Which 6th gen console was your fave?

[outdated_gamer]

In that console gen, the PS2 stomped the competition, sales and support-wise, but I'm sure it wasn't the best for everyone. The Xbox had better graphics, better online, a standard hard drive, more big PC ports and a few exclusive Sega and Tecmo games, the GameCube had also better graphics, Nintendo exclusives, the best versions of the Resident Evil games and costed less and the Dreamcast had many cool Arcade ports and started the 6th gen.

Initially, I got myself a Cube, mainly to play Nintendo and Rare games while the multi-format titles and other things I was playing on the PC (also got several Xbox ports), but I wasn't totally happy with the purchase, some of the games disappointed me a bit and it also missed out on some games I wanted to play back then (although that was also the time when I became more PC-focused). Much later on, I experienced the Dreamcast too, but I never had a PS2 or Xbox (my first Xbox was the 360). I have to say some PS2 games were very good, although not that suited for my taste. There are still some Xbox games I haven't wrapped myself onto such as NGB, Otogi and Panzer Dragoon Orta.

When it comes to GameCube, I'm now able to appreciate it more than I did back then but I still remember it as the Nintendo system that lost them Rare and pushed them out of the competitive race, hence the Wii taking a bit different path.

What about you, which console of that era did you like best and why?

Discuss.

[gman72]

At the time my fave console was the PS2 but now its the xbox because emulation on that machine has far extended its lifespan for me, also I've been exploring some of the more obscure xbox titles of which there are a surprising amount.

[The Hardest of All Freds]

A year ago it would have been the DC, but having picked up my first xbox a few months back I have changed my mind. The S controller fits my hand better and it just seems a lot more solid than a PS2. The crystal version looks ace too.

[Sephiroth81]

My vote goes for PS2, with the Xbox in 2nd, then Gamecube, then Dreamcast.

Xbox sneaks in to 2nd through its ability as an emulation box as gman mentions (promise I won't start another argument with him over emulation - its clear we have very different tolerances over emulation! ). Generally had the best multiplatform games, and clearly the online was pretty special at the time (although I didn't really use it personally till the 360).

PS2 wins outright for sheer variety of games available though, best exclusives, as well as hardware backward compatibility with the PS1 out of the box (not even the PS3 offers that), the evolution of the most effective control pad of that generation and for many it was the first DVD player in their homes.

Gamecube and Dreamcast had their moments, and the Gameboy Player being a great reason to still own an original GC, but these are the two of the 4 I played on the least.

[gman72]

My vote goes for PS2, with the Xbox in 2nd, then Gamecube, then Dreamcast.

Xbox sneaks in to 2nd through its ability as an emulation box as gman mentions (promise I won't start another argument with him over emulation - its clear we have very different tolerances over emulation! ). Generally had the best multiplatform games, and clearly the online was pretty special at the time (although I didn't really use it personally till the 360).

PS2 wins outright for sheer variety of games available though, best exclusives, as well as hardware backward compatibility with the PS1 out of the box (not even the PS3 offers that), the evolution of the most effective control pad of that generation and for many it was the first DVD player in their homes.

Gamecube and Dreamcast had their moments, and the Gameboy Player being a great reason to still own an original GC, but these are the two of the 4 I played on the least.

PS3 does offer PS1 compatibility out of the box.

[theantmeister]

My favourite would have to be the Dreamcast. If only because it had Crazy Taxi and Soul Calibur - two games I spent an inordinate amount of time playing.

The GameCube is a close second. Of all the systems in this generation, this is the one I actually played the most games to the end on. Except for Viewtiful Joe. Jesus Christ that game is hard.

I'm still learning to love the PS2. By now I have a vast collection of games for it. One day I'll forgive it for killing my beloved Dreamcast.

I have an Xbox. I modded it. Its ok, I guess. I censored hate Halo though.

[Dreddonarrival]

The Gamecube with the Dreamcast being a very close second.

[mrmessy]

At the time it was the PS2 for me, but in the last 11 years I have become more fond of the Xbox and it's modable-ness , so that got my vote. I will never get rid of my PS2 though and the PS2 controller will always be miles better in my opinion.

[Sephiroth81]

PS3 does offer PS1 compatibility out of the box.

It does, but its software emulation. Its not hardware backward compatibility like the original large PS2 provided.

The reason why I love stuff like the Super Gameboy, Gameboy Player, Wii and original PS2 is that it doesn't settle for software emulation for the systems its offering compatibility for, its got the original hardware internally part in most cases so that it can play the games natively which means higher compatibility, and much much higher accuracy.

The PS1 emulator in the PS3 is "official" and therefore pretty decent, but its certainly not perfect (although significantly better than the Xbox 360's attempt at original Xbox emulation). See, I told you I have a different tolerance for this kind of stuff compared to you!! Which is why I have some gripes over original Xbox emulators at times that you overlook, but given its age and relatively low specs these days, I'll give it a bit of a pass.

[The Laird]

I am torn between the DC and Xbox. A while back I would have said the DC with all certainty but since getting an Xbox I have discovered some great stuff on that too. I am going to go with DC, but it's close, as it's the last console to offer that amazing Sega arcade experience. The GC would be next with PS2 in last place.

That said this generation is definitely my least favourite of all of them.

[DPrinny]

PS2, while at times the textures are a bit censored, it has an impressive back catalogue

Xbox is ok, it has a few great games, people seem to mainly use them as emulation devices

Gamecube, look outside Nintendos own games and its barren, kinda pointless to own one when the Wii plays almost all gamecube games

Dreamcast, most of its major titles have been ported to the above machines and its pad is censored

[Sephiroth81]

Gamecube, look outside Nintendos own games and its barren, kinda pointless to own one when the Wii plays almost all gamecube games

Dreamcast, most of its major titles have been ported to the above machines and its pad is censored

What gamecube games does the Wii not play? I'd be interested to know (so I don't download them by accident!) I thought the Wii (aside from the gimped later ones which removed the Gamecube ports) was basically just a Gamecube with slightly more memory and overclocked that would throttle back to Gamecube specs when in "Gamecube mode". I assumed the Gameboy Player was the only thing that the Wii couldn't do because it didn't have the ports for it.

Agree re Dreamcast. Its not a bad little arcade-quality home console for the late 90s, early 2000s, but other than a very few handful of games are available on other systems making it redundant.

[gman72]

Personally I find the Dreamcast quite over rated. The gushing of SEGA fan boys aside what you have is a decent machine and that's about it. It does have a handful of exclusives and they are ok - I have a soft spot for Zombie revenge - but in my opinion it doesn't do enough to put it above the PS2, Xbox or Gamecube, even the fact that it did online doesn't really mean much these days. A good machine but not the god bomb that some players would have you believe.

[The Laird]

I totally agree that the Dreamcast is not as amazing as a lot of people make it out to be. The controllers suck and there's no way it has the same quality of games as the Mega Drive or Saturn.

[David]

Dreamcast is my favourite console of ANY generation.

Ps2 least favourite