Killer Apps per system

[klausien]

All of this XBox 360 hype has made me reminisce a bit about what were the first "killer apps" for all of the systems. Even unsuccessful systems have them. Some of my picks:

Atari - Truly not knowledgeable enough to make a real judgment. I would personally say Combat. Great pack-in. Pitfall and Asteroids did it for me too. Woulda/coulda/shoulda been Pac Man.

Colecovision - Donkey Kong.

Intellivision - ??????

NES - Super Mario Bros. Is there any question? It only outpaces Zelda due to its earlier release.

SMS - Tough call. I want to say Phantasy Star, but Space Harrier really blew my mind at the time.

Gameboy - Tetris. Still my favorite version.

Atari Lynx - Probably Blue Lightning.

Genesis - I think the initial arcade based linup rocked, but the answer is Sonic the Hedgehog. Made them a true competitor.

Sega CD - Sonic CD and Lunar. Final Fight CD was underappreciated at the time, as was Silpheed.

TurboGrafx - Best early game is probably Legendary Axe. All of them are sleepers though for different reasons. Hell, China Warrior was cool then, and I still dig Keith Courage.

TurboGrafx CD - Would have been Drac X, but Ys I & II was the first CD game to generate real buzz.

SNES - Super Mario World. Runner Up: F-Zero/Pilotwings. Rarely have three launch titles been so mindblowing.

Game Gear - Probably Columns.

32X - Virtua Racing Deluxe was the only reason to buy the 32X unless you liked being disappointed with Star Wars Arcade.

Sony PSX - Ridge Racer hands down. Still amazing.

Sega Saturn - Virtua Fighter 2/Sega Rally. Made up for the disasters that were VF and Daytona, unfortunately the damage was already done.

N64 - Super Mario 64. Had to have it. Zelda came too far down the road, though the buzz certainly sold systems.

Dreamcast - Soul Calibur.

GBC - Hmmm...

GBA - I would go with F-Zero again. Castlevania got killed by invisibility and SMB Advance was just SMB2 in nicer clothes. There wasn't too much that really justified the jump at the time outside of backwards compatibility and a larger screen. I am including the SP with this.

PS2 - Didn't get a true killer app until MGS2 and GT3 came out.

XBox - Halo.

GameCube - Uhhh... oh yeah, Metroid Prime.

DS - Super Mario 64 most likely wins again, but not in terms of being an true application of the the technology. You could go with Feel the Magic, but Trauma Center: Under the Knife is truly the best use of the touch screen/dual screen setup so far. Too bad no one knows.

PSP - Lumines. Ridge Racer is awesome too.

XBox 360 - Not yet.

I know I am missing systems, but you get the idea.

[Kid Ice]

We did lists like this the first year DP went to E3 but I can't find the thread. The idea was to name the "definitive" game for each system to be showcased. I don't remember what the final outcome was. My list was pretty similar to yours.

[kirin jensen]

Yeah, Atari would have a 'killer app' if they hadn't royally screwed up Pac-Man.

That's why they had to sue Magnavox over their killer app, KC Munchkin.

If they hadn't, Odyssey2 would have been a serious contender to the 2600 - and not just number 3 out of 6.

[Damon Plus]

DC had three killer-apps at launch: Soul Calibur, NFL2K and Sonic Adventure. Even if people think they haven´t aged well (that goes for SA), those were the games people bought Dreamcasts for.

[drewbrim]

Pretty good list. Although I think Bonk's Adventure would have to get the nod for the Turbografx "killer app"

[Ed Oscuro]

Great list.

I didn't play it for any length of time, but I first saw Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA) under flourescent lights, looked just fine.

[Lothars]

I have to say Great List
but

I've heard Super Mario 64 DS is awesome but I would have to throw in that you could say that Mario Kart DS or Animal Crossing for Killer Apps as well for the DS

[evildead2099]

32X's killer app was DOOM. People cared less about Virtua Racing Deluxe than DOOM since they could already play a great port of Virtua Racing on their Genesis without the need to upgrade. DOOM was new, exciting, and served as the 32X's Killer app since many gamers (myself included) could not afford personal computers to try DOOM out at the time when it was generating so much hype. Prior to the 32X, there was no affordable way for people who didn't already own computers to play DOOM.

Sonic was a very successful killer app for the Genesis, but before Sega's mascot came along, I'd say that Michael Jackson's Moonwalker was the Genesis' killer app.

