This isn't to ask your favourite game on each system or what is regarded as the best or whatever. This is to have a discussion on what games took on such a position as to be the defining games of their system. For example Halo defines the Xbox and Super Mario Bros defines the NES.
Other systems seem harder to pn down. I have no idea what I would call the defining game of the 2600 for example and there are several contenders for the Playstation. However the floor is now open, what games do you think were the defining games of their console?
Which games really defined their system?
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andrew
Which games really defined their system?
Intellivision: Astromash
Nintendo 64: Toss Up: Mario 64/Goldeneye
PS2: Gran Turismo 3
Nintendo 64: Toss Up: Mario 64/Goldeneye
PS2: Gran Turismo 3
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Atarifever1
- Posts: 3892
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Which games really defined their system?
N64: Castlevania 64. It was a great 2D franchise that moved to 3D and sucked entirely because of the bad camera, muddy graphics, and lack of fun. Just like everything else on the system.
PS1: Ninja. It was a mediocre game at best, with no staying power, and mediocre graphics and sound. Just like everything else on the system.
Saturn: Daytona USA (whichever one I played). It was pretty boring overall, but was still a lot more fun than anything on the PS1 and N64. Just like everything else on the system.
Genesis: Shinobi 2: It was perfect in every way possible.
PS1: Ninja. It was a mediocre game at best, with no staying power, and mediocre graphics and sound. Just like everything else on the system.
Saturn: Daytona USA (whichever one I played). It was pretty boring overall, but was still a lot more fun than anything on the PS1 and N64. Just like everything else on the system.
Genesis: Shinobi 2: It was perfect in every way possible.
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feilong801
- Posts: 2173
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Which games really defined their system?
What's interesting here is that the Wii and Xbox 360 have already defined their systems already, whereas the PS3 hasn't yet, though I suspect Metal Gear will do the trick nicely.
The Wii is defined, easily and far away, by Wii Sports. The 360 is going to be defined by Halo 3, no question.
The DS is defined, to me, by Brain Age and Nintendogs. These are the games that expanded the audience for the system (even if they are titles that mainstream gamers aren't terribly excited about).
-Rob
The Wii is defined, easily and far away, by Wii Sports. The 360 is going to be defined by Halo 3, no question.
The DS is defined, to me, by Brain Age and Nintendogs. These are the games that expanded the audience for the system (even if they are titles that mainstream gamers aren't terribly excited about).
-Rob
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JustLikeHeaven1
- Posts: 2971
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Which games really defined their system?
NES: Super Mario Bros - This doesn't really need an explanation does it?
Genesis: Altered Beast/ Shinobi - These two games brought home the arcade experience. Some will argue that Sonic needs to be here, but the Genesis needed to flaunt its power early and these arcade ports were a big draw.
SNES: Donkey Kong Country - The reason I picked this was because DKC kept the SNES alive for at least 2 more years. Its graphics rivaled anything else at the time and pretty much killed systems like the 3DO and CD-i. The SNES wasn't the most powerful but sometimes you don't be to be successful.
N64: Goldeneye 64 - Before the Wii the N64 was the console of choice for multiplayer mayhem. The 4 controller ports meant that multiplayer would be a be part and the system is well known for standout multiplayer games. Goldeneye is arguable the best of them.
Saturn: NightWarrior's Darkstalkers Revenge - A system that will forever be known as a 2D powerhouse...Great fighting games like NightWarriors really showcased the Saturn as a system capable of arcade perfect ports.
PS1 - Final Fantasy VII - The PS1 was all about 3rd party support and this was a big one. Sony made friendly with pretty much everyone and they buried Nintendo and Sega.
Dreamcast: Ready 2 Rumble Boxing - At this point in gaming, arcade style gaming was dying...yet you wouldn't know it with this Dreamcast launch title. It was one of the first of the many arcade games to be released on the system. The Dreamcast is and always will be the king of arcade style games to me.
Genesis: Altered Beast/ Shinobi - These two games brought home the arcade experience. Some will argue that Sonic needs to be here, but the Genesis needed to flaunt its power early and these arcade ports were a big draw.
