Top 5 Favourites Games Consoles

I'm a huge fan of playing all the video games consoles that really defines my gaming childhood. Starting off from SNES to PS4, video games consoles are the biggest entertainment industry all over the world that was known for having milestones gaming franchises, being commercially success across the globe, biggest online gaming services, adding media features like browsing, social media and movies, and so on.
I've spent time playing a numerous of all games titles that originally came out on certain of console platforms like SNES had Super Mario World, Saturn had Virtua Fighter 2, Xbox Original had Halo, PS1 had Final Fantasy VII, GBA had Wario Land 4, Genesis/Megadrive had Sonic, and so on.
It is also looked great for your gaming rooms where you had all collections of video game titles, controllers and accessories, and merchandises on store shelves.
After owning 13 consoles in my house including NES Classic Mini, SNES, Genesis/MD, Saturn, N64, GBC, Dreamcast, Gamecube, GBA, Wii, PS3, PS Vita, and PS4, I wanted to make my 5 favourite game consoles that I really enjoyed playing most of the time due to numerous of great libraries of games and groundbreaking graphics that blew me away as a young lad back in my days.


So without go further do, here is my top 5 favourites games consoles.




5 - SONY Playstation 3

 
   
       














Back in 90's, I didn't own any of the two Playstation consoles because I was a full time Nintendo kid back then where I focused mostly playing on SNES, N64, GBC, Gamecube, and GBA which I felt that the Nintendo consoles are part of my primary system of choice to pick up and play but until I growing up as a teen in late-2000s I've fully realised that I've being regretted for not owning any of SONY's game consoles because I heard lot positively from gaming articles and my friends from school as they proved that the PS1 and PS2 had shared numerous of best exclusives and third-party titles that made SONY's home consoles so popular over the years.

I always thought the PS3 is not doing great as their competitors which was the reason why I'm still sticking with the Nintendo's consoles including Nintendo Wii which I already own in year spring 2007.
It's a decent system at the time for its innovation and creative, but I fully realised that its not as powerful as their competitors in which both X360 and PS3 had shared with fully third-parties titles and better online gaming services that the Wii had lacked many of these support.
In 2011, I decided to pick up a PS3 normal slim for less than £200 from ASDA during spring sales making PS3 as my very first Playstation consoles I ever own.

The reason why I liked the PS3 better than the Wii is because it shares with great third-party titles like Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Dead Space, Grand Theft Auto IV, Resident Evil 5, Devil May Cry 4, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, and Virtua Tennis 3. I also got blown away with their groundbreaking exclusives titles like God of War 3, Gran Turismo 5, Infamous, Resistance, Yakuza 3 and 4, Metal Gear Soild 4, Uncharted 2, and The Last of Us that the PS3 was very known for having a best exclusives on the system making a biggest triumph in gaming industries.
Unlike the paid services like Xbox Live on X360, the Playstation network on PS3 is a free online services which lets you play online multiplayer without having to pay subscription which I felt its a neat move by SONY to bring more players to join online gaming for free.
The console has ability to play movies through Blu-Ray, DVD, Netflix and Lovefilm. It has PS1 backwards compatibility which allows you to play any of PS1 libaries via physical disc. The system are also region free for most of the PS3 titles from outside of US and Japan meaning that you can able to import any of Japanese copy of games titles without any of the region restrictions which is beneficial for most of the video game collectors and consumers. This system does have a replaceable Hard Drive Disk slots where you can able to replace it with a newer HDD for its higher capacity of memory size making it easier to download and install more games on the HDD. The clever things about the PS3 system was the remote play where you can able to play any of PS3 titles on your handheld system such as PSP or PS Vita depending what PS3 games are compatible on your SONY's handheld system.

PS3 is a great system to have it on your collection with numerous of exclusivity, ability to play PS1 titles, importing Japanese-only titles, watching Blu-Ray movies, and has remote play features is definitely worth pick up and play.



4 - Nintendo 64

    












At the time in mid-90s where my brother had bought me a SEGA Saturn which is one of my very first games consoles of fifth generation era that heavily focuses on 3D gaming. As a kid in year 1995, I had fun playing Saturn for many times with my brother, sister, and cousins with numerous fun of SEGA Arcade titles back then until in year 1997, my brother and I went to electronic shopping which I've discovered a brand new Nintendo system known as Nintendo 64 which was already released in March, so I was being a super brat when it comes with Nintendo's consoles which I've asked him to pick up a N64, but he still refuses to buy the system due to his budgeting which I had to wait for longer till it goes cheaper in Christmas holiday sales. In December 1997, my brother decided to exchange Saturn with the N64 from the video game store for cheaper deals. As I came back from my Junior School, I just found out that my Saturn had been taken away which really got me upset (but the good news is that I still got my Saturn back in year 2016 as grown lad) as my brother had cheered me up with my Christmas gift came with Nintendo 64 along with Super Mario 64.

