Ranking Nintendo's Best "Bad" Consoles - Retro Bird

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Games played: Yoshi's Woolly World (0:20), Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (0:40), Mario Tennis (1:05), The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (1:40)

[@truth4fun]

Love the content! Thank you so much🎉❤

[@AnonimitySmith]

Those are some beautiful nanner grubbing thumbs there on those there handheld consols

[@gregorys9629]

5 seconds in and I'm already laughing with that green cellophane on your face 😂

[@yuyokuda3932]

I stumbled upon your channel about a month ago and now you’ve become my favorite KZbinr!!! I can’t get enough of your videos!!!!!!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad you're liking the channel!

[@Webhead123]

The Gamecube still has probably the best post-2D controller ever designed. What a work of art it is and the analog sticks are buttery-smooth.

[@johntuel2375]

That controller is 100 percent why I didn't want one back when they came out haha. I used to describe it like an N64 controller that a cat ate and then threw back up. I have since gotten used to it for some games, but I still do not like the Z button.

[@tom13king]

I'd argue it's technically deficient in some ways e.g. lack of buttons (notably, lack of second left shoulder button and analogue sticks can't be clicked). A lot of developers must have struggled with the Gamecube version of their games because of this. However I do think it's possibly the best-feeling controller ever made.

[@dbzfanatic278]

It's perfect for smash bros melee and ultimate. And they still use it in tournaments today.

[@Wheels8504]

Hit detection is horrible to this day. Either that or my controller was horrible right out of the box. Still the Nintendo 64 is better in every way. GameCube got me out of gaming. I tried the Wii at a friend's and that made it even worse though for me. Nintendo 64 is the last best console before Switch released.

[@deadsharkisart]

​@@Wheels8504 what does a controller have to do with hit detection? 🤔

[@rotallyPumpered]

Something I really appreciated about the Wii U was its compatibility with Wii Remotes. From day one, I was set up for 5-player Nintendo Land, and local multiplayer remained something I really enjoyed about the system, through Mario Kart 8 and Smash Bros. The biggest reason I own two Dualsenses is that the batteries run out so quick, it's good to have a spare to switch to, and Sony still haven't convinced me that there's a good reason why I can't use Dualshock 3 or 4s on my PS5.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

5-player Nintendo Land is where it's at!

[@Patrick-bn5rp]

Sony just wants you to drop 70 dollars on another remote that's designed to break. Part of the reason why I don't know that I'll stop playing on PC any time soon. I like being able to use my old remotes and not have to worry about compatibility.

[@SteveDave5763]

The N64 was the first time that I had the awareness that "this was a bad controller." Additionally all of the "strange kids" in my school had an N64 and the "cool kids" had a PS1.

[@calex9398]

I love how the gameboy power light got dimmer and dimmer and flicker when the batteries got low 😂

[@TimewornUncle]

My Virtual Boy still works good, but I'm 50 and I can't sit like that for 6 hours like I could when I was 22. Not even 20 minutes. One of Nintendo's biggest mistakes was not porting those VB games to 3DS. I'm still smarting from that.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yeah, it would've been really cool if they put them on the 3DS.

[@SemoventeDa-by5wv]

What’s your favorite vb game?

[@ripthejacker6020]

​@SemoventeDa-by5wv personality I can't pick just one but I can narrow my favorite Virtual Boy games down to 14 of them.

[@samred329]

You can actually put some homebrew on your 3DS and play them on it!

[@WhiskeyNixon]

I agree so strongly, I actually sent Nintendo of America a letter in the mail back in like 2016 suggesting they do the same thing, pointing out it might be the last time for a long time they can properly present those titles. The Wario game seemed like a no-brainer, to me. They could have ported it and not even marketed it as a port, if they really must refuse to acknowledge the VB.

[@andrewdiles2152]

The quality of the average game on a console had a large impact on how it was talked about in the school yard. We didn't have easy access to reviews back then... Having rented about half the games on the 64, I felt like many games weren't fun. In retrospect, we often judge consoles on the best they have to offer, which is a charitable lens, but often doesn't accurately represent the sentiment when they were in production.

[@bradleyj7801]

“Being Weird Can Eventually Pay Off”, let me know when you finish that book so I can buy it and show it to my wife as I say “see, Honey…”

[@erfolgreich]

I like how experienced, reasonable and calm you are, regarding the gaming topic. Most gamers(even the older ones) seem so trapped in their emotional thinking and general lack in knowledge and self-reflection, it isn't much fun to hang out with them.

[@markusszelbracikowski956]

Yoshi's Woolly World not being ported to Switch is a blasphemy. What a cozy fuzzy ball of a game ❤

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Perhaps the coziest game ever made!

[@keyboard_g]

That GBC is way more powerful than we got to see since it was marketed and used to just put color on old games. Without backward compatibility in mind, pure GBC games could use twice the CPU and twice the graphics processing.

