Introduction

Hi there, and welcome to my first blog on Video Game Sage. This blog is about Nintendo's moderately successful but criminally underrated (so much so that Nintendo apparently regrets releasing it) sixth-generation console, the GameCube, and the REAL reasons why it is still an amazing console over twenty years after it was released and doesn't deserve all of the criticism it has received over the years. The reason why it is still a great console is not just because of Super Smash Bros. Melee or first-party games. It is not because of its graphics capabilities (many of its games do hold up, though). It is not because of its smaller discs. And it is not because of Super Monkey Ball (though those games certainly contribute).

The REAL reasons why the GameCube is awesome: 

1.Game Boy Player

\

The Game Boy Player allows you to play 99% of the games released for the original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance on the GameCube. It is also compatible with most Game Boy accessories, such as the Game Boy Advance Link Cable, e-Reader, and Wireless Adapter. You can play Game Boy games on the GameCube with a variety of Controllers, including the Standard, Wavebird, Hori Digital, Mega Man X, and White Standard Controllers. You can also hook up a Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP to the GameCube using a GameCube-Game Boy Advance cable, and use them as Controllers.

Something that isn't too well-known is that the Game Boy Player is also compatible with Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Color Link Cables, as well as other accessories since the shape of the plugs are almost the same as a Game Boy Advance Link Cable. There is a Link Cable adapter (MGB-004) released in Japan that converts the original Game Boy Link Cable and Four-Player Adapter to a Game Boy Pocket plug, allowing either to connect to a Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and yes even the Game Boy Player. Universal Link Cables (MGB-010) or Universal Link Cable Sets (which contains a GBC Link Cable and original Game Boy Link Cable adapter) can also be used to connect the Four Player Adapter to three other Game Boy Player's.

It is possible to connect four TV's, four GameCube's, and four Game Boy Player's, either with Link Cables or GBA Wireless Adapters. You only need one Game Boy Player disc. Also if you plan on playing a four player game of the Mario Bros. game in the Super Mario Advance series and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, keep in mind you don't need multiple copies of the same game. You can just use your copies of Super Mario Advance 1-4, or use three Super Mario Advance games and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. Also, the Game Boy Player itself is region free. If you have an indigo or platinum GameCube and want to import a Game Boy Player from Japan, it'll work as long as the Start-up disc matches your console's region.

It is also technically possible to connect a Game Boy Micro to the Game Boy Player. A Converter Connector Adapter (OXY-009) is required.

As mentioned above, the Game Boy Player itself is region free and works on any GameCube. Same goes for the games. Original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games of any region work on any Game Boy Player.

Despite the fact that the Game Genie doesn't fit easily in most Game Boy systems, it can be inserted into the Game Boy Player easily even if a Game Boy Wireless Adapter is connected. The GameShark, Code Breaker, and Game Boy Advance Action Replay also work with the Game Boy Player, but are harder to fit.

The GBA Action Replay can be used to force Game Boy Advance Videos to play on the Game Boy Player.

(Manual scan by MegaMan52)

There is a picture in the Japanese Game Boy Player manual that shows the original Game Boy Cleaning Kit can be used to clean the Game Boy Player, which is good because that Cleaning Kit is fairly common. 

The Game Boy Player doesn't work with the Wii (the console lacks the required port, and obviously has a different design) so this is one major reason to keep your GameCube or buy another if you sold it.

2.Nameplate customization

On the original DOL-001 model of the GameCube, the nameplate can be swapped. If you open the disc cover and look underneath it, you'll see two clips that can be pressed to remove the nameplate. Various nameplates were released in Japan such as Animal Crossing, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario Party 5, and Donkey Konga.

3.LAN Options 

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Kirby Air Ride, and 1080° Avalanche are compatible with the GameCube's Broadband Adapter, and have a LAN mode if you don't want to put up with split screen. Double Dash!! also allows up to eight players each with their own TV and console, or sixteen player co-op with two TV's (split screen) and four GameCube's (sixteen Controller ports).

The Broadband Adapter isn't compatible with the Wii either because, again, it lacks the required port.

