If you could have only one system...

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

I think if you're going to talk shit about a system, you really should fully explore its library. Most old systems have great emulation making that easier than ever.

As a kid I thought the Odyssey2 sucked. Years later I played games like Killer Bees!, Turtles, and KC's Krazy Chase and loved them. The system was better than my early impression of it. I wasn't qualified to judge the Odyssey2 in the early '80s. Today I am because I researched it enough.

I have never come across anyone with really good knowledge and taste in video games that wasn't a fan of the SMS and TG-16. Bashers of these have either already made up their minds due to stupid fanboy biases or they haven't given the systems proper chances.

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Pretty much this. Rep given!

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Originally Posted by Phantar

Well... yeah, based on personal opinion, I think the Phillips CD-i was a console that did, indeed, suck :p. Granted, the general idea of combining Media Center and gaming console into one device was great, and far ahead of it's time (The CD-i tried in 1991 what nowadays has come full circle in the form of Playstation 3 and XBox 360, or already with PS2, Xbox and Dreamcast if one wanted to be picky)

However, it had some of the most uncomfortable and unresponsive controllers ever conceived, the library of games was very limited, the few big-name titles were pretty bad... and while it had a few games one could call halfway decent (though those were mostle FMV games like Braindead 13 or the games produced by American Lasergames), it definitely lacked a killer app that would have helped it further down the road. Granted, I haven't played every game in the library, and I don't own the system, though I played a couple of rounds at a friends' house. From my limited experience, I'd say the best games for the CD-i were also available in better versions for other systems (like Flashback or The 7th Guest). The exclusive releases mostly sucked or were, at best, okay (though I somewhat enjoyed the Pinball game). Based on all these observations, I'd still say that the CD-i pretty much sucks, and from what I've experienced I have no intention of exploring that specific system any further. (The only point left to argue over would be whether or not one would count the CD-i as a "major" console :p)

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Someone already beat me to it, but even the CD-i has some games worth playing. Burn Cycle is definitely the best known "good" game on the system.

And, on the subject of controllers - most models of the CD-i came with a rebranded Gravis Gamepad as it's main controller. Those things rule.

The Apprentice is a pretty good platformer exclusive to the CD-i.

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Originally Posted by eddiespruce

What kind of monitor do the Atari computers use? Could I hook them up to my C64 monitor?

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Atari 800, 1200XL, 800XL, and all XE models (except maybe the XEGS) support composite and S-video with similar pinouts as the C64. (there's also mods to improve the video quality for some models)
The 400 and 600XL are RF only unless you mod them. (both can be modded for S-video, as can the 5200, 7800, and VCS ;) -since all have separate chroma/luma outputs on the video chips, unlike the NES)

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Originally Posted by TheSonicRetard

Homebrew IS a part of the system. DreamSNES IS a dreamcast application. I can run it on a dreamcast. Dur hur hur.

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I'm not going to emulation in this comparison (especially unofficial/unlicensed stuff), though legit homebrew/freeware games are fare game IMO.

For that matter, I was assuming backwards compatibility also didn't count . . . so no SMS included in the MD ranking (otherwise there'd be no reason for the SMS at all), and had the PS2 been on the list, I would consider that separate too, same for legit Bleemcast releases too. (if you DID include backwards compatibility, PS2 would be a massive win with it on the list -and MD would get a boost as it is, and make the SMS superfluous . . . and if you included unlicensed/pirated use of games via emulation, then obviously PCs and several newer consoles would be way, way up on the list -actually, PCs would be an easy #1 due to the ability to play pretty much every arcade/console/computer system prior to the PS2 via emulation at reasonable/good quality, with tons of native PC games on top of that)

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Originally Posted by TrekkiesUnite118

The reason someone picked the DC is one of the good reasons for emulation. He owns the original systems obviously, but if he can only take one system with him, he will take a system that can emulate the others so he can still play those games. If the Wii or Original Xbox were on the poll, I might have picked them for the same reason.

And the SMS is not an unholy POS. I admit the NES does have a nicer library, the SMS does have its own charm in it's exclusives. I'd rather be stuck on a desert island with a Master System than with a 7800, a Jaguar, or even a 3DO for that matter.

