Nostalgia has been much kinder to the Nintendo GameCube than the past was to it. At the time of its release, it was overshadowed by the juggernaut that was the PlayStation 2. Microsoft was a newcomer to the console market as well in the form of the Xbox. The combination of all of that, combined with the issues of the Nintendo 64, caused the GameCube to wind up last in sales among the big three consoles of the sixth generation. So what’s the deal now with the GameCube getting so much love in the retro market? Is it blind love for the past? Has it been accurately reassessed? Now that it’s been 25 years since it was released, now’s a good time to look back.
The Path to the GameCube
Leading into the sixth generation of consoles, Nintendo was in the worst place it had been since the company started making home consoles. The NES dominated the third generation, and the SNES survived stiff competition from the Genesis to win the fourth generation. But when Sony entered the market with the disc-based PlayStation in the fall of 1995 outside of Japan, it was all over for Nintendo’s dominance. It really all came down to discs. That seems so reductive, but it’s the truth.
Nintendo was adamant on sticking with cartridges for the Nintendo 64. The PlayStation, on the other hand, went for discs. That made a world of difference for developers and players. Due in large part to the disc-based format, developers had an easier time with memory, and the architecture of the PlayStation was easier to design for. The Nintendo 64’s cartridges had far less memory, were more expensive to acquire, and the system was much harder to program for. What could easily be done on the PSX was much harder to reproduce on the 64 due to its memory limitations for the games and the console itself. That’s part of the reason why eventually Nintendo needed to create the “expansion pack” to give the system a boost to play certain games.
DVDs were a Game Changer
This gave Sony a huge amount of momentum going into the PlayStation 2. That momentum was propelled even further by switching to DVDs instead of CDs for their new hardware. The PS2 functioning as a DVD player also helped sell it to families when DVD technology was becoming more popular. Starting with the GameCube, Nintendo finally entered the realm of disc-based tech too. The bigger issue was the loss of momentum, the head start Sony had in PlayStation 2 sales, and the fact that Nintendo didn’t end up going with DVDs. But that’s something we’ll come back to in a bit.
Looking at the GameCube as a console showcases how awesome it really was. In many regards, it was better than the PlayStation 2. The hardware behind it was a bit more powerful than the PS2. It would often produce better, sharper visuals and more stable frame rates than Sony’s console. It also had four controller ports to make multiplayer easier. There were also areas to include an internet and LAN connection, even though these features were extremely limited. So by those metrics, it often surpassed or matched the PS2 on most fronts, except the discs. Nintendo, being the unique company that they are, decided to use a mini-DVD format instead of traditional discs.
Hits and Misses
This hurt the GameCube in a few ways. Unlike the PS2, the GameCube couldn’t play other disc-based media. Also, because of the change from cartridges to discs, the GameCube couldn’t play Nintendo 64 titles. The PS2 was backwards compatible with original PlayStation games. There was an addition for the GameCube, the Game Boy Player, that could play all types of games from the Game Boy line, though. Still, that’s a small consolation when the PlayStation 2 could carry over the PS1 library. All of those N64 games were effectively locked to their respective console.
Taking the bad along with the good also extended to the GameCube controller. On the plus side, the GameCube controller feels great to hold. It’s wonderfully ergonomic, and the unique button shapes and layouts make it feel distinct and accessible. The L and R analog triggers are also the best analog-based triggers to have ever been constructed. They feel amazing to use and have a great depth and precision to them. The same can be said about the left analog stick. Its size and range make it possibly the best analog stick of any console.
The Beloved GameCube Controller is Flawed Too
It’s not without faults, though. It has fewer button options overall than its competitors. The Z button from the back of the N64 controller has been moved to be located below the R trigger. That’s fine, but there’s no corresponding button below the L trigger. The PlayStation line of controllers would have the L1, L2, R1, R2 setup that puts four buttons up in that top region. Nintendo would later follow suit with that, starting with the Wii Pro controller. Also, the PlayStation controller would have the analog sticks be clickable to create L3 and R3 buttons. The GameCube lacked those too.
Also, about that right analog stick. It’s called the C stick, as it replaced the C buttons from the N64 controller. It’s fine to an extent. The problem is it lacks the sizeable thumbstick to top it off. Instead, it has a nub that’s harder to utilize. It doesn’t have the same kind of grip for your thumb and makes precise movements harder because of that. Meanwhile, on the left-hand side, you have arguably Nintendo’s weakest D-pad ever. That was one thing Nintendo truly did better than anyone. Here, though, it’s just too small, especially if someone has bigger hands.
A Smaller Library of Hits
When it comes to the game library for the GameCube, that’s where it largely shines. Yet again, it has drawbacks, though. In this case, the drawback is purely due to the insane library available for the PS2. It’s a collection that neither Nintendo nor Microsoft could ever hope to match. But when a game was available across consoles, the GameCube was generally the best console to play it on. However, the Xbox was right up there too, depending on your controller preference. While the GameCube couldn’t compete with the number of exclusive titles the PlayStation 2 had, the quality of what was exclusive was incredible.
We’ve got legendary titles like Super Smash Bros. Melee, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, F-Zero GX, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, the original Animal Crossing, and Kirby Air Ride. Two Zelda games in the form of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, a slew of great Mario sports titles, two Metroid Prime titles, and even the original version of Resident Evil 4.
Still Worth the Hype
So yeah, there are a lot of reasons to love the GameCube. Its shortcomings were not so profound that it detracts from what makes it special. If only the N64 had provided a stronger lead-in and Nintendo opted for standard DVDs. That could’ve changed a lot. But what we got was still wonderful in its own right, and many of its exclusives still look incredible today. If you want to track down a GameCube and some of its bigger games, it’ll cost you. The retro market is beyond the realm of sanity at this point. Still, this is one console that is worth the investment, even 25 years later.
