Top 10 games consoles of all time
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17 Apr 2010, Dave Neal , V3
Gaming consoles hit the streets in the mid-1970s, and have developed alongside the personal computer ever since.
In previous Top 10s for computer, console and arcade games, many readers asked for a list of consoles.
All lists are subjective. I don't care. This is my list of the top 10 consoles, not yours. It is based on personal experience, games played and hours lost.
10. PlayStation 3
A sleek, black Blu-ray player with a 120GB hard drive and rechargeable
controllers. What's not to like? It may have stuttered with its Home project,
and could fail to set anything alight with its Move controllers - except the
knob at the end of them - but the PS3 is a good console. It's a shame it looks
destined to live in its little brother's shadow.
9. PlayStation 2
Although the Grand Theft Auto series appeared on its earlier brother,
the game made its bones on the PlayStation 2. GTA San Andreas and
Vice City are still the benchmarks by which all other
free-roaming/mission-based crime sagas are judged, and the PS2 is equally well
remembered. A massively hyped release, the PS2 impressed straight out of the
box, bringing with it a slew of quality games.
8. Neo Geo
Released by SNK in the early 1990s to games fans with a lot of leisure time and
money, the Neo Geo offered far superior graphics to its 16-bit counterparts,
giving the much-sought after 'almost-arcade' quality to home gaming. Much
pricier than the competition, the Neo Geo was to be played at other people's
houses when King of Fighters 4 was the finger-callus-causer of choice.
7. Nintendo Gameboy
Released in 1990 and exploding onto the world with its monochrome falling blocks
game called Tetris, the Gameboy was a bulky two-button affair. Boring
to look at, it took on, and smashed to pieces, the flashier Sega Gamegear, which
had a colour screen and hardly any decent games.
6. Super Nintendo System
Street Fighter 2, Mario Kart. Shall I continue? Like the
MegaDrive the SNES arrived at a time when today's 30-something big spenders were
finding their bones on home consoles. Often, like a single duvet, accompanying
them to university, until they got a double bed, and the PlayStation was
released. A classic games machine, and the biggest seller of the 16-bit lot.
5. Nintendo Wii
Needs no introduction. Even grandmothers know what the Wii is. They may swing
the nunchuck around wildly, but the idea, that the game follows the motions you
make in real life, is a lot easier to grasp than the alternatives. Just remember
to use the wrist strap. The Wii marries gaming with family fun. Everyone should
have one.
4. Nintendo DS
When even your mum has a games console, albeit a handheld one, you know it is
worth paying attention to. The puzzle happy, e-book wannabee, dual touch-screen,
brain training DS is a phenomenon. It has sold over 125 million units. In terms
of sales, it is the Dan Brown of consoles, mind-bending and ubiquitous.
3. Xbox 360
Should be number two really, except for one thing: why does it have to be so
loud? Having an Xbox is like having a hamster in a ball constantly scuttling
about on a wooden floor. Only instead of a hamster it's a cow chasing an
elephant around in a speaker. The Xbox 360 has great games and by far the best
online experience, with Live making the PlayStation and Wii equivalents looks
dead. Not to mention the Halo series, which is the jam in Live's
exquisite doughnut.
2. PlayStation 1
It is difficult to explain just how exciting the release of the PlayStation was.
If you weren't there and didn't play time-consuming titles like Wipeout
2097 or the Tony Hawks and Resident Evil series, not to
mention Parappa the Rapper, which is the best game ever, you might as
well just move on. And I haven't even mentioned Tekken, Battle
Arena Toshinden or Ridge.
1. Sega Mega Drive
Sonic 3D, Mortal Kombat, Fifa 94. I could go on, but
it would start to seem that I have classic games Tourette's. Given to me one
Christmas, the Mega Drive was my teenage years. I should probably hate it, but
instead I still play it. Take that, first girlfriend!
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
Atari 2600 VCS would be #1 most influential system of all time
While its graphics and capabilities are a joke by today's standards, the VCS really popularized the home video gaming system trend. Before the VCS, there were Pong type systems for home use, but no cartridge-based system really took off.
