Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
As with the start of every new generation of gaming, gamers are debating over which console system is the most impressive and has the best features. While of course past gaming consoles can't compare to modern gaming consoles when it comes to available features and technical specifications, what were some of the most impressive video game consoles at the time that they were released?
#2
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
PS2 with Metal Gear Solid 2 and and Final Fantasy X blew my mind. the cut scenes in X are still impressive today.
#3
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
I'll say the first XBox w/ Halo: Combat Evolved
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 20,804
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
Looking at the list on Wiki, there aren't a lot of classics on any console.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...e_launch_games
A few notable exceptions:
Nintendo launched 3 systems in a row (NES, SNES, N64) with Mario games that are probably top 50 all-time. The NES also had Excite Bike and the SNES/N64 both had Pilotwings.
The Atari 5200 launched with only four games, but they were Galaxian, Pack Man, Space Invaders and Super Breakout.
The Dreamcast launched with Soul Calibur, Sonic Adventure, NFL2K, Hydro Thunder and underappreciated classic Power Stone.
PS2 launched with a lot of titles, and some good ones, but not a lot of classics IMO.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...e_launch_games
A few notable exceptions:
Nintendo launched 3 systems in a row (NES, SNES, N64) with Mario games that are probably top 50 all-time. The NES also had Excite Bike and the SNES/N64 both had Pilotwings.
The Atari 5200 launched with only four games, but they were Galaxian, Pack Man, Space Invaders and Super Breakout.
The Dreamcast launched with Soul Calibur, Sonic Adventure, NFL2K, Hydro Thunder and underappreciated classic Power Stone.
PS2 launched with a lot of titles, and some good ones, but not a lot of classics IMO.
#6
Suspended
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 20,804
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
I was actually leaning N64. I was a PS1 guy that generation, but Super Mario 64 was a revelation and has held up quite well even to this day.
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
At time of release, I don't think I was impressed by anything as much as I was with Mario64, and I'm old enough to have had a 2600, and even then I just thought they were blocks on a screen.
So I guess the N64, but in hindsight, I'd put it near the bottom of the pile.
So I guess the N64, but in hindsight, I'd put it near the bottom of the pile.
#10
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
Neo Geo, it was arcade pixel perfect at home (with some censorship on a few fighting games).
Dreamcast, the graphics was a huge jump from PS1/Saturn.
Dreamcast, the graphics was a huge jump from PS1/Saturn.
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
NES - hell, it was just impressive that video games were back. It was obviously more advanced than the most commonly owned system of its time (the Atari 2600), but what was cool about it was that I had already played games like Super Mario Bros. and Excitebike in the arcade before its nationwide launch. I was primed and ready to play those at home. And hey - a light gun!
SNES - the Mode 7 scaling and rotation was unlike anything most of us had seen in a home console, and was demonstrated in Pilotwings and F-Zero. Actually, what impressed me the most about Super Mario World was the sound. That system had a great sound chip for the time.
N64 - although the PS1 ushered in real 3D gaming, I'd agree the N64 was more impressive at first since it brought Mario into a new dimension and it had the texture filtering the PS1 lacked. Also, it brought us the analog thumbstick, which is right up there with the D-pad when it comes to important innovations in controllers.
Dreamcast - I agree with Lastblade - the jump in detail, resolution, and framerate (in some cases at least) was amazing after years of PSX and N64.
SNES - the Mode 7 scaling and rotation was unlike anything most of us had seen in a home console, and was demonstrated in Pilotwings and F-Zero. Actually, what impressed me the most about Super Mario World was the sound. That system had a great sound chip for the time.
N64 - although the PS1 ushered in real 3D gaming, I'd agree the N64 was more impressive at first since it brought Mario into a new dimension and it had the texture filtering the PS1 lacked. Also, it brought us the analog thumbstick, which is right up there with the D-pad when it comes to important innovations in controllers.
Dreamcast - I agree with Lastblade - the jump in detail, resolution, and framerate (in some cases at least) was amazing after years of PSX and N64.
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
I had thought the NES wasn't a smash success at launch. Didn't it take time for people to warm up to consoles again after the crash in '83?
