Now that this generation of consoles is over, and we can look back at all the good and bad, what console was your favorite?*

I had all three, and enjoyed them all, but looking back, I'd pick the PS2. Hell, I don't even have to look back, because I'm still playing the heck out of it (Okami) and have at least one more game to look forward to (God of War 2).

But for me, it just comes down to the games, and the PS2 had more games for their console, and their sheer numbers ensured that they'd also have a solid variety of good games. I think I played my PS2 about 3x more often than my Xbox, and about 5x more than my GameCube.

And FWIW, I had a launch PS2 (strangely enough, I had no problem getting it the day it came out, and had no idea they were so hard to get for a few months), and it has never so much as hiccupped, much less given me the dirty-disc errors I hear so much about from other launch-console owners - and I've put a lot of hours into it. And even though I played my Xbox way less, I've had two of them, both of them have given me massive problems. The Cube, however, was as solid as a console can get - I actually wish they had more games on it, as I felt it had the most potential.

So, knowing what you know now, if you could buy only one console when it first came out, which would it be and why?

*(please, no bashing )

PS2
I hardly ever even used my XBOX. Loving the 360 though.

***Would have voted Dreamcast, had it been included in the poll***

I picked PS2, but only because I played it more. I love my Cube for the platform games that it gives me - and Windwaker was one of my favorites! However, PS2 gave me Gran Turismo 3 and 4, as well as Grand Theft Auto... the sheer time I put into these games is insane. Lately however, my PS2 playing had taken a sidebar, as I recently re-acquired a Cube, and have been playing Mario Party 7, Mario Strikers, Lego Star Wars II, and a host of others.

I've played PS2 more (much, much more, actually) but the Nintendo-made games on the Cube were far and beyond much more satisfying experiences for me. Plus it has an awesome controller made better with the Wavebird (the only decent wireless controller until the 360 came around). Then you add in the sheer multi-player greatness it brought our group in the forms of Mario Golf, Mario Strikers, Mario Party and Zelda Four Swords.. it's no contest to me.

I voted PS2, but I only favor it by a very small amount. I loved Ratchet & Clank, Katamari, Shadow of the Colossus and Metal Gear Solid 3 and there were quite a few other games that I really enjoyed on the system. It's still a tough call, as I thought the Wavebird was hands down the best controller and the Gamecube had Pikmin, Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, Eternal Darkness and Resident Evil. While both systems had about the same number of 'must haves' for me, the PS2 wins out for having more depth and a greater number of games that were merely good. I didn't own an Xbox, so that's why it's not taken into account.

PS2 easily.

GameCube by far. Maybe my favorite console ever though the PSone probably beats it.

Second would be the Xbox. Best controller and technology of the last gen and the Xbox Media Center freaking rocks. Granted that is not an official thing, but its very easy to set up.

Ah crap. I forgot to put the Dreamcast in the poll - that'd been my second choice.

I'd have to go with the PS2. It just had more games I loved than the others.

The GC's best games were better than the best PS3 games, but they were so few and far between.

The X-box was a huge disappointment to me. Great hardware, but just not enough games in my favorite genres--being a gamer that leans toward the Japanese flavor in games. Easily my least played console ever among those I've owned.

PS2 was only for DQ8, KH1&2, and only very recently Okami. Everything else was GC. Once I got an Xbox, I went there with multi-platform due to the DD5.1 and online play. But since I'm primarily a Sat/Sun-afternoon-when-everyone-else-is-napping gamer, I play mostly solo anyway.

Gamecube by a landslide.

PS2 for me. Although Ninja Gaiden on Xbox is easily my favorite game of the generation.

Xbox for me since action and FPS are my favorite genres. Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox was the best action game I had ever played. I would sell my soul if only the 360 would get a sequel to that game.

PS2, technically inferior but as consoles often show, it's the games that count.

That said, my most used system of the previous generation was the hacked Xbox, as a media center and emulator it was irreplaceable.

And to note, none of my consoles (my Dreamcast, Xbox, Gamecube, nor PS2) have given me any problems, and I've had them all since launch.

In terms of legit use/original titles:
PS2 > Xbox > Gamecube > Dreamcast

Flat out:
Xbox > PS2 > Gamecube > Dreamcast

I love them all though.

Games I relate to the systems as being "quality" titles, even if not the best in their respective genres, if it's a multiconsole game, I usually went with the graphically superior version -- generally the Xbox copy:

*= Multi-console

PS2: Guitar Hero, Dragon Quest 8, Okami, Final Fantasy X, God of War, Tekken 5, Ratchet and Clank, ICO, Shadow of the Collossus, Maximo, Devil May Cry, Shinobi (call me crazy but I liked it.), *Metal Gear Solid 2.

Gamecube: Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, *Viewtiful Joe, *Resident Evil 4, *Super Monkey Ball, Wave Race, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes

Dreamcast: Powerstone 1 and 2, Soul Calibur*, Ikaruga*, Crazy Taxi*, House of the Dead, Typing of the Dead, Mr. Driller, Tony Hawk 1, Tony Hawk 2

Xbox: Halo, Halo 2, *Burnout 3, *Tony Hawk Series pre-THAW/THUG, *Prince of Persia Trilogy, *Splinter Cell Trilogy, Ninja Gaiden, *Soul Calibur 2

Xbox had the least amazing exclusive titles, but also had the best versions of many games.

I own all three consoles and the xbox got 85% of the play time. PS2 has been collecting dust for years and the kids play the GC on occasion.

Xbox

As its the only "last gen" system (besides Dreamcast) that i own.

I like it, i've found games for it that i enjoy...plus i now own more Xbox games than i do PSX games.

Burnout 3 + Custom soundtrack = Total Awesomeness

Gamecube

I own all four and I'd say my X-Box gets the most play time, Dreamcast, GameCube, and then PS2. I haven't had much play time with the Dreamcast, GC, and PS2 recently but that's how I ranked them according to number of games I played for each.

I didn't vote. My vote goes for the Dreamcast.

I use my xbox 1 every week still today while my PS2 is sitting in a box in the attic and I'm wating on guitar hero to come out for 360 as opposed to getting it for PS2 because then i'd have to hook it up.

I voted PS2. Grand Theft Auto is my favorite game of the previous generation. I never got into Xbox but I'm absolutely lovin' my 360.

PS2, then Dreamcast, then XBox or Gamecube.

Although, Ninja Gaiden is the best game on any last gen system.

I don't get all the Ninja Gaiden is the best talk. I own it, I beat it, and I remember pushing the same two-button sequence the majority of the game. I don't remember the story and I haven't even thought about replaying it. But, I'm not an action gamer. It was alright... Sands of Time was way better.

Pretty even spread so far. Even prior to this poll, I think many on this board favor the xbox.

Did you play on Ninja Dog mode? On normal or higher, there is no way you could have beaten the game using the same move over and over. Ninja Gaiden forces you to learn the combos and be a good player. If you button mash, you probably won't get past the second level.


Playing Ninja Gaiden for the story is like watching an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie for the story.

I have played through Ninja Gaiden 4 times, and the story still doesn't make sense. It is not supposed to. It is just a game about being a badass ninja, and who doesn't want to be a badass ninja.

Yeah Sands of Time was good, but you really can't compare it to Ninja Gaiden. Prince of Persia is a platforming game with some light action thrown in. Ninja Gaiden is an action game with some light platforming thrown in. They are complete opposites.

As much fun as I've had on the PS2, nothing compared to playing Eternal Darkness and Resident Evil 4 on the Gamecube.