Poll - Best Nintendo console ever?
Monday, January 14th, 2008 at 11:36am by David
Five consoles over the course of more than 20 years and Nintendo is as strong as it has ever been. Handhelds aside, we want to know…
What is the best Nintendo console ever?
Assume the regional variations of their names if you’re in Japan or somewhere else. Next week, handhelds. For last week’s poll results, listen to Infendo Radio 88 or check here.
January 14th, 2008 at 11:39 am
I get a feeling it’s going to be a landslide
January 14th, 2008 at 11:45 am
The Wii hands down, i know the Super NES has this almighty status and it was great, but in 1 year, this little white console has managed to eat all of my free time, and great games are already out and it will keep coming. At the end of this cycle, no one will doubt the Wii is not only Nontendo´s greatest console, but the best console overall.
January 14th, 2008 at 11:55 am
The Wii. You get the games from NES, SNES, N64 through the Virtual Console and it’s fully backwards compatible with the GameCube. Plus, it has it’s own selection of unique games. It’s all you need packed into a little white box.
January 14th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
The Wii, with the Wii; you really don’t need the other consoles (assuming we’ll get the entire library of games from the classic systems for the Virtual Console).
January 14th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
While the poll is interesting, full rankings (from best to worst) are what interest me the most… after all, how many people will really argue that the N64 or Gamecube are Nintendo’s best consoles?
For me, it stacks up like this:
1. SNES - Simply put, this represents my “golden age” of gaming. To this day, classic SNES games still dominate my all-time favorite list… whether that means racing, puzzle, RPG, platform, or action games.
2. NES - Powned the video game scene for years? Yessir. Responsible for reviving the home gaming industry? Yessir. Tons of classic games that are still worth playing? Yessir. Currently overrated because of nostalgia? Yessir.
3. Wii - Despite having potential to move higher, the Wii sticks to the middle of the pack right now simply because it’s too new to judge fairly. What we’ve seen so far is good, and the future looks bright for this little console… I expect it to place either first or second eventually, depending on the quality of software support over the systems lifetime.
4. GameCube - Not many games overall, but still hosted it’s fair share of “must play” games. A decent system, but the failure to really take off with consumers doomed it to being a niche console regardless of how many top-tier software titles were available.
5. N64 - There were some classic N64 games, and I’ve got pleasant memories from my system. But let’s be honest: the N64 just doesn’t stack up as well as the other systems.
January 14th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
The SNES is winning on pure nostalgia… I can’t believe anyone would honestly think that console was better than the GameCube or Wii!
January 14th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I respectfully disagree.
SNES is winning because of Uniracers, Final Fantasy III, Super Mario World, Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Street Fighter II Turbo, Super Bomberman, Mortal Kombat II, NBA Jam, Contra 3, Soul Blazer, Actraiser, StarFox, Zombies Ate My Neighbor, F-Zero, Rock’n Roll Racers…
It’s winning because it had (at the time) more good games than anyone could have possible imagined. It’s winning because it created dozens of timeless classics in pretty much every game genre. It’s winning because the SNES trounced the competition. It’s winning because the SNES provided a 4-player gaming experience that simply wasn’t available anywhere else. Most importantly, it’s winning because these games are *still fun to play today*.
This isn’t a knock against the GameCube or Wii - both are great systems with great games. It’s just an explanation of why (for me, right now) the SNES still deserves to be called the “best” console. The Wii is more innovative, and the GameCube is more powerful… but software is what makes a console worth owning, and the SNES had enough top-notch software to last gamers a lifetime.
That said, I’d really like to hear why you feel the more recent systems are better. Lay it out there, and support that argument!
January 14th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Um… by now, the selection on the Wii’s VC is good enough so as to be a direct replacement for any of their past systems (except handhelds–and Virtual Boy, heh).
January 14th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Depends on how one actually LOOKS at this question.
The Wii Should win, if we are just considering which console is the ” best ever”. It is the most technically advanced of all the consoles. With Wi-Fi online capabilities , albeit limited. It has a gamecube built in , and has a virtual library from all the other consoles that are on the list. This would, of course, make it hands down the BEST console. No question.
