Gaming Forums => Nintendo Gaming => Topic started by: jrlibrarian on July 18, 2010, 02:07:03 PM
Title: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: jrlibrarian on July 18, 2010, 02:07:03 PM
PAX Prime is quickly approaching, and as always, there is certain to be a booth selling hundreds of retro games and consoles, all refurbished and working once again. I realize that in the long run, Virtual Console would be cheaper, but I do not have a Wii and will probably never get one unless I buy it from one of my friends for much less than retail price.
Now on to the actual question.
I would like to own an older console with a few games to play on it, but I can't make up my mind. If the forums could help me decide, that would be great. I also already own a copy of The Lion King on SNES, but don't have the ability to play it yet.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: BeautifulShy on July 18, 2010, 03:36:09 PM
Well a certain Mario enthusiast will say N64 but I'm going to ask you this.
Have you had any non Nintendo systems growing up? If not than I would go with Genesis. If you have than I would ask what types of games do you want to play?
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: MegaByte on July 18, 2010, 03:38:00 PM
Sounds like you need a RetroN.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: jrlibrarian on July 18, 2010, 03:56:37 PM
That might be a great option for now, since it would be much cheaper. However, it won't play certain games, like Super Mario RPG, and the button mapping seems strange. But for $50, I will be able to get past those roadblocks very easily.
Well a certain Mario enthusiast will say N64 but I'm going to ask you this.
Have you had any non Nintendo systems growing up? If not than I would go with Genesis. If you have than I would ask what types of games do you want to play?
My first console was a 360, with a Gamecube following that about 4 months ago. I rounded out my handheld consoles with a GBC and a GBA. I have a DS lite, since my phat died about three months after I got it. It was signed by the Brain Age guy, so I couldn't really replace it that easily. (I'm still in high school, and my family didn't have the biggest budget for video games.) I really want to play as many old-school games as possible, because I feel as if I missed out on a great era of gaming.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: MegaByte on July 18, 2010, 04:01:44 PM
That might be a great option for now, since it would be much cheaper. However, it won't play certain games, like Super Mario RPG, and the button mapping seems strange. But for $50, I will be able to get past those roadblocks very easily.
The incompatibilities suck, but the nice thing about the RetroN is that you can use original controllers instead of the ones that come with it.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: jrlibrarian on July 18, 2010, 04:03:59 PM
That might be a great option for now, since it would be much cheaper. However, it won't play certain games, like Super Mario RPG, and the button mapping seems strange. But for $50, I will be able to get past those roadblocks very easily.
The incompatibilities suck, but the nice thing about the RetroN is that you can use original controllers instead of the ones that come with it.
I'm thinking Power Glove. That would be awesome.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: BeautifulShy on July 18, 2010, 04:07:27 PM
Hmm I would go with a SNES or NES. Both have a good deal of classic games while I think NES has more action type games while the SNES has more RPG titles. I think NES games are cheaper so that might be a plus for you.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: ThePerm on July 18, 2010, 04:58:31 PM
toughh choice, i would say n64 because it is my favorite system so far, but i never had an snes. Also, there is a certain datedness to n64, that may be hard for those uninitiated to get over.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Invincible Donkey Kong on July 18, 2010, 10:15:19 PM
PAX Prime is quickly approaching, and as always, there is certain to be a booth selling hundreds of retro games and consoles, all refurbished and working once again. I realize that in the long run, Virtual Console would be cheaper, but I do not have a Wii and will probably never get one unless I buy it from one of my friends for much less than retail price.
You're going to be at PAX Prime, you say? I'll be there waiting for you. :reggie:
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Guitar Smasher on July 18, 2010, 10:41:54 PM
This shouldn't be a tough choice if you determine what games you'd like to play.
If you're just going to buy games blindly, then I suppose an SNES might suit you best. I understand some people feel that NES and N64 games don't play well anymore.