After getting used with the newer Nintendo's system, I actually did not regret the decision from my brother and I really liked the console for its wonderful libraries of games that really changed gaming, so it has Super Mario 64 that considered revolutionary at the times that made the platforming genre quite popular, Goldeneye 007 are considered to be not only the best game based on the same title of the movie it was becoming a groundbreaking shooter title was known for action packed single player mode and addicting split-screen multiplayer that made FPS genre successful, and The legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are among being a greatest open-world adventure game of all-times had received universally praised from fans and critics of gaming articles.
There are many games to play like Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Starfox 64, F-Zero X, WCW vs NWO: Revenge, Mario Kart 64, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Banjo Kazooie, and Perfect Dark which I really enjoyed playing the most when I had N64 for very long time.
I got to admit that the N64 controller are quite amazing to see how these controller are fully designed for most of the 3D titles as the analog joystick worked perfectly for platforming games like Super Mario 64 and Banjo Kazooie. It also plays great for FPS games like Goldeneye 007 and Turok: Dinosaur Hunter that the analog joystick are used for aiming controls which is very precised and responsive to use.
The graphics are looking spectacular for N64 hardware which really shows how super smooth these animations, textures and environmental design for most N64 titles especially with games like Perfect Dark, Legend of Zelda: Mojora's Mask and Donkey Kong 64 make heavy use of expansion pak which inserts into the N64 expansion slot allowing to utilises more graphical enhancement.

Nintendo 64 is a fantastic system to pick up and play because it has great selection of games including the best local multiplayer titles and groundbreaking single player titles to play.



3 - SEGA Genesis/Megadrive

    














SEGA and Nintendo are the biggest rivalry of console wars gaming during the 16-bit era. During the success of Nintendo's system seller such as NES in mid-80s, SEGA decided to make the SEGA Master System successor known as the SEGA Genesis/Megadrive was released in late 80's and competing with their competitor Nintendo will later announced their SNES at the initial release in early 90s. A lot of people been watching the commercial ads on the television showing SEGA's powerful 16-bit hardware that demonstrated the system power could able to handle the arcade perfect ports, exciting upcoming titles and unique looking graphics that started to attract all the consumers worldwide. It's funny to see the ads starts making fun of Nintendo's system as they uses the word slogan "Genesis does what Nintendon't" meaning that SEGA does make their 16-bit console as opposed to Nintendo's successful 8-bit system, so you better be watch out SEGA because Super Nintendo is on the way to gaming market pretty soon.   

At my childhood days where I normally visiting at my cousin's house in every weekend as he had SEGA Genesis/Megadrive model 1 with numerous of game titles to play.
I remember playing those types of game that got me really into with playing like Super Thunder Blade, Alien Storm, Golden Axe, Street of Rage, Revenge of Shinobi, and of course the most beloved SEGA Mascots Sonic The Hedgehog.
It is really difficult to become a console fanboy as I'm a full-time Nintendo fan while my cousin are hardcore SEGA fan themselves. I do really appreciate with SEGA's games consoles because it has so many potential to see how good the SEGA 16-bit system is and how much the SEGA has to offer.
Me and my cousin are a true best friends when playing so many of video game consoles and arcade hardwares which really adds our nostalgia moments from the past.

