Although the system boasted some truly fantastic titles, the Nintendo 64 was practically a master class in poor design and bad decision-making. For starters, it's system-standard three-handled controller was hands down the most ridiculously-designed piece of gaming hardware ever conceived by man. In addition to which, their decision to stick with the tried-and-true cartridge format, would single-handedly cause Nintendo to give up the majority share of the home console market to newcomer, Sony, with their vastly superior disc-based PlayStation console. Thus, Nintendo would be forced to make some pretty significant changes for their next console.

That next console, the GameCube, by contrast, would feature one of the more uniquely brilliant controller designs in gaming history. It boasted a unique button layout, arranged by priority, with the A button featured more prominently, and the other face buttons being sized and placed in accordance with their typical use and necessity. The controller also featured a comfortable shape and bright color scheme that would appeal to players of nearly any age.

Additionally, the GameCube was Nintendo's first ever console to feature a disc-reader. However, as opposed to the standard-size DVDs used in Microsoft's and Sony's rival Xbox  and PlayStation 2 consoles (respectively), Nintendo elected to use a proprietary "miniDVD" format instead. While this choice of disc size, and corresponding disc drive, would help to protect them somewhat against unauthorized game duplication and piracy, it would also, unfortunately, mean that none of their customers could ever use the system for playing any other forms of media, like CDs or DVDs.

The upside, though, was that for the first time in a generation, Nintendo's games could offer the same amount of content, and look and sound just as good as the competition's titles - - and did they ever! Though the GameCube may not have been the greatest or most popular console Nintendo's ever released, it did boast some of the greatest games they've ever released; and it's not really worth looking back on a console without looking at the games as well. So please read on, for a selection of 12 of what we feel were the greatest games to ever grace the Nintendo GameCube.

In the mid-1980's, Japanese computer company, NEC, was riding high on the success of their PC-88 and 98 series, which had been more or less dominating the PC market in their home country, during the first half of the decade. Around this same time, Japanese game company, Hudson Soft, would pioneer a super thin cartridge technology, they dubbed the "Bee Card" (like their company's bee mascot, Hachisuke). After first offering to license the technology to Nintendo, and being turned down, Hudson Soft would then approach NEC. That meeting would end up going so well that the two would decide to partner up and enter the home video game console market together, with their own brand new device, which they would ultimately call, the "PC Engine".

While the PC Engine would be largely created with internal components manufactured by NEC, the game cartridges utilized by the system would be upgraded versions of Hudson's Bee Card that they would dub, the "HuCard" - - or "TurboChip", in North America. The console would feature an 8-bit central processing unit, paired with two 16-bit graphics processors, and was capable of displaying 482 colors at a time - - a notable step up from Nintendo's NES-standard 8-bit graphics processor, and 25 simultaneous-displayed-colors maximum. The Nintendo Entertainment System had also only officially been available for a year in the US before the PC Engine would launch in Japan, in the fall of 1987.

Following its release, the PC Engine would prove to be a pretty massive success in Japan, at one point becoming the top-selling console there. In addition to its better-looking games, the system was especially popular due to its appealing design profile, easily manageable size - - as it was actually one of the smallest home consoles ever released - - and strong third-party support. Once again riding high on success, NEC would soon decided to launch the console in North America as well.

Rebranded as the "TurboGrafx-16" (technically, the "TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem", as if "TurboGrafx-16" wasn't long enough already), the North American launch would end up not going at all according to plan, eventually leading to a premature departure from the market by NEC - - though the console would still manage to hang on for a few years. Plenty long enough to grow a fairly respectable library of incredible games, despite the fact that they constituted barely a fraction of the PC Engine's entire list of Japanese titles. Regardless, those that were fortunate enough to have owned a TurboGrafx knew that a number of the games released during its brief North American run were just as good, if not better than many of those of its rival consoles. So, to pay tribute to the anniversary of NEC and Hudson Soft's failed foray into the North American console market, for your reading pleasure, we have rounded up a list of 12 of the greatest titles ever to grace the TurboGrafx-16 (Entertainment SuperSystem).

