Dumbest/Stupidest/Shittiest/All-around worst Nintendo console

[marktheshark]

Sorry for bumping this old thread. Just wanted to add my 2 cents.

Anyways. Even though the N64 aged pretty poorly today, it still holds a special place in my heart. The Gamecube, however, is the 1st system that disappointed the hell out of me during it's lifespan. I got it back in Christmas 2002 & within less than a year, I was already wanting to get a PS2 instead.

The controller is good for quite a few games, but it's just a hassle playing any fighters or even some Game Boy games with it. The small D-pad & the weird button placement & size is guilty of this.

Some genres on the Gamecube aren't represented much better than on the N64. There was like, only one 2D fighter on the system (not including the ones in compilations.) The shoot em' ups were still poorly represented. Besides Ikaruga & Chaos Field, there just wasn't much else. The RPG library on Gamecube isn't much better than on the N64. The only ones that were noteworthy are Tales of Symphonia & maybe Lost Kingdoms 1 & 2. 

[Joe Redifer]

It always amuses me greatly that this thread exists.

[Tatsujin]

[DragonmasterDan]

 The RPG library on Gamecube isn't much better than on the N64. The only ones that were noteworthy are Tales of Symphonia & maybe Lost Kingdoms 1 & 2. 

Baiten Katos and Baiten Kaitos Origins are both pretty good. If you're into strategy RPGs, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is spectacular.

[Black Tiger]

Some genres on the Gamecube aren't represented much better than on the N64. There was like, only one 2D fighter on the system (not including the ones in compilations.) The shoot em' ups were still poorly represented. Besides Ikaruga & Chaos Field, there just wasn't much else. The RPG library on Gamecube isn't much better than on the N64. The only ones that were noteworthy are Tales of Symphonia & maybe Lost Kingdoms 1 & 2.  

It really depends on what you count as a 2D fighter. Soul Calibur II is a 2D fighter that simply uses 3D graphics, like SFIV. The PSP 3D version of Drac X isn't a 3D game.

What did the N64 have for proper shooters other than these?

Dezaemon 3D -looks like Layer Section II for 32X
Star Soldier 64
Bangaio -if it counts


Gamecube at least has-

Ikaruga
Shikigami No Shiro II
Chaos Field
Radio Allergy
Star Soldier
Space Raiders -if it counts


The N64 only has Quest 64 as far as anything that comes close to a RPG. The Gamecube has some proper ones that are considered good by many people, plus it has PSO, which many not be a regular RPG, but it is one of the greatest games ever made.

The way that I look at it, even if the same number of games in a genre is available for two consoles, if one console has good to great ones and the other has mediocre to poor ones, then the libraries are worlds apart. Plus, even if you're talking comparable quality, when dealing with such small numbers, 1 title versus 3 means a 200% larger library, which is a big difference.

The fact that the GC supports GBA games is and really was a big deal at the time. The N64 never officially had anything comparable.

[SignOfZeta]

I wrote up a post similar to Black Tiger's earlier today but the internet ate it.

The GC has Soul Calibur 2, CvS 2, a bunch of (better than you'd think) Naruto and DBZ games. It also has Kinikuman, which I f*cking LOVE. Obviously that's no PS2-grade selection of fighters, but it kicks the shit out of what the N64 has; wrestling and Mortal Kombat.

Shooters are a similar thing, a small selection but vastly superior to what the N64 has (basically nothing).

As far as I can tell the N64 is loved by people of a specific age mostly because of the timing and maybe Zelda tOoT (which is hugely overrated, IMO). Those same kids who were in that perfect age bracket were also trying to "grow up" when the GC was released so they though it sucked compared to other "mature" systems like PS2 and Xbox.

Objectively the only thing the N64 really excelled at were the Pokemon games (which, without the GBC games to link with, were nearly useless) Mario, and Zelda (sorta). It really just pretty much sucked at everything else.

The GC on the other hand...while the volume of good software is low, its certainly there, and the hardware itself is great, IMO, dead reliable, compact, plays all GB games made up until that point, a very solid controller, 480p output.

