Nintendo's best console

[guyjin]

Wii Wiiport, you decide! 

*the statement from sega's best console applies

[Tatsujin]

teh SFC. what a question!?

[RuninRuder]

Ugh, they're all so bad.  Most NES games are so antiquated that they're practically unplayable now, the SNES never had much aside from Super Castlevania IV, and the GameCube and Wii are both complete jokes.

I guess I'll pick the N64, if only for the amazing Ocarina of Time.

[Seldane]

Duh. SNES. Not only Nintendo's best console, but the best console of all time. The amount of awesome games is unlimited. It is the only old console that I still use every day (or even use whatsoever, no other old system holds up today for me).

The NES is also good. The unlimited amount of good games is here as well, even though the overall quality is lower than that of the SNES. N64 is great too, but it didn't feature an unlimited amount of games.

Gamecube and Wii are jokes.

[termis]

SNES.  Tons of good games on there for sure. 

I only wish there wasn't the slow CPU bottleneck, and it had a CD add-on (Or a CD add-on that took care of that bottleneck as well).  That would've ruled.

Never even touched a gamecube, and never played the Wii for more than 20 minutes.  I'm definitely old-school.

[CrackTiger]

NES, since it has the best games. 

[Kitsunexus]

SNES is the best Nintendo system, However I wish it used something like the Genesis's CPU instead of the weakass chip it has, it could have DOMINATED AND KILLED Sega right then if it did.

[Keranu]

NES by a decent stretch.

[gundarN]

SNES for me; I've never owned a NES, and I'm not sure if I'd like it that much.

[Kitsunexus]

NES is alright, but IMO not as good as the Master System.

[Seldane]

SNES is the best Nintendo system, However I wish it used something like the Genesis's CPU instead of the weakass chip it has, it could have DOMINATED AND KILLED Sega right then if it did.

Well they did DOMINATE and KILL Sega... at least in Europe. I don't really get why everybody's complaining about the CPU though... I don't see a problem with it. I think the SNES is a very impressive machine for its time. Unlike the MD/PCE.

[Kitsunexus]

Well they did DOMINATE and KILL Sega... at least in Europe. I don't really get why everybody's complaining about the CPU though... I don't see a problem with it. I think the SNES is a very impressive machine for its time. Unlike the MD/PCE.

The SNES IS very impressive, but it can't do Genesis speed games without massive slowdown.

[OldRover]

SNES wins by a landslide against the NES, and then the Wii, Gamecube, and the worst of them all, the N64.

The SNES really was plagued with a turtlish CPU. It's an interesting chip, although pretty stock. I wonder why they opted for such a low-power CPU yet had a special sound chip made specifically for the console. Oh wait...that's right...because the CPU would already be so busy with number-crunching that handling music and sound too would have been more than it could cope with for complex programs. The fastest SNES game I've seen is Uniracers...sure, it zips along, but look at the simplistic graphics. Designers HAD to cut corners just to get decent performance. And it's not like stock 65816's didn't come faster...they just didn't opt to use said faster chips (probably financial reasons behind this). This lack of CPU power created a "tolerance" for slowdown.

I once spoke with someone who claimed that they were able to increase the performance of the SNES by tweaking the clock chip. I don't know if this was true or not. However, back in the NES days, a friend of mine and I removed the 6502 from an NES machine and inserted a 4MHz 65C02. A lot of games wouldn't run, but a couple did. They were quite unplayable though...it seems that the interface chip is governed by the CPU and operates too fast if the CPU speed is increased. So the controls worked too fast for the games, events were skipped left and right.

[Seldane]

It's pretty easy to overclock the SNES. Use this guide.

Here's a video of an overclocked SNES in action.

[guyjin]

Here's a video of an overclocked SNES in action.

With results like that, why would you want to? 

[Kitsunexus]

I once spoke with someone who claimed that they were able to increase the performance of the SNES by tweaking the clock chip. I don't know if this was true or not. However, back in the NES days, a friend of mine and I removed the 6502 from an NES machine and inserted a 4MHz 65C02. A lot of games wouldn't run, but a couple did. They were quite unplayable though...it seems that the interface chip is governed by the CPU and operates too fast if the CPU speed is increased. So the controls worked too fast for the games, events were skipped left and right.

