What makes your favorite console?

[RCBH928]

As in what factors made this console(whatever it is) your favorite console? Why did you choose it over the others? What made this console your favorite? the factors..

For me, my 2 favorite consoles are probably the N64 and Gamecube(I know surprise, since i loath the Wii). Whats funny is that I never owned these 2 consoles. I got a 64 in like 2007 and never gamecube, just use my Wii to play its games, bought around 2008 maybe , not sure.

I have few reasons for this to be.

1) I love unique hardware. N64 has the only 32(or 64)bit system on Cartridge. Actually the only 3D console with a cartridge as far as I know. The GC has the only mini cps which looks compact and cute.

2) Unique game library. Not necessarily the biggest or best games, but games that you can not find else where.

n64: Goldeneye , wrestling games, Banjo kazooie , Mario 64,
GC: Battalion Wars , RE series , Eternal darkness, day of reckoning

3) I also usually root for the underdog or the non-mainstream . You probably can easily say that psx library is bigger and better than 64 and the same between ps2 and GC, but the 2 consoles are so over exposed , filled with crapware libraries(doesn't make it bad console), too main stream to give me that unique feeling the by my "favorite" but not necessarily BEST console of any single generation.

There was a time when I considered Dreamcast to be one of my favorite but no more. The reason being is that I discovered most of its game library have been ported to other consoles of its generation, making Sonic games for the Dreamcast about the only exclusives to it. Not only that but usually the ports are on a more reliable and capable system of its generation. As for the fighting games, they have been outdone by its fellow consoles in the same generation and the other part where it shines, sport titles. Well, I am not into sport titles and I think today sport titles are easily a better experience.

As for the SNES & Genesis. Never had a genesis, and owned SNES very late in its lifetime(maybe 96) . I used to consider SNES my favorite but then I changed my mind , as I grew up I realized that its game library is not as interesting probably because I favor 3D gaming over 2D. But damn at its time it used to be the greatest thing ever. Maybe because I had a brain of a child?

But more than anything, the games on these 2 consoles were tough to beat, usually no saves(mario,sonic, vector man) making you stay a good 6-7 hour to complete the game. Electricity out, pull a wire, you are dead. start from zero. games were too tough for me, and still are. I think I probably can complete Sonic , but no way for stuff like Batman and Robin, Aladdin , Earthworm Jim, Bubsy.. you know the rest.

The Neo-Geo can take my hart easily for unique hardware. But too expensive library then AND now. Library is extremely limited, mostly fighting games and sequels of the fighting games just doesn't cut it for me. Still wish I own one to play at least experience it before I die.

how about u?

[pvt_awol]

I'll always have a super soft spot in my heart for the SNES (the original, not the mini)


but for usability? What console do I get the most out of? My PS3. As a media center, it kills everything else. It supports more codec formats than the Xbox, it had HDMI out before the Xbox did (not that that matters now though) it is a fully functional 3D blu-ray player, and it plays the entire library of Playstation games (if you have a backward compat. unit)

I'd say that those are the reasons that it is my favorite. If the next Xbox is backward compat. with all Xbox 1 and 360 titles, that'd be awesome. Same for the Wii U. (Although I know they've already dropped Gamecube support). And if they could natively support video codecs like .mkv etc. then I might consider a replacement. Surprisingly, the thing that doesn't even make it on my list of MAIN reasons why I like it, is the games. LOL.

[Gamerforlife]

I used to always say Dreamcast, but when I really think about it, that's a hard question to answer with just one console.

For nostalgia reasons, it's the SNES/Genesis. Those consoles represent to me the very best era of gaming. Gaming will never be as good as it was during the era of arcades and 16-bit consoles. Also, you can't beat these two consoles for simplicity. You pop in a game and you play. You don't have to sit on your hands waiting for fifty company logos to watch before the title screen, or wait to log into some online count, or wait for dozens of load screens like you do with modern consoles. You also don't have to blow into the damn cartridges like you do if you want to bust out the old NES.

The Dreamcast was probably the coolest of the last gen consoles. The kinds of games Sega made and supported were wonderful. Plus, you still had something of an arcade scene at the time, and many of them got awesome ports on the Dreamcast. I really loved the arcade presence on the Dreamcast. One of the reasons I enjoy Lollipop Chainsaw so much is because it feels like a game that would have been right at home on the Dreamcast. The Dreamcast was also ahead of its time in a lot of ways (VGA support, online, etc.). There was a real aura of excitement around the console too that I distinctly remember. The DC is also a great collector's console. It has a relatively small North American library of mostly cheap titles. Any collector can shoot for a complete Dreamcast collection and have an attainable goal there, and no real gamer won't be impressed by someone's Dreamcast collection given some of the great, classic titles it had, and its relatively niche appeal among more casual gamers.

For current consoles though, I think the PS3 wipes the floor with everything. It's the strongest console (which unfortunately makes it hard for some people to program for). It has a slick, professional presentation for its menus, files, trophies, etc. while everything on the Xbox 360 just looks tacky and not well thought out. Unlike the 360, the PS3 emphasizes form as well as functionality. Blu-ray also beats the 360's media format. The PS3 also has, in my opinion, the best controller. This is particularly true for beat 'em up, combat oriented gameplay, which I really love. Beating up people in Batman Arkham Asylum just feels more fluid and responsive when playing on a PS3 controller versus a 360 one. The Wii has some great games, but is largely just a gimmick machine and the worst of the three current consoles

[pvt_awol]

^

Damn I wish I had a time machine, so I could go back and re-live the glory days of the 16-bit era.