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Oddly enough, from those options, I'd take the Jaguar or 3DO . . . at least assuming cost was no concern (so super rare games were accessible). Albeit, in the Jag's case, a few games need network play to really be enjoyed. (which is pretty much moot in the context of "only 1 console" -and obviously inconsequential for single player stuff)
But, again, that's more up to genre preference. (and between the 2 of those, I'd probably go for 3DO due to the larger overall library, better overall quality of games, ports of several PC games I like -including Wing Commander III- etc -if the Jag had gotten X-Wing and/or Tie Fighter, I'd be a lot more torn though -Battlesphere is interesting, but lacks the atmosphere of those games if nothing else)

I'll agree on 7800, there's a few good games on the system, but the SMS definitely offers a lot more. (well, if you included 2600 compatibility, the 7800 would be a bit tempting IMO, even over the SMS -especially due to the multiplayer aspects, and since I have a soft spot for many of those early console/arcade games -not really tied to nostalgia, but just general appreciation for their being neat in their own right, though I suppose you could argue some nostalgia since I first got into the 2600 when I was about 10 -but still, for the same neat/unique/old/quirky factor that plays a big part of why I still like it)

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Originally Posted by TheSonicRetard

He already posted in another topic all the hardware he's ever owned, I'm just twisting the knife. I think he honestly expects us to believe he owns a SMS or TG-16 despite this.

Everything I've ever emulated, I own in real life. Zoltor can't say the same.

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You don't have to own something to have played it in real life. (it's called friends/relatives/etc or "I used to own, but got rid of")

I've never owned many of the systems I've discussed in this thread (or several others in other discussions for that matter), but it doesn't mean I haven't played them on real hardware too for that very reason.
That said, there's no reason to exclude emulator gameplay experience either, so long as the emulators are very close to real hardware performance. (not that it's not neat to use real hardware, but you can certainly get the feel for a game via emulation in the vast majority of cases where there's good emulators available -albeit, emulation can also skate over some flaws you might experience on real hardware too, unless you specifically limit yourself to console-accurate settings -ie no fast-forward/slow-down, special video/audio filtering, save states, removing sprite limiting, etc)

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Originally Posted by TheSonicRetard

The 2600 is not awesome for classic arcade games - they were always well below what was available in the arcades at the time. At best, you'd get a good conversion, but none of them compare to the real deal.

And besides, those same games you're touting are available on the 7800 in better incarnations, and they're also available on the SMS.

The vast, vast majority of 2600 games are trash. Those which are not are available elsewhere in better forms. There are numerous exclusive SMS games which are not available anywhere else, like Ninja Gaiden.

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Totally disagree here . . . the 2600 has a lot of crappy games, not not really any different than the NES or PSX,but certainly not the majority. (let alone vast majority) There's the bigger issue of many games of very similar genre/style/gameplay (albeit many of relatively good quality among those, so not the same argument as "crap").

There's also a ton of unique games and ports of old arcade games that aren't available on ANY other system in that list . . . and several available on no other console/computers outside of MAME. (or compilations of VCS games ;))

With BC included, I'd easily choose the 7800 over the SMS, especially for multiplayer. (for that matter, I'd take the 2600 over the SMS in that context -though certainly not for single player alone, there's way too much that's lost without multiplayer on the VCS)

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Originally Posted by TheSonicRetard

I'm of the opinion that no major game consoles suck. Not a single one. Every big-name console, from the 5200 to the CD32 to the Jaguar and everything in between has a few titles which make the console worth owning. It doesn't do much good to simply label everything as shit based off of a few hours playtime.

You have to get into some real obscure consoles to begin finding consoles out there without a single redeeming game. Stuff like the Gamate or the Super Cassette Lady Vision... those are the kind of consoles and handhelds without any redeeming games. Beyond the hyper obscure, if you saw ads for it in magazines, it probably has at least 1 gem worth checking out.

I have 32 game systems, and I wouldn't say a single one of them is totally devoid of quality.

Case in point - I picked up a GP32 back when they were first released. Most would assume it doesn't even have an official library of games, but it does. Stuff like Tomak! Save the Earth Again, Dungeon and Guarder, an incredible port of Pinball Dreams, and Blood Cross are all worth owning in their official forms.

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Now this I can definitely get behind . . . though I obviously have different genre preferences (and tolerance/appreciation for some games you consider "crap" ), but I certainly agree that there are few to no major (or even minor) consoles/computers that really "suck".

The Arcadia 2001 may be among the few that really fall into that category though . . . and the RCA Studio II (the Channel F is more interesting though).

