Share

cover art for Episode 53: The Xbox vs GameCube Draft

The Back Page: A Video Games Podcast

Episode 53: The Xbox vs GameCube Draft

Who can build the best hypothetical mini console, Matthew, representing GameCube, or Samuel, representing the original Xbox? As both consoles have turned 20 years old, in this episode we'll revisit the libraries of each in a competitive format. 

Wondering who won this one? It was Matthew, with around 60% of the vote.

This week's music is from the Super Mario Sunshine soundtrack by Koji Kondo and Shinobu Tanaka, the Metroid Prime soundtrack by Kenji Yamamoto and Kouichi Kyuma, The Simpsons: Hit and Run soundtrack by Marc Baril, Jeff Tymoschuk and Allan Levy, and the Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne soundtrack by Kärtsy Hatakka and Kimmo Kajasto.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Video Game Guns and the Best Warhammer Games (with Dave Jewitt)

    01:46:41|
    This week's guest is Dave Jewitt, formerly of GameSpot's brilliant Firearms Expert Reacts series, and newly of the channel EXP. He joins us to talk about how this great series of videos came to be...and ends by sharing his favourite 10 Warhammer video games (to the 15 sickos who kept asking for this, please enjoy). Find them at Patreon.com/watchEXP if you'd like to support the work of Dave and his collaborators, Chris and Adam.This week's music is from the Warhammer 40,000: Darktide soundtrack by Jesper Kyd.
  • The Best Games of 2004

    02:41:46|
    We rewind the clock to 2004, and discuss some of the most important and influential games ever made (plus the demo of Mashed) across two top 10 lists.This week's music is from the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack by Michael Hunter, and the Final Fantasy X-2 soundtrack by Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi. 
  • From N64 Magazine to Crime Fiction (with Tim Weaver)

    02:06:37|
    Bestselling crime fiction author Tim Weaver is our guest this week. Of course, long-time print readers will know him best for his work on the magazines N64 and NGC! This is a Matthew-only episode, as the pair have known each other for years. Enjoy our deepest dive into '90s games mags yet.This week's music is from the Mario Kart 64 soundtrack by Kenta Nagata.
  • What We've Been Playing (Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Marvel Rivals)

    01:33:13|
    Our first 'now playing' episode of the year covers Dynasty Warriors: Origins, The Roottrees Are Dead, Neva, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Marvel Rivals and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2.This week's music is from the Dynasty Warriors: Origins soundtrack by Masato Koike.
  • Arcade Machine Collecting and Making Videos (with Mike Channell)

    01:39:21|
    Outside Xbox's Mike Channell joins us this week to discuss his journey from magazines like PC Format and OXM to being very well-known on the internet. Plus, in the second part, hear about Mike's more recent hobby of acquiring and maintaining old arcade machines!This week's music is from the Daytona USA soundtrack by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi.
  • The PS2 Games Mega-Draft

    02:45:59|
    The PlayStation 2 is arguably the greatest video games console of all time. Over 44 competing picks for the system's best games, Matthew, Samuel and two other Giant Men – Dave Scarborough and Ashley Day – will prove why. Vote for the winner in the announcements channel of the Back Page Discord. This week's music is from the Katamari Damacy soundtrack by Yuu Miyake, Asuka Sakai, Akitaka Tohyama, Hideki Tobeta, Yoshihito Yano and Yuri Misumi, as well as the Gitaroo Man soundtrack by COIL, Tomohiro Harada and YUAN. Find the full list of picks at Patreon.com/backpagepod.
  • Games Court Is Back For 2025!

    01:54:45|
    Games Court is back! 23 listeners' pre-owned purchases go on trial in front of Judge Castle. Only the pathetic attorney Samuel Roberts can save them (or help send them to their deaths).This one is strong in the first half, drags for its third quarter, but brings the energy back for the final part. A net gain, for our great podcast!
  • 2025 Gaming Predictions

    01:19:45|
    One hour of totally unfounded waffle and pointless commentary. This week's music is from the Super Mario Odyssey soundtrack by Naoto Kubo, Shiho Fujii and Koji Kondo.
  • The Best Games of 2024

    02:49:54|
    Two top 10 lists of our favourite games from 2024. This week's music is from the Balatro soundtrack by LouisF.