console recommendations

[Breetai]

I use to own a NES many years back, so I will likely not make that my first choice. I'm leaning towards a PS, but that's up in the air. Here's my interests...

-puzzle and sports games especially
-classic games ('80s, Ms. Pac Man, Mario, etc.)
-low cost system with little if any add-ons

Thank you in advance!

PC Engine Duo. No add-ons (ie. Sega CD needed), as the essential ones are built in! You might want a multi-tap, but they are cheap. The system cost to fun ratio is probably the lowest of any console.

It has tons of sports games. If you like baseball or racing, this is the system for you!!!

TONS of classic games on it. Galaga, Xevious, Space Invaders, Gradius, Life Force, Adventure Island, Space Harrier, After Burner II, Outrun, R-Type, Street Fighter II': CE... it's all there!

[brunoafh]

-low cost system

PC Engine Duo.

....huh? PCE Duo is one of the most expensive retro systems out there.

The system cost to fun ratio is probably the lowest of any console.

Don't get me wrong, I love the PCE as much as the next guy, but this statement is pure bias. I don't think getting a PCE Duo for at the very least $150 and having to buy most of your games through eBay (also, PCE is pretty expensive to collect for, especially for highly desired games) is a better value than buying a cheaper retro console and some games in a local store for like $50.

[noiseredux]

PS1 is kind of hard to beat. It's got a gigantic library of every genre and sub-genre you can think of. A vast majority of the titles are cheap enough to get yr hands on. And the games are common enough that you can trip over them at yard sales and thrift shops.

[gennss]

psone or dreamcast. both inexpensive, psone has a much larger more varied library. sportswise small number of titles on dreamcast but vastly superior.

[Breetai]

-low cost system

PC Engine Duo.

....huh? PCE Duo is one of the most expensive retro systems out there.

The system cost to fun ratio is probably the lowest of any console.

Don't get me wrong, I love the PCE as much as the next guy, but this statement is pure bias. I don't think getting a PCE Duo for at the very least $150 and having to buy most of your games through eBay (also, PCE is pretty expensive to collect for, especially for highly desired games) is a better value than buying a cheaper retro console and some games in a local store for like $50.

What? I got a Duo for $6 at a Hard-Off. Looked great and worked perfectly. Even if it is $150, that is much cheaper than a PS3 or X-Box 360 and has much better games. No bias there. It is a fact. Just obey it.

If you just go to Japan and look around, you can get some GREAT deals! It's not too expensive at all!

Pure bias? Your favourite systems are pure bias.

[brunoafh]

If you just go to Japan and look around, you can get some GREAT deals! It's not too expensive at all!

You mean all he has to do is fly across the globe to get a PCE Duo for $6? What a steal!!

Pure bias? Your favourite systems are pure bias.

Indeed.

[Breetai]

If you just go to Japan and look around, you can get some GREAT deals! It's not too expensive at all!

You mean all he has to do is fly across the globe to get a PCE Duo for $6? What a steal!!

Absolutely, although he might have to search in countryside electronic pawn shops for a few months or more to find that sort of deal. It CAN be done, though! The Neo Geo AES is also a good option. I found a CIB one in great condition for $25 once. Think about it... just one trip to Japan and, if you luck out right, you can totally save money!

[scarper]

The original Game Boy has an immense library excellent classic games (besides Pokemon, believe it or not.) Many exclusive platformers, puzzle titles, space-ship shooters, beat-em-ups, and a solid selection of RPG's.

I also recommend the Sega Saturn. A lot of the good titles are built around arcade-type mechanics. It has a slew of excellent 32-bit sprite based games.
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/games-th ... ega-saturn

Collecting won't come cheap though. The physical copies are always really cool, but the vast majority of them are usually priced between $30 and $90, with a handful of games in the $100 and $200 range. I'd suggest modding it if you get one.

[brunoafh]

Think about it... just one trip to Japan and, if you luck out right, you can totally save money!

One day my friend, one day.

[Opa Opa]

I use to own a NES many years back, so I will likely not make that my first choice. I'm leaning towards a PS, but that's up in the air. Here's my interests...

-puzzle and sports games especially
-classic games ('80s, Ms. Pac Man, Mario, etc.)
-low cost system with little if any add-ons

Let us see... NES isn't your first choice? Alright.

With a PlayStation you won't be seeing classic 80's arcade games like Mario Bros. The PS probably has some of those old games but nothing by Nintendo.

The only puzzle game that I know is good on PS is Intelligent Qube. Although, puzzle games are not my forte so I'm not of much help in that genre.

I also don't know much about sports games on classic consoles. The user Retrosportsgamer is pretty knowledgeable about old sports titles, though.
---

I'm going to have to recommend a Wii... or an Atari 7800.
The Wii has the Virtual Console with arcade and classic games from many systems. Chances are you'll find something that you like.

An Atari 7800 can play 7800 games and 2600 games; so you'll have 2 system libraries at your fingertips. Some of the games include some of the classic arcade titles you mentioned. And it just so happens that Atari carts are cheap. You can get most 2600 games under 50 cents.