KnockBack, Episode 26: Nintendo GameCube
Added 2018-08-09 16:01:00 +0000 UTCIn 2001, Nintendo followed up the poor-selling Nintendo 64 with a console that would barely do 60% of N64's total sales. It was called the GameCube, and when compared to its contemporary PlayStation 2, it was largely looked at as a children's toy, and an unpopular one at that. But for those who ignored the haters and delved into its rich catalog, Nintendo's GameCube arguably offered the best pure gaming experiences of its generation, and left a surprisingly positive legacy in the wake of its weak retail performance. So let's take 90 minutes to talk about the box-shaped console with the inexplicable handle, and why it still resonates with us today.
Comments
Wow, the closing comments about PS5 games being $70 and then Nintendo games being $80 are incredibly prescient. Great episode.
Colin Moriarty
2025-04-23 10:59:17 +0000 UTCThat's an awesome story. Damn taxes! Thank you for your support, and for listening. <3
Colin Moriarty
2019-01-08 23:02:02 +0000 UTCI Agree
Blake Wall
2018-08-26 02:13:49 +0000 UTCLove Knock Back. This particular episode really took me back to the day I picked up my GC. I lived in Rosedale NY at the time, about 2 miles away from Green Acres Mall in Valley Streams. I walked several trips to the mall that day because I was short on cash and did not account for taxes and the price of the game. My picky bank barely had enough for the advertised priced. The coin star machine took a percentage of my money. The dude at the register felt sorry for me every time I came back and I was short. I was determined to buy it that day and I did with no games. Came home, set up everything only to mess around with the startup Logo for hours until my older brother came home from work and took me to the mall again to buy Luigi’s Mansion. Ahhh, the memories. The GC was my last Nintendo console since. Great job on the KnockBack, your brother is killing it as well.
JayLou83
2018-08-24 04:20:29 +0000 UTCCaptain Toad's a clown, though.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-22 18:36:23 +0000 UTCAwesome to hear. Thank you for listening!
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-22 18:36:06 +0000 UTCCaptin Toad throws turnip's similar to Mario 2 I haven't played Odyssey Though
Blake Wall
2018-08-22 04:35:52 +0000 UTCOne of my favorite episodes of knock back 👍
domenic squadrito
2018-08-16 06:55:08 +0000 UTCWe need Phantasy Star V.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-16 03:40:33 +0000 UTCWould be super interesting for Nintendo to acquire SEGA, though I feel like if it was going to happen, it would have happened already.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-16 03:40:25 +0000 UTCNot able to sleep... but can’t stop wondering how cool it would be for a Nintendo Sega JV. Revitalizing After Burner like game with new game play mechanics, updated graphics taking Yu Suzuki’s game to the next level, or taking Phantasy Star with a new epic. Sorry for me rant.
Mike Tse
2018-08-15 09:22:33 +0000 UTCI loved the Game Cube, especially Wave Race. That being said, towards the end of the podcast Dagan mentioned a spin-off to focus or new IP or more mature content. What if Nintendo acquires Sega. They can create a console called NSX, Nintendo Sega Experience. Where Nintendo can focus on their core Mario, Zelda, Kirby, etc and Sega can create new IP and revitalize some other their older IP. For example, there could be two SKUs, a Nintendo-Centric bundle that includes a new Mario 3D open world game just like back in the days of the NES Action Set; and Sega centric bundle with a Shinobi stealth like game, think of a 2D Metroid Vania game that features stealth tactics ala MGS. Anyways... it’s fun to dream.
Mike Tse
2018-08-15 04:41:28 +0000 UTCAgreed.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-14 20:12:26 +0000 UTCPlaying RE4 with that controller was such a great experience. That controller is truly unrivalled even today.
Callum Munro
2018-08-14 15:44:55 +0000 UTCBoth would have been preferable, but with only one or the other, GCN is the superior choice, I'd say.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 23:35:17 +0000 UTCI did read into platinum a while ago. Apparently part of the problem was funding. They had to keep making licensed games for others to stay afloat. I had also read they had issues funding Bayo 2 even backed by Nintendo. Sounds like mismanagement of funds and teams, especially with the scalebound fiasco
John Lynch
2018-08-13 22:44:53 +0000 UTCI had a GameCube instead of PS2. Never regretted it. I loved my GameCube. Such a great console
John Lynch
2018-08-13 22:39:50 +0000 UTCYeah, Zero was an outlier for sure. Possibly due to who developed it (though they also make Bayonetta...)
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:17:33 +0000 UTCFor sure, for sure.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:17:13 +0000 UTCI got the MQ discs from Nintendo Power, as I recall.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:17:05 +0000 UTCDefinitely under the radar, for sure.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:16:53 +0000 UTCEveryone had the memory card realization at some point. It happened for me on PSone.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:16:44 +0000 UTCYou're very welcome. Thank you for listening!
