Nintendo's Fun Machine (Nintendo GameCube)

Member Name: andithegoose

Product:	Nintendo GameCube
Date:	19/07/03 (209 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very attractive, Classic games, Good joypad

Disadvantages: No DVD playback, Dwindling popularity

We advise you to prepare your review offline, then to copy it to this space. This ensures that in the event of a connection time-out your contribution is not lost on posting.The Nintendo Gamecube has received a somewhat negative press in recent months, with Dixons announcing they will stop stocking the machine, and Argos reducing the cost of the 'Cube (temporarily) to £80. But is the machine really the dud that the highstreet stores are making out? Or is it a superb little machine worthy of your cash?

In my opinion, the Gamecube is the finest games console currently available. It is certainly the only one worthy of the name, as the Gamecube won't play DVDs or even CDs, like the X-Box and PS2 can. This is because Gamecube games come on small (8cm) CDs, that not only make the games small, but also the machine itself. Compared to the PS2 and X-Box, its tiny. However, small is beautiful, and this is certainly the case with the Gamecube. The unit is either purple or black, and is (as the name suggests) a cube. Three buttons adorn the CD lid, power, eject and reset. When the lid is opened, there is also a disc eject button, that pops the CD off the spindle. While not as powerful as the old SNES eject button (which propelled the cartridge at quite some speed), it does make removing the CD a piece of cake. At the back of the unit is a carry handle, a great little feature that makes carting the gamecube around easy and stylish!

The Gamecube's joypad is one of the finest on any console. It is beautifully ergonomic, and all the buttons are perfectly placed. There are 4 action buttons, labelled A,B,X and Y, but these are not arranged in the traditional diamond pattern. Rather, the A button is central, with the B button to the left and the X and Y buttons curved around the top half of the A button. This takes some getting used to, but works well. There is one analogue stick and one D-Pad, as well as a C-Stick that is usually used to change camera an
gles. Finally, there are two shoulder buttons and a Z-Trigger.

There are not a huge number of titles for the Gamecube, but there are some quality ones. Mario makes a
n appearance in the excellent Super Mario Sunshine, as does Link in Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. Metroid Prime is a fine shoot em up, and popular PS2 games, such as Time Splitters and Medal of Honor, also make an appearance. The Resident Evil series is also best represented on the Gamecube, with all three original Resi games (one redone), and a new adventure. Fans of racing games and beat em ups will be disapointed though, these people may be better off with a PS2, or better still both consoles.

Overall, the Gamecube is a superb machine that deserves more recognition. Anyone with a love of videogames needs to own one - after all, it has the Nintendo touch!

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