[evildead2099]

Sega Saturn - Virtua Fighter 2/Sega Rally. Made up for the disasters that were VF and Daytona, unfortunately the damage was already done.

How was Virtua Figher 1 a disappointment? Anyway, I consider that game and Daytona to be the Saturn's original killer apps.



PS2 - Didn't get a true killer app until MGS2 and GT3 came out.

Perhaps. I think that Madden 2001 ( :roll: ) and SSX could be considered killer apps in the sense that they stood apart from the crappy games which comprised the PS2's first generation of software (Not like the lack of quality titles stopped people from buying the system anyway).

[ubikuberalles]

Tempest 2000 for the Jaguar.
Star Raiders for the Atari 400/800 (at least that was a big reason I bought the system).

[Ed Oscuro]

I have to say Great List
but

I've heard Super Mario 64 DS is awesome but I would have to throw in that you could say that Mario Kart DS or Animal Crossing for Killer Apps as well for the DS
Not Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, or (gasp) Nintendogs? Well, Mario Kart DS seems to be the killer at the moment, and Animal Crossing doesn't seem far behind.

[Jorpho]

32X's killer app was DOOM. People cared less about Virtua Racing Deluxe than DOOM since they could already play a great port of Virtua Racing on their Genesis without the need to upgrade. DOOM was new, exciting, and served as the 32X's Killer app since many gamers (myself included) could not afford personal computers to try DOOM out at the time when it was generating so much hype. Prior to the 32X, there was no affordable way for people who didn't already own computers to play DOOM.

Was the SNES port that far behind?

[evildead2099]

32X's killer app was DOOM. People cared less about Virtua Racing Deluxe than DOOM since they could already play a great port of Virtua Racing on their Genesis without the need to upgrade. DOOM was new, exciting, and served as the 32X's Killer app since many gamers (myself included) could not afford personal computers to try DOOM out at the time when it was generating so much hype. Prior to the 32X, there was no affordable way for people who didn't already own computers to play DOOM.

Was the SNES port that far behind?

The Sega 32X port of DOOM hit in 1994, when DOOM was still the hottest game in town.

The SNES port of DOOM did not hit until 1996; by that time, QUAKE had already taken DOOM's throne as the king of first person shooters and killer 3D technology.

[diskoboy]

Good god, the 2600 had several potential killer-apps.

-Space Invaders
-Asteroids (the reason why most of my friends wanted a VCS)
-Pac-Man (the reason I wanted a VCS - big mistake, of course)
-Yar's Revenge
-Defender
-Berzerk (IMO, Atari's best arcade translation)
Pitfall 1 and 2 (I liked 2, better)
and Pole Position

I think Pitfall or Space Invaders were the systems killer apps, though. SI sold the 2600, Pitfall was the game everyone had (besides Combat and Pac-Man) and loved.

[evildead2099]

Good god, the 2600 had several potential killer-apps.

Yeah, plus, there were all those porno games by Mistique! ;)

[Ed Oscuro]

Halo was the Xbox's original "killer app," but at the time it launched DoA 3 was the other game to get. Hard to judge since it was a whole different genre.

Right now I'd say the Xbox's killer app is Ninja Gaiden, no question.

[evildead2099]

I'd have to agree with you re: Ninja Gaiden for Xbox.

Shenmue was SUPPOSED to have been one of the Saturn's many killer apps. As groundbreaking and respectable as that effort may be, it is doubtful that it would've succeeded as a killer app for the saturn (See my 'Killer Apps that could've saved various systems' thread).

[sabre2922]

In defense of the Saturn version of the original Dayeeetona! it was a great game and perfect in everyway - except for the lackluster graphics- it had perfect control/gameplay fun music and had that great Sega arcade "feel" that Sega Rally on Saturn contained also fortunately Sega Rally looked great on the 3-D challenged Saturn far better than Daytona and IMO the Sega Rally Saturn version is the best home console rally racer ever and hopefully if the new Sega Rally PS2 version makes its way over here to the U.S. it will contain the original Sega Rally '95 also.

