Consoles you keep just for 1 or 2 games

[Az]

Dozens of years of video game collecting quickly eats up available space around your TV set. After a while everyone runs into that horrible moment where you're forced to pick out a console to be unhooked due to limited space or inputs.

We've all got our stalwarts, those favorites that will be permanent fixtures until they finally bite the dust and need replaced. On the opposite end you've probably got some that do nothing but collect dust since it's few and far between when they're fired up. Between those two extremes do you have any consoles that you leave hooked up (or handhelds you hang on to) just for the sake of a tiny amount of games? If so, what system and for what games?

I have 3 consoles that fall into that category. First is the 32x. Although it's an add-on rather than a console, it's one that either requires being removed or adding a second Mega Drive if I want to play SMS games. I got it at launch and own probably a dozen or so titles for it. Unfortunately nowadays most of the titles I held onto it for are ports that have superior versions on other platforms (MKII, Space Harrier, DOOM). I can justify keeping it hooked up though for 2 exclusive games: Cosmic Carnage & Virtua Racing Deluxe.

N64 - I'll admit I am 20 years late to the N64 party. I wouldn't even own this if I hadn't found it in a large lot of video game stuff from a thrift store. It's used entirely as an AkiI/THQ wrestling machine; specifically WCW NWO World Tour & WCW NWO Revenge. Just within the past weeks I picked up the WWF games but find myself going back to the WCW games due to the roster.

3DO - This might as well be a dedicated Way of the Warrior arcade board. No other games on this system hold my interest more than a minute or two since I didn't own one before I have no warm fuzzy nostalgice attachment to anything. WotW is a shitty cheese-filled digitized fighter but looks amazing compared to it's contemporary brethren. Like a low-budget 80's B movie, if you accept it for what it is rather than what it isn't there's definitely some fun to be had.

[celerystalker]

I don't have any that are just one or two game boxes, but some that are close enough that I'll go anyway.

My N64 is basically for Mario 64 and wrestling games, though I do play other stuff on occasion like Wetrix, Star Soldier, Sin & Punishment, etc., but Mario and Aki wrestlers are the only regular rotation stuff.

CD-i I mainly do the Zelda: Wand of Gamelon and Link: Faces of Evil pair, though I do get out other oddities on rare occasion.

PC-FX: I mainly play Battle Heat, though I will replay some others like Team Innocent and Last Imperial Prince through again.

Wonderswan: I don't have a ton of games for it, but Makaimura and Buffers Evolution are my only regulars.

32X is basically just for Space Harrier for me with an regularity. There are other's I don't dislike, but again, it's the only one I'm sure to fire up once every few months.

Gamecube: Eternal Darkness is my only guaranteed to play through once a year. I did play the holy shit out of Animal Crossing for awhile, though, and I really like Luigi's Mansion and Kururin Squash.

Xbox: Basically Rygar on the Tecmo Arcade Classics, Toejam & Earl III, and once in awhile it's fun to play Tron 2.0 or bust out Steel Batallion.

I guess those are the ones with the fewest games I regularly play. I have more games that I enjoy on them as well, but if I'm really honest the games I mentioned are the only ones I'd feel comfortable saying that I play them at least once a year. It's tough, because some stuff, like RPGs, I play once, then won't come back to for years until I've forgotten enough to enjoy it again (unless it's something like Earthbound or Final Fantasy III where I just love them too much and find time to beat every year or rwo).

Oh, the Wii is basically a Fortune Street box for me.

[Steve W]

For the Gamecube, It's basically a Phantasy Star Online dedicated machine. I've put countless hours into PSO on the Dreamcast and GC, I still go back to it every once in a while even though I lost my level 110 character due to a bad third-party memory card.

