"Okay, maybe I was a LITTLE harsh on Nintendo in my previous GCN review…"

It’s all the N64’s fault!
If any of you read my last review, you know that I completely bashed Nintendo into the ground and beyond when it came to its game library. Okay, so I went a little hard on them. I apologize. I don’t know what made me be so hard on them, because Nintendo has such a great reputation in the video game world. I mean, let’s face it, without Nintendo we probably wouldn’t be playing all the games we do today. The only beef I have with Nintendo other than maybe some of the games on the GCN that don’t suit my tastes is that it has fallen from its lofty position of the video game world and no one gives it the respect it deserves. I mean, ten years ago, in the height of the days of the SNES, Nintendo and the SNES were the greatest things since sliced bread. The Genesis and other Sega systems stood little chance against the SNES, even if it was falling behind the times with the cartridges instead of CDs. However, even though Nintendo had a great reputation at the end of the SNES’s life, it totally killed itself with the Nintendo 64. Nintendo actually was starting a deal with Sony in 1994 or so to create a CD-based system for its next console. However, Nintendo decided that it didn’t trust Sony and let them go, collaborating with Phillip’s instead. Well, we all know now what a bad, bad, bad idea that was… The deal fell through; Sony came out with the Playstation; Squaresoft, one of Nintendo’s greatest developers, signed with Sony and never made another major Final Fantasy game for Nintendo (except for the major disappointment that was Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles), claiming that the Nintendo 64 cartridges were behind the times and could not hold the graphical and memory capabilities that the Sony Playstation boasted; Nintendo kept the cartridge-based idea (which was ultimately the downfall of Nintendo); and, in my opinion, the Curse of the Nintendo 64 has passed over to the GCN. The GCN has come out with some very good and maybe even classic titles, but still in my opinion it is a little disappointing.

Quite a powerful little rectangular prism…err, Cube
I never did dislike the GCN in hardware respects. To Nintendo’s credit they have come out with quite possibly the greatest hardware marvel yet. The GCN boasts strong capabilities graphically, as well as in the audio department. Games such as Metroid Prime and Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles are some of the greatest graphical accomplishments to this day for any console. The console allows for short load times and little slowdown. Surely Nintendo worked hard on the console’s technical aspects, which creates a lot of potential for the Cube.
The console is also very aesthetically pleasing. A rectangular prism, not really a Cube, the GCN is designed for small storage space and easy transportation. The smallest and lightest console on the market today, it has a handle on the back for easy transportation as well as other features such as progressive scan features and internet play (which is unfortunately used very, very little, and only featured in a few games, such as Phantasy Star Online). The controller is also, in my opinion, the best of the three modern consoles. It is contoured to fit your hands perfectly, and even the L and R shoulder buttons are curved to fit your fingers. It is a little bigger than the PS2 controller but much smaller than the behemoth Xbox monstrosity. The only problem I have with the controller is the sudden absence of the Z-trigger that was featured on the N64 controller. The Z-trigger has become a Z-button in front of the R button, which is a shame because the Z-trigger simulated an actual trigger for games such as Goldeneye and Perfect Dark for the N64. Too bad they got rid of that.

How can the Xbox compete with such classics as Universal Studios Theme Park Adventure?
Probably the biggest problem is still the game library. Nintendo does have great games out, such as Super Smash Brothers Melee and Metroid Prime, as well as other games that have created loyal fan bases, such as the Resident Evil series, Eternal Darkness, Pikmin, Animal Crossing, and other games. However, what I am probably most disappointed with is Nintendo’s attempt at being simple and innovative, more so the former than the latter. Nintendo announced that it would continue to make games that anyone could pick up and play. This perpetuates Nintendo’s long-time reputation of being “kiddy.” This is true, unfortunately, because if you look at Nintendo’s library versus the libraries of the PS2 and the Xbox, you will clearly see that the GCN library is directed towards the younger generation. However, many of these “kiddy” games are actually pretty good, and it is a shame that many people will never play these games because they’re not “cool.” Nintendo is also trying to be innovative in their games, which is not bad at all, because new and fresh ideas are what keep the industry ticking, but the problem is these innovative ideas often end up being asinine, “kiddy,” or simply not fun. Examples of these include the idea of staying in a circle throughout Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, spending half your time sailing around the world and playing a song to change wind directions in Zelda: Wind Waker, and other things of the like. Some innovative ideas, however, have turned out quite nicely, especially the real-time idea, used in Animal Crossing, and the “live a life” idea, which Nintendo is milking for all it’s worth.