And if you have never played The Lion King, let me confirm that it is, in fact, a fun game.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: jrlibrarian on July 18, 2010, 10:57:22 PM
I think that I will probably go with the RetroN, since it plays games from all three systems. Hopefully the people at PAX will have a version, but if not, then I will get a copy from amazon.
Thanks everyone for the input.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 19, 2010, 12:28:09 AM
I am not sure RetroN is even technically legal. Playing NES games is fine since the related patents have expired, but the patents on SNES have not (not sure about Genesis). The RetroN doesn't let you play N64 games.
Sticking to what I know is legal, I would suggest a SNES since it has a great selection of games.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Morari on July 19, 2010, 02:03:20 AM
I don't see the Dreamcast on that list.
Best. Console. Ever.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on July 19, 2010, 02:53:15 AM
I never thought I'd say this about something Morari posted, but I second this.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: DAaaMan64 on July 19, 2010, 03:52:11 AM
Good? Yes. Best? Nost.
Don't know why you'd think that.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on July 19, 2010, 09:21:10 AM
I agree...Dreamcast was awesome, but not nearly as awesome as a lot of people say it is...
...anyway, go with SNES. It has probably the best game library of all time.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Sarail on July 19, 2010, 09:55:15 AM
Pick up a PAL SNES... only so you can play Terranigma. :)
You'll thank me later.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Halbred on July 19, 2010, 03:11:00 PM
Dreamcast isn't an option, but I recommend a DC. The games are dirt cheap when found, and often great. Just be sure you get a system with a new battery, unlike what I did. I have to enter the date and time every time I turn the damn thing on.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Louieturkey on July 19, 2010, 03:58:08 PM
Dreamcast isn't an option, but I recommend a DC. The games are dirt cheap when found, and often great. Just be sure you get a system with a new battery, unlike what I did. I have to enter the date and time every time I turn the damn thing on.
Can't you just put a new battery into it like with the Saturn?
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Halbred on July 19, 2010, 04:05:44 PM
Probably. No idea how.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Mop it up on July 19, 2010, 06:58:09 PM
It's a tough choice between SNES and N64, both have a lot of good games that still hold up. It depends on what types of games you like.
The Super NES has a wide variety of great games in almost every genre imaginable. You've of course got your staples like the Mario games, Donkey Kong Country, and Zelda: Link to the Past, as well as other Nintendo greats like Super Metroid, Kirby Superstar, and more. There are some good puzzle to be had, too. There's a Tetris and Dr. Mario combo cart that gives you the two historic games in one, and there are games like Tetris Attack and Wario's Woods that are even more involving by having you line up specific colours (I'm a fan of SNES puzzlers, can you tell?). There's lots of RPGs of course, too many to even start naming.
Be forewarned however, that, of the four choices you mentioned, the SNES would be the most expensive one to build a collection. A lot of its best games (especially its RPGs) didn't sell very well, and are now highly sought-after, resulting in some relative expensive prices.
In contrast, the Nintendo 64 is a relative inexpensive system on which to build a collection. Though it lacks in a few genres, most notably RPGs and fighters. Well, there are quite a lot of fighters, but I haven't heard good things about any of them. I can't say I've played them myself (yet...), so I can't vouch if that's true, because I don't like fighters myself. Except Super Smash Brothers of course, which is a great game that still holds up. There are a handful of RPGs and none of them are anything special. Paper Mario is the only one worthwhile, though some enjoy Ogre Battle 64. It ain't cheap.
But the genres it does have, it does well. Platformers would probably be number one. And don't just stick will the well-known ones like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie either! Overlooked gems like Rocket: Robot on Wheels, Glover, and Conker's Bad Fur Day are not to be missed. And there are some like Starshot: Space Circus Fever which can be enjoyable if you overlook theirs flaws. Beyond that, the system has quite a few fun shooters. There's the obvious Perfect Dark and Goldeneye. But when I want some straight-up shooty shooty, I go for Doom 64, Quake II, or even something like BattleTanx. There aren't many puzzlers for the system, but there are still some worthwhile ones. Tetrisphere remains the single greatest puzzle game ever created, not just 3D, but period. Charlie Blast's Territory is a "block-moving" sort of game where you have to push every bomb together to be denoted all at once, there's some clever puzzles in that little game with the stupid name.