In the late '90s, Microsoft CEO, Bill Gates, saw the increasing power and popularity of video game consoles as a potential threat to the PC industry, so the company began looking for ways to expand into the market. These would initially include partnering with Sega to create a custom version of Windows CE for their Dreamcast console, and then approaching Sony to offer to do the same for their PlayStation 2. Sony, however, declined their offer. They would even go so far as to approach Nintendo to see if they would be receptive to being acquired by Microsoft, but Nintendo would also reject Microsoft's offer.

So, Microsoft decided to set about making their own gaming console. After some internal debate concerning two rival design strategies, a decision was made to use PC parts, including a built in hand drive - - the first console to ever sport one - - as well as a custom version of Windows, featuring DirectX support. It was also decided that the system should be equipped with an Ethernet port in order to enable the future implementation of fast, reliable online play.

The DirectX support, in particular, would play a key role in setting the Xbox apart from other consoles. Not only because it's where the "X" in "Xbox" comes from, but also because the support of DirectX would allow game developers to both create new games, and port existing PC games to the console, with relative ease, while also giving the console comparatively larger processing power, at the same time. Like the PlayStation 2, the Xbox would also utilize a standard DVD drive for gameplay - - with an optional remote and controller port IR sensor later being made available to enable movie playback functionality as well. Unlike the PlayStation 2, however, the Xbox would be the first home console to incorporate real-time Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound during actual gameplay, instead of just in cutscenes.

Leading up to the launch of the Xbox, Microsoft would go to great lengths to line up a number of high-profile titles for their upcoming console. This would include successfully wooing both Tecmo, and future Microsoft subsidiary, Bethesda; acquiring Mac developer, Bungie, along with the rights to their upcoming title, Halo: Combat Evovled; as well as striking a crucial 11-game exclusivity deal with (then) newly-turned third-party developer/publisher, Sega. Throughout the console's life, Microsoft would continue to get more fantastic games onto the Xbox through other, similar means; and their smart implementation of DirectX in the console certainly wouldn't hurt them in this matter, either. It was these games, more than anything, that really helped the Xbox to stand apart from the competition, and as usual, we have assembled a list of 12 of the greatest titles to ever grace the console, just for your reading enjoyment.

In late 1971, former amusement park manager and electrical engineer, Nolan Bushnell, together with his business partner Ted Dabney, and amusement company, Nutting Associates, created and released Computer Space - - the first arcade video game ever created, as well as the first ever commercial video game. Heavily inspired by the 1962 MIT computer program, Spacewar! - - one of the first ever non-commercial video games - - Computer Space would prove to be a modest success for Bushnell and Dabney. In June of the following year, the pair would form their own video game company, Atari, shortly before parting ways with Nutting Associates.

Their next arcade title, Pong, would also be their first official release as Atari, debuting in the fall of 1972. Pong would quickly become a massive hit, with Atari finding itself struggling to make new machines fast enough to keep up with the demand for them. Over the next few years, Atari would grow by leaps and bounds, releasing several Pong variants, in addition to a variety of other arcade titles. Then, in 1975, Atari struck a deal with department store chain, Sears, which would sell dedicated Pong consoles that could be hooked up and played directly from any consumer television set. Originally branded as the "Sears Tele-Game", Atari-branded versions would eventually become available, as well.

Following the success of their Pong home device, Bushnell started a project within Atari to develop the world's first ever flexible home gaming console, that could allow different titles to be swapped in and out at any time. In order to help see this device come to fruition, a deal was struck in which Atari would be acquired by entertainment conglomerate, Warner Communications, in exchange for $28 million, and Bushnell getting to stay on in his same roles, as chairman and CEO. Though they would ultimately be beaten to market by the 1976 release of US rival, Fairchild's, swappable cartridge-based home game console, the Video Entertainment System (later rebranded as the "Channel F"), Atari would eventually succeed at creating their own such system, as well.

Featuring 6 metal switches (later scaled back to 4) and a faux wood grain panel on the front, the Atari Video Computer System - - or VCS, for short - - would officially launch on October 14, 1977. While Atari was a bit slow to build up a respectable library and user base for the console, they would finally begin to hit their stride by the beginning of the 1980s, with monster hits like Space Invaders and Asteroids (amongst others). It was the (eventual) collection of top-notch titles like these that made the VCS the incredibly popular cultural phenomenon that it was. In honor of the console's anniversary, we would like to take a look back with you, now, at 12 of the finest examples of groundbreaking excellence that the Atari VCS/2600's library had to offer.