4.Lots of four-player games 

Like the N64, the GameCube has many four-player games and doesn't require an adapter for this. Some examples are the Mario Party games, Super Smash Bros. Melee, F-Zero GX, Sonic Riders, James Bond games, TimeSplitters games, Rayman Arena, Tetris Worlds, Kirby Air Ride, Star Fox Assault, and Alien Hominid. There are even some multiplatorm games where the GameCube versions allow four players and the PS2 versions don't, such as Rampage: Total Destruction and Pac-Man World Rally.

5.The Wavebird Wireless Controller 

Let's face it, the Wavebird is one of the greatest Controller's ever made. It runs on two AA Batteries, which last for about a hundred hours. It has a guaranteed range of twenty feet, but is actually capable of operating much farther away from the console than that. Some Wavebird Controller's have a frequency of 900 MHz, while others have a frequency of 2.4 GHz. Though some third-party wireless Controllers were released for the NES and SNES, the Wavebird was one of the earliest first-party Controllers coming out in 2002. The Controller is perfect for multiplayer sessions with games such as Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Mario Party games, and the James Bond games. Wireless Controllers may be standard nowadays, but Nintendo was ahead of the game in the early 2000's.

2022 marks the 20th Anniversary of this incredible Controller.

6.Superior versions of many multiplatform games 

If someone recommends a multiplatorm game on GameCube, other people may say "so? That game is also on PS2 and/or Xbox" apparently not aware that the GameCube versions of some games have extra features and better performance. It is well-known that Sonic Heroes is best on the GameCube, as it was developed with that console in mind and before Sonic Team was used to developing for the PS2 and Xbox. But there are some lesser-known examples as well. 

Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly is known to be a buggy and unfinished game no matter what console it is played on. However, the GameCube version is the more playable of the two versions. The PS2 version has a nasty habit of freezing in some levels (especially Crop Circle Country). It also has a rather annoying glitch that causes some sound effects (such as the portal and "swirly thing" sound effects) to repeat constantly until you exit the level you're in. The GameCube version only seems to freeze when you pause the game while underwater or, in rare cases, go back to the title screen. I haven't seen it freeze during actual gameplay, unlike the PS2 version.

In the PS2 versions of the Midway Arcade Treasures trilogy, several games have issues: Smash TV has framerate issues the original Arcade version didn't have, Pit Fighter actually runs faster than the Arcade version, Hard Drivin' runs even slower, and the menu music in Off-Road Thunder is shorter than the Arcade version. For the Xbox version of Midway Arcade Treasures 3, I remember in 2005 people were complaining about a save glitch and possible freezing in San Francisco Rush 2049. The GameCube versions, while not perfect, don't have these issues.

Blog: 

 

The GameCube version of Sonic Adventure is often said to be a bad port, but it is really the definitive version of the game. These screenshots are from a twenty minute video I made comparing the Dreamcast and GameCube versions, both running on their original consoles. The GameCube version has improved visuals with higher polygon counts for the character models, additional shadows, an improved draw distance with less pop-up (very noticeable in the whale section of Emerald Coast), better water effects, and an added ground/floor in the Chaos 4 battle. It also has higher quality audio with clearer music and sound effects (the splashing sounds the fish make at the end of the second part of Emerald Coast, for example, sound muffled on the Dreamcast and clear on the GameCube), and Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound has been added. Some sound corrections were made as well: the monitors in the Chao Garden and the doors in the Egg Carrier are silent in the Dreamcast version, but their sound effects play in the GameCube version. A Free Camera option was added. You can skip cutscenes in the GameCube version. Load times are noticeably different, with the Dreamcast version taking about twelve seconds to load a level while the GameCube version takes about five seconds. Cream the Rabbit makes several cameos. You can play as Metal Sonic in Trial mode if you collect every Emblem. The Station Square Chao Garden has some of the added features from Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, such as the Black Market. There is a Mission Mode that has sixty extra tasks to complete. Perhaps the best addition in the GameCube version is the Mini-Game Collection mode, which has ALL TWELVE Sonic games released for the Sega Game Gear including the first Sonic Drift and Tails' Skypatrol which were originally only released in Japan. The Game Gear games can be played with up to two players, even those that don't have a Versus mode. As an added bonus, you can play the Japanese versions of some of the Game Gear games if you change SADX's text language to Japanese. 