Anyways... yeah. I could go on and on about the N64, but I won't. Though if you ever want a more in-depth opinion on an SNES or N64 game, feel free to ask me.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Sarail on July 19, 2010, 10:07:29 PM
I seem to recall liking Fighter's Destiny on the N64. Don't know how well it holds up now, though.
Oh, and Killer Instinct Gold. God that game was awesome.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: jrlibrarian on July 20, 2010, 12:20:14 AM
I realize that I still have over a month to decide, and I appreciate any continued input on my question.
I own a Gamecube and an Xbox, so I already have Banjo 1&2, and the Zelda disk with both N64 games. Also, the 3DS will have ports of 64 games, and right now I don't know if I want to spend my money twice on basically the same product, if played on different systems. Hopefully there will be ports of OgreBattle in the future.
I absolutely love 2D games, so I think the RetroN will be a great choice for me at the moment. I have been playing a lot of SOTN and Geometry Wars on my 360 because of their simplicity, but also because of their extreme difficulty. I feel that this element was lost somewhat during the switch to 3D games. I realize that there are certain games that I will not be able to play, but since there are a thousand others, I don't think that will be a problem. Also the fact that I will be able to play games from three consoles that I never got the chance to experience is a huge plus for me. I am a huge fan of AVGN, so since I will be able to play games that wouldn't go on VC because they are so bad is "good". My friends and I are possibly planning a podcast thing where we play old games. It might be a cross between AVGN and Broken Pixels, with good games thrown in too.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, what are your favorite games for each of the three systems? Other than the obvious, (Zelda, Mario) what should I look out for?
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: BeautifulShy on July 20, 2010, 08:51:45 AM
Hmm favorite games on the systems.
NES:
All the Ninja Gaiden games. All three are on the VC though.There is also a collection of the 3 on the SNES.
Megaman series:Megaman 3,2,4,1 are my favorites in that order.I think the first 4 are on the VC also there is a GC collection disk.
Hmm I seem to recall a game called Super Ninja Boy.It was for the NES. It was a side scrolling platformer but if I remember correctly the stages flipped so that you were on the ceiling on some stages. It was a pretty long game and challenging game.You had different ninja weapons as well.
Donkey Kong Jr. Excellent game. I could play this game for hours on end trying to get futher in the game. On VC though.
Crystalis is an action RPG that was on the NES.There was a port on the GBC though.I think there was an additional boss that NST added in the GBC version.NES version was harder though.
Pro Wrestling on the NES.I believe that this hasn't been on any other systems. It is a wrestling game. It doesn't have any wrestlers you might know.Instead there are I want to say 8 different wrestlers.I believe it supports multiplayer for 2 players.
The 3 Caslevania games are on there as well. All three are on the VC. Number 3 is the best of the lot.
The Contra series is on there. Contra and Super C are on the NES while Contra 3 is on the SNES. I think only Contra 3 is on the VC.
Double Dragon 2 and Double Dragon 3 as well. Both have co-op while the first does not.
On to SNES!
Joe and Mac is a side scrolling platformer where you are cavemen going through levels and beating up Dinos in an effort to save your girlfriends.I think the first has co-op and the second has co-op for sure. NBA Jam TE.I remember playing this for months with friends. There is lots of replayability to it. If you come across NBA Jam and TE get TE because it has better options than the first. Single player mode has lots of replayability.
Killer Instinct. Excellent fighting game. I use to play with Riptor,TJ Combo and B.Orchid.Also a secret character as well. Also found a stage select code that had a secret stage to it not anywhere in the game.
Spiderman and Venom:Maximum Carnage Side scrolling beat em up.You could get help from different superheroes. There was lots of different and wild bosses.
