Mom needs a Gamecube game

May 13, 2004 3:36 PM

I'm looking for recommendations for a good Gamecube game for my mother - definitely a non-gamer. She's still working on using a controller, so I'm figuring something simple and fun may be best. Any thoughts?
posted by tirade to computers & internet (22 comments total)

animal crossing! totally addictive and fun
posted by sugarfish at 3:50 PM on May 13, 2004

My mom is also definitely not a gamer. I got my Gamecube for the express purpose of becoming a master at Super Smash Bros. so I could beat my cocky friend. Mission succesful.

Anyway my mom loves it, got a Gamecube. Her and my brother (occasionally my dad) would play. My brother being in high school became better then my mom in about an hour, at which point my mom got frusterated and quit playing. Then I introduced her to Mario Kart and then she quit playing.

That's one of the great things about Gamecube games I like, anyone can pick up and play basically, but better plays can learn all the special moves and stuff. For non-gamers it is easier to penetrate without having a 5 hour learning curve.

Also get Bomberman Generations, another game my mom loves. I haven't tried that paticular Bomberman game but Bomberman gameplay is exceedingly simple and enjoyable.

Ok so in summary. If she can play against someone her own skill level, get Super Smash, followed by Mario Kart. If she doesn't like those type of games then definitely Bomberman. The Bomberman franchise coming highly recommended in the mom genre.
posted by geoff. at 3:50 PM on May 13, 2004

Not sure what is available for GameCube but I'd suggest something in the puzzle genre (think Tetris).

My Mum is addicted to these things, my Dad has to kick her off the PC just to check his email!
posted by snowgoon at 3:57 PM on May 13, 2004

i'll second animal crossing.

i havent been to my little animal crossing town in like 6 months. the denizens are going to be pissed at me.
posted by jerseygirl at 4:12 PM on May 13, 2004

I've had lots of success with Mario Kart Double Dash and non-gamers. Pretty forgiving difficulty and easy to learn.

I personally think super smash brothers is way too complicated (in terms of the number of game modes and the play) for new gamers.
posted by malphigian at 4:15 PM on May 13, 2004

what's that game which involves lots of little games that you play against each other... "Mario..." something.
posted by seanyboy at 4:34 PM on May 13, 2004

Do they have anything "Dr. Mario"-like for the 'Cube? My mother still plays that game on the original NES for hours on end.
posted by Danelope at 4:38 PM on May 13, 2004

One more vote for Animal Crossing - one of the few games that parents keep liking long after their children become bored. I cannot profess to be a fan myself, but I know many adults, mostly women, who love this game. I am kind of partial to Mario Kart Double Dash, even if my six year old beats me with weapons (I can still out drive him).
posted by caddis at 5:04 PM on May 13, 2004

pikmin. my dad and mom loved that game and they are both non-gamers (no matter how much they try to convince me otherwise).
posted by Stynxno at 5:10 PM on May 13, 2004

do they make simcity for gamecube?
posted by Hackworth at 5:11 PM on May 13, 2004

Wario Ware is the game seanyboy is thinking of. Based on the GBA game which I have and love. It's cheap and really damn fun/crazy.
posted by ODiV at 5:24 PM on May 13, 2004

Another vote for Animal Crossing. If she likes that, try Harvest Moon as well. Also, my 60-year-old completely uncoordinated mom loved Super Monkey Ball.
posted by ferociouskitty at 5:36 PM on May 13, 2004

what's that game which involves lots of little games that you play against each other... "Mario..." something.

The Mario Party series - that's a good suggestion too. It's good for playing in short spurts - no huge time committment necessary.
posted by ferociouskitty at 5:40 PM on May 13, 2004

Animal Crossing is great, the Super Monkey Ball series is good for learning coordination and is the closest thing I've found to a quality puzzle game on the system, and include a variety of minigames that explore different controller options.

Pikmin is also great and has strong puzzle elements, but is more strategy than puzzle.

The Mario Party games don't require a great deal of coordination, and the many minigames will introduce new players to the controller fairly well.

Luigi's Mansion, though often derided, is a great way to introduce people to the controllers. It uses both analog sticks and the analog shoulder buttons, but introduces things in a largely gradual and gentle game. Because it was included with every system originally, it should be easy to find used for extremely cheap.

Another vote for Harvest Moon. Games specifically geared towards younger kids like Disney's Magic Mirror game, the first Harry Potter game (the second was more complex) may be worthwhile too, there's a lot of popular characters licensed in ways that are awfully boring to us regular gamers.

Zelda: Wind Waker may be fairly advanced, but the strong characters and highly enjoyable animation may lure older gamers into it.

The Mario Golf series can be fun and is playable without much controller experience.

It may be worthwhile to rent a couple of the games suggested in the thread first to see which sorts catch your mother's eye.
posted by cCranium at 7:40 PM on May 13, 2004

Super Monkey Ball.

Dead simple (one stick and nothing else for the in-game control in the central game variety). Bright. Colorful. Instantly grasped. Cute. Unthreatening. Lots of second chances. Very approachable difficulty ramp.

SMB and SMB2 are available.

Also, look into the Gamecube Wario Ware. Never played it, but I've heard good stuff about it. It's a ton of short duration minigames.
posted by NortonDC at 8:51 PM on May 13, 2004

Definitely Smash Bros. and Wario Ware can get addicting. Also, look for the sequel to Pikmin coming out soon.
posted by Slimemonster at 8:54 PM on May 13, 2004

My mom loves Snood (on a GBA) and from what I can tell they make it for the gamecube as well. It's like upside-down tetris.
posted by milovoo at 9:06 PM on May 13, 2004

I don't play the console version of The Sims (I play the pc version and all its expansion packs), but I've heard good things about it. The Sims is available for Gamecube as is the next version, Bustin' Out. A third title, The Urbz, is supposed to be released soon.
posted by deborah at 9:20 PM on May 13, 2004

Mario Kart. Everyone loves Mario Kart!
posted by gen at 11:53 PM on May 13, 2004

Another recommendation for Mario Party - if she like board games, it's an easy game for a non- gamer to pick up. I've had several non-gamers play it and really enjoy it. It should be played with at least one other person though because the computer cheats pretty badly on its own.
posted by ugf at 3:52 AM on May 14, 2004

Third the recommendation for Super Monkey Ball. Lots of different game options (monkey target and monkey golf are my favourites). Good fun for 1 to 4 players of all ages.

True story: Saw an interview with one of the developers of SMB, and he was talking about how they came up with the concept, and he said something like "Well, you've this cool game with ball physics, how do you make it more fun? Well, you put a monkey in the ball" and I'm like "well... yeah, duh!"
posted by Capn at 8:32 AM on May 14, 2004

I think Super Monkey Ball might get frustrating to a non-gamer. Rent it first.

Animal Crossing, though, is nigh-impossible to hate. Brilliant little game.
posted by Jairus at 10:17 AM on May 14, 2004