Daytona U.S.A. on Saturn was actually developed by the orginal AM2 team that made the incredible arcade original unlike the fucked up CE edition that screwed up the controls but improved the graphics- give me great control over slightly upgraded graphics anyday ;)

[LiquidPolicenaut]

Not a bad list, but you'd definitely have to add two more classic Sega CD games: Lunar: EB and Snatcher. I agree with Final Fight by the way. It's still great today. For under appreciated titles, I would add Urusei Yatsura and 3x3 Eyes. Ok, I KNOW they are imports...but they are DAMN good imports :)

----------------------------------------
Yeah. My blog. Down below.
http://www.myspace.com/liquidsnake76

[diskoboy]

And I forgot, The Odyssey 2 had either -

KC Munchkin, Killer Bees, Pick Axe Pete, Attack..Timelord, and Turtles.

And my vote for the Intellivisions killer app would be BurgerTime or Bump N Jump.

[evildead2099]

In defense of the Saturn version of the original Dayeeetona! it was a great game and perfect in everyway - except for the lackluster graphics- it had perfect control/gameplay fun music and had that great Sega arcade "feel" that Sega Rally on Saturn contained also fortunately Sega Rally looked great on the 3-D challenged Saturn far better than Daytona and IMO the Sega Rally Saturn version is the best home console rally racer ever and hopefully if the new Sega Rally PS2 version makes its way over here to the U.S. it will contain the original Sega Rally '95 also.

Daytona U.S.A. on Saturn was actually developed by the orginal AM2 team that made the incredible arcade original unlike the fucked up CE edition that screwed up the controls but improved the graphics- give me great control over slightly upgraded graphics anyday ;)

Have you tried Daytona for the Dreamcast? It looks and plays great, in my opinion (even though I find it very, very difficult!)

[kirin jensen]

And I forgot, The Odyssey 2 had either -

KC Munchkin, Killer Bees, Pick Axe Pete, Attack..Timelord, and Turtles.

And my vote for the Intellivisions killer app would be BurgerTime or Bump N Jump.

Honestly, I think you would have to say sports games were the Intellivision killer app.

If you chose an Intellivision over an Atari, chances are good you were a sports fan.

[heyricochet]

Since you're going for first killer app, Gamecubes was definitely Super Smash Bros Melee over the later Metroid Prime.

[MrSmiley381]

I'd also have to vote for Melee. It's just that great and everybody loves it.

My personal killer app for PS2 was Disgaea.

The killer app for the Virtual Boy was "OH GOD MY EYES." Anyone remember that game?

The killer app that sold the CD-Driven PC would be Myst, I'd say. It's boring as hell to me, but, hey, people bought it with their computers like mad.

[davidbrit2]

Have you tried Daytona for the Dreamcast? It looks and plays great, in my opinion (even though I find it very, very difficult!)

Daytona 2001 is shit. Which is a damn shame, because it looks fantastic. However, the control is so absolutely terrible, that it's practically unplayable. I've screwed with the sensitivity settings, I've used a control pad, I've used a wheel, nothing. It's always so bad that I just say "This sucks" and go back to playing on the Saturn. That version may be butt ugly, but at least it controls really well with the official Sega wheel (and even a d-pad).

So yeah, I nominate Daytona for the Saturn's killer app. Heh.

[Ed Oscuro]

Since you're going for first killer app, Gamecubes was definitely Super Smash Bros Melee over the later Metroid Prime.
Resident Evil 4, you say? Glad we agree! :D

[evildead2099]

I'd also have to vote for Melee. It's just that great and everybody loves it.

My personal killer app for PS2 was Disgaea.

The killer app for the Virtual Boy was "OH GOD MY EYES." Anyone remember that game?

The killer app that sold the CD-Driven PC would be Myst, I'd say.

Before there was Myst, there was The 7th Guest.

[evildead2099]

Have you tried Daytona for the Dreamcast? It looks and plays great, in my opinion (even though I find it very, very difficult!)

Daytona 2001 is shit. Which is a damn shame, because it looks fantastic. However, the control is so absolutely terrible, that it's practically unplayable. I've screwed with the sensitivity settings, I've used a control pad, I've used a wheel, nothing. It's always so bad that I just say "This sucks" and go back to playing on the Saturn. That version may be butt ugly, but at least it controls really well with the official Sega wheel (and even a d-pad).

So yeah, I nominate Daytona for the Saturn's killer app. Heh.

Hmm... I've always thought that my poor performance re: DC's Daytona 2001 was more due to my lack of patience for racing games than for an inherent control flaw. I always assumed that better controlling cars were to be unlocked if I could progress past the first few tracks....

Anyway, thanks for addressing my concern. You touched upon an issue that was largely ignored by all of the reviews that I've read