Game Systems You Gave a Second Chance

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

This is the PC-FX, NEC and Hudson’s second home console project. It leans more into the personal computer aesthetic (hence, PC-FX) and reflects that focus with a focus on incredible sprite art and fmv animation. It was never released in the west.

For as much trouble as the PC-Engine (TG16) has had getting respect among western retro game enthusiasts, the PC-FX has faired a thousand times worse. Its library leans older, with many games having tons of text, leading to a westerner to assume the worst about the console since they can’t understand the library. I have to say… I was one of those people. A while back, I cited it in a “bad game systems” thread under the false assertion that it was nothing to look forward to. This was wrong.

Here’s the best overview I’ve found on YouTuve for this system and its library from a western perspective. Just LOOK at these games, man! I’m unsure of if the system is emulatable, but rest assured I’ll be looking for one. Consider my interest piqued, and I have to apologize to the system, as it’s initial impression on me from other westerners almost pushed me to never look further inward and just dismiss the device outright.

And, oh yeah.

The SEGA Saturn. Nothing crazy, just my favorite system of all time. Just a console I almost completely overlooked for a DECADE because I never heard anybody cite its library and heard it was expensive, so I just never bothered to even open my mind up to seeing if there was something I liked. Just a console that, when I finally chose to give it a second look, absolutely spoke to me like no other machine ever has. Just a console with one of the most rich, varied, beautiful, and idiosyncratic libraries in all of gaming.

Y’know. Just my favorite console. I’m so happy I gave it a second look, because it’s been the jewel of my gaming world ever since.

Are there any game systems you all have given a second chance to in your life?

 

[Max]

The master system.
I actually thought there were no iconic games on this console and therefore no good games in general, After giving it a second chance I started to discover some gem

 

[Nelson2001 Nelson2001]

The master system.
I actually thought there were no iconic games on this console and therefore no good games in general, After giving it a second chance I started to discover some gem

The Sega Master System is a good console from Sega although in Europe and Brazil they were a commercial success obviously speaking.

 

[UnDubious]

View attachment 96184
This is the PC-FX, NEC and Hudson’s second home console project. It leans more into the personal computer aesthetic (hence, PC-FX) and reflects that focus with a focus on incredible sprite art and fmv animation. It was never released in the west.
View attachment 96185
For as much trouble as the PC-Engine (TG16) has had getting respect among western retro game enthusiasts, the PC-FX has faired a thousand times worse. Its library leans older, with many games having tons of text, leading to a westerner to assume the worst about the console since they can’t understand the library. I have to say… I was one of those people. A while back, I cited it in a “bad game systems” thread under the false assertion that it was nothing to look forward to. This was wrong.

Here’s the best overview I’ve found on YouTuve for this system and its library from a western perspective. Just LOOK at these games, man! I’m unsure of if the system is emulatable, but rest assured I’ll be looking for one. Consider my interest piqued, and I have to apologize to the system, as it’s initial impression on me from other westerners almost pushed me to never look further inward and just dismiss the device outright.

View attachment 96186



And, oh yeah.
View attachment 96188
The SEGA Saturn. Nothing crazy, just my favorite system of all time. Just a console I almost completely overlooked for a DECADE because I never heard anybody cite its library and heard it was expensive, so I just never bothered to even open my mind up to seeing if there was something I liked. Just a console that, when I finally chose to give it a second look, absolutely spoke to me like no other machine ever has. Just a console with one of the most rich, varied, beautiful, and idiosyncratic libraries in all of gaming.

Y’know. Just my favorite console. I’m so happy I gave it a second look, because it’s been the jewel of my gaming world ever since.

Are there any game systems you all have given a second chance to in your life?

The PC FX doesn't have a lot of proper games in regular genres, though. Lots of VNs or things like... I forgot what they call those turn-based fighting games where you pick an option and it plays a clip of an attack. It's emulatable. I've beaten a couple games for it. There's a few more I'd like to see translated. It definitely could do really nice 2D.

To answer your question, no, not really.