SNES: Donkey Kong Country - The reason I picked this was because DKC kept the SNES alive for at least 2 more years. Its graphics rivaled anything else at the time and pretty much killed systems like the 3DO and CD-i. The SNES wasn't the most powerful but sometimes you don't be to be successful.
N64: Goldeneye 64 - Before the Wii the N64 was the console of choice for multiplayer mayhem. The 4 controller ports meant that multiplayer would be a be part and the system is well known for standout multiplayer games. Goldeneye is arguable the best of them.
Saturn: NightWarrior's Darkstalkers Revenge - A system that will forever be known as a 2D powerhouse...Great fighting games like NightWarriors really showcased the Saturn as a system capable of arcade perfect ports.
PS1 - Final Fantasy VII - The PS1 was all about 3rd party support and this was a big one. Sony made friendly with pretty much everyone and they buried Nintendo and Sega.
Dreamcast: Ready 2 Rumble Boxing - At this point in gaming, arcade style gaming was dying...yet you wouldn't know it with this Dreamcast launch title. It was one of the first of the many arcade games to be released on the system. The Dreamcast is and always will be the king of arcade style games to me.
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BigOldCar
Which games really defined their system?
Gameboy = Tetris.
I have a color Gameboy and, still, the original Tetris lives in its slot. I don't play any of the other games I own for it (well, Motocross Maniacs occasionally).
Can't argue down Halo for the xBox.
Much though I love the Gamecube, I can't think of a "defining" game for it.
How about Space Channel 5 for Dreamcast? It's either that or Crazy Taxi.
For PSOne, I'd say Metal Gear Solid. Everyone loves it but me (it's okay, but I've never been in love with it). Second try: Syphon Filter.
For the Genesis, I'd be tempted to say Sonic, but that's too easy. How about Mortal Kombat? That it included blood is what started the whole Genesis Does What Nintendon't thing. I think this is when video games "grew up."
It's gotta be Starfox for the SNES.
None can deny Super Mario for NES.
7800? I'd say Ms. Pac-Man. It was great and it came too late.
Colecovision? Donkey Kong!
2600. Ooh, I'd like to say Kaboom!, but that was also on the 5200. The cynical side of me wants to say Pac-Man, because in its total suckitude it demonstrates all that was arrogant and wrong with Atari's attitude toward its consumers. ET could be a candidate for the same reasons. But I'm going to be charitable to the venerable old wood-grained system and say Pitfall!
I have a color Gameboy and, still, the original Tetris lives in its slot. I don't play any of the other games I own for it (well, Motocross Maniacs occasionally).
Can't argue down Halo for the xBox.
Much though I love the Gamecube, I can't think of a "defining" game for it.
How about Space Channel 5 for Dreamcast? It's either that or Crazy Taxi.
For PSOne, I'd say Metal Gear Solid. Everyone loves it but me (it's okay, but I've never been in love with it). Second try: Syphon Filter.
For the Genesis, I'd be tempted to say Sonic, but that's too easy. How about Mortal Kombat? That it included blood is what started the whole Genesis Does What Nintendon't thing. I think this is when video games "grew up."
It's gotta be Starfox for the SNES.
None can deny Super Mario for NES.
7800? I'd say Ms. Pac-Man. It was great and it came too late.
Colecovision? Donkey Kong!
2600. Ooh, I'd like to say Kaboom!, but that was also on the 5200. The cynical side of me wants to say Pac-Man, because in its total suckitude it demonstrates all that was arrogant and wrong with Atari's attitude toward its consumers. ET could be a candidate for the same reasons. But I'm going to be charitable to the venerable old wood-grained system and say Pitfall!
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Michael D
Which games really defined their system?
Genesis: Altered Beast/Revenge of Shinobi:
Well, in the case of Altered Beast, it did bring the arcade experience home (though not quite as good), and Revenge of Shinobi was a fantastic game, but I'd go with Sonic because, although Genesis showed off with arcade games (like Flicky and Golden Axe) at first, it didn't hit a critical mass until Sonic came out and that game, better than any other, underlined the system's cool attitude and Sega's polar opposite concept of software, hardware and the "in your face" marketing tactics they used to sell their products (compared to Nintendo). And as far as system power, can you say blast processing?
