"And in this corner... [UPDATED 7/2003]"

Small. Everything about Nintendo's next-generation console is small. The console is small, the controller is small, the disks are small...even the box it comes in is small. It's around the size of a Dreamcast or a PSOne, really. What does it all mean?

Well, Gamecube is a year and a half old, and the results so far have been decidedly mixed. While it continues to lag behind Xbox in America, GC is REALLY kicking the Xbox's butt in Asia. People may scoff, but Japan is one of the world's leading economic powers and their opinion matters. Many GC games turned out great - Metroid Prime, Zelda, and Eternal Darkness - while many turned out to be disappointments - Super Mario Sunshine.

What does the future hold? Who knows, but GC 2 is already in development...

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GRAPHICS
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The same technology of the PowerPC is in the Gamecube's ''Gekko'' CPU. Running at nearly 500 mHz, it is decidely slower than Xbox and much faster and more efficient than the PS2. Memory seems to be a limiting factor already for Gamecube, but no less so than with the other consoles. The graphics chip, ''Flipper'', is made by ATI and certainly cannot stand up to the raw power of the nVidia GPU in the Xbox. It reminds me of the GeForce2 versus Radeon wars, though: while Xbox can push many more polygons, Gamecube can make those polygons look a bit better. Memory-wise, MoSys' low latency 1T-SRAM, though untested, sounds like an efficient, low-cost solution. The total 43MB of onboard memory is overshadowed by the 64 MB shared 200 mHz DDR RAM of the Xbox, obviously. All in all, though, the GC turns in a middle-of-the-road performance.

9/10

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SOUND
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Hamstringing Nintendo's console here is a design decision. Xbox is not mobile at all, so it can output DD 5.1 sound because of this; it is meant to always be connected to a good home theater. Gamecube is far more casual; this is something that is meant to be taken anywhere a TV set exists. A lower number of simultaneous voices supported by the hardware and bandwidth limitations mean that Gamecube would have been unsuited to playing DVDs, even if Nintendo had included this functionality. Though it doesn't support 3D sound by default, GC can ''fake it'' with MusyX Prologic II technology, but the bottom line is that Xbox wins here, too. While GC is a good leap ahead of the PS2 in terms of graphics and processing power, it is less of a step ahead of the PS2 in terms of sound ability.

8/10

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CONTROLLER
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A hybrid of the N64 controller and the Dual Shock, the GC controller has pros and cons. The sticks are well-designed and superior to the other systems. The digital button hidden inside the L and R analog triggers is a fantastic idea; the applications for such a system are many and varied. The staggered layout and differing heights of the four main face buttons and their disparate shapes and sizes are more intuitive than the four identical buttons of the PS2 and the flat plane of the Xbox . The buttons feel quite solid and well-made. The Z button, however, is genuinely hard to deal with, as it is too far to the outside of the shoulder and is harder to depress than the R button for the N64 controller, for example. The small digital crosspad has this problem as well. All in all, though, the sheer innovation of the digital presses and the sleek 3D topographical approach win over these flaws.

9/10

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GAMES
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Nintendo is without question the most talented first-party developer ever. They have strong mascots (Mario vs. Crash Bandicoot, anyone?) and strong franchises. Second-party developers are plentiful, with Factor 5 leading the charge. Third-party developers might be attracted to Nintendo this time around for ease of development. As with the N64, though, Nintendo is fighting a losing battle with the PS2 in terms of market share, and thus many ports of Dreamcast and PS2 games have been released for the GC in lieu of new, exclusive content. Skies of Arcadia, Phantasy star Online 2, and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle are all old DC games.

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AVAILABLE TITLES AS OF 7/2003
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Great Titles Available (These are the system-sellers, the true ''killer apps'') - Super Smash Bros. Melee, Metroid Prime, Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker , Eternal Darkness, Animal Crossing, Resident Evil, Super Monkey Ball 2

Very good titles (Just short of being essential, but perfect if you like the genre or subject at all) - Star Wars: Rogue Leader, Pikmin, Super Monkey Ball, Madden NFL 2002, Waverace: Blue Storm, Tony Hawk 3, FIFA Soccer, XG3 Extreme G Racing,.