Frustrated by the lack of success following the launch of their 8-bit Master System console in America, as well as their continued struggles against rival Nintendo in the Japanese home console market, Sega quickly began working on their next iteration of gaming hardware. During this time frame, another contender entered the arena - - Japanese computer company NEC, with their PC Engine (the Japanese counterpart to what would eventually be released in North America as the TurboGrafx-16). This would prompt Sega to incorporate a 16-bit CPU into their specs, as well a to focus their design on closely modelling the architecture of their popular System 16 arcade hardware.

In contrast to Nintendo's strategy, the external appearance of Sega's new console would be designed to appeal to a more mature audience. To that end, the console's design would be inspired by, and specifically modeled to resemble, a high-end CD player (which, at the time, was still an increasingly popular luxury device); to the point that it would even end up including a volume slider and headphone jack. While Sega would dub the console the "Mega Drive" in most other regions, Sega of America chairman, David Rosen, would change its moniker to "Genesis" for the North American market, as he thought it sounded better and wanted the system to represent a new beginning for Sega.

Sega would officially launch their Genesis/Mega Drive console in the fall of 1989, in Japan, and then on September 15th, 1989, in North America (following a limited test release, a month prior). While the Mega Drive would fail to achieve much additional success for Sega in the Japanese market, the North American Genesis would prove to be quite a different story. As a result of Sega successfully beating NEC's TurboGrafx-16 and Nintendo's 16-bit Super Nintendo to market, in addition to a brilliant and relentless marketing campaign, Sega was able to not only gain the lead in the 16-bit console race, but hold on to it for the majority of its duration.

Of course, the success of any game console is always largely dependent on the size and quality of its library of titles, and the Genesis most definitely did not disappoint on that front. Between legendary arcade ports, outstanding third-party fare, and some of the greatest sports titles of all time, the Genesis arguably boasted on of the greatest libraries in gaming history. It took some doing, but we have managed to whittle their impressively large list of hits down to just 12 of the greatest to ever grace the console; which we proudly present to you without further ado:

Throughout the second half of the 1980's, Nintendo managed to absolutely dominate the home console market with their wildly successful Nintendo Entertainment System. They also enjoyed some smaller scale success with their Game & Watch/Time-Out line of simple and relatively low-cost dedicated handheld games. Eventually, Nintendo decided to create a  a portable counterpart to the NES, with which to replace the Game & Watch line.

This new device needed to feature more complex games with better graphics and, most importantly, interchangeable game cartridges. It would be designed to closely mirror the look and feel of the Nintendo Entertainment System controller, in order to attract the millions of fans that that console had already amassed. The design team would also settle on an unlit, green-tinted super-twisted nematic monochrome screen so as to help keep power consumption and costs down.

Nintendo's portable, which would ultimately be dubbed the "Game Boy", would launch in North America, on July 31st, 1989. Despite its notable lack of light and color, the little handheld that could would somehow manage to extend Nintendo's domination into the portable segment of the market (even among rival devices that were offering those very features). And dominate, the Game Boy would - - for the better part of a decade, in fact.

Enjoying one of the lengthiest runs of any Nintendo console, the Game Boy managed to grow a pretty substantial library over the course of its life. While many of these titles may have been average or even somewhat poor in quality, there were a number of pretty incredible releases as well. In honor of the 36th anniversary of the portable's North American debut, we would like to present to you our picks for the 12 greatest titles that Nintendo's Game Boy had to offer.

Following the near decade-long, David-like success of their original monochrome Game Boy, Nintendo finally decided to release a half-hearted attempt at a colorized successor in 1998 with their markedly minimalistic follow-up, the Game Boy Color (even the device's name was phoned in). Although the system was a long time coming, Nintendo apparently realized pretty quickly that the GBC didn't constitute enough of an effort to suffice. Due to increasing competitive pressure, they decided to reveal an even better color portable, less than a year after the Game Boy Color's North American debut. It's immediate successor, the Game Boy Advance, would feature a much more powerful 32-bit processor, and dramatically
improved graphics, while still maintaining backwards compatibility with both of its predecessors.