[@alanm6o9]

Lol 2 seconds in and im laughing . This man is a legend

[@eS._Te]

regular wii u user here, never paid the ridicolous prices for switch games already came out years ago :D

[@erneststackhouse1133]

i was one of those haters who did not like the GameCube when it 1st came out. However, i am a huge fan now & i think the controller may be the reason for it's come back as it feels great when playing Video Games! i thought for sure we were going to get a RED 3DS with built in Virtual Boy Games on there but at last it was never meant to be. Cartridge base games like the N64 will never die! They are like them horror icons as they just keep on coming back! As far as the Wii U i am shocked it never took off as i love it so much!

[@GoodVibeCollecting]

I never considered Gameboy Color bad. It just had a short lifespan. It was a good upgrade from the OG with a way better screen. The Wii U was promised to have strong third party support and it failed at that. It had a small library, most of which was ported to Switch so it became a paperweight for most gamers. The Gamecube is by far Nintendo's best "bad" system. A very powerful little lunchbox that felt like it was closer to Xbox than it was to PS2. It brought back third party support that was lacking on the N64. It's biggest flaw was the lack of online multiplayer games. The lack of third party support is what hurt the N64 the most. All of the big names at the time like Squaresoft, Konami, Capcom, jumped over to the PS1. Over the years though, people have come to appreciate it for what it is.

[@riversart2030]

I'm surprised the original Wii wasn't on the list. Despite being so successful, it got a lot of backlash during it's time from hardcore gamers and I think a lot of people still don't like it.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I did consider it.

[@3dmarth]

Good point. There really are quite a few different ways to look at this, aren't there? Sales, critical reception, current reputation... I feel like the Wii's massive sales figures, combined with a whole generation of young people who still remember it fondly, make it too successful to be a "bad" console. But at the same time, there's definitely a case to be made for it being underappreciated!

[@riversart2030]

@@3dmarth Ya, as much as I like it though, I can see why some people don't. It's basically just a souped up Gamecube after all, and the third party support was even worse than on the Gamecube in my opinion. Sure, there were a ton of games for it, but the vast majority of them were garbage.

[@Blue_EmeraldX]

​@@riversart2030 I did notice that. By far and away, Nintendo was absolutely bringing most of the quality games to the Wii library-one brief glance at my own collection basically confirms that. Sure, there's a few Capcom, SEGA, Square, and Ubisoft titles in there, but the major bulk of it is all Nintendo. Wii, I feel, has been branded with the cultural perception of being a tennis machine.

[@3dmarth]

@@riversart2030 Yep, I'm actually one of the haters, myself! ;) I know many will point out that Nintendo had already struggled with third party support for a decade, but their lineup of exclusives was always strong (seriously, compare the frequency of new exclusives to now!), and even the third party library was pretty solid. The Wii really felt like a letdown, as its exclusives were gimmicky or just generally weaker than previous Nintendo games, and it was no longer a viable target for multiplat releases. But with all that said, there's still plenty to like! The more gimmicky or experimental stuff is fresh and potentially fun in smaller doses, the weak sequels like SSB Brawl are still enjoyable when judged on their own merits, and even the graphics can be stunning in some cases. I can appreciate the Wii- it just won't be sitting anywhere in my list of favourite consoles!

[@breakfasthole]

My take is that Nintendo's strength is their exclusive games. N64, Gamecube and Wii U would be complete stinkers if it wasn't for a handful of great Nintendo games on them. Their competition were better products with a stronger library of games.

[@brichan1851]

I love everything you do. You are such a wonderful commentator on my favorite subject. I agree with your list, whole-heartedly.

[@electricb1]

Have to agree with owning the Virtual Boy “ironically”, I bought it brand new for about $100 mostly to remind myself how not to make a gaming console. Long after the novelty wore off I sold it for more than twice what I paid for it.

[@DanielBrown-nb9zz]

Game Boy Color Changed my life! It was an gamechanger! See what I did there? Seriously though I am most nostalgic for that old screen!

[@elodvezer1790]

"..... it was 'A' game changer...."❤ only need 'AN' if next word begins with a voweo 🎉✌🏼👹

[@MCastleberry1980]

N64 was a good console in an era when Sony released a phenomenonal one. Biggest mistake Nintendo made was sticking with cartridges and losing so much 3rd party support. GameCube is a great console to go back to, but in that era the game droughts were awful. Once again, Sony was releasing banger after banger in comparison.

[@CasepbX]

N64 and PS1 had vastly different games, and I feel like if you didn't have both you were missing out on some one of a kind experiences. They both had pros and cons. I will never forget how much my cousin hated the PS1 because of the long loading screens and cutscenes that were more about watching than playing. I can respect that he just wanted to get to the fun parts as soon as possible.