It's too bad that a lot of "kids" nowadays won't get the chance to know what it was like to see Transparencies, Mode 7, Super FX, all that kind of stuff for the first time. I remember the crazy arguments we'd get into at school between the Genesis and SNES. It was actually a fun time.

This right here.... this is the reason that I'm into retro collecting. I've always been a gamer, but only a collector for a few years, and this is the reason right here. Nostalgia. That to me makes my collection priceless.




I also agree on the PS3 controller being awesome, but the more I use the 360 controller, the more I can tell that each has it's own design for certain games. The PS3 for fighters and action, the 360 for shooters and driving.

[Menegrothx]

3) I also usually root for the underdog or the non-mainstream . You probably can easily say that psx library is bigger and better than 64 and the same between ps2 and GC, but the 2 consoles are so over exposed , filled with crapware libraries(doesn't make it bad console), too main stream to give me that unique feeling the by my "favorite" but not necessarily BEST console of any single generation.

I kind of feel the same way about the PS2, less popular consoles like 3DO, Jaguar and CDi tend to have more unique libraries (or atleast the consoles feel more like they have a personality of their own). But what can you expect from the best selling console of all time that is still alive and being sold in stores almost 12 years after it's initial launch? Itt has such a library of good games that it's just ridicolous. Not only can you play all the PS1 classics on it, but I think it also has the most 10/10 games out any console even on it's own (and ports of some PC classics like Half Life and Deus Ex). Oh, and the slim model is also ridicolously small. It's so small that it makes Gamecube and Dreamcast look over sized. What more could you ask from a console, apart from 4 controller slots?

I kinda prefer to buy games on Dreamcast/Xbox/Gamecube when ever I can in the case of multiplatform games like Psychonauts, Beyond Good and Evil and Max Payne because I already have so damn many good games on the PS2.

By the way, quite many of the best non-Nintendo games on Gamecube (Killer 7 and such) are also available on the PS2.

[ExedExes]

Well said thoughts and opinions here so far.

Being a part of the SNES generation, that is, having the console when it came out on launch and experiencing all the new titles coming out, was boss. Pilotwings would certainly impress anyone in 1991, plus many great classic titles and series that started out right there and great games in every genre imaginable. Plus, it was built very solid. No moving parts and a very hard plastic shell means it could stand up to a lot of abuse (same goes for those controllers!)

Lately I've been focusing on the 6th generation, and it's a shame I missed out on all the hype of the Dreamcast, because as new games were always coming out I'd follow them and as someone mentioned all those great arcade titles from 1999-2001 that were being released on the Naomi arcade platform by Sega, Capcom and others were being perfectly and exactly ported to the Dreamcast with extra features and Dreamcast-exclusive original game modes and no loss in gameplay or graphics. That was a huge point of why the DC remains a gamer favorite. Remember that the Dreamcast had the definitive Marvel vs Capcom 2 experience before it came out on later consoles.

Even now as I collect for the GBA and the GameCube, I'm still happy to see Nintendo hasn't forgotten about their past. The Super Mario Advance series was perfectly ported and adds even more little things to the experience. At the time, there were so many GameCube exclusive titles before PSN and XBLA even existed (such as Ikaruga). I'm still impressed with the build quality of those Nintendo-made consoles too.

[RCBH928]

3) I also usually root for the underdog or the non-mainstream . You probably can easily say that psx library is bigger and better than 64 and the same between ps2 and GC, but the 2 consoles are so over exposed , filled with crapware libraries(doesn't make it bad console), too main stream to give me that unique feeling the by my "favorite" but not necessarily BEST console of any single generation.

I kind of feel the same way about the PS2, less popular consoles like 3DO, Jaguar and CDi tend to have more unique libraries (or atleast the consoles feel more like they have a personality of their own). But what can you expect from the best selling console of all time that is still alive and being sold in stores almost 12 years after it's initial launch? Itt has such a library of good games that it's just ridicolous. Not only can you play all the PS1 classics on it, but I think it also has the most 10/10 games out any console even on it's own (and ports of some PC classics like Half Life and Deus Ex). Oh, and the slim model is also ridicolously small. It's so small that it makes Gamecube and Dreamcast look over sized. What more could you ask from a console, apart from 4 controller slots?

I kinda prefer to buy games on Dreamcast/Xbox/Gamecube when ever I can in the case of multiplatform games like Psychonauts, Beyond Good and Evil and Max Payne because I already have so damn many good games on the PS2.

By the way, quite many of the best non-Nintendo games on Gamecube (Killer 7 and such) are also available on the PS2.

This post made me want to buy ps2
MANUFACTURING them?

[RCBH928]

I don't know if I mis understood you guys but...
I still didn't see any one listing the factors that made his decision on his favorite console

[Majors]

Turbo Grafx (Duo, PCE):

Picked it up on the cheap in 1991 with 5 games...all good titles(made a lasting impression). Got a CD add-on later that year and after playing Y's, I was a turbohead for life. It had all the shooters I wanted and imports made the system shine. I had years of trading, selling and buying turbo gear that got me deep into knowledge of the system.

The current community of turbofans (PCEngineFX.com) are a great bunch. It is nitch, I feel special to be part of it.

[Gunstar Green]

For nostalgia reasons, it's the SNES/Genesis. Those consoles represent to me the very best era of gaming. Gaming will never be as good as it was during the era of arcades and 16-bit consoles. Also, you can't beat these two consoles for simplicity. You pop in a game and you play. You don't have to sit on your hands waiting for fifty company logos to watch before the title screen, or wait to log into some online count, or wait for dozens of load screens like you do with modern consoles. You also don't have to blow into the damn cartridges like you do if you want to bust out the old NES.

Amen to that. The only true winner of the 16-bit war was the consumer who got to reap the rewards that blossomed from the fierce competition.