Top Video Game Consoles : Ranking the Rec Room Rulers

[nataeryn]

I think i had FF Legend 1 and 2. I really didn't understand rpgs back then. My dad knew i liked to play final fantasy on my friend's nintendo. I'm pretty sure most of my gameboy games were 2nd hand acquisitions through various flea markets and yard sales, so i wouldn't have had any instruction booklets. My grandparents loved going to those things and I just remember being told not to touch anything a lot.

 

[Patrick]

Oh man, I totally forgot Microvision existed until just now. We had one of those up at our family cabin, in a bin with some lincoln logs and plastic dinosaurs. Someone must have picked it up at a garage sale, and I only remember playing it a couple of times.

 

[Issun]

Oh yeah, we had Legend 3 as well. I loved it up until the airship. I have a personal distaste for having random encounters when you're on an airship. Like, come on, bro. That's the whole fucking purpose. Just feels like a bait and switch.

Probably one of the reasons why the last third of FF3 leaves a bad taste in my mouth, too.

 

[Kirin]

Oh yeah, we had Legend 3 as well. I loved it up until the airship. I have a personal distaste for having random encounters when you're on an airship. Like, come on, bro. That's the whole fucking purpose. Just feels like a bait and switch.

Yeah, but if you press on a bit the airship gets guns, and then better guns, which soon turn the airship encounters from a chore to a quick source of extra resources (or at least that’s my memory of it).

But that wasn't the end of what Milton Bradley created in this area. They also made multple handheld and electronic games, video games and other consoles - they manufactured (but didn't develop) the Vectrex (@Kazin) and another console/console-like device called the OMNI Entertainment System.

I voted for one of those, the Merlin, even though it’s not really a console per se, but it did play half a dozen or more distinct games depending on which version you had. Pretty fun for a gadget with a “display” that’s just a 3x3 grid which also doubles as most of the inputs.

 

[Torzelbaum]

#11

Xbox 360

250 points, 10 votes
Console Champion: Violentvixen (#1)

Gen: 7th
Lifespan: 2005-2016

Media:
DVD, CD, digital distribution
HD DVD (via add-on)

Lineage: Microsoft

Franchise foundation for:
Dead Rising, Gears of War, Saints Row​

Microsoft's successor to the very first Xbox started the trend of giving those consoles some rather confusing names. Earlier versions of the system were also plagued with many technical problems including the infamous "Red Ring of Death".

The 360 also had the first "multi-game achievement system" that was "easily accessible" - the Gamerscore system. Many other consoles and platforms would add similar systems in the years after that. I'll leave the debate about if that is for better or worse up to you.

The 360 also leaned even more heavily into internet connectivity with digital distribution and online multiplayer. While the system had its fair share of exclusives this seems to me to be when games started to be released simultaneously on both Xbox and PlayStation.

The 360 was a successful system and positioned the brand well for the 8th console generation but it was ultimately outsold by its competitors - the PS3 (just barely) and the Wii (by a fair margin).

Xbox 360 had a great performance for a time, and I actually liked some of the Kinect games.

I was a hard sell on a 360, but eventually a friend talked me into it, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I love the blade OS, Live Arcade was some of my first tentative steps into online gaming, and the indie games channel was a lot of fun. I also played a shit-ton of co-op FPSes with friends, which really unlocked the genre for me. Yes, I had to replace a red-ringed system twice, but it was worth the hassle.

I don't have a lot to say about the 360 except this is the rare time that I had two gaming systems from the same era at the same time; this and the Wii. They both scratched different itches for me so it was a case where I was spoiled for good games. I don't really have a lot to say about the triple A systems that aren't Nintendo of this era. Never quite as innovative but what they lack in creativity, they have in power, being able to play some really great looking games. I actually still have mind, though I think with the move I'm gonna have to send it and the Wii to the recycling center.

Anyway, Xbox. I've been a Mac user since I was a kid due to my mom getting the educator discount, so I was super upset when Xbox took "the sequel to Marathon" Halo away and shunned the system initially. But then I was the video game correspondent for the college paper and somehow got an invite to the Microsoft offices in Los Angeles and got to see their new service Xbox Live, and got a free T-shirt. They let a few of us play Geometry Wars and I wanted to play more. But a new console wasn't an option for me budget wise. I got to play the games on other people's consoles but never had my own.

