Bitter McRant-Pants #4

By Liam O'Connor

Need some reasons to keep your current generation consoles?

The end of one generation, about to be succeeded by another: this is the situation the majority of gamers currently find themselves preparing for. And while some gamers will happily pre-order, queue up and pay for the latest technology, the large majority of gamers cannot justify spending that kind of money.

It’s not just that the Playstation 3 carries a large price tag. While Americans may be foaming at the mouth about the US$600 price tag, the reception in New Zealand isn’t quite as bad. After all, we’ve always been asked to pay ridiculous amounts of money for our consoles. The Sega Saturn originally carried a price tag of over a thousand dollars, and the Playstation 2 originally retailed for roughly a thousand dollars as well.

Softer options have weighed in at about $750, and some have managed to hit the $500 – the Gamecube and the Xbox 360 Core System spring to mind – but that’s still a bit of cash, especially when you throw in a game or two.

As a consequence, many gamers are subjected to a most horrible period known as the waiting period: the time when publishers decide to focus on the new systems at the expense of the old systems. It will be a few years and a few price drops before people feel comfortable with paying for the new systems, and support for the current crop of systems is guaranteed to dry up; indeed, Microsoft are already taking steps to discontinue the original Xbox.

And with no new titles on the horizon, gamers are expected to make do with what is available. Used games often provide a great source of new material; indeed, Trade Me still allows me to be an active Mega Drive supporter, even if you do find the range of titles to be lacklustre at times. Gamers can also revisit their current collections and relive some of gaming’s greatest moments.

It does make you wonder if perhaps Sony will break the trend. After all, at E3 they did promise to support the PS2 for many years to come. But then again, Sony promises lots of things. It would, however, make sense. The Playstation 2 retails for a fraction of the cost its baby brother will, and the current party trend and low-priced Platinum titles mean that there is plenty of reason to buy a PS2 right now.

And hey, who’s to say that you’re a fool for purchasing a Playstation 2 right now? For about $200 you can pick up a system and have access to some of the greatest games of all time. Additionally, you’ll also have access to the latest ‘party games’ that are currently fuelling some success for the Playstation late in the day. If a Playstation 2 isn’t your thing, you can pick up a used Xbox for about $150 with some games, but keep in mind it might not have a decent warranty. Additionally, Monaco has dropped Nintendo like a hot potato, and some excellent Nintendo deals have come as a consequence. For just over a hundred dollars you can pick up a Gamecube system: a bargain in anyone’s book.

There’s something to be said for picking up a system late in the day. An almost complete catalogue of titles has been published, and depending on how hard you are willing to look (and willing to pay), you can probably find a majority of the classics for each system. And for a fraction of stepping into the next generation, you can enjoy a selection of games that should tide you over until the next generation retails for a reasonable price. And let’s face it, the next generation has hardly got anyone raving about how it puts the last generation to shame.

So without further ado, I present my recommendations for the titles you should pick up for one of the consoles from the last generation (excluding the Dreamcast). And hey, if you already own all three consoles or already own these titles, then these are the games you should go and revisit. Unless you’re one of the lucky ones who can afford to throw money at the next generation.

Playstation 2: The PS2 is an excellent choice for your average person. The library of titles is ridiculously diverse, the system can be taken online for free, the platform is likely to get support for at least a year more, and the system retails for about $200 right now: some people spend that on a night on the town. If you haven’t got one already (HOW?) and you’re not willing to dive straight into the next generation, why not pick up a Playstation 2 today? Here are my top 5 picks for the system:

5) Final Fantasy X – Easily one of the greatest RPGs to ever grace consoles, Final Fantasy X is a landmark PS2 title. The battle system, unlike previous Final Fantasy games, is sophisticated and deep; well-though-out strategies win the day, not simply smashing ‘X’. The sphere grid also adds some interesting customisation to levelling up, rather than just having a universal stats increase. The story might be a tad cliché, but the character development is strong and it’s easy to get emotionally attached. You can find it for as little as $30 now, and with many hours of gameplay, it’s easily worth the money.

4) Tekken 5 – The Japanese always go mental for Virtua Fighter, but Kiwis have always loved their Tekken. Tekken 5 is the best Tekken game since Tekken 2, and at the bargain price of $35 it represents nothing but value. There’s plenty of meat to discover in the single-player mode, and providing you’re not a Johnny No-Mates, versus mode should last you forever. There’s also the ability to customise your character, and you can seriously spend forever just taking every character up to the rank of ‘Tekken Lord’. Unless you hate fighting games, this is an essential addition to the Playstation library.

3) Burnout 3 – Why Burnout 3, especially now that Burnout Revenge also retails for about $30? Easy: Burnout 3 is the better game. That might seem a little odd, since we’re told by video game publishers and magazines that the latest is always the greatest, but it’s not always true. Traffic checking might have seemed like a good idea, but it completely removes half of the brilliance that was Burnout: dodging between traffic on the wrong side of the road. Why risk a full-on collision when you can simply play it safe? In Burnout 3, there is equal chance to crash on either side of the road, so why not go for the seat-of-your-pants thrill and acquire some extra boost? You can probably find Burnout 3 for as little as $20 if you know where to look, and if you really want, you can get both Burnout 3 and Burnout Revenge for about $50. That’s a steal in anyone’s book.