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:16:22 +0000 UTCI don't even remember where I got my details when I was researching, but it appears you're right.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:16:08 +0000 UTCIt was a wonderful console. Truly.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:15:10 +0000 UTCOn GCN? No install base.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:14:57 +0000 UTCThey'll never make a controller as ergonomic as GCN's again, I feel.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:14:44 +0000 UTCThank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed. =)
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:14:26 +0000 UTCI don't think I played one sports game on the Cube, to be honest.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-13 20:11:13 +0000 UTCI would say most Nintendo games have great quality control. But there’s been a couple of games that I’ve felt was not up to pair such as StarFox Zero. What I remember the most is Ocarina of Time which felt like a unfinished game, graphics glitches and bugs etc. but it had a perfect soundtrack. It wasn’t until Twilight Princess on GameCube I got the game and satisfaction of the hype I had for Ocarina of what I wanted from a 3D Zelda.
Philip Andersen
2018-08-13 15:36:59 +0000 UTCWill never forget my GameCube. I don't understand how underrated it was at the time. But it was a great console and experience.
Marcus Brown
2018-08-10 23:40:10 +0000 UTCI remember I bought a Gamecube just so I could get the promo copy of Zelda Master Quest that came packaged with it - late(r) into the life cycle of the system.
Kenny Gutzler
2018-08-10 18:16:35 +0000 UTCPeople don't talk about Geist enough. That was a really cool GameCube game.
Tyler
2018-08-10 18:10:42 +0000 UTCFYI - A few non-Nintendo games sold over a million units - including most of the Resident Evils, Naruto, Final Fantasy, Sonic, and a few others - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_GameCube_video_games" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_GameCube_video_games</a>
Stephen Crane
2018-08-10 18:06:12 +0000 UTCI loved my GameCube. I have a lot of fond memories of those days. Playing the Resident Evil remake through a particularly nasty storm, booting up Rogue Squadron on Christmas and realizing I needed a memory card, agonizing over the countless weeds sprouting out in my Animal Crossing town, and the countless hours of heated melee games with my brother and cousins. I also remember having to defend the Wind Waker “kiddy” cell shaded graphics. I was in the minority with a group of friends who all had the PS2. Great episode, keep up the good work.
Felipe Delfin
2018-08-10 16:58:38 +0000 UTCJust bought Luigi's mansion for Nintendo gamecube after listening to podcast because it was a game I missed on the console :-) I remember at the time when it first came out wanting to play it but for whatever reason I didn't get round to it :-) fantastic podcast and thankyou for reminding me off a game I missed out on
Matthew Perry
2018-08-10 15:51:13 +0000 UTCI’ve always adored the GameCube, and I was definitely disappointed at no GCN virtual console for the switch. It’s one of my favorite Nintendo machines, and was easily my favorite machine of that generation (PS2 was my least favorite actually). Rouge Squadron 2, Melee, Metroid Prime 1&2, Wind Waker, RE4, Sunshine... How could you not love this little machine!
Adam Niksch
2018-08-10 15:36:06 +0000 UTCHow the hell did RE4 not sell 1m copies?
Tyler
2018-08-10 15:34:57 +0000 UTCI loved the GameCube! My first exposure to it was Metroid Prime at a friend's house. I fell in love with the game and the console and I played it all the way up to 2009 until I bought a PS3. I didn't like the Wii. I agree about the GameCube controller, too. It feels perfect! I'm glad you gave this console a spotlight. Thank you, guys! :)
James Kinslow III
2018-08-10 12:04:57 +0000 UTCThis is for sure my favorite episode yet! I absolutely adored the GameCube. I’m only 21, so I never grew up with the earlier consoles, therefore with the GameCube being my introduction to video games and Nintendo. I have so many special memories with that system. Whether it was waking up early in the morning to play Windwaker, or playing my dad in Toadstool Tour, I’ll never forget those experiences. Such an amazing console that is very nostalgic to me. Wonderful episode, Colin!
Will Hahn
2018-08-10 07:59:58 +0000 UTCThe EA sports games, such as Madden, NBA Live, March Madness, etc we’re actually pretty solid on GameCube.
Zack E
2018-08-10 05:14:01 +0000 UTCThe Patreon app is terrible. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it. What I might recommend is taking the RSS feed you get when you become a Patron (look at the front page of CLS' Patreon on a browser), and paste it into a podcast service you use. It'll be much more stable that way. DM me if you have any further questions, comments, or concerns!
