156 thoughts on “GC vs. PS2”

1. The PS2’s specs are above and beyond what the Gamecube can put out. The only reason why games appear to be better looking at times on the GC is because of certain tricks the system can do in hardware that the PS2 doesn’t do in hardware (but can do nevertheless). That means that some of the general effects are made easier so they can spend even more time doing graphics.
   But then again, have you looked, and I mean looked, at Metal Gear Solid 2? Grand Theft Auto 3? THPS 3? C’mon now. They just rule. Plus, they’re fun to boot.
   PS2 also plays PS1 games (with enhancements, perhaps even more as time goes on), PS2 games, and DVD movies right out of the box, so that automatically makes it 100 percent better than the X-Box. Gamecube still has a few of those exclusives that I’d want to play (Zelda, Mario, Metroid, you know it)
   for an extremely well written article about it, check out http://www.actsofgord.com/Proclamations/chapter01.html

2. “Metal Gear Solid 2? Grand Theft Auto 3? THPS 3?”
   All of those are coming to Xbox in one way or another. (Metal Gear Solid X is a version of MGS2 Apparently)

3. Eh. Who cares? Either one would be more money down the drain. We can just use our PlayStation for another twenty years or so.

4. I have a PS2. So far other than Silent Hill 2, Zone of the Enders and Metal Gear Solid 2, I’ve been unimpress with the line up of software to date. Most of the games I’ve ended up playing will be ported to the GameCube anyway. I do plan on getting a Cube soon as I get a couple of paychecks under my belt — I was on unemployment for a while. As for “mature” games, just read Shiggy’s interviews linked on BluesNews.com — Nintendo realizes that there’s a market out there for games that are not only playable by ALL ages, but also a significant demographic (largely teenagers to mid-twenties) that want fighting, horror, and FPS games. Think about it. Every Resident Evil game is being redone for GameCube. Metroid is going to be a FPS/OTS game…
   Nintendo’s starting to get their act together… and I think the GameCube will not only surpass the expectations left from the N64/PSX wars, but will become the new “Super Nintendo”.

5. Oh yeah, I had fun with Final Fantasy X too… I didn’t get to beat it, but I do plan to pick up a copy. Sorry I forgot it. *grin* …I guess the best answer is to get both systems! That way you have the Sony exclusives like Metal Gear Solid 2 and FFX… but you get the Nintendo exclusives like the Resident Evil remakes (and RE0), along with Mario, Zelda…

6. If memory serves (which it does not always I admit) that is the Kanomi Code (sp?). The game company Kanomi used it in many of thier games. Ninja Turtles… Contra… I’ve seen a few others mentioned here.

7. Wil. The GC is getting resident evil soon. And actually you can find some pretty cool import games if you shop around. I remember for my NES I had a game that was all about pimping hos lol. It was hilarious.
   Anyways. If XBox had a decent shot at sony then all would be well. Sonys like MS…..They have a huge monopoly thats barely even being challenged. Nintendo, MS, Sega, Atari…etc. only have a 4% market share total while Sony has 96% of the gaming market…thats included games addons and so on. Nintendo has fully admitted their system isnt as powerful. The Flipper chip in the GC developed by ATI can only push 12million PPS while VF4 which we all know is going to rock on the PS2 uses up to 63 million PPS….sounds to me like Nintendo just had a heart attack. Now if XBox would be looked at a little bit more they could give sega a run for their money…..sure its not a pretty…and yes the controllers ugly…….for the doubters I have just 5 words. Max Payne, Project Gotham Racing. Play those 2 games on the XBox and I guarantee you will be hooked for life 😉
   RANT OFF
   Sorry Wil……had to be done 🙂

8. All in all. Both systems are equally blessed. From a fiscal standpoint: Short term: GC Long term: PS2, because you can play all their old games. One of the many gripes I have had with Nintendo, since the dawn of the Super Nintendo, is that you can’t play the old games on the new system. However, Nintendo has the best character lineup in the gaming world. Having said that, I think PS2 is slowly hedging in on that action. My picks for PS2: Legacy of Kain series and Maximo. Some of you may remember Ghouls and Ghosts from Sega, well the knight with hearts on his boxers is back! And this game kicks ass.

