Kyle McColl

I don't know how this has happened but Scotland appears to be having a heatwave - isn't that meant to be one of the seven signs of the Apocalypse being nearly upon us? And 2012 is fast approaching - cue sarcasm moment about how will we cope etc.

Well if the Apocalypse is coming, I plan on enjoying my games as much as possible - recently I have been returning to the Nintendo Gamecube to remember just how overlooked a system it was. I mentioned that in my last blog post too, but heck, my love for Nintendo's black sheep has been renewed whole. It really is a great console, and I'm sorry I didn't play it as much as I should have in its original run.

The design is rather easy to mock - it does bear similarities to a beach radio, and the plastic is evident and noticeable. Despite all that though, there is an appeal to the system that just goes beyond basic looks and charm. Maybe it's the kiddy reputation the Gamecube has attached to it. After all, isn't it the stereotype that as you grow older you want to visit your childhood more often? Perhaps it's too early for me to be doing this just aged 19, but I have owned mine since 2002 and it has become part of my life in a way.

In my last post I mentioned my rather bad skills with Gamecube games while playing with a friend. I can't say that in the interventing time I've gotten much better! I've revisited several Gamecube games that I haven't played for a while, and I get the impression that the system is biased to kids in terms of difficulty too!

Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2 and 3
I remember I used to be brilliant at these games - I've always loved the Rogue Squadron titles, with the original on PC and N64 being the best of the lot! Somehow though I've become utterly rubbish at the games - I can complete the levels, but my medals are hardly worth the effort. At first I only got bronzes and some no-medal completes too. In my defense, some of the levels, particularly Death Star Attack in II, have ridiculously high targets you have to reach to get a Gold medal! I'm still struggling to figure out how you get the top medals in some of these missions haha!

You really do need to use the force to actually complete some of these levels and get Gold medals - I have no idea how I managed to do it in the first place! This is my theory behind Gamecube games, based on this and the following too - the games are biased to be easy for kids but a nightmare for adults! Anyone had a similar experience with Gamecube titles, or am I just really out of practice?

Super Mario Sunshine
Perhaps the most underrated Mario title, it seems to be hated by some for reasons I just can't understand. I loved this game when it came out and I still love it now. When I play a title, I want to be taken away to another world and be totally engrossed by it - Super Mario Sunshine does this with ease and is a classic Mario title.

In truth I'm probably a bit of a pariah when it comes to this debate among fans, since I'm one of the few that prefers Sunshine to Mario 64. Please don't hurt me!

There's just something magical about Sunshine that I don't get from Mario 64, but I can't place my finger on it. Nostalgia perhaps? Even as I'm playing it and writing this blog, I can feel the game working its magic on me wonderfully.

There is snobbery in videogames and it can show in several forms. The Gamecube's reception and reputation as a videogame joke by most gamers is undeserved. It's sad though that most gamers get seduced by a FPS like Halo or COD and don't try and look for something else beyond that. Games should have magic to them - in my opinion, Halo has that magic, COD definitely hasn't and the Gamecube is a magic box waiting to be discovered by more gamers worldwide.

Perhaps with the Wii becoming the force that it has, there may well be a chance for gamers who missed the system first time round to discover the joy it offers again. The Gamecube deserved better than it ever got, and it's a shame really. There are slews of classic titles out there, and I have only looked at three in this post! The Metroid Prime titles, Resident Evil 0, 1 and 4, Super Smash Bros Melee, Starfox and many more just want to be loved by gamers for being brilliant titles.

Now I plan to enjoy my afternoon by getting all the red coins in Bianca Hills so I can get another Shine Sprite and save Isle Delfino! Beats Black Ops any day of the week in my book! Isn't that a great way to finish this blog? Time for a cup of tea and some crisps too to really sweeten the deal, not because it seems vaguely British after the Royal Wedding fever!