With every new generation of hardware, we gamers are spoiled with new innovations. Remember the N64? Wasn't that so cool using a joystick on the gamepad instead of a normal 4 (or 8) way directional pad? What a novelty! Remember Star Fox? The game that came with the rumble pack? The rumble pack was just the COOLEST thing ever. It rumbled when you got hit, or decided to play Kamikaze and ram into the nearest building. It sounds so simplistic and useless on paper, yet when in use it added a whole new dimension to the gameplay. Such innovation, brings a tear to one's eye.

Without skipping a beat, we are offered yet another such innovation. The Mobile Monitor. This dandy little item hooks up to your videogame console and acts as a TV. It is fairly small, about 5 inches in size, but has its own built in speakers. This turns your stationary console into a more nomad like beast. This innovation first appeared for the release of the PS-One (A re-release of the Playstation hardware). But heh, you're supposed to be playing your PS games on your PS2!!! GET RID OF YOUR PSX!!! NOW!!! er... sorry... But we are more concerned with Interact's GameCube model. Attaching this mobile monitor to a console, which is already quite mobile in itself (noticed that handle on the back yet?), should be a marrige in heaven. So, just how worthwhile would a purchase of one of these be?

Upon opening the box, I was greeted with a black un-assuming piece of plastic. Black, figures. Considering the GameCube it was about to be attached to was one of the INDIGO models... sigh... There were two plugs leading out of the back. One for power, one to attach to the video out-put on the GameCube. The monitor latches itself onto the Gamecube one you place it onto the top of the system. Looks cool, doesn't it? You open it up and are greeted by a gap into which you can open the disc drive cover, and place your game of choice in. Above that is the 5.4 inch screen. Alrighty then... Here goes...

You press the power button. Nothing happends. Oh yea, you have to turn on the screen too. Oops... Ok, so you do that, and you are greeted with the usual cube folding itself out. Heh, this isn't too bad. The LCD screen has a fairly nice resolution, and just the right amount of color. Heh! Its even backlit! No more GBA inspired screens where you have to squint to make out objects. And the sound isn't half bad either. Just don't turn the voume up TOO loud, it starts sounding distorted. But for the best effect, always use headphones... Wow, this kinda fun... Ah, enough Mr.NiceGuy. Lets get on to the review!

The supposed purpose of this accessory is to allow you take the GameCube anywhere. This particular model comes with a car adapter, but no battery. So, actually, you can only use it anywhere where there is a plug. This means you can use it in the car, in your bedroom (if you don't have a TV, loser!;), or at one of those campgrounds that have electrical sockets everywhere. In other words, the only probably use for this is on those REALLY long car rides to your cousin's house or something of that calibur. However, when you DO use it, you're likely to be impressed. Its small 5.4 inch LCD screen has a fairly impressive resolution. You can adjust the brightness easily, however, sometimes its just a simple matter of adjusting the angle of the screen to get the best picture. It also has a set of stereo speakers, which are surprisingly good, considering their size. However, if you turn the volume up to high, the sound gets distorted. Impressive, but sadly considering the amount of time you are likely to use it, its not going to rate high in the usefulness catagory.

Wow, novelty is truely its strong point. Its just too cool, to be able to hook this item up to your GameCube, and to be able to bring the system around wherever the hell you want to. The fact that the screen neatly hooks onto the console is both convinient and stylish(except when you purchase the wrong color :(. Bring the damn thing into school, and see everyones response, THAT'S how cool this thing is. The quality of the LCD screen is unique too. It can show great detail on the screen, with all of the vibrant colors and textures you would expect from a GameCube game. The speakers are good too, playing in stereo, which is another bonus. It's hard to find an accessory more novel then this.

After several days of playing, I was distressed to find that the left hinge, attaching the screen to the base, had broke. This was because the plastic was thin in this particular joint. So take care when opening and closing the screen. Besides just how physically well an accessory holds up, there is the concern of other technical aspects that weren't covered in the other sections. The mobile monitor gets kudos for attaching so easily to the top of the gamecube, and the screen is so light that you almost don't notice it. Also, the box advertised that this model could be attached to other systems. This is simple not true, as the AV plug only fits into a Nintendo AV socket. The monitor cannot snap into place on other consoles anyway. The only other concern was the cost. This thing is expensive. Do you really want to spend $150+ for an accessory? So, the mobile monitor does fairly well, but perhaps not as good as it could.

This nifty little gadget is definitly cool, as it frees the user from needing to lug a TV around everywhere to enjoy his/her GameCube. The resolution on the screen is nice, and the speakers are good as well. The only thing that the monitor loses points on is the fact that most people don't tend to use their GameCube any place where this isn't a TV. And then, the reviewed copy broke mid-review, which really lost some point for it. But overall, its a nice purchase, but only if you can fork over the $$$$.

+ Screen/Speaker combo? That looks cool? Spiffy!

- The amount of $$$$ they make us fork over, its unbelievable!

? Why does the box advertise use for other systems?

Overall (not an average): 7/10
A nifty little gadget, but it costs too much for what little time you will be using it