You're not the first to say this -- I also recall AVGN saying it -- but I'm always surprised by the take that Genesis graphics were comparable to, or even superior to, the SNES. Not framerate, slowdown, "Blast Processing", etc., but just plain ol' visual fidelity.
Graphically the Genesis could do a few things the SNES couldn't, while the SNES could do a LOT of things the Genesis couldn't. Starting with launch titles like Pilotwings and F-Zero.
I'm fully prepared to accept that the Genesis was the better all-around console for many. It comes down to the games. E.g. there's no SNES brawler that plays as good as Streets of Rage 2. But surely there are SNES brawlers that LOOK better! Honestly I think the OG, Final Fight 1, looks better. More detailed, more colorful.
I don't think on a basic, technical level that Mega Drive games look better, in fact, most of them look worst but I do think a lot of them look more appealing to me personally.
I'd ppint mainly to games like Sonic CD and a lot of the Mega Drive shmups
I think part of it is that art direction for a lot of the good Genesis games was 'bolder' if that makes sense - they were managing to make a much stronger impression with less technical power than the SNES, while a lot of all-time classic SNES games now just look very similar to modern indie pixel cargo cult stuff. For example, aside from racing games and the like, you're only seeing Mode 7 in a transition or cutscene for the most part, and then it's fairly flat and 'safe' sprite work. There are exceptions, but they're exceptions, and I feel like the flashier Genesis games are just more memorable than the envelope pushing on Nintendo's side at the time.
I agree and think Sega always had a great eye for making their games stand out, sometimes we forget that they were an arcade developer first and foremost, so it quite literally paid for their titles to be bold and attractive. I'll always point to the Sonic the Hedgehog games, they are so bright and vibrant and loud, Super Mario World is a better playing and better put together game but it is visually kind of boring.
Exactly, Nintendo games of the time were really leaning into the home console, solo play in a quiet room market, while almost every Sega title was something that would draw a crowd to watch, even if it wasn't as fun to play.
The N64 was the first console I ever had. Because of that, I've never really resonated with the critiques of its controller because that was the default for me.
My buddy in college had an African Grey parrot who would get really fed up if we were all focusing on a game and not paying attention to her, but he had an old N64 controller that he would give her to stand on and she'd peck the buttons and yank the stick around with one leg and it was like handing your little brother the MadCatz that didn't have any batteries in - she thought she was playing with us and would be much quieter. I assume that is who the N64 controller was designed for.
Beautiful animals, I own a few parrots myself, they love these kinds of toys. It'd take a real bird brain to design a pad like that, I've always thought the Dreamcast controller was what the N64's pad should have been.
I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the XBone tier. The console is hell, but this comment was top tier. XD
I believe you made some great choices. Of course, opinions vary and we often favor what we know best, but I must admit that your reasoning is sharp as always. Great post!
I dunno, probably my lack of interest in Sony talking, I just think of it as a platform where people love the aesthetic but never play it, like the Gameboy Colour.
I like your opinions on your consoles. I've experienced quite a lot of them myself just from being there at the right time, not retro gaming. I agree that the N64 is probably at the top for me too, I can pick any number of games from that library and consider them excellent.
The PS4 was actually my first PlayStation console and I really enjoyed it. To me it had a great library of games and a very stylish design. While I like the functionality of my PS5, even I have to admit along with my wife that the console looks utterly bizarre with no symmetry to it.
It's funny to look at my top 3 because they are all kind of similar: CO-OP friendly consoles with a strong arcade presence and aesthetic. The Dreamcast and Xbox 360 were both overseen by Peter Moore who was President of Sega of America and then head of Xbox during the development and launch of the 360, extremely clever businessman and a Brit too, he really saw the future and was pushing for online connectivity, also made an effort to get Sega's developers to understand Western gamers and how to develop games for the market; eventually, the same developers he was trying to help accused him of falsifying market research and he supposedly told the guy to fuck off and resigned not long after. N64 is kind of seen as the retro console Gen Z loves, I suppose I'm guilty as charged.
The PS4 is really solid. I know today there is a lot of nostalgia for PS3 but I remember when it was new and the price combined with how much worse everything looked and ran was shocking; man I just don't like the DualShock either, I hate that D-pad and the stick placement.
