Santa needs advice: PS2 or something else, and 4 player games

[Taren Nighteyes]

Console

Having worked for a game store for a while (not anymore), I will definitely point you to the Gamecube. For overall, family fun, I would take the Gamecube hands down. If you are willing to wait 6-9 months, you can get the new Nintendo Revolution - which will allow you to play any game Nintendo has ever made (at least that is the claim as of right now).

I really recommend the Gamecube if you want something this Xmas - and buy a bunch of cheap used games at Game Rush (Blockbuster). They have some of the best deals on used stuff you can find.

I don't let my kids play video games but on a rare occassion (8 & 5 - I prefer them to read/color). I'm an XBOX soon to be XBOX 360 guys, where the games are geared for teens or adults 95% of the times.

Good luck with your purchase!

Taren Nighteyes

 

[JoeBlank]

I'm selling a few games for Cube. They're all slightly used, but you could take a look.

I looked, but I'm afraid none of those looked too exciting. Let me know if you come up with any others.

Taren, I had not heard of Nintendo Revolution. Sounds like the games I buy now will hopefully be compatible if we decide to make that our next upgrade in a year or two.

So far we have not had to limit our kids' videogame time, as they have not become addicted by any stretch. Plenty of reading, coloring, and other activities going on. They like board games, and the occasional daddy-run D&D session too.

 

[mojo1701]

I looked, but I'm afraid none of those looked too exciting. Let me know if you come up with any others.

All righty. I might also put up "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," which has a good SP mission, and multiplayer can be fun, trying to shoot each other's vehicles.

Taren, I had not heard of Nintendo Revolution. Sounds like the games I buy now will hopefully be compatible if we decide to make that our next upgrade in a year or two.

The Revolution WILL be able to play 'Cube games. Also, you will be able to download (1st party for free, so far) pre-Cube Nintendo games to play.

 

[WizarDru]

Joe, I own all three systems, and have a 5 year-old son and 8 year-old daughter.

I highly recommend the Gamecube, unless you have a compelling reason to go with the PS/2. The cube offers several benefits:

1) Higher number of family-friendly games
2) Large number of party/same-screen multiplayer titles.
3) Very portable design
4) Excellent 1st-party wireless controllers (the wavebird).

All three consoles have plenty of used games for purchase and all three consoles have plenty of "classics" selling for 19.99 or so. The Gamecube is currently selling in a bundle with two controllers and Mario Party 7 for $100...which is a darned good price, since MP7 is new and selling for $50 alone.

If you give me an idea of what kind of games your family likes, I can make some recomendations. Mario Kart: Double Dash would obviously be a hit. Lego Star Wars has finally come out for the Gamecube, and I consider that a MUST HAVE, as I posses it for the Xbox, and my son LOVES IT. Games like the Mario Party series, Super Smash Brothers Melee, Disney Extreme Skate Adventure and many others are friendly to younger players and darned fun for adults, too.

If you choose against the cube, look to the PS/2 before the X-box for a host of reasons I can list if you'd like.

Also, I'd recommend these sites, GameFam, GameDaily Family and GamerDad for reviews on games that are actually focused on a parent's perspective AND what kids like. Too often, reviews treat younger gamers as if they were adults, which is ridiculous.

 

[JoeBlank]

Very helpful advice, WizarDru. The links look great, and I wll check them out when we start figuring out what games to buy. I'm pretty certain at this point that Gamecube is the choice. The only games I'm sure about are Mario Kart and Mario Party.

The Gamecube is currently selling in a bundle with two controllers and Mario Party 7 for $100...which is a darned good price, since MP7 is new and selling for $50 alone.

Where do I look for this deal?

 

[WizarDru]

Very helpful advice, WizarDru. The links look great, and I wll check them out when we start figuring out what games to buy. I'm pretty certain at this point that Gamecube is the choice. The only games I'm sure about are Mario Kart and Mario Party.



Where do I look for this deal?

Joe, you can find the bundle at several locations. We purchased one at Target for my mother-in-law, so she can have a system permanently at her house (so my kids and my nieces and nephews don't have to bring one over all the time when they visit). You can find them at Best Buy, EB Games and similar stores.

Games I would highly recommend are:

Mario Party (particularly 4 and 6, 5 not so much...haven't played 7, but ti's supposed to be more like 6, which is good).
Mario Kart: Double Dash
Super Smash Brothers Melee (silly combat, easy for all ages to play)
Some Mario Sports games (Tennis is good, Golf is OK, Baseball is OK)
Lego Star Wars (I really can't recommend this one enough...it's just so darned FUN).

Beyond that, it really depends on the game type and the individual. For example, my son and I enjoyed playing Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy together, but I had to do most of the game while he watched. Legend of Zelda:Wind Waker is a LOT of fun, but it's for the older kids, at a minimum. For sports, you've got the usual suspects like Madden for football, Tiger Woods for golf, NBA for basketball and so forth. Not to mention odder games like Pikmin or Animal Crossing or the like.

 

[JoeBlank]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your help. When I started this thread I was leaning heavily towards PS2. Thanks to you guys, my wife just walked out of Best Buy with Gamecube, using the package deal that WizarDru pointed out (extra thanks!).

If you like, please continue to suggest games. I'll check out the review sites from the links posted. At this point, we are almost certain to buy Mario Kart: Double Dash (how does this compare to the regular MK, anyone played it yet) and we have Mario Party 7 with the package deal.

Super Smash Brothers and Lego Star Wars are possible, once we look at them some more. My oldest will want a baseball game, and I haven't decided whether to go realistic or cartoony. Any advice there?

Thanks again!

 

[diaglo]

Pong on Telstar is the only true video game. All the other games are just poor imitations of the real thing.

 

[mojo1701]

At this point, we are almost certain to buy Mario Kart: Double Dash (how does this compare to the regular MK, anyone played it yet)

Other than a few minor things (certain characters, items, and tracks), and the no-coin thing (which is in all but the original), it's virtually the same. Although, the co-op adds a challenge because both teammates have to be paying attention and communicate well for best performance. My only beef with the game is the battle arenas are quite small.

Super Smash Brothers and Lego Star Wars are possible, once we look at them some more. My oldest will want a baseball game, and I haven't decided whether to go realistic or cartoony. Any advice there?

My housemate's girlfriend brought over hers (for some Double Dash!! LAN fun), and she has Mario Baseball, and it is fun! They did that at the beginning of school, and they stayed in one room for eight hours playing single player (because they only had one controller at the time) by tossing the controller back and forth.

Thanks again!

No problem.

 

[WizarDru]

Pong on Telstar is the only true video game. All the other games are just poor imitations of the real thing.

Pffft! New-Schooler. Pong on the Magnavox Odyssey is the only true video game. All the other games are just poor imitations of the real thing.