There's a lot of machines in my collection that have at least one good game that pulls me back every once in a while. For the Gizmondo handheld, it's Sticky Balls. For the GameWave DVD system, it's Letter Zap. For the Nuon, I'd have to say Merlin Racing edges out Tempest 3000 for me personally. For the Xavix Port, it's Bowling. These systems have not been emulated, so there's no way to play them other than plugging them in.

I don't really play my 32X anymore, since I could never find one that didn't glitch or freeze during gameplay. I do play it through emulation, though, just to see if I can finally make it through Shadow Squadron. I just can't make it through to the final level.

[Tanooki]

While not just 1-2 I've done it for something with under 10...and I stupidly redid it some years later again to have the same result -- played out, got my fill, got bored with nothing left new to enjoy -- dust got thick, wallet got thicker.

The thing -- Virtual Boy. I love it, hate it, not because of its limits but it's too damn small library. I know now the sad thing is the library is twice the size with solidly done amateur projects and conversions of even stuff like Street Fighter II but damn it's still not enough to qualify even getting a flash kit and the thing alone. The truth is I kept it both times for quite a few years, just because I liked it, not because I used it, and that's why I kept it alone.

I've never seen a reason to hold onto something for like 2 games, seemed like it would get too boring so I just ignored it or emulated it. While now I don't consider it a console, I did have a Pokemon Mini for around 5 years, it was gifted to me long ago (90s) by an online girlfriend overseas of sorts I had and it came with 4 games. It's so limited it was more of like a tamagotchi or a cubeworld device with like 1 thing to do on it so I don't consider it a console or a handheld game, but if it does qualify for this discussion I kept it because of her gift, and because I like Pokemon.

[bb_hood]

N64 - I'll admit I am 20 years late to the N64 party. I wouldn't even own this if I hadn't found it in a large lot of video game stuff from a thrift store. It's used entirely as an AkiI/THQ wrestling machine; specifically WCW NWO World Tour & WCW NWO Revenge. Just within the past weeks I picked up the WWF games but find myself going back to the WCW games due to the roster.


If you diddnt grow up with the N64 then yeah its easy to not be a huge fan. I dont love the N64 nearly as much as the NES or the SNES but it has some really excellent titles. Mischief Makers, Gauntlet Legends, Killer Instinct Gold, Mario 64, Goldeneye make the system worth owning. My N64 isnt hooked up, but its there when I want it.

[Tanooki]

I'll second that, except mine is plugged in. I can't remember the last time I powered it up though, all goes back to me having too many games and being largely turned off by the recent years climate of old Nintendo game abuse online and off. My current newish TV works just nicely with the thing too so it's not for a lack of a display that doesn't suck.

I'd throw in there first party ignored here stuff like Indiana Jones, Castlevania Legacy of Darkness, Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (and the 2D sequel), Hydro Thunder, (if you import both Sin & Punishment and Bangaioh), Bomberman Hero, Ogre Battle 64, Starcraft 64, and Conker's Bad Fur Day are a few other shouldn't be ignored things to try out and hopefully like. N64 gets dumped on, somewhat fairly, somewhat not due to the nature of the PSX it was up against but it wasn't lacking for more than enough solid games to enjoy the 5 years it was ticking. Be reasonable, most people don't buy 10 games a year, many would be lucky or happy at least to get half that. If you take the time (hours) to really clear the game (not 100%, just play the stages needed to get the end boss knocked off) it's a long run and worth while seeing what works out.

[calgon]

Castlevania aria of sorrow and gba. Do not have interest in any other games on the system and generally don't like portables much.
I'd probably be okay emulating it for my yearly playthrough I suppose

[Kwyjibo]

I only play Super Mario 64 on my N64. I bought the console just to speedrun the game. Also bought a RAM expansion and Gameshark v3 so I could use the save state cheat in it.

[Atarileaf]

For me, I have a Sega Master System/Power Base Converter just for Rampage. I have only five games each for the SNES (plus one homebrew) and five for the N64. I also only have 3 for the TG-16 but the games I have for these systems are must haves for me so I have no problem keeping them around.

