The official launch of the Nintendo GameCube dates back to September 2001, but European territory had to wait until May 2002 to access that hardware. Sales definitely were not what Nintendo imagined, however, the console managed to occupy a very special place among players, and its fan community has developed all kinds of mods and hacks.
Anyone wanting to enjoy the Nintendo GameCube catalog will find good alternatives in the world of emulation. Dolphin reached an extraordinary level of maturity, and the best part is that it doesn't require too much hardware to run. Still, playing on the original console is not a bad experience. The community has developed a large number of mods that expand its connectivity and support, including the use of memory cards and the inclusion of HDMI ports.
However, today we won't see any of that. What we have here is an intact GameCube, just as it came out of the factory. This is possible thanks to Clint from the LGR channel, whom we know well from other unboxings, including an XT computer, the original Xbox, and an IBM ThinkPad from 1997.
The unboxing of the "GameCube experience" in 2023
Clint takes the trouble to give a bit of context for the GameCube, especially what its limitations and virtues were. On one hand, the GameCube never received series like Grand Theft Auto, which was on fire with GTA III and Vice City at the turn of the century. On the other, multiplayer on the GameCube had fabulous moments, and anyone who has participated in a Mario Kart race with friends (and a little alcohol) knows what I'm talking about.
Due to lack of sales traction, the GameCube was distributed under different packs and bundles, with prices that today would be irresistible to the public. Unfortunately, that situation has changed completely. The "retro tax" is not a myth, and many try to save their economy by selling a console... to such an extent that it is more convenient to buy a Wii in some regions, and take advantage of its backward compatibility.
Fortunately, the console works perfectly, and there is no capacitor crisis to solve. However, the GameCube has a CR2032 battery soldered inside, and after so long (the 2018 date suggests the console was tested at some earlier point), the logical thing would be to replace it.
