Memory Card 59B Score: 90% Developer: Nyko

Function: It's a fact of console life - you need a memory card. This is an especially new lesson for hard-line Nintendo gamers. Yeah, I know - the N64 had a memory card, but it was something that you could live without (I never even owned one). Enter Nyko and its GameCube memory card - the 59B.

Performance: The 59B does exactly what you would want it to do - it saves your games. After comparing it to the Nintendo one, I'd have to say the only difference is that this one is a little bigger. As you probably know by now, the Nintendo one is small - about the size of a quarter. I have no qualms with it being that small, but when I take it out of the system, I always have a little of that uneasy 'I'd better not lose this...' feeling. When comparing the two, I actually prefer the Nyko one because it's a little bigger. It is a little longer and has a nice, solid feel to it unlike the Nintendo one that feels like it is going to fall apart in my hands. I was hoping that this increased size might also mean that the storage space was a little bigger - but this one is still a 4Mb card. But, unless you're playing a franchise in Madden (which takes up almost an entire card), it is more than enough space.

Features: 59-block (4Mb) capacity Reliable game data storage Rubberized grip Protective storage case

Drawbacks & Problems:: As it turns out, the thing I liked most about the 59B was also its biggest problem. If you haven't noticed, each game case comes with that handy memory card storage area. Since the 59B is longer than the Nintendo card, it doesn't fit in the case. Even though the card comes with a nice case, since it can't fit into the storage area it becomes one more small, loose part that can get lost or misplaced. Other than that problem, I really liked the 59B. While I'll probably still use the Nintendo card for when I travel with my system, the 59B does an excellent job of earning its spot in my system.

-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker