The Nintendo GameCube (also abbreviated to GCN or just GameCube) is a home console that was produced by Nintendo. It succeeded the Nintendo 64 and was succeeded by the Wii.
The GameCube is the first Nintendo console to utilize discs instead of cartridges, as well as being the first Nintendo console to have a system menu screen. It uses memory cards to save game data; two can be inserted into the console at a time. It is also able to support up to four GameCube controllers for local multiplayer play. As with older Nintendo consoles, it supports many accessories that allow it to access different features.
Controller[]
The GameCube controller is infamously known for its unique design. On its left, a white analog stick and direction pad. On its right, four buttons, X and Y gray buttons, the big green A button, and the small red B button. and a yellow analog stick called the C-Stick. On its shoulders are the L and R button with a blue Z button on the front right shoulder. The small white button at the center is the Start/Pause button.
The GameCube controller is considered one of the most popular Nintendo controllers to be released, especially within the Super Smash Bros. community; every Super Smash Bros. game after Super Smash Bros. Melee for the GameCube is able to utilize the GameCube controller. Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition on the Wii even supports use of the GameCube controller during the new Challenge stages as an alternative controller option.
Features[]
System Menu[]
The GameCube system menu has four options that can be accessed when there is no disc inserted into the system or if the user holds the A button upon startup: Game Play, Calendar, Memory Card, Options.
Game Play[]
When a game disc is inserted in the console, the player can access the game through the system menu by selecting the "Game Play" option. This will rotate the menu downwards to show a small banner of the game's logo. The game's copyright and publisher will also appear until the player presses the Select button to start the game.
Memory Card[]
In this option, the user can select which Memory Card they want to access, Slot A or Slot B. When selecting a slot, a menu will appear showing a grid of the user's saved data of the games they have played indicated by small icons. These icons can either be a still image or a short animation. At the bottom of the screen is a window that shows the game's name and blocks of data is takes up, as well as a small banner of the game's logo; this banner may be different than the one that appears in the "Game Play" option.
Games[]
Below is a list of every Kirby game released for the Nintendo GameCube. Memory Card images are organized from top to bottom: Game Play banner, Memory Card Banner, Memory Card icon.
| Title | Box Art | Release Date 
|
Memory Card Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirby Air Ride | 
|
October 13, 2003 |  
|
Other games featuring Kirby[]
| Title | Box Art | Release Date
|
Memory Card Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Smash Bros. Melee | 
|
December 2, 2001 |   
|
Game demos[]
Below is a list of demos of any of the aforementioned games, all of them are only playable at various real-world events.
| Title | Release Date
|
Special notes |
|---|---|---|
| Super Smash Bros. Melee | March 2002 | Released in several retail kiosks and was restricted to one game per play. All starter characters were included, Kirby being part of this roster. |
| Kirby Air Ride | May 2003 | Released in booths at E3 2003. It included Air Ride, Top Ride, and City Trial with five playable tracks.[1] |
Unreleased Kirby games[]
Related Accessories[]
GameCube-Game Boy Advance Cable[]
This cable allows the Game Boy Advance to be used as a controller for the GameCube. While this cable can also turn the GBA into a secondary screen and even transfer content between devices, no Kirby-related game uses these features.
Game Boy Player[]
The Game Boy Player is an accessory that the GameCube is docked on which accepts Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges, allowing the console to play games from these consoles. Unlike other Nintendo consoles that simulate older games on newer generation consoles, this accessory does not use an emulator, but instead uses a near-identical hardware to that of the GBA's. The aforementioned GBA cable can also be used on this accessory. With this add-on, players can play Kirby's Dream Land, Kirby's Pinball Land, Kirby's Dream Land 2, Kirby's Block Ball, Kirby's Star Stacker, Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, and Kirby & The Amazing Mirror on the GameCube.
Nintendo eReader[]
|
Main article: Game Boy Advance#Nintendo eReader |
Additionally with the use of the Game Boy Player, the Nintendo eReader can inserted to the front end of the device allowing the GameCube to act as its own Game Boy Advance. With this accessory, players can play the eReader-exclusive game Kirby Slide released only in North America with the respective Kirby: Right Back at Ya! eReader card.
Broadband and Modem adapters[]
|
| Left: broadband. Right: modem |
The broadband and modem adapters are official accessories developed by Nintendo that allows players to play multiplayer games with a LAN network. They both are connected to the bottom of the console in Serial Port 1. Only eight games are supposed by these accessories, Kirby Air Ride being one of them.
