Which retro systems are actually worth owning?

[hazys]

As everyone here knows, retro game emulation has gotten extremely accurate, accessible, and comprehensive, to the point where almost any game can be run on desktop (with some fiddling at worst). On the other hand, the retro game market has gotten insanely expensive, and retro systems are only getting older and more fragile with the passing of time. In that sense, which retro systems do you think are still worth owning in this day and age?

My personal picks, from most to least worthwhile:

• 3DS: DS and 3DS games cannot be emulated in a satisfactory way (imo) due to the dual screens and touch controls. A modded 3DS is a nice piece of hardware that can also run some older systems. And handhelds are always nice to own.
• Wii: A modded Wii is an emulation machine, with Gamecube compatibility, built-in emulators for older systems, and native 480p output. Some Wii games are also hard to emulate accurately due to motion controls. It's not essential, but it makes sense, especially if you have a CRT.
• PS Vita: The Vita is probably still the best way to play PSP and Vita games, although some third-party handhelds come very close. It's easy enough to mod as well. However I will say I've run into a lot of trouble running PS1 eboots, with slowdown, crashes, etc. Easier to use DuckStation.
• PS2: Might be worth owning because it's plentiful, cheap, easy to mod, and the library's huge. Plus it plays DVDs. PS2 emulation is relatively resource-intensive so for some people it might make sense to just get a modded PS2 Fat. You certainly won't run out of games to play.
• XBox: Only reason this would be worth owning is because OG XBox emulation is notoriously unreliable and incomplete. However the system itself is way too clunky and prone to battery leakage imo. It's only worth it if you have a strong interest in its small library of exclusives.
• Retro handhelds: I think stuff like the GameBoy Color, Neo Geo Pocket Color, or Wonderswan Color can be worth owning because it's just not the same to play handheld games on dekstop, and the hardware/form factor typically provides a unique experience, but you really have to know what you're getting into. In many cases it might be getter to get a handheld emulator instead, which can run all those systems without the need to buy games.

What about you? Which systems do you own, which do you regret buying and which will you never part with?

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

• XBox: Only reason this would be worth owning is because OG XBox emulation is notoriously unreliable and incomplete. However the system itself is way too clunky and prone to battery leakage imo. It's only worth it if you have a strong interest in its small library of exclusives.

Battery leakage? Just takes 4 screws and your hand to rip that thing off and never have to worry about it every again. Xbox 2001 is 100% worth it.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I think the Nintendo 64 is a must simply because of its controller, which is essential to the experience.

The Dreamcast is also a key part of any self-respecting retro collection.

And if you really wanna go back... The Genesis, SNES and NES are worth adding, even if only because what they mean.

 

[Coon]

I am now totally excited about Dreamcast emulator redream.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

What about you? Which systems do you own, which do you regret buying and which will you never part with?

I own: A Genesis Model I, a Genesis Model II, a Famicom, an NES, a Gameboy Pocket, a Dreamcast, a PlayStation 1, a PlayStation 2, and a PlayStation 3.

I don't intend to ever sell them, but I regret the Gameboy a little because I was never able to properly support it (I only own one game).

 

[SoThankful]

Every console you listed is awesome. I actually own quite a few from that list myself. I’ll never ditch my PS3 since it easily plays PS1 (my favorite retro system) + extra.

I kinda regret getting the N3DSXL, because the regular size might’ve suited me better. I’ve decided to just enjoy it instead of risking seller’s remorse. Got it for a good price really early anyway.

 

[hazys]

Battery leakage? Just takes 4 screws and your hand to rip that thing off and never have to worry about it every again. Xbox 2001 is 100% worth it.

That's true, but that's assuming you get a system that hasn't already been killed by battery leakage. Even then, the OG XBox doesn't have a ton of exclusives, and some of them are playable on newer XBox systems via the online service.

I think the Nintendo 64 is a must simply because of its controller, which is essential to the experience.

I hadn't considered the N64's unique controller, but that's a good point. It's one of the reasons why trying to play N64 on Switch can be so frustrating. Thankfully Nintendo did release an N64 USB controller, which works great with emulation.

Every console you listed is awesome. I actually own quite a few from that list myself. I’ll never ditch my PS3 since it easily plays PS1 (my favorite retro system) + extra.

I kinda regret getting the N3DSXL, because the regular size might’ve suited me better. I’ve decided to just enjoy it instead of risking seller’s remorse. Got it for a good price really early anyway.

The PS3 is a very cool system, I just have issues with the DualShock 3 (I think it's a bad controller), and I also don't like that it uses a proprietary charge cable. It's a pretty good one-stop shop for PlayStation gaming, especially if you were lucky enough to get one that's backwards compatible with PS2. PS3 games themselves can also be tough to emulate, though it's mostly doable now.

The 3DS is a weird case because there are so many different models and getting the wrong one for your hand size/comfort level can feel like torture over longer play sessions. I got a 3DS LL with a Circle Pad Pro and it's wonderful, though.

 

[bjork]

I could see having a 3DS for the actual 3D games, but aside from that, I can either emulate it or I don't need to play it. I'm not an original hardware nut and I'm not a collector, but I think it's because I already did that about 30 years ago as it was all coming out and don't want a bunch of clutter. No disrespect to anyone who does, I just personally don't have the desire any more.

 

[AngazAC89ZX]

I'm proud to have the Sega Saturn, especially a Japanese one with the open source SAROO flash cart, Sega Dreamcast, Sega Genesis model 2, N64, GameCube, Wii, PS2, Xbox360, 2 NES clone consoles, Retroduo, revenue a famiclone that play Famicom carts, along with some open source handhelds as well as GBA & GBC Clone consoles alongside real ones too plus some Linux computers

 

[CheesyExplosive]

As everyone here knows, retro game emulation has gotten extremely accurate, accessible, and comprehensive, to the point where almost any game can be run on desktop (with some fiddling at worst). On the other hand, the retro game market has gotten insanely expensive, and retro systems are only getting older and more fragile with the passing of time. In that sense, which retro systems do you think are still worth owning in this day and age?