[Niku-Sama]

Pong systems, namely a few Magnavox Odyssey systems

[eskobar]

Well, unfortunately I had to sell my collection a few years ago and I have several systems with only 2 or 3 games, not because I don't want more, its because I can't afford to buy more right now.

For VB I have: Teleroboxer and Mario Clash
For Saturn I have: Dungeons and Dragons Collection and Donpachi
For Dreamcast I only have: Grandia II and Jet Grind Radio
For SMS I only have: Ys and Golden Axe Warrior
For Genesis I only have: Shining Force I and II, Phantasy Star II and Cadash.

hehehehe :(

[kupomogli]

Wii U.

[Tanooki]

You know that's a good one I hadn't considered. Powerbase Converter. I'd actually be very tempted to own one of those, if for anything maybe a small very small selection of SMS games I love that didn't end up on the GG as well. The original Alex Kidd comes to mind, but I have to admit of any of it I do miss the non-ported Golden Axe Warrior and Ys as well. I can't think of much as the GG got a lot of it and in better form if you don't mind the smaller screen. If I could ever bumble into a very cheap 32X I'd grab that for Star Wars and Star Trek.

[Gameguy]

There is the Master Gear converter too, if you want to play SMS games on a Sega Game Gear. There's very little I would prefer to play on a Game Gear these days as the hardware itself just bothers me, but if you prefer playing on the console it's something to look into.

[AdamAnt316]

For me, thus far, it's generally been the 'all in ones'. Chief among them is the GCE Vectrex. I don't even have any game cartridges for it as of yet, just the built-in Minestorm game (which is what got me hooked on the Vectrex in the first place). I know there are multi-carts out there, and I've played various other Vectrex games using emulators, but I have yet to go beyond the "pack-in" with the real hardware. To me, the main 'deficiency' of multi-carts is that you only get the games, not the screen overlays which go with them (unless there's a multi-cart out there which includes them).

After that would be the Nintendo Virtual Boy. As mentioned elsewhere in the thread, there weren't too many games released for it, so it having this status is a given. However, I wasn't even able to track down any games for mine until nearly a decade after I acquired it, when I found a store selling Virtual Boy games in with other classic games (the first such games I'd seen 'in the flesh' since the VB's original retail 'heyday' such as it was). I picked up Mario Tennis and Galactic Pinball; just last month, I picked up a copy of Wario Land at a swap-meet (the only VB game the seller had). Not sure how many more games for it I'll buy, given how hard it's been to track them down 'in the wild', but we shall see.
-Adam

[Emperor Megas]

The only game I play on the WiiU is Mario Kart 8.

[retro junkie]

I have consoles from the NES to the PS3, plus most every portable from throughout the years. I still play my Gameboy Pocket. So there are some portables that I keep simply because of a handful of games.

WonderSwan portable for games Pocket Fighter and Klonoa Moonlight Museum.
SwanCrystal portable for One Piece Swan Colosseum, Guilty Gear Petit 1&2, and the Digimon games.

Atari Jaguar for Tempest 2000, Defender 2000, Raiden, Rayman, and Super Burnout.

Neo Pocket Color for Metal Slug 1 & 2, and the fighting games which are a handfull.

And I do have the Pokemon Mini which I think is a very good piece of tech that was wasted on a handful of mediocre mini games. And the games' only redeeming quality are Pokemon images. I keep it because I like the tech.

[Tanooki]

I wish I kept my Pokemon Mini it's a perfect mediocre bite sized experience if your time is limited. Now the prices on them are sick if anyone cares to look, considering what's to be offered there.

[SparTonberry]

Didn't Pokemon Mini only HAVE like 3 games released in the US? So I guess with only 1 or 2 games you'd have a sizable part of the library. :D

I'm guessing it didn't get much attention at all until Pokemon Channel for the GameCube included an emulator and unlockable games for it (I don't know the lineup but I read at least one if not more of the games included were exclusive).

