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[German Shocks]

When I have time I really like going back and playing some of my favorite games from the past, as well as playing some that I missed along the way.
One thing I've noticed is that I gravitate towards the SNES. It is my contention that the 16-bit generation has aged better than any other, and that this will probably be true for a long, long time. I'm including more recent systems such as the PS3/Xbox 360 in that assertion. I would also add that I feel that NES has also aged well, just not quite to the same level as the SNES.

I think there are a few reasons for this:

1. Games were 2D, and I think 16-bit graphics were perfect in two dimensions. When I go back and turn on Super Mario World, A Link to the Past, or Earthbound, the games still look beautiful and fresh to me. Going back to any 3D game from a previous generation I think the games generally look terrible and don't age well at all.

2. The controllers become more advanced than the 8-bit generation. With more buttons as well as the shoulder buttons added it was easier to build in more control.

3. Gameplay still had to be a main focus due to the limitations of technology.

4. The 32/64-bit generation was the real beginning of 3D gaming on consoles. When I go back and play some of those games the controls feel clunky and the camera placement is often awkward.

What is your opinion on this?

 

[Erebus]

128bit

But you need either a CRT or a good upscaler.

 

[Cakeboxer]

SNES / 16-bit. Timeless classics while my eyes are bleeding from N64 or PS2 3D games. 360+ is too new to count imo.

 

[Ozzie666]

SNES and Genesis generation by far. The GBA was an extension of that generation and was amazing even in the early 2000's. You could release a new GBA today and I think it would find a decent audience and sell well. The 16bit generation and 2D games are almost timeless.

 

[keefged4]

16 bit. Mega drive and Snes are both timeless.

 

[Hudo]

16 bit generation, imho. Well-made spritework just doesn't age. Look at Secret of Mana or Super Metroid on the SNES or Thunderforce IV on the Mega Drive. Look at Metal Slug on the NeoGeo. This shit looks as good today as it did back then.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

16bit
Genesis
TG16
SNES
Neo-Geo

 

[Sohurmk833]

I´d say 128 bit because most of the games still hold up very well to this day if you just increase resolution and framerate. It´s also the most varied generation with loads of different gameplay and graphic styles.

 

[Sportler]

PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
I also think that most of the remastered games being released—or that have already been released—come from that era.

 

[Paasei]

16-bit for sure. Some developers (mostly indie) still use it to this day.

 

[DEAD ORIGINAL]

16 bit easily, still have a mega drive and play it every few years and it still looks good, where as PS1, PS2, and PS3 is like putting on old glasses blurry as fuck.

 

[Games Bookstore]

256 and 512Bit?

 

[Gilgalaad]

SNES/Mega drive for me but maybe it's because i'm an old gamer

 

[Durin]

128-bit/PS2 era for sure

1. The clunkiness of early 3D was receding, controls/camera work improved, and you saw huge growth for the industry.
2. Budgets were low enough that most genres were thriving with innovation, including stuff that weren't action games.
   1. Every gen afterward saw some fall-off of whole genres to where only indies are supporting some of them now.
3. Arcades were still around producing cool stuff, other platforms were getting more ports of these games, and you had tons of weird peripherals (dance-mats, guitars, microphones, sega bass fishing controller, etc.) that were viable, whereas many are gone or cater heavily for the sim-crowd (racing wheels, flight sticks) now.
4. Many games visually aged well out of that gen vs 32/64-bit, some great 2d games (SF: 3rd Strike, Odin Sphere, etc.) and through emulation/recomps can upscale to 4k, often 60fps + have HD texture packs.
5. Game platforms were genuingly more distinct from one another, which changed after the PS3/360 gen.
6. Games could look cinematic without CG, but didn't have the resources to interrupt gameplay so often like the PS3/360 gen onward have.