What 20 or more year old consoles do you think deserved better?

[bjork]

I would say all of them. I feel like there's some immediate reaction a lot of people who aren't familiar with a console have, where because a console didn't make a big, the library must all be garbage or shovelware. That's usually not the case and every system has something worth playing. Or just worth seeing, even if it's some really weird port of something that was bigger elsewhere.

 

[prnzo x BOOZE-o ka-BEER-o]

The Turbographix-16 deserves more love, it always gets swept to the side in 16-bit discussion. I always found the Vectrex fascinating although I never owned one.

not to be a nitpickery nazi n I could be wrong n mentally jumbled up, but IIRC TG-16 was actually an 8-bit console CPU but 16-bit GPU? it's why it couldn't really do typical 16-bit tricks like scaling, rotation, etc. - but I love the thing n it's library of hu-cards but especially the games in CD format - n despite not bein true 16-bit, it was sure an overachiever in the world of 8-bit - n the Sega Master System was no slouch in the visuals dept. n while it's impossible for me to really separate from the superglue bias of living n breathing almost every SMS title back in its heyday alongside the NES' amazing library - I will more objectively admit TG-16/PC-Eng n CD component's combined library is likely a stronger archive of gaming goodness than even the Master System I love. and objectively admit also the NES beats em both - but c'mon lol Nintendo had a cheating edge that gave them a monopoly on the gaming market still in relative infancy n wasn't disputed n held accountable until after the fact when the damage was done n uphill-to-the-point-of-acute-vertice 8-bit war was done n in the books -_-

 

[Eclipse14]

Outside the Sega Saturn, I wanna say the Neo Geo CD. The AES was a great system for what it does, but the CD was a really wasted opportunity (outside of being a bit more reasonable to the masses price-wise). Tellingly, only 8 games were truly exclusive to the system, 3 of them being compilations.

Not helping matters was SNK opting for a single-speed drive, which is why the system is infamous for its loading times (the rare CDZ was a double, fortunately). The system was a good idea that was never given the chance to branch out all that much. At least we got Samurai Shodown RPG on it.

 

[Gin]

Copying others: The Sega Saturn deserved better. If only things had been done better, not just with the price, but also with the machine itself (Like the architecture thing, quads instead of tris, etc.) or also localizing games like Sakura wars, Sega would probably have recovered and withstood that meteorite called PS2.

 

[Vetusomaru]

Neo Geo Pocket, it's a great handheld. But unfortunately, not many library of games
View attachment 26146

Without doubt the only Gameboy competitor done right along with WonderSwan (from Gameboy creator himself). Unfortunately the timing for its release was the worst:
- It was released during Pokemon craze era
- It was released when SNK had financial troubles and were about to go bankrupt

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

The Jaguar could have been SO great... And it has a surprising number of good games, too.

 

[Vetusomaru]

Copying others: The Sega Saturn deserved better. If only things had been done better, not just with the price, but also with the machine itself (Like the architecture thing, quads instead of tris, etc.) or also localizing games like Sakura wars, Sega would probably have recovered and withstood that meteorite called PS2.

Blame Sega of America and their hate boner for everything Japanese for its failure. There have been many times when Sega of America tried boycotting Sega of Japan games that ended up making money for Sega of America too like Guardian Heroes and Nights into Dreams.

Post automatically merged: Feb 18, 2025

And it has a surprising number of good games, too.

Name me some good Jaguar exclusives.

Post automatically merged: Feb 18, 2025

The Turbographix-16 deserves more love

In Japan it was much more successful and in second place after Nintendo consoles while Sega ones were at third. Thankfully it later got better respect in the West thanks to emulators and Virtual Console.

Post automatically merged: Feb 18, 2025

Vectrex is in my opinion the most overlooked retro console that was quite ahead of its time and with better arcade style thanks to the console's design, its controller and the vector graphics screen. It's a crime that nobody else has never made a similar console like it even today. It deserves a re-release for the modern audience.

 

[Nidoking's iconNidoking]

Criminally underrated, criminally underknown. It was just a portable Genesis. Like... I cannot stress enough how amazingly impressive and cool it was for the time. It's not even really a downgrade of the hardware, it just had some charge chord issues.

 

[trickybus]

View attachment 27863
Criminally underrated, criminally underknown. It was just a portable Genesis. Like... I cannot stress enough how amazingly impressive and cool it was for the time. It's not even really a downgrade of the hardware, it just had some charge chord issues.

I would have fucked with this! A full controller, color screen and 6 AA batteries? That thing is a beast!

It could also be used with a television set via a video port. — Wikipedia

This thing was a 90s Switch Holy shiiiiiiit

 

[kuroninneko]

I also vote for Sega Saturn. Saturn emulation is not very great and a Saturn mini or retro collection would be something I am interested in. Tried playing Fighter's Megamix with emulators and the clock speed is too inconsistent to pull of the moves.

 

[DunkeyKong]

I would have fucked with this! A full controller, color screen and 6 AA batteries? That thing is a beast!

