Customer Reviews

Nintendo GameCube Console - Jet Black with 3 Games

5 star:		(99)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Ok. So Nintendo has got it wrong in the past. The golden days of the '80s (NES) and early '90s (SNES) evaporated in a cloud of grey smoke as Sony's Playstation trounced the Nintendo 64 in sales and 'must-have' status. Nintendo got it wrong, and if it wasn't for the unstoppable selling power of the GameBoy, Nintendo would have gone the same way as Sega some time ago.

But then there came the GameCube. Even though I have always believed that Nintendo makes the best games (Miyamoto and Rare more specifically), I have owned a Dreamcast and a Playstation2 whilst patiently waiting for Nintendo's (innevitably late) next-gen system. The Dreamcast was always underrated and it will be sorely missed, whilst the Playstation2 was... lets just say it was 'disapointing'...

So, I picked up my GameCube just after the Japanese launch. When the guy handed the box over, I was sure he was trying to fobb me off with a controller instead of the unit: it's tiny. Actually, everything's tiny. For anyone who has never seen a 3" disc, the games are about the size of a circular minidisc - very small. But oh how beautiful! The GameCube looks just right; none of the overdesigned fussiness of the PS2, or the nauseating black/snot-green betamax VCR of the X-box. And that handle is a stroke of genius. Perfect for making sure the Gamecube is always available for the pissed post-pub/club carnage my friends and I regularly partake of, wherever we are.

The controller may look like Nintendo bowing its head to Sony, but I cannot stress how much better the Nintendo pads are than their Sony counterparts. Even my Sonyphile friends admitted (under their breath, of course) that they prefered Nintendo's efforts. The buttons are far better laid out, all centering around a single large action button. All secondary and tertiary buttons are for the first time of different shapes, something which works particularly well when trying to perform a complicated action without taking eyes off the action. One gripe, though: the Z trigger is now placed above the R button and is nowhere near as easy to access as the one on the 64's controller. But then I guess that's the price we pay for proggress...

But what about the games? I bought the only three games available at launch: Luigi's Mansion, WaveRace and Super Monkey Ball. Luigi's mansion may be too short (stop-gap to the new Mario?), but the play that there is is intuitive and above all, fun. 'Fun'... that's a word I haven't used to describe a game since Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the 64. All the rooms within the mansion are beautifully mapped with rich textures and smooth movement. And I've never played a game where the main weapon is a vaccuum cleaner before.
Wave Race looks great, and after getting used to the new control configuration, plays as addictively and smoothly as the 64 version, with breathtaking water and scenery effects, devoid of the pop-up so prevailant on the PS2 and Dreamcast. But the biggest surprise (for me) was Super Monkey Ball. The only good result of Sega's withdrawal from the console hardware market was the announcement that they would be developing for other systems - most noticably, the GameCube. As is to be expected from Sega (in my own opinion the greatest game programmers in the world bar Nintendo itself), Super Monkey Ball is an amazingly addictive game, and yet only uses the directional pad and (in some mini-games) the single action button. How much fun can you have with a monkey in a ball? With four controllers and three mates, this game (especially the MonkeyFight mini-game) is worth every penny.

I have to admit, however, that the launch lineup is lacking the big name blockbusters Nintendo should have during the pre-Xmas rush. This, however, will soon change. The Zelda, StarFox and many Mario franchises are on their way (can't wait), but even more interesting appear to be Miyamoto's Pikmin and, after years of waiting, Samus will rise again in the Metroid sequel. I personally do not understand why most people equate Nintendo's lack of 'gore-for-gore's sake' with its systems appealing solely to younger gamers. Since when have decapitations and guttings been a prerequisite for amusing gameplay? Anyway, for those grubling about Nintendo's 'cutesy' games and characters, I would like to remind them that Rare is readying a GameCube sequel to Perfect Dark (and the amazing Goleneye) and Conker's Bad Fur Day (probably one of the most adult - and amusing - games I have seen). Add to that the news that the Resident Evil and Soul Calbiur series are now GameCube exclusives (ha ha Microsoft and Sony), and those whiney 20-somethings may suddenly find they are eating their words.

