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The Nintendo GameCube is Nintendo's fourth home console system released outside of Japan. It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 and the predecessor to the Wii. It primarily competed with Sony's PlayStation 2 and newcomer Microsoft's Xbox. It was codenamed Dolphin during development and several GameCube games reference its code name.

The Nintendo GameCube was not very successful when compared to its competitors, only outselling former rival Sega's Dreamcast (which was discontinued in March of 2001 due to Sega's exit from the console market), with its successor, the Wii outselling its lifetime sales of 22 million in only 16 months. Furthermore, the GameCube also held the title of being Nintendo's least successful home console up until 2017, where the Wii U surpassed it with its lifetime sales of 13.56 million units.

The original model of the Wii is backwards compatible with the GameCube's Controllers, Memory Cards, and software titles. Later model Wiis such as the Wii Family Edition and Wii Mini have removed compatibility with GameCube peripherals and software. The Wii U is also incompatible with GameCube software, but GameCube controllers can work with the Wii U through a USB adapter, however, only Super Smash Bros. for Wii U supports the use of the accessory.

Games[]

The Legend of Zelda series[]

Crossover[]

With Collector's Edition and the Game Boy Player, every game in The Legend of Zelda series up to Twilight Princess can be played on the GameCube. The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link can be played on the GameCube through Collector's Edition and through the Game Boy Player with the Classic NES versions of the games. A Link to the Past can be played through the Game Boy Player with the Game Boy Advance port of the game. Link's Awakening/Link's Awakening DX can be played through the Game Boy Player as well (as the Game Boy Advance is compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles). Ocarina of Time can be played through Master Quest and Collector's Edition. Majora's Mask can be played through the Collector's Edition as well, although sound irregularities and freezing can occur in this version. Four Swords can be played through the Game Boy Player, as can Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, and The Minish Cap. The Game & Watch title Zelda (Game & Watch) can also be played as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4.

Trivia[]

  • If the player has a file of both The Wind Waker and the GCN version of Metal Gear Solid, in the latter game the boss character Psycho Mantis makes a cameo mention of the former game during the battle.
  • This is the Nintendo console for which the most "Zelda" titles (including re-releases) were developed.
  • The GameCube has an 18-bit color mode, which is used when hardware limitations force the use of a lower color depth. All "Zelda" games for the GameCube and Wii have made use of the hardware's 18-bit color mode.

Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in Other Regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
Language Name
Japan Japanese ニンテンドーゲームキューブ (Nintendō Gēmukyūbu)
Federal Republic of Germany German Nintendo GameCube
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