Why do people say that the Gamecube sucks?/ Gamecube Thread

[Jamisonia]

The controller is so well designed for a 3D world its mind boggling. It grips you hand perfectly. The A button, the main button in most games is front and center, with the other buttons radially spinning out from it. Each button has a unique feel, and be hit off of simple slide from the A button. The A button is even concave and smooth to aid in this process. The X button, oh the X, it can actually be reached the from the home position with little effort. This cannot be said of the diamond pad. The L and R trigger, have a great analog feel, how unfortunate it was not utilized more. Even the Z button, which is arguably the worst placed button on the controller will make sense with time.

[Flake]

Even the Z button, which is arguably the worst placed button on the controller will make sense with time.

That button was either brilliant or terrible, depending on decisions the developers made. The onus was on them to make it not suck. It was probably one of the best 'menu' buttons I've ever seen since you have to be deliberate in reaching for it.

[isiolia]

15 years from now people are going to be scrambling to find a working PS2 - the gamecubes will keep chugging along, though.

I dunno, the Slim PS2s will probably be rather reliable. Few moving parts.

GCN controller, IMO, works well for games designed around it, but can be awkward for certain genres (fighters, for example) or multi-platform games. To me, that makes it fall short of being the best.

[wootcube]

I managed to get used to the gamecube controller. Previous generation I had a PS1, so the PS2 felt more natural. However, I never could get the Xbox controller to feel normal. It was too close to the design of the PS2 so I couldn't help but think it was "different" every time I used it, like using a third party PS2 controller. On the other hand the gamecube one managed to differentiate itself enough for me to not feel like I was using a third party controller all the time.


Also I liked the fact that I could play portable games without having a handheld system.

[Balasubbie]

Was there ever a 3rd party controller that compensated for the GCN's questionable d-pad whilst still remaining a traditional pad? Ruling out the GBP Hori-pad immediately. The official first party pad doesn't deal with 2D very well, on many levels. 3D, on the other hand, it sunk in eventually and it's the one I always use for reference, regardless of console. Brilliant, all round, in the regard.

I think reverence for the Gamecube, much like the Dreamcast, caught on long after its death, where we collectively stopped and paused one day to consider the system on its
own merits and thought "That's pretty awesome". Mind, there's always exceptions.

[Croooow!]

Was there ever a 3rd party controller that compensated for the GCN's questionable d-pad whilst still remaining a traditional pad? Ruling out the GBP Hori-pad immediately.

There are 3rd party Wii Classic Controllers that have Gamecube plugs. I've heard decent things from them but have never used one myself.

[Flake]

I use a retroport SNES adapter for 2D gameplay. It's pretty much the greatest thing ever made.

[Para]

I'm not a PlayStation fanboy by any means but the PS2/PS3 controller is the best designed controller. Period.

There is a reason why every recent controller mimicked its design to some extent, and the new "Classic Controllers" for Wii are basically a 100% copy.

The GameCube controller isn't that bad, minus the god awful D-Pad and the R and L buttons kind of suck but it is still pretty good. The Jaguar has the worst controller ever made.

[Flake]

There is a reason why every recent controller mimicked its design to some extent, and the new "Classic Controllers" for Wii are basically a 100% copy.

...take a look at a PSX controller lying next to an SNES pad sometime.

[The Last Horseman]

There is a reason why every recent controller mimicked its design to some extent, and the new "Classic Controllers" for Wii are basically a 100% copy.

...take a look at a PSX controller lying next to an SNES pad sometime.

Little bit of ownage there.

But since we're on the topic of controllers, the Gamecube was my first home console, so I prefer controllers like it. On the other hand PS2 sucks horribly controller wise. I hate the boxy feel and even the even sticks. Uggh.