As the GameCube turns 25, the controller's legacy endures. Despite Nintendo experimenting with various input methods since, every one of its ensuing home consoles has officially supported a Game Cube pad, and the company has re-released it in multiple editions.

The controller features a unique layout: an oversized green A button, a tiny red B button, and two kidney-shaped X and Y buttons. This makes it easier to feel which button your finger is on without looking. The L and R buttons are analog, reacting to how much force is applied. In Super Mario Sunshine, pressing R partway lets Mario shoot water while walking, while fully pressing locks him in place.

The primary thumbstick has an octagonal gate, making it easier to input specific directions accurately. This precision is vital in titles like Super Monkey Ball and Soulcalibur II.

It's impossible to separate the controller from Super Smash Bros. Melee, the best-selling GameCube title that spawned a massive competitive scene. When Super Smash Bros. Ultimate arrived on the Nintendo Switch in 2018, Nintendo sold an updated adapter so players could continue using the classic pad.