One Console to Rule them All

[RGSPro]

So I have been thinking about what would be the only console to own if you could really only have one, given all the tech that we have today. This is going to be fairly speculative, depending on the generation of games you feel the most nostalgia about, but also because of console mods and tech is gets a bit more interesting, with things like the UltraHDMI mod for the Nintendo 64 and modern day emulators running on current and even last generation consoles.

I want to take into consideration things like, native and third party emulators, controller feel and usability, video and audio output possibilities (both naively and with hardware modifications), library availability and quality and of course many things I haven't even thought of yet.

This gets tricky because I love the SNES and original PSX Libraries, but think that the HDMI output and modibility of the Xbox 360 is amazing, but the third party emulator choices and home-brew options on the 360 are lacking which make it not ideal for playing SNES and PSX games.

The N64 is a great console, but lacks good video output without things like the UltraHDMI mod which is very pricey. It's unable to emulate any other consoles and it's controller is less than ideal for any games other than the N64 titles.

The Retron5 is a good choice if you have the 8Bitdo bluetooth SNES/NES controllers, and gives you the options of the Genesis/SNES/NES/GBA and Gameboy and now has IPX support for fan translations and mods, but it lacks N64 and PSX emulation. It's proprietary wireless controllers are not ergonomic and too clicky.

The PS3 is backwards compatible with the PS2 and PSX, but also has great classic collections on it like Sonic's Ultimate Genesis connection, all wrapped into a fairly nice wireless controller with HDMI. There is also SNES9x available for the PS3 which is really nice, too!

Dreamcast is a great contender with VGA support naively, an amazing homebrew scene that is still kicking even today, fairly good library and even some promising emulation options. The controller is not my favorite though and apart from Bleemcast for MGS/Tekken 3 and Gran Turismo 2 there isn't much PSX emulation available.


I probably would have said the original Xbox. When this console was modded on a standard definition CRT it was an amazing powerhouse. All your games can be saved to the hard drive, emulators can run your old NES/SNES/N64/Genesis/Gameboy games. There were some good homebrew games and Hyperspin was a really great way to browse emulated games. Though component video on an HDTV is less than ideal, and there really isn't a great wireless controller options for the original Xbox.

I think I am still working on my favorite console of all time is, but I was wondering what everyone here thought!

[TEKTORO]

I would say the PS1 is my king of consoles, the library is diverse with great games from every genre the 3D is dated but I still enjoy them. I would of pick a modern console (either Xbox 360 or PS4) but with all the patches and incomplete releases I would be hesitant to rely on a original released game.

[ElkinFencer10]

If we're going for compatibility and the console that gives you the most options, I'd say the Ouya because of how many emulators it supports and how well they tend to run (admittedly, I've never used the Xbox's or Wii's emulators, and I know they have a lot). If I could only have on console, though, I'd pick the Wii U. It supports the full Wii U and Wii libraries (and Gamecube if you run Nintendont through Wii mode), plus all of the virtual console/WiiWare/eShop games on both systems as well as the possibilities that Homebrew in Wii mode opens up. Also, I'm partial to Nintendo's games, and the Wii U gives the widest amount of those in terms of only one console.

[Sarge]

Gotta concur with the Wii U choice. It gives you a phenomenal amount of options if modded. I have no idea how well it handles PSX, but anything beneath that is excellent, and you get Gamecube, Wii, and Wii U as well.

[SonicTheHedgehog]

Really, factoring in modability and emulators that are available!? That's totally cheating.

I guess I want a PC then. That can emulate GameCube, Wii, PS2, and all of the other emulators that an Xbox can run!

[Tanooki]

If I was forced to just pick one I'd tolerate the Retron 5, it handles so much stuff and admirably well it leaves a lot of variety using real games. Or if I stuck with original hardware, I'd leave it to the Gameboy Advance since it would run the entire library from 1989 into the mid later 2000s when it passed into history. I doubt one in a lifetime could play every even semi-decent to excellent GB, GBC, and GBA title out there.

If we're speaking in modern gaming terms handheld(3ds/vita) and console I'd pick the PS4, and sadly 1/2 that motivation would be because I enjoy the blu ray player in it as it gets a lot of use. Game wise, still, thanks to the boggling stupidity of Nintendo this go around I couldn't pick WiiU as I sold it out of boredom and I wouldn't touch the other since they more singlemindedly chase a type of gamer and select games primarily I don't care to deal with. At least beyond the movies aspect the PS4 has a good many out now and coming exclusives it will only have that are solid games, even more if you toss in their filler remasters to be enough between time involved and variety to not end up bored with it.

[Sarge]

Oh, are we going stock then? Hrm... you know what, I'm still going to go with the Wii U. Hear me out for a sec...

While you don't get all the stuff you'd like on the VC, there was still a nice selection of classics made available on both Wii and Wii U. You also get Wii and Wii U, and some of the bigger GC games got Wii versions, too. (One could potentially make the argument for the original Wii instead, losing the VC games exclusive to Wii U but gaining the entire Gamecube library. It's a tradeoff.)

Close second, and I mean close, would be a backwards-compatible PS3. Being able to play the entire PS1/2/3 library is a pretty amazing thing, and if you asked me on a certain day, I might even pick it over the Wii U.

To me, the Retron 5 is the one that feels like it's cheating a bit, since it's just non-official emulation... but that's just me.

[touchofkiel]

Probably a launch PS3, because I'm not as hardcore Nintendo as you guys, I suppose. That's assuming an emulator-running PC is out of the question of course.

If we're including modded hardware... maybe a OG Xbox. But I'd still probably stick with a PS3.

Really, factoring in modability and emulators that are available!? That's totally cheating.

I guess I want a PC then. That can emulate GameCube, Wii, PS2, and all of the other emulators that an Xbox can run!

The irony of course is that only an Xbox can run Xbox games!

[Anapan]

Og xbox is about a GeForce3 Ti500, a 733Mhz Pentium 3 CPU, an 8GB (40GB?) hard drive and an 8MB SD card for savegames.
Not a bad choice because its emulator selection is unmatched and a hard drive upgrade is pretty eaay and straightforward, tho a modded PS3 or WII could potentially perform better video output @ 480P with a softmod.
I'd always choose a pc with a crt.

[Sarge]

Console, though. That rules out PC, but it really is the obvious answer to maximize access to games.