This thing was a 90s Switch Holy shiiiiiiit

Unfortunately the battery didn't last long, but it's still pretty impressive at the time

 

[Krazy Kat]

for the 20 years ol console i'd prefer PS2 and PSP

simply it has thousand library of games
heaven for JRPG fan
has a lot of exclusive's

 

[Skeetos]

Definitely the Dreamcast. The idea that you didn't need a good pc to play online Quake 3 has always interested me. I want one so bad just to try it out.

 

[C.Endfield]

The Sega Saturn, for sure. Its library is very enigmatic and some of the gems that came with that console still deserve more recognition to this very day.

 

[starseeker300]

The Sega Saturn, for sure. Its library is very enigmatic and some of the gems that came with that console still deserve more recognition to this very day.
View attachment 27882

maybe we should just turn this thread into a sega saturn game recommendations thread at this point

 

[DunkeyKong]

The Sega Saturn, for sure. Its library is very enigmatic and some of the gems that came with that console still deserve more recognition to this very day.
View attachment 27882

Bro turned into a Saturn

 

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

PSP deserved more love

 

[Zerpina]

View attachment 27863
Criminally underrated, criminally underknown. It was just a portable Genesis. Like... I cannot stress enough how amazingly impressive and cool it was for the time. It's not even really a downgrade of the hardware, it just had some charge chord issues.

I Was going to put this in here myself @Nidoking And yes it was a Badass, if not for the as you said charging Cable. and the HORRIBLE Ghosting screen a Amazing marvel of Engineering that SEGA Pulled off for the time.

I Have one of these and it's damn impressive from the feel, to the sound. yes it's a Chonky boi. and weighs for a handheld a metric Fuckton.

But it's a for mid 90s handheld, A Damn site better than a Gameboy/Advanced.

you had what was a Legit full home console in your hands and could play it anywhere <provided you had a outlet/a thousand Dollars worth of battery's.
Hell, Nintendo didn't do a portable Equivalent of the SNES <the GBA> till 2001.

Was it the best handheld ever? no.
Was it fucking amazing at the time? Hell yes!

 

[DunkeyKong]

I Was going to put this in here myself @Nidoking And yes it was a Badass, if not for the as you said charging Cable. and the HORRIBLE Ghosting screen a Amazing marvel of Engineering that SEGA Pulled off for the time.

I Have one of these and it's damn impressive from the feel, to the sound. yes it's a Chonky boi. and weighs for a handheld a metric Fuckton.

But it's a for mid 90s handheld, A Damn site better than a Gameboy/Advanced.

you had what was a Legit full home console in your hands and could play it anywhere <provided you had a outlet/a thousand Dollars worth of battery's.
Hell, Nintendo didn't do a portable Equivalent of the SNES <the GBA> till 2001.

Was it the best handheld ever? no.
Was it fucking amazing at the time? Hell yes!

View attachment 27919

You said it best lmao, Sega could've one of the best handheld in the market. But in the end, Sega just like being Sega

 

[Eclipse14]

Name me some good Jaguar exclusives.

I'll take this one.

First and foremost, Alien vs Predator. This FPS really is a no-brainer when it comes to the system. It wasn't the best-seller on it for nothing! ...Even if it was only a bit above 50K copies.

The Iron Soldier duo. Really decent mech simulators. The second one exists in both Cartridge and CD format (the latter pretty much makes it the best Jaguar CD game by default, on account of it being a total dumpster fire). A third game exists on the PS1, but the first two never branched beyond the Jaguar.

A personal favorite Jaguar game of mine, and one that doesn't seem to come up much, is Power Drive Rally. A top-down racing game that's decent at what it does, despite some of its faults.

This last one is a bit of a stretch (as it was on the Atari Falcon and later got on Windows PCs), but Towers II stands out as the only real RPG on the Jaguar. While the original has some issues, an Enhanced version of the game got published a couple years ago. Kinda wanna give it a look, myself.

Now sure, there are probably better options on other systems, but it really is a case of just diving in to see what you can find. If it's not for you, then it's not for you.

 

[Zerpina]

I'll take this one.

First and foremost, Alien vs Predator. This FPS really is a no-brainer when it comes to the system. It wasn't the best-seller on it for nothing! ...Even if it was only a bit above 50K copies.

The Iron Soldier duo. Really decent mech simulators. The second one exists in both Cartridge and CD format (the latter pretty much makes it the best Jaguar CD game by default, on account of it being a total dumpster fire). A third game exists on the PS1, but the first two never branched beyond the Jaguar.

A personal favorite Jaguar game of mine, and one that doesn't seem to come up much, is Power Drive Rally. A top-down racing game that's decent at what it does, despite some of its faults.

This last one is a bit of a stretch (as it was on the Atari Falcon and later got on Windows PCs), but Towers II stands out as the only real RPG on the Jaguar. While the original has some issues, an Enhanced version of the game got published a couple years ago. Kinda wanna give it a look, myself.

Now sure, there are probably better options on other systems, but it really is a case of just diving in to see what you can find. If it's not for you, then it's not for you.

