06-14-2016, 06:00 PM
Personally I like all 3 even though I only managed to own a PS1 and a N64, the latter was hard to get games back in the day. I can't name a favourite, some days I like the PS1 while others I like the N64. At the end of the day, it is about the games and all 3 have something for me to play.
I would have liked the N64 more if the games were cheaper and easier to find as well as a slightly larger library and less slowdown but the PS1 for many games haven't aged well graphically and many feel stiffer to play due to lack of analog controls in many games even though the games are still good to play.
If anyone wants a quick pro and cons for all 3:
PS1 (aka PlayStation, PSX)
+ Has a large library with most genres covered even RPGs in the case of Europe getting Final Fantasy for the first time.
+ Many of the games are also experiments meaning that they are off beat compared to later consoles or even PC.
+ Easiest of the 3 to develop, it even had an option to make your own games via Net Yaroze.
+ Cheapest console to both buy the machine and the games, the latter has various budget ranges and reprints of games.
+ Even then, magazines gave out demos of games. Some that were months before release.
+ For some countries, this was their first console and got text localised to other languages. While various home computers and a few Mega Drive/SNES games had language selects, the PS1 was the first to be taken more seriously and more games that are in a language that isn't English or Japanese. Despite that...
- Many games weren't PAL optimised so they run slower; however Konami games, Gran Turismo, the Crash Bandicoot games and games made in Europe were though. Tekken is usually considered to be a bad example.
- Graphically in many games have aged poorly due to lack of perspective correction so games have that warpy look.
- Some of the games are considered shovelware, an issue that isn't as bad on the Saturn and the N64.
+/- Arcade ports are hit and miss despite having more than the Saturn; some are good (usually if developed on the PS1 such as Street Fighter EX, close to it like Tekken 3 or later ports), some are respectable (e.g. Ridge Racer) and some the PS1 have problems with. Usually it is the fighting games due to less RAM so it means more loading times and cut animation or some shmups. San Francisco Rush is considered a poor arcade conversion (even though it does have better music).
- The console is retrospectively and even back then for some was considered ugly, one of the nicknames for the console was the GreyStation.
Saturn
+ Many of the Sega arcade ports were and still are considered pretty good on the console, sometimes with better music due to redbook audio rather than either a shorter loop or more chiptune. A few are even perfect since they used a Saturn in the arcade.
+ 2D based arcade ports were more closer than the PS1 thanks to a RAM cartridge (needed for some fighting games), some were almost arcade perfect. It even has arcade conversions of games that are more obscure. e.g. This is the only console that got an arcade port of Monaco GP (well reproduction in this case).
+ The machine has a stylish look rather like a CD player on a shelf.
+ Rather like the PS1, there were demo discs however there weren't as many produced.
+ The controller is considered by many to be one of the best that ever came out on a console due to the build quality, D-pad and button layout (handy for Capcom fighters), to this day there are a lot of fakes for the PC based on this controller.
+ It has a rememberable marketing in Japan to the point of getting its own game (Segata Sanshiro).
+ Due to having a smaller library, there is less shovelware on the system so the games have a higher standard however...
- There is Japanese shovelware such as picture packs and even a "game" where it is just Ayrton Senna talking in an interview.
- Very hard to program rather like the PS3 so only first party and a couple of studios (e.g. Lobotomy) got the best out of the machine.
- Most of the desireable games are Japan only and logically many are in Japanese only. Some are in English or do not require it to enjoy the game.
- Some later titles were also hard to find and expensive if you do (e.g. Panzer Dragoon Saga)
- The boxes have flimsy packaging.
- Some early (and even later) Saturn games were rushed being more glitchier conversions to the point of being remade (e.g. Virtua Fighter, Daytona USA) and Sega Rally is another where the US version was rushed. House of the Dead was even unfinished with placeholder graphics and apparently Daytona CCE (US/EU) and Sega Touring Car Championship were released when they were 60% finished.
- Due to the problems of the console, this also affects 3rd party developers making the PS1 either run better or even look better in some cases in multiplatform games.
- Many games weren't PAL optimised so they run slower. I can't recall any bad examples unlike the PS1 or the N64 though.
N64
+ Many innovations in gaming appeared on this console such as lock on targetting or 3D hub worlds.
+ Decent enough graphics that many games still are presentable today due to no warping however...
- Many N64 games had fog, poor visibility or blur affecting the image quality. Also affects games such as Perfect Dark where it looks nice but the console can't cope even with the expansion pack.
+/- (YMMV) There is a smaller library of games when compared to the others however the games that were released were of a decent standard, less shovelware.
+ Little to no loading times on the games. If a game did load, it would be decompressing such as the World is Not Enough.
+ Default analog controls (PS1 requires the Dual Analog/Dual Shock, the Saturn requires the 3D controller) so controlling your character was more smoother.
- Not many arcade ports even then they mostly came from Midway. They were usually decent to good conversions though.
- The cartridges were expensive and still are to this day on many games due to that they cost more to make.
- Less memory when compared to the PS1/Saturn with their 650-700MB discs. The biggest games are Resident Evil 2, Conker and Pokemon Stadium 2, the former had to do various compomises to fit in and still ends up being the largest cart on the system. Was a good conversion though.
- The games came in flimsy cardboard boxes so don't be surprised if there are many cart only or cart+instructions copies around due to that they were squashed or broken/thrown away.
- The games were harder to find with PAL regions being hit the hardest. Starcraft 64 and Snowboard Kids 2 even only made it to Austrailia.