My personal picks, from most to least worthwhile:

• 3DS: DS and 3DS games cannot be emulated in a satisfactory way (imo) due to the dual screens and touch controls. A modded 3DS is a nice piece of hardware that can also run some older systems. And handhelds are always nice to own.
• Wii: A modded Wii is an emulation machine, with Gamecube compatibility, built-in emulators for older systems, and native 480p output. Some Wii games are also hard to emulate accurately due to motion controls. It's not essential, but it makes sense, especially if you have a CRT.
• PS Vita: The Vita is probably still the best way to play PSP and Vita games, although some third-party handhelds come very close. It's easy enough to mod as well. However I will say I've run into a lot of trouble running PS1 eboots, with slowdown, crashes, etc. Easier to use DuckStation.
• PS2: Might be worth owning because it's plentiful, cheap, easy to mod, and the library's huge. Plus it plays DVDs. PS2 emulation is relatively resource-intensive so for some people it might make sense to just get a modded PS2 Fat. You certainly won't run out of games to play.
• XBox: Only reason this would be worth owning is because OG XBox emulation is notoriously unreliable and incomplete. However the system itself is way too clunky and prone to battery leakage imo. It's only worth it if you have a strong interest in its small library of exclusives.
• Retro handhelds: I think stuff like the GameBoy Color, Neo Geo Pocket Color, or Wonderswan Color can be worth owning because it's just not the same to play handheld games on dekstop, and the hardware/form factor typically provides a unique experience, but you really have to know what you're getting into. In many cases it might be getter to get a handheld emulator instead, which can run all those systems without the need to buy games.

What about you? Which systems do you own, which do you regret buying and which will you never part with?

having sex with flycast and emulators

 

[qw90700]

I still own my Sega Genesis I bought decades ago and its games. They will work okay even after the universe is no more!!!!! lolol

My PS1 stopped reading disc so it's trashed, my initial PS2 I bought was broken by brother of my brother's friend so eventually I made my brother buy me new one as punishment for he took the PS2 to his friend's house without my permission and they broke the PS2 lol. So since I have my PS2 and it can run PS1 games I'm saved from also buying another PS1 to play Japanese version of Ace Combat 3, Racing Lagoon, Breath of Fire 4 and Metal Gear Solid 1. I use FMCB on my PS2 to play games and stuff despite it cannot read disc anymore and didn't bother fixing it. I have tons of ways to play games on it anymore like via USB, SMB, SSD... you name it!!!! lolol

I trashed my GBA SP especially because how useless it's due to genius Nintendo using battery to keep save files exist in the game so imagine my save files doesn't exist in these games!!! That's why I fully transitioned to emulator for that rubbish system!!

My NDS still works ok and I make sure of it especially for Ni no Kuni. Can't enjoy playing Ni no Kuni on emulator, especially a device that's not like NDS at all!!!

I loved me PSP but sadly it died by literally exploding!!! I would like to buy one someday but then I'm kinda ok with its emulation. It was kinda cool to have a PSP!!!

Because I love Freedom Wars a lot I would wanna buy a PS Vita.

My Wii U works ok I still play games on it. I actually discovered some new games I wanna play soon on it. IMO Wii U is underrated and after PS2 it's the only other console that I like its library a lot and it can run Wii games too so I also mean the library as Wii + Wii U.

And these are all the video game consoles I ever bought.

What video game system would matter to buy?: I would say PS2 especially because simply put some games require real hardware to work which cannot be emulated due to non-software aspect of games therefore lots of PS2 games require the emulator especially have patch for these games that it's kinda no different than developing these aspects of these games to mimic the original behavior of the game therefore I don't think people will ever care to develop a "functioning PS2 emulator that works well on every game without graphical issues". PS2 is the only console that I cannot have fun playing the games on emulator. Even you may play Sega Genesis on emulator but use CRT TV for display so it won't make a difference but when it comes to PS2 emulators doesn't work ok enough.

Another thing is PS2 is my only way for me to watch old movies in old technology way to relive the same experience I had when I watched these movies back then. Watching VCD quality of Matrix 1 with yellow subtitles + CRT TV gives me the most pleasure lol.

 

[DjQuick2008]

ive started collecting ps4 copies of SHMUPs some nice stuff released

 

[thumbsdown]

DS and N64 cus of some emulation nuisances and a PS2 cus of its versatility to get modded... If I had to chose a Sony handheld it would be the PSP instead of Vita, but that's me.

 

[Graw]

The only thing I can really think worth owning is a wiimote just to play Wii games that require it. Not the actual Wii just the remote. The main reason I stopped playing on consoles is when emulation caught up. Hell I emulated the original ps1 while the ps1 was still an active console rather than play on actual hardware. The snes and nes got packed away as soon as I learned about zsnes and nesticle and pretty much the rest of my consoles have been packed in a box for the last 20 years or so.

 

[Den MDM Den MDM]

The PS2 is eternal. Having it connected to my old ass TV makes me enjoy games in a way that I don't with emulation, and the console's so cheap some people got it secondhand for like 20 bucks.

 

[Sunnyside]

3DS and Wii, for the reasons stated in the OP. I've never owned a Vita so I can't comment on that one.

PS3 would be worth owning for me personally until emulation catches up. There's been some amazing progress but it isn't quite there. So I'll continue stalling my PS3 purchase in the hopes that it becomes unnecessary. :D