Decent-to-poor titles (I never bother with stuff like this, but the good ones might be worth a rent or borrow) - Cel Damage, Simpsons Road Rage, Crazy Taxi, SSX Tricky, Luigi's Mansion, QB Club 2002, Universal Studios Theme Park Adventure, All-Star Baseball 2002, NHL Hitz, Tarzan Untamed, Batman Vengeance, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2, etc.

COMING SOON - Soul Calibur II, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Viewtiful Joe, Tales of Symphonia, F-Zero GX, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Metal Gear Soild: Twin Snakes, Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, and more...

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BUY THE GAMECUBE IF...
======================

*** You love multiplayer - FFX. GTA3. MGS2. Notice anything? They're all great, immersive, and...basically single-player. Gamecube is THE party system with SSBM, and it's only getting better. With party games like Super Monkey Ball and plenty of wacky, easy-to-get-into racing games coming to the system, you'll have a fun time. Oh, and it has four controller ports without a Multitap.

*** You have a good computer - Games like GTA3 and Halo are coming to the PC in bigger, better packages. Many key games for the other consoles (such as Return to Castle Wolfenstein or Max Payne) are already on the computer. Compare this to the chance of seeing Mario Sunshine on the PC anytime soon.

*** You don't need a DVD player - Obviously, the GC does not play DVDs. This is a big disappointment for some, a nonissue for others. Don't forget that you need to buy a DVD kit for Xbox and you'll probably want a remote for the PS2. The PS2 and Xbox aren't perfect DVD players, either.

*** You love Nintendo games - Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and other beloved Nintendo franchises are exclusive to Nintendo systems.

*** You love Resident Evil or Sonic - The rest of the famed Resident Evil/Biohazard series will be GC exclusive. Sonic Team is reportedly ''in love'' with the GC, and it is probable that most of the new Sonic games will only appear on GC.

*** You don't have broadband - Though Nintendo has developed both a 56K modem and a broadband adapter for GC, they are essentially useful for PSO and not much else.

*** Portability matters - Not only is the system light enough to carry around in a bag or backpack, it can even be played in a car with a Mobile Monitor. One can easily see how carrying the GC from dorm to dorm or to a friend's house is fun and viable.

*** You're strapped for cash - When all is said and done, the GC is a cheaper, plus most of the peripherals are cheaper, too (you don't have to buy a $35 Multitap or a $30 DVD kit, for instance). It's also viable to buy a GC and then an Xbox or a PS2 once their prices drop.

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DON'T BUY THE GAMECUBE IF...
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*** You live on Square FF - Though Nintendo and Square are not totally divided, the only FF game coming for the cube is Crystal Chronicles, which is more a combination of Secret of Mana and Chrono Cross than anything else (it will still probably rock).

*** Realistic racing is your forte - Great simulations like Gran Turismo and games like Project Gotham will tend to appear on the other two systems.

*** You love modding and level designing - With no hard drive, GC is unable to support the kind of data storage a multi-GB hard drive can sustain.

*** Volume matters - PS2 already has a gigantic library with hundreds of old PS games.

*** You're a casual pirate - With DVD recorders set to explode in the next 2-3 years, GC will be largely immune (at least in the U.S.), as its disks are smaller and it has no hard drive.

*** DD5.1 is important - Xbox games like Max Payne take full advantage of the surround sound support of the Xbox. If you want TRUE surround for a lot of games, get the Xbox.

*** AND, OF COURSE, THE COROLLARIES OF MOST OF THE FORMER SECTION ***

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CONCLUSION
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Does Nintendo have a future with the Gamecube? Maybe. Will PS2 win the ''platform wars?'' Undoubtedly. Can Nintendo, with a good amount of success, even the market a bit? Sure.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/22/02, Updated 07/15/03