Music Banter - View Single Post - 100 Things That Piss Me Off About Video Games

boo boo · 10-15-2008, 07:04 PM

Since we're on the topic of consoles. Here's my list of the 15 greatest consoles (not including the next gen platforms) based on their impact on the industry.

1. Nintendo Entertainment System: This was the console that pretty much saved the video game industry after Atari's big f*ck up that led to the video game crash of 83. It was a big leap forward in graphics and sound for the time, it's innovations included D pad controls and game saves, and it's excellent third party support gave gamers more variety than they ever had from a single console before. Nintendo limited third parties to only being able to produce 5 games a year, to ensure that they would invest as much time in their games as possible. A technique that surely paid off. This system introduced many of the franchises that are still industry staples today. Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Castlevania, Mega Man, Final Fantasy, Ninja Gaiden, it all started here. NES is one of the few consoles you can actually make a top 100 best games list for and still have some notable games left over.
2. Sega Genesis: The first true 16 bit system. While not the first console to compete head on with Nintendo, it was the first console to really pose a threat to Nintendo, thanks to a little blue hedgehog. This system started the first true console war and put an end to the monopoly Nintendo had on the industry at the time. It didn't boast the big franchises that Nintendo had, but it made up for it with a huge library of games with many solid titles to choose from.
3. Super Nintendo: Nintendo's answer to the Genesis eventually won the console war, due to boasting superior graphics and sound, it's updates of many classic NES franchises, near perfect arcade ports and greater third party support. It had plenty of great RPG's and Fighting games and added Mario Kart and Star Fox to Nintendo's ever expanding list of powerhouse titles.
4. Sony Playstation: Not only did it replace Sega as the biggest threat to Nintendo. It outperformed the N64 in many ways, selling 3 times as many units. It reinvented old franchises like Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid and Castlevania, while introducing many new ones. The third parties flocked to this system, pretty much ending Nintendo's strong relationship with third party developers.
5. Game Boy Advance: By no means a mere upgrade of the original Game Boy. GBA had impressive 32 bit graphics and was even backwards compatable with the GB and GBC, it also had a battery charger which was a godsend. But most importantly it's library of games is gigantic, and still expanding. It also reminded gamers that Nintendo could still deliver the third party goods.
6. Playstation 2: This beast won what was the most fearsome console war to date, and introduced many new industry powerhouses like God of War, Kingdom Hearts, Ratchet and Clank and Devil May Cry. It boasted many more exclusives than it's competition, which helped a lot. Even 8 years after it's release, it's STILL the best selling console of all time, not bad.
7. Atari 2600: This may not have been the first console, but it pretty much invented the home console market as we know it. Though it had many memorable games from Activision, it also boasted some of the worst games of all time, which contributed to the video game crash. But it was a necessary evil that allowed the industry to evolve into what it is today.
8. Game Boy: First true handheld, making many of Nintendo's standbys like Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Contra, Mega Man, Castlevania and many others portable for the first time, as well as introducing Kirby and the big media craze that was Pokemon. Sega challenged the Game Boy with their color handheld Game Gear, but GB won out in the end due to it's superior battery life and better library of games.
9. Sega Dreamcast: The little console that could. It may have been Sega's worst selling console ever (next to Sega CD and 32x) pretty much ending their career as a hardware developer, but this had more to do with Sega's previous mistakes. They got it right with the Dreamcast, with an impressive launch and innovative new features like a built in modem for online play and at the time the first taste of "next gen" graphics. Sega brought classics like Sonic, Phantasy Star and Ecco to 3D for the first time, while produing cult classics like Shenmue, Skies of Arcadia and Jet Grind Radio as well as a ton of excellent arcade ports. It may have only lasted 2 years, yet it managed to get so much done in such a short amount of time.
10. Nintendo 64: Nintendo's dubious decision to make this system cartridge based pretty much ruined their strong relationship with third parties. But Nintendo filled in the gap with excellent first and second party titles. Super Mario 64 gave us our first 3D platforming adventure, Ocarina of Time gave Zelda's sandbox gameplay an epic update, Goldeneye 007 set the standard for multiplayer shooters and Super Smash Bros created one of the most original Nintendo franchises yet. N64 may have been overshadowed by the Playstation, but it introduced many industry standards like 4 controller ports, analog control sticks and rumble packs.
11. Gamecube: Like the N64, the Gamecube didn't offer much in the way of third party games, but there were exceptions, like Resident Evil 4 and Soul Calibur II, it also had more of an emphasis on games for younger players, unfortunately branding Gamecube as a "kids toy" But as always, the first and second party games are excellent. Contrary to popular belief the Gamecube was actually more powerful than the PS2 and almost as powerful as the Xbox, it's use of mini disk instead of DVD's made loading times range from incredibly brief to virtually nonexistant.
12. Xbox: Microsoft's first entry in the console business. The Xbox had it's share of problems, lack of good exclusives, a tendency to overheat and an awful controller. But it boasted better loading times than the PS2 and it's 10 GB hard disk eliminated the need of memory cards. The system eventually got it's killer aps with the Halo and Ninja Gaiden series, as well as boasting cult classics like Pyschonauts, it even managed to rob PS2 of some of it's strongest exlusives, like the GTA games.
13. Sega Saturn: Had they just waited, had the Sega CD and 32X have never been made, had this thing not have been so overpriced, had the launch not have been so weak and had Sonic Xtreme actually been released. The Saturn would have had a chance. Though it took a while, Sega fans were eventually rewarded with classics like NiGHTs, Gaurdian Heroes, Sega Rally, Burning Rangers, Saturn Bomberman and the Panzer Dragoon series. Saturn may have been a failure commercially, but it still holds a place in the hearts of the hardcore.
14. Turbografx 16: Ironically, the Japanese incarnation of this system, the PC Engine, was a huge success. Unfortunately for NEC and Hudson Soft, this system failed to make an impression in the North American market and was greatly overshadowed by the Genesis and Super Nintendo, even though it was notable for being the first game system to feature a CD Rom add on. However those that owned the system were treated with a modest but impressive library, especially when it came to shoot em ups and puzzle games. Bonk was no Mario or Sonic, but his headbutting caveman adventures provided a lot of 2D platforming fun. This console is a forgotten gem worth digging up.
15. Sega Master System: Easly one of the most underrated consoles ever. The Master System failed to make an impression on the market, it had almost no third party support at all and NES owners didn't even acknowledge it's existance. Still, it not only boasted better 8 bit sound and graphics than the NES, it has an excellent and underrated first party library, with classics like Alex Kidd, Shinobi and Phantasy Star that makes this system a real treat for Sega fans.