I have tried to avoid talking about it, but the itch just needs to be scratched. What of Microsoft? Well, I haven't tried the X-box, but I have tried all the forms of Windows that exist. When Microsoft has so conclusively ruined our commercial days, are we really going to let them ruin our recreational nights? I just have this horrible fear that, just because it is Microsoft, the best managed brand in the universe, the X-box will sell far better than it deserves to. PLEASE, don't let it!

So, anyway, that's my view on the situation. Whichever one of these systems you choose, I hope you enjoy it. If I were spending my money again, I'd choose the GameCube. But you already new that ;-)

First of all, we have to look at this objectively. Nintendo and Microsoft have both created extremely advanced gaming consoles, but the main difference is that Nintendo uses a RISC processor while Microsoft uses a CISC processor. The differences are BIG and follows as such:

RISC processor
[Reduced Instruction Set Computer], computer, arithmetic-logic unit that uses a minimal instruction set, emphasizing the instructions used most often and optimizing them for the fastest possible execution. Software for RISC processors must handle more operations than traditional CISC [Complex Instruction Set Computer] processors, but RISC processors have advantages in applications that benefit from faster instruction execution, such as engineering and graphics workstations and parallel-processing systems. They are also less costly to design, test, and manufacture. In the mid-1990s RISC processors began to be used in personal computers instead of the CISC processors that had been used since the introduction of the microprocessor.

Basically, this means, that while the NGC is RISC 400mhz (approx) and the XBOX is CISC 800mhz (approx), they both basically are the same in processing power due to their processors. The only advantage that XBOX really has in specs is it's audio performance...which is damned good. Now to the nitty-gritty.

Software. Ask yourself this question, "Out of all the games I own, are the majority of the gamemakers Japanese or American?". Most likely, the answer will be Japanese. Hands down, the Japanese have been providing customers with cutting edge games that keep the average gamer glued to his/her seat.

American software vs Japanese software. Well, when comparing the playability, graphics and more of American software vs Japanese software, we are far behind, not only in sales, but in user ratings. Think about it, what games make the front covers of gaming mags 95% of the time? When you read gaming reviews, which games recieve top scores?? I'm sure I don't have to answer this and I'm positive, as a gamer, you know the answer. Why do I bring up this point? The reason is because almost all of the games currently being sold for the XBOX are developed by American companies. The NGC will have almost all of the Japanese gaming support, plus American support, as well (we are suckers for nickels&dimes). This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if the XBOX doesn't think of a smart gameplan fast, we will be left in the dust. How can I say this? Well, the past couple of US attempts at gaming consoles didn't last a season (the Atari Jaguar and 3DO). Of course, the Atari 6700 and Intellevision, to name a couple, were extremely successful, they were also the founders of home gaming.

So, what will your choice be? A console with cutting edge performance and cutting edge games? Or, a console with cutting edge performance but no cutting edge games to show the consoles true colors? You decide, but in the meantime, I'm looking at the Nintendo GameCube...I already have a DVD player.

David Z.

For all the people out there that don't know much about the next generation console battle, let me tell you this: the Nintendo Gamecube is awesome!

The Gamecube isn't the most powerful next-gen console coming out this year. That award goes to the Microsoft X-Box. But you know what? Second place isn't bad. Then you have to remember that the reason Nintendo has always been so popular is because of the sky-high fun factor. When it comes to making games that are fun and addictive, Shigeru Miyamoto just can't be beat (that would be Nintendo's top game designer).

Each new game that Nintendo makes is just a little bit better than everything else that came before it (With the exception of their new ideas for the Zelda Franchise). It's one of the only video game companies that constantly continues to come up with fresh new ideas time after time after time.

Eternal Darkness, Luigi's Mansion, Madden NFL 2002, Metroid Prime, NBA Courtside 2002, NHL Hitz 2002, Phantasy Star Online, Resident Evil, Simpson's Road Rage, Soul Calibur II, Star Fox: Dinosaur Planet, Star Wars Rogue Leader, Super Monkey Ball, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Wave Race: Blue Storm are some of the new titles being developed by Nintendo and various other third party companies. Most of these will be released before the year is over. Many of them will be released on Nov. 18, the same day as the Gamecube Console. So to all the people out there who tell me that the Gamecube won't have any good games, let me say that you don't have a clue what you're talking about.

I personally think that no one else can compete with Nintendo. While that's just my own personal opinion, there just happen to be tens of thousands of people out there who would be willing to back me up on that....

