Console Memories

Have you ever had one of those days where you look back and fondly remember the best consoles you have ever played when you were little? Say you were around 8 or so and your parents got you an awesome console like a PS1 or SNES or even a Genesis. I can remember every home console i've owned/played since i was a little kid, ranging from the Sega Genesis all the way up till now. Allow me to take you through some of the fondest memories i've had with each console.

Sega Genesis: Age 3-8

The first console i even played was the Genesis, though in Europe and Japan it was called the MegaDrive. One of the greatest franchises at the time was born along with it in Sonic The Hedgehog. I remember watching my mother play the first two and beat them both in hours. The special stages were exceptionally well done. Another game she used to love spending hours on was Quackshot. It was hilarious watching Donald Duck getting goosed by Pete's gang, showing his feathers ruffle as he gets hit. Ms.Pac Man was also fun, even though it was just a port of the classic arcade hit. the worst game i've ever played, with much regret for even touching it was Barney's Hide and Seek. It was pretty cringeworthy, and i regret that i even ran across that in an Montgomery Ward's.

Atari 2600: Age 7

This one i acquired from a friend of my mom's friend at the time. It came with a couple of paddle controllers for Breakout, Kaboom, and a couple of other games as well as the Atari joystick. Some of the games i had for it included the dreaded E.T. (another regret i have), Donkey Kong, Atari Circus, Kaboom, and even Pac-Man. I didn't have this console long but for as long as i had it i enjoyed most of the games i had on it. The two exceptions as noted were E.T. and Pac-Man. They made me cringe in frustration as i tried to figure out the controls on ET and deal with the ear wrecking pain that the 2600 version of Pac-Man had for sound. Kaboom was quite fun, especially when my sisters used to take turns with me and fail just as much as me. Tragically for me someone spilled their Pepsi on it and ruined my console.

Nintendo 64: Age 8-12, 15-17

This was the very first Nintendo console my parents bought me and my siblings. Didn't get very many of the awesome games the console had the first time, like Goldeneye or even WCW vs NWO. those i got the second time around after i moved away from my hometown. But the first round was pretty good, as i've had the pleasure of playing games like Pokemon Stadium 1 and 2, as well as Hot Wheels Turbo Racing. It was pretty cool watching someone play Pokemon Silver on the TV with the advent of the Transfer Pak, and the controller worked quite nicely despite some complicated controls for games like WCW Backstage Assault.

The best game of the N64 games i've played is a toss up between Super Mario 64 and Starfox 64. On one hand you have the standard of which most 3D platformers of the time (I'm looking at you, Bubsy 3D) tried to imitate but never could duplicate. the other side you had the best well known Rail Shooter that Nintendo had ever produced. So well known that in fact fans are calling for the franchise's return to that type of gameplay after the disastrous Assault and Command. (though i personally enjoyed Assault and the game before it, Adventures.)

Playstations 1&2: Ages 13-16, current (3rd PS2)

This was introduced to me by my uncle after the move. Sleek, smooth controls and some of the best games of both consoles lifespan were definitely something worthwhile. Caesars Palace was pretty decent, though not really my cup of tea. Really enjoyed the Crash Bandicoot games even though i never finished them. The one game i was not allowed to play on the PS1 was Final Fantasy VIII, as that was my uncle's game.

The PS2 was the console i loved most of all, as it was that console that gave me the ability to learn how to play sports games like Madden and NBA. It was my cousin who taught me how to play Madden, and after adapting to the controls and plays i figured out how to beat him. Around this time my brother set a pretty high score on Galaga on the Namco Museum collection for the PS2. I tried hard to beat him along with my cousins but never did.

Nintendo Gamecube/Wii: age 14-current (though broken)
The Gamecube was the advent of my Nintendo fanboyism, as this produced some of my all time favorite titles. Super Smash Brothers Melee, Starfox Adventures, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Mario Kart: Double Dash to name a few. Fire Emblem was a very awesome RPG on the Gamecube, which is to say a rarity as at that point Square Enix had moved on to games for the PS2 like Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy X while leaving Nintendo with ports of the old games on GBA and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Mario Kart Double Dash was awesome too, as it gave me and my mother a chance to team up and thrash the computers as well as friends and family.

The Wii had some pretty awesome times too, especially when the sequel to Path of Radiance came out as well as Brawl and Mario Kart Wii. It was really neat how the Wii could play Gamecube games like Super Mario Sunshine, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and other games as well as had support for the Gamecube controllers. The only downside was that it would freeze up on occasion in the middle of a game

Xbox 360: current

The latest console i have just gotten recently, with a bunch of games. So far i am enjoying most of the titles it offers, including Halo, GTA V, Diablo III, and COD Black Ops 1 and 2. Some pretty rad memories have already been formed, like when i killed an bot on Black Ops with a bank shot from a Tomahawk. Or when me and a friend of mine played Zombies on Call of Duty: World at War and encountered a silly glitch with a leg of a zombie going every which way but loose.

In conclusion, i'd like to say that all of these consoles have had some good times, with a couple regrets here and there. What would you say your fondest memories were with a console? Feel free to let me know in the comments below

(Image is of Tecmo Super Bowl, with edited names. All rights go to TecmoKoei, 1993-2015 and NFL 1919-2015)