9. Hmm, in my opinion just about every console you can get your hands on is cool. Being in the UK, I’m GC and Xbox-less, but based on many other people impressions I would say that they both fine consoles. The hardware is all of the big three is cool, all in different ways, so it comes down to games.
   Personally:
   PS2: Has the widest selection of titles, and can play ps1 game (most of the time), but it the slowest of the big 3. Also has dvd watching abilities without having to buy a pointless remote (note: to get the patch you have to buy a pointless remote) (note: the remote is not pointless). SEGA are concentrating their dev. efforts here, and there is far more developer experience in the PS2 than the other systems, which is worth something. However…
   Xbox: The xbox is pc like, which makes it by far the easiest to learn. Some titles which have appeared so far look good (esp. halo, jsrf, doa3), but what the long term support will be is hard to say. They’ll be lots of games for sure, but it took a year for the ps2 to hit it’s stride, and that’s not just down to it being difficult to program. The controller puts some people off (though I haven’t tried it) and don’t drop it, as there’s no shock protection of that hard drive. Built in networking is a plus, price is a big disadvantage (over here at least GC is launching at about

10. also forgot and wanted to add…..XBox just like the PS2 can play DVDs. It can also do Karaoke, and regular CDs. The standard GC can only do those mini DVDs for games unless you buy the panasonic version.
    Not to mention the onboard broadband included in the XBox. I have cable internet..wouldnt it be nice to play a multiplayer game with a console?

11. ooooooh Legacy of Kain *DROOL*
    My favoritest part so far in the series – Meeting all your Sarafan “brothers” in Soul Reaver 2. Too bad the game was so short. And oh my, That ice palace was SUHWEET LOOKING. I wish I had a floor like that.
    oh… uhh.. sorry about that

12. “The PS2’s specs are above and beyond what the Gamecube can put out. The only reason why games appear to be better looking at times on the GC is because of certain tricks the system can do in hardware that the PS2 doesn’t do in hardware (but can do nevertheless). ”
    The thing about the PS2, it’s not really like anything else. Sony went with a fairly parrallel style of setup, as it has a processor, and two vector units. These can’t all “talk” to the system at the same time, so to get the speed it can do, you have to be quite clever about using it. The GC is a lot more straightforward (in this area). Another exampple: When it comes to the graphics chip, the PS2 has a thing called the Graphics Synthesiser, which is another strange beast. It again has vast amounts of memory bandwidth (like 48GB/s which is a smeg load. Geforce 3 gives you 10GB/s or so, iirc). The bus width is 2560 bits, which is again absolutely loads. It’s got a great big fill rate.
    However, it’s not subtle. The pleasures of really important effects (like antialising) are missing. Plus, you can only get the big numbers out of it if you can fill it up with data (basically). A slightly crap analogy is if you’re trying to fill a swimming pool in two different ways. The gamecube has pumps and a small hose to give good output, while the PS2 is basically a great big tube, so to get the PS2 to fill the pool quickly you have to be able to fill the tube completely. This is Hard To Do.
    There are a lot more things about the PS2 which are just different, but the fact is that in general, people don’t buy consoles for the hardware, they buy them for the games. There is an advantage in MS being able to put “fastest console in the world” on the xbox, but in general if you don’t have good games, you’re not going to sell. My personal opinion on the christmas sales figures is that the GC lost out because of it’s launch titles, and upcoming titles. Halo was a game that people would buy the console for, MGS2 was a game people would buy the console for. Luigi’s Mansion was not, even though it did sell, I really don’t think it looked as cool as the other, and most people who are getting one of these machines will not have had a chance to play the various games. Nintendo will be fine whatever happens as the GBA will sell well, as you would expect from the sequel to probably the most successful “console” 🙂 ever. The gamecube needs a killer app type game that makes the console cool in some way, a Wipeout, Golden Eye, JSR, GT3 or Halo.

13. PS2. You get the FF series and DOA2.

14. Buy a Gamecube or feel my wrath.

15. get both wil! you really can’t go wrong with either of them. I urge you to gget both since they both have some great titles out and coming out this year and beyond. gamecube is getting Phatansy star online. being a big dreamcast gamer I can tell you PSO is an awesome title. I have a gamecube and a ps2 and a dreamcast I would say I play them all about the same. and I love my dreamcast the most but ps2 and GC are equal in my book.
    so here you have it will GET BOTH!

