What game console should I get?

[HeatherJay]

We just bought a Gamecube for our 5 year old (and for my husband). It's good because she can easily use the controllers. Also there are plenty of games geared toward younger kids. My biggest complaint with the Gamecube is, on one of our games, the load times are outrageous! I'm talking almost 2 minutes to load between levels! Crazy! The game I'm talking about is Finding Nemo. We don't seem to have a problem on the other games like Mario Party, though.


Love, Heather

 

[SniperPatrol]

That is the games problem, the load times are bad on all systems.

 

[ChristianTeen]

The Gamecube is fun to play as almost all of it's games are unplayable on the X-box or PS2, but the downside is that games on X-box and PS2 don't come out on Gamecube, as it only makes Nintendo games.

True but they can occasionally. A Crash Bandicoot game came out for the GBA.

 

[Brian]

True but they can occasionally. A Crash Bandicoot game came out for the GBA.

Actually three Crash Games came out for GBA and two Crash games came out on PS2, GCN, and Xbox (counting Crash Nitro Kart). Crash was always owned by Universal, not Sony. He's not Sony exclusive anymore. Same deal with Spyro.

The GameCube is getting Tales of Symphonia next year. I read some import reviews of it and it sounds very promising. That should help fill the void of RPGs for that system.

The GCN also has a ton of Zelda games, though you have to order Nintendo Power (which I did), get certain games, or buy a new GCN to get some of them. I heard lots of good things about Wind Waker, but I hate how it and Nintendo get put down becuase of the art style and it's difficulty (Most Zelda games actually are a bit on the easy side, but Wind Waker gets put down more than Link's Awakening for some odd reason). I love the art style of Zelda Wind Waker and I'm 24.

The GCN isn't a "kiddie" system either. Sure it has Mario and cartoony looking games, but many of those so called kiddie games have excellent gameplay that is good for all ages (no, I'm not talking about the Spongebob stuff or stuff based or TV shows or cartoons. I'm talking about games like Super Monkey Ball or Mario games that look kiddy and are great games). The GameCube also has games like F-Zero GX, Metroid Prime, Eternal Darkness, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, and Resident Evil. The "kiddie" bias is stupid.

The PS2 has DDR, lots of RPGs, great action games, Contra, and more. It has the best selection of games of all of the systems out now, despite having inferior hardware compared to the GameCube and Xbox.

I don't recommend the Xbox. It does have some good games, but most of the games are available on PC and other systems and it's highly overrated. The first/second party support is lacking compared to Nintendo's first/second party support.

 

[Les Grands Pieds]

We just bought a Gamecube for our 5 year old (and for my husband). It's good because she can easily use the controllers. Also there are plenty of games geared toward younger kids. My biggest complaint with the Gamecube is, on one of our games, the load times are outrageous! I'm talking almost 2 minutes to load between levels! Crazy! The game I'm talking about is Finding Nemo. We don't seem to have a problem on the other games like Mario Party, though.


Love, Heather

Finding Nemo is a crumby game. I hear the graphics aren't that great on it, either. The GameCube is a very advanced system, but if you put a crappy game in it, there is really nothing you can do. What you have to do is check out reviews before you get a game, that way you'll know about it's weakness and strengths before-hand. Looking at reviews is a wise thing to do before buying practically anything!

 

[Brian]

Finding Nemo is a crumby game. I hear the graphics aren't that great on it, either. The GameCube is a very advanced system, but if you put a crappy game in it, there is really nothing you can do. What you have to do is check out reviews before you get a game, that way you'll know about it's weakness and strengths before-hand. Looking at reviews is a wise thing to do before buying practically anything!

Well said, but it's also good to judge a game for yourself and not trust reviews that nitpick, complain, and give very little infomation about a game. I don't recommend going by the number ratings either. Reading reviews is good, but they should not take the place of your opinion.

