Thinking back a little, the first time I played GameCube I hardly noticed the controller. It just fits into your hands so well and blends in. Instinct takes over and you're playing without realising. This time though, it was in for a thorough examination.

The N64 controller was fascinating when it was first released, and played very well. I've always had a bit of trouble though, my hands aren't that big and I tend to find the controller with Rumble Pak a little on the heavy side.

So the best thing about the controller for me is the compactness of it. It is smaller and lighter than that of the N64. It's not a lot heavier than two Super Nintendo controllers. All the buttons are easy to reach and well placed. You rarely hit a wrong button as they are all so different. The downsized B and Z are sometimes a bit out of the way, but these are the only two which you may not strike.

The rumble is subtle for the most part, not too much. It becomes really noticeable in places such as choppy areas of Wave Race. Most of the time if you want to know about the controller, you have to consciously think about it.