I should note that I compared a later revision of the Dreamcast version (a Sega All-Stars copy containing NA version 1.1 of the game) that features some improvements over earlier Dreamcast copies. Also, as mentioned above, both versions were played using their original consoles (not Emulators or newer consoles). So, this comparison isn't biased. The GameCube version has a lot of additions and even more improvements.

it is often debated whether the PS2 or GameCube versions of Mega Man Anniversary Collection is the best (with the PS2 version usually being favored even though it has several flaws of its own), but in the case of Mega Man X: Command Mission the GameCube version is definitely superior. The GameCube version runs at 60 frames per second, while the PS2 version runs at 30 frames per second. Load times, as expected, are faster in the GameCube version, sometimes slightly and other times by a noticeable amount. The two versions have some exclusive extras, with the PS2 version getting a Mega Man X8 demo and the GameCube version getting a Treasure Radar (activated with a Game Boy Advance) that allows you to find Treasure Tokens that can be used to collect over thirty exclusive Figures. The Game Boy Advance beeps when you're near a Treasure Token. In the GameCube version, there is a vending machine you first come across in Chapter 2 located in the Central Tower (Air City 3rd Street) that is not in the PS2 version. You can spend the Treasures Tokens at this machine, then view the exclusive figures in the Sky Room (where the game's bonus materials are).

Fun fact: In 2004, before Mega Man X: Command Mission was released, a Mega Man X Controller was announced by NubyTech for PS2 and GameCube. It was delayed and only the GameCube version of the Controller was released in late 2005/early 2006, alongside Mega Man X Collection. The Controller was licensed by Capcom and got Nintendo's seal of approval, making it very official.

a

In the PS2 and Xbox versions of Intellivision Lives!, there were some unreleased games that were divided between the two: the PS2 version got Hard Hat, Brickout, and Deep Pockets: Pool & Billiards, while the Xbox version got Takeover, Space Cadet, and Number Jumble. The GameCube version has all six of these games, possibly to make up for being released a year later.

Goro and Shao Kahn were added as playable characters in the GameCube version of Mortal Kombat: Deception. And while it didn't receive a Kollector's Edition release, it does (or at least some copies do) include a character card like the Kollector's Edition releases do. My copy came with a Sub-Zero card.

The GameCube version of Fight Night: Round 2 includes Little Mac, the protagonist from the Punch-Out!! series. It also includes the full game of Super Punch-Out!!. The game also has Progressive Scan and Widescreen support, so you don't have to worry about Super Punch-Out!! looking blurry or stretched.

As mentioned above, the GameCube versions of Pac-Man World Rally and Rampage: Total Destruction allow up to four players unlike the PS2 versions. It is often said that a console being more advanced doesn't mean it or its games are better. But, a console being more advanced can sometimes mean more fun games. The TimeSplitters games are another example of this, where the GameCube versions allow more bots in the multiplayer modes than the PS2 versions.

7.Sonic the Hedgehog games

In addition to two Sega games being released on the console's launch (Super Monkey Ball and Crazy Taxi), Sonic's appearances on the GameCube were a huge deal in the sixth-generation console era. With both Sonic Adventure games, the superior versions of Sonic Heroes and Shadow the Hedgehog, and Sonic Gems Collection being a GameCube-exclusive in America, Sonic was one of the major reasons to own a GameCube during that era. Even now, most of these games hold up quite well and are must-have's. 

Sonic Origins, a compilation containing remastered versions of the first three Sonic games and Sonic CD, was recently released for the Switch (and the other current platforms). Unfortunately, as with other modern compilations like the Mega Man Legacy Collections and Pac-Man Museum +, some unwanted changes had to be made. The music tracks for Carnival Night Zone, Ice Cap Zone, and Launch Base Zone were changed to be based on a prototype version of Sonic 3, similar to Sonic & Knuckles Collection for PC. However, the music tracks are not identical to the prototype and are actually inferior. Hopefully this and the compilation's other issues are fixed someday. I'm not saying people shouldn't buy Sonic Origins (I actually like that compilation despite the fact that it has some obvious flaws). I'm just saying, If you still have Sonic Mega Collection for GameCube and recently downloaded Sonic Origins, I recommend keeping it because it has all of Sonic 3's original music, more games (such as Sonic Spinball and Ristar), and the nostalgic menus. If you don't have Sonic Mega Collection, it is still cheap at around $20.

