Poll: Which console generation had the best games?

[thejboy88]

Title says it all. Of the (currently) eight generations of home video game consoles, which do you think had the best games? If you feel the need to cite specific games from your chosen generation, please feel free to do so.

For the record, here are just some of the various consoles for each generation:

G1: Magnavox Odyssey and Pong
G2: Atari 2600 and Intellivision
G3: NES, Sega Master System and Atari 7800
G4: SNES and Sega Genesis
G5: N64, Sega Saturn, Atari Jaguar and PS1
G6: Nintendo Gamecube, Sega Dreamcast, PS2 and XBOX
G7: Nintendo Wii, PS3 and XBOX 360
G8: Nintendo WiiU, PS4 and XBOX One

 

[Euryalus]

I can't choose between 4,5, and 6... So I guess I'll go with gen 5 since my favorite game is in that one, but come on. Choosing between the gens that gave us super metroid, metroid prime, ocarina of time, and sonic? Why don't you ask me which child I love the most man? [sub][sub][sub]It's Kayla[/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[Asclepion]

I'll also say Gen 5. The switch from sprites to polygons was revolutionary, and many games of this gen set the standard for the future (Spyro pioneered the LOD system, Final Fantasy 7 introduced cinematic cutscenes, and nearly every 3D game can trace itself back to Mario 64). Newer gens may have superior games, but are largely refinements of ideas introduced here.

 

[Ambient_Malice]

Gen 5 simply because the N64 had such a wide range of revolutionary and amazing titles.

 

[veloper]

Well I would NOT pick G1, 2 or 3 for certain, but after that it becomes a really difficult choice.

 

[thewatergamer]

*ugh* You have me fighting between nostalgia and general consensus here... I grew up on the Gamecube with Luigi's Mansion and Mario Sunshine and Mario Kart Double Dash, but on the flip side there's no denying the quality games on N64 and PS2... I'd call it a tie but you got me, I'm a sucker for Nostalgia G6 wins because of said Nostalgia but G5 is incredibly close

 

[CaitSeith]

General consensus says G6 because of the PS2. But I had to skip that generation, so I don't know.

 

[Serinanth]

You guys are making me feel old, nostalgia wise its definitely the fourth generation for myself. My SO still plays with our Intellivision as she grew up with that. I do kinda like 7 as well though, lots of Ratchet and Clank and quite a few other titles. Seven has been the longest running gen correct?

 

[Godhead]

Gen 6, that was the only generation that my family had a console.

 

[erbkaiser]

G4 or G6... gotta go for the SNES era. The polygon era G5 simply looks like crap now (even if it had some good games) but G4 still looks great -- and with G6 the games got the great graphics they've basically been iterating on since. Plus of course controls. G6 is when modern day controllers (disregarding gimmicks like touch, voice, motion) were perfected.

But I look back most fondly on the SNES times.

 

[Danbo Jambo]

Very, very tough question to answer!

I voted G7, simply because I think several games hit peaks which no other game hit before or since (Dragon Age: Origins, The Witcher 2 (OK, so TW3 since), Mass Effect 1, Fallout 3, Saints Row 2 & 4, Batman Arkam series, Dead Space, X-Com Enemy Within etc.)

But G4 was a very close second, and still tops it for me in terms of games you can play for 10-30 min, as opposed to ones which you have to dedicate time too. G4 also absolutely nailed responsive playability with the likes of Super Mario World, Contra 3, Streets of Rage 2 and was super strong on the JRPG front.

Also, G6 hit some noteable peaks which haven't been beat yet IMO (JRPGS for example).

Ask me on a different day and I could easily flit between all three depending on what type of game I wanted to play!

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I did this in February. Gen 6 always wins, I think mostly thanks to the superb PS2.

 

[Danbo Jambo]

I did this in February. Gen 6 always wins, I think mostly thanks to the superb PS2.

What games would you put forward as PS2's greatest mate?

 

[Dimitriov]

It's a hard call between Gens 4, 5,and 6. They all had great games. But the only ones I regularly replay are Super Nintendo classics. So, for games like Chrono Trigger and Link to the Past, I gotta go with Gen 4.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I did this in February. Gen 6 always wins, I think mostly thanks to the superb PS2.

What games would you put forward as PS2's greatest mate?

ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, Okami, Odin Sphere, Journey of the Cursed King, the first few Disgaea, GoWs & Kingdom Hearts...

 

[Danbo Jambo]

ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, Okami, Odin Sphere, Journey of the Cursed King, the first few Disgaea, GoWs & Kingdom Hearts...

I've not played Odin Sphere, but I have to say from the rest that only Okami floats my boat as much as the 360 games I listed above.

The Warriors is my fave BEU of all time, I loved the Final Fantasy games but they feel dated now, Vice City is the most atmospheric sandbox game ever IMO, and Summoner 2 is a classic......but I still find they fall behind the games I listed for the 360.

Each to their own though, just my personal taste.

 

[Silvanus]

Generation 5. The great N64 platformers, the classic 'best' Final Fantasies, the classic Resident Evils.

 

[Maximum Bert]

I dont really remember the first one so cant really call that but from 2 onwards I would prob go with Gen 6 as the best but 5 is damn close. Gen 4 onwards was where things really started to pick up though imo. I was never really a fan of Gen 2 and 3 had some awesome games but I found it lacking as a whole still.

 

[Ravenbom]

In my heart, it's G4. The SNES-era is where my heart lies.
I'd say all modern games are derivatives of the G6, PS2-era though.

BUT, I also have to say if you were an alien landing on earth or were raised in a nuclear bunker since 1999 only emerging just now, I'd point you to G4.
It's aged a lot better and was the great blend of depth and pick up and play. Which is probably why they get converted to iPhone/iPad games; they're intuitive without holding your hands.

 

[kilenem]

Wii PS3 and X360 because they were backwards compatible. PSN and XBLA were dope for indies and we got a shit ton of remakes that we wanted and sort of needed since MVC2 was pretty difficult to get. A lot of new I.PS at launch and the launch games didn't suck that much. Wii Bowling is still one of the best games to use Motion controlling since its better then actually bowling or at least better then using a controller.