty one blocks.

  Now, for what I consider the most important part of a system: the games. I consider Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II to be the best game for this system at the time. It combines the classic Star Wars movies with a whole new experience for a ton of fun. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 is the next best game in my opinion for this system. Whoever has played the Tony Hawk series in the past must have this game, and whoever has never played this one has to play it. It is a skateboarding game, but not just any skateboarding game. It is fun for all players, whether you like skateboarding or not. The whole Resident Evil series has been and is currently in the process of being remade for the GameCube. The original Resident Evil is already out, and I rank it the third best game for this system. Many people have bought a GameCube simply for this game. It has the best graphics EVER for any system I believe. These are just three of MANY other great games for this system. Other greats include Fifa 2002, Pikmin, Super Smash Bros. Melee, NBA Street, SSX Tricky, Super Monkey Ball, and Sega Soccer Slam. There are many more great games for you to choose from, other than the ones I mentioned.

  Now, for all you techies like me, I'll give some specs for the system. You don't have to read this part if you're bored already. The GameCube uses a Custom IBM Power PC processor (Gekko). The clock frequency is 485 MHz, and the pixel depth is 24-bit. The System LSI is a Custom ATI ("Flipper"), and all the sound related functions are incorporated into it. The real-world polygons (assuming everything is already textured, lit, etc.) are 6-12 million polygons per second. The media that is used by the GameCube is a 3-inch mini disk that holds approximately 1.5 Gigabytes of data. There are four controller ports, two memory card slots, two high-speed serial ports, one parallel high-speed port, one analog AV output port, and one digital AV output port.

  The Nintendo GameCube is an excellent system for all ages. I would recommend it for anyone who is looking forward to having a good time with any kind of video games. Whether you've been playing video games all your life, or you are completely new to them, the GameCube is a great system to have. Nintendo's next-generation system has just received a "Mission Accomplished" in my book. I hope this review could sway a few opinions about the system. And no, I am not an XBOX or a PS2 basher. I love both of those systems too. Thanks for reading this review.

  Mark Williams
  
  

• Excellent gaming console
  By A1JZ958NKOCST5 on 2002-11-27
  I must say after reading many of these reviews it amazes me how many people bicker and fight over which is system is better when it simply boils down to personal preference. I currenlty own a dreamcast, N64, and a gamecube, and I still play all three regularly. The Gamecube is not much difference graphic wise when it comes to the Xbox, or PS2. However, I seen all this hipe on how the Xbox is so much better because its faster, faster yes this is true, but its not the speed of the processor in the console that makes it better its how efficeint all of the components commuicate and work together. For example you could have a Pentimun 4 2.0 GHZ, with 512 MB of RAM and the best video card out that there, but if you using a [bad] motherboard your not going to get anywhere near your PC's full potential.
  Anyway....This is my recommendation if you already own a PC buy a gamecube (don't get me wrong the Xbox is any excellent system I've played it and found it to be a very nice system but as i said before it simply comes down to what you prefer as a gamer),now your probably wondering why I'm leaning toward the GC. Well for starters the gamecube is cheaper, its got some excellent titles such as metriod prime, mario, resident evil series, eternal darkness, etc., and like I said before if you already own a PC most of the games that come out for the Xbox are either ever already out for the Gamecube or PC or on their way to a store near you such as HALO for the PC which is due out June 14, 2003. I hope this may help some weary buyers trying to decide which system to buy. Happy gaming!...
  
  

• Gamecube Gamesaves
• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Play
• Tips & Tricks Magazine

• Mario Kart: Double Dash
• Gamecube Controller Platinum
• Gamecube Memory Card 251
• Super Smash Bros Melee
• Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door