8.Not as "kiddie" as people thought/think 

Despite popular opinion (that's right, opinion), the GameCube isn't and never was a "kiddle" console. There are over forty M rated games on the console, such as SIX Resident Evil games, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, the True Crime games, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, and Mortal Kombat: Deception. Even Nintendo released two adult games for GameCube: Eternal Darkness and Geist, and they also collaborated with Konami and Silicon Knights on Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. Ubisoft gave the GameCube version of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (also an M rated game) a Collector's Edition release like the other versions. The GameCube version of BMX XXX also happens to be the least censored of the three versions, and taking the cover out of the case and looking at the other side of it reveals a hidden picture (as seen in the video above). But an even bigger surprise is the fact that the GameCube version of Resident Evil 3 is the only version of the original Resident Evil 3 that is completely uncensored (in the U.S. and Canada anyway; I haven't played the Japanese and European releases yet).

Don't even bother using the indigo color as an argument for the console being for "kids only." The Jet black color was also available right on the console's launch, and Japan also got the Spice orange color. Platinum followed only a year later.

9.Lots of great imports

Some people criticize the console's library for having less games than PS2 and Xbox. Well, there's more than meets the eye. A lot more. There are several games released only in Japan and/or Europe that are worth importing. Here are some of the notable ones:

There are Dr. Mario games for just about every Nintendo system, but the GameCube seems to have been left out. Not so. Dr. Mario 64 was released in Japan for the GameCube as part of Nintendo Puzzle Collection. Also included are an updated version of Yoshi's Cookie, and (believe it or not) the unreleased N64 version of Panel de Pon. These games allow up to four players to play and can be played with any of the GameCube's Controllers (Standard, Wavebird, Hori Digital), or a Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP connected to the GameCube. Some copies of Nintendo Puzzle Collection include a GameCube-Game Boy Advance cable. 

Like it or not, the GameCube has a trilogy of Donkey Kong games like the SNES and original Game Boy do. Donkey Konga 3 includes DK, Diddy, and Dixie as playable characters like Donkey Konga 2, and also adds Funky Kong. This also means the Kongs are shown on the screen when four players play, unlike the previous Donkey Konga games. The soundtrack is better than the previous Donkey Konga games, not only having the most songs but also having music from NES and Famicom games such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Mappy (the Donkey Konga trilogy was developed by Namco, after all). If you like the other Donkey Konga games, this is worth importing because it is the best of the trilogy.

Hudson Soft, the company behind Bomberman and Adventure Island, released several remakes of their NES games in an era dominated by 3D games and new ideas. Though some Bomberman games were released for the console outside of Japan, Hudson Soft released remakes of Lode Runner, Star Soldier, Bonk's Adventure, and Adventure Island in Japan. Each game includes some unlockable features, such as commercials (including the American commercial for Adventure Island II) and the Hudson Shooting Watch.

A sequel to Bomberman Land for PS1 was released in Japan for GameCube. It features a 2D, RPG-style story mode where you talk to people and play mini-games. One of the more notable mini-games (which is in 3D) is Bomberman Kart, which was originally released as a standalone game for PS2. Bomberman Kart in Bomberman Land 2 allows up to four players, has three modes (including Grand Prix and Time Trials), includes more than ten tracks (many of which need to be unlocked), has multiple character and Kart selections, and shows replays after each race. It has almost enough content to be a full-fledged kart racing game like the standalone version. Bomberman Land 2 also has additional mini-games that can be downloaded to a Game Boy Advance with a GameCube-Game Boy Advance Cable.

Maybe you've heard of/played the Kururin games on Game Boy Advance (Kuru Kuru Kururin and Kururin Paradise). Well here's Kururin Squash!, the (so far) only console entry in the series, released in Japan. Though the visuals are in 3D, as expected, the game plays mostly the same as the GBA games, in that you ride a helicopter and must move through narrow paths while doing your best not to touch the walls. The levels also become more challenging the more you progress. There are boss battles at the end of each world. The music ranges from intense to calm and relaxing, and some of it is quite memorable. Up to four players can play. One of my favorite imports.

