Greatest Launch title+system combo ?

[sabre2922]

Since the launch of the next-gen systems is upon us I thought this would be a valid question as a retrospective of the past launches of the greatest systems (well most of them anyway) and the greatest launch games thus far.



What do you consider the greatest combo of a launch title and game system up to the current-gen machines?

[miaandjohnrule]

I voted for SNES + SMW. I've got the most playtime out of that set and still love the game today. Good times! :)

[MarkMan]

I'm going with NES, SMB/Duck Hunt...

Good times.

[The_Chosen_One]

Neo Geo w/ Magician Lord

[jajaja]

Me too for NES + mario and duck hunt.

[THATinkjar]

Inspired by a little GameSpot article, eh sabre2922?

Anyway... Super Mario World clearly stands out. Though Super Mario 64 is a close second.

[sabre2922]

Yeah the Gamespot article I thought was a bit off though

[Sylentwulf]

I honestly can't imagine the gameboy being where it is today without tetris.

[Jumpman Jr.]

NES and Super Mario Bros.
Nothing like opening up a console and playing the best game ever made from right out of the box.

[Perkar]

i am partial to the gameboy + tetris combo, because of it's super-wide appeal, and my love of all things tetris, but i ended up voting for dreamcast + soul calibur. i can't think of a single other game that launched with a system that showed so well what the system was capable of doing. after another 2 years of games, i still think soul calibur is the most beautiful looking game on the system, and it's appeal is broader than most other fighters because of the control system. i suppose this could be a thread of its own (and probably is), but even a button masher has *some* chance playing an experienced player, making it somewhat more accessible than other games... (please don't read this as a "omg he just said soul calibur was a button masher!" comment, because that is no teven close to what i believe)

anyway.... DC + Soul Calibur = heaven

[Dire 51]

Genesis + Altered Beast. Why? It was the first example of how a new system could finally damn near bring the arcade home, at least for me.

[GetImOliver]

N64 plus Super Mario 64 gets my vote

[Retsudo]

I picked Nes + Super Mario because thats the only time I bought a system at launch. Oh the good times :-P

[Ruudos]

NES + SMB/Duck Hunt.

[mezrabad]

(Atari 2600? What the hell was that? No system ever launched that was called the Atari 2600.)

The Atari VCS + Combat was a pretty good combo. The system and the games were pretty darn expensive so when we got the system with no extra games, we were really happy to have Combat with it.

Yes, I cast my vote based entirely on subjective feelings.

(Space Invaders came about 2 weeks later. Then we were even happier.)

[Poofta!]

you forgot the best, and most important launch title ever. Super Mario 64. it basically was the only must-play n64 game for a year, and it was worth it.

[unwinddesign]

Dreamcast w/ Soul Calibur. Everyone was blown away. Even me, the resident Dreamcast critic, had to admit that the game looked absolutely spanking amazing.

[gman100]

gamecube - super smash bro melee
My faverote launce title ever

[poopnes]

gamecube - super smash bro melee
My faverote launce title ever

But Melee wasn't a launch title...

[MrRoboto19XX]

Ive got to give my vote to Game boy and the original Tetris, the game is just so great in every aspect.

It really says something when the first game in the series both defines a genre and is impossible to improve on. Plus, Ive got so many memories of my old GB, hearing that nintendo "Bling" then the Tetris intro screen. Classic.

[zerohero]

Going with SNES - Super Mario world. DC - Soul Calibur close 2nd!

[njiska]

Hand's down Tetris and the GB.

Sure the other systems had good launch titles, but Tetris is more addictive then crack. Hell Tetris is the greatest puzzle game of all time and it's built for the handheld market, you can't get any better.

Hell the GB defeated numerous, technically suprior, handhelds and Tetris is is largely responsible for it.

[gman100]

gamecube - super smash bro melee
My faverote launce title ever

But Melee wasn't a launch title...

its was'nt!!!!!!!!!! anyway I would say mario 64 nintendo did everything right the first time!

[diskoboy]

How about those of us lucky folks who bought a Sega Genesis that came w/Altered Beast and a mail-in voucher for a free copy of Sonic The Hedgehog? Does that count?

[smokexx]

I think that nes and smb/duck hunt would be hard to top......also I am pretty sure this was not a launch date title but for christmas when I got the playstation with destruction derby I played that game for hours and still play that game today......great topic.....an easy way to see how "old" we are all getting or how young some people are

[pacmanhat]

So many good choices, but in terms of the GREATEST, I have to go with the Xbox/Halo. If not for that, there'd be no Xbox right now.

[Simply Dave]

I voted for the NES with Super Mario Brothers/ Duck Hunt combo cart. I think we played that cart for months before we ever received another game. Runner-up goes to SNES and Super Mario World.

[crazyjackcsa]

I voted for DC and Soul Calibur. I'd say beacuse of it's staying power in the library. At the end of the DC's life SC was still one of the best games on the system. Best looking, Best playing and all around Best Game. I'd say that Tetris Made the GB, Mario has always been huge for Nintendo. Halo for the Xbox was good, but has been far exceeded on the Xbox.

[CreamSoda]

Xbox/Halo, That was the only really awesome game on the system for around a year?? Now that many other great titles have made it to the Xbox, Halo still stands out as one of the best if not the best of the lineup(and that says alot). Not to mention the graphics have aged incredibly well.

Very close runner up...

Nintendo 64/Super Mario 64

C'mon this is the greatest 3D platformer ever(IMO), I remember everything about it was mind blowing back then, and the game still holds up VERY well today. One of my all time favorites.

[CYRiX]

Being that i'm only 14 and i never got to be there for the launch of old system i voted for Xbox and its Halo goodness.

