POLL: Objectively, what is the best console ever? And in each generation?

[PSX1]

There's a lot of threads in the world about what people would choose as their favorite system.  But we all have our biases.  When people think of their "favorite" console, it's often one of the ones they grew up playing, especially the console during their preteen or teenage years that transformed them from a casual gamer to hardcore gamer.  So, setting those biases aside, I'm curious what people think, objectively, is the best video game system ever made.  You decide the factors, and whether you want to base it on how it stacked up back then or how it stacks up looking back now with the benefit of hindsight.

First, let me set out what I think are the contenders from each generation:

1st gen: None
2nd: Atari 2600
3rd: Nintendo NES
4th: Super Nintendo
5th: Sony Playstation
6th: Sony Playstation 2
7th: Xbox 360
8th: TBD

[As additional contenders, you could even throw in the various Nintendo portables, from the Game Boy to the DS, which were all consistently dominate over all their competitors.]

First off, I'm curious if there's any disagreement there?  I honestly think the 2nd to 6th gens are total locks, and I think it would be hard to justify other consoles there (for example, I know there's a lot of N64 love here, but... come on guys, time to accept the truth  ....).  The 7th gen is really up in the air, though.  I know the Wii sold the best, but it's third-party lineup was weak and I think history will look most favorable on the Xbox 360 -- it had the best lineup of games IMO, and undoubtedly the best online service by far (and really, the 7th gen was defined most by FPSes and the massive improvements to legit multiplayer online gameplay... no system embodies that more than the 360).  [As for the 1st gen, I think it's a total wash, unless you want to throw the Magnavox Odyssey in there for historical significance.]

As for overall, I'd have to go with the Playstation 2.  I was an Xbox gamer back in the early 2000s.  I even bought a Gamecube before a PS2.  But looking back, there's no doubt that the PS2 dominated that generation, and became the best-selling home console ever for a reason.  With its combination of games, performance, "coolness", mainstream appeal, and contributions to advancing the industry, I think I'd have to pick the PS2 as the objective best ever.  It also doesn't hurt that most of its best games still hold up excellently today (in the past year, I've finally played through God of War 2, GTA: San Andreas, and Metal Gear Solid 3, and they are all still great games).  But I definitely don't think it's a lock and there's at least 5 other worthy competitors, so I'd be interested to hear what other gamers think.

[Vexer1]

My vote is for the 360 as best overall, no console has given me as much satisfaction as that one has.

[pacguy191]

Overall, I'd go with the PS1. Its game library is filled with fun games that hold up nicely today. My first console ever was the redesigned one, and I wish I still had it. It was a hard choice between that and the PS2 though.

[weallmissedme1]

2. Atari 2600
3. NES
4. Genesis Does
5. PS1
6. PS2
7. Wii!

[Jon1]

Neo Geo.

[Rev1]

Yeah... I think SNES is probably the best console of all time. Most of the games are timeless and it has a great variety to choose from. With that said...

2nd- Atari 2600
3rd- NES
4th- SNES
5th- PS1
6th- PS2
7th- 360 (although I like the Wii and the PS3 more)

[Sut1]

Well seeing as I'm from the UK it will have a different slant, especially as we didn't become a 'little America' gaming wise until the 16-bit era. The main difference is we didn't really take to consoles until the Master System arrived. Also Sega had Europe, not Nintendo.

1st Generation: Any 'Tennis' Pong system
2nd Generation: Sinclair Spectrum (Home Computer), if console only Atari 2600
3rd Generation: Sega Master System
4th Generation: Sega Mega Drive
5th Generation: PSOne
6th Generation: PS2
7th Generation: Wii

I know for whatever reason history doesn't seem to look favourably on the Wii, but it was the console of that generation . Remember how it got non-gamers gaming ? Sure it faded quicker than the 360 or PS3 but it definitely had the biggest impact of the three.

[Herschie1]

Wasn't around for the first two generations, so I'll start with 3:

3: NES
4: SNES
5: Gamecube
6: PS3
7: PS4

Best of the bunch? I remember playing the NES the most. Still have it hooked up in my VGR (Video Game Room). 

[Segatarious1]

1st gen: Pong Pong is famous to everyone today.

2nd: Atari 2600 -obvious choice

3rd: Nintendo NES - obvious choice

4th: Toss Up - games got easier, extension of gen 3

5th: N64 - impossible to ignore the impact Nintendo had on gaming with analog stick controller, Mario 64, and Ocarina of Time. Too large a splash to give it to PS1, despite its own innovations, to me gameplay trumps all.

6th: Sony Playstation 2 - another extension of previous gen system, I would not take a PS2 over a GC library, or a PS2 controller over a GC controller, but Sony owned the generation from start to finish. Very little gameplay innovation to speak of. Nice era of cheap, varied games however.

7th: Wii - of course 360 won the second half of the gen, but they did it by copying Nintendo and Nintendo software and running motion gaming into the ground, which was a shame. Then turned their Kinect into a DRM surveillance peripheral with their next system, which is unforgivable, especially in the wake of the NSA domestic spy program which relies heavily upon corporate data mining from companies like MS.  EA did poorly on Wii, but this just exposes EA, and does not condemn Wii, which had the strongest and most innovative software lineup.

8th: TBD -

[PSX1]

Thanks guy.  A few things I noticed...

Looks like there's a lot of diversity in opinions on the last generation.  And it makes sense, because I think a good case could be made for any of the 3 consoles.  It was definitely a great time for gamers -- when else in history was there such a truly competitive console war?  I don't think any prior generation was anywhere near that close, especially for such an extended time period.  Super Nintendo and Genesis is the closest I can recall, but even there the SNES ran off with it once the Sonic hype died down.

While not everyone mentioned an "overall" choice, I was definitely surprised by the results... From my count, there was one vote each for the following: NES, SNES, PS1, PS2, and 360.  In other words, every gen (except the Atari 2600) was represented with one vote.  Anyone wanna break the tie?  I still stick with my choice of the PS2, but I think there's a good case for any of those.

Lastly, how did I know that someone would still "objectively" say that the N64 was the best console of the 5th generation...  (Sorry, I've been waging this battle since the 90s and, sadly, even as an adult, still can't let it go...)