Best Console to compliment a PC Gamer?

[Silverbeard]

So let's hopefully avoid the PC vs. Console thing for a moment, and consider that many PC Gamers also enjoy consoles as well as many own both Gaming PCs and Consoles.

So the question is simple: If you own a gaming PC what console is the best to compliment your games?

I'm sure the answer isn't as simple for everyone.

For me it's surprisingly the Wii U, at least right now. Looking purely at the game library there are very few exclusives for XBOX ONE or PS4 that aren't available to a PC Gaming audience as well, and with the x84 architecture of their processors, there's far less reason for any game publishers to make anything exclusive for these systems without receiving a bonus from Sony or Microsoft for exclusivity rights.

The Wii U however not only has the most exclusives of any modern Console at the moment, it's also got backwards compatibility and the virtual store that significantly increases it's library. It's custom CPU significantly hampers the ease of cross-platform design for Wii U titles to some degree (which may explain in part it's rocky start).

For someone like me however who prefers playing games on a PC whenever possible, The Wii U is the clear winner for the sole sake of it's exclusives library. I'm interested to hear other people's thoughts on which system best compliments PC Gaming?

I'd actually go so far as to say that a PS 2 is an ideal compliment to a PC. Why? Because very few PS 2 games ever ended up being ported to PC (and many of those that did were absolute tripe) and the PS 2's game library was actually very good- probably one of the best in console gaming history across all genres. The only way to get in on that is to own a PS 2. To my mind, there's not much point in owing a current gen console for one main reasons: Many of the exclusive games have been ported to the PC and the ports have been pretty good- so why invest on a console when one will likely have spent just as much and likely more than the asking price of a console on a decent gaming PC?

 

[RicoADF]

*SNIP*
For someone like me however who prefers playing games on a PC whenever possible, The Wii U is the clear winner for the sole sake of it's exclusives library. I'm interested to hear other people's thoughts on which system best compliments PC Gaming?

Either Playstation or Wii U, the PS3 would be a good choice if you want to get older PS games (esp if you get one that's backwards compatible), PS4 is still good and will get better with time. Xbox is pointless as there's like 1 exclusive (Halo series), so unless you really love Halo it's redundant.

Personally I went with PS, inFamous/Killzone are fun games and there's more on their way. The PC + PS combo I've had since my first PC in 2003 has worked well since it catches most exclusives (atlast those that interest me). Nintendo is good once prices go down though, then again the Wii U has my attention more than the Wii did so I may get it sooner.

 

[Vivi22]

The Sega Dreamcast is the obvious choice here.

 

[Godhead]

I would probably have to say the PS2, mainly because it has a fantastic library of games.

And they all work on modern PCs using an emulator.

I'd say the Wii U. Then a couple of years later the PS4. Wii U is cheaper and it's got exclusives that will never come to any other system. And it's backwards compatible with almost all the Wii games.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought that emulators are very CPU intensive and normally don't give the same performance is if you were actually playing on the console.

 

[RicoADF]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought that emulators are very CPU intensive and normally don't give the same performance is if you were actually playing on the console.

Modern computer's are powerful enough to run PS1 and PS2 games emulated on them without issues, PS3 games however.....

 

[chozo_hybrid]

I played through Wind Waker with just the gamepad, and it played fine, so if that's the main game you want to get, then get it

Goddammit, don't tempt me like that! I already spent way too much money this month.

Sorry. I just wanted to help

 

[gorfias]

Definitaly the WiiU, pretty much everything on the xbox one and the ps4 are also on the pc. But, nothing that Nintendo makes shows up on the pc, its rare that games even like the ones nintendo makes appear, get a wiiU.

That all matters some. But the big difference for me is that the games and the way you play them on a Wii U is so different, from the Wii Motes, to the tablet. Even the 3rd party Nyko controllers feel different for me. Lot of great hi def games that are cheap (though the best proprietary games are not: $60) The Wii U is giving me a different experience from the PC in ways PS4 is not.

I'm still looking forward to Uncharted 4 though. Dang it, they're going to get my money.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I would probably have to say the PS2, mainly because it has a fantastic library of games.

Ha! That didn't even occur to me. I was thinking current gen, but you make a great point. However, where are you going to get all those games? Can't download them and most of them worth playing are really hard to get a hold of for a reasonable price and without the risk of being in terrible condition.

You can download most of them or play their HD remakes on the PS3.

 

[Buffoon1980]

Every morning my PS4 says to me, 'Damn, you sexy PC gamer you, you certainly are handsome, and intelligent too. You even know the difference between compliment and complement!'

So, yeah.

And if I'm being less of a pedantic arsehole? Wii U is a good answer, but for me I might still prefer a PS4, mainly for the support from Japanese developers (and yes, obviously the Wii U has that too, but it doesn't have as many JRPGs). But those are my priorities, it comes down to what you want.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Add another vote to the Wii U. I'm just going to re-iterate the points that if you're playing on the PC than you already have (the option to buy) every big release that's come out recently. If you really, REALLY wanted to play something like Little Big Planet 3 than you'll have to get a PS4 or dust off your PS3. If you really, REALLY wanted to play Halo...wait, those are on the PC at this point, aren't they? Well Gears probably isn't...and Fable probably isn't either (though that series was never well optimized to begin with...it would probably be better on the PC if it's not there yet).

Yeah, just add another vote to the Wii U. Catch up on the Wii games you missed, build up your collection of new Nintendo games like New Wonderful Smash Brayonetta 2: Tropical, Treasure Tracking Freeze and you're golden.