And on the issues of controllers ruining a console . . . the Intellivision would have to be the epitome of this for any system I've played. (and even worse since there's few alternate options -especially with the hardwired models)

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Originally Posted by tz101

Without taking sides, and just making an observation:

Owning real hardware does not automatically make a person an "expert" on any given game system. I have a lot of systems in my collection, including a Saturn and 30 games for a few years now, but can tell you I am not very knowledgeable regarding the Saturn (haven't played it much). Having said that, I can tell you I played an Atari 5200 emulator extensively before buying one. That emulator showed me enough to know I liked the 5200 games and the way they played. So, demanding "real hardware" or "GTFO" is really not a valid argument at all.

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Agree, though I think the original point may actually have been to Zoltor's earlier claim of needing to compare things on real hardware too.

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Originally Posted by arnold_the_bartender

Exactly. That means we get more badass games. It gets my vote without hesitation.

@Kool Kitty: I would pick PC as well but out of consoles, it's Genesis.

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If I had to pick from that limited list . . . it would probably be PSX for single-player and N64 for multiplayer . . . not sure which I'd choose if I had to balance both overall. (in a context of not having more than 2 players, PSX would also probably win too -depending on genre preference . . . and tolerance for vrtain visual quality issues -different disadvantages on both platforms . . . I can easily tolerate either case -aside from really crappy looking games by standards of the time- but I personally much prefer the visual quality of average N64 games in spite of the limited texture resolution -the most consistent disadvantage)

PSX just has too much to offer to overlook IMO, including many PC ports too. (especially if you like a lot of 3D games -even older ones- which I most definitely do)

It's funny that I say this since I actually never had a PS1 growing up . . . or any sony console for that matter, and rarely played it at firends' houses either (it was nearly all N64 for me at the time -and PC games, and older systems), and I still don't have a very significant collection of PS1 games to this day, but I know of a ton of games I like (and many more I almost certainly would like given the chance).

My biggest gripe would probably be the controller, but there's good 3rd party alternatives as well as the old Dual Analog controller too. (the longer grips solve my biggest complaint about the controller -though the D-pad is still poor and the buttons could be better -the shoulder buttons are fine and the sticks are good too)


There's some post Dreamcast stuff I might choose too, but those aren't listed and neither are pre-NES consoles. (though, while I like several of those, I probably wouldn't opt for that either so I guess that's a bit moot)



In terms of personal preference (in the context of only being allowed to have 1 console ever -not in terms of nostalgia or such), I'd probably go:
1.PSX
2.N64 (very close to being #1, hard to say)
3.MD/Gen/CD
4.SNES (also very close, maybe ahead of MD without the add-ons)
5.Dreamcast (would be higher if the library had been larger -as it is, it obviously has the best technical quality of any in the running, and better versions of several N64 and PSX games -as well as some good PC ports . . . with more of that it probably would have been #1 -especially with more 4 player games)
6.Saturn (a nice amount of games/genres I like, 3D included, and a fair number of nice exclusives . . . I'm not a big fan of some genres/games it's praised for -namely some of the RPGs and 2D stuff- but some of the exclusive 3D games are certainly compelling, and there's a fair chunk of games similar to the PSX too -including some weaker versions of games on PSX, but still good in their own right -which is the whole context of the "only have one system" scenario -ie, if there was any one system with decent version of ALL games on all the other options, that would win easily -others may have had the best versions, but not as complete a library, and again decent versions not crap/poor ones)
7. NES (lots of games, though not my favorite spread of genres or general styles of gameplay)
8. PCE/TG/CD
9. SMS (nice spread of games, but limited library and certainly covered better by other platforms on the list -if my genre preferences were different, I'd probably put that above the PCE)
10. Neo Geo (certainly a great arcade/arcade at home platform, but it really caters to genres I don't care so much about -especially fighters- with a smattering of some I have more interest in, but overall too limited) If I was a hardcore 2D fighter fan, this would obviously be near the top of the list. (Saturn would be higher too, DC is pretty good for that too)


I should note that I still haven't voted as I really don't feel I have a definitive response to give. (due to the limited list and N64/PSX conflict in the current list)
And, again, this is in the context of evaluating each console as if you could only play that system in general, on its own merits. (so having weaker versions of multiplat games can be an asset in this context -compared to lacking those games altogether, and having more games that I enjoy is the main criteria considered -nothing on cost/price, popularity, release date, etc)
I'm also assuming all regions are included. (though limiting it to the US alone wouldn't really change my preferences)

And, again, this is based on personal preference AND that context. (and, from the multiplayer aspect, assuming I can find people with similar interests -as it is, there's a few games I like that few others really want to play with me)





With emulation includes, it's easily the Dreamcast . . . even with some of the shaky emulation cases, it expands the available library so far that it's almost no contest. (well, PSX, Saturn, and N64 still all have many games not available on the DC in that context, so still mitigating factors there)

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

The Apprentice is a pretty good platformer exclusive to the CD-i.

