Much like the Wii's Virtual Console, the inclusion of the Game Boy Player add-on makes the GameCube a fantastic way to re-discover many retro games. There's a pile of
Super Mario Bros.,
Sonic The Hedgehog, and just about every other 8 and 16-bit mascot out there to be played and yet the sad fact is that the GameCube's standard controller just doesn't seem all that great for retro gaming. Sure many of us just get used to it, and admittedly the added bulk and lack of wires makes the it easy to love the WaveBird, but there's certainly many other options out there, some of which you may not have thought of.
[img width=640 height=426]http://i.imgur.com/4mBGll.jpg[/img]
The obvious choice is the Hori Digital Pad, also know as the Game Boy Player Controller. Generally speaking, this is the controller that all GB Player enthusiasts find a must-own. It's quite obvious that it's modeled quite liberally after the SNES pad. The size, shape and bulk are all very similar. The D-Pad is about the same size as well, which is a vast improvement over the GameCube's tiny D-Pad. The only thing that really differentiates it from the SNES pad is that the A, B, X and Y buttons all keep their GameCube layout. There's really nothing but good things to say about this one, except that its price-tag isn't for the faint of heart. Sadly because it was an import-only controller, and because Hori has a certain reputation, it's not uncommon for eBay auctions on one of these to hit triple digits.
[img width=350 height=395]http://i.imgur.com/nPi5l.jpg[/img]
Luckily Pellican ripped off Hori's fantastic design and made a far more affordable alternative called the GC Retro Pad. It's almost the same exact size and shape as the Hori, and keeps the same GameCube-style A, B, X and Y layout. It moves the Z-Button to the center, which is actually slightly more convenient than on the Hori in fact. The major difference is that the D-Pad uses a Sega Genesis style instead of the traditional Nintendo cross-style. Although the plastic that makes up the controller is noticeably cheaper quality, the controller itself actually works quite well, and the fact that it can be found for the price of four Hori Pads makes it even more appealing.
[img width=640 height=341]http://i.imgur.com/Kxdjzl.jpg[/img]
With a simple adapter called the Retro Port made available from
http://RetroUSB.com you can actually just use a standard SNES controller. This option will be a bit more expensive than the Pellican pad, but it could certainly save you a bit if you want to avoid going the Hori route. It's hard to compete with the build-quality and layout-perfection of the original SNES pad, and considering the magnitude of SNES games ported to the GameCube, it's almost an obvious choice (though surprisingly it's an oft-overlooked solution it seems). The same site also sells a similar adapter for using a NES pad on the Cube as well, although seeing as how a NES pad only has two buttons this means that many GBA games won't be supported.
[img width=500 height=278]http://i.imgur.com/SXoJ9.jpg[/img]
If you do decide to go the SNES-adapter route then you'll also have access to another pricey Hori import, this time in the form of the Super Game Boy Controller. This strange creature was also a Japan-only accessory and features a unique layout and buttons that actually feel directly ripped out of an original Game Boy. Although it's an impressive show-piece, it's also not quite as comfortable as a standard SNES pad, as it's actually quite a bit bulkier (maybe in tribute to the gray brick).
[img width=300 height=209]http://i.imgur.com/KpB62.jpg[/img]
Speaking of adapters, PS2-to-GameCube controller adapters are actually quite cheap these days. A friend of mine does all of his retro Cubing using a PS1 controller and swears by it. It's easy to understand why as the PS1 controller certainly seems to have matured from the embryonic state of the SNES pad.
[img width=296 height=400]http://i.imgur.com/xRkpL.jpg[/img]
Of course that same cheapo PS2 adapter means you could also track down the MadCatz Retrocon, which has a bit of a cult-following for PS2 retro-gamers. It's quite obviously modeled after the classic NES pad, but incorporates elements of the PS2 pad as well. It's made from a rubbery molding which although small, is also pretty comfortable and even offers up two analog controllers as well. Impressive.
So that about wraps it up, although there may be other options out there that I haven't myself tried. Does anybody else know of any hidden gems when it comes to retro controllers on the Cube?