2) Guitar Hero – Yes, it costs almost as much as the system, but it’s a title that is guaranteed to offer you plenty of value for money. A lot of the cost comes down to the Guitar Hero SG controller, something that is essential to the experience. However, with Guitar Hero 2 on the horizon, you’ll be able to put that Fisher Price guitar to further use as you rock out to a whole new list of songs. As I said in my review, this is one of the reasons people are glad they own a PS2, so you’d do well to pick it up. Unlike many other $100+ titles, you won’t discard this after a month.

1) SingStar – It might seem like an odd choice, but SingStar is nothing short of a phenomenon. It’s the ultimate accessible game; after all, everyone knows how to sing. There are plenty of versions of the game now, and all are compatible with each other, so you can either pick your favourite or build up your collection. Unlike Guitar Hero, the microphones don’t increase the price dramatically, and the standalone discs retail for a bargain price. It might not be so great to play alone, but get a few friends round (and if you’re older than 18, a few drinks flowing) and warble until your heart’s content.

Xbox: Microsoft is winding down support for the original Xbox in an attempt to push the Xbox 360; and that’s only natural. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not a great time to pick up an original Xbox. The original console still retails for about $290, but if you look around you might find some of the old bundles that came with up to 5 games for the same price. However, you can also pick up a used Xbox with 3 games for about $150, and you might get even better deals if you look on Trade Me. The Xbox is host to a variety of wonderful classics, and while some might be hard to find now, they’re certainly worth tracking down, simply because they are indeed so wonderful.

5) Panzer Dragoon Orta – It was actually a hard choice between Panzer Dragoon Orta and Jet Set Radio Future, but at the end of the day Jet Set Radio Future, while one of the best games ever created, isn’t as good as Smilebit’s other baby. Panzer Dragoon Orta is still a graphical tour de force, even today, and boasts some of the best game-play known to man. It might seem simplistic, being an on-rails shooter, but there has never been so much depth in a game. It’s rock hard, and finishing a level is truly an accomplishment. With rankings to encourage you to better and with plenty to unlock, this title will keep you going for ages. It’s quite hard to find – although you punks should have bought my spare copy when I had one – but it’s certainly worth the effort to look. Just don’t be conned into paying more than $40 it – be on the watch for someone called KrazyKat.

4) Outrun 2006 – Why wouldn’t I include something like Forza instead of Outrun 2006? Although Forza is certainly an excellent title – it’s the only racing simulation I can stand – Outrun 2006 simply offers a more euphoric experience. Drifting round corners has never felt so rewarding. Many will accuse it of being a simplistic arcade racer, but these people lack the effort to achieve perfect race times. It also offers additional modes that require players to achieve certain tasks, and they’ll take you ages to finish. Outrun 2006 has recently come down in price to $40, which is a total steal. It contains both Outrun 2 and Outrun 2 SP, which means you are effectively getting 2 games for that price. Playstation 2 owners can also pick it up for that price, and they would be smart to do so.

3) Fable – Fable got a lot of criticism because people expected it to be something other than it is: Microsoft’s version of The Legend of Zelda. Open one of the treasure chests that are scattered around and experience your first taste of Fable’s debt to Nintendo’s title. And the battle system and other trappings should be enough to convince you. But Fable offers more: a unique social experience that cannot be found in any other game available for the Xbox. It goes further than simply choosing to be good or evil; the entire world interacts with you to make it feel real. After getting boozed in the pub, you can wander up to ladies and pull the sexy hero pose. If you’re good looking, they’ll be impressed, but if you’re ugly, they’ll be repulsed. Just like real life then. Unfortunately, it takes more effort to get them into bed, but hey, you can always kick chickens while you do.

2) Knights of the Old Republic – Yes, KOTOR relies heavily on its Star Wars license. I’ll be honest, if you don’t like Star Wars then you might find KOTOR to be a bit lacking. However, KOTOR is single-handedly the best use of the Star Wars license: ever. It’s not just that it allows you to choose between Jedi or Sith; it’s that it crafts a brilliant story that has been accepted as official canon in the Star Wars universe. Gamers have long since grown tired of performing the Death Star trench run over and over, and without an X-Wing in sight, KOTOR provided gamers with a glimpse into the history of the Star Wars universe. It also has one of the best surprises since finding out that Vader was Luke’s daddy. You can probably find this gem for about $20 now. That’s just a bit more than a dozen (decent) beers, and KOTOR will last you a lot longer and bring you far better memories.

