GameCube, Playstation 2 or X-Box?

Which do you like the best and why?

My son has a GameCube and a Playstation 2, but I could not bring myself to support Microsoft and buy the X-Box. He is only 5, and said that the controller is too big and he doesn't like it.

The GameCube seems to have better kids games and he has been totally fascinated by Star Fox Adventures lately... unfortunately, those bastards at Microsoft bought the company that makes the Star Fox games for Nintendo and will probably stop developing future installments of the series.

The Gamecube also has things like the Luigi series and all the standard Nintendo fare. Tristan seems to like the Gamecube best.

The Playstation 2 has some good kids games like Ecco The Dolphin, Stitch and Scooby Doo. The graphics on the Playstation 2 are not quite as good as the graphics on the GameCube though. I actually have 2 games for myself on the Playstation 2 though... Grand Theft Auto and State of Emergency... good games.

I have not tried the X-Box, so I cannot comment on it... I have heard bad things about it but I have not used one.

What do you think?

I don't like video games, so I can't comment.

AzureStar said:

You will learn to love them very soon, baby... very soon indeed... or you will be very bored, very often.

IceNine said:

I think I will soon be very bored...

AzureStar said:

Awww... we will do something else while Tristan and the others play games!

I don't have any of these systems yet but I too have been wondering which one is best. I'm leaning towards the GameCube since I've always been a Nintendo kid myself. I still say that old school nintendo games are hard to beat. How can you deny such classics as Excite Bike, Pro Wrestling and Gumshoe? You can't!

TRON said:

You're right! Old school NES is the best!

All three! Why not, they are all very cheap nowadays with the recent price drops.

Here's my advice, and I know my games:

• The PS2 is by far the best purchase right now. It has a huge number of games, all of the best new releases, and its a DVD player too, and it plays old Playstation 1 games. Bottom line is - all the games are on the PS2.
  
• The XBox is great value for money in terms of hardware but there aren't enough decent games to justify the purchase. Currently on the shelves there really is only HALO - the rest all stink, and if you don't like Halo then you're left with a wasted purchase. My Xbox has been gathering dust for ages. However if you have a broadband net connection the XBox live service (online gaming) is launching and it's a lot of fun so far.
  
• The GameCube is by far the cutest piece of hardware, and the cheapest. However there aren't enough decent games on it yet either. My GameCube has an inch of dust on it. Super Monkey Ball is OK for a while but difficult. Luigi's Mansion is good but short. Super Mario Sunshine is great though, as is Starfox Adventures. And the new Zelda game after Xmas will be incredible.
  

If you don't own any of the three, get a PS2 and you won't regret it. If you already have a PS2 and want a second console, either get a GameCube with Super Mario Sunshine or else wait for the XBox lineup to improve - forthcoming games like Blinx and Splinter Cell are pretty decent and will make the XBox a slightly more attractive proposition.

In case you needed another reason to own a PS2 - Grand Theft Auto 3 Vice City is released in a few weeks. 80s music, Miami Vice style clothes, brilliant

Hey IceNine - just because Microsoft have purchased Rare doesn't mean there won't be more Starfox games for GameCube. The character Fox McCloud is actually Nintendo's own IP (Rare don't own it, nor do Microsoft).

If your son is young, get a GameCube. Between Mario Sunshine and the new Zelda game the GameCube is a far more suitable console for younger gamers (and older ones like me ).

If you were worried about the XBox controller, Microsoft are now shipping the Japanese controller (Controller S) in Europe and the US. I've been using it for months and although it is still too big and not half as nice as the GameCube controlle it is a lot smaller than the old Xbox controller and easier to use.

Thanks for the information, Ian!

I originally bought Tristan the GameCube because he wanted Luigi's Mansion... we ended up getting a lot more games and he really prefers the GameCube to the Playstation.

I have been told that there are a great number of titles being released for the GameCube this holiday season and that there will be a lot of games for both kids and adults. If this is true, it will greatly increase the allure of the GameCube.

Now... for another question:

I have been intrigued by Perfect Dark or whatever that game is called... it looks pretty good. Have you played that game and if so, what do you think of it?

IceNine said:

Perfect Dark is "okay" - and old shooty game on the Nintendo 64 so if you have one of those old babies you should be able to pick up a copy of PD pretty cheaply. To be honest, Goldeneye was a better game (also by Rare) but it hasn't aged very well I'm afraid

Actually I almost ended up working for those guys last year. But their location is a bit remote and I don't drive so it would have been hard for me to get to work each day

Well IceNine if you are looking for more good GameCube games:

• Animal Crossing is BRILLIANT. I highly recommend it.
  
• Ikaruga is an incredible old-school shooter (currently out for Dreamcast) that is coming out on GameCube soon. Really good blast!
  
• The new Zelda game will be incredible. You should check out some of the video clips of it in action over on http://www.ign.com
  
• Metroid Prime looks like a nice shooter for the GameCube
  
• Super Mario Sunshine is great fun
  

Depending on how old your son is... the next big thing on the PS2 is "Grand Theft Auto 3 - Vice City". I know some of the lads working on the game. It really is going to be the fastest selling game of all time, mark my words. But it's not really for kids... a tad violent and all that. So don't ditch the PS2 just yet To my mind, the PS2 has had all the best games in the last 12 months such as Grand Theft Auto 3, Metal Gear Solid 2, Ico, Rez, Frequency, Jak & Daxter.... all really high quality titles. The GameCube has a handful of decent games with a few more to look forward to, and the Xbox has one decent game and not much to look forward to (although I've been playing Unreal Championship online and it is great fun).

It really depends on what sort of games you guys like... if you like shooting games like Goldeneye and Perfect Dark then it probably IS worth getting an XBox to play Halo and Splinter Cell. Halo really is very good, if you are into that kind of thing.

I personally lean towards the Playstation myself as well. They seem to offer more games and you can use PS1 games on PS2.

As far as the remotes go I have found some really cool things on the internet that's worth looking at. I'm an old Arcade person and love fighting games so if your anything like me look at the link. I haven't tried it myself but looks like it could be fun taking apart the unit and creating something cool. Might be good for a child as well.

http://wrongcrowd.com/arc...ckp2.shtml

If you try it then let me know how it turns out.

Oh yeah this is cool as well... you can use on most all game units.

http://www.x-arcade.com/a...ystick.htm

This is actually the one I want now!!! They just had a price drop as well.

Much Love,
LoLinex

Yeah I saw a similar arcade stick at ECTS and it was really nice but silly me, I never noted who made it. Really nice.

I'm a huge fan of MAME - very handy for reliving those old arcade classics! However some day if I am very wealthy I will buy an original Tempest and an original Centipede cabinet. Mmmm!

:: I miss the original Nintendo, but then I became addicted to Sega with the Sonic series. I don't know whats better from a GameCube, Playstation 2 and X-Box me only played on a Playstation 1 me just go to the mall aracade to play games too cheap to go buy me a new video game system

ian said:

Without a doubt man!!! I'm in the process of looking for some Real Arcade games. The first one I get will be Galaga and then Centipede. One I want as well would be that motorcycle one where you sit on it.

Much Love,
LoLinex

Games RULE!!!

Dreamcast because it emulates nintendo,supernintendo,and sega genesis.My kids have at least 300 games for it now.
And yes they also have a playstation and playstaion 2.

IceNine said:

Hi Icenine, Playstation 2 for me...do you have the network adaptor for the playstation 2? If so, me and you should go head to head and battle it out on the net...i love video games!! Do you play sporting games?