The most impressive and memorable to me was the Dreamcast. The Nintendo 64 was memorable since I can still recall playing Mario in Target on launch day, but it didn't completely blow my mind. The Dreamcast on the other hand looked night and day from the jagged polygons I was used to.
The most impressive and memorable to me was the Dreamcast. The Nintendo 64 was memorable since I can still recall playing Mario in Target on launch day, but it didn't completely blow my mind. The Dreamcast on the other hand looked night and day from the jagged polygons I was used to.
#13
Political Exile
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
The 3DO launched in 1993 just after the SNES, and was so much more advanced than the Genesis and SNES. I had friends come over and blew their mind playing games like Total Eclipse, Road Rash, Need for Speed, Shockwave, Return Fire, etc. The first real revolutionary console.
#14
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
The 3DO launched in 1993 just after the SNES, and was so much more advanced than the Genesis and SNES. I had friends come over and blew their mind playing games like Total Eclipse, Road Rash, Need for Speed, Shockwave, Return Fire, etc. The first real revolutionary console.
I remember playing the 3DO in Service Merchandise right around launch. I always thought its main competitor was the Sega CD.
Last edited by My Other Self; 06-19-13 at 09:52 PM.
#15
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
The 2600 was the first real console, thus it really created the video game market we have today.
But the NES is the system that saved the video game market we have today. I mean they launched it in the U.S. with a freaking robot. If you had an NES with R.O.B., you were the cool kid in the neighborhood. Yes, R.O.B. never worked well, but it was still awesome.
But the NES is the system that saved the video game market we have today. I mean they launched it in the U.S. with a freaking robot. If you had an NES with R.O.B., you were the cool kid in the neighborhood. Yes, R.O.B. never worked well, but it was still awesome.
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
My vote is for the 3D0 as well. I got one when it dropped to $450, which pretty much indicated it was doomed. Panasonic had the right ideas but terrible execution.
#17
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
At the time of release, I thought the PS2 was pretty impressive spec wise. Best launch games seem like slightly different matter.
#18
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
N64 and Dreamcast for me. N64 was before I got into PC gaming and it was the first time I saw really clean 3D visuals.
Especially the water in Wave Race 64. But Mario 64 was visually impressive to me at the time too (though I oddly didn't like the game).
Yes, <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RwxK62sEdRQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> impressed me.
The Dreamcast felt like a big generational leap to me, Sonic Adventure looked fantastic at the time. I remember a while after launch playing MDK 2 thinking it couldn't get much better than that. I still argue the Dreamcast had cleaner graphics than the PS2.
Especially the water in Wave Race 64. But Mario 64 was visually impressive to me at the time too (though I oddly didn't like the game).
Yes, <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RwxK62sEdRQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> impressed me.
The Dreamcast felt like a big generational leap to me, Sonic Adventure looked fantastic at the time. I remember a while after launch playing MDK 2 thinking it couldn't get much better than that. I still argue the Dreamcast had cleaner graphics than the PS2.
Last edited by RichC2; 06-19-13 at 11:04 PM.
#20
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
I would love some more Wave Race, it's still my favorite racing series, the water physics added a ton to the game.
Is it wrong I want a new one, but I want it on Xbox One / PS 4 hardware? Still it would be a huge incentive to keep my Wii U.
Is it wrong I want a new one, but I want it on Xbox One / PS 4 hardware? Still it would be a huge incentive to keep my Wii U.
#22
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
TurboGrafx 16. Fantastic graphics, great game library, huge step up from the previous generation, and it launched with a CD Rom drive (sold separately) at a time when CD Rom games were just starting to become an emerging technology.
#24
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
Jumping from the PS one and N64 to the Dreamcast blew my mind. I was so impressed. I got Soul Calibur and Ready to Rumble on launch day and it was a night and day experience from the previous generation. I am going to stop talking now. Whenever I think of the dreamcast I get all depressed. I love that system.
#25
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Most impressive video game consoles at the time they were released?
The original Xbox was quite impressive for bring FPS shooters to console. People tend to forget that at the time, FPS games were hugely popular on the PC market, but not much of an impact on consoles. The system launched with Halo offering a quality title with awesome graphics that rivaled the best PC games. It also introduced the massive time sink RPG games like Morrowind.
Last edited by dvdjunkie32; 06-20-13 at 02:32 PM.