As a grown up lad in 2016, I just finally picked up SEGA Genesis/Megadrive model 2 for £50 from Ebay to relive my childhood gaming. The reason why I wanted to pick up this console is because SEGA Genesis/Megadrive has the best selection of games to play like Golden Axe, Street of Rage 2, Shinobi 3, Thunder Force IV, M.U.S.H.A, Contra: Hard Corps, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Outrun, Strider, NBA Jam, Mortal Kombat, Altered Beast, and of course the system best-selling title Sonic 2.
I also liked the overall design of the system in both model 1 and 2 because it has nicely finished console design and smooth black coloured system which is more likely geared towards mature audiences who prefers a manly looking gaming system as opposed to kiddy system design like the SNES.
The controller has simple 3-buttons and rounded d-pad which is acceptable for most of the arcade titles, but it may not be as good as the 6-buttons controller which is lot better for most of the fighting games titles such as Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat.
The graphics are not just as powerful as the SNES hardware which uses the graphic enhancer technology such as Mode 7 and Super FX chip, but it has better CPU speed for faster gameplay and professional use of parallax scrolling and scaling animation for its titles such as Thunder Force IV, Contra: Hard Corps, and M.U.S.H.A which is surprisingly to see how developers could able to manage to fit all the graphic design into the limited hardware processor.
It had quality original soundtrack from the game titles such as Street of Rage, Thunder Force IV, Sonic 2, Shinobi 3, Outrun and so on are the best for most of the music genres including Techno, Dance, Rock, and Metal that the game system was being capable of handling the music so well in the game. 
While SEGA Genesis/Megadrive is a unique game system during the 16-bit era, it also shared with terrible add-ons such as SEGA CD and 32X which meant to enhanced the gaming system but it turned out flopped at the release meaning its a bad luck for SEGA couldn't able to beat their rivalry with SNES.

So far, I really liked the system for its choices of game libraries to play with and slick console design, so if you're a hardcore fan of the 16-bit gaming, then this console is for you to pick it up and play.



2 - SEGA Dreamcast

  

In the late 90's where SEGA Saturn had becoming unsuccessful at the western territories, SEGA decided to make a powerful game console that are able to compete their rivalry such as Nintendo 64 and SONY Playstation 1, so that is SEGA Dreamcast as very first console of sixth generation era right before the arrival of PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube in early 2000s.
The system is starting out very impressive at the launch date due to excellent choice of games titles such as Soul Calibur, Power Stone, Hydro Thunder, House of the Dead 2, Ready 2 Rumble, and of course the system seller Sonic Adventure.
I was surprised to see any of third party companies such as Acclaim, SNK, Ubisoft, Midway, Activision, Infogrames, and Capcom had supported the system during its first year. It had so many of best titles including most of the Shoot em ups, Beat em ups, Light Gun Shooter, FPS, RPGs, Sports, and Fighting games that Dreamcast has to offer.
The system also introduces their online services such as Dreamarena and SEGA-Net geared for dial-up-based online gaming on the Dreamcast game console where you can plug it on back of your system and play online via dial-up cable, so you can able to play multiplayer games through online which is way ahead before Microsoft did a same thing with their Xbox Live services on the Xbox Original.

At the time where I was originally planning to get the SONY Playstation 2, but I decided to change mind with the SEGA Dreamcast due to great selection of games that I wanted to play. Games like Sonic Adventure which is a 3D platformer title mixed with action and open-world elements had gotten me attention as a very first 3D Sonic's game that I ever played on the system. I've enjoyed hell of this game when I had this game along with the 3D fighting game title such as Power Stone for my 8th birthday.
My brother also bought me a Official Dreamcast Magazines comes with the demo disk where you can able to play those demo game titles which is very handy for those who wanted to tryout the game in limited time before you can decide to buy the full version title from the video game store and he also subscribed to online services such as Dreamarena at the time where we getting a free copy of ChuChu Rocket! which is a fun-addictive puzzle title with excellent online multiplayer mode.
It's kinda sad to see SEGA last console had been declined in year between 2001 and 2002 at the US and European territories due to their rivalry SONY Playstation 2 had becoming a fast-selling system at the launch release in 2000 had sold magnificently well at worldwide and it had ability to play DVD and PS1 format as backward compatibility which is a main reason why SEGA had decided to discontinue their final system as they are no longer to become a hardware manufacturer meaning they had to move on with their software business to make games for non-SEGA consoles including PS2, Xbox, Gamecube and PCs.