And don't forget Kasumi Ninja. yes it was a Blatent Mortal Kombat ripoff.
But Damn, if it didn't Look great <for the time>

OK, yes. this is not that Impressive. no not by Today's standard. and yes. Mortal Kombat did the Digitized Character 2 years prior, in 1992.
Point is. this was a Kinda solid Fighting Game. it actually. on Real hardware plays absolutely as well as MK2 in the Arcade, albeit a bit Clunky of a fighting game.

And come on. One guy, lift's his Kilt, a Kano looking asshole, who Yell's... somethingm and shoot's a Fireball from his ass. If that's not 90's Humor, dunno what is. and it was...
Ah! *kiss motion* Magnificent!

No, this game is still bad. but you kinda Have to had lived through a Consoles Release, to really know how it felt at that Moment in time.

I can sit here all day, and tell you how Awesome i thought Kasumi Ninja was.
I Can tell you how Awful the controller, with its house phone style pushbutton Handset Telephone was to play anything like alien Vs. Predator was.

But it will not Retell how Great or Awful it was, The Jaguar had it's flaws, and alot of Shit games. but it in all Honesty, was a Good system,. Flaws and All.

 

[DunkeyKong]

And don't forget Kasumi Ninja. yes it was a Blatent Mortal Kombat ripoff.
But Damn, if it didn't Look great <for the time>

View attachment 27929

OK, yes. this is not that Impressive. no not by Today's standard. and yes. Mortal Kombat did the Digitized Character 2 years prior, in 1992.
Point is. this was a Kinda solid Fighting Game. it actually. on Real hardware plays absolutely as well as MK2 in the Arcade, albeit a bit Clunky of a fighting game.

And come on. One guy, lift's his Kilt, a Kano looking asshole, who Yell's... somethingm and shoot's a Fireball from his ass. If that's not 90's Humor, dunno what is. and it was...
Ah! *kiss motion* Magnificent!

View attachment 27933

No, this game is still bad. but you kinda Have to had lived through a Consoles Release, to really know how it felt at that Moment in time.

I can sit here all day, and tell you how Awesome i thought Kasumi Ninja was.
I Can tell you how Awful the controller, with its house phone style pushbutton Handset Telephone was to play anything like alien Vs. Predator was.

But it will not Retell how Great or Awful it was, The Jaguar had it's flaws, and alot of Shit games. but it in all Honesty, was a Good system,. Flaws and All.

Sounds like you could write article about it lmao, I wanted to hear it!

 

[prnzo x BOOZE-o ka-BEER-o]

View attachment 27863
Criminally underrated, criminally underknown. It was just a portable Genesis. Like... I cannot stress enough how amazingly impressive and cool it was for the time. It's not even really a downgrade of the hardware, it just had some charge chord issues.

also, X-Men for GenMD can't be beaten on the Nomad... no reset button for the 5th lvl xD but it's not like that's an A-List title or anything

Post automatically merged: Feb 18, 2025

And don't forget Kasumi Ninja. yes it was a Blatent Mortal Kombat ripoff.
But Damn, if it didn't Look great <for the time>

View attachment 27929

OK, yes. this is not that Impressive. no not by Today's standard. and yes. Mortal Kombat did the Digitized Character 2 years prior, in 1992.
Point is. this was a Kinda solid Fighting Game. it actually. on Real hardware plays absolutely as well as MK2 in the Arcade, albeit a bit Clunky of a fighting game.

And come on. One guy, lift's his Kilt, a Kano looking asshole, who Yell's... somethingm and shoot's a Fireball from his ass. If that's not 90's Humor, dunno what is. and it was...
Ah! *kiss motion* Magnificent!

View attachment 27933

No, this game is still bad. but you kinda Have to had lived through a Consoles Release, to really know how it felt at that Moment in time.

I can sit here all day, and tell you how Awesome i thought Kasumi Ninja was.
I Can tell you how Awful the controller, with its house phone style pushbutton Handset Telephone was to play anything like alien Vs. Predator was.

But it will not Retell how Great or Awful it was, The Jaguar had it's flaws, and alot of Shit games. but it in all Honesty, was a Good system,. Flaws and All.

the Jaguar color palette looks brighter n better than PSx or Saturn - but then again, it couldn't do 3D n polygonal gaming was an infant WIP... Sony's fast-fwd expedite into the (at the time) gaming future kinda killed one last deserved gaming gen for 32/64-bit 2D IMO

 

[PhrawzT]

Turbo Grafx-16 definitely deserved better outside of Japan. I had one growing up and even at the time, games were expensive and hard to find. I only ever had 6 games for it pre-internet: Keith Courage, Bonk's Adventure, JJ & Jeff, Cratermaze, Boxy Boy, and Double Dungeons. There was a rental place not too far from my house that had a surprisingly good selection of games to rent, about 25 games or so.

I don't think I ever saw the CD add-on or Turbo CD games in the stores around my small Midwestern town. I did see a Turbo Xpress once for sale, but my parents said it was way too expensive and got me a Gameboy instead.

 

[ThunderBoy]

Dreamcast, by far.