Fast forward a few years to grad school. I had my own Xbox at this point but hadn't made the jump to 360. Then the Elite model came out and I realized it was right around when I'd be defending. I saved up, bought it, turned it on and then put it back in the box for about a month to focus on studying. As soon as my defense was over I ripped that thing open and had a blast.

Game-wise the first three Halo games were huge for me. The world, the suspense, the characters. Loved it all. Infinite was a blast too. But a lot of the power of the Xbox was in Arcade. There were so many great games on there, and the demos were a delight to check out.

(@Violentvixen @Baudshaw @JBear @Johnny Unusual @Falselogic @Issun @Lokii @Aurelia)

 

[Daikaiju]

The Game Boy was the first handheld console to make it on our list. But it wasn't the first* handheld console. Come with me and learn about that device in our next

Tribute to a Trailblazer: Mircrovision
​

Board game manufacturer Milton Bradley was no stranger to making games that used electricity. They would also go on to make handheld electronic games. In 1979 they attempted to branch into the world of handheld game consoles with the Microvision (aka Milton Bradley Microvision or MB Microvision). The Microvision wasn't actually what could be considered the first handheld console but it was the first that had interchangeable ROM cartridges. Well... In a sense. This is something which I feel is much easier to show you than try to explain with words.

This is the base unit of the Microvision:

Individual cartridges had a game, game-specific controls and a game-specific face plate for the console:

Here's what it looks like when a cartridge is "plugged" into the system:

I don't remember ever seeing or playing one of these but apparently the console was "featured in Friday the 13th Part 2".

After learning about this system I must admit that I have developed a deep but begrudging respect for the audacioius jankiness of the thing. But apparently the system suffered from a bunch of technical roblems which didn't bode well for it - the system was only around until 1981.

But that wasn't the end of what Milton Bradley created in this area. They also made multple handheld and electronic games, video games and other consoles - they manufactured (but didn't develop) the Vectrex (@Kazin) and another console/console-like device called the OMNI Entertainment System.

Oh! my brother owned one. He had that game and baseball. Pretty neat concept for the time.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

The 360 went to the recycling center. I still have the Wii (not that Im gonna play it I just forgot to take it to the recycling center). Anyway, I had fun with the online aspects but I didnt by a lot of games digitally. But it was a great system for triple A games like Oblivion, Skyrim and GTA 4 (I know I had some others but I can;t for the life of me remember what). More than that, it was also an invaluable DVD player. In an era where physical media seems to be phased out, I actually learned computers... dont seem to come with disc space any more. I literally bought a separate Blu Ray Player (and then learned I had to buy from another source a digital media player just to make the damn things work... and there are a lot of regular ass DVD players it doesnt work on.

 

[JBear]

I said my piece above, but I just want to add that the 360 controller has been my default controller for gaming ever since. I feel like, in a lot of ways, the 360 defined what a modern console is, and nowhere is that more true than in its controller. I've been buying a succession of these (and similar models from later xboxes) for PC gaming for decades. These are my button mappings, and the default that I have in my head. The controller that I have hooked up to my PC right now, on which I do most of my gaming, is essentially unchanged from this. Just a gold standard in gaming controllers.

 

[nataeryn]

I never owned a 360, but my college apartment mate did. He played a ton of Halo online. It did provide me the opportunity to have played all the Halo single player campaigns without ever owning an Xbox console.
This era was busy in my personal life getting ready for "the real world", so I just didn't play much console games.

 

[Violentvixen]

My quote above highlights a lot of why I had the 360 at #1, but there was just so much I loved about it and still have it.

Xbox Live Arcade continued to be amazing, and while I know making demos for everything wasn't sustainable I loved that. We had friends over to play Castle Crashers and so many other amazing games that were online only, still a novel idea at the time.

This was also my Rock Band machine so this system has the most multiplayer hours and memories of any system for me by far. Our wedding cake toppers were our Rock Band avatars because it was our huge consistent social thing for so long.

And of course it's my one and only video game credit (well, my company, not me personally) for a game for the Kinect where I got to do the algorithm design. So kinda hard not to have a personal bias.

Oh and I mentioned Halo above which continued on the 360, but this system also started Mass Effect, one of my favourite video game series of all time.

