Why would I want cartoon Zelda or a screwed-up 3d Metroid when I could have gun packing, sword-wielding Dante from Devil May Cry? Before you hammer me with ‘Helpfuls’ hear me out. The GC is not a three-star system in truth, but for the time being it is.

For starters, let’s not even look at the hardware here, since I will flat out agree that Gamecube is indefinitely stronger than the PS2, being one year younger. In comparison to the Xbox, let’s just say the Gamecube outputs practically the same, since shots of Dead or Alive 3 when put side by side with Soul Caliber 2 don’t make much of a difference, unless you’re extremely picky on the little edges and what not.

Instead, let’s look at the games since that’s really what matters. I could give less about how the controller feels in your hand, you can always buy a third-party one if it matters that much. Video-gaming has always, and forever will be about the games, because if it doesn’t have good games, it doesn’t matter whether the console can microwave you popcorn, play dvds and mp3s, clean your freaking room or make a mocha frappachino. You buy a console so you can play good games, and so whether or not Gamecube is going to bite the dust or declare victory depends on two things.

1) The kind of games you like.
2) How much money you can shell out.

Okay the first factor right now with the GC is a big iffy. So many questions are being asked, and Nintendo fanboys are automatically reasoning, Zelda’s going to be cool man, regardless of what the heck Nintendo throws at them. At the same time there are disgruntled ex-fans who have turned to the PS2, watching the Gamecube with a raised eyebrow, wondering if Chibi-deformed Zelda even cuts close to the Dante on the PS2. And yes, right now it is a matter of taste. Does cartoon Pokemon get you all rilly, or does Solid Snake have you squeezing your knuckles in anticipation? I personally prefer Solid Snake, and Dante hands down compared to the strange odd-ball stuff that’s been coming from Nintendo lately. I would have been happy with the non-cartoon Spaceworld 2000 Zelda that was featured, but Nintendo took a weird turn for the worst and transformed him into a little round-faced punk. Pikmin looked somewhat fascinating, but then I noticed somehow that PS2 was coming out with Grand Theft Auto 3 and I shrugged it off.

The big thing that has me scratching my head right now is most especially Metroid. I love Metroid. I’ve played every Metroid game since the Nintendo release, and like most rabid fanboys, I own every single one, Gameboy, Nintendo and of course my favorite being Super Metroid on the SNES. I bought a GBA just in anticipation of the next Metroid on the handheld system. Now I watch the GC thinking, what the heck did they do? Metroid isn’t being made by Nintendo, it’s being made by some new 2nd party developer Retro with no experience at all with Metroid games. I read news about Nintendo having to apply pressure on the obviously delinquent team for being late game development, and it sounds rather like all the hushed silence is the total failure of game and nothing quite like the submerging of Metal Gear Solid 2. I’ve seen recent screenshots, and I flinched as they managed to turn Metroid into some sort of Half-Like like game (at least visually). I have no idea where this is going to go but it does not appeal to me. In fact, it scares me.

Mario is another particular taste of mine, and I’ve played all the games up to Mario 64, where the game turned a bit weird for me, and I didn’t really find it interesting. I was too busy playing Resident Evil on the PSX to notice or care at the time. Mario Sunshine however looks pretty good. It’s a Mario 64 but spiffed up to the level that I’ve wanted it to be. Full freedom, huge levels, oversized enemies and cool Mario moves. Mario however has never been enough to drag me over to a system. Mario is an icon of Nintendo’s amazing retro past, but in these times, an Italian plumber in a red suit isn’t working. Kids are growing up, and times are changing. Mario may still be a huge icon to twelve-year olds all over, but not to me.

Right now I may sound so darned disgruntled, you’re ready to hurl the vegetables at me. But worry not, I’m getting to the good part. Gamecube has succeeded in pulling over some good games, finally! They signed a deal with Capcom for the Resident Evil series, and that is definitely going to be an excellent sign for Gamecube prospects. In addition, Gamecube has managed to snatch SSX Tricky onto their system, although PS2 owners will be getting that as well. And Super Smash Brother Melee is going plain awesome if you’ve got enough folks over to share in the fun. It’s a game that simply does not exist on any other platform, super-exclusive to the Nintendo system.

Okay and now we can blab about Nintendo’s track record. They’ve had their good and bad moments, N64 being a bad moment, SNES being a very good moment. They however definitely have a history of producing hits even at the lowest points in their career. N64 was close to bombing, but Nintendo managed to spew out Pokemon and create total fanaticism to offset their losses, as well as shelling out Pokemon Stadium to boost their sales. GameCube doesn’t look like its going to really invigorate retro-times, no SNES here. Instead Nintendo as it always has done, delves toward a new next-generation of radical ideas and gameplay, which either will bust or become a total hit.

At the current moment, I can say folks picking up a GameCube this winter will not have all that much fun, unless you plan on sucking up as much gameplay out of Luigi’s Mansion, Super Monkey Ball, and Pikmin. Sorry but the cool games are coming next year. That’s when Resident Evil 0 comes out, Turok Evolution, Pokemon, Mario Kart, Resident Evil 4, Duke Nukem Forever, Soul Caliber 2, and Metroid Prime, the true hits of the GC will be out.

This is not a system to pick up on launch, much the way PS2 was not a system to pick up during its launch. There isn’t anything good, period. Right now the PS2 is hitting its golden moment, and worthy of grabbing for MGS2, FFX, Onimusha 2, SSX Tricky, Grandia 2, Grand Theft Auto 3, and the list goes on. GC has about one game under its sleeve, Super Smash Brother Melee, and the rest is up to your taste.

Oh yes, I did mention something about money being involved here, didn’t I? Gamecube is a system to pick up if you don’t have the big bucks to shell out for a PS2, and that is totally true. GC will be a relatively cheaper system compared to its counterparts. But, keep in mind, Nintendo being true to its principles tends to jack up prices on accessories. GBA is a cheap system, but the link cable, battery pak, and light display are not. Same deal with the GC, expect to shell out anywhere from $50-100 getting that extra controller, memory card, and so forth. Nintendo is definitely not the worst offender since Sony charges $34.99 retail for its bloody 8MB memory cards, but all the same they all love charging high prices on peripherals.

Next year, GameCube will turn into a 4-star system, possibly even 5-star. But until then, save your money, let prices cool a bit and don’t get into the frantic holiday buying. Take it easy and wait for that to happen.


UPDATE 11/13/01
New up and coming game releases, such as Tony Hawk 3, SSX Tricky and Star Wars Rogue Leader have added some spice to the otherwise bland, dull opening lineup. This system may be worth getting sooner than I anticipated so I'm upgrading it from 3-stars to 4-stars. As long as Nintendo doesn't screw this up, it looks to have a brighter future soon.

Update 5/18/02
Uh with Nintendo being pretty stupid and deciding to delay the release of chibi deformed Zelda from Dec 2002 to...get this...Feb 2003, I think Nintendo has just shot itself in the foot.

Recommended: Yes