 

[HeatherJay]

Well, it's good to know that it's just that particular game, not the system. Thanks for the info, guys So if YOU GUYS were buying games for a 5 year old (and a 33 year old ) for Christmas, which ones would you recommend? And where are some good places to find decent reviews?

Love, Heather

 

[In Eivad]

Well, if the reviews on the internet or in magazines isn't enough, then perhaps you could try it out in stores when they come out (if they have it) or just ask friends with similar aged children as yours.

Games based on movies or TV programs are usually not as good as you think they are. Companies specialised in making games usually produce better, since they don't have to base it on anything, so it is free-ranged.

The GCN isn't a "kiddie" system either. Sure it has Mario and cartoony looking games, but many of those so called kiddie games have excellent gameplay that is good for all ages (no, I'm not talking about the Spongebob stuff or stuff based or TV shows or cartoons. I'm talking about games like Super Monkey Ball or Mario games that look kiddy and are great games). The GameCube also has games like F-Zero GX, Metroid Prime, Eternal Darkness, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, and Resident Evil. The "kiddie" bias is stupid.

That is a good point. I recommend games like Mario as most kids will like it and it probably will also attract some adults' attention.

 

[forgivin]

Well, it's good to know that it's just that particular game, not the system. Thanks for the info, guys So if YOU GUYS were buying games for a 5 year old (and a 33 year old ) for Christmas, which ones would you recommend? And where are some good places to find decent reviews?

Love, Heather

Toy-r-us is getting better about knowing what games are any good. I really recommend renting some; Blockbuster has a Freedom Pass deal right now. It gives you a month to rent whatever. You can take a game back the next day and exchange it or keep it for 2 weeks or exchange one every 3 days for a month. It's like $20.00, and regular rentals are $5.99 for 5 days.

 

[Andrew J.B.]

I can just tell you not to get an Xbox unless you are REALLY into whatever games you can find on it. The Xbox has a TON of hardware problems, and it will fry out the hard disk really easily. A normal power surge that would simply cause your breaker to pop will fry out your hard disk. Once the hard disk is gone, you have to send it into Microsoft, the single worst customer support group on the planet. Then you have to pay several hundred dollars for the new hard disk, shipping, and labor.

PS2 - Wait until 2005. You won't regret it at all.

Gamecube - It is Nintendo, what can I say? It has the most innovative hardware. It doesn't fry easily. Downside, you have no hard disk.

My personal favorite is Gamecube, but I really like PSX and PS2. Just don't get an Xbox.

 

[forgivin]

I can just tell you not to get an Xbox unless you are REALLY into whatever games you can find on it. The Xbox has a TON of hardware problems, and it will fry out the hard disk really easily. A normal power surge that would simply cause your breaker to pop will fry out your hard disk. Once the hard disk is gone, you have to send it into Microsoft, the single worst customer support group on the planet. Then you have to pay several hundred dollars for the new hard disk, shipping, and labor.

PS2 - Wait until 2005. You won't regret it at all.

Gamecube - It is Nintendo, what can I say? It has the most innovative hardware. It doesn't fry easily. Downside, you have no hard disk.

My personal favorite is Gamecube, but I really like PSX and PS2. Just don't get an Xbox.

That is completely not true. That is almost the most dishonest thing I have seen about the Xbox. Please could you post legitimate links to support that claim.

 

[SniperPatrol]

You are right Forgivin, that is totally not true

 

[Arnediad]

*is yet again too lazy to read the whole thread*

I'm getting an Xbox soon, due to the homebrew potential. I can't wait to chip it then get Linux running on there.

What I've seen of the PS2 I haven't liked. The graphics are now lagging behind both the Cube and the Xbox, and its PS1 backwards-compatibility isn't that great. The console was also wayyyy overhyped (anyone remember the ads that claimed all the games would be like previous FMV?)

The Cube is decent, but the controller is funky and it is the only one of the lot unable to play DVDs. The proprietary standard for the disks limits homebrew potential.