[@andyben87]

@@CasepbX One reason I support Nintendo's decision to use Carts over cd's is longevity. Cartridge consoles in general seem to last forever. I've never had issues with my N64 booting up, with my SNES giving me a few gags. I actually recall the day my friends Ps1 stopped working...and it was back in 2001. I was like, I guess it's time for a Ps2. I just love playing the games on the original hardware too.

[@PhillipJackson-rl5ty]

Just found your channel... And Subscribed... Your Content is Unique and Very funny 🤣... you have great jokes...😂

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you and welcome to the channel!

[@apc5213]

brother when you popped around that corner with that mask over your face i just burst out laughing

[@jamesgoatcher]

I unironically love the Virtual Boy. Red Alert, Mario Clash, Warioland, Mario Tennis, Galactic Pinball - all bangers. Never hurt my eyes. Controller is excellent too.

[@View619]

You're a legend, sir.

[@samuraijaydee]

Nice one. Thanks Naner-man!

[@GenMasterB]

I always look forward to your pro-banana episodes and are never let down. Great vid. Thanks!

[@KaneAsIAm]

Another great video Retro Bird! Thanks! I still love my childhood N64! In fact, I just got Diddy Kong Racing so my wife and I could play. She grew up playing it but I didn’t. Guess I’ve got my work cut out for me!

[@alanfike]

3:20 I hear in Australia they don't have light for 3 months out of the year. They must have so many injuries during that time, bumping into stuff.

[@jackofallgamesTV]

Actaually, I enjoy Virtual Boy games unironically. The secret is getting your Virtual Boy "double tapped" to send out 2 VGA signals, set one at Red, the other at Cyan, and merge them with a TV Studio video mixer. Then wear red and cyan 3d glasses when playing. You can even capture footage for Twitch on it.

[@DoodMang7]

your channel is so creative and wholesome ❤

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you!

[@grawman67]

Ooh, I got here early this time. This is gonna be another good one. Hope you had a good week!

[@robzo87]

LMAO!!! The introduction with the banana has me weak and LOL!!!

[@NOISEONOMICON]

N64 was so great to me because of Star Wars Rogue Squadron, Quake, Pilotwings 64, Excitebike 64 and Star Wars Shadows of the Empire. I used to play those game all the time back in 1996 as well later in the 2000´s. In the early 2000´s I used to play N64, Wii, Gamecube and PS2 all together with the guys hahaha.

[@mattb6522]

Good review! I can't speak for the Virtual Boy, but I've owned and enjoyed all the other consoles you mentioned. The GameBoy Color was my first handheld system as a kid and I loved having what was essentially a portable NES in my pocket. The Wii U, GameCube and N64 all had some amazing games and I enjoyed all of them (and still do!) I think the thing was that Sony really hit the ground running with the release of the PS1 and just kept gaining steam in the gaming market as they continued to develop new consoles. They always had some strong third-party support behind them.

[@ChaosRay2777]

I love my Wii U. Sure, it's a bit clunky but the DS style system with different things shown on the gamepad and your TV lead to a lot of cool functions. I also loved that I could play the game on the TV or the gamepad if my GF wanted to use the TV or something. A someone who keeps their consoles for life, I also really enjoyed buying the games I wanted and being able to keep them on the Virtual Console. Plus, as RetroBird mentioned - the game line up was great. Now with the new homebrew features and pretendo, I'm still having fun with it today. My Zelda Wii U is one of my favorite consoles in my collection.

[@cjeelde]

I would say your ranking is really good! ⭐️

[@cd4playa1245]

The Gameboy color should have been backlit

[@BMW-sd6nn]

Great video as always. Got my n64 last summer and I'm loving the thing it's my main console I'm collecting for right now.

[@HypocritesExposd]

7:38 and the first 3D Mario Kart! N64 was the first to make 4 player multiplayer mainstream

[@elodvezer1790]

6:21 and I didn't want it mainly due to the fact that I was older and wanted to play what the Playstation was dishing out and PC, saturn, dreamcast 😅❤

[@tomsummer2886]

...I didn't even know the Gameboy Colour was considered a bad console. I played hours of Wario Land 3 (my favourite Metroidvania), Oracle of Seasons, and Pokemon Crystal. It had a stellar library, and the backwards compatibility was a huge win - with other neat game features like the time capsule of Gold, Silver, and Crystal to trade with Red and Blue.

[@TimewornUncle]

In my opinion, best thing about my GameCube is that it plays all of my Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games. Very sweet accessory.