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I hadn't played that one, mostly because after reading title and premise I thought it was just a port of the Amiga game of the same name. But apparently I was mistaken...

In terms of controller, I know Gravis controllers existed, but the versions I had the "pleasure" to enjoy mostly had these cumbersome "paddle"-controllers
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Controller.jpg
These worked neither properly as controller nor remote device.

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Originally Posted by kool kitty89

2.N64 (very close to being #1, hard to say)

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I'm curious why you would rank the N64 so high. I'm a fan of it but on this poll I would rank it near the bottom given that its library is more limited, especially for 2d. Is it because of the multiplayer games?

I'd rate the N64 up high too for these titles alone:

1) Starfox 64
2) Mariokart 64
3) Pokemon Stadium 1 and 2
4) Goldeneye
5) Perfect Dark
6) The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
7) The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask
8) F-Zero X
9) Super Smash Bros.
10) Mario Party 1, 2, and 3


Those titles make the N64 more than worth owning if you ask me. They are all high quality games that you can't really find a good substitute for on any other system of the time.

About N64:
Starfox 64
Mario Kart 64
GoldenEye 007
Perfect Dark
F-Zero X
World Driver Championship
Wave Race 64
Killer Instinct Gold
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Duke Nukem Zero Hour

Those titles are great IMO.

very hard choice between dreamcast and saturn but I would pick up dreamcast simply because it has more pick up and play games. I love both systems a lot but saturn is my favorite.

Do you really believe, KoolKitty, that Zoltor has a friend with both an SMS and PC Engine, and that he spent time with both hardware? When he says things like "I'll have to check out the PC Engine japanese library" and doesn't refer to it as a turbo grafx? When he can't describe a single physical characteristic of either machine? That he'd know someone who is savvy enough to own either of those hardware, yet is clueless about their library beyond Phantasy Star and Dungeon Explorer?

If so, I have a bridge to sell you.

At least if you had an N64 you could waste months searching for every banana in Donkey Kong 64 :D

Really, thinking about it, in this situation the N64 would be a decent proposition, as a lot of the games were specically built to be time consuming, back in the day, when most people had like 7-10 games you could quite happily search through and unlock everything, now though you tend to just move from one game to another as everything is so cheap, being stuck on a desert island would return you to the state where you simply want to occupy yourself for as long as possible, so you could think "hey, I'll try to find those last 20 banana's/notes", "hey, I'll try to rescue those last few Ewoks in JFG", "i'll try to reach those last few combo requirments in Star Fox", I'll try to improve my times in Blast Corps", you could keep racing your ghosts in racing games etc.

EDIT: Just noticed this isn't one of those specific "desert island" topics, oh well

The N64 has enough worthwhile games depending on tastes, but I think that for most people, it would rank lower than other consoles.


Emulation works for finding out enough that you like a console's games, but isn't a definitive way to decide if you hate a console. Just as good games define a console's potential and bad games are simply bad games.

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Originally Posted by TrekkiesUnite118

I'd rate the N64 up high too for these titles alone:

1) Starfox 64
2) Mariokart 64
3) Pokemon Stadium 1 and 2
4) Goldeneye
5) Perfect Dark
6) The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
7) The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask
8) F-Zero X
9) Super Smash Bros.
10) Mario Party 1, 2, and 3


Those titles make the N64 more than worth owning if you ask me. They are all high quality games that you can't really find a good substitute for on any other system of the time.

