Is the Wii U actually a Gamecube?

I know. That title sounds crazy. But just think about it. I'm not saying it's the same console but, when you compare Gamecube and the Wii U there are a few similarities between the two. 

Firstly and obviously, they are Nintendo consoles. But when you look at their launches and life cycles, you can see closer connections between the two.

Although it's not the end of the Wii U's life cycle, it's not being sold by the bucketload much like the Gamecube, which sadly suffered poor sales figures for its entire lifecycle.

Another similarity between the two is the fact that they are both underappreciated and under-rated. The Gamecube had some amazing games and the despite what people think, it was very powerful too. The Wii U is the same except people have begun to write it off before it's even had a chance to prove itself. It already has some great games and there are more to come. I think critics of it just need to be patient. As the saying goes, Rome was not built in a day. Greatness takes time. Yes, the Wii U is the weakest of the new generation of consoles, but what does that matter? Wii was weak in comparison to PS3 and 360 but it was the games that defined it and made it so successf. I think people that criticise Nintendo for not making the Wii U more powerful need to ask themselves why they play video games. Moreover, in my experience, the power in these consoles never really amounts to much more than better graphics. Which I am sure I've already mentioned, doesn't interest me and doesn't define what makes a game enjoyable, fun or good.

Also, if the trend is to continue for Nintendo, the next console they produce will do well. In the case of Gamecube, history shows that Nintendo release a console that doesn't sell particularly well, only to be followed up by a console that does (in this case Wii). So could Wii U be a repeat of that? Only time will tell.