Tough call but I went with the n64. It was such an exciting time when games were shifting from 2d to 3d and Nintendo showed how it should be done with Mario 64 and OOT. Was also my primary console from my mid teens all the way through to my early 20's. (I skipped the next two gens due to me being more or a pc gamer at the time.)

Don't worry dude. I was also about 19/20 when the GC launched, and I also remember it being "a joke" to a lot of gamers. You'd bring it up in conversations, online or off, and most of what you would get was derision. That generation is really where the "Nintendo isn't cool" crap started up. Before that, NES dominated, SNES was awesome unless you were a "Sega Kid", Playstation was ruling but N64 was still considered cool because of games like Mario Kart, Zelda and Goldeneye. But Gamecube? It had a "stupid name", it "looked like a kid's toy", it "looked like a lunch box", "what's up with those tiny discs", the controller was laughed at, etc. etc. There were a couple of people in my social circle that actually went as far, for several years in fact, to pretend as if after all that time they STILL couldn't play Gamecube games properly, because the "button layout was all fucked". As if they were so retarded they just couldn't get it and adjust. Mind you, they were trolling, but it was still absurd and annoying. The Gamecube was NOT cool, and nobody really considered it a great console back then. I thought it was fine myself, I was okay with the controller (aside from shitty dpad and shoulder buttons), and my main issue with it, was experimental games like Sunshine, Double Dash, Wind Waker, and shitty fucking "Star Fox" Assault that I just didnt' care for (or hated).

The thing DID have some great games on it, like Melee (for it's time, Brawl totally blew it out of the water), like Eternal Darkness, like the Resident Evil 1 remake, like Pikmin, Metroid Prime, Chibi Robo, Viewtiful Joe, etc. But I too am surprised by just how many people in here are voting for it as the best Nintendo console ever. In the face of NES, with it's game changing status and massive library, the SNES, THE system to own for rpgs and fighting games (not to mention great first party AND third party titles of other genres), etc. To me it's always going to go NES > SNES > Everything Else. I suppose if forced I'd choose the Wii to be their third best home console right now, not because the system itself was amazing, but because it had a higher volume of games I really liked over the N64, which I also liked. I hope, when all is said and done, that the Wii U lasts long enough to GET a big enough volume of great games that it can maybe take Wii's place.

But I am personally still dishearted/disturbed by the sheer lack of love NES seems to be getting from most people. I realize I'm probably older than most in here, and "grew up" with the thing, so I have a bias (though the Atari 2600 was my first actual console). But I also just can't understand, unless they've just never really played many NES games, how you couldn't at least love a good HANDFUL of the games on it. There was SO much classic content on that console, it's ridiculous. SNES is a close second in my mind. But damn.....NES is fuckin' king as far as I'm concerned.

1. SNES

2. Wii

3. DS

4. 3DS

5. Wii U

6. NES

7. Gameboy

8. N64

9. GBA

Virtual Boy and GameCube were trash.

Anything you say.

I go with the snes every time.

Wind Waker is probably my least favorite Zelda, for an original release. I own the HD remake, and it's good, but I don't know if it would overcome any of the others. Maybe Zelda 2.

Definitely the Gamecube.