 

[MCBanjoMike]

I can't believe no-one is talking about Xbox Live parties, which are one of the main reasons why the console is so close to my heart. A decade before Discord became the norm for digital hangouts, you could fire up your 360 and find a group of friends chilling in voice chat. Even if I wasn't playing a multiplayer game, I'd hop on and just hang out with whoever was there, each of us doing our own thing. It was a huge part of my life for a few years and it's how I made some of my closest friends.

Aside from that, I think the 360 is an all-time great console on the strength of the many AAA franchises that got their start on it, plus the fact that it brought indie gaming to the masses. The Summers of Arcade introduced quality games by small teams to a huge number of people and I see a direct line from there to the smorgasborg of indie releases on every console we have today.

 

[Issun]

The 360 is the only XBox I've ever owned. I eventually got a PS3 in 2016 but I got the 360 at the time because it was getting BioShock and the PlayStation wasn't. XBox Live Arcade was also my first experience with digital games and indie gaming, although Steam in 2014 was where I really discovered my love of the indies.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I said my piece above, but I just want to add that the 360 controller has been my default controller for gaming ever since. I feel like, in a lot of ways, the 360 defined what a modern console is, and nowhere is that more true than in its controller. I've been buying a succession of these (and similar models from later xboxes) for PC gaming for decades. These are my button mappings, and the default that I have in my head. The controller that I have hooked up to my PC right now, on which I do most of my gaming, is essentially unchanged from this. Just a gold standard in gaming controllers.

Yeah, it's an all-timer. What I use as well.

 

[Yimothy]

I’m not listed in the voters but the 360 was on my list. It was the last console of its time that I bought, probably the only time I got all the major consoles (Wii/PS3/360 - this was the period in which I started working full time but didn’t have any loans or kids or anything). My experiences with the controllers have been less positive - I found they dropped connection a lot so I eventually had to get a wired one. I had a good time with like Gears and Alan Wake and some of the RPGs that came to it (Eternal Sonata, Tails of Vesperia) but tended to get multi-system releases on PS3 for whatever reason. The 360 had a pretty good online store, and is where I played Fez and the Monster World collection. Occasionally my kids still play minecraft on it now, even though they have access to other versions.

 

[Falselogic]

The 360 probably kept my first marriage alive for a year or two longer than it would have. Playing Left 4 Dead 1 and 2 together every night or so can go a long way in papering over deeper issues.

A great console with great games.

 

[Issun]

I've only ever played a bit of the first L4D but the second game has Electric Worry by Clutch so that bumps it up a few points in my estimation.

 

[JBear]

The 360 probably kept my first marriage alive for a year or two longer than it would have. Playing Left 4 Dead 1 and 2 together every night or so can go a long way in papering over deeper issues.

Hah, this was Tokyo Jungle on PS3 for me. She fucking loved that game. We racked up like 300 hours on the clock. Yet another thing for me to blame on the PS3.

 

[Torzelbaum]

I’m not listed in the voters but the 360 was on my list

*checks conversation with Yimothy*
Yep, that's on there. Boy, I sure hope that I didn't screw up the spreadsheet. But I'll have to check that after dinner.

 

[Torzelbaum]

*checks conversation with Yimothy*
Yep, that's on there. Boy, I sure hope that I didn't screw up the spreadsheet. But I'll have to check that after dinner.

Nope, looks OK. (But I also forgot to @Purple)

 

[Baudshaw]

Xbox 360 is probably the earliest console I remember. In 2012, when I was just a few years old, I distinctly remember playing the Kinect games.

 

[Torzelbaum]

#10

Sega Genesis

295 points, 11 votes
Console Champion: RT-55J (#1)

Gen: 4th
Lifespan: 1988-1997 (original Sega version)
Media: ROM cartridge

Lineage: Sega
Franchise foundation for:
Bare Knuckle/Streets of Rage, Sonic​

Sega followed up on the Master System by releasing the Genesis. It wasn't the first 4th Gen console (that was the TurboGrafx-16) but it did get a headstart on the Super NES, Nintendo's 4th Gen console. This started an intense rivalry and stiff competition between the two companies and consoles.

The Genesis launched many franchises and popular characters, none more so than Sonic the Hedgehog. Many of those franchises seem to have fallen by the wayside, but could possibly be revived or continued.

The Genesis was also known as the Mega Drive outside of the US.

(And in South Korea it was called "the Super Gam*Boy and later the Super Aladdin Boy.")