The Xbox is my favorite out of the three. There are some amazing people out there working on making the Xbox more useful all the time. The internal hard drive also comes in handy, and the built in Ethernet connectivity is a plus. However, it seems to have the smallest game selection of the three, and they still want USD$50 for Halo :\

 

[Arnediad]

Also Andrew, what you have said about the Xbox rings with PS2 fanboyism (fanboyness? ) Considering that's a normal PC hard drive in that Xbox, we should really start fearing for our computers' . Also, they will not charge you "several hundred dollars" for the repair even if that DID happen.

And about your Sony comment, read my post above. *coffoverhypekoff*

 

[seebs]

I went for the Cube. I don't care about DVDs; I have many things which play DVDs. The controller is excellent. Homebrew is limited, but you can do it.

The Xbox supports MS, and the PS2 supports Sony. Both are active in anti-consumer activities which harm everyone who uses any kind of computer, listens to any kind of music, or otherwise interacts with their industries at all.

Nintendo just wants to make fun toys.

I'd rather deal with Nintendo.
h

 

[Newsboy1900]

PS2 - Pros - Wide variety of quality games

Cons - Inferior Hardware

XBOX Pros - One of the most powerful systems out there, has a harddrive.

Cons - Big and clunky (both the system and the controllers), and the list of good games is this: Halo, Knight of the Old Republic, Panzer Dragoon Orta

Gamecube Pros - Very powerful. Some extremely great games from Sega and Nintendo.

Cons - the library of software as a whole is somewhat limited, can't play DVDs

lol everyone says gcn sucks cuz no dvd player if your buying a game system i feel your buying it for the system not so u can play dvds IF the gamecube had a dvd player it would cost more

 

[Sgt.Keroro]

I went for the Cube. I don't care about DVDs; I have many things which play DVDs. The controller is excellent. Homebrew is limited, but you can do it.

The Xbox supports MS, and the PS2 supports Sony. Both are active in anti-consumer activities which harm everyone who uses any kind of computer, listens to any kind of music, or otherwise interacts with their industries at all.

Nintendo just wants to make fun toys.

I'd rather deal with Nintendo.
h

exactly how i feel, nintendo is easily the most consumer friendly video game company. Sony and Microsoft are just like cellphone providers, they only care about new customers not the old ones.

Windows XP *cringes*

 

[Felron]

Windows XP =

Service Pack 2 BS =

But I do have one complaint with the posts in this thread. You don't buy a console for customer support, you buy it for entertainment. Purchase the one you find the most enjoyable.

EDIT: I just looked at the date of posts...

 

[MageVortex]

I'd recommend systems by what kind of game you like.

PS2 - Has a large library of games, but its really only worth it (in my opinion) for the RPG collection, and is the only reason i myself would buy one. also, strategy games PS2 is the current king. (mainly strategy rpg's i mean)
Gamecube - Um....it has a ....uniqe list of games. It only has a few really noteworthy game, but most of those noteworthy games are games that really should get played.....i'm not really sure what genre's this systems pushes come to think of it...i'd recommend that you eventually get this system regardless of what you buy now, and play all it has to offer.
X-Box - i myself recommend this over PS2 for multiple reasons.
a. aout 60% of the games that are released for PS2 will also be released on X-Box and look and play even better. (and btw, 60% is a major understatement, its prolly more like 80%)
b. For a while, PS2 has had the RPG market squared (mainly because of Square ) but now X-Box's RPG selection is about to get a major shot in the arm with Fable, KOTOR 2, and Jade Empire, all expected to be AWESOME GAMES! but PS2 still as the quantity of RPG's, X-Box seems to be more into quality.
c. X-Box lives is ....awesome. its the best online service i've ever seen, and plaayed on. its just amazing well made and such.

Thats all for now, ihave to do school stuff!

 

[selune]

Tough, PS2 or x-box. We have a PS2 but crave an x-box for Fable. How about you ask for one and save up for the other?