16. PS2 all the way. Me and my brother play it all the time. I navagate the strategy guides and he does the playing.

17. These new games systems are too complicated for me (;
    My first taste of video games came when I was five, and my dad brought home a TI-Basic “computer.” It plugged into the back of our TV set, and gave me such wonderful game cartridges as Burger Time and Hunt the Wumpus. Like Atari, it had a joystick with ONE BUTTON!!!

18. Dreamcast.
    Or Vectrex.
    Or Atari 2600.
    All others are pretenders to the throne.

19. I’d go with option C: XBOX
    DOA, HALO, Project Gotham Racing, the football game…no else’s graphics can compare. The DVD feature is a nice bonus and you can add your own music. Just think about it, Wil…Cake + really cool video games. You wouldn’t have to listen to that creepy music anymore.

20. Since no one has said anything about this I want to let everyone who is banking on their PS2 for a DVD player needs to think again. The PS2 will NOT play DVDs with a lot of info on them. See, my supernerd husband has an anime collection and the PS2 will not play those 5 episode wonders. So, of course, he now has an excuse to spend more money on his crap! We got that 80$ DVD from Circuit City and it, so far, works well.
    Brandy

21. VECTREX!!!
    VECTREX!!
    MOTHER F-ING VECTREX!!
    Mine Sweeper, man…Mine Sweeper, Armor Attack (i think?) and SCRAMBLE, baby.
    I did much damage to my eyes (That’s why Mrs. Wil wants me to wear glasses now) by basking in the seductive glow of Vectrex…hunched over, hidden beneath my Empire Strikes Back comforter, well after I should be asleep…
    I think there’s a Vecrtex EMU out there, someplace.
    Thanks, You. 🙂

22. Best coin-ops of all time…
    Bosconian.
    Satan’s Hollow.
    Robotron: 2084.
    Tron.
    Berzerk.
    Death Race.
    Star Castle.
    Gorf.
    Gauntlet.
    Pleiades.
    Tutankham.
    Portland has this retrocade…
    http://www.groundkontrol.com/
    When I lived in Seattle, I used to go to one on Cap Hill.
    Jesus.
    Why the fuck am I not there right now?
    Later, bitches.
    I have a sudden craving for vintage gaming goodness.
    And coffee.
    And pussy.
    But…
    Only ONE of those can be had for twenty-five cents.
    You don’t like my wulgarity?
    I GOT NO FUCKING BONES!
    I’m entitled, you ass muffin.

23. Vectrex EMU my ass.
    I got the real deal sitting not eight feet away from me.
    Now…
    If we are quite complete with our bizness this evening, I believe I have an appointment with a certain blue valkyrie who needs food badly and is about to die and whose life force consequently is running out.
    Do I have ANY right to sit here and type when my twenty-five cents can make the difference between life and death?

24. I will leave you all with this…
    Tony Stark.
    Makes you feel.
    He’s the cool executive.
    With the heart of steel.
    …
    …
    …
    I just made that up.
    That’s all I got.
    Tank’s empty.
    Night.

25. PS2 all the way. The games are better. What I’m wondering about is the xbox. God I hope that dosn’t take off. Microsoft has its hands in just about every other damn thing so why does it have to meddle with the console market. You’d better believe their goal is to do what they did to the OS & office software markets.

26. I have both ps2 and gamecube. Don’t got x-box yet though. And I really like PS2 because of the games they are able to get, the kewl ones…. But they got too cocky and that’s why X-box is swiping a good majority of their games, since they had really no competition before other than Nintendo/GameCube but Nintendo was toooo obsessed with kiddie weiner games. Except for Zelda and Smash Bros. Anyway overall I like both. I like my PS2 because of the great RPG’s they got and some of the kewl action games,etc… And I like Nintendo/GameCube because of Smash Bros., Mario, and Zelda…. Oh well I’m hopeless… Let’s just say PS2 has more games of quality than gamecube does…Anyway later peeps!