[@paulmatts2015]

Hey Bird! I wonder what your thoughts and experiences with the Miiverse are? I personally absolutely loved it. Between the Wii U and 3ds i had many an experience that since have not been replicated on any platform. Perhaps an idea for a new video? Thanks for your efforts with all of these videos in general. You are the best! Keep them nanners fresh!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I actually never spent a whole lot of time with it. I have nothing against it though. I just focused on the games. I remember creating a Mii that I was pretty proud of at one point though :)

[@paulmatts2015]

@@RetroBirdGaming Ya it was a pretty interesting application for awhile. Being such a large social platform it often times felt very personal in a good way. Kinda like how you responded to my comment ironically. Maybe share your Mii with us if you get a chance. Thanks again for replying!

[@Nightowl1981]

Love the opening and was cracking up within the first 10 seconds!!!😂

[@OneTurtleFinance]

Always excited for your Videos! Keep up the good work!🍌

[@nathanpadilla213]

It's been six hours since this video has been released and those nanners are already over ripen.

[@robertjenkins3308]

I was a major fan of Nintendo back during the NES/SNES/N64 generations, and I mean major. When the Gamecube first released, I was still enmeshed in my N64 (and a bit tight on cash, truth be told), so didn't get one right away. I wanted to, though... until Kingdom Hearts came out and that game looked so awesome that... I went over to the Playstation 2 instead. So I kind of missed out on the Gamecube during its heyday, and I've always kind of regretted it. Thank goodness the games are still around, though! My son got a Wii U for Christmas after it was out and he loved it. I was really shocked it didn't do better than it did. I do wish they'd bring Xenoblade Chronicles X to the Switch, though. Love your channel, keep it up!

[@colt5189]

I skipped the Gamecube as I hated Mario Sunshine. We got the Gamecube, but I hated Mario Sunshine. And there was some promo with the Gamecube and Playstation where Nintendo and Sony both said you can buy their systems and return it within 2 weeks for a full refund. Don't know if anyone remembers that. But we returned the Gamecube, though I never got a Playstation to replace it like I thought I would. So I lost the Gamecube for no reason, as it was a Christmas gift I probably should have just kept. But, by that time, I was mostly out of playing video games as I had other things to waste my time with like a job.

[@johntuel2375]

I try to get jobs that don't feel like a waste of time. That's how you get the depression haha. But then there's retro video games to chirp you right back up 👍

[@DeweyKentM]

I'm just starting to get into retro gaming through emulation and I feel like I should try a Zelda game. Do you have a video about ranking 2D Zelda games, maybe for beginners? I'd be really interested to see your take on where to start when it comes to certain series. I don't know if I should play my way through chronologically from release dates, or if it's better to start with a more modern or popular title and work my way back once I'm a little more invested, or if there are games I could/should skip over. I feel this way about Castlevenia, Metroid, and even some Mario games, and I'm sure that there are some games that I'm probably missing out on in those series (and other series, especially on other consoles) because I'm only going off of what I've heard of and what KZbinrs have told me about. Please tell me what opinions to have and how to have fun.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

A video that focuses on just 2D Zelda games actually sounds pretty good! I'll add it to my list of ideas :)

[@3dmarth]

While you're waiting for that Retro Bird video, how do you feel in general about the NES era and old, difficult games? Personally, I'd say that Super Mario Bros. has aged remarkably well for being almost 40 years old, and is about as accessible as an early/mid NES game can be. The Legend of Zelda, a little less so, but I still feel it's not quite as daunting as some from that era. Metroid, Adventure of Link, and the NES Castlevanias can all be pretty punishing, and not the easiest to make serious progress in, especially if you don't play a lot of '80s games. In any of these cases, the SNES entries are a lot more modern (esp. Super Metroid), and hold up better. On the other hand, if you already have all of the games at your fingertips, why not just try the older entries out to see if you like them? If you do, however, I'd recommend putting in a solid attempt, and not being too discouraged if you die right near the beginning on your first try! Also, read the manuals, as there can be really important info there.

[@supersquirrels7]

Gameboy Colour and Wii U have opposite problems. One has almost exclusively first party support and the other has almost exclusively third party support.

[@JohnnyTong215]

I’m still trying to get Kid Icarus Uprising!! It’s still stuck on the 3ds!!! I still have my purple GameCube!!! The best and most underrated N64 game is still Ogre Battle 64!!! That series needs a comeback!!!