I thought that the NES didn't use a stock 6502, it used a variant called the Ricoh 2A03, not only the CPU, but the sound chip/contoller as well.

So not only would the games be insanely fast, they'd also have no sound.

I think the 6502 swap would be entirely possible on a C64, though.

[CrackTiger]

SNES is the best Nintendo system, However I wish it used something like the Genesis's CPU instead of the weakass chip it has, it could have DOMINATED AND KILLED Sega right then if it did.

Well they did DOMINATE and KILL Sega... at least in Europe. I don't really get why everybody's complaining about the CPU though... I don't see a problem with it. I think the SNES is a very impressive machine for its time. Unlike the MD/PCE.

The MD & PCE were released in the time of the NES & SMS. The SNES was released shortly before the 3DO and Jaguar.

[Seldane]

Here's a video of an overclocked SNES in action.

With results like that, why would you want to? 

Well that was a super overclocked one. It works fine if you overclock it a little less, hehehe.

[termis]

Overclocking is something that can be done for whole bunch of other systems, but I never really understood the appeal behind it.  True that a few games will run smoother, but the cons > pros.  Unlike PC games, since console games are designed and tested with that single setup, vast majority of the games would run at speeds that are faster than what was intended by the developers.  Add the incompatibility & sound warping issues, and I don't really see a point.

[Keranu]

Overclocking is something that can be done for whole bunch of other systems, but I never really understood the appeal behind it.  True that a few games will run smoother, but the cons > pros.  Unlike PC games, since console games are designed and tested with that single setup, vast majority of the games would run at speeds that are faster than what was intended by the developers.  Add the incompatibility & sound warping issues, and I don't really see a point.

Agreed.

And speaking of which, there is a weird glitch I've noticed with my SNES (it's the smaller American model). Sometimes while playing a game, specifically Secret of Mana, it will screw up and the game will run insanely fast for no reason. I'm not sure if it's my SNES doing it or certain carts, but it's really weird.

[Seldane]

Overclocking is for fun, not because it is necessary. Also because it is cool. Therefore: overlocking = essential.

[Joe Redifer]

I can understand overclocking just for curiosity's sake.  But beyond that it is fairly useless.

Also I picked NES because it had lots of good games.  The SNES had to rely on slow text adventure games like RPGs, though it does have plenty of real games that are good.  The SNES itself is crippled and even early games required the "extra chip in the cartridge" crutch.  Of course, the same can be said for the NES.

[Keranu]

Why isn't the Virtual Boy listed?

[CrackTiger]

I can understand overclocking just for curiosity's sake.  But beyond that it is fairly useless.

Also I picked NES because it had lots of good games.  The SNES had to rely on slow text adventure games like RPGs, though it does have plenty of real games that are good.  The SNES itself is crippled and even early games required the "extra chip in the cartridge" crutch.  Of course, the same can be said for the NES.

Personally I don't care how the games are pulled off, whether with extra chips, hardware upgrades or entirely different consoles.

All that matters is the end result. Which is why I voted NES. It has the most games I enjoy playing by a huge margin.

[Seldane]

Why isn't the Virtual Boy listed?

Because it sucks? It cannot be voted as Nintendo's best console, simply because it isn't.

Also: It could be considered a portable. Something that's not present in this list whatsoever. Had they been, I would've voted for the original Game Boy. Why? Because it rules.

[guyjin]

Consoles attach to televisions. As big as it is, the virtual boy is technically a portable, not a console.

[esteban]

Ugh, they're all so bad.  Most NES games are so antiquated that they're practically unplayable now, the SNES never had much aside from Super Castlevania IV, and the GameCube and Wii are both complete jokes.

I guess I'll pick the N64, if only for the amazing Ocarina of Time. 

You're silly . NES / SFC is hands-down the best Nintendo system.