27. GameCube all the way. ‘Nuff said.

28. Well, if you like the PS2 games better, then get the PS2. It’s honestly that simple: get the platform that has the games you want to play.
    The GC is more kid-friendly, but it has a much smaller library, and not very many of them will appeal to adults. (Pikmin, Super Monkey Ball, Rogue Leader… they’re all amazing games, but I can name dozens of excellent games on the PS2, not to mention all the superb games on the PSX/PS1.)
    Don’t bother win an XBox. It’ll be a memory by the end of 2003, once it bombs in Japan. (It’s a great platform, hardware-wise, but it’s a gaping money pit for Microsoft, has a territorial lockout on controllers — which means that US gamers are stuck with those utter abominations that make the DC controller feel downright *pleasant* — and has no killer titles. Halo? Sorry, I tried it, and it’s beautiful, well-executed, and mind-numbingly boring.)

29. Ok… I gotta admit that I’m a bit biased in this respect because I have a GC and that depleted my money (that I clawed from my bill collectors hands so I could have a little extra for a game system ) but I love it.
    First Smash Brothers Melee rocks.
    Second Rogue Squadron is the best game I have ever played to date ( still waiting for Zelda to take that title )
    For a person who’s attention span is very short I keep playing it. Most games I don’t finish because I quickly get bored with them. I keep playing this over because I just haven’t found everything that’s hidden in it. Working on the second documentary right now 🙂
    Third Pikmin is cool. Although my wife had nightmares after marching 20 pikmin into a river and watching them die… she’s kinda sentimental like that.
    Fourth.. You won’t get Metroid ( bout time ) or Zelda ( I’m one of the few who like the new look ) anywhere else.
    It’s bad because
    It’s another reason for Pokemon to continue… not my personal favorite series.
    It doesn’t come with a DVD player
    It doesn’t come with a self running thermo nuclear power supply
    It doesn’t come with a full running PC core.
    It doesn’t .. ah you get the point

30. the ps2 is a year and four months old. the first two games that have come out for it that would make me want to buy the system are gta3 and ffx. as u can tell, they are 2nd gen games. now if we only gave the cube and the xbox a year to catch up software wise, then we could actually compare the 3 systems fairly.
    i went with the cube myself. the xbox is an inferiour attempt at a pc… did u know that obi wan was a cancelled pc game? and really the only thing making me want to buy a ps2 is square. if i wanted to play old ps1 games id buy a ps1… now if i had a ps1 and a library of games i might care. dvd? well if i wanted a GOOD dvd player id buy a GOOD dvd player. overall, i dont have the time to dedicate myself to crappy games. i went with the big N because i know at least N games are going to kick ass and chew bubble gum.

31. PS2 – for DVD capabilities and the fun new movie/games that are coming out

32. The X-Box is way too cheap anyway. Almost all the games that are on that system are PC ports, will become PC ports, or are ports from another system.
    So all it’s doing, in essence, is re-creating masterpieces from other systems with a few little nips and tucks and everything else has been blisteringly mediocre at best.
    So… that’s a really shoddy reason to buy an X-Box.

33. NINTENDO 64, baby :-D!!!!

34. mmmmmmmmmm… x-box 😉
    We already have nintendo, the standard pc games, and my brother has PS. So, definitely x-box…
    But what about the Amiga??? HUH? Cool stuff!
    Gauntlet… memories… “Warrior. You are about to die” And those damn black sucky-life force things! Grr, used to irritate the daylights ouyt of me! My brother and I used to play this game till 3-4am in the morning! 🙂
    Does everyone know that you can get Gauntlet along with other cool games for PS??? Games like PaperBoy, Marble Madness, Millipede etc

35. Well, they’re both great. If I had the cash or the time, presently, I’d own both. For now, I leech off of my friend, who does own both. Overall, however, the PS2 may be the least technologically advanced of the gaming platforms, excluding PC, but it’s titles (both adult and child-oriented) are the most creative, innovative, and engrossing by far. GC has some great titles now, and many more to come, with the acquisition of an exclusive game production contract with Sega, but PS2 has the new titles, with current franchises (Silent Hill, Rockstar, Final Fantasy, Tekken, etc, not to mention PSOne games) to be the most enjoyable console in the long run.
    By the way, Wil, I sent you an email some time ago (can’t remember how long) asking if you’d like to contribute periodically to the gaming website project I’m producing, http://www.the-monolith.net. I can understand your never getting back to me; I’m sure your inbox is filled daily. We aren’t yet launched, but we’ll be a large-scale, serious, and intelligent geek website/community. We’d all love to have you on, as you seem to be an excellent writer and a generally amicable guy. What say you? I can be found at [email protected], if interested.
    Regards,
    Bill “Scathe” Granberry

