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Review : Hori Gameboy Player Gamepad for Gamecube
Last week I was at a local game store when I saw a glorious sight that made me almost crap my pants. The Japanese video game controller maker Hori has brought their retro styled Gamecube Hori Gameboy Player Gamepad to the good old US of A. Hot Diggity damn now I won't have to order one imported from Japan!
This is an attempt to bring the look and feel of the old school 16-bit Super Nintendo/Super Famicom controller to the Gamecube with a deliberate plan to make Gameboy Advance games on the Gamecube feel as Old School as humanly possible. Does it do it's job? Oh yeah it most certainly does.
I make it no hidden fact that I freaking love the RetroCon controller for the PS2 but I had been dreaming of one for the Gamecube since the PS2 RetroCon does not work with the PS2 to GC adapter thing with the GC Gameboy Player this thing was most desired. Now back to the Hori Gameboy Player Gamepad.
It looks and feels freaking perfect.
It is a little bit thicker than SNES pad and it is sort of rounded on the backside to enhance the ergonomics of the original design. It is damn good that it is an official licensed Nintendo approved product because it feels so close to the classic SNES pad that it would incur a lawsuit. That is a really good thing. I am surprised that this is was not an official Nintendo product.
The button layout is like the Gamecube pad and rather than the Classic SNES design but it works for playing GBA games because the A & B buttons really stand out. The Z button is has been moved to above the start and Select buttons but the L and R buttons are straight out of 1991 boye! It is a steal at 15 bucks I almost imported one from Japan at twice the price
There is no Analog stick and no yellow C-stick and no rumble but truth be told that is not what it is all about and I don't miss them on this one. What this is designed for is to add a big ass dose of old school flavor to playing GBA games and it really feels like there are new "old" games. It really makes the Gamecube and the Gameboy Player feel like it can dish out a wide variety of game play experiences.
This controller is great on all Gameboy, Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance games with the GC Gameboy Player. It has made me re-discover my Gameboy library and makes me want to expand it.
It rules with
Sonic Mega Collection
Megaman Anniversary Collection
Wario Ware Gamecube
Soul Calibur 2
Legend of Zelda :The Four Swords
Final Fantasy : Crystal Chronicles
Ikaruga.
And would probably be decent for Capcom VS SNK 2 on the Gamecube.
If you are a Gamecube gamer and you see one at the game store and you pass one of these up then you suck and Mr. T will pity you fool.
Jake at January 7, 2005 
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Comments
hellO! sounds sweet...can't find your email anywhere on the site...need to ask you some questions about the nes advantage...thanks!
Posted by: jason at January 9, 2005 6:48 PM
who is selling this? i cant find it amongst the well known game retailers.
Posted by: jon at January 13, 2005 7:52 PM
I got mine at Gamecrazy but it is listed at Amazon.com
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at January 13, 2005 7:56 PM
^-^ *sighs and drools* That thing feels better than sex. I mean, I thought the original GC controller was the most comfy, but this one really takes the cake.
Posted by: Simply Kiwi at January 17, 2005 11:40 PM
Speaking of Hori, Gamespot has published a glowing review of their Real Arcade Pro stick (based on the revered Sanwa stick).
http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-15159-1425-28-32-x
I would love to have one of these for some KoF/SF/GG type goodness...
Posted by: Jeff at January 18, 2005 1:50 PM
Damn that looks like a fine joystick.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at January 19, 2005 12:05 AM
I know this is a really old review, but what does the select button do? There's no equivalent button on a regular GC pad.
Posted by: jonesey at September 25, 2007 4:45 PM
Just so you know... this pad is PERFECT for SF2 on the Wii's Virtual Console.
FYI.
;)
Posted by: James Whatley at March 14, 2008 3:08 PM