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:49:27 +0000 UTCArcadia was a Dreamcast port, right? I think I had it on both. Could be wrong. REmake is awesome.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:48:46 +0000 UTCI hope you enjoy this episode, in that case. =)
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:48:31 +0000 UTCThanks for listening! =D
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:48:23 +0000 UTCThat was a good one, for sure.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:48:16 +0000 UTCI hope you enjoy!
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:48:05 +0000 UTCSoulcal II was awesome on GCN.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:47:59 +0000 UTCThey're the best!... though we've replaced them in the wave we're currently recording with something else...
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:47:44 +0000 UTC=D
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:47:30 +0000 UTCThat was the only time I used Coinstar, to my recollection. I meticulously saved pennies, nickels, and dimes for a decade in San Francisco. Never did anything with them. (I used quarters for laundry.) When I left to move to Santa Monica, I went to the bank to ask for rolls, anticipating that I'd have to roll them up. They handed me a bag and told me to just dump it all in, and they'd deposit the money in my bank. It was literally like $125. Pathetic. LOL.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:47:21 +0000 UTCDagan has mine. =D
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:46:10 +0000 UTCI couldn't disagree more.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:46:03 +0000 UTCI remember sending my dad to the mall to pick up my pre-order for it, alongside Onimusha II. =D
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:44:57 +0000 UTCNintendo first party had an awesome run at this time, I agree.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:44:37 +0000 UTCThank you so much. I'm really proud of Dagan, and I'm glad that he's resonating with so much of the audience. It truly means a great deal.
Colin Moriarty
2018-08-10 04:44:26 +0000 UTCI want to catch this one early but whenever I use the patreon feed from my phone, it takes multiple listens to finish and many times it loses my place. Anyone know what to do about that
John Lynch
2018-08-10 00:46:10 +0000 UTCI didn’t have a GameCube, but I remember reading EGM in middle/high school and wishing I could play some of the awesome looking exclusives like REmake and Skies of Arcadia
Brandon Hardman
2018-08-09 23:48:08 +0000 UTCSo excited. The GameCube is home to three of my all time favorites. Prime, windwaker and my all time favorite game, resident evil 4.
Will Ellis
2018-08-09 23:42:20 +0000 UTCthanks for not letting go of the Dagan introductions, LOL. I'm legit belly laughing at each one. Great episode again guys!
Petre Cismigiu
2018-08-09 20:40:43 +0000 UTCStrikers was one of my favorite games on the GameCube. Spent many a post bake sessions playing this with friends in college. Yoshi waaaay too OP though. Great episode.
Drew Lee
2018-08-09 19:01:20 +0000 UTCI look forward to listening to this. Right now I'd want nothing more than a new Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door. Not like the one for 3DS or Wii though. That and Wario World 2. And Wario Land 5.
Gabriel Garcia
2018-08-09 18:18:22 +0000 UTCSuper excited for this one. I had all 3 consoles of that generation, but the Gamecube was my favorite. I absolutely loved the Star Wars games, Soulcalibur, and many others. I never did get to get into Wind Waker like I wanted to, and still wish I could have a second chance on Switch.
Jason Stafford
2018-08-09 18:13:13 +0000 UTCAlso I love Dagan’s corny jokes
Tyson Williams
2018-08-09 18:05:30 +0000 UTCI have to say, I love these titles you give Dagan at the beginning, but my favorite was when he said Mom’s second favorite... son
Tyson Williams
2018-08-09 18:04:00 +0000 UTCAh good old coinstar! The amount of change me and my friends dumped into it to buy a bag of weed but we were too lazy to wrap it up lol.
Joe Bellotta
2018-08-09 17:45:27 +0000 UTCSo many great memories with this console. To this day, I still have one hooked up to a CRT in my game room.
Patrick A Crone
2018-08-09 17:45:10 +0000 UTCIm going to be honest. I hated this console. PS2 blew this box out of the water.
Joey Finelli
2018-08-09 17:05:22 +0000 UTCI'll always remember getting up Christmas morning (2002, I had to wait a whole year!) and playing Super Mario Sunshine :D
Jon Cordeiro
2018-08-09 16:12:01 +0000 UTCI really love the Nintendo first party games on GameCube more than any of their other consoles. Sunshine, Windwaker, Prime, Smash, and Double Dash are some of the best games in their respective series.
Tyler
2018-08-09 16:08:55 +0000 UTCYeeeeeeesssssssssssss!!!!! Excited for this one! GameCube is my favorite Nintendo system and home to my one of my top 5 games ever... Metroid Prime, which is such a classic. I’ve been binging Knockback for a couple weeks and it’s becoming my favorite podcast next to Sacred Symbols. Dagan has really come into his own on Knockback and I hope you continue to produce these for years to come.
Craig Carter
2018-08-09 16:07:04 +0000 UTC