I think the number one reason I have any fondness at all for the PS3 is that I got it as a hand-me-down gift, and specifically to play Demons Souls on before Dark Souls had even come out. For a PC gamer at the time, it was like getting a Willy Wonka golden ticket to a bizarro console world.
To this day I still need to play Demon's, I picked up Dark Souls in 2012 and played the whole trilogy as they came out but never went back to play it, I have a PS3, I should do it.
I'd imagine the jump from PC to PS3 was less of a technical shock than from PC to Xbox 360 too, although most PS3 games ended up looking and running worse due to the architecture, it was undeniably a far superior piece of hardware as far as power is concerned
The biggest hurdle to me was getting used to a controller again after over a decade. I had barely played console games since the mid 90s and right before getting the PS3 I tried to play Devil May Cry 4 on PC and absolutely could not wrap my head around using the controller I had.
I've never gone that long but I always feel FPS games are really painful on console if I've been playing on PC a lot, M&K is just far better for the genre, unless they implement some aim-assist or the kind of snapping-on, aiming down sights that CoD has always had
This was very cool. Always love reading lists like this. And finally someone who agrees with me about Wii U lol. I think as a console it’s fine. They had some cool ideas with it and certainly some not so great ones as well but I don’t think we need to crucify it or wax overly poetic about it. Also I agree completely about the xb1. What a let down after the incredible 360.
I think people miss the era more than the console itself. Nintendo today does feel more and more like a soulless corporate mass and there have been whispers of declining staff satisfaction post-Reggie at NoA but really, Nintendo were never particularly moral in the first place (my Master System article has more on that) and I care more about having the best games on good hardware.
You're not the first to say this -- I also recall AVGN saying it -- but I'm always surprised by the take that Genesis graphics were comparable to, or even superior to, the SNES. Not framerate, slowdown, "Blast Processing", etc., but just plain ol' visual fidelity.
Graphically the Genesis could do a few things the SNES couldn't, while the SNES could do a LOT of things the Genesis couldn't. Starting with launch titles like Pilotwings and F-Zero.
I'm fully prepared to accept that the Genesis was the better all-around console for many. It comes down to the games. E.g. there's no SNES brawler that plays as good as Streets of Rage 2. But surely there are SNES brawlers that LOOK better! Honestly I think the OG, Final Fight 1, looks better. More detailed, more colorful.
I don't think on a basic, technical level that Mega Drive games look better, in fact, most of them look worst but I do think a lot of them look more appealing to me personally.
I'd ppint mainly to games like Sonic CD and a lot of the Mega Drive shmups
I think part of it is that art direction for a lot of the good Genesis games was 'bolder' if that makes sense - they were managing to make a much stronger impression with less technical power than the SNES, while a lot of all-time classic SNES games now just look very similar to modern indie pixel cargo cult stuff. For example, aside from racing games and the like, you're only seeing Mode 7 in a transition or cutscene for the most part, and then it's fairly flat and 'safe' sprite work. There are exceptions, but they're exceptions, and I feel like the flashier Genesis games are just more memorable than the envelope pushing on Nintendo's side at the time.
I agree and think Sega always had a great eye for making their games stand out, sometimes we forget that they were an arcade developer first and foremost, so it quite literally paid for their titles to be bold and attractive. I'll always point to the Sonic the Hedgehog games, they are so bright and vibrant and loud, Super Mario World is a better playing and better put together game but it is visually kind of boring.
Exactly, Nintendo games of the time were really leaning into the home console, solo play in a quiet room market, while almost every Sega title was something that would draw a crowd to watch, even if it wasn't as fun to play.
The N64 was the first console I ever had. Because of that, I've never really resonated with the critiques of its controller because that was the default for me.
You simply hold the outside prongs with your two hands, then hold the analogy stick with your third hand. What's complicated about that? 😁
My buddy in college had an African Grey parrot who would get really fed up if we were all focusing on a game and not paying attention to her, but he had an old N64 controller that he would give her to stand on and she'd peck the buttons and yank the stick around with one leg and it was like handing your little brother the MadCatz that didn't have any batteries in - she thought she was playing with us and would be much quieter. I assume that is who the N64 controller was designed for.