If we want to know which console was best AT ITS TIME in history, well then the question gets more complicated. I can certainly tell you which one is WORST in its time in history, and still is today. That would be the gamecube.
Even the N64 with its cartridge system had many big and revolutionary games, making it better than the Lamecube ever was. Mario 64, Goldeneye 007, Zelda OoT all revolutionized 3d Platform, FPS and Action Adventure games for consoles forever. The gamecube merely copied most of the N64′ s games and made them a little more pretty, with hardly any inovative games that stood out. Hell ,some of them were ridiculous rip offs of N64 games. Wave Race blue storm was essentially Rave race on the N64, with most of the same levels, now with better graphics?!
The Winner ? Wii. But I think we kind of know that witout a poll… =)
January 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I have to vote for the Gamecube here. Sorry Wii, but your software library is not targeted at me. The SNES had it’s share of great games, but I fell in love with video games again via Pikmin, Animal Crossing, and Wind Waker.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Other games that make the GC my favorite ever:
Eternal Darkness, Star Wars: Rogue Leader, Pikmin, Pikmin 2, Super Smash Bros Melee, Animal Crossing, Resident Evil, Resident Evil 4, Zelda: Wind Waker, Super Mario Sunshine (Eat it, haters), Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2…
Just sayin, the Cube had a ton of great first and second party software.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
How could anything but the SNES win this? Really…it’s an amazing gaming console. For me, and for probably everyone who voted SNES, it’s the best console out of all of them, ever.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
NES is the savior of videogaming. It was more revolutionary than any other console before or after it. It had so many original titles that are still churning sequels today… Super Mario Bros.,the Metal Gear Series, Final Fantasy, Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, etc.
Not to mention the NES had zero competition( and no the sega master system doesnt count.)
Super Nintendo was a great system but it was more of an evolution.
Also during the time of SNES many people declared the Genesis to be superior.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
they all have thier own qualities that make them unique, but it comes down to who’s voting and how old they are. the wii is the best in the sense that you get all of the above and more, but personally the snes has so many games that changed the face of gaming and really started the great console wars of yester year. the nes brought the life back, but it was the snes who changed the whole face gaming forever. who would’ve thought at the sega would be making games on nintendo’s systems.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
The only reason I ever pull out the NES is for Duck Hunt, since every other game is not worth the hassle of trying to get working. Most of my childhood gaming was done on the SNES, and it was the pinnacle of 2D gaming (except maybe the GBA). As for the N64, man did those games looked horrible! I always thought they made the jump to 3D too soon. Gamecube is the system that I own the most games for, mainly because I didn’t have a PS2 and I started spending most of my money on games around the time it came out.
Wii has or will have all of the best games from NES, SNES, N64, and can play every GC game. Unless you really like the controller from one of the older systems, that means that Wii wins my vote. It’s the games, stupid!
January 14th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Kind of early but, as of now, it is the N64.
A few more years in, the Wii should easily top it.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I say wii, because it has the potential to BE all of the above.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Personally, I think the systems listed above should only be listed on the criteria of games developed for the system in question. It’s not exactly fair to the GC to call it inferior to the Wii based on the backwards compatibility.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
The SNES, hands down. As ejamer put it, it was my ‘golden age of gaming’. The library of games was absolutely enormous and full of quality titles. My favourite games are still The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Super Metroid, Top Gear 3000, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, and so on and so forth. I could literally sit here listing my favourite SNES games for the next two hours.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
It easily comes down to either the NES or the SNES. EASILY.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
And you obviously have to take the virtual console out of the equation. Otherwise, the PSP is the greatest video game system ever made.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
To ejamer:
I see your point, and that would have made MY personal choice for best console the GameCube, mostly because I never owned a SNES.
However, the poll was asking about the best console, and I assumed this was regardless of the software. If the poll was asking which Nintendo console had the best software library, a completely different result should be expected!