[Tron 2.0]

The original xbox for coin-ops and being able to play pazner dragoon orta.I wasn't a early adopter for the console by that generation,PS2&GC filled my gaming needs.When i seen the original xbox could emulate arcade games.I went ahead got one from a friend plus i all ways wanted to play sega offerings for the console.

[Tanooki]

Didn't Pokemon Mini only HAVE like 3 games released in the US? So I guess with only 1 or 2 games you'd have a sizable part of the library. :D

I'm guessing it didn't get much attention at all until Pokemon Channel for the GameCube included an emulator and unlockable games for it (I don't know the lineup but I read at least one if not more of the games included were exclusive).

Pretty much. It came with one, then they sold three more then wussed out and pulled it in the NA market first. Pokemon Party Mini was the bundle game, then we got Pinball Mini, Puzzle Collection, and Zany Cards -- I had all those.

Then Europe very skimpy in release got +1 POkemon Tetris along with Japan... and then Japan got also: Puzzle Collection 2, Race Mini, Pichu Bros, Togepi's Great Adventure, and Breeder Mini

10 games in the library total, 4 less than the total US line-up on Virtual Boy. It's the most short line-up on a Nintendo system that took cartridges or some kind of inserted media as far as I know.

[SparTonberry]

10 games in the library total, 4 less than the total US line-up on Virtual Boy. It's the most short line-up on a Nintendo system that took cartridges or some kind of inserted media as far as I know.

That depends on if you want to count physical DSi-exclusive games as a set (3 released in NA + 1 EU-sorta-exclusive that was released as an original DS game in Japan with an add-on, is the total library.
The rest of the "DSi" library is either backwards compatible or is DLC games.)
So far there's only been ONE New 3DS exclusive physical game (and that looks likely to remain), with 2 N3DS-exclusive DLC games excluding SNES VC games.

[Tanooki]

True enough but despite the hardware bump they got over the similarly branded system they never really got advertised as their own new machine, just an upgrade of sorts while the GBC was played off as something new so that really hadn't crossed my mind. Sure 3DS wins, they have 1.5 games made just for it currently on physical media -- Xenoblade and Hyrule Warriors(works but miserably so on normal 3DS.) I'm wondering if the other WiiU ports will suffer bad performance or they'll properly optimize the stuff for 3DS when Mario Maker and Yoshi's Wooly World pop over. Mind you those 2 games are far less intense for stuff going on on screen with AI behind it like the mobs in that zelda off shoot.

And I guess if we do consider those systems, I got rid of BOTH of them because they lied and put nothing out on them so in respect to that no, no I wouldn't keep a console for 1-2 games. ;)

[Trebuken]

SuperGrafx = Daimakaimura
Nuon = Tempest 3000

[SpaceHarrier]

The original xbox for coin-ops and being able to play pazner dragoon orta.I wasn't a early adopter for the console by that generation,PS2&GC filled my gaming needs.When i seen the original xbox could emulate arcade games.I went ahead got one from a friend plus i all ways wanted to play sega offerings for the console.

This is more or less exactly what I was going to post. I also still enjoy DOA 2 Ultimate from time to time. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[Tron 2.0]

This is more or less exactly what I was going to post. I also still enjoy DOA 2 Ultimate from time to time. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
That as well for what tecmo has in games for the xbox.

[bb_hood]

The only game I play on the WiiU is Mario Kart 8.

The only WiiU game I have is Mario Maker. Its worth owning just for Mario Maker

[stlgamer75]

Wii U for me as well - Mario Kart 8 & New Super Mario Bros.

Close second would be my PSP - all I ever played on this was Virtua Tennis World Tour even though I owned 3 other games.

[Manhattan Sports Club]

PS2 -- for Sega Classics Collection (the compilation of selected Sega Ages remakes for the US market). I got a Japanese PS2 with the intent to collect all the import Sega Ages that didn't make it over here, but now I'm not sure if I'll pursue it.