[@Supersmallchibiwolf]

I think every Nintendo bad console except or rarely the virtual boy has a huge community that loves the console these days. I see Wii U games and virtual boy games sold for very cheap these days in retro game stores. But everything else that was considered not such a big success is beloved these days like the Nintendo GameCube which I loved at the time. Cool video. ^_^

[@xeno-thecorgiqueen]

I loved my N64. It was my first console when I was a kid and I owned it for almost 15-16 years (sold it because I really needed the money at the time). While I can admit that it definitely wasn't the best console in terms of graphics or power compared to its competition, it provided a lot of fun for my friends and myself. Both it and the Gameboy Color I got later on were what started my love for video games :3

[@_Natalie_Jackson]

Honestly, outside of the Virtual Boy, I wouldn't dare claim that any of Nintendo's consoles/handhelds are bad or have a poor library. And even with the Virtual Boy, it still has some gems like Virtual Boy Wario Land. Due to the form factor and the red pixels on the Virtual Boy, it was hard to play for long periods, but it was an excellent game, and with emulation, you can avoid the issues with the original hardware. I got a Virtual Boy back when it came out, and had a great time with Mario Clash and Mario's Tennis. I'd estimate that the percentage of enjoyable games on the system is comparable to other Nintendo systems, it's just that the total size of the library is miniscule. From my experience, there's at least 7 or 8 really solid titles, which makes about a third of the total library (22 games). Considering how much shovelware gets released on pretty much every system, that's a pretty solid proportion there.

[@VanBurenPhilips]

I never knew the Gamecube had a 'bad' rep until recently! I loved mine, and my main source of console news back then would've been Edge magazine - if I remember right they liked the Gamecube. Only found out relatively recently (via internet of course) that it was poorly regarded, and it was a surprise tbh. I wonder if this was a regional thing? Any other Brits, Europeans, Asians got views on this?

[@soliddrake11]

I loved the gameboy color. That was the real handheld of my childhood. When the big gamecube/ps2/xbox craze was starting up I was fully behind Nintendo. I thought the Gamecube looked amazing and it spoke to me. I even asked for it for Christmas and the teenager working at K-Mart convinced my mom to get the PS2 and GTA3 for me instead. Can't be too mad about that. As for the the N64, it was the console of my 7-11 years and I should have way more nostalgia for it than I do. It was too weird back then and it's still too weird. I love it, but it's something I just see and think "boy I wish I would have been playing more ps1 during that time".

[@akiraokami]

I used to love the Virtua Boy, however it was a friend of mine who owned it, I tried multiple times to buy it off of him because he hated it, unfortunately he didn't accept, I don't know if I'd still play it today if I had one, but chances are I would, not use it as my main console mind you, but probably boot it up every so often like I do with my GBA.

[@WhiskeyNixon]

I absolutely love my Wii U, and I lament the loss of dual-screen functionality in both consoles and handheld. Fun fact, the Wii U version of Breath of the Wild (i.e., the original; the Switch version is the port) was purposely hobbled after the decision was made to port it to Switch. The Wii U GamePad doesn't display anything in the final version, but originally displayed all that you would expect: maps, items, etc. Nintendo didn't want the superior version to be on the system they were sunsetting, fearful that would hamper Switch sales.

[@DaveysGaming]

The Virtua Boy is the equivalent to a taxidermized family pet. It looks good there, but will it ever get scritches or turned on, highly unlikely. But it looks cool and ironing is delicious!

[@Dwayne-m4t]

I bought a GameCube recently, and I hope I can get more of the games I used to have back in the day.

[@Walkeranz]

PS1 had games marketed to an older crowd where N64 was marketed to 13 and under. Storage size of the cartridge vs cd also gave ps1 a bit of an edge. Ps1 also had a year head start. Those ps1 sport games, especially NFL and NCAA, pulled a lot of players over to Sony too.

[@rockguitarist931]

I always thought it was a weird decision to release the Switch immediately after the Wii U, for a long time I didn't really know what to think of either console.

[@DivisibleByWaffle]

The Virtual Boy had some real bangers on it, like Virtual Boy Wario Land. Some intrepid modders made a 3DS emulator that will run these games using the 3DS's stereoscopic 3D, so you can now experience these games in a much more comfortable format. And in a color other than red. It still shocks me that people call the Gamecube and N64 "bad" - they are some of my favorite consoles! They both have robust libraries of quality games, and at its time, the N64 was one of the only major consoles that supported 4 players without needing an additional multitap accessory. The Gamecube is small and easy to take to a friend's house. I actually had the privilege of playing Four Swords Adventures with three friends back in middle school because I was able to tote my cube to a pal's house, everyone brought their GBAs and link cables, and we had a blast. As for the Wii U, I will defend it til the day I die. It had a great library, and to this day is one of the definitive ways to experience almost the entire main series Legend of Zelda library. Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD are wonderful experiences. I just wish the Wii U VC releases of OoT and MM hadn't been botched so badly!

[@TimewornUncle]

I love my WiiU, but sadly most of the best games were not dual screen as the console was intended to be for its full capacity. When I bought Breath of the Wild, I kept going to the gamepad to pull up my map before I realized it was not a dual screen game. WHAT!

[@stoneapollyon8313]

Hey bird man! Been watching your videos for a while now and just wanted to ask. Do you really eat the peel on banana's? or is that all just for show.