36. My dad has a PS2. I have a GC. I like the GC better because it seems to be geared more towards younger people (I know, 26 isn’t that young… but everyone says I act like a child anyway.). I tried playing some of the PS2 games. Let me tell you, I COULD NOT PLAY THEM AT ALL! It’s sad that my dad, of all people, could beat my butt at a video game. 🙂
    So, I guess I’m saying that the GC is for kids and the PS2 is for mature adults (Is there such a thing as a ‘mature adult’???)

37. i am not a sportsy-game type bunny, but i REALLY enjoyed tricky! (snowboarding) for the game cube. (the only game i’ve played so far on it) and of course, zelda is always good… and if they have a new dr. mario…
    then again, if you want good RPGs like FF10 (i’ve only seen bits and pieces, looks awesome), your best bet is a PS2. that and you get the DVD player and you can play old PS1 gamex on it. (PSX?)
    if you have the money, get both. i don’t have the money, so i get none ;-;
    what is up with the ‘firsties’ dances?! is it that big a deal to reply first? >.

38. Ive heard that the XBox has overheating problems, causing the chip to malfuntion on some consoles. the PS2 has internet capability, and will soon allow you to connect and play other people over the net! Im a believer in the addage “you get what you pay for”. if the game cube is $100 cheaper than the PS2, there has to be a reason for it. Ive read reviews on PS2, Gamecube, and XBox, and even though Xbox had the best and faster hardware, they rated the PS2 an overall better machine because of the backward compatiblity, and for stability.
    Hey Wil, if you need “cheat codes” for GTA3, just let me know, hehe. Its funner to have an “edge”.

39. I bought my PS2 in the rush almost a year ago and I love it. Granted I don’t own or have ever tried another competing console. However, given the game line up, I definitely prefer the PS2. Although I really wanted to play X-Wing Rouge Squadron II, damnit! The features such as backward compatibility, and support for DVD and CD media are already well documented. However, I’m also “onboard” with Sony’s vision of a total home appliance, which is why it supports USB connections. What does that mean? When the Stat Trek crew used to say, “Computer… who, what, where, why, or when?” It is Sony’s vision that they’re talking to a PlayStation. That’s the vision and I’m on the migration path. I don’t know if Game Cube or X-Box has that same long-term strategy. Well, the makes or X-Box want to take over the world, but I don’t think that’s really the same thing.

40. oh geez. I think you’ll find Wil, that the re really isn’t all that much difference between the Cube, X-Box and PS2.
    1) okay….the Cube is generaly a great machine, there’s not a lot that I can fault it on, apart from maybe Nintendo themselves a pain in the arse, not helping us developer when we really need it (I’m still bitter from my experiences on what was my first and last N64 title that I worked on).
    2) The x-box. Y’know, on paper it looks like the surperior concole. A CPU that runs faster than any of it’s compeditors, groovy NVidia gfx hardware and oodles of RAM. It’s sheer horsepower all the way. But…well….the basic arhcitecture sucks. It’s nothing more than a PC in a bulky, badly designed box. Like any PC based 3D hardware, it has a limit on the fill-rate. (somthing the cube, PS2 and Dreamcast don’t suffer from).
    Lastly the PS2. It’s the most esoteric, awkward and infuriating piece of harware that I have EVER worked on. And God, do I ever love it. Games that look bad ??? Take a look at the just released Herdy Gerdy (shameless plug there folks). It has it’s limitations, but Sony aren’t so anal about the requirements for games on thier console. It has amazingly powerful hardware, fill-rate is not even an issue and well..it’s just cool 🙂 Ofcourse, I’m biased in this opinion….I’m currently working on my second PS2 title.
    Oh…b4 you all get on my back about the X-Box CPU being the fastest, let me remind you that Intel have NEVER made a fast processor. The Intel in the X-Box HAS to run at 700MHz to even come close to match the MIPS R4000 in the PS2 running at 300Mhz(well..actually, it’s 150Mhz).