I agree with CrackTiger, Joe, and Keranu. Tons of friggin' great games on the NES, and they are still very playable, despite what Mr. Sour-ruder says.

Hell, even Balloon Fight kicks your ass. I love that game.

[Keranu]

Whoops, I forgot this was for Nintendo's best "console" only, so no portables.

Hell, even Balloon Fight kicks your ass. I love that game.

Have you ever played Balloon Trip for Gameboy? It's a really awesome sequel to Balloon Fight! There is also this bonus game in Wario Ware: Smooth Moves for Wii that takes Balloon Fight and changes it to a third person perspective and you control it by "flapping" the nunchuck and Wiimote - lots of fun!

[esteban]

Whoops, I forgot this was for Nintendo's best "console" only, so no portables.

Hell, even Balloon Fight kicks your ass. I love that game.

Have you ever played Balloon Trip for Gameboy? It's a really awesome sequel to Balloon Fight! There is also this bonus game in Wario Ware: Smooth Moves for Wii that takes Balloon Fight and changes it to a third person perspective and you control it by "flapping" the nunchuck and Wiimote - lots of fun!

Crap, looks like I'll have to find Balloon Trip for Gameboy. Thanks.

[TR0N]

NES all the way follow by SNES then Wii.

[Keranu]

Whoops, I forgot this was for Nintendo's best "console" only, so no portables.

Hell, even Balloon Fight kicks your ass. I love that game.

Have you ever played Balloon Trip for Gameboy? It's a really awesome sequel to Balloon Fight! There is also this bonus game in Wario Ware: Smooth Moves for Wii that takes Balloon Fight and changes it to a third person perspective and you control it by "flapping" the nunchuck and Wiimote - lots of fun!

Crap, looks like I'll have to find Balloon Trip for Gameboy. Thanks.

It's really cool. Each level has a unique design and you can remove your balloons to walk and jump on platforms (and by tapping down, you can inflate your balloons again), not to mention some boss fights! There's also a fun scoring mode too.

[grahf]

SNES, followed by a tie between NES and Gamecube. My SNES gets more play than any other system, even *slightly* beating out the PCE.

I can see the gamecube becoming a cult system like the Dreamcast in the future. Its got the BEST traditional controller ever: the Wavebird, and the absolute best addon ever: the gameboy player. Despite getting pinched out last generation, there are a TON of really quality games on it. It doesnt have the sheer volume of games the PS2 did, but there are so many incredible ones available that its more than most of us "grown up" have time to play anyhow.

[Seldane]

Hell, even Balloon Fight kicks your ass. I love that game.

Even...? Even? What do you mean by "even"? Balloon Fight happens to be the greatest piece of software any human's ever written. It is THE game. This is what justifies the video game industry. It could easily live on with just this single title released again and again and again...

Needless to say, I think Ballon Fight's all right.

[Seldane]

I can see the gamecube becoming a cult system like the Dreamcast in the future. Its got the BEST traditional controller ever: the Wavebird, and the absolute best addon ever: the gameboy player. Despite getting pinched out last generation, there are a TON of really quality games on it. It doesnt have the sheer volume of games the PS2 did, but there are so many incredible ones available that its more than most of us "grown up" have time to play anyhow.

I don't see what's so great about the Game Boy Player, unless you like to play blurry and poorly emulated games on your TV. It should've been a real Game Boy, not an emulator... It doesn't work very well (choppy scrolling in some games, etc). Besides, there aren't many GBA games worth playing anyway, especially not in the future. At least playing them on a real GBA/DS gives a sharp picture (depending on the games, many GBA games are intentionally made very blurry for some reason, giving them a very 1995-ish CG look).

[MrFulci]

Seldane,

Do you own a gameboy player?

I recently picked one up, because I do not like staring at a small screen to play a game, I prefer messing with things on a larger screen. I found out there were some games on the GBA that may interest me (such as the updated Link), and I can pick them up for cheap! Due to my dislike for handhelds I never looked much into it. When I read abotu the GB Player a few months ago, it seemed pretty cool! It would give me a chance to play GBA, GBC, and GB games on a large screen. Pretty much an updated Super Gameboy!