January 14th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
And IMO the N64 is EASILY the worst. I think it’s one of the worst systems ever, period. With the exception of a handful of games, it was plagued with junk games, horrid graphics, a cheap, laughable controller and plenty of over-hyped, boring crapfests. I couldn’t believe the Gamecube was so badly appreciated by the press and by gamers considering what a huge improvement it was over the N64. For me it was the one generation where Nintendo was effortlessly defeated by a rival machine. And I’m sorry but I hate Mario 64.
Damn, I hate the N64 more than I thought. Maybe I’m just having a bad day? I adore the NES and SNES, and I have nothing but love for the Gamecube and the Wii, but come on already. The N64 is one machine that I don’t ever need to play again.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
By the way, David, when you post the poll for best Nintendo handheld system, be sure to include the micro!!
I still can’t decide if their best handheld is the DS Lite or the GBA micro… And if you are going to stick to one iteration of each handheld, I think the latest version should be the one that represents! So, the Lite should represent the DS and the micro should represent the GBA. I’m presuming that the latest version of each handheld would be the pinnacle that includes everything the designers intended to have in that machine.
January 14th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
InvisMan, I guess I just interpreted the question differently than you.
If you’re judging the console independently from the software library, what is the criteria? Controller? Form factor? I suppose based on these criteria, I’d go with the Wii. However, the software library is the most important thing to me about a console, so with that in mind, I have to stick with Gamecube. The wavebird, in my opinion, is the best console controller ever designed, Wii remote included.
January 14th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
It’s interesting how simple this question is and how yet we all interpret it very differently. For me it means a mix of the game library, it’s legacy, it’s sales, and quite simply how much fun it was.
January 14th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
@ ejamer
right on! golden age of gaming for sure. A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, and Kart really says it all for me. Plus a million other amazing titles.
NES gets second place for me, it really almost got my vote at first.
Wii doesn’t get discounted by me for being new; I just don’t find this generation’s games as full of wonder as I found the snes generation’s games
n64 was fantastic though… I will always love that system. I challenge anyone to bring it in kart 64. win or lose, it’s a great time.
(great poll!!)
January 14th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I’m amazed the Wii has such a high count.
The NES and SNES were truly ground breaking, not only were they incredible technical systems they were the genesis of alot of new types and (as the virtual console proves) home to so many classics still great today.
The Wii on the other hand, has yet to prove itself to any extent. I have over 20 Wii titles and have played almost all of them. It’s sad to say that while the good Wii games are truly amazing (Galaxy, Sports etc) so far the majority of games are very very lacking.
The Wii still has to live up to its potential. Counting the virtual console doesn’t count, otherwise the poll may as well just skip all previous consoles.
January 14th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
T’was a toss up betwee the NES and SNES but I went with the NES because it was much more ground breaking than the SNES. There were probably more quality titles on the NES from a larger variety of developers as well. Where as more of the SNES’ best games were made by Nintendo.
January 15th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Please, it’s the SNES by a longshot! No contest!
This is the system that gave us games that are STILL good today, unlike many N64-era games
You’ve got games like Super Mario World, aLttP, Super Metroid, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Illusion of Gaia, Yoshi’s Island, Super Mario Allstars, Mega Man X, Mario Kart, Super Mario RPG, DKC and DKC 2, Mario Paint, Earthworm Jim/EWJ2, Kirby Super Star, Castlevania IV and so many more.
January 15th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Here’s my order, for what it’s worth:
5 N64 - Worst console by Nintendo, and worse than many other competitors. Had less than five AAA games, and the average title was really really bad. Awkward controller unless a game was designed by Nintendo specifically for it.
4 Wii - Still too early to tell, this is the wildcard. Three AAA in the first year is great, but in my personal opinion, unless you love games with Wii before the title, years 2 and 3 seem bleak.
3 NES - The system that started it all, perhaps one of the greatest systems of all time until compared to the top two in this list.
2 SNES - A beast of a library, and was exactly as big of a phenomenon, if not moreso, than the Playstation 2 was 5 years ago.