1) Halo 2 – Yes, yes – predictable I know, but Halo 2 really is the best value to be found on the Xbox. The single-player may be lacking somewhat compared to its perfect predecessor, but the online gameplay is outstanding; it’s still the number one title for the Xbox Live service. Not since Counter-Strike has a game become such an involved community experience. And now it’s easy to be part of it; The Warehouse are currently flogging off Halo 2 Xbox Live packs for $30. That means you get one of the greatest Xbox titles, a headset, and an entire year's worth of Xbox Live for about the price of a night at the cinema! Just make sure you beat all the 360 owners who are trying to get a cheap year of XBL to it.

Gamecube: You can currently get a Gamecube console for about $110 if you go to a dedicated games store. That’s less than a new release Xbox 360 title, and with that you have access to some of the greatest games ever created. The Gamecube was unfairly dismissed for its childlike image, but some of the console's best games are certainly not suitable for children. The best part about the Gamecube is that you can pick up a Freeloader disc and have access to a range of import titles that retail for a decent price. I recommend going on Trade Me and purchasing from Imports.4.u, who has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be one of the most reliable traders. However, if the local scene is more your thing (or less effort), you can still find some good bargains if you look hard enough. And remember, all your Gamecube stuff will work with Wii, so if you eventually choose to upgrade to Nintendo’s new system when the price is right, you can take all your Gamecube games with you.

5) F-Zero GX – If you thought Burnout was fast, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve played F-Zero GX. The unholy alliance of Sega and Nintendo has brought spectacular results: Sega’s style mixed with Nintendo’s charm and the consequential brilliance. With races so fast they’ll make your eyes bleed, F-Zero GX is the best racing game available for the Gamecube. Mario Kart: Double Dash might be more popular with the masses, but F-Zero GX offers more content and more depth. If you can finish it, you’re a god amongst men, so you’ll never be able to argue that it doesn’t bring value for money.

4) Super Mario Sunshine -- Super Mario Sunshine has often been criticised for simply being Super Mario 64 on vacation. But is that really a bad thing? After all, Super Mario 64 is one of the best games of all time. Super Mario Sunshine is actually superior in many ways; Fludd adds a layer of depth that many people fail to acknowledge. Additionally, it’s one of the most fleshed out Mario titles, offering a series of finely-crafted worlds, as only Miyamoto knows how, and a story that transcends the simple “rescue the princess”. Peach’s love child: brilliance. The combination of classic Mario platform action with the new style of explorative platforming means that Super Mario Sunshine is an essential addition to anyone’s Gamecube library.

3) The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker – The Legend of Zelda is a system-seller and there’s a reason. Even the “weakest” Zelda title is still one of the best games ever created. Some people will dismiss it for its cartoon graphics, and others will dismiss it for its sailing action, but both of these people are missing out. Sailing provides a therapeutic experience after challenging dungeons, and the general gameplay is simply a revision of the excellent Ocarina of Time. Link’s charming expressions coupled with a charming story and some brilliant boss battles make for a charming, enjoyable game that should bring a smile to the face of all but the most deliberately staunch of macho-wankers.

2) Eternal Darkness – You might be asking yourself why the hell Eternal Darkness is on here and not Resident Evil 4. You can find your answer here. So what makes Eternal Darkness worthy of a place on this list when the universally-lauded Resident Evil 4 doesn’t claim one? The answer is simple: Eternal Darkness plays the player. Eternal Darkness subverts all your expectations of video games and gets inside your head like no other game can. To explain individual sanity effects is to ruin them, but let’s just say that you’ll constantly be questioning whether or not what you’re witnessing is actually happening. Eternal Darkness transcends the boundaries of gaming and will actually have you questioning your own sanity. Experiences often stick with a player, but nothing sticks with you like Eternal Darkness. Well, except . . .

1) Metroid Prime – Single-handedly the best piece of software made since the Mega Drive/SNES era, Metroid Prime is the bastion of excellence. The entire game is beautifully crafted and presented, and it presents one of the most immersive worlds that gaming has ever seen. Not only are the breathtaking environments a delight to explore and navigate, but the little effects that bring them to life truly make this a wonderful title. From the way the charge beam bends space as it fires to the way you can see Samus’ reflection in her visor when bathed in light, everything in this game has been carefully planned to make it feel alive. It also represents a perfect transition of the 2D Metroid into three dimensions. The classic game-play is all there, begging the player to engage with it, experience with it, and appreciate it for the perfect game that it is. If you don’t own a Gamecube with this game, you’re doing yourself an injustice. At the price of acquiring this title, you have no excuse.

So there you have it: 15 games that should easily keep you entertained until the next generation is at a reasonable price. Now, don’t be silly and purchase all three consoles and all 15 games; you might as well invest in the next generation. However, if $200 is more your bag than $720, then you might want to look at picking up one of these consoles. And if you already own one of these consoles and don’t feel like shelling out for a new one and don’t feel like buying an old one, then you should pick up these titles if you don’t already own them. And if you do, you should certainly revisit them and enjoy some of gaming’s greatest moments all over again.

 del.icio.us  StumbleUpon  Facebook  Reddit