Despite the SEGA's poor hardware sales, Dreamcast is by far one of my favourite SEGA's consoles that made my childhood amazing as I had a such fun spending time to play this system is because it had a massive libraries of games that the system was known for such as having the best arcade to console conversion titles such as The House of the Dead 2, Dead or Alive 2, Power Stone 2, Crazy Taxi, Virtua Tennis, Ikaruga, Confidental Mission, Dynamite Cop, Marvel vs Capcom 2, and Soul Calibur. It also shares with both great third-party and exclusive titles that defines the system such as Grandia 2, Skies of Arcadia, Quake III Arena, Jet Set Radio, Ready 2 Rumble, Resident Evil: CODE Veronica, and of course the triple A's titles Shenmue had showed off the Dreamcast's powerhouse as being one of the greatest game of all-times.
Most of the game titles had remarkably aged well over the years as the hardware's graphics design had ran on whomping 60 per frame second, and having smooth character's animation and realistic game's environments did hold up for the today standards.
The controller is quite unique for its designs as I really liked the 3D analog stick for its 3D platforming titles such as Sonic Adventures and Jet Set Radio, while d-pad button are better for most of the fighting game titles such as Marvel vs Capcom 2 and Soul Calibur.
The 2 analog triggers is worked well for racing game titles like Daytona USA 2001 and Metropolis Street Racer for its acceleration controls and the VMU screen are handy for games like Resident Evil: CODE Veronica and Dino Crisis to view character's health, and ability to have transferring options to play mini games on the VMU Unit for titles like Power Stone and Sonic Adventure which I considered innovative at the times before Nintendo did the same with their GBA's link cable for the Nintendo Gamecube in the year 2002.
As a kid, I was super surprised to see Dreamcast's online support where you can able to play games through online multiplayer such as Quake III Arena and ChuChu Rocket! and I also remember that the Dreamcast had their web browsing software called DreamKey where you can able to browse your favourite sites on your system which is kinda cool back then.

Dreamcast is a criminally underrated games console that didn't get much credit as what they deserved, so this system had offered all the best game libraries that are worth for giving a Dreamcast a second chance because I love SEGA's games consoles.



1 - Super Nintendo Entertainment System

       
     














SNES was a global success, becoming the best-selling console of the 16-bit era had sold remarkably well at the worldwide release. It was well known for its innovative controller, technically impressive hardware systems and of course the best-selling titles on their system such as Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, and Super Mario Kart.

My brother had thought me about how did he get SNES as my very first Nintendo's console as he has told me that at his times where he used to have Commodore 64 and SEGA Genesis/Megadrive in his bedroom right before it got stolen along with their old fashion TV and VCR in year 1994.
He was originally attended to get another SEGA Genesis/Megadrive console, but changed it mind with the SNES came bundled with Super Mario All-Stars which is a remake of all 4 NES classics.
He first introduced me with the game console that I had never heard of the gaming before as age of 3. This console had got me attention to play is because of the simple gameplay and colourful graphics are quite advanced for the 16-bit system.

There are quite a massive libraries of games that SNES had to offer as I really enjoyed playing titles such as Super Mario World which is a fun 2D platformer title with excellent stages, epic boss battles, cool power-ups, colourful graphics, and had so many replay values. It has the best local 2-player titles for both competitive and co-op couch play such as Super Street Fighter II, Super Mario Kart, TMNT: Turtles in Time, Contra III: The Alien Wars, Super Bomberman 3, ISS Deluxe, and Killer Instinct.
SNES does shares the greatest third-party titles like Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy 6, Chrono Trigger, Megaman X, Super Castlevania IV, Gradius III, Super Turrican, and Zombies Ate My Neighbours.
Nintendo are the king of all the exclusives for SNES libraries such as F-Zero, Yoshi's Island, Donkey Kong Country and Starfox are concidered to be a biggest technical marvel that really shows the system powerhouse due to make use of mode 7, Super FX chips and other graphical enhancements.
My favourite two titles are got to be Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past and Super Metroid are the biggest groundbreaking Nintendo's titles that not only defines the system, but a 16-bit gaming era.
SNES controller had coloured 4-buttons, 2-shoulder buttons, and d-pad which is great for the playability for most of the titles and the design of the dogbone controller is very comfortable to hold which is the reason why I loved the video game controller.
The graphics are the highlight of the system as the game like F-Zero and Super Mario Kart uses the mode 7 which allows to rotate the track when controlling the playable driver, Starfox has whomping 3D polygon environment using the Super FX chip which is a biggest achievements overall, and Donkey Kong Country uses the graphical enhancements technologies for character's animations and level designs which pushes the limits of SNES hardware.
It does have very best original soundtrack from the games like Megaman X, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6, Donkey Kong Country, Super Turrican, Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, Super Castlevania IV, Actraiser, Killer Instinct, and Super Metroid that defines the video game music genres.

So far, SNES is one of my all-time favourite games consoles that everyone should experience with the power of the 16-bit machine.



Honorable Mentions:

SEGA Saturn
SEGA Master System
Nintendo Gamecube
Nintendo Wii
Nintendo Entertainment System
Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Color
Microsoft Xbox Original
SONY Playstation 1
SONY Playstation 2
SONY Playstation 4
SNK NeoGeo
TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine



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