Spider-Man and Xmen:Arcades Revenge. I think this was on the SNES and NES.Might be wrong about NES. Each stage was different. Spidey had a level,Wolverine had one,Storm,Gambit had a level. Oh also Cyclops had a level. Each more different than the last.
TMNT:Tournament Fighters this was on the NES and SNES.NES I think had its own character.Hot Head. NES had the 4 turtles,Casey Jones,Hot Head, and Shredder.SNES had lots more.Some from the TMNT comic books of the time. I think there was close to 20 characters.
Of course the RPGs. Super Mario RPG,ChronoTrigger,Earthbound,Secret of Mana,Illusion of Gaia.Oh Final Fantasy III( aka FF6 in Japan)Out of those Secret of Mana and Mario RPG are the only one on the VC.There is ChronoTrigger DS on the DS.
N64.
The N64 for me was the wrestling system.It had WCW Revenge, Wrestlemana 2000, No Mercy.There was a bug in No Mercy which deleted your created character.I think early copies had them.Mine did.
NBA Hangtime much like NBA Jam is pretty much the same thing.
Mortal Kombat Trilogy is a good buy.There is basically the same thing on the Wii in Mortal Kombat Armageddon but Armageddon has all the characters in all the games. MK Trilogy you might have more replayabilty with.
Smash bros.Nuff said.
Goldeneye and Perfect Dark.
Vigilante 8.It is basically a car combat game much like Twisted Metal. There was a second game and it boasted upgrading your vehicle but I didn't play it.Go with the first.
Thats all I can think of at the moment.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Crimm on July 20, 2010, 10:11:42 AM
BUY A PIPPIN! DO IT! YOU'LL TOTALLY NOT REGRET IT EVER.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on July 20, 2010, 10:29:03 AM
It has only two remakes (not ports) of Nintendo 64 games right now, and that doesn't mean there are going to be any more. The DS launched with a remake of an N64 game, and it was never followed up with any more. There are a lot of good Nintendo 64 games that will likely never see re-release, so it's a system worth picking up at some point.
Though if it's 2D gaming you're after, then the Super NES is the best choice. My personal three favourites are Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, and Super Mario RPG, though all of them can fetch some high prices. Faceball 2000 is high up on my list as well... though I s'pose that's 3D. Oh well. Hm, I'm sure there are others I liked... it's been a while... The games Maxi mentioned are all good choices.
Personally I feel NES games have aged terribly. They're just so primitive and simple, and often have horrible controls or other technical issues. There are a few that still hold up, but nothing really beyond the staples you already know about, like Mario and Zelda. Oh, I guess Mega Man. That's still fun.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: jrlibrarian on July 29, 2010, 12:12:47 AM
I have decided to purchase the Retron 3. With my spare change, here is a list of games I will buy with it from Amazon. At PAX, I will get a better selection of good games (hopefully). Respond (i.e. mock my choices) as you will.
NES: Ninja Gaiden Silver Surfer Ghostbusters Bible Adventures Back to the Future Wally Bear and the No! Gang Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Milon's Secret Castle
SNES: Super R-Type Space Invaders
Genesis: Shaq-Fu Jurassic Park
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: NWR_Neal on July 29, 2010, 01:29:48 AM
Don't get Shaq-Fu. Instead, get Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City. Unless you prefer terrible fighting games with laughable stories to shockingly solid platformers with laughable stories.
Also, avoid Back to the Future on NES. And Ghostbusters. I own both of them (I was young. They were cheap. I love both movies.) and I can say that they are freaking awful.
I'll praise the choice of Bible Adventures in the same way I enjoy watching The Room.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: MegaByte on July 29, 2010, 01:34:23 AM
Ghostbusters II was decent though. Interesting choices, to say the least. If you're going the Bible Adventures route, get Spiritual Warfare instead; it's a Zelda clone.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on July 29, 2010, 01:54:32 AM
All 3 Ninja Gaiden NES games were completely badass.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Mop it up on July 29, 2010, 02:54:40 AM
I'm not going to mock them, but I am curious about some of the choices. Aren't games like Bible Adventures, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Shaq Fu considered to be some of the worst games ever made? Or is that why you're drawn to them?