...This machine, first of all, is easily more powerful than the PS2. Second, many games coming out for the Xbox are coming to the GameCube as well. SSX Tricky, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3, and many others. GameCube is even getting SSX Tricky this year(like near its launch) and Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 will be released sometime in ... This is more than I can say for the Xbox, which won't be getting SSX Tricky till ... and THPS3 until early next year. Why am I making such a big deal out of these two games? First, they are both the most antcipated games of the season and will easily sell the console that they are on. Plus, GameCube is getting the WHOLE Residents Evil series on the GameCube by ... next year, while Xbox won't have any.

Designing games for the GameCube is easy, as it is for Xbox, and unlike the PS2. Plus, Xbox will NOT BE SUPPORTING DIAL UP FOR ONLINE GAMES. GameCube will by next year.

The controller for the GameCube is almost a clone of the PS2 controller, which is small, but not too small for bigger hands, and fits comfortably in your hands. The Xbox controller is HUGE and bulky. When I used it at Electronics Boutique, it was thick and the buttons were stiff, although the analog stick was nice. The buttons on its face were WAY to close togther, and I don't know how anyone will be able to pull off any combo moves in fighting games, because its almost impossible to push one without pushing another, even by accident. The GameCube controller was designed with simplicity in mind, although it features only one less button than the PS2 controller.

Ther GameCube does not have DVD playback, because it uses a minidisc, that holds twice the amount of DVD discs. The GameCube will feature a pop up disc tray, similair to those found on the Dreamcast and Playstaion(1).

Overall, I think the GameCube will be the system for me, because it will have alot of Third Party support, and will be cheaper. The reason the N64 had NO 3rd part support was because nobody wanted to develop for a system that was cartridge based, so they all went over to the only other console at the time that was using a CD format, which is why the PS1 has SO MANY games(like over 800).

Finally, the GameCube will feature a 485mhz processor by IBM. They chose IBM because of their advances in copper chip technology. Now, listen close. A copper chip by IBM runs much smoother and cooler than Intels Pentium(which Xbox uses). PLUS, copper chips that clock in at 400mhz can achieve processing power atleast equal to a Intel chip clocked in at 700mhz. See where I'm getting? GameCube uses an copper chip clocked at 485mhz, and Xbox uses a pentium clocked at 733mhz. GameCubes's not looking so shabby anymore, is it? GameCube can also produce 8 simultaneous textures per object, compared with the Xboxes ability to only perform 4.

While the Xbox may still have an advantage over the GameCube, I think it will be a closely fought battle. I plan on getting a GameCube when it comes out...

If you're a football fan, then this GameCube combination is probably the best one for you. Not only do you get the black console (which looks 10x better than the Indigo one IMO), but you also get the latest in EA's long-running Madden franchise. The Madden franchise has been the top football franchise for years, and this version will surely appeal to football fans more than Wave Race: Blue Storm.

The rest of the package is pretty nice as well, with two additional excellent games, an extra controller, and a memory card. Can't beat that!

First off, I find it a little odd that people are reviewing the game without having played it. That said, however, I feel compelled to offer my opinion on those who say Xbox (also not yet released) is better. In my humble opinion I have found Nintendo's games to be outstanding. Both the Mario and the Zelda series' have been the best I have seem on any platform or by any software maker. Yes, they are less violent and "adult" than many titles, but that in no way diminishes their playability. The mutli-player racing games and NFL Blitz have also been huge favorites.

I play games on my PC, Nintendo 64, PS2 and have even tried Dreamcast. The PC is my favorite choice for real-time strategy and first-person shooter games. When it comes to adventure, sports or racing games, however, Nintendo wins hands down. They spend a great deal of time optimizing the game for play on the handheld controller, rather than porting keyboard-based games to the console, as I have heard Microsoft will do with the Xbox. And again, some of the Nintendo titles are top notch.

If you want a hard drive, floppy, RAM, etc., buy a PC. If you want DVD, buy a DVD player. But if you want a true GAME console, buy a Nintendo GameCube.

The Gamecube is a nice gaming system, an ample sequel to N64. The system is small, and easy to hook-up. Game discs are also very small, about the size of a mini-disc. The biggest drawback is the small number of games available at launch, but this will definitely change quickly as Nintendo will be releasing it's own titles for the GC, plus other companies will release cross-platform games (Crazy Taxi, Batman: Vengeance & All-Star Baseball 2002 are already out for PS2 & GC) and GC exclusives (the Resident Evil line). The controller takes a little getting used to, but feels very comfortable and natural, even less complicated than the PS2 controller after awhile. Graphics have been fantastic in the games thus far, and will only improve.

