Video Game Buyer's Guide 2001 - Nintendo GameCube

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page created: 11/29/01

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Nintendo GameCube

Price: $199

Main Processor: IBM "Gekko" PowerPC, 485 MHz

Graphics Processor: 202.5 MHz ATI "Flipper"

Polygons per Second: 6-12 million (actual, with game effects engaged)

System Memory: 40 MB

Audio Channels: 64

Media Format(s): Proprietary 3.125 in. DVD-ROM discs (with 1.5 GB of storage)

On-line Gaming: The GC supports both Broadband and Narrowband (56k) Internet capabilities with accessory adapters (no pricing or release date yet available). Nintendo's plan for an on-line gaming network for GC remains a mystery at this point, as the company is focusing on the launch of the system right now. No current GC titles support future on-line play.

Plays DVD-Video discs and CDs: No

Recommended Accessories: extra controller ($35), memory card ($15), S-video cable ($10)

Dimensions: 5.9"/4.3"/6.3" (W/H/D)

Noteworthy Games Now Available: Star Wars: Rogue Leader (aerial combat), Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 ("Xtreme" skateboarding), Madden NFL 2002 (Pro Football), Luigi's Mansion (platform adventure), Pikmin (adventure/collecting), SSX Tricky ("Xtreme" snowboarding)

Upcoming Games of Note: Resident Evil: Remix (survival horror), Mario Sunshine (platform adventure), The Legend of Zelda GameCube (working title) (role playing game), Metroid Prime (first-person-shooter), Perfect Dark Zero (first-person-shooter), Pokémon (adventure/collecting), Soul Calibur 2 (fighting)

Luigi's Mansion

Resident Evil: Remix

Star Wars: Rogue Leader

Pros

Nintendo's latest addition to the world of video game consoles is the GameCube. At only $199, it's the least expensive of the next-gen consoles, as well as the smallest of the three (there's even a carrying handle on the back, and a sold-separately LCD screen peripheral will be available soon). It comes in two colors (purple and black), with an orange version scheduled for next year. The GC controller is improved, as it feels more like a Sony DualShock 2 (in my opinion, the best of three controllers), while still retaining the versatility of the N64 controller. Speaking of controllers, you can plug four into the front of the GC, while Sony makes you buy a $35 adapter to allow you to connect more than two to the front of the PS2.

Nintendo has finally eschewed the dreaded cartridge format for a proprietary 3.125" DVD-ROM media format (with a 1.5 GB storage capability). Developers are happy because not only do they have more freedom in creating games - thanks to the greater storage capacity and versatility allowed by ROM discs - but also game sound effects, dialog, and music can be greatly enhanced over the limited cartridge. Even happier are the game publishers. Ever wonder why N64 games were so expensive, while PS one games were $10-$20 cheaper? Simple: cartridges are damned expensive to produce compared to stamping out optical discs. So, no more will you have to plunk down upwards of $60 or $70 for the newest Mario or Zelda adventure, and Nintendo now promises stronger third party developer support.

If you're a fan of classic video game franchises like Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, Metroid, and newer franchises like Perfect Dark and Conker's Bad Fur Day, then the GC is your only choice. These are Nintendo-owned properties that will be receiving GameCube-only follow-ups in the next year or two. Don't forget that Nintendo also holds the exclusive video game publishing rights to the Pokémon universe. Just a couple of month ago, developer/publisher Capcom awarded their flagship Resident Evil franchise solely to Nintendo. By the middle of next year, look for a remake of the original 1996 Resident Evil game, but this time completely overhauled for the next generation hardware (early in-game videos are nothing short of stunning), as well as GC ports of RE2, RE3, and RE: Code Veronica, followed by the all-new RE: Zero and RE4. And the GC is the only next-gen system to have a Star Wars game set in the original trilogy's universe... well, honestly, the GC is the only next-gen system to have a decent Star Wars game at all! Star Wars: Rogue Leader is a drool-inducing aerial combat game where you can pilot X-Wings, Y-Wings, B-Wings, snowspeeders, and the Millennium Falcon.

Cons

Nintendo has never been able to live down its image that its systems are geared towards younger gamers. While the company has made progress in providing a wider array of titles from E-rated to M-rated, there's no denying that the GC is aiming at a younger audience. Sure, Nintendo might have acquired the Resident Evil series, and their new franchises Perfect Dark and Conker are both very deserving of their M-ratings. But people still can't shake the facts that the GC is purple (there are few black ones on the market, and you never see them in the media), its biggest franchises consist of E-rated games, and it's the only system you'll ever see a Pokémon hopping around in.

While Nintendo has made strides to gain strong third party development support, they still do not possess the support that Sony, or even Microsoft, has gained thus far. Most of this stems from Nintendo's reliability on the publisher-unfriendly cartridge in the 32/64-bit era, while its competitors went with discs, but now that they've jumped on the optical disc bandwagon, this could change in the coming months. But for the time being, you'll see a much broader range of titles coming from Sony and Microsoft.

Nintendo's on-line gaming plans are a complete mystery - even to many of GC's software developers. Also, the GC does not play DVDs and CDs because of its use of the smaller discs (however Panasonic is supposedly developing a GC/DVD/CD combo next year called "Q," but Panasonic claims that it will never leave Japan).

On to the Sony PlayStation 2