Brilliant console and affordable (Nintendo GameCube)

Member Name: Lauren06

Product:	Nintendo GameCube
Date:	15/12/06 (177 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful graphics, up to four people can play games at once,

Disadvantages: New C stick on the controller is a bit fiddly

Although it was more than four and a half years ago that this console was first released here in Europe, the Nintendo Gamecube is still just as fun and entertaining as it was when first released, just like its predecessors e.g. the Nintendo 64.

The release date for Europe was May 3rd 2002, while in Japan it was September 14th 2001. I bought mine with the release of Zelda: Wind Waker in May the following year. I got a limited edition pack with a platinum coloured console, controller and the game included. One thing I was surprised about when I first opened mine was the size - it was much smaller than I expected. The console is shaped like a cube, hence the name Gamecube and the game discs are loaded into it from the top. I'll go back to the discs themselves soon. Its compact design makes it easy to store, even in my overcrowded bedroom. On top of the disc loader is a small circle with the Gamecube logo in the centre but this can be changed simply buy taking of the plastic protector and inserting the picture of your choice underneath it. There is a small orange light below this, which goes on whenever you switch the console on. The power button is at the top left of the disc loader, the reset button to the lower left and the open button to the lower right. On the front of the console are the four controller ports and two memory card slots on a grey square shaped panel. There is also a small, black rounded handle on the back.

The design of the controller is actually similar to that of the Nintendo 64 controller, so anyone who is used to this controller system will find it easy to use. That isn't to say that the controller system is difficult to start using is you've never played any video games before. On the top left there is the control stick and below that slightly to the right is the D-pad, both are used for moving around. The start button is in the centre and this is used mostly to start and pause games. On the top right is the A button and just below it to the left is the B button. The A button is green in colour and large while the B button is much smaller and red in colour. Usually A is used to jump and B to attack in games. Just above the A button are two small grey buttons called X and Y and their function varies in games. On the top of the controller just above these buttons is the Z button, which also has varied uses in games, and next to that is the R (right) button while opposite it is the L (left) button. Again, these buttons do different things depending on what game your playing. Below the B button and right of the D-pad is the new C button control stick. On the N64 the C buttons were just four buttons pointing in different directions. Now there is a stick to control them. For me this is the only disadvantage of the controller as I find it very fiddly but other than that this controller is very simple to use. Both the console and controllers are available in different colours including the original purple as well as black, white and in Japan copper and white with black pinstripe versions were even released.
The Gamecube uses 8cm or 3 1/8” game discs instead of the usual 12cm disc size of DVDs and competitor console games e.g Playstation 2 games. They are packaged in cases which are the same size as DVD cases though. Round about the time of the Gamecube’s release I heard people saying that these smaller discs would break more easily, but I find that larger discs are actually more likely to break since there is more of them to break. Another critism of the console is that it doesn’t play DVDs unlike it’s competitor the Playstation 2. Nintendo obviously wanted to focus on producing a good games console rather than an oversized, multi-functional gadget. You can buy a cheap DVD player for as little as £20.

Game progress is saved on memory cards that come in various sizes measured by blocks, or slots. Different games use different amounts of blocks with some using around 12 or 14 and other using only 3 or 4 – just check the back of a game case to find out or if you’re buying online it’s best to search the game’s memory on another site as most online retailers don’t specify how much memory a game uses. You can buy a 59 slot card and also 251 slot cards. I advise only buying the official Nintendo memory cards as I have read reviews of third party cards where people have lost all progress saved on them. So far I have bought 2 59 block cards and I own 8 games. At the time I got my Gamecube the 251 slot cards weren’t available; otherwise I would have bought one of them. That way I would have had enough memory for all my games and plenty left over for more. The 251 slot card is a bit more expensive but will most likely save you money. Game boxes have a small place to slot the cards in for safekeeping so they can be easy to find and you won’t lose them.
Some of the launch titles for Gamecube included Super Monkey Ball, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and Luigi’s Mansion. Unlike the N64, Gamecube didn’t use a Super Mario game as a launch title but gave Mario’s little brother Luigi his own game. Since its release there have been many different games released and there is something for everyone e.g. sports games, games based on movies such as Lord of the Rings, adventure games, racing games and fun multiplayer games like Mario Party 4, 5, 6 and 7. There’s plenty for all ages and whether you’re a gamer or not you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy.

An advantage that the Gamecube has over the Playstation 2 is that up to four people can play on multiplayer games, providing you have four controllers. I recommend playing a Mario party game with 3 friends - the game is so much more fun to play with other people.
When you first switch on the console there is a screen with a floating see-through rainbow coloured cube with four options. Even this welcome screen demonstrates just how good the graphics for Gamecube are. To the top you have the game play where you see a screen displaying the game inserted. To the bottom is the screen for managing memory cards where you can view, erase and copy data from one card to another, e.g. to save space. To the left are the options where you can change the screen position, language (which depends on languages available on a game) and change the volume settings. To the right are the time and date settings which affects some games like Wind Waker, where the background of the file select screen changes to night or day depending on what time it is. You only need to set the time and date once and the Gamecube will keep it.

The Gamecube allows for wonderful graphics - on game in particular that really demonstrates this is Mario Sunshine (see my review).

At the time of its release the RRP for Gamecube was £129.99, but now it is £79.99. If you want it cheaper I recommend ebay or amazon where you’re sure to find cheaper new and second hand consoles. As always make sure you can trust sellers – check their feedback.
The Gamecube is a sophisticated, fun and affordable console with a diverse range of games which will keep you entertained for hours, whether you’re racing against friends or exploring the land of Hyrule in Legend of Zelda.

Summary: Well worth the money - great console