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: BeautifulShy on July 29, 2010, 04:32:39 AM
I personally prefered the Genesis version of Jurassic Park to the SNES version. Had more variety.I also had the Game Boy version.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on July 29, 2010, 09:46:11 AM
You could play as the T-Rex in the Genesis game, couldn't you? They were 2 completely different games. SNES was an top-down view game (kind of like Zelda), Genesis was a side-scroller.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 29, 2010, 10:02:40 AM
I'm not going to mock them, but I am curious about some of the choices. Aren't games like Bible Adventures, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Shaq Fu considered to be some of the worst games ever made? Or is that why you're drawn to them?
I remember back in EGM's 200th issue (one of my favorites, and one of their largest issues) had Bible Adventures in their Top 10 worst games. Even putting aside the fact that it's an unlicensed game, the gameplay was cited as being terrible. I have heard similar comments on Shaq Fu.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: jrlibrarian on July 29, 2010, 10:15:56 AM
I'm not going to mock them, but I am curious about some of the choices. Aren't games like Bible Adventures, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Shaq Fu considered to be some of the worst games ever made? Or is that why you're drawn to them?
Pretty much. My friends and I are big fans of AVGN, so I decided to get some of the games he reviewed. Also, I will be getting games that are actually good in the near future. This selection will be bought with spare change turned into amazon gift cards. That is why I don't feel guilty spending my money on such terrible games. They will be funny however, and I wanted to experience them for myself.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: BeautifulShy on July 29, 2010, 01:44:41 PM
You could play as the T-Rex in the Genesis game, couldn't you? They were 2 completely different games. SNES was an top-down view game (kind of like Zelda), Genesis was a side-scroller.
Velociraptor you could play as. As well as Alan Grant. Yes both were really different and I just preferred the Genesis version because of the variety.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Halbred on July 29, 2010, 02:06:41 PM
T.rex, Velociraptor, and Compy in the Lost World.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Mop it up on July 29, 2010, 05:35:16 PM
Wasn't one of the Jurassic Park games a sort of first-person shooter?
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Sarail on July 29, 2010, 05:36:43 PM
I think the 1st-person bits were in the SNES version when you go inside buildings. I need to replay that game sometime.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: jrlibrarian on July 29, 2010, 07:35:54 PM
Due to a lack of funds, and the fact that I want this as soon as possible, I have cut down my list of games to three.
Super R-Type Ninja Gaiden Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde
I also already own The Lion King for SNES. Pictures will be posted as soon as they arrive.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on July 29, 2010, 10:56:39 PM
Yeah, the SNES version was basically Doom with Dinosaurs when you went into buildings. It was pretty good for a licensed game.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 31, 2010, 04:38:22 AM
I feel cheated. I just voted and now I find out you already made a decision and it wasn't even one of the available choices.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Art_de_Cat on August 13, 2010, 03:05:02 PM
I would recommend the SNES since you already have a SNES game that needs to be played! If you are able I would recommend getting a NES as the next system. A lot of great retro games are available on it, and a few of those are not yet available on the VC Chop Channel for the Wii if you have a Wii already.
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Morari on August 14, 2010, 11:15:43 AM
This would at least get you started off in the right direction. ;)
www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/retro-gaming/bd92/
Title: Re: Which Retro Console Should I Buy?
Post by: Morcant on August 16, 2010, 04:19:04 PM
Not to beat a dead horse too bloody, but I must also praise the mighty dreamcast. Shenmue! Also, Soul Caliber is among the best fighting games I have ever played, and unlike many fighters is incredibly rewarding even in single player mode. Also, the dreamcast port of Soul Reaver is great, and Tennis 2k2 is far far more fun than it sounds.