Beautiful animals, I own a few parrots myself, they love these kinds of toys. It'd take a real bird brain to design a pad like that, I've always thought the Dreamcast controller was what the N64's pad should have been.
I had it as a kid but not until early 2009, I think it’s usable but very uncomfortable in adult hands
This is such a fun post concept. I am inspired - do you mind if I make my own? I would credit you for the idea and link your post!
Feel free to link me and make your own but don't feel compelled, this format is quite common on YouTube, not too original on my part
My dude. We need to chat about the PSP haha iKid
Loved reading this!
I need to get my hands on one again that's for sure, don't be surprised if I'm eating my words later.
Glad you liked it!
I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the XBone tier. The console is hell, but this comment was top tier. XD
I believe you made some great choices. Of course, opinions vary and we often favor what we know best, but I must admit that your reasoning is sharp as always. Great post!
Thank you for reading!
The PSP doesn't have a game with a distinctly PSP identity??? Excuse me? Patapon???
I dunno, probably my lack of interest in Sony talking, I just think of it as a platform where people love the aesthetic but never play it, like the Gameboy Colour.
I like your opinions on your consoles. I've experienced quite a lot of them myself just from being there at the right time, not retro gaming. I agree that the N64 is probably at the top for me too, I can pick any number of games from that library and consider them excellent.
The PS4 was actually my first PlayStation console and I really enjoyed it. To me it had a great library of games and a very stylish design. While I like the functionality of my PS5, even I have to admit along with my wife that the console looks utterly bizarre with no symmetry to it.
It's funny to look at my top 3 because they are all kind of similar: CO-OP friendly consoles with a strong arcade presence and aesthetic. The Dreamcast and Xbox 360 were both overseen by Peter Moore who was President of Sega of America and then head of Xbox during the development and launch of the 360, extremely clever businessman and a Brit too, he really saw the future and was pushing for online connectivity, also made an effort to get Sega's developers to understand Western gamers and how to develop games for the market; eventually, the same developers he was trying to help accused him of falsifying market research and he supposedly told the guy to fuck off and resigned not long after. N64 is kind of seen as the retro console Gen Z loves, I suppose I'm guilty as charged.
The PS4 is really solid. I know today there is a lot of nostalgia for PS3 but I remember when it was new and the price combined with how much worse everything looked and ran was shocking; man I just don't like the DualShock either, I hate that D-pad and the stick placement.
I think the number one reason I have any fondness at all for the PS3 is that I got it as a hand-me-down gift, and specifically to play Demons Souls on before Dark Souls had even come out. For a PC gamer at the time, it was like getting a Willy Wonka golden ticket to a bizarro console world.
To this day I still need to play Demon's, I picked up Dark Souls in 2012 and played the whole trilogy as they came out but never went back to play it, I have a PS3, I should do it.
I'd imagine the jump from PC to PS3 was less of a technical shock than from PC to Xbox 360 too, although most PS3 games ended up looking and running worse due to the architecture, it was undeniably a far superior piece of hardware as far as power is concerned
The biggest hurdle to me was getting used to a controller again after over a decade. I had barely played console games since the mid 90s and right before getting the PS3 I tried to play Devil May Cry 4 on PC and absolutely could not wrap my head around using the controller I had.
I've never gone that long but I always feel FPS games are really painful on console if I've been playing on PC a lot, M&K is just far better for the genre, unless they implement some aim-assist or the kind of snapping-on, aiming down sights that CoD has always had
This was very cool. Always love reading lists like this. And finally someone who agrees with me about Wii U lol. I think as a console it’s fine. They had some cool ideas with it and certainly some not so great ones as well but I don’t think we need to crucify it or wax overly poetic about it. Also I agree completely about the xb1. What a let down after the incredible 360.
I think people miss the era more than the console itself. Nintendo today does feel more and more like a soulless corporate mass and there have been whispers of declining staff satisfaction post-Reggie at NoA but really, Nintendo were never particularly moral in the first place (my Master System article has more on that) and I care more about having the best games on good hardware.
Hey, thanks for the shoutout!
Love the console tier list and especially cool that you went backwards in time, you renegade!
We've talked about a lot of these consoles before, so I don't have much to say here, but always appreciate reading your thoughts!
I can’t agree more with your top 3 :)
Thank you!
No worries! Glad you enjoyed the format.