 

[Sir Auriel of Lionel]

In all honesty? The Wii.
I got it as a Christmas gift and I didn't want the thing, I was born in the house of Sony and never felt enticed by Nintendo exclusive flagships. I was also turned off at the idea of motion control except for Wii sports and never got more than shovelware and party games as I still loved on my PS2 and later the PS3. It wasn't until later in life maybe after the PS4 launched I started to look closer into game hunting after being blown away by Shadow Hearts 2 from a random sale at a GameStop killing their old game stock and decided to go hunting for old Wii games and wondering if they had some hidden RPG gems. Cue me finding Radiant Dawn after missing out on the Gamecube's release (and the lackluster release of Shadow Dragon on DS) I was spurred on to look for more and picked up The Last Story, even the cute Chobobo Tales which was also when I got the only peripheral required for the full Wii experience and that is the classic controller.

Still not a fan of the motion control but fact there was an out for a few titles did encourage me to look at the Wii as an actual console and not a sad karaoke machine for the family. Hell, I even tried giving it away to a fair-weather friend (bitch nearly stole my FFA2) before her mom shut her down, it's the oldest original childhood console I still have and no plans to see him junked or sold even if emulation is easier.

 

[Lena CE]

The WiiU! One of my friends in high school got one at launch and I had a great time playing games like Nintendoland, Wii Party U and a few multiplat games with our group of friends. Loved goin to his place with that group to get hype for Directs, really made me want one! In late 2013 I did in fact get one and I was pretty instantly disappointed. Most of the games I wanted to play were just games I only enjoyed in group multiplayer settings, which I already had my fill of via his system. I got frustrated and ended up selling it. Then in 2015 I got a rly good deal on one and snagged it alongside Xenoblade Chronicles X, Mario Kart 8 and some multiplats like Deus Ex Human Revolution Directors Cut (had already played the original release). I ended up falling in love with it! I started using the eshop to buy classic games, started clearing out the small but solid library of first party exclusives and had a solid time revisiting games I had already played elsewhere like Need For Speed Most Wanted that got WiiU-specific upgrades. It didn't become a top 10 all time favorite system or anything, but I certainly put more time into it from 2015-2017 than I did my PS4 and I look back on it quite fondly. Eventually I'd get into modding my WiiU and it became an emulation powerhouse for the living room, still is!

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

The PC FX doesn't have a lot of proper games in regular genres, though. Lots of VNs or things like... I forgot what they call those turn-based fighting games where you pick an option and it plays a clip of an attack. It's emulatable. I've beaten a couple games for it. There's a few more I'd like to see translated. It definitely could do really nice 2D.

To answer your question, no, not really.

The term I’ve heard is Full Motion Fighers? But fair! The system has a very specific, very niche appeal. But I guess I’m the kind of weird freak who loves the particular aesthetics that its games share.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 7:23 AM

The master system.
I actually thought there were no iconic games on this console and therefore no good games in general, After giving it a second chance I started to discover some gem

I’ve had this exact experience, except my game was Phantasy Star. The story behind that game is actually very interesting, and its strong fandom has produced guides that are invaluable for how I’ve experienced it. As a compliment, Kenseiden is a great action platformer, Hang On is an incredibly smooth racer for its day, and Choplifter is some good arcade fun. The system certainly has my attention, and I look forward to experiencing more games for it!

 

[Eclipse14]

Disappointed at the fact my quick defense of the PC-FX was forgotten about in that thread.
I actually got contacted by the dood who made that overview after my own video about the system blew up. We're still in touch, as he's been interested in my work.

On the topic at hand, it's not so much a "second chance" as it is a first chance to get the resources and time to dive in. With the exception of a select few systems for varying reasons (like the HyperScam because everything about it is a dumpster fire and the Commodore 64GS because it's one of the lowest-effort systems possible, to name two), I believe there's something in every system that needs to be played. If the most well-known games are in your favor, it's a chance to explore more.

You just have to take a dive and see what you find that's in your interests. Many don't go deep enough.