[@randrews103]

My Friday night is complete

[@chazz3167]

I was like “huh, im surprised retrobird hasn’t posted a video yet”. I check your channel and Boom, video was uploaded 15 seconds ago! You’re nothing if not consistent, keep on keepin on! Love your videos🤘🏻

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad it worked out!

[@t_rex1780]

Hey, thanks for the new video. I agree that some of Nintendo's consoles have been better than others. Personally, I really liked the Wii U. I think that Nintendo tends to outshine their competitors in the novelty department. I think this is evident in the graphical style of a lot of their games. Personally, I feel they look a little more cartoony which, for the most part, makes them age well. The Wii U did a great job with backwards compatibility. As a retro gamer myself this is a feature that I actively seek since it saves a lot of space in my setup (e.g., having one console that can reliably run two consoles worth of games). It loses points with the controllers, I feel. The gamepad is big and it's battery drains fast. When I asked Nintendo, "why this was the case" they indicated that it was because the gamepad is always trying to pair with the console even when the console is off. Or something of that nature. Further, the Wii remote runs on double AA batteries. That played a big role in leaving me alienated from that console as I found the use of batteries to be an extra expense that I didn't want to keep up with. This seems to be an area they struggle with and even the Switch requires having two batteries charged up to have it's single controller work. Personally, I prefer their pro controllers but the Wii U tends to at least need the gamepad on for it to function properly. My pro controller for the Switch turned out to be a dud and I would really encourage Nintendo to take that up with Power A as it's "officially licensed" and it's craftsmanship is quite poor. I think the Virtual Console had some benefits over Nintendo Switch Online. I preferred just paying to pick up a handful of titles that I lost at one time but wanted back. Can't do that for Switch Online and it remains hard for me to rationalize paying for a membership to an online catalog of games that I would no longer have access to if i discontinued my membership. Having three plugs for the console was a shortcoming: one for the console, one for the gamepad charger, and one for the external storage drive. It's the only time I have ever seen a video game console need three outlets (let alone two). I had to get a new surge strip just for it pretty much. Yeah, I continue to maintain mine, though. I clean it and make sure it's software is up to date. One of these days I'll get back to Tokyo Mirage Sessions as I have yet to complete the hard difficulty there 😎. Oh, and Nintendo could be better with maintaining online features in their games. Here the online services for Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 were suspended. It certainly limits playability on Mario Kart 8 and renders Splatoon next to unplayable. I already said something to them about that practice, though. Thanks for reading all that 🙂

[@gregatrongaming]

I think you got the list correct. The N64 is the start of a lot of great series and has some of greatest versions of some of the series. I'm glad to see the Gameboy Color on there too, I spent many hours playing Pokémon Gold and Silver in high school on mine.

[@Yipper64]

I do love virtualboy games, but I dont own a virtualboy, rather I like playing them on the 3DS. Wonderful way to play them.

[@autoneurotic]

I grew up with NES and SNES and only tried out some friends' systems after that point for many years. In the last couple of years I've picked up the N64 and the GC and I like them both a lot. I definitely missed the boat on video gaming for a great many years. I think the only genuinely bad console Nintendo made was the Virtual Boy. And I agree the Wii U suffered from a lack of good marketing. Absolutely no one knew what the hell it was when it came out and was subsequently disregarded. The Gameboy Color was a huge improvement visually over the original, but I prefer the ergonomics of the OG. The GB Color is too small and it makes my hands cramp.

[@HugoBonami]

The Wii-U's horrendous pad being forced on players as the obligatory Player 1 controller for most games was absolutely inadmissible. The GameCube was good, despite the tiny CD, but it sorely lacked a variety of quality third-party titles beyond Capcom. I remember the line being that Nintendo hadn't shared their graphical library.

[@davidrosario1215]

Great video

[@voteDC]

The GameCube's problem was that it come out after the Playstation 2, a console that wasn't only for playing games but was a pretty solid DVD player as well (even a media centre with the PSX in Japan). So the GameCube just being for video games, and the smaller discs meaning GameCube versions of games often had cuts made, mean it was always going to struggle to find a market. Move on to today and those issues don't exist any longer and the GameCube and its games can be appreciated for what they are and not hurt by not being the PS2. Wii U is a system that I wanted to love but it felt like it was an Xbox 360 7 years after that console was released. Even with the Wii U gamepad the system just didn't standout even against consoles that had come out nearly a decade before. The Wii U is another system that will get more appreciation in years to come but I suspect that is going to come through emulation and not original hardware.

[@JakoHindman]

That now in color wife joke was hilarious.😅

[@joeyfarris2543]

I think your list was great👍👍

[@ChaosGenerator]

With a Virtual Boy, you cause people to give you weird looks because you look odd while playing it but with a banana, you get weird looks for holding it wrong.

