"Second Best Nintendo Console Right After The Super Nintendo"

The Nintendo GameCube (GCN) was released on November 18, 2001. Hundreds of thousands of Nintendo fans crowded the outside of their stores, camping out to be the first to get their anxious little fingers on Nintendo's next quality gaming machine. The GameCube sold out in a day or two nation wide. Sure they camped out on the streets for hours upon hours, but was it worth it? You bet your ass it was.

HARDWARE
The hardware is great. The console itself is so tiny that it is unbelievable that it could actually be a console. Seriously, it looks like 5 original Game Boy's back to back. The thing can't weigh more than 3 or 4 pounds. Anyways, the GameCube has great technical capabilities. The GameCube and the PlayStation2 are both inferior in technical power, but it really doesn't matter since the games are what it is about. The system is supposedly really easy to develop games for so that makes up for that. The GCN plays smaller games than the PS2 and Xbox. The CD's are around 1 and a half inch in width. I am guessing this was to prevent pirating, but what do I know. The console uses memory cards and it is pretty hard to fill up a card if you don't play sports games. The better memory card is the Memory Card 251 that is made by Nintendo. It has 251 blocks to store saves one. Overall, the hardware is great.

CONTROLLER
The controller looks weird and the button layout is weird also. It is very hard to get used to in my opinion, but you would be okay with it after a few days of playing it. The controller is pretty comfortable. For some reason that I do not understand, Nintendo stuck a little yellow analog where a analog stick shouldn't go. It is pretty close to the buttons you press. The shoulder buttons are pretty comfortable. If you find the controller too small, you could get the Wavebird which was released by Nintendo. It is wireless and runs on double A batteries. It can last about 100 hours before the batteries will die. This eliminates cords and it is a lot more comfortable than the regular controller. Overall, the controller is good, but the Wavebird is much better and will only run you $30.

FEATURES
The console has some great features. There are 4 controller ports for great multiplayer action. One of the most anticipated things about the console that will soon be released is the Game Boy Player. The Game Boy Player will allow you to play any Game Boy game ever released (any of the Game Boy's; GBA, GBC, GB, etc) and you don't even need the Game Boy to use it. You just plug the game in and then you can game on your tv. There are many other things being released for the console also.

PORTABILITY
The GCN has to be the most portable system ever. It was probably made for that considering it is so small and it even has a handle on the top of it so you can carry it. Nintendo has a LCD Screen in the works for it, but there is currently a third party LCD Screen made by Interact. There is also a battery pack already released by Nintendo that you can use for gaming on the go. There is also the Wavebird controller, which is wireless, and it will give you the ability to not have to worry about all those wires in the way. Overall, the thing is almost more portable than the original Game Boy!

PRICE
When the GameCube was first released, it was $200. How could you argue with $200? At the time of its release, the Xbox and PS2 were both $300 so this gave Nintendo an upper hand in a way. Now, the console is $150 while the other 2 are both $200. Anyways, how can you argue with $150 for a console? I mean, the Game Boy Advance is $100 and it is just a handheld. Overall, the price is great and very affordable. That $50 you will save could get you your first game!

LOOK
The GameCube looks cool. It comes in 3 colors so far, which are chrome, indigo, and jet black. I think the design is good for a console. The controller looks weird and pretty futuristic I guess you would say. Overall, the system looks cool and since it is so small, it makes it even better.

GRAPHICS
The graphics are great. They are so great, some of the games could rival the graphics of the almighty Xbox. Some of the more beautiful games are Metroid Prime and Super Mario Sunshine. Overall, the graphics are great!

SOUND
The sound is great. The console supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and it sounds great. You could also buy a surround sound system designed especially for the console to enhance your gaming experience. Overall, the sound is great.

LOADING TIMES
There are barely any load times on most of the games. Overall, the load times are very short and that is an excellent thing.

GAMES
Ahh the games. Where to start? You have all the Nintendo franchises and all of those third party games just waiting for you to get your paws on them. Some of the better games on the console are Metroid Prime, Super Smash Bros: Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, the Resident Evil's, and so much more!

Some good single player games are Super Mario Sunshine, Metroid Prime, Animal Crossing, Pikmin, Super Smash Bros Melee, 007 Nightfire, TimeSplitters 2, the Resident Evil's, Eternal Darkness, the Tony Hawk games, the Super Monkeyball games, and so much more!

Some good multiplayer games are 007 Nightfire, TimeSplitters 2, Super Smash Bros Melee, and a lot more games. There are so many it is unbelievable.

NINTENDO FRANCHISES
I am sure this is one of the best reasons why you are interested in buying the console. The great, exclusive Nintendo games. The franchises that have been released so far are Super Mario Sunshine, Starfox Adventures, Metroid Prime, Zelda: The Wind Walker in March, Luigi's Mansion (yeah, Luigi got his own game), and a few others. The Nintendo franchises have not disappointed me or any others. The Metroid series has been revived and the game is TOTALLY different and for the better in many people's eyes. The newest Mario game's gameplay is totally different from the previous ones. There is also Super Smash Bros Melee which has a lot of the Nintendo characters duking it out. Overall, the franchises have not disappointed at all.

FUTURE
The console has a great future. You have so many of the Nintendo greats pumping out games and then you have all of the good (and bad) third party games coming out. Some of the great looking upcoming games are Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Sonic Adventures DX, Viewtiful Joe, Project Number 03, Mario 128, Pikmin 2, a new Zelda game, and so many more great games. Overall, the future looks bright for the console.

CONCLUSION
I would say buy it. The console has a great future and so many great titles that you cannot miss right now. Overall, this is a great console and I advise you to buy it. There are so many great games for children and adults alike. You will also re-live those great memories you had when playing the old Nintendo systems such as the Super Nintendo and regular Nintendo.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/22/03, Updated 06/07/03