This game was released in America under the title Bust a Move 3000. Some people think it is a port of Super Bust a Move 2 for PS2, probably because it has the same cover art. However, it is actually a port of the first Super Bust a Move but with different backgrounds. The reason why the Japanese and European releases are worth mentioning is because they have two additional modes that the American release doesn't have: a four player mode, and a kind of Space Invaders-style Shoot Bubble mode. If you liked the Bust a Move games for the N64, it is worth importing Super Bust a Move All-Stars or Super Puzzle Bobble All-Stars.

Micro Machines is another franchise that has appeared on most Nintendo systems, but the GameCube was seemingly left out. Actually, an entry was released for GameCube in Europe but by Atari instead of Codemasters. Honestly, it's not as good as previous Micro Machine games though it isn't bad either. The characters are different. Instead of characters like Mike, Emilio, and Spider like in previous Micro Machines games, this game has Grizzly Beard and Aunt Betty. The gameplay, however, is basically the same, with an overhead view and tiny vehicles cruising through several tracks indoor and outdoor. Like Micro Machines 64, up to four players can play this game. Some of the music is catchy, while others are forgettable. I'd say it's worth importing, but only if you're a fan of this series.

10.Action Replay 

Even though the Action Replay is a cheat device, it isn't just for using cheat codes. It can also be used to access hidden features in many games, such as beta content in Luigi's Mansion (remember the Game Boy Horror clock in early screens of the game?), a debug mode in Super Smash Bros. Melee, a test level in Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda in Animal Crossing, etc.

The earlier versions of Action Replay are the best because they have an option to add codes, which was removed from the newer version released in 2007. One of the best codes allows you to play F-Zero AX in F-Zero GX, complete with menus, checkpoints, and Arcade controls with the Logitech Speed Force Steering Wheel. The newer version of Action Replay is still worth buying, though, because it has SD Card support for homebrew material. 

 

       

Both the earlier and newer versions of Action Replay also have a Freeloader option to play imported games, without modifying the console, just by swapping discs. The Freeloader included in the earlier Action Replay discs (as well as earlier Freeloader discs) can also convert PAL games to 60Hz, so they'll work on American GameCube's and American TV's even if the game doesn't have a 60hz option.                

The earlier versions of the Action Replay don't work with the Wii due to updates, so this is yet another reason to keep the GameCube or buy one. 

11.SD Card support

If you read issues of Nintendo Power in 2001 before the GameCube was released, you might've seen pictures of an SD Card accessory. The SD Card Adapter was released in Japan in 2003. It is meant to be used in Dōbutsu no Mori e+ (Animal Crossing) and Pokémon Colosseum. You can take pictures, save them onto an SD Card. and do whatever you want with them. You can print them, use them as desktop wallpaper, post them on a website, e-mail them to someone, etc.

The SD Card accessory, both official and unofficial versions, can be used with the 2007 version of Action Replay for Homebrew material, without modifying the console. Yes, the GameCube has a Homebrew scene. It's just not as big as NES, SNES, or N64. You can download NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, and even PS1 Emulators. Of course, these Emulators do not replace the original systems but can be useful. You can play hacks of various games (such as Mario Adventure and Mega Man 3 Improvement) on a console, without having to spend $50 or more on a cartridge (assuming a hack was even put on a cartridge).

You can play the unreleased Game Boy Advance version of Rainbow Islands on a GameCube with the Visual Boy Advance GX Emulator. It is also possible to play it on the Game Boy Player by using a GBA Flash Cartridge.

Like FCE Ultra for PC, FCE Ultra GX for GameCube has a built-in NSF (NES Sound Format) Player and can play pretty much any NES soundtrack (including Famicom and Famicom Disk System). You can even listen to Mega Man 9, Mega Man 10, and Shovel Knight's soundtracks, since they were converted to NSF, as well as unused music tracks from games such as Battletoads and Kirby's Adventure.

With the CubeSX PS1 Emulator, you can play the beta/prototype versions of Mega Man 8 on a GameCube.

The SD Card Adapter works with regular SD Cards of up to 2 GB, though Datel released an Adapter that allows SD Cards of up to 4 GB.