Whether or not it's #1 of all time depends on what standard you use.
I know when I introduced my nephew to it, 10 years later, he had more fun with Warlords for the VCS than some newer NES games.
I would also put the classic NES high on the list, since it single handedly pulled the video game industry out of its collapse (video game crash of 1983-1984).
Posted by Chris, 20 Apr 2010
What do you mean 'almost arcade like'?....
The NEO GEO home system was identical to the arcade in every way, they were the exact same games in terms of Gfx and sound,with just a few new play modes added..for extra value for the consumer who were paying about £300 per game.
Also, never heard of King Of Fighters 4.........i assume you mean King Of Fighters 94?
Posted by Mac, 17 Apr 2010
megadrive ahead of snes?
are you mad. snes ripped the head off the megadrive and mode7'd down its neck
Posted by Danny Carr, 17 Apr 2010
WTF!!?
DC shuda been #1, but you guys haven't even included it!?
Wow this place sux; No wonder the Inq has to pimp people over here.
Posted by Nate, 19 Apr 2010
And about Nec pc engine and ATARI VCS ?
The Nec PC engine was famous for its shooters, platform games and the first console to get a CDRom. It was the best selling console in Japan.
The VCS Atari was a precursor.
Posted by dodo, 19 Apr 2010
The no. 1 spot
"the computer".
Posted by b, 19 Apr 2010
YESSSSS
MEGA-DRIVE IS THE BEST SYSTEM OF ALL TIME, If there was a 64-bit MEGA-DRIVE, it would unquestionably top every game system out now. RIP dear friend
Posted by Wilbur Stankalovich, 19 Apr 2010
Of all time?
Maybe from your generation. You completely miss the impact of the Atari 2600, and the original NES. Those were HUGE systems that changed the landscape of gaming. Yes, the technology of the ones you listed is more advanced, but considering you're trying to list these as "Top consoles of all time", you just don't have enough experience to properly gauge things.
Posted by David, 19 Apr 2010
Lay off the drugs
1. Playstation 1 has to be number 1. It sold more systems and more games, no contest.
2. NES- Nintendo Entertainment System- not even on the list? you're not qualified for this.
Mega Drive? Come on man. I loved the Sega Genesis, even after I sold it to get a Super Nintendo. There's a place in my heart for that console, but it's not number 1, and don't even go Mortal Kombat, that was one of the biggest SNES vs GENESIS. If Nintendo had only allowed the arcade fatalities and not replaced blood with sweat, it would have been no contest, the SNES version was superior.
I've got a 360, and while I believe, overall, it's a better console than the Wii, hasn't the Wii sold more? I could be wrong here. I mean, personally, would rank it 360 up there though.
Gameboy. I would think sales, games, and popularity would put Gameboy ahead of Nintendo DS. There just was no competition. Gameboy was in 1989, Atari Lynx (1989) and Turbo Express was released a year later in 1990, but for some both failed, and it wasn't until 1991 that Sega Game Gear hit NA and the EU, that was too late in America, Gameboy owned. Gameboy should maybe even be in the top 5, there were just a lot of people who played Gameboys, and it lasted for probably close to a decade. DS? it's cool, but it's got a lot of updated versions, and it didn't dominate PSP. Heck even the iPhone is supposedly gaining on the DS. The Gameboy was black and white and beat out 3 superior color handhelds. No contest.
Posted by RobinPanties, 19 Apr 2010
yur mad
snes > *.
Mk looked like CRAP on MD, cept that it had BLOOD.
i owned snes which is why i love it.
Posted by kevin, 19 Apr 2010
What?!
The Wii wouldn't make my list. Grandmothers knowing about it is NOT a good thing. Why is a console based around a horrendously inaccurate control system that levels the playing field between a pro and a shvt-flinging ape a top-ten console? Especially when so many of its games are just generic, desperate demos for the useless control system? They had to release an add-on to stop it sucking so much. Fail, people.