The GC sometimes reminds me of the PSP. If you go to Target or wherever and look at the PSP selection you'd think that system was the biggest piece of crap ever. There isn't anything in the shops except Madden, SOCOM, and Bratz. Its hell. If you look at my game shelf at home though you'd only see about 15 games, but (almost) all of them are f*cking great. The same sort of thing happened to the GC. It took a long-ass time, but over the lifespan of the system some really great things showed up. It was just easy to forget them because they went out of print and were never seen again.

There are also a few good JP-only GC games. Mobile Suit Gundam: Senshitachi no Kiseki (aka: The Ace Pilots or The Pilot's Locust) is every bit as good than any of the PS2 Gundam games (much better than many). PCE fans would also like Bomberman Land 2, which for some reason stayed in Japan while the shitty B-Man games like Jetters were localized instead.

[Lilgrafx]

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[Lilgrafx]

 The RPG library on Gamecube isn't much better than on the N64. The only ones that were noteworthy are Tales of Symphonia & maybe Lost Kingdoms 1 & 2.  

I loved the paper Mario games

Baiten Katos and Baiten Kaitos Origins are both pretty good. If you're into strategy RPGs, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is spectacular.

I loved the paper Mario games

[blueraven]

? Quote fail?

[thrush]

I agree with basically everything Sign of Zeta said (the only exception being that I think it's Mario 64 that's over-rated).  I particularly liked the comparison with the PSP.  I would still, personally, take the N64 over the VB, though, as the latter gives me a headache.  That may say more about me than the system, though, as most early handhelds give me headaches.

[vestcoat]

I finally cast a vote for the N64.  I like it, it has some good games, and it's strong in a few genres (multiplayers, racing, FPS), but I have to admit it's not Nintendo's finest effort.

It's similar to the 3DO:  the 3DO library suffered because it was the first system really capable of pulling off flashy FMV crap that was all the rage, while the N64 was loaded with ill-conceived 3-D attempts because of its advanced capabilities.  It's probably safe to say that any system swept up in some new technology craze will get hosed in the games department.  Like how the first talkies sucked because they abandoned the silent movie format that had long been perfected and stretched to the limits, trading it for static scenes with actors standing around a hidden microphone. 

[SignOfZeta]

As bad as the N64 was, it's 1000 better than the 3DO. That thing just totally sucked.

[Mathius]

As bad as the N64 was, it's 1000 better than the 3DO. That thing just totally sucked.

Was the 3DO worth the $700 asking price bitd? No sir! But, in today's prices? Yes as long as you buy it along with Star Control II. That game just simply rocks!

[vestcoat]

Captain Quazar!

Apparently Zeta is a fun hater.   

[_joshuaTurbo]

3D0 > N64

I can only think of 4 games that could be considered RPG's for the N64
Paper Mario, Shadowgate 64, Ogre Battle 64, and Quest 64.

While the GC didn't have the kind of RPG's that PS2 fans enjoyed, the ones that it DID get were much better than ^that^ offering....
check http://www.amazon.com/The-GameCubes-best-RPGs/lm/2BW0RPCYCMWZX for some good gamecube RPG's for cheap!

The N64 only has Quest 64 as far as anything that comes close to a RPG. The Gamecube has some proper ones that are considered good by many people, plus it has PSO, which many not be a regular RPG, but it is one of the greatest games ever made.

The way that I look at it, even if the same number of games in a genre is available for two consoles, if one console has good to great ones and the other has mediocre to poor ones, then the libraries are worlds apart. Plus, even if you're talking comparable quality, when dealing with such small numbers, 1 title versus 3 means a 200% larger library, which is a big difference.

N64 had 387 releases.
GameCube had over 600 releases.

People that piss on the GC probably didn't give it a fair chance.  My point of view it was Nintendo busting their asses to try to win back the masses that they shit on with the N64.  The N64 left such a rancid taste in peoples mouths that the GC suffered.  Similar to what happened to the Sega Saturn after the Sega CD/ 32X garbage.