Customer Reviews

Gamecube Controller (Purple)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Friends rejoice, the controller Nintendo designed for its newest console, the Gamecube, is by far the greatest controller ever conceived. No controller, not Sega's not Sony's nor Microsoft's, can match this baby once you grasp in your hand. I'm not saying the Gamecube controller is flawless, no such thing exists, but this sucker is so darn close to being perfection that you will forget all about its minuscule flaws. The Gamecube controller features an incredibly unique design and intuitive control that only the geniuses at Nintendo could think up.

First and foremost is the controller's downright bizarre looking design. Mini D-pad, yellow C-stick, giant A-button, and kidney shaped X and Y-buttons may throw both you pro and amateur gamers off at first glance, but don't let this controller's intimidating looks deceive you. The Gamecube controller was, from the feel of it, designed to make the gamer forget he or she had such a device in their hands. The side handles are contoured to a person's hand, the L and R-buttons are grooved for your index fingers, and the green A-button is the largest of the four main buttons so you never lose the primary action button.

As I said, the A-button is the largest of the four main buttons because it is intended to be you primary action button. With this design, you'll never mistake another button for the A-button. Whether you're jumping from platform to platform of blasting away enemy fighters with lazer canons, the A-button's large size will always keep you from losing a game because you pressed the wrong button.

The X and Y-buttons are uniquely designed in the odd shape of kidneys for a reason. If you place your thumb over the A-button, you will see that this strange set-up is there so your thumb can easily navigate from button to button when you need to most without accidentally tapping the wrong one. Don't believe me, try playing "Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3" on both Gamecube and Playstation. You'll soon discover as I did that it is much easier to master the skater game with the Gamecube controller than it is with the Playstation controller.

The last of the main buttons, the red B-button, is of the normal size and shape buttons have been on Nintendo controllers for years, but was set slightly apart, in size and shape, from the A X and Y-buttons because it acts as a secondary action button. Play "Star Wars: Rogue Leader - Rogue Squadron II" and find out what I talking about. In "Rogue Leader" the A-button fires your main weapon, lazer canons, while the B-button fires your secondary weapons, proton bombs or ion canons depending on the ship your using, weapons which are usually limited in supply. With the B-Button being smaller than the A-button, you won't mistake it for your main action button and go firing those all important proton bombs before you need them.

The L and R-button are the secondary buttons and are grooved for perfect comfort as your index fingers rest atop them. In "Star Wars: Rogue Leader - Rogue Squadron II", the L and R-buttons are used as "gas pedals." The L-buttons slows your ship down while the R-button speeds it up, and the harder you press the button, the slower or faster your ship will move.

Next up are the two analog sticks. The larger gray analog stick is the main control which will guide ships and characters through their quests. The control stick is larger, of much better quality, and easier to use than Nintendo's N64 version. The second and smaller yellow analog stick is the C-stick used for camera control, but will no doubt be used for secondary control on later games. The C-stick replaces the awkward C-buttons of the N64 which were both small and uncomfortable to use.

Another great feature is the built in "rumble pack." For those of you who had N64s, you may remember having to purchase the rumble pack separately from your controller and having to replace those pesky batteries. No more my friends. Apparently Nintendo heard the cries of its consumers and rabid fans and decided it best not to charge gamers for features companies like Sony already have built into there controllers. Smart thinkin' there Big N.

Lastly come the flaws and surprisingly enough, given the Gamecube controller's somewhat strange design, there are only two and you may never have to deal with them. Design flaw number one is the purple Z-button, which is located directly above the R-button. Although Nintendo states the Z-button will act as an emergency button, I fear some companies shall use this in a capacity where you will constantly need to use this button. I fear this because the Z-button, though it is directly above the R-button, is in an awkward location and testing the overall feel of the controller, I found it hurt my index finger slightly trying to press it. Design flaw number two is the directional D-pad, which in previous controllers from Nintendo was designed to be your primary means of controlling character movements. Not so with the Gamecube controller. In an attempt to wean their gamers from using the D-pad and relying more heavily on the analog control stick, Nintendo has shrunk the size of the D-pad making it hard to use, although it is within comfortable reach of one's thumb.