Posted by Pfft, 19 Apr 2010
dreamcast
What about the short lived Dreamcast. While it didn't have a long life it had some fantastic games. It also was one of the first to actually have an online presence. I still play mine.
Posted by Briang, 19 Apr 2010
A very useless list.
"This is my list of the top 10 consoles, not yours." It reads like it should have stayed on your notepad.
Posted by Baikonur, 19 Apr 2010
lol@number 1
The Atari VCS wins every time. The author of this article is so far up his own rectum, he can't distinguish reality from his brain cells.
Posted by markus wallett, 19 Apr 2010
Sonic 3D
I'm with you on the megadrive being a great console, but naming Sonic 3D as one of its examples of a great game seems a bit much... Pick any other sonic game (apart from sonic spinball and dr robotnik's mean bean machine) and you're onto a winner.
Posted by Tom, 19 Apr 2010
What a retarded article
It's basically a list of Consoles your mummy and daddy bought you, with the ones they didn't tagged onto the end.
How can you forget the Atari 2600, you know the one that started it all. Oh thats right, your two young and to lazy to actually do any research and perpetuate the fact that anyone can write a couple of lines text these days and call it an article.
Posted by mukestar, 20 Apr 2010
The best game ever -> Rayman :)
OK, Playstation 1 close to the list's top is probably justifiable...
but how could you miss not to menton Rayman as the best game ever?!
Posted by Alex, 20 Apr 2010
Xboy
did you rank them on the amount of fatal crashes ?
Posted by Tricko, 20 Apr 2010
Highly subjective list
Megadrive at 1, while SNES is at 6? Looking back, the SNES was definitely a superior console.
However, I had Megadrive and it was my teenage years. It's definitely the console I gleaned the most fun out of (4 player micro machines anyone?), which is why it is my number one too.
I just feel that if I had a SNES instead that would've been in the number one spot instead.
Posted by Trevor, 20 Apr 2010
LOL... what a lame article
Any ranking with PS2 out of the top3 is a joke. It has the record of sales worlwide, some of the best of all time games (GT, MGS, etc)- No NES? No Atari 2600?
Your list sucks... Xbox360 is a great console, but besides online, it is pretty even with PS3 (I own both) which BTW has a BR player and have lots of potential which X360 does not have. Both have great exclusives.
You need a reality check... Wii should not be in this list at all...
Posted by Putuco Malo, 20 Apr 2010
Ignoring the VCS?
You know, the console that sold from 1977 to 1994?! Name me ONE console that got that kind of life out of it.
Lists like these are useless without some point of reference. If, for instance you said, "Top 10 games consoles of the 90's", I think your article would be more accurate.
Posted by C.T. H, 21 Apr 2010
where is nes?
In many third world country... even china still selling nes clone... 4 just $3-$4 with different kind of variation... (portable/console) I don't think even playstation 1 can beat that... if u combine nes clone + original
Posted by Sagia, 21 Apr 2010
Apple Like it or note Steve has done a grand jobe
Go to any mall with an Apple store, I know it is quite annoying to have someone come to ask you. Hi. So. How was your day. What is the price of Grapes today. No I don?t want to buy these. I have of habit of stuffing these in my ears as these is a very good cleansing agents.
i THANK YOU Firozali A.Mulla DBA
Posted by Firozali A Mulla DBA, 21 Apr 2010
AWFUL
NINTENDO AND SNES THAT FAR DOWN?
YET CRAPPY SMS AND 360 ON TOP? ARE YOU NUTS?
Posted by AWFUL, 21 Apr 2010
you cant be serious
you havent even mentioned Atari, Vetrex, consoles, so your top 10 are a complete joke especially since you put XBox360 up there. are you sponsored by Microsoft.
you should be ashamed of yourself!!!!!
Posted by Marcus, 22 Apr 2010
LOL
XBOX 360 number 3 hahahahahahahaaha it has the worst failure rate of any console ever ps2 or ps1 or gameboy at the top
Posted by james, 08 Apr 2011