It's not perfect, but neither was the Super Gameboy I used to own. Not all of Super Gameboy's borders or colour palettes are here, though that's no big deal, Super Gameboy was ten years ago.

The picture looks sharp enough for me. I don't notice any blurring. Things may appear a slight bit softer, however.

Also, not sure what these choppiness is you talk of. If it's present on a GBP it is probably also present on a Gameboy. So far, the few games I've played around with on a GBP have been fluid and good looking.

This reminds me of when people who are used to DVD complain about VHS' appearance on a large screen. There is a limit to how nice these things are going to look once you blow them up larger. There is also how Gameboy games were designed for smaller screens, so it doesn't bother me if it looks a bit "off" sometimes due to being blown up on a larger screen.

Also, I think the guts of the Gameboy player are pretty much the same stuff in a gameboy, from what I read. I've never dismanted one, so I can't say for sure.

[Seldane]

I sure have a Game Boy Player. And a Game Boy Advance. The choppiness isn't there on the real Game Boy.I want the sharpest possible picture always. It would be cool to have a large monitor instead of a TV so that I could see each individual pixel just as in an emulator. That'd be sweet.

[MrFulci]

I don't have a point of reference, so nothign much for me to say about perceived choppiness.

It works fine for me and the few games I play on it, which happens about once a week so far.

Computer monitors are of a higher resolution than Televisions (in general), much of what you see on a monitor will always look sharper than standard (not High) definition on a television.

I've only tried a GBP through S-Video, i do not have the pricey component cables, however that may improve the resolution a bit for the GBP.

[Seldane]

I'm using RGB for the Gamecube, so that's not the problem. I also use the sharpest video setting in GBP, but it still doesn't look nearly as sharp as, say, the SNES (also with RGB).

[MrFulci]

Well, still with RGB it does not approach the resolution a computer monitor is capable of. RGB is better than my video out on the GC, though.

In general, if it's a choice between having and not having any way to play these games on a large screen, I'll choose the ability to put these games on a  larger screen.

For me, it looks "sharp enough", hah, about as nice as I recall the Super Gameboy being.

[Kitsunexus]

I don't see what's so great about the Game Boy Player, unless you like to play blurry and poorly emulated games on your TV. It should've been a real Game Boy, not an emulator... It doesn't work very well (choppy scrolling in some games, etc). Besides, there aren't many GBA games worth playing anyway, especially not in the future. At least playing them on a real GBA/DS gives a sharp picture (depending on the games, many GBA games are intentionally made very blurry for some reason, giving them a very 1995-ish CG look).

How does playing an original Game Boy game on a Super Gameboy (SNES) compare to playing it on a Game Boy Player (GAMECUBE)?

[Seldane]

I don't see what's so great about the Game Boy Player, unless you like to play blurry and poorly emulated games on your TV. It should've been a real Game Boy, not an emulator... It doesn't work very well (choppy scrolling in some games, etc). Besides, there aren't many GBA games worth playing anyway, especially not in the future. At least playing them on a real GBA/DS gives a sharp picture (depending on the games, many GBA games are intentionally made very blurry for some reason, giving them a very 1995-ish CG look).

How does playing an original Game Boy game on a Super Gameboy (SNES) compare to playing it on a Game Boy Player (GAMECUBE)?

Don't know. I don't have a Super Game Boy. SGB doesn't stretch the picture though, does it? Maybe it doubles the resolution or something, but the GB Player seems to stretch the resolution in odd ways, hence the blurry picture.

MrFulci: Playing old video game systems on a monitor will not increase the resolution of the games. They will still run in the same low resolution as the system outputs, as long as the monitor supports it. If it doesn't (which it normally won't) - it will display flicker. Or nothing.

[akamichi]

Whoops, I forgot this was for Nintendo's best "console" only, so no portables.

Hell, even Balloon Fight kicks your ass. I love that game.