My pick: Sonic the Hedgehog
SNES: Donkey Kong Country:
I don't know if I can say that there was any one game that defined the SNES, but this one comes close. After all, it did keep the SNES alive for quite a bit longer, showed off its graphical strength, and yes, was enough to negatively effect new systems (like 3DO) and add-ons (like 32X). Part of the reason the latter event occured was because Nintendo, pretty brilliantly, took the "don't need a new system to get these great graphics" ball and ran with it in their advertising.
My Pick: Probably DKC
N64: Goldeneye:
There are quite a few possible candidates for this one, but it's hard to argue with Rare's FPS masterpiece and it would probably be my pick. It had the graphics, gameplay, and multiplayer to draw a crowd and in a very short time, it kind of became an icon within the industry (developers wanted to make an N64 shooter as good as this one and it basically became a college dorm-room staple which, in some people's minds, it still is).
My Pick: Goldeneye
Saturn: NightWarrior's Darkstalkers Revenge:
Not as familiar with the Saturn as the other systems on this list, but its strength with 2D games and great ports of 2D arcade titles certainly got hardcore gamers to notice it.
PS1 - Final Fantasy VII:
Sony definately bonded with the third party companies with PS1, and Final Fantasy 7 became an icon in and of itself for the system, yet there are quite a few others that could also define it. In fact, I'd say that you could probably pick a group of PS1 games to define various elements of the system (i.e. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night as a victory against Sony's anti 2D policy). If you'd ask me, I'd pick Metal Gear Solid for this one for similar reasons that people say FF7; mainly because it became a huge hit, it evolved the depth of video game storylines through its technology, and it also exposed the limitations of PS1's competitors (remember that FF7 would apparently have been on multiple carts if put to the N64?).
Dreamcast: Ready 2 Rumble Boxing:
Interesting choice, but I can understand where you're coming from, as Dreamcast, even better than its 32-bit predecessors, IMO, showed that arcade games (even some of the more advanced ones) could be ported perfectly and even be expanded upon successfuly. And of course, Dreamcast had tons of arcade games on it, like the Marvel Vs. Capcoms, the Power Stones, Mortal Kombat Gold, the NFL Blitzes, Dead or Alive 2, the Sega Fishing games, Samba De Amigo, Daytona USA, Virtua Tennis, and Soul Calibur, to name a few.
By that standard, I'd say Soul Calibur defined Dreamcast, but I also think of Sonic Adventure, as it signified Sega's return to prominance, and Shenmue, for epitomizing the unique and fun experiences the console offered, as well as being something of a metaphor for its untimely death.
Well, in the case of Altered Beast, it did bring the arcade experience home (though not quite as good), and Revenge of Shinobi was a fantastic game, but I'd go with Sonic because, although Genesis showed off with arcade games (like Flicky and Golden Axe) at first, it didn't hit a critical mass until Sonic came out and that game, better than any other, underlined the system's cool attitude and Sega's polar opposite concept of software, hardware and the "in your face" marketing tactics they used to sell their products (compared to Nintendo). And as far as system power, can you say blast processing?
My pick: Sonic the Hedgehog
SNES: Donkey Kong Country:
I don't know if I can say that there was any one game that defined the SNES, but this one comes close. After all, it did keep the SNES alive for quite a bit longer, showed off its graphical strength, and yes, was enough to negatively effect new systems (like 3DO) and add-ons (like 32X). Part of the reason the latter event occured was because Nintendo, pretty brilliantly, took the "don't need a new system to get these great graphics" ball and ran with it in their advertising.
My Pick: Probably DKC
N64: Goldeneye:
There are quite a few possible candidates for this one, but it's hard to argue with Rare's FPS masterpiece and it would probably be my pick. It had the graphics, gameplay, and multiplayer to draw a crowd and in a very short time, it kind of became an icon within the industry (developers wanted to make an N64 shooter as good as this one and it basically became a college dorm-room staple which, in some people's minds, it still is).
My Pick: Goldeneye
Saturn: NightWarrior's Darkstalkers Revenge:
Not as familiar with the Saturn as the other systems on this list, but its strength with 2D games and great ports of 2D arcade titles certainly got hardcore gamers to notice it.