 

[CrystalShadow]

As I've been doing the pc + console thing for a long time, I've always leaned towards Nintendo consoles... That's mainly because few other consoles ever have an exclusive I care about in the slightest...

Pretty much anything worth playing on these other systems gets a PC release sooner or later... So that makes the decision pretty easy. For me, anyway...

 

[DarkhoIlow]

If I had to choose I would definitely go for a WiiU..especially for Bayonetta 2 and Xenoblade Chronicles X. This coming from a PC only game obviously.

I don't care for anything else unfortunately, I never played Mario past Super Mario Bros and no Zelda game but they don't appeal to me at all.

 

[Dizchu]

The PS2 was probably the best console. It had an amazing library of games and was also backwards compatible with the amazing library of games the PS1 had (though the PS1 is extremely easy to emulate these days, the PS2 is a bit less straightforward).

When I played console and PC games in a complementary way it was back when the PS2 was going strong. Since the PS3/Xbox 360 days I found consoles less appealing (though I picked up a second-hand 360 to play the Halo games).

I think I agree with everyone else when saying that the WiiU is the best modern console to get. It's the least PC-like console of the three in the current gen, so it makes more sense.

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

Yeah I come from a slightly different angle. I HAD an XBOX360, but shifted to PS3. I've been a PC gamer primarily since the beginning, mind you. The reason I went PS3 was for the Logitech wheel, which is compatible with both. Now though, it seems most of the better driving games are cross-platform (except the flagship exclusives, i.e: Forza + Gran Turismo).

Having said that, I'll still agree that the WiiU is the way to go for current gen. PC is a more solitary experience (not talking about online, I mean in your house), but WiiU would be a lot of fun with friends over and a couple extra remotes. It's also got the least similar line up of games, so to echo what many have said here, Bayonetta 2, Mario Kart, and a few others would be a great addition.

So far, I don't see anything in 2015 that's shaping up enough to make me lay down cash on a PS4.

 

[fenrizz]

I was dead set on getting a PS4 for my next gen gaming needs, but after thinking about it for the last half a year I've decided to go with the WiiU instead.

Nintendo seems like they are the only one to still make an actual game console.

Coupled with my PC and 3DS it's a perfect match really.

 

[Cidward]

Same, about flipping my wants from PS4 to WiiU. Not that I've purchased either, but the WiiU is the only one that's actually gone up rather than down in my estimation since new games have come out. Plus, I'm a Ye Olden Wii owner and have a decent amount of virtual console content, so I've got most of the add-on controllers already.

 

[RedDeadFred]

Currently, the PS4 and Xbone just aren't worth it yet. Get a WiiU. I'd get one myself if I wasn't getting ready to build a new gaming PC (my laptop is solid, but it can't handle any of the new AAA games from this year or last year).

Honestly, I almost got a WiiU back when Wind Waker HD came out since the original is one of my favourite games of all time. This year Nintendo has really stepped up their game. If there was ever any desire in you to get a WiiU, now would probably be the time to do it.

 

[V da Mighty Taco]

Wii U, PS2, and Gamecube are all good choices. Wii U hands down has the best and most unique library out of all current-gen consoles, the PS2 needs no introduction, and the Gamecube has a notable cult following and several surprisingly popular games like Smash Bros Melee and Windwaker.

The PS3 has one specific leg up in the Shadow of the Colossus / ICO HD Collection, which is undoubtedly the best way to play those games due to better visuals, resolution, aspect ratio as well as far less framerate issues than it's PS2 counterpart, from my understanding anyways (finally played SotC recently on PS3 and loved it, but haven't played ICO yet). A bit pricey to buy an entire console to play only two games, sure, but if there are other PS3 exclusives that you like or just really want to try Team ICO's legendary cult classics then it just might be worth it.

EDIT: The 3DS and possibly PSP or Vita might be good choices as well depending on what you like. Most of the games on those can't really be found anywhere else.

 

[Ieyke]

The answer is Wii U.
It's the only answer right now.
I literally have a stack of cash to buy a PS4 just sitting here for as soon as I can justify it.

But I have a PC and Wii U.
The PS4 has next to nothing to offer that my PC doesn't do better.....and it can't play any of the awesome Wii U games.
There are a couple of interesting PS4 exclusives here and there, but nothing REMOTELY close to enough to justify me buying a PS4.
The list of Wii U games I want, on the other hand, is fairly substantial...

The Xbone has literally NOTHING to offer me. You could GIVE me an Xbone and I'd just immediately sell it.

 

[NezumiiroKitsune]

Darn, the WiiU sounds like a good investment. Is this thread being sponsored by Nintendo? Nah can't be, I'm not violently retching at the family-oriented-feels. Still, after I upgrade my GPU, WiiU might now have to be a serious consideration.

I agree with everyone who has said the back-two-gen consoles can be happily emulated on most PCs. I have a Pentium 4 with a Radeon 9800 that will emulate that far back (about £30/$50 of PC); it doesn't take a lot. A fair number of major titles were also ported to the PC.

I'm dubious of a large chunk of what is called exclusivity when it comes to Xbone and PS4; so much is announced for the PC just a couple of months after the hurricane of ostentatious marketing blibbery. Unfortunately, for many of us, we grew up with a particular console and fell in love with the characters and stories that are now held hostage. I for one don't know if to be grateful that Ratchet and Clank seems to have dwindled away in a depressing wet spurt of mediocrity. It might have saved me £400. Nope, still sad.

Also was informed by Nerd3 that MGS: Ground Zeroes 1) is a demo, and 2) manages to make the previous titles unpleasant to look back on. If there's any truth to this, it might be best I personally avoid PS4 forever. MGS3 still makes me excited to be a gamer.