[@samred329]

I actually like my Virtual Boy and always wanted one since I first found out about them! That said, I knew what to expect and was fine with that as opposed to the perspective of someone waiting for something entirely else back then lol

[@BatsofPrey]

Ive always felt bad for the Gamecube in my own life because when i was a kid my dad bought me one and it was too complex for my 6 year old brain so i asked if we could switch to the N64 for a few reasons. The games were cheaper at gamestop and easier to rent at blockbuster being an older console. The shape and color of the N64 appealed to my child brain, and the games were super easy for me to put in by myself and not damage by leaving out or dropping. And back to games the existing library for the N64 was larger so it was easier to go to an employee and ask vague recommendations and find like 3-6 games which matched. Also my grandparents were strict with buying me age rated stuff so despite the more popular and fun edgy games being on the gamecube if it said T for teen they wouldnt buy. (Almost couldnt play Lego Star Wars rated E cause the employee told my grandma you KILL lego characters). Growing up my cousin same age had a gamecube and we would go to her house and play mario party and mario kart and i always felt like i was missing out. Then when the wii came out yet again back to cheaper, more available, and larger library gamecube games were all i played on it. I never got to appreciate the gamecube console but still enjoyed it games and always felt bad i wasnt ready for one as a child and preferred the N64

[@nativematt221]

I think the virtual boy was ok, I remember when the commercials came out and I saw the Wario game I wanted to play it. Now I have it and have beaten it. The GBC was cool even though there were others out before and were backlit. I’m not going to complain about the Wii U because it’s actually a pretty good system. I never had a GameCube back in the day but I have one now and have great gams for it. Mine is also modded for both US and Japanese games. The N64 is ok I wasn’t sure of the controller. Now that I know the controllers it’s a bit easier to play. Remember I was an Intellivision and NES kid, an SNES and Genisis teen and a PlayStation and og Xbox adult. I saw evolution as it was happening. I could tell you countless crap systems but this is only about Nintendo and their failures. Thanks for the vid man, you’re always good at explaining the subject.

[@Totavier]

I have to agree with the consoles mentioned but in my case I would go by: 4) Wii U 3) Nintendo 64 2) Game Boy Advance (never owned a Game Boy Color). 1) GameCube The WiiU probably would be the lowest of the best to me, it is not a bad console at all but still Nintendo didn't treated very well that console, not counting also that was the first Nintendo console that introduced the same problems as their competitors of: "Got a glitch/broken thing in our new released game?, we'll fix it later in a patch". The N64 was great but comparing with the PS1..., yeah..., besides the console was focused a lot in party/multiplayer games, so if you prefered to play solo the PS1 was a better alternative. The GBA was an amazing handheld!, BUT the lack of lights on the screen in the original model... (😂). And for last the GameCube was the best one, tons of good games on it for either play it solo in single player or local multiplayer, it had the Game Boy Player that was an amazing add-on and of course the best feature showed at 6:21 that even Nintendo acknowledged years ago in the Switch's presentation: the glorious HANDLE, lol!. 😂

[@mattpijan4896]

I've had my Virtual Boy since it came out. I love it but only for short periods at a time.

[@christopher1989ish]

xeno blade chronicles x still such a badass game, i every now and again think about buying a wiiu just for that one alone. great vid retrobird!

[@Matthew-uy6lc]

Wii U gets dumped on, some of it rightfully so, but it has a ton of things going for it. The gamepad introduced asymmetrical multiplayer, it had free online, miiverse, many great titles(later ported) pro controller was excellent, backwards compatible, eShop etc.

[@3dmarth]

Ranking N64 above GCN is an interesting choice, but it makes sense in a way: While many (myself included) would say the GCN and its games have aged better, that makes it less of a "bad" console by some definitions. Sure, it didn't sell well, but its reputation has improved a lot. The N64's reputation, on the other hand, has arguably never recovered since it became passé around 2001. I see a lot of people mentioning that era- and the N64, most of all- as their least favourite (or most poorly aged) in all of gaming. For what it's worth, I like the N64 a lot, and I've actually come to appreciate it _more_ in the past 15-20 years. But I'm weird, and I already know that. :P

[@spicydeluxe42069]

Fun fact if you play Yoshi's woolly world with a pro controller AND you turn the gamepad screen off the game will hitch every few seconds or so. A bug never patched out.

[@lolzorz3]

RetroBird, may the retro gaming Gods bless you with an abundance of bananas for the foreseeable future. (That is my wish).

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you!

[@mausmalone]

I absolutely adore the N64 and the Gamecube - but I'll cop to some of that being nostalgia. Those represent my high school and college years and I have tons of great memories with both.

i had the pikachu gameboy color back then, sadly i sold it to get more games for gamecube. it had great games and didnt feel like it was unnecessary in the gameboy line. there were great exclusive games for it and if you had the color gameboy in grade school in the middle of all the brick gameboys you were the man - until the advance came along of course. i never had hand cramps playing it and the screen was so good compared to the gba sp's screen when it's screen light wasnt turned on. the gamecube's desing rocked very hard imo, i never liked the ps2's assimetrical design and the plainness of the xbox's not to mention the wii's design or the n64's.