Who needs Square Enix? We’ve got Kemco!
However, the Curse of the Nintendo 64 has struck with a devastating blow, and that pertains to third-party development. Nintendo lost Squaresoft with the Nintendo 64, and many other third-parties have followed suit. Most recently, Factor 5 (the Rogue Squadron series) and Lucasarts have considered leaving the GCN for greener pastures in the PS2 and Xbox. Most disappointingly, Rare has left. The Nintendo 64 was doomed to fail simply because all the third parties that developed for the console were basically bad third parties. These have carried over to the GCN, but much worse. Now, Nintendo is left with hardly any third-parties at all, while the PS2 and Xbox thrive on third-parties. Nintendo is stuck with such third-party developers as –winces- Kemco and Disney Interactive. It still has some good third-party development, most notably Capcom, and (thank God!) Square Enix has recently come back (although we have yet to see a quality GCN title from them). However, the GCN has been on life support, barely still living because of Nintendo-developed titles and the Resident Evil series.

GameCube, the last bastion of true gaming
However, Nintendo has thankfully kept its console dedicated truly to games. I am personally nauseated and infuriated with how the gaming industry has turned into a multimedia industry. The PS2 and Xbox also play DVDs and CDs, and the Xbox (I think, don’t quote me on this) has Internet access. The GCN, however, plays only games. It is extremely disappointing how the industry has evolved. Whatever happened to the halcyon days of gaming, where it was all about the games? It is unfortunate that Sony got into the gaming industry, because it defiled it by making game consoles into little CD/DVD/game players. I sure hope to God that Nintendo thrives once again and rises up to the top, because the fate of the gaming industry ultimately depends on it, whether the gaming masses realize it or not.

So, is it worth $99.99?
In terms of value, the console is a great buy. In fact, this low price is probably what is keeping it alive the most. If you have the money, as long as you can appreciate any game even if it is deemed “kiddy” by some gamers, buy it. If you are looking for deep epics, mature games, or anything like that, you may not want to buy it. However, if you have gaming friends and a love of multiplayer games, get it, as Nintendo is known for putting out some of the best multiplayer games ever. However, the lack of Internet gaming may seriously be hurting it in multiplayer respects. However, if you like playing with three other people instead of 63 other people, then give it a shot. Just hope that Nintendo has a stronger future, because even though it has some good games out now, it really needs more.

Good Points:
-Great graphical capabilities
-Best controller of the three consoles
-Small, light, practical console
-Has a very good Nintendo-developed game library
-The only GAMES ONLY modern console (no DVD players or CD players)
-Capcom remains loyal to the GCN
-Square Enix is back!

Bad Points:
-Lack of strong third-party development
-Nintendo has gained a bad “kiddy game” reputation
-Some games are too simple
-Some games are founded on bad ideas simply to be innovative
-We won’t be seeing any more games from third-party god Rare

The Bottom Line:
Personally, for the sake of the industry’s future, I feel obligated to remain loyal to Nintendo as I always have. In regards to my previous review, no, I probably won’t be owning a PS3 when it comes out, and if I do, I’ll buy Nintendo’s new console as well. Nintendo, despite its recent failures and blemishes, is still a great and ingenious company with great ideas and lots of history. Knowing how stubborn Nintendo is at times, they will probably fight in these console wars for many generations, putting out games until its untimely death. Nintendo merely needs more third-party support. Once it gets that again, we may well see a console that surpasses the great SNES. Until then, however, we will just have to patiently wait.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/18/04, Updated 04/01/04