1 Gamecube - Takes the ideas behind the N64, and puts SNES level polish on them, giving you one of the richest 1st and 2nd party software libraries on any Nintendo console.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:39 am
@Andrew-MG:
Everyone can have different opinions, and that’s cool… but less than five AAA N64 titles? We’re going to disagree about that.
Zelda (Ocarina of Time *and* Majora’s Mask), Mario 64, GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie (and Banjo-Twooie), Star Fox 64, Super Smash Bros, Beetle Adventure Racing, Paper Mario, The New Tetris, Mario Party, Tony Hawk, Wave Race 64, Resident Evil 2, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron… that sounds like more than five to me.
I think there were enough big titles, especially compared to a PS line-up that also looks rather aenemic in retrospect. There were two problems: the N64 never took off with 3rd party developers, so you were typically playing Nintendo games or nothing; and the jump to 3D gaming wasn’t as easy or amazing as people thought it would be.
The N64 is still the weakest Nintendo console in my opinion - but don’t call it out as worse than it actually was. There were some good titles available if you were patient enough.
That said, you made a great point about how the additional polish found in the jump from NES to SNES games is very similar to what happened with N64 to GameCube. Rough ideas were fully realized, and the improvement in programming techniques and technology really raised the bar for gaming in both cases. Trends like that make me excited to see what happens with Wii 2.0…
January 15th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Let’s see…
“Zelda (Ocarina of Time *and* Majora’s Mask)”
Great point, and I’m one of the half dozen or so worldwide who enjoyed Majora more than Ocarina.
“Mario 64″
AAA title in every sense of the word.
“GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie (and Banjo-Twooie)”
I’ve liked very few RARE games, and these are not among them. Sorry.
“Star Fox 64, Super Smash Bros”
Yep, completely forgot about these titles, and agree 100%.
“Beetle Adventure Racing”
Wha?
“Paper Mario”
Hmm, Yeah I guess. I tried really hard, but I’m coming to the conclusion that I really don’t like the Paper Mario series very much.
“The New Tetris”
Really? I never realized this game was very well regarded.
“Mario Party”
Sorry, it’s hard for me to have a very good opinion of this game, since superior (and very similar) versions exist on Gamecube. Plus, just never was much of a fan.
“Tony Hawk, Resident Evil 2″
I guess, but I try to avoid multiplatform games when thinking of how rich a software library is for a console - I tend to stick to exclusives. But if you didn’t have a Playstation, then sure. Great game.
“Wave Race 64″
Fun, but not earth shattering.
“Star Wars: Rogue Squadron”
I never played this title, but greatly enjoyed the sequel.
So I guess there you have it - the N64 had plenty of high profile releases, but most of them didn’t sit well with me. Simply my opinion, obviously your mileage may vary.
January 16th, 2008 at 8:30 am
This really made me think because hte Snes was greatness but the N64 had 2 games that will always stick with me Harvest Moon 64 and Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber. Then the Wii can have games from both systems.
January 16th, 2008 at 9:48 am
SNES all the way.
The Wii might capture the lifespan the incredible impact on the gaming community, but it’s only been out a year.
January 16th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
i noticed someone mention a handheld poll, don’t forget the lynxx either so overlooked for it’s time…
January 17th, 2008 at 6:49 am
The N64 is the best Nintendo console, the lack of third party software forced Nintendo to take care of that system them selfs, and made them put out some of the greatest games ever.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Because of childhood memories and nostalgia being so overpowering I’m tempted to say the SNES.
BUT I voted on the Wii if only because it can potentially BE the SNES, N64, NES, and Gamecube (save for a few rare cases and licensing restrictions causing some games to never be able to touch the VC).
January 17th, 2008 at 10:39 am
While I voted for Wii on the hardware alone, if we are voting on software collection my #1 favorite is the GameCube still! Especially if you add the GameBoy Player to it, still one of the two best ways to play GBA games! And that adds a LOT to the GC library…
This, of course, if I judge the GameCube in just its first one or two years alone… Its last year before Wii came out was what most people remember, and that’s probably why it is laying so low in the poll. Its overall software collection is still far better than the Wii’s.
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Right on, iMan. I’m with you 100%. GAMECUBE FTW.