Given the fact that the Game Boy Color was barely on store shelves a year before market attention and resources began shifting to its incoming successor, the GBC holds the unfortunate distinction of having one of the weakest libraries of any Nintendo console (not counting, of course, the absolutely massive assortment of original Game Boy titles that it could also play). Thankfully, the Game Boy Advance was around for a number of years before Nintendo decided to unveil their next portable console, so the GBA library was pretty stacked by comparison. Additionally, with hardware performance quite similar to the Super Nintendo, the Game Boy Advance was able to play host to an impressive number of classic ports from the 16-bit era, in addition to the multitude of outstanding original titles.

The incredible assortment of fantastic new and retro titles made the Game Boy Advance a particularly popular device, as it was a boon for fans and collectors of both. It's those outstanding original titles, however, that we will be focusing on today; and we have assembled a pretty respectable list (if we do say so ourselves) of some of the very best that the system had to offer. So, without further ado, here are 12 of the greatest (original) titles that the Game Boy Advance had to offer.

Despite the massive success of the Wii, Nintendo had a problem on their hands just a few short years after its release. While the system exploded in popularity shortly after its launch, it was failing to maintain that same level of interest over time. The motion-based controls that Nintendo (and their competitors) had gone all in on over the subsequent console cycle had clearly been a passing fad. Changes to the design of their next home gaming system would be necessary if Nintendo desired to stay relevant.

​For inspiration, Nintendo decided to look no further than their very own successful line of DS handheld game systems. They came up with the idea for a tablet controller that would serve as a second screen, offering developers and players a choice of how they wanted to control their gameplay, be it with standard buttons and sticks, a touchscreen, or motion controls (for those that still wanted them). As an added bonus, this would also let players choose (in most cases) to either view the gameplay on a regular television screen, or the tablet controller itself, offering a unique level of versatility and flexibility for gaming enthusiasts who had to share the TV with other members of their household. The new console would ultimately also boast better graphics, HDMI output (which the Wii had notably lacked), and full backward compatibility with the Wii.

​Dubbed the Wii U, Nintendo's new console would make its debut on November 18, 2012. Sadly, despite looking like a pretty respectable machine on paper, the console ended up being a pretty big flop for Nintendo, not even managing to reach a quarter of the numbers that its predecessor had sold. While the astoundingly poor choice of name was a big part of the Wii U's problems, so too was its comparatively anemic library of titles. Though the Wii U did have a fairly reasonable selection to offer at first, support for the console waned after the first couple of years, to the point where major new titles for the system began to come pretty few and far between.

That isn't to say that the Wii U's library was bad, however. Far from it. By nearly any metric, a good portion of the Wii U's titles actually ended up being objectively better than those that had been released for the Wii. Not only was the Wii U not absolutely rife with the same massive pile of third-party (wrist) waggle-controlled garbage games that the Wii library became infamous for, but many of its Nintendo-published titles were higher quality as well. Most games on the Wii U tended to score better with critics, featured more precise controls, and were arguably just more fun. Please read on for a list of 12 of the best games that the Wii U had to offer.

After the massive success of Sony's original PlayStation, a follow-up console basically became a foregone conclusion. Rival Sega, which had utterly taken a beating with their ill-fated Saturn console, attempted to correct course with their next gaming system, the Dreamcast; even managing to get a jump on the competition by getting their new hardware to market over a year before anyone else. Sony, still enjoying their considerable lead in the race, was able to take some time in developing a proper successor to the PlayStation, and did ultimately succeed in delivering something truly worthy of following in that formidable console's footsteps.

The PlayStation 2 would officially be unveiled at the Tokyo Game Show on September 20, 1999, merely a week after the release of Sega's Dreamcast. Despite some savvy design decisions, a respectable library of new and upcoming titles, and the Dreamcast's modest early foothold in that generation's console race, it wouldn't be enough. The absolutely massive amount of hype leading up to, and then following, the October 26, 2000 North American launch of Sony's smartly-designed PlayStation 2 console would impact Dreamcast sales to the point that Sega would have to prematurely bring its run to an end, just five months later.

The hype was definitely warranted. In addition to doubling as a budget-friendly DVD player, and being backward-compatible with a massive collection of original PlayStation titles, the PS2 would boast its own substantial library of games - - one of the largest for any console, not only then, but ever. While a collection that large is bound to have at least a few stinkers, it also, of course, contained plenty of top-notch exclusives as well, both temporary, and permanent (at least for that generation). Please read on for a selection of 12 of the finest titles to ever grace the PlayStation 2.