 

[qw90700]

I can say Nintendo consoles and games in general:

Growing up in Sega Genesis era and being an active soldier for Sega in the Sega vs Nintendo console wars lol naturally I grew up in a culture that Nintendo is for "little kids" but I had no idea Nintendo would cry hard and learn from Sega to actually care about releasing games that people who are older than 4 would wanna play lol.

First time I met with the concept of RPG was on Sega Genesis. For example Rings of Power is my favorite RPG in the console. And then also first time I met with real 3D games like Outlander and the FPS game Zero Tolerance was also on that console. Relatively it seemed like Nintendo is a low quality company that their consoles only have childish 2D platformer games lol.

Only after I connected to internet I even got to learn something called "SNES" was a thing I could learn about Nintendo is still about childish low low-quality games yet it's not all about it. Nintendo was a huge failure when Sega Genesis came so hard my society did anything to make Nintendo doesn't exist anymore in the whole country. NES was respected but it was like the respect you have for random old person, so as how Atari 2600 was but really dislike for Nintendo got so common my country barely even had advertizement for GBA SP lolol.

Well by getting to know SNES thus I got to learn about really good games like Final Fantasy 6 which is my first FF game and my favorite. Then I learned about street racing simulator games Zero4 Champ series and all. In the end SNES has good games yet its library is not fun at all, I also think so for Gamecube too.

However I actually loved to play GBA and NDS games instead. Some of my top 10 games are on NDS lol (Radiant Historia and Ni no Kuni).

But the actual Nintendo console I liked the most because of its library are Wii + Wii U. Still to this day I actively play my Wii U next to my PS2. Especially playing this game for years made me build my muscles so much only my right arm looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger's arm lolol:

I can perform any surgery now... just give me a Wii U stick!!! lolol

 

[Morgana Veil]

I don't think I have ever had to give any system a "second chance" I honestly have never found a game console that didn't have a few good games at least (not counting the Tiger handheld BS, those are a waste of plastic and PCBs) Even the Virtual Boy has a neat little Mario's Tennis and Wario Land game.

 

[Bonkers225]

The 3DO

 

[dr grim]

Pc engine, didn't really considered it at first, a gem today for shmup lovers ( and other games too ! )

nintendo NES, started with the genesis, though nothing really great was on it.. oh boy was i wrong.

 

[DrunkGecko]

Wii u
It's a homebrew beast

 

[Ephemera1_]

Believe it or not, the Nintendo GameCube.

Back in its hayday, everyone i knew had a PS2 or OG Xbox, i only knew one kid who owned a GC. Later on in life when i became interested in collecting, i completely ignored the GameCube until around 2018? Maybe 2017. Initially i HATED the controller (which seems to be a hot take) and i thought it had quite a lackluster library.

Eventually i got used to the controller and i delved deeper that surface level for the GC and i like it quite a bit more than i used to. However im still not head over heels about it like many other people are

 

[gekiganwing]

I've managed to get PC-FX emulation working with a Steam Deck and RetroDeck. Pia Carrot seems to run well. I will remind myself to dig into the system's fan translated and import friendly games. I say this admitting that I've liked romance games and story-rich games for at least two decades.

Initially i HATED the controller (which seems to be a hot take) ...

Back in 2018, Retronauts talked about it. They admit the Gamecube and its controller went against early 2000s "more aggressive, more bleak" trends in video games.

 

[UnDubious]

Somebody mentioned the 3DO, I will say I was surprised that there were more Japanese-exclusive 3DO games then I expected. There was a real push to sell it there, which resulted in a handful of RPGs being made for the Japanese market. They even had a 3DO magazine. Sales of the system were decent at first for a niche console, but dropped very rapidly. In a way, they tried what Xbox tried but years earlier and with way less money - pushing a Western console in Japan by adapting to the market.

I like to say that the 3DO was the best of the failed consoles of the 32-bit era (I don't count the Saturn as failed as it at least had success in Japan). It has a larger, better, and more well-rounded library than the 32X, Jaguar, CD-i or PC-FX.