[@rafaelvieri2161]

Wii U is on The top of my list. Bought It, had a Blast with It and tried to convince people of How great It was. I used to do the same for my Sega CD.

[@kamirappa6098]

"Babe, wake up! New RetroBird video!"

[@TimewornUncle]

Here's my ranking: Virtual Boy BEST because I love stereoscopic 3D, then N64, then WiiU, then Game Cube. Then Game Boy Color last, because I thought it added so little to portable video games compared to what the original Game Boy was.

[@devonwilliams5738]

Hard to say whether the GBC or Wii U is worse. The GBC has mountains of licensed shovelware and reimaginings of console games that rarely if ever exceed their console counterparts, but at least it's good exclusives tend to still be exclusive. The Wii U has the Dreamcast and 3DO problem, where almost everything worth playing on it was ported elsewhere, and is usually better played elsewhere. N64 in first place is something I can agree with. I see a lot of people seem to think that there's nothing worth playing on the system outside of the Nintendo and Rare games. Third party output was subpar, but a lot of the third party software is still quite enjoyable.

[@vladkillgore8266]

My WiiU broke before the 1 year mark. The tablet wouldn't communicate with the console

[@LitchAzazel]

What's funny about the GameCube and N64 is that here for us in North America these consoles were actually very successful and competitive. It's Japan and EU where they performed poorly and made them considered failures.

[@avikellerman4539]

It struggling in Japan is a surprise to me. Would have figured it did well there considering Nintendo is a Japanese company and the NES and SNES were big hits. My theory would be that the Sega Saturn and PS1 released beforehand and they were both hits. So not sure how many people bothered getting another console by the time N64 rolled around. As far as the rest of the world outside of North America? I'm not surprised PS1 was more successful. What many people don't consider is that the PS1 was cheaper AND had cheaper games AND doubled as a CD player (which were still pretty expensive in the 1990s and Sony was top tier in terms of Cd players/Walkmans). And while the difference in cost in systems might not have been that important or a big deal to most North Americans...I can assure you it was around the world in some of the poorer countries. In some countries the difference in prices was WEEKS or even a MONTH in wages. Then on top of that the games were cheaper AND you get a CD player out of it. And finally, Nintendo wasn't as popular in Europe or South America as it was in North America and Japan. They were no more popular than Sega or Play Station or PC gaming. And in many regions the N64 wasn't even sold because Nintendo was that paranoid of piracy. So they didn't sell in places like Russia or eastern Europe, and some other regions too. Playstation on the other hand didn't really discriminate and shipped their consoles anywhere and everywhere. All of these factors added up to way more sales globally. Cheaper, doubles as a CD player, cheaper games, and more widely available around the world. And that's just pricing and availability. There was also the CDs vs cartridges thing. Which Sony won as well.

[@KindKraken]

That "PS5" joke was great lol

[@ajsliter]

1. The Nintendo 64 is extremely underrated. Lots of great titles. I have more n64 games than physical GameCube titles. 2.GameCube’s gimmick was a less numerous lineup of good games, but has the addon that allows you to play Gameboy through Gameboy advance games. Homebrew is also massive for this console with English translation subtitle patches available for jrpgs released in English dub (Tales of Symphonia) a few other homebrew games, playing backups on an SD card via the sd2sp2 and a superior version of the Gameboy player software that will give you the best Gameboy color and Gameboy advance experience on the big screen (since Gameboy games do best on the super Gameboy especially the SGB2 from Japan with its link cable and speed accuracy compared to the one we got in the states). A re-release of a cult classic jrpg game (Skies of Arcadia) that on its own system secondhand is super expensive (2x the price of the GameCube version) is also worth a buy. 3.The virtual boy is very misunderstood, although it didn’t have many games released between its release regions it did have potential considering stereoscopic 3d and VR headsets evolved from that little console. Not exactly worth finding an original working one, but if you consolize a broken one and find a few games for relatively inexpensive it can be very fun. An original one or boxed system is very hard and expensive to find working and some games are really rare too. 4. The Wii U is pretty crap. Its design was a tethered tablet and yes it was kind of being a protoype to the switch with a souped up Wii hardware specification, but most of the exclusives are gone, it was really prone to failure; almost as bad as the 360 ring of death. Though it was backwards compatible to the Wii and could use its accessories.

[@CasepbX]

The GC was before the internet really took off so I guess that's why I never ever heard anything bad about it. Everyone I was friends with in school had one and a PS2. We all loved the GC. I honestly never knew it was hated until recently. 😂