In Japan the Genesis was less successful than Sega's previous consoles but it was quite successful in other parts of the world.

Sega partnered with many companies to distribute the Genesis around the world. After Sega stopped producing the Genesis Majesco received a license to re-issue the Genesis (as the Genesis 3) but they only did that for two years. Tectoy continued to produce the Genesis for Brazil to this day. (But maybe they stopped recently? I can't really find a good source on that.)

Quite a few add-ons were released for the Genesis. And it was also the other system that had a LaserActive module.

I had one as a kid.

It does what Nintendon’t! The first huge competitor to the NES and SNES in North America. Combine that with incredible first party output, and some of the best games released by third parties in the early 90s and you have an outstanding console. It also has a killer FM sound chip that sounds equally as amazing today as it did back then.

Recommended Games: Streets of Rage 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Shinobi III, The Story of Thor, Phantasy Star IV, Comix Zone, Alien Soldier, Shining Force 2, Gunstar Heroes, Castlevania Bloodlines, Contra Hard Corps and Rocket Knight Adventures.

(@RT-55J @Yimothy @Aurelia @Violentvixen @WildcatJF @Baudshaw @Johnny Unusual @Lokii @Issun @Purple )

I also received a vote for the Sega CD (Aurelia's #22) and the Mega CD (Yimothy's #23) but I didn't include those in the points for the Genesis. In hindsight I probably could have handled that better.

 

[WildcatJF]

I'm so behind on responding, lol. Will try to catch up tomorrow when I'm less tired.

 

[Torzelbaum]

I'm so behind on responding, lol. Will try to catch up tomorrow when I'm less tired.

While participation is nice, please don't feel obligated to respond.

 

[Lokii]

It sounds like a wet cat dying and there's only three buttons on the controller but it's where Sonics were born

 

[JBear]

It sounds like a wet cat dying and there's only three buttons on the controller but it's where Sonics were born

All I'm seeing is a list of crimes.

Ironically, despite the SMS being my favourite console of all time, I was squarely in the Nintendo camp during the console wars of this era. I've never been within spitting distance of a real Genesis, although I did play a few gems on Wii virtual console and in emulation. There was absolutely some all-timers on there, but I still feel like I bet on the right horse.

 

[Issun]

I haven't played a ton of Genesis stuff, but Phantasy Star IV and S3&K were enough for me to vote for it. Even though I was all in on Nintendo up until 1997, I think the Genesis is a severely underrated console nowadays, at least in North America.

Kids today with their XBox vs. PlayStation don't know what the 16-bit era was like. Playground arguments could get heated. Also I know we talk about how expensive consoles are nowadays but relatively, they were even pricier back then, to the point that Notorious B.I.G. used owning both a Super Nintendo and a Sega Genesis as a signifier of obscene wealth.

 

[Yimothy]

The Mega Drive! A great system with a lot of great games, plus it’s backwards compatible with the best system, the SMS! Like I said in the post above, I had one as a kid and consequently will love it forever. The palette and audio are what I think of when sixteen bits are mentioned, and I think a lot of great stuff was done with them.

There are heaps of great games for this thing: Soleil, Shining in the Darkness, Rolling Thunder 2, MUSHA, them Sonics, Wonder Boy in Monster World (though I prefer Land and Dragon’s Trap on SMS), Monster World IV, the Streets of Rages, Flashback, Bio Hazard Battle, Landstalker, a version of Outrun I can actually get somewhere in, Steel Empire, Gunstar, Ys III, Rocket Knight Adventures, the other Shining Games, Rocket Knight again, Phantasy Star IV, several Shinobis, Warsong, and so on. Plus you can play Golvellius on it with an adapter. You can’t say fairer than that.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Genesis was lower on my list. I didn't own one but I had some fun trying a few games. That said every time I've seen a cross-platform game its look kinda rough

 

[Torzelbaum]

I didn't own a Genesis but I did play my friend's. I also borrowed it one time while letting my friend borrow my SNES. I liked it. I also thought it had interesting games but I didn't have the money for 2 systems.

One Genesis game that always fascinated me but that I never played was the port of Might and Magic 2. I was really excited to learn that the SNES was going to get a port but that was never released in the US.

 

[Daikaiju]

It was decent system but the majority of its library didn't appeal to me. And even before the SNES came along, the colors seemed kinda meh. It did help EA take off which... uh...
Hrm.