Have you ever played Balloon Trip for Gameboy? It's a really awesome sequel to Balloon Fight! There is also this bonus game in Wario Ware: Smooth Moves for Wii that takes Balloon Fight and changes it to a third person perspective and you control it by "flapping" the nunchuck and Wiimote - lots of fun!

Crap, looks like I'll have to find Balloon Trip for Gameboy. Thanks.
It's really cool. Each level has a unique design and you can remove your balloons to walk and jump on platforms (and by tapping down, you can inflate your balloons again), not to mention some boss fights! There's also a fun scoring mode too.

Sorry guys, it's Balloon Fight DS FTW!!!

pcengine.kicks-ass.net/~dfw/BalloonFightDS.jpg

Just got it today.   Haven't played it yet though.

[MrFulci]

Seldane, you said,

It would be cool to have a large monitor instead of a TV so that I could see each individual pixel just as in an emulator. That'd be sweet.

My reply was a bit vague. I was saying, in general, a computer monitor can handle resolution higher than a standard television. so emulated games on a computer monitor MIGHT look sharper than a television.

Kit,

I haven't fooled around with the Super Gameboy in about 10 years, though from what I recall going from gameboy to supergameboy was pretty nice. Things didn't look as sharp as the screen on a gameboy, however the "selling point" of the Super Gameboy (And Gameboy Player) is being able to play GB games on a larger screen. I get what I pay for, I'm not going to be terribly picky about the display of a game that is normally supposed to be played on a small screen the size of my palm. Plus the added features of colour palettes for mono colour GB games is pretty nice.

The GB player has a leg-up on the Super Gameboy. Granted, not all of the palettes and borders were placed on the Gameboy Player, The Gameboy Player supports many more games. The SGB only supports regular gameboy games (I think part of the marketing campaign for that was, "now play your gameboy games... IN COLOR!"), the GBP player supports those games, PLUS GBC and GBA.

Yeah, the picture is being, "stretched out". These games were designed with a small screen in mind.


ug, didn't think I'd type so much about this piece of hardware, expecially on a Pc Engine board, hahaha.

[Kitsunexus]

Cool, thanks. I passed up a SuperGameBoy for like $3.00, now I won't be losing any sleep over that.

And if you really want to play your console games on a monitor, scope this:

http://www.ramelectronics.net/HTML/video-to-vga.html#hd15rgb

Just like PS2 Linux - your monitor needs sync-on-green...

[grahf]

The gameboy player isnt emulation, its a complete GBA minus the screen & buttons, which it uses the cube for.  The supergameboy was the same way, albeit with a gameboy processor.

Plus, you guys complete missed the whole point of the GBPlayer: It makes the gamecube into an actual CUBE

[MrFulci]

Kit,

If you have a lot of original gameboy games, and have another chance to pickup a SGB for around that price, go for it.

At the time of it's release, SGB was pretty cool. Mid-late 90's when I acquried one from a used video game shoppe at a cheap price, I brought it to a friend's house to show her how it worked, and she bought one soon after that visit so she could play the games on her television.

It's a decent toy, though it's limited in 2007.

Nice site, Kit. Signal converters can be awesome, yet also pricey.. I was recently weighing getting another switchbox or converting an composite to s-video so they could all share the same switch box. Due to the price, I opted for another switchbox.

[guyjin]

Sorry guys, it's Balloon Fight DS FTW!!!

pcengine.kicks-ass.net/~dfw/BalloonFightDS.jpg

Just got it today.   Haven't played it yet though.

Sweet jeebus, I must have this! 

Now, should I put in a preorder at my not-so-friendly game store, or should I import... hmm...

[Seldane]

I've been looking for Tingle's Balloon Fight, but since the game was never for sale, finding it isn't easy. Damn Club Nintendo exclusives!

[guyjin]

Wait, who's this 'tingle'? and why would they not sell such an obviously awesome game?

[Seldane]

Tingle is a character from the Zelda series, first introduced in Majora's Mask. He's gotten very popular and has gotten two games of his own. This, and the new Tingle RPG for the DS. He's been voted as they gayest video character ever by some homosexuality site.