Introduction.
The question regarding how to start playing Gamecube games on the Wii has come up several times on the forums, so I thought it was about time for a definitive article about playing Gamecube games on the Wii.
What do you need?
The obvious answer is games, but you cannot play them without some extra items.
Controllers.
When you start a Gamecube game, the Wii goes in Gamecube mode and you cannot get back to the Wii menu without turning the console off, and back on. When in Gamecube mode the Wiimote, nunchuk and classic controller stop working. To play Gamecube titles you must have a Gamecube controller. Fortunately these are easy to get a hold of, and can be bought for very cheap if you buy second hand. An added bonus is that they work with VC games as well, and whilst they don't feel right on quite a few games, I think they are better than the classic when it comes to N64 games, as the button layout is very similar to the original controller.
The sockets for the Gamecube controllers to be inserted are found under a flap on the top or side of the Wii, depending on which way you look at it. The sockets all have a number of dots next to them, the number of dots corresponds to the controller number.
If you have the Wii lying on it's side, you will need to remove the flap as opening it prevents the Wii from being completely flat. Do this by raising the flap and pushing towards the sockets. It should click, then lift out of position. The flap can easily be placed back.
Wired.
The wired controller comes either in the official form (generally purple or black) or many third-party variations. Getting hold of an official controller new is getting harder, but the third-party ones are still widely available. The quality of third-party controllers varies, some are good quality, but there are some with buttons that feel loose and others can be chubbier than the official version. This does not affect compatibility however, all wired controllers work with the Wii.
If the cable is not long enough for your requirements, you can buy a cable extender.
Wireless.
A forum favourite is the Official Nintendo Wavebird Wireless controller. This controller fits in well with the wire free design of the Wii. Playing wirelessly has the dual benefit of avoiding the tangled mess, that can happen quite easily with wired controllers and removing tripping hazards. The only feature lacking is the vibration, which doesn't detract from the gaming experience in my opinion and being able to play from across the room is a great experience. Not having rumble does have a major advantage, battery life. I have completed one game, almost reached the end in several others, and only very recently had to change the batteries, the initial pair provide enough power for the equivalent of several days continuous play. The only other drawback is the price. It is hard to find new Wavebirds, and even harder to find them under £20.
There are third-party wireless controllers available, but they aren't, in my opinion, as good as the Wavebird, and suffer the same ranges of quality that the wired controllers do.
Like a lot of wireless electronics the Wavebird can be set to work on different wireless frequencies, to avoid interference. To change the channel you need to adjust the little wheel on the Wavebird controller (found in the gap between the handles) and on the wireless unit you plug into the Wii. There are a total of 16 channels, meaning you could have four Wiis with four Wavebirds each operating in the same room! If for some reason your Wavebird isn't working this is the best place to start looking, as sometimes the wheels can be knocked.
Unfortunately as of 2nd January 2008, Nintendo ceased production of the Wavebird controllers. But there are still some sites that have new controllers in stock, and second-hand ones, will be around for a long time yet.
Memory.
As stated above the Wii enters Gamecube mode when playing a Gamecube game, in this mode the Wii cannot save to either it's internal storage, or an SD card so you need a Gamecube memory card.
This is a similar situation to the controllers, many options are open to you, but unlike the controllers, the quality of third-party memory is as good as the official kind.
Memory card use for saved games is measured in blocks, each games requirement is stated on the back of the Game case.
The amount varies from as little as 2 blocks up to 59 blocks. I personally recommend getting a 64MB card, these can fit 1019 blocks, which is more than likely larger than you will ever need. There are also some 128MB cards available giving you a huge 2043 blocks, but these aren't as easy to find at a good price. The memory slots are found under another smaller flap, next to the controller sockets. This flap can be removed in the same way.
The two slots are labelled 'Slot A' and 'Slot B', although most games can access both slots equally, use slot A for the first memory card just in case.
What doesn't work?
Only the accessories that plug into the controller sockets work on the Wii. These include the Bongos for the Donkey Konga games and the Gamecube-Game Boy Advance cable, which allows certain games to communicate with the Game Boy Advance.
The accessories of note, that don't work with the Wii include the Modem or Broadband adapter. This means that while the games will still work, the online parts of the game won't.
Game Recommendations.
A good place to start is looking at review collection sites. They total up reviews from website and magazine reviews.
GameCube Games - Game Rankings
GameCube Game Reviews from Metacritic
I personally have played, and would recommend:
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
- Zelda, need I say more? Yes? The Zelda games are based around solving puzzles, dungeon crawling, and fighting in combat. The combat in particular for me was more fluid than Ocarina of Time and easily a match for the more recent Twilight Princess. This version suffered from a lot of controversy on release as was a change from the more realistic graphics of other Zeldas to Cel-shaded, in my opinion and quite a few reviewers it is not at all detrimental to the gameplay.
Pikmin 1 & 2
- I haven't actually played number 2 but have heard it is similar if not better than the original. This is hard to believe as the first was so brilliant. Console RTS games typically haven't been as good as PC strategy games, Pikmin however bucks the trend amazingly. The controls are simple, yet do everything you want them to and more. Gameplay is similarly simplistic yet doesn't appear at all shallow. The visually realistic environment is matched beautifully with the simple Red, Blue and Yellow of the Pikmin.
Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2
- For those who played the original Rogue Squadron on the N64 the review ends here. Better graphics, controls equally excellent as the original and some levels, one excellently done, the other merely good, tied in with audio from the orignial films. For those who haven't, the Rogue Squadron series sees you as a fighter pilot in the Star Wars universe, covering some of the battles seen in the film, most note-worthy being the attack on the Death Star. Whilst it does have its flaws, (the enemies can sometimes be hard to see) it is still an excellent game. Well worth picking up for a fiver.
Harvest Moon: It's A Wonderful Life
- Again one that playing any of the other versions should let you know it's worth it. Harvest Moon is one of those games, that on paper seems like the most boring game ever. So I shall keep the review brief. The basic plot line is you have inherited a farm from your dad and must restore it to the way it was when you were a child. The main part of the game has you raising animals and planting crops, with some interesting side sections such as finding a wife and raising a child, which plays a much more important role than in the other Harvest Moon games.
Linear Mode