12.Looks reasonably good on HDTV's

With HDTV's having removed S-Video ports and having Composite video shared with Component video ports, it's gotten more difficult to connect older consoles to newer TV's. Of course, retro consoles like the NES and Sega Genesis are best played on CRT TV's anyway. The thing about GameCube, however, is that many of its games still look modern(ish). Of course, being released in 2001, it is a standard definition console, and depending on your setup it may or may not look good on an HDTV.

The GameCube has its own Component cable, and the original DOL-001 model of the GameCube has a Digital A/V out port where this cable can be connected. Of course, if you've looked for Component cables on eBay, then you've likely noticed that they are not cheap due to the fact that they were only sold online (except in Japan, where they were also available at retailers and came inside a nice box). However, nowadays there are HDMI Adapter's available for GameCube if you'd prefer a cheaper alternative.

Though both the Component cable and HDMI Adapters provide a much sharper picture than Composite, quite a few of the GameCube's games also have Progressive Scan support for an even sharper image. Some games also have a Deflicker setting and a surprising amount of games have Widescreen support as well (more info below).

Since the Game Boy Player doesn't work with Wii, one advantage that the GameCube's Component cable has over the Wii's Component cable is that the former can be used to run the Game Boy Player in Progressive Scan. So this is yet another to keep/buy the GameCube if you want to play Game Boy games with a clearer image.

Super Smash Bros. Melee, Sonic Heroes, and Pikmin 2 have a Deflicker setting. For Melee and Pikmin 2, I recommend turning this setting off for the clearest picture possible. While useful on a CRT TV, turning the Deflicker option on while using a Component cable and an HDTV just makes the image look blurry. For Sonic Heroes, I recommend leaving the option on since the image honestly doesn't look all that different when it's off (and the difference is even less noticeable on an HDTV) other than making the menu graphics look a little more jagged and pixellated. 

Tired of the image looking stretched on your HDTV? Many games have Widescreen support. Some games even have both Progressive Scan and Widescreen support, such as Star Fox Adventures, Super Monkey Ball 2, James Bond 007: Nightfire and James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, the Burnout games, Eternal Darkness, F-Zero GX, Soul Calibur II, R: Racing Evolution, most of the Tony Hawk games (even Pro Skater 4), Need For Speed Underground 2, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, Need For Speed Most Wanted, the True Crime games, Fight Night Round 2, Geist, Super Mario Strikers, Pac-Man World Rally, and Need For Speed Carbon. Even Madden NFL 08 has both Progressive Scan and Widescreen support, despite being a very late release for the console.

Here's another use for the earlier versions of Action Replay. Some games that don't have Widescreen support can be forced to run in Widescreen on a real GameCube. Animal Crossing looks VERY clean when played in both Progressive Scan and Widescreen (it also runs at a smooth 60 frames per second). And now the GameCube version of Zelda: Twilight Princess is playable in Widescreen like the Wii and Wii U versions.

13.Skins 

Several skins were released for the GameCube, both licensed and unlicensed. I remember seeing some of these in 2006/2007. I've seen Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pikmin, Pokémon XD, and various Zelda: Twilight Princess skins. These are licensed. I've also seen an unlicensed Resident Evil 4 skin. A year or two ago, I saw a Sonic Riders skin on eBay which looked to have been licensed by Sega.

14.Game Boy Advance Connectivity 

The Game Boy Advance Connectivity feature is well-known, but only got a moderate amount of attention during the GameCube era. Which is unfortunate, because there are actually quite a few neat features available when linking the two systems. The most notable games with Connectivity are Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime, Pac-Man Vs., Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, and Zelda: Four Swords Adventures.

Sonic Adventure 2: Battle

When Sonic Adventure 2: Battle came out, Sega and Sonic Team made history by not only releasing the first Sonic game for a Nintendo console but also by being the first companies to make use of the GBA Connectivity feature. You can send your Chao to a garden called Tiny Chao Garden on your GBA, and build-up its stats on the go. You can save your stats if you have Sonic Advance or any other Sonic GBA game that has the Tiny Chao Garden. When you're ready, you can send the Chao and its stats back to the GameCube. Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut expanded this GBA Connectivity feature by also including a few mini-games.