PS1 - Final Fantasy VII:
Sony definately bonded with the third party companies with PS1, and Final Fantasy 7 became an icon in and of itself for the system, yet there are quite a few others that could also define it. In fact, I'd say that you could probably pick a group of PS1 games to define various elements of the system (i.e. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night as a victory against Sony's anti 2D policy). If you'd ask me, I'd pick Metal Gear Solid for this one for similar reasons that people say FF7; mainly because it became a huge hit, it evolved the depth of video game storylines through its technology, and it also exposed the limitations of PS1's competitors (remember that FF7 would apparently have been on multiple carts if put to the N64?).
Dreamcast: Ready 2 Rumble Boxing:
Interesting choice, but I can understand where you're coming from, as Dreamcast, even better than its 32-bit predecessors, IMO, showed that arcade games (even some of the more advanced ones) could be ported perfectly and even be expanded upon successfuly. And of course, Dreamcast had tons of arcade games on it, like the Marvel Vs. Capcoms, the Power Stones, Mortal Kombat Gold, the NFL Blitzes, Dead or Alive 2, the Sega Fishing games, Samba De Amigo, Daytona USA, Virtua Tennis, and Soul Calibur, to name a few.
By that standard, I'd say Soul Calibur defined Dreamcast, but I also think of Sonic Adventure, as it signified Sega's return to prominance, and Shenmue, for epitomizing the unique and fun experiences the console offered, as well as being something of a metaphor for its untimely death.
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m0zart1
- Posts: 3117
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Which games really defined their system?
[QUOTE=BigOldCar]Much though I love the Gamecube, I can't think of a "defining" game for it.[/QUOTE]
If we are talking about exclusive games, then there are several games that are candidates:Metroid Prime
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Resident Evil (Remake)
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
If we are talking about games that could also have been on other systems, then we can include:
Resident Evil 4
I hate to sound like a Zelda and Metroid fanboy, well... actually, no, I don't. I am not ashamed of my love for those games. Every Nintendo system except for the Virtual Boy was defined for me personally by either the Zelda games, Metroid games, or both. Even the Virtual Boy has some reference to one of those two, since Samus Aran from the Metroid series makes an appearance (in her ship) in my favorite game from that system, Galactic Pinball.
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Alienblue
Which games really defined their system?
The defining Atai 2600 game was deffinitely SPACE INVADERS.
It sold the system!
Actually, though not a sports fan, I'd pick MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
over Astrosmash for INTV- that or football. INTV was about sports
Odyssey2 , KC MUNCHKIN showed what fun games it could really
play, though UFO came first, KC REALLY made people notice O2!
Colecovision is easy-While Donkey Kong was the "hit" game, it had a lot of inconsistancies-I'd go with LADYBUG, it is a PERFECT arcade port and amazed everyone at the time.
Atari 5200, I'd have to say Centipede. That was wasily the best of the early games(and it wasn't just a straight computer port!)
It sold the system!
Actually, though not a sports fan, I'd pick MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
over Astrosmash for INTV- that or football. INTV was about sports
Odyssey2 , KC MUNCHKIN showed what fun games it could really
play, though UFO came first, KC REALLY made people notice O2!
Colecovision is easy-While Donkey Kong was the "hit" game, it had a lot of inconsistancies-I'd go with LADYBUG, it is a PERFECT arcade port and amazed everyone at the time.
Atari 5200, I'd have to say Centipede. That was wasily the best of the early games(and it wasn't just a straight computer port!)
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Atarifever1
- Posts: 3892
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Which games really defined their system?
[QUOTE=m0zart]
[QUOTE=BigOldCar]Much though I love the Gamecube, I can't think of a "defining" game for it.[/QUOTE]
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
[/QUOTE]
I think Wind Waker does it nicely. It was a strong, beautiful game with a lot of play in it. It was put together better than 95% of the other offerings on the market. Meanwhile, everyone who never owned the Gamecube cried out that "OMG teh game is 4 teh kiddiz". The Gamecube was home to some incredible games that I continue to see derided because they are "4 teh kiddiz". Pikmin 1 and 2, Animal Crossing, Chibi Robo, Harvest Moon: Magical Melody, Donkey Kong: jungle Beat, all the Mario Sports stuff, Mario Party games, etc. I think Windwaker is a great example of that and pretty much defines the system.
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