The verdict: the Gamecube controller is, in every sense of the word, a work of art. Nothing past or present, in the opinion of this veteran gamer, can match its ability to immerse someone into the game which they are playing, even with its minute flaws. And even if you find those flaws to be a bother, there are already third party alternatives that address the problems and unfortunately create some of there own. Nintendo revived video gaming in America, rescued it from certain death, and the Gamecube controller is still proof positive that Nintendo is here to stay.

The Wii console will play any game that Nintendo ever produced, going back 20 years, including the Gamecube. However, one needs Gamecube controllers, which are not wireless (and a gamecube memory card, if you want to save your game progress).

This controller works fine with the Wii, and comes in various colors. I recommend that you purchase an extension cord for the controller, since the cord is only 6 feet long.

I went to one of the Nintendo Cube Clubs and got my hands on this sweet little thing and it is awesome! The controller melts into your hands and the button positions make it easy to adapt and the C-stick and analog stick have a nice grip to them which make them comfortable to use. The L and R shoulder buttons are possibly the best feature of the Gamecube controller. They mold perfectly into your hand and have what most people call the "double-click". It works like this: You press down a first click on the button and it then stops at a certain point, but, you can click down one further past this point. This is useful for racing games and such. The Z trigger (which is directly in front of the R button) is a little out of the way but strikingly is not used much. Overall, the controller is a beauty and in my opinion, THE best controller out there. Nintendo really out did themselves this time.

The picture shown is an "Authentic Nintendo Controller"... when you receive it... it is an offbrand. Not even the color stated! Seller said that it was Amazon's fault and not his, that he did not enter that picture. Said that it would cost too much for him to absorb cost to ship back. Was forced to buy at lower price.

The Nintendo GameCube already has so much going for it in terms of superior library of game titles and a more reasonable price, but what really helps it stand out from Playstation 2 and that mammoth debacle called X-Box is its control pad. It possesses a unique design that allows the user to developing an intuitive sense of where each button or control is and what it does, as opposed to Playstation's perfectly symmetrical controller that requires the user to consciously think about which buttons they are pressing. The advantage to the more intuitive design is that it frees the user to focus more attention on the action taking place on the screen and, given the advanced nature of today's games, that is a very important benefit to have. The asymmetrical way in which the buttons are placed throughout the pad help the user develop a customized feel for the pad based on the different spacings. Additionally, the buttons, themselves, are shaped different (the X and Y buttons are kidney-shaped and the A and B buttons are different-sized round buttons), which enhances the intuitive feel of control. Once again, Nintendo proves that it understands the user better than any other platform, and that is why it continues to be the best in the industry.

The N64 controller was, in my opinion, an excellent one. The Z trigger was at the underneath the analog stick and was perfect for playing games like Goldeneye. However it did have its flaws, mainly the small c buttons and the stupid white stuff that got into the analog stick.
Now the GCN controller. It has an analog stick that kicks the n64 one off the map. The L and R buttons are great, and the placement of buttons is unique. However it does have quite a few, but only minor, flaws. The first is the Z trigger. No more N64 like action here, it is placed all the way up next to the R button and is extremely hard to use, like using both the R1 and R2 PSX buttons at once. Hopeless for games like Perfect Dark 0. The second issue is how small the controller is, it becomes quite uncomfortable after a while, especially for older gamers, which the cube is meant to be designed for. Another minor problem is the colors... way too many grey buttons, they could have made the X button blue or something.
Anyway, its a great controller, better than the X BOX controller that doubles as a hammer and the PS2 one which was exactly the same as the PSX one

It is awsome man it really just fits in your hands.Don't listen to X-Box fans saying it is the worse thing ever.The button positions are perfect and good for almost any sized hand!Great deal and great colors!!!!!

I have tried this controller and it is great.I thought it would feel weird and i would have to get used to it.Once i tried this crazy thing i was amazed!It was so comfortable and very nice to use.This taught me one thing.Don't judge a controller by how crazy lookin it is!!!!

This is by far the best controller I've ever used. It's designed so that your grip can perfectly fit around it. The contol stick is cushioned so that it will move with your finger instead of having to push it like the N64 controller. The buttons are placed and designed so you don't have to look down to know what you're pushing. The L and R buttons are curved so that you can rest your fingers on them.
Keep in mind it's not perfect. The control pad is in a strange place and it's kind of small. But those are the only drawbacks I can think of. This is definitly one one the best new features for Gamecube.

It literally melts in your hand, it's like a mechanical extension of your hands to the gamecube.
You dont even have to think about it when you're using it.