Animal Crossing 

Animal Crossing is the only GameCube game released in America that is compatible with the GBA e-Reader (other e-Reader compatible games were released in Japan). Many e-Reader cards were released that can be used at the Town Tune board, the e-Reader machine in the Post Office, inside the Able Sisters Tailor Shop, and on the e-Readers' menu. Two NES games (Mario Bros. (1983) and Ice Climber), thought to be "forbidden" games, are officially obtainable with two of the e-Reader cards. 

In the Tailor Shop, you can download the design tool to a GBA and create/edit designs on the go. You can also use the e-Reader here to scan cards that have patterns. You can then use the patterns on clothing, umbrellas, doors, signs, wallpaper, and floors. You can also put them on display in the Tailor Shop, then your animal neighbors may use them on their clothing or umbrellas. If another player visits your town, he or she can also use the patterns you have on display.

You can use the GBA to travel to an Island. There's a flag on this Island that you can change with any patterns you have. When you're ready to go back to your town, you can download a simplified version of your Island to a GBA. If you leave your Shovel, Axe, Net, and Fishing Rod on your Island, your Islander can use these tools on the GBA. If you go back to your Island on the GameCube, you'll find your tools in the same spots where your Islander left them on the GBA. If your Islander finds any goodies with your tools, he or she may give them to you. One of those goodies is Wario's Woods for NES. If another player is playing and you have two GBA's, you can also trade the GBA versions of your Islands. There are Coconuts on the Island that you can take back with you to your town. When you're back at your town, you can dig the Coconuts and grow palm trees.

When playing an NES game, there's an Advance Play option that allows you to download some of the included NES games to a GBA. Some games such as Punch-Out!! and Wario's Woods can't be downloaded because they're larger than the GBA's RAM.

Pac-Man Vs.

Pac-Man Vs. is one of the finest examples of GBA Connectivity. At least two players are required to play, but there are options for computer controlled Ghosts and up to four players can play. Three players control the Ghosts and look at the TV. The other player, of course, controls Pac-Man, and looks at the Game Boy Advance. The players controlling the Ghosts can only see their immediate surroundings, while the player controlling Pac-Man can see the entire maze. The player that catches Pac-Man then swaps Controllers with whoever was playing as Pac-Man. There are several maze layouts to choose from, Also, Mario provides commentary. Interestingly, the title screen music is from Namco Museum Vol. 1 on PS1.

Pac-Man Vs. is included with all Player's Choice copies of Pac-Man World 2, and some copies of R: Racing Evolution. I believe it is also included with some copies of I-Ninja, and got a limited release by itself.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

The Splinter Cell series is considered best on the Xbox consoles, but the GameCube version of the first Splinter Cell has some cool GBA Connectivity features not in the other versions.

A map showing your surroundings is shown on the GBA. The green arrow is Sam Fisher, the purple arrow is a guard that's been knocked out, and the red arrow is a guard above Fisher. If a guard is nearby, the GBA beeps to warn you. Connecting a GBA also allows a Sticky Bomb weapon to be selected. On the GameCube you shoot the Sticky Bomb using the SC-20K and then activate it with the GBA, taking out any guards that are nearby. If you have both the GameCube and GBA versions of the game, five more levels can be unlocked in the GBA version by completing levels in the GameCube version and then connecting a GBA with the GBA version of the game.

Conclusion

I could go on and on, but I think that's enough (for now). These aren't the only things about the GameCube that make it a great console. Like other consoles, you can hook it up to a Sound Bar or Home Theater System and listen to games in Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound (Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike stands out, because it has seven channel Dolby Pro Logic IIx). Many of its games have memorable soundtracks. A lot of its games have Progressive Scan support and some like F-Zero GX even have widescreen support, making them look reasonably good even on an HDTV. It was one of the first consoles to have an official wireless Controller. Even the demo discs are fun to collect (and play).t

The Cube was and still is an amazing console after all these years, and it deserves more respect. If you haven't played it in a while, it is worth going back to. If you've never played it before, I suggest giving it a chance. 

Check out my YouTube Channel for videos of GameCube demos, beta content, soundtracks, and my A Look at Imports series.

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MegaMan52

I'll add more pics to this blog later.

-MegaMan52