- Many games weren't PAL optimised so they run slower, Wave Race was known for being a poor conversion to the point where Rare had to show Nintendo how to make their ports better.
I would have liked the N64 more if the games were cheaper and easier to find as well as a slightly larger library and less slowdown but the PS1 for many games haven't aged well graphically and many feel stiffer to play due to lack of analog controls in many games even though the games are still good to play.
If anyone wants a quick pro and cons for all 3:
![[+]](images/collapse_collapsed.png "[+]")
SpoilerPS1 (aka PlayStation, PSX)
+ Has a large library with most genres covered even RPGs in the case of Europe getting Final Fantasy for the first time.
+ Many of the games are also experiments meaning that they are off beat compared to later consoles or even PC.
+ Easiest of the 3 to develop, it even had an option to make your own games via Net Yaroze.
+ Cheapest console to both buy the machine and the games, the latter has various budget ranges and reprints of games.
+ Even then, magazines gave out demos of games. Some that were months before release.
+ For some countries, this was their first console and got text localised to other languages. While various home computers and a few Mega Drive/SNES games had language selects, the PS1 was the first to be taken more seriously and more games that are in a language that isn't English or Japanese. Despite that...
- Many games weren't PAL optimised so they run slower; however Konami games, Gran Turismo, the Crash Bandicoot games and games made in Europe were though. Tekken is usually considered to be a bad example.
- Graphically in many games have aged poorly due to lack of perspective correction so games have that warpy look.
- Some of the games are considered shovelware, an issue that isn't as bad on the Saturn and the N64.
+/- Arcade ports are hit and miss despite having more than the Saturn; some are good (usually if developed on the PS1 such as Street Fighter EX, close to it like Tekken 3 or later ports), some are respectable (e.g. Ridge Racer) and some the PS1 have problems with. Usually it is the fighting games due to less RAM so it means more loading times and cut animation or some shmups. San Francisco Rush is considered a poor arcade conversion (even though it does have better music).
- The console is retrospectively and even back then for some was considered ugly, one of the nicknames for the console was the GreyStation.
Saturn
+ Many of the Sega arcade ports were and still are considered pretty good on the console, sometimes with better music due to redbook audio rather than either a shorter loop or more chiptune. A few are even perfect since they used a Saturn in the arcade.
+ 2D based arcade ports were more closer than the PS1 thanks to a RAM cartridge (needed for some fighting games), some were almost arcade perfect. It even has arcade conversions of games that are more obscure. e.g. This is the only console that got an arcade port of Monaco GP (well reproduction in this case).
+ The machine has a stylish look rather like a CD player on a shelf.
+ Rather like the PS1, there were demo discs however there weren't as many produced.
+ The controller is considered by many to be one of the best that ever came out on a console due to the build quality, D-pad and button layout (handy for Capcom fighters), to this day there are a lot of fakes for the PC based on this controller.
+ It has a rememberable marketing in Japan to the point of getting its own game (Segata Sanshiro).
+ Due to having a smaller library, there is less shovelware on the system so the games have a higher standard however...
- There is Japanese shovelware such as picture packs and even a "game" where it is just Ayrton Senna talking in an interview.
- Very hard to program rather like the PS3 so only first party and a couple of studios (e.g. Lobotomy) got the best out of the machine.
- Most of the desireable games are Japan only and logically many are in Japanese only. Some are in English or do not require it to enjoy the game.
- Some later titles were also hard to find and expensive if you do (e.g. Panzer Dragoon Saga)
- The boxes have flimsy packaging.
- Some early (and even later) Saturn games were rushed being more glitchier conversions to the point of being remade (e.g. Virtua Fighter, Daytona USA) and Sega Rally is another where the US version was rushed. House of the Dead was even unfinished with placeholder graphics and apparently Daytona CCE (US/EU) and Sega Touring Car Championship were released when they were 60% finished.
- Due to the problems of the console, this also affects 3rd party developers making the PS1 either run better or even look better in some cases in multiplatform games.
- Many games weren't PAL optimised so they run slower. I can't recall any bad examples unlike the PS1 or the N64 though.
N64
+ Many innovations in gaming appeared on this console such as lock on targetting or 3D hub worlds.
+ Decent enough graphics that many games still are presentable today due to no warping however...
- Many N64 games had fog, poor visibility or blur affecting the image quality. Also affects games such as Perfect Dark where it looks nice but the console can't cope even with the expansion pack.
+/- (YMMV) There is a smaller library of games when compared to the others however the games that were released were of a decent standard, less shovelware.
+ Little to no loading times on the games. If a game did load, it would be decompressing such as the World is Not Enough.
+ Default analog controls (PS1 requires the Dual Analog/Dual Shock, the Saturn requires the 3D controller) so controlling your character was more smoother.
- Not many arcade ports even then they mostly came from Midway. They were usually decent to good conversions though.
- The cartridges were expensive and still are to this day on many games due to that they cost more to make.
- Less memory when compared to the PS1/Saturn with their 650-700MB discs. The biggest games are Resident Evil 2, Conker and Pokemon Stadium 2, the former had to do various compomises to fit in and still ends up being the largest cart on the system. Was a good conversion though.
- The games came in flimsy cardboard boxes so don't be surprised if there are many cart only or cart+instructions copies around due to that they were squashed or broken/thrown away.
- The games were harder to find with PAL regions being hit the hardest. Starcraft 64 and Snowboard Kids 2 even only made it to Austrailia.
- Many games weren't PAL optimised so they run slower, Wave Race was known for being a poor conversion to the point where Rare had to show Nintendo how to make their ports better.