Best Game Console?

[Aragorn]

Successful franchise games = easy $$$$$. But to Nintendo's credit, they don't make quick, cheap knockoffs of their top name brands. Mario Galaxy is pretty acclaimed. Mario Kart, on the other hand, is something you'll either love or hate because while it is a tried and true series, the computer opponents cheat like there's no tomorrow and it's easy for drivers in the back of the pack to "rubber band" to the front because they want anyone to be able to pick up and play it without needing to be an expert.

 

[Kelthaz]

I have to admit that I'm surprised to hear that they're still making Mario, Zelda, and Metroid games.

You really are out of touch with games.

Pretty much every classic franchise from the NES days is still alive in some form today. Hell, even Pacman and Frogger are still getting sequels.

Anyway, the Wii is definitely your best bet. Although I would seriously look into the Virtual Console far more than any original games for the Wii. If you want simple games and love the NES you need to play the great classics you missed on the Genesis and SNES. I was only half joking with my response to buy a Sega Genesis.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

If you want simple games and love the NES you need to play the great classics you missed on the Genesis and SNES. I was only half joking with my response to buy a Sega Genesis.

Why not just buy a damned SNES. A work mate and I reflected recently that it was better back then than the current crop of consoles are at the moment (if I've explained that correctly...).

If there weren't so many people striving to make nostalgic purchases on Ebay, I might just do that. And no, I don't like emulators, I'd rather not play Zelda on my PC

 

[Kelthaz]

If you want simple games and love the NES you need to play the great classics you missed on the Genesis and SNES. I was only half joking with my response to buy a Sega Genesis.

Why not just buy a damned SNES. A work mate and I reflected recently that it was better back then than the current crop of consoles are at the moment (if I've explained that correctly...).

Yeah, that works pretty well, but it's pretty inconvenient. Either hunt down cheap games on Ebay or browse some local pawn shops and hope you find a good one. I did that with the Genesis, but not everyone wants to. The VC also offers games from so many great systems, so it's much easier.

If there weren't so many people striving to make nostalgic purchases on Ebay, I might just do that. And no, I don't like emulators, I'd rather not play Zelda on my PC

You could always buy a PS2/PS3 Controller to USB converter for like $5 and hook your computer up to a TV. There's nothing like playing hi-res Super Mario World on an HDTV with save states and fast forwarding on your couch.

 

[Trubinator]

And I love how you mention games like HAWX, Burnout Paradise, and Fallout 3 which are all also available for the PS3.

Those games aren't made as well for the PS3. GTA4 only gets a decent framerate on the PS because it dropped the resolution, texture quality, lighting, etc. on that system. And games like Fallout 3 look similarly crappy if you do a side-by-side screenshot comparison.

 

[Cky]

Just bought a SNES yesterday, it gets my vote (along with the Megadrive).

 

[TheBrew]

If you want simple games and love the NES you need to play the great classics you missed on the Genesis and SNES. I was only half joking with my response to buy a Sega Genesis.

Why not just buy a damned SNES. A work mate and I reflected recently that it was better back then than the current crop of consoles are at the moment (if I've explained that correctly...).

Yeah, that works pretty well, but it's pretty inconvenient. Either hunt down cheap games on Ebay or browse some local pawn shops and hope you find a good one. I did that with the Genesis, but not everyone wants to. The VC also offers games from so many great systems, so it's much easier.

I think the Wii is a better value than hunting around. To get all the consoles the Wii has on VC will cost a pretty penny and the good games fetch a decent price. It is just easier to go for the Wii.

Also, the VC controller is the best controller for old-school games, IMO. It might be my favorite controller ever, but I am attached to the 360 controller. Of course, the is a moot point for my recommendation of a Wii.

 

[crouteru]

This generation of consoles is a little different to the last generation. The Playstation 2, XBox and Gamecube were all fairly similar in what games they could run. However this generation, the Wii has different capabilities to the XBox 360 and Playstation 3. What I'm trying to say is, if you want the most out of this generation of consoles, you should consider getting a Wii and one of the other two, depending on which one has your preferred exclusives.

Games consoles in general, I don't think any current or future console can match the SNES. The only problem that comes to mind is that yellowing effect that occurs to the outer casing after so many years. Oh, and the US version of the console has an ugly design.

 

[Jim Steele]

I'd agree that the Wii is probably the best bet for you, but be warned that outside of the first party titles and very thin smattering of third party gems, its game library is the worst of the current gen consoles. Most of the interesting stuff is on WiiWare, frankly.

 

[Jim Steele]

And I love how you mention games like HAWX, Burnout Paradise, and Fallout 3 which are all also available for the PS3.

Those games aren't made as well for the PS3. GTA4 only gets a decent framerate on the PS because it dropped the resolution, texture quality, lighting, etc. on that system. And games like Fallout 3 look similarly crappy if you do a side-by-side screenshot comparison.

Sorry to say it, but this is generally true. The PS3 hardware is so difficult to develop for that performance wise it tends to get shafted with third party, multiplatform titles. But, when it gets the focus and attention of a first party exclusive, it really really shines.

Sony shot themselves in the foot, pretty much, by assuming that the PS3 would be as top-dog as the PS2 was when they were designing the hardware.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Hi All,

I haven't owned a game console since The Legend of Zelda was sold on gold cartridge cases for the original Nintendo Entertainment System...

But, now that I'm (hopefully) getting a house, I'm thinking it might be nice to spend some time away from my home office (my computer is my video game system, my TV, my phone, and more)...

And so, now I'm considering a new game console for my new living room...

I like simple games... Mario and Zelda were old favorites... I enjoyed Crash Bandicoot when I played it once at a friend's house years ago... I always hated sports games, or games with complex control combinations...

So my questions are these: What system should I get? And why? And what games that might be good for me are popular today?

Thanks in advance for your ideas / advice!

ZS

Well judging by the games you like i would say the Wii is just what your looking for, as most of those games you mentioned have sequels on it, although you might also consider the Gamecube too as that also had sequels to most of the games you mentioned, and is a lot cheaper to buy.