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GameCube controller

From SmashWiki, the Super Smash Bros. wiki
An indigo GameCube controller

The Nintendo GameCube controller is the controller for the Nintendo GameCube. It is somewhat in the vein of the Nintendo 64 controller, but it lacks the middle grip.

The GameCube controller is used to play Super Smash Bros. Melee on the GameCube. The Wii is also compatible with the GameCube controller, meaning that Super Smash Bros. Brawl can be played using a GameCube controller, and the Virtual Console release of Super Smash Bros. can also be played using the GameCube controller. Certain third-party GameCube controllers are not recognized by Brawl.

The Wii U-GameCube controller adapter.

The Wii U is compatible with the GameCube controller through the use of an official adapter, however, it is only compatible with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Additionally, a GameCube controller was specifically made for SSB4, which is sold separately from the adapter unless a bundle is purchased.

The Family Edition and Wii Mini versions of the Wii do not utilize the GameCube controller as the hardware for backward compatibility was removed. The GameCube controller option still appears in-game, since it's compatible with the software, but only the Wii Remote-based options are possible.

The GameCube is the most commonly used controller in competitive Smash, usually being used over the other options for Smash 64 and Brawl, for not only being the same as the Melee controller but for being wired (unlike all Wii Remote possibilities) and having an effective layout. Using the Raphnet Tech adaptor, it is possible to use the GameCube Controller for Smash 64, and any other N64 game.

GameCube Controller support is also available for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It requires the use of a USB Adapter in the same manner as Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Nintendo is also selling a new adapter along with new GameCube controllers. Unlike the Wii U, however, the adapter also supports every game available on the Nintendo Switch if the game has support for the Pro Controller, (rather than exclusively Super Smash Bros. series games), although some games may not function well due to the GameCube controller missing some buttons. In addition, Nintendo sells a licensed, wireless version of the GameCube controller, produced by PowerA, which keeps the original controller layout while adding on the additional buttons used with the Switch. Like the wired version, it can be used with every game on the console. Oddly enough, the console recognizes the wireless GameCube controller as a Pro Controller instead of a GameCube controller.

Standard controls[edit]


Control Stick Move
A Standard attacks
B Special moves
C-Stick Stick-smash
XY Jump
Z Grab
LR Shield
D-Pad Taunt (up-only in Melee)
Start-Pause Pause

Super Smash Bros. (Virtual Console)[edit]

Control N64 equivalent Action
Control Stick Control Stick Move
A A Standard attacks
B B Special moves
C-StickXY C Jump
Z R Grab
LR Z Shield
D-Pad L Taunt
Start-Pause Start Pause
Nothing D-Pad Move (menu-only)

Technical data[edit]

All buttons use rubber dome-switches, though L and R use a sliding potentiometer for analog control as well. Both analog sticks use potentiometers to measure the directional input.


Overview of all value options during the shielding animation

Shoulder buttons[edit]

The sliding potentiometers of the shoulder triggers use values from 0 to 255. Values from 0 to 73 take no in-game effect at all. In Melee, values from 74 to 174 scale inversely proportionally to shield size. Values of 174 and higher produce the same shield size as digital presses (all the way down through the click threshold), but only the digital press triggers techs and air dodges. In Brawl, only the digital press has any effect in gameplay, as every other controller option does not use analog input for their shoulder buttons. However, in Smash 4, the analog input now counts as a digital input, making the actual digital press of the shoulder buttons unnecessary. The analog input in Smash 4 works similarly to Melee, as there must be some distance traveled before the action mapped to L or R is recognized.

Analog sticks[edit]

Control stick and C-stick use two potentiometers that induce values from 0 to 255 with 128 being considered the center. An input of (0,0) would be diagonally down and left (225°). Values from 106 to 150 are generally considered neutral inputs and behave just like 128. In many player's states, this range expands even further. For example, during the standing animation (WAIT), y (vertical) values from 73 to 180 take no effect, while at the same x (horizontal) uses the standard neutral range (106-150).


Analog sticks[edit]

Control stick and C-stick make up the three most important parts: the stick itself, the stick box it is attached to, and the potentiometers the stick box is attached to. The shape of the stick box prevents the value extremes from being achieved, and the octagonal shape on the outer shell of the controller further cuts down the effective input range to approximately 25-230. This range varies from controller to controller and decreases with use as the friction between the inner stick box parts creates a gap and thus a loose zone. Because of this, a worn-down controller's stick will push the potentiometer less than a fresh controller's stick.



  • Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is the only game in the series so far to not be natively compatible with the GameCube controller in any format. However, it is possible to modify the Nintendo 3DS to enable support for Nintendo GameCube controllers.[1][2][3]