Probably, no console manufacturer lost the initiative worse than Sega did after it slayed the dragon known as the Nintendo Entertainment System. In 1992, on the heels of a gambit that saw Sega bundle the Genesis system with Sonic the Hedgehog.
In the summer of 1991, at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show, video-game behemoth Nintendo revealed the follow-up to their much-adored NES console. The Super Nintendo would improve on the original in every way, featuring 16-bit system with phenomenal graphics and capacity for some 32,768 colors.
Console Wars: The Sega Saturn and the Sega Dreamcast were two machines that enjoyed as many similarities as they did stark differences. One system marked the end of the 90s gaming era, and the other ushered in the much-heralded 6th-generation of consoles that defined the new millennium. And while both were manufactured by Sega, both were also responsible for hastening that company’s demise. But despite being regarded as failures at the time, their reputations have only improved in the intervening years. A Reddit thread on the subject of the Sega Dreamcast was a veritable love-in, and some Sega Saturn games, like “Panzer Dragoon Saga,” are so in-demand that they fetch hundreds of dollars on the retro game market. This all begs the question, which is the better machine? Like anything, much of it depends on personal preference. But here’s how the two systems stack up according to certain criteria important to...
In the last 15 years, Microsoft’s Xbox has risen to become, along with Sony’s PlayStation, one of the twin pillars of home console gaming. And while stalwart companies like Nintendo have enjoyed success as well, Xbox and PlayStation are Coke and Pepsi.
The reasons why this is the case have been covered extensively in other online posts. However, for the purposes of this column, it makes sense to eschew the tech jargon and explain the issue in ways that any non-gear head can understand. So here’s a breakdown.
If the 80s was the decade that thought it was the future, then the 90s was the decade that actually saw some of those technological promises come true. Case in point: handheld gaming devices, portable video games, to be precise, & the 90s classic consoles. The ‘90s saw an explosion of handheld game systems, most of which came on the heels of the popular Nintendo Game Boy. But which one ranks as pound for pound the best handheld console? We've broken down the history and stats of the major players in order to determine the best handheld gaming console. Nintendo Gameboy The one that started it all. Technically, the Game Boy is a 80s Handheld Console, since it was released in 1989. However, because Europe didn't get it until 1990, we're on solid legal ground to include it in this list about 90s Handheld Systems. The Game Boy's popularity can be...
Does it bug you that, even in the greatest of games, there can be moments that literally suck? What happens when you’re faced with a scene that doesn’t quite fit with the gameplay, or when a design decision completely ruins your gaming experience?
Do you have a Nintendo 64 with games for sale, along with controllers and accessories? We can help you sell them! Or, are you looking to buy N64 games? The Old School Game Vault is the best place for that, too! The only question is, how do you get started? As you may have guessed, we have the answer to this as well.
In a previous post, I discuss some classic games that you know and probably played, but that you should give a second look in 2020. Here I’ll discuss a trio of all-but-forgotten retro video games.
There’s nothing quite like a good RPG game to transport you into a world of swords-and-sorcery, foul creatures and great heroes, and make you feel like you’re part of a great adventure to save the world. That’s all we wanted to do as kids, right? (Some of us still hope to find a portal that takes us into a world where we are axe-wielding warriors tasked with saving the realm, on a pet dinosaur) Today, we are going to take a look at the best Sega genesis RPG games. One of the strengths of the Sega Genesis console, has to be the library of games, which we talk about in another article. It really had a little something for everyone, but today it's about RPGS. So put on your armor and pick up your weapon, and let’s run through some of the best old Sega games ever made. If you are interested...
One of the most important retro gaming consoles in video game history was the original Sega genesis 16-Bit console. Made through a combination of third-party developers and by Sega itself. The Sega Genesis original release date, was during the summer of 1989 in North American. The European release was in 1990. It had the benefit of being released to the North American market a full two years prior to its major competition, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The SNES wouldn't be released until August 1991 in the United States. Another one of the factors that set the Sega Genesis apart from the competition - at least in the early days - was its graphical capabilities. It is important to keep in mind that the Sega Genesis was released in North America at the time when its only true competition was the original Nintendo Entertainment System. The Nintendo NES has a massive...
With hits like Mario 64, Super Smash Bros, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the N64 was one of the most popular and successful consoles ever. But why didn’t we ever see Final Fantasy 64, Chrono Trigger 64, or even Earthbound 64? Where are all the N64 RPG games?
You probably wouldn’t think that the retro gaming market pulls in over $200 million per year. That figure seems more apt for vintage collectables or niche artwork. But, technically, vintage video games are old collectables and niche artwork. Plus, their limited supply is constantly shrinking because they’re out of print. As such, many of these games are rare collectables—and getting rarer and more valuable all the time. For these reasons, collectable video games are especially valuable if they’re authentic and still in the original box. To illustrate, consider how this industry made over $3.5 million in less than a month with only 2 game sales. In case you’re wondering, the two games were Super Mario Bros on NES and Super Mario 64 on N64. Both the Super Mario games were factory-sealed, and rare first prints of the games. Each game was then authenticated by Wata games and was sold on Heritage...
It’s been a couple of years since the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and the Nintendo Switch release, brought us fully into the eighth generation of console gaming. This 8th console war has settled into a battle for exclusives, price differences, and online and social gaming advantages, which is fine—anyone looking to buy a system this year will have more games and better prices (and fewer bugs) than last year’s early adopters.
In another article, I discussed the relative merits of the two main fifth-gen consoles—the Nintendo 64 and the PlayStation (One)—during their first holiday seasons after launch.
You’ve heard of the classic video games on this list. You’ve probably played at least a couple of them. But have you played them recently? In this millennium?
If not, you should! The three classic video games profiled below deserve a replay, so dust off your cartridges, blow into your NES, and let’s talk about some great classic video games.
The year 1998 was a true landmark year in video game history. This was the year Legend of Zelda finally went 3D. The first FPS with a stellar, story-driven campaign was released. The age of the modern stealth game began.
1998, as we’ve talked about in the previous article, saw the release of some all-time classics. 3D began to take hold, and games and game developers responded in kind.
The Legend of Zelda series epic is one of the most epic game series of all time. With more than 51 million games sold worldwide, it's won a place in the hearts of many gamers.