[sabre2922]

I was adding the N64 + Mario64 option when my connection was cut off

I am one of the old timers that got a Genesis + Altered beast not long after the Genesis launched but I didnt think it was a "great" launch title but I do remember being very impressed with how close it was compared to the arcade and thinking it was sooo far beyond my old NES wich it was of course ;)

[Dr. Morbis]

I voted NES/SMB, however that is technically not a system launch pack-in. In Japan SMB came out 2 years after the Famicom launch, and even here in North America the NES launched with Duck Hunt and Gyromite packed in.

I don't think SMB was ever included with NES systems before 1987's Action set (Can anybody confirm or deny this?).

[Daltone]

Tetris stole my life. And I'm still awful at it.

[whoisKeel]

What about SNES + SMW + Super Mario Allstars as a mail out?

That's what I did. When you bought the snes+smw you got a free coupon for Super mario allstars. That was a killer pack-in, for sure.

I voted gb+tetris tho, because that was available...and tetris...well, it's just tetris. Always good stuff. Anyone think that tetris kinda sucks on the sp d-pad tho? or is it just me?

[Necromutant]

After seeing SMW on SNES, there was no way I could not buy one as soon as I could scrape the money together... :D

[syd]

I was between SMW+SNEs and SMB+NES, but I'll have to go with Super Mario World because I still play that game and beat it from time to time. Plus, I mailed the sheet away and got Super Mario All-Stars, which IMO puts it way over the top of everything else. Super Mario Bros. + Duck Hunt was still very good for it's time though.

[Aussie2B]

That's what I did. When you bought the snes+smw you got a free coupon for Super mario allstars. That was a killer pack-in, for sure.

Or you could just get the stand alone model and send away for Super Mario All-Stars. That's what I did. I was 11 at the time, so I couldn't afford much more than the basic model. :P

I think I'd go with the N64 + Super Mario 64. Only time I ever got a console at launch, and it's still one of my favorite games on N64 (or anything, for that matter). While I love Super Mario Bros., many other NES games beat it out, in my opinion (and like others have pointed out, it wasn't a true launch title, anyway).

[Mayhem]

Did Combat actually launch with the VCS?

Anyhow I voted for GB/Tetris simply due to the influence the game had on the world (more so imo than Super Mario Bros or SMW).

[omnedon]

ColecoVision and Donkey Kong. Why? It was the first example of how a new system could finally damn near bring the arcade home, at least for me.

LOL

[poloplayr]

SNES + SMW hands down.

[Dire 51]

ColecoVision and Donkey Kong. Why? It was the first example of how a new system could finally damn near bring the arcade home, at least for me.

LOL

PLAGIARIST!!! LOL

...

You know, I still kind of regret never having played anything on the ColecoVision... ever.

[mezrabad]

Did Combat actually launch with the VCS?


Nine titles launched with the VCS. Combat, Air-Sea Battle, Surround, Indy 500, Basic Math, Video Olympics, Blackjack, Street Racer and Star Ship.

I think Combat was only a pack-in game with the Atari brand VCS. I also think the Sears VCS came with Target Fun (aka Air-Sea Battle) unless I'm mistaken. Can't verify the Sears info myself, I just vaguely remember seeing Target Fun in Sears and hearing that was the game that came with the system. This was about 27 years ago, someone back me up or dash my memories.

AFAIK, Combat was the pack-in with the Atari VCS until Pac-man became the "pac"-in. (hardee-har-har)

[SkiDragon]

I voted for Halo, simply because it was the only thing that made the Xbox popular, not because its my favorite, although I do like it.

[SirDrexl]

Is it pack-in, or just launch title? There are choices on that poll that were launch titles not packed in with the system, but from the responses, some seem to think it has to be a pack-in.


I voted NES/SMB, however that is technically not a system launch pack-in. In Japan SMB came out 2 years after the Famicom launch, and even here in North America the NES launched with Duck Hunt and Gyromite packed in.

I don't think SMB was ever included with NES systems before 1987's Action set (Can anybody confirm or deny this?).

I think the Control Deck I got for Christmas in 1986 came with SMB, but I can't say for sure. I don't think the Control Deck was available when the system launched, but it doesn't matter if it just has to be a launch title.

[donkeykong1]

I went with other. NES with R.O.B. Gyromite and Duck Hunt. As far as I know, Super Mario Bros. was released with the Action Set and no earlier set. The control Deck I think did not come with a game.

[sabre2922]

Yes Super Mario Bros was a launch title in the U.S. not a pack in until later but it was a launch title.

[Sothy]

Nintendo with super mario is obviously tops... but Xbox With Halo was eerily close as far as my personal "OMG GOTTA GET ONE!" feelings go.

[sabre2922]

Nintendo with super mario is obviously tops... but Xbox With Halo was eerily close as far as my personal "OMG GOTTA GET ONE!" feelings go.

I agree Halo was to the Xbox what Soul Calibur was to Dreamcast a pure system showcase and the ONE TRIPLE A GAME THAT MADE THE SYSTEM.

At least the Xbox became a successful platform although the Dreamcast I think was a success as far as providing so many great games in such a very short time period but thats all been discussed before :deadhorse:

[Stark]

The one launch combo that stands out in my mind was the Nintendo 64/Super Mario 64. I'd vote it the best IMHO.

However my favorite launch system was the Jaguar with all the hype surrounding it. I drove 30 miles to grab it on launch day. The game Cybermorph that was with it stood out from anything else that was released up to that point. It might not be popular now but I'll always remember the WOW factor from it.

[Howie6925]

Genesis + Altered Beast. Why? It was the first example of how a new system could finally damn near bring the arcade home, at least for me.

I second that one.