Nintendo Entertainment System (1988) Twenty plus years later, I still have a soft spot for the one that started it all for me. Faves: Super Mario Bros. 3, Contra, Metroid, Mega Man 2
I started gaming at the age of 4 after my sisters and I got the original NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) for Christmas in 1988.
Nintendo Entertainment System (1988)
Twenty plus years later, I still have a soft spot for the one that started it all for me.
Faves: Super Mario Bros. 3, Contra, Metroid, Mega Man 2
Game Boy (1990)
Recess meant finding a place I could play my Game Boy without getting busted by my teachers.
Faves: Tetris, Metroid 2, Super Mario Land
Atari Lynx (1990)
I’m pretty sure I (or my parents) spent more on batteries than on games for this thing.
Faves: Klax, Slime World
Sega Genesis (1990)
While I preferred playing the SNES I owe a lot of my childhood social life to the Genesis thanks to being one of the first in my class with one and its port of Mortal Kombat featuring blood instead of the sweat in the SNES version.
Faves: Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Kid Chameleon, Vectorman
Super NES (1992)
The NES was good but the Super NES blew my mind when it launched. That controller is still near perfection.
Faves: Super Mario World, ActRaiser, Contra III: The Alien Wars
Sega Saturn (1996)
Ah, the first time I was disappointed in a system. Sure, there were some fun games but overall a lot of missed potential.
Faves: Panzer Dragoon Saga, NiGHTS
PlayStation (1996)
The release of the PlayStation marked the moment gaming went from being a hobby to an obsession.
Faves: Twisted Metal 2, Final Fantasy 8 (yes, 8!), Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Metal Gear Solid
Nintendo 64 (1997)
So many hours lost to GoldenEye 007.
Faves: GoldenEye, Super Mario 64, Wave Race 64, Star Fox 64
Dreamcast (2000)
Almost like a Shakespearean tragedy for the video game industry. Still a great system.
Faves: Soulcalibur, Skies of Arcadia, House of the Dead 2
PS2 (2000)
As much as I love current gen gaming I think the PS2 is my all time favorite system. I still break it out about once a month.
Faves: We ♥ Katamari, SSX 3, Final Fantasy X, God of War, GTA: Vice City and so many more
Xbox (2004)
I’m still ashamed of the fanboyism I exhibited when it was announced. I refused to buy one for a long time but Halo 2 finally converted me.
Faves: Halo 2, Knights of the Old Republic
Nintendo GameCube (2006)
OK, it was far from great but I don’t regret picking one up near the end of its lifecycle.
Faves: Animal Crossing, Rogue Squadron 2, Eternal Darkness
Xbox 360 (2008)
I wanted it so much at launch but couldn’t afford it. At least I missed out on the Red Ring of Death! Amazing how many AAA titles are still being released this far into its cycle.
Faves: Mass Effect, Skyim, Halo: Reach, Fallout 3, Portal 2
PS3 (2009)
I initially just used the system as a Blu-ray player but eventually remembered it could play games, too.
Faves: Red Dead Redemption, Journey, Uncharted 2, God of War 3
Best/Worst
For best, it’s a tie between the Mass Effect series and Fallout 3. Combined, I’m sure I’ve put more time into those games than all others. I’ve played a lot of disappointing games but Superman 64 is at the top of the crap heap.