PS3 -- Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, duh. It was worth the investment for the arcade versions of Shinobi and Altered Beast, and one of the best Sega compilations of all time for one of my most beloved consoles. This, and Ex-Troopers would be another.

3DS -- The only system I care for this generation, but mostly keep it for the 3DS Shinobi installment and Sega 3D Classics Collection.

GBA -- Chu Chu Rocket.

Game Gear -- Magical World Popils, a nice little underrated action-puzzle game few know about, and exclusive to the Game Gear.

[Tanooki]

^Now there's a dedicated Sega fan -- and it's not too far unknown I own Popils, got the english release from the UK a few weeks ago along with Halley Wars and Pengo.

[SparTonberry]

That was my thought, too. A lot of non-Sega consoles to buy solely for Sega games. :D

[Tanooki]

Kind of surprised he doesn't have Phantasy Star 0 as it's excellent, feels like the DC game entirely but with a cool story added on.

[Koa Zo]

An N64 will always be in my collection so that I can play Bangaioh and Sin & Punishment.
Vectrex for Vector Pilot.



PS2 -- for Sega Classics Collection (the compilation of selected Sega Ages remakes for the US market). I got a Japanese PS2 with the intent to collect all the import Sega Ages that didn't make it over here, but now I'm not sure if I'll pursue it.

The Japanese volumes 20 and later are must haves for any retro Sega fan.
Vol.26 Dynamite Deka is one of my favorites. AFAIK the game engine is uipgraded from the arcade and it plays faster and smoother.
Vol.30 Galaxy Force II Special Extended Edition is also upgraded from the arcade, as well as allowing arcade-like control with Hori Flight Stick.
And then there's the final game: Vol.33 Fantasy Zone Complete Collection = a must have for any Fantasy Zone fan!

[Sailorneorune]

The Japanese PSN has quite a few (if not all) of the Sega Ages 2500 games on it. Bought the Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box for the cool behind-the-scenes stuff and different-region versions of Gunstar, Alien Soldier, and Dynamite Headdy.

Mine would be the N64 for Smash, Pokémon Snap, and the Goemon games. Tetrisphere is pretty darn good too.

I also still have a GBC for Kirby Tilt 'n Tumble. My thoughts on this game: this, Mass Attack, and Super Star/Ultra are proof that anyone that tells you that all Kirby games are easy is lying.

[Zap!]

3DO - This might as well be a dedicated Way of the Warrior arcade board. No other games on this system hold my interest more than a minute or two since I didn't own one before I have no warm fuzzy nostalgice attachment to anything. WotW is a shitty cheese-filled digitized fighter but looks amazing compared to it's contemporary brethren. Like a low-budget 80's B movie, if you accept it for what it is rather than what it isn't there's definitely some fun to be had.

WOTW is one of the most polarizing games I have ever seen. You either love it or hate it, and I absolutely love it.

Have you tried Crash 'N Burn or Total Eclipse? I enjoyed those two 3DO games.

[SparTonberry]

I've forgotten my Japanese GameCube has only two games for it: Nintendo Puzzle Collection and (for some reason) Kaze no Tact (The Wind Waker).

[BlastProcessing402]

There is no reason I keep my Gamecube around other than I wouldn't get anything for it to make it worth the hassle of selling it. I do have GC games, but I have a Wii for those with component cables, which I'll never have for the GC. More so, I also have Nintendon't installed and can play them "emulated" on the Wii U.

32x, I only have ever had one game. Back in the day, I had rented a few other games, but obviously won't be doing that these days. Someday maybe I'll get a Genesis Everdrive and play other 32X games.

Gamegear and Lynx I only have 3-4 games each.

[Tanooki]

Thats harsh on the GC but if you have no love for anything Gameboy Player usable as well I can see it maybe.