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Yes, though I think the argument above wasn't so much an argument of whether the N64 was worth having, but more a question of why I personally rated it so high on the list in this context. (and that's more up to personal preference in genres -if I really, really loved many of the mainstream/popular/common 2D genres on the MD and SNES, then I definitely would have organized my list differently ;) -and PC wouldn't be very high even if it was on the list, since PCs were relatively weak for most of those types of games)

For the same reason, my list of top notable N64 games would be different (and organized differently) from what you have above too. (but I'll stop short of making another list ;))




[QUOTE=Thenewguy;446300]At least if you had an N64 you could waste months searching for every banana in Donkey Kong 64 :D

Really, thinking about it, in this situation the N64 would be a decent proposition, as a lot of the games were specically built to be time consuming, back in the day, when most people had like 7-10 games you could quite happily search through and unlock everything, now though you tend to just move from one game to another as everything is so cheap, being stuck on a desert island would return you to the state where you simply want to occupy yourself for as long as possible, so you could think "hey, I'll try to find those last 20 banana's/notes", "hey, I'll try to rescue those last few Ewoks in JFG", "i'll try to reach those last few combo requirments in Star Fox", I'll try to improve my times in Blast Corps", you could keep racing your ghosts in racing games etc.

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EDIT: Just noticed this isn't one of those specific "desert island" topics, oh well

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Yeah, I think the context is more "one system, but otherwise normal life conditions". (and no limits of cost of games either -so evening things out for very rare/costly to find games on some systems)

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

I'm curious why you would rank the N64 so high. I'm a fan of it but on this poll I would rank it near the bottom given that its library is more limited, especially for 2d. Is it because of the multiplayer games?

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For one thing, I'm not nearly as big of a 2D gaming fan as most others are on this site, and there's a lot of 3D genres on the N64 I love (platformer, action-adventure, rail shooter, 3D flight/space shooters and FPS, and several good racing games too -on the FPS issue, I'm not that big of a fan of most N64 examples aside from the multiplayer and I'm not that big of an FPS fan either)

That's also the main reason the PSX is so high too . . . and it's actually a much better PC-style-gaming alternative than the N64 too. It seems to be the strongest by far of that generation for sim and arcade-style space/flight combat games (one of my favorite genres). There's also many more options for 3D Rail shooters on the PSX than either the Saturn or N64 (or PC), and some good Panzer Dragoon and Star Fox alternatives among those, at least if you include Europe and Japanese-only releases. (I prefer the Star Fox like games a bit more personally)
Albeit, the PSX lacks many of the graphic adventure games I love on PC . . . less so if you include JP-specific releases, but there's just a lot of great/fun/quirky PC games that never went to any consoles at all.

I like many 2D games too, but several 3D and pseudo 3D specific genres are among my very favorites. (that includes some that date back to very early 2D/pseudo 3D incarnations -flight sims and rail shooters both started out that way, and there's several even on the 2600) And of the 2D games, it's some of the multiplayer ones that I really have the most fun with. (single player games that I really like -and am good enough with to enjoy playing for long periods- are relatively limited, especially the mainstream platform/beat em' up/run n' gun/etc genres of the 90s -I like several of the SHMUPs, but that's a bit hit and miss, a select few platformers I really like, a lot of fun puzzle games, some great 2D adventure/action-adventure and action-RPG games -perhaps my favorite single-player genre of those 2D games

Modern flight sims are one of the main reasons I'd eventually like to get a modern gaming PC eventually . . . but classic 90s flight/space sims are the mainn reason why I'm even more interested in old DOS/windows gaming. (especially since space sims in particular have virtually died off in modern gaming -though air combat sims are still fairly common, if still more niche than mainstream)
Classic PC adventure games is another reason, among several other 90s PC games (including a few FPSs) . . . and some of the RPGs/dungeon crawlers seem interesting too, though I've never actually gotten into those. (no so much for lack of interest as sheer lack of personal experience in playing them -didn't have/play any growing up . . . unless you count some relatively newer ones like Neverwinter Nights and Diablo II -both of which I only played at my friends house for a few hours each, but more messing around than actually playing the games properly)
I also have a feeling I might get too involved in some of those games though and end up spending too much time with them. ;)

N64 is good but it's only got like 300 games, and as entertaining as some of them are you'd eventually get bored with it.

The PS1 might not have as good of a quality to garbage ratio but you'd never run out of stuff to play. There are a lot more hidden gems on the PS1 as well, with the N64 it's pretty much what you see is what you get.

The Genesis is good too since games like Sonic / Streets of Rage / Shining Force II / Castlevania never get old.

N64 is a good system in my book, solely because of how fun a majority of its library is to play with friends!