For those who wonder if this bundle is a good deal, I have done the math for you, based on what the items in the bundle sell for in most stores, and on the net: Gamecube system = $200, Controller = $35, Memory card = $15, 3 games = $150, Total = $400; plus a few bucks for the magazine subscription. So this is about what you would pay in stores...if you think you will like all three games included with this bundle: Rogue Leader is a MUST-have, and the reason I bought a Gamecube. The graphics are spectacular, and they gameplay in general is smooth and enthralling; Luigi's Mansion is a nice Super Mario-type game, where you catch ghosts in an attempt to find Mario...this game is fun, but perhaps not for the hard-core gamer; Madden is the standard for football games, if you like the NFL, then Madden is always the one to get. The memory card is necessary to save games, and you will likely want to get at least one extra controller for multiplayer games, so it just comes down to whether or not you think you will like the 3 games it comes with.

Overall, this Gamecube bundle is a solid, though not overwhelming, value. The System itself is a great value, and I recommend picking one up!

First of all, let's get something straight. Nintendo intended their console to be a GAMING machine while microsoft intended X-box to be a multimedia center. Judging by the fact that gamecube doesn't have DVD or CD capability isn't fair in this respect.

Nintendo designed many systems over the years that have "kiddie" games. I can name many on the gamecube that are not. For example, Rogue Squadron II, Resident Evil, Smash Bros Melee, etc. The rumor that nintendo makes kiddie systems is false.

Now, on with the review......
I'm not gonna bore you with technical terms. The gamecube supports great graphics and Surround Sound. The controllers are comfortable (the only problems I found with them is they are fairly small and the Z button can be hard to use with the same finger that you use for the R button). The memory card now uses an enhanced block system (remember the N64 Memory cards). Like the PS2, it has a menu screen that will come up if you have no disc inserted or have the tray open. It keeps track of time, sound options, and allows you to edit memory card files.

Rogue Squadron looked simply astounding and never experienced slowdown at all, even during heated battles with tons of laser blasts and explosions. Rouge Squadron also interfaces with the gamecube's calander to change minor elements in the game (Day and night in some levels for example).

Luigi's Mansion had great graphics and sound as well. Although the premise of the game sounds childish, it's actually quite an addictive game.

Madden 2K2 sports some great graphics as well as ease of gameplay. BE WARNED THOUGH. Saving a season of Madden will require almost an entire memory card. buy an extra if you want to save on this game.

Overall, this is a great system and I reccommend it to gamers of all ages.

This is a great system, correcting the major error of the N64 system (Nintendo has eliminated the cartridge format for an optical disk). This pack comes with Madden 2002, a great football game; Luigi's Mansion, the first to star the lesser-known plumber Luigi in his quest to rescue his more famous brother Mario; and Rogue Leader, a new Star Wars game from Lucas Arts that, by all current reviews, is nothing less than astounding and a huge improvement on previous Star Wars games. And for [price] with the system 3 games, memory card, and extra controller, this is a great deal. I'm eagerly waiting for November 18, 2001...and you should be, too.

As an avid fan of all gaming systems, I say this. The new war is about gaming -vs- entertainment. Do you want a gaming system or a DVD player? I say "let the games begin".

I own all the major systems that have come out over the years and the Nintendo GameCube pulls a lap ahead of the competition with an all gaming system. From smoother graphics to better system resource management, the Nintendo GameCube is superior. Statistically there are difference between Nintendo GameCube and other systems. Think of it like a car. In the quarter mile, the car built for racing wins. With all the extras like A/C and a convertible top you become slower and less repsonsive to the goal at hand. In other words, in a race would you want a car built for the quarter mile or a car built only to look like it can win the quarter mile? (GameCube is the race winner here)

I played PS2 (choppy as usual), XBOX (good but not the best), and GameCube (honestly almost flawless gameplay).

The GameCube is designed for game developers and players. The only one of it's kind. Where do you think the cool games will be? It's your choice, but remember what your looking to do. Play games. And there is only one system out there that focuses on only games. That is my friends Nintendo GameCube.