41. All three are great systems, granted.
    But the GameCube wins in my book. It’s got the most bang for the buck. For $199, you get a system that’s more powerful than the PS2, only marginally less powerful than the Xbox, and you can stick the little box almost anywhere you have a few cubic inches to spare in your entertainment system. Also, the Cube has the little handle that makes transporting it to your buddy’s house that much easier. It can do 8 textures per pixel per pass in the hardware, while Xbox can only do 4, PS2 can only do 1. The Cube processor is an IBM PowerPC (almost identical to Macintosh processors) running at 450 MHz. In an Intel equivalent, that’s over 850 MHz. So what if it doesn’t have a DVD player? You can pick up one up for less than $100 now. Also, it’s got progressive scan capablilities, which I’m pretty sure PS2 and Xbox don’t have.
    Also, there are several non “kiddie” games coming out this year, so that’ll help offset the Cube’s childish image.
    For the money, the Cube’s the way to go.

42. Gotta love the Game Cube — I’m not a big fan of “modern” gaming (I prefer the 2D universe of anything pre-N64 myself) but even I can get into some o’ the neat-o stuff on the Cube. Our kids (11 and 14) are enjoying the hell out of SSX Tricky (snowboarding as I recall) and the latest Tony Hawk – but we’ve got friends who come by regularly to play group Super Monkey Ball — what-a-hoot! I’m mourning the apparent death of non-3-D gaming; but Super Monkey Ball makes it easier to swallow. 😉

43. Wow… you *have* to go with the GameCube. If you can’t play Mario or Zelda on the console in question, then it’s just not worth playing IMHO 😉

44. Lermontov –
    The Cap. Hill retro arcade was pretty cool – unfortunately, it closed this last summer. (sigh) New building going up next door, needed some of the space…and *BANG*, there it goes.
    They said they might try for a new place, but no word yet.
    Sucks.
    I miss that stuff.
    Though…personally…I’m all for pinball.

45. Hey Wil- Although I haven’t had time to read through all the comments, I’m noticing a trend, so I will try not to say anything that hasn’t already been said. My personal preference is for the GameCube, only because at 27, I still have no interest in “matrue” games. 🙂 However, for those people who are waxing to PS2 because of it’s DVD and CD capabilities, they should know that Panasonic actually makes a version of the Gamecube with a DVD player built in. Right now, it’s cost equivalent to buying both seperately, and from what I hear, the cooling fan only works on the Gamecube portion and somehow shuts down on the DVD portion. Oh, and it weighs a little more too, but it’s definitely available. I think it’s called Gamecube X or something. Anyways, it’s just a matter of time before they improve it, and make it less expensive. I don’t think I’m doing such a great job talking up the GC am I?…

46. It’s called Q. And it won’t be released in the US.

47. hey..I never said the Cube wasn’t great…it IS a cool piece of hardware…..only really being held back by Nintendo being such a bunch of asses when it comes to third-party developers.
    “Progressive scan capabilities???” dinnae teach yer grannie to suck eggs (as the saying goes).
    Also…what the PowerPC chip does in 450MHz, the PS2 does in 300(err…sorry..make that 150)Mhz 🙂
    I like the Gamecube. I’ll probably buy a US one when I finaly have some free time to play all the games I want to play. I just have a softspot for the PS2, and this kind of thing overrides ANY debate about superior hardware. Besides… MGS2 is on the PS2 and that has gpt to be the best game released in the last 2 years.

48. Ok, I have neither.
    I grew up on Atari. The last system I had was the original Nintendo. I KICKED ass at Super Mario Brothers. I could go from 1-1 to 8-4, saving the princess, WITHOUT warping on 1 guy. Anyway, I would love either. I miss that – something fun to do when there’s nothing on the boob tube. So, Wil, can ya bring one home for me? Hell, I’ll even come pick it up. Otherwise, just send it on down.
    Thanks. Preferably PS2, but I’m not picky. Hell, I’ll take a PS1.
    Vickie

49. James:
    The PS2 is less powerful. Period. I’m not saying it’s a bad system. In fact, I absolutely *LOVE* GTA3. I wish it would be released on the Cube. mmf.

50. Well..I don’t like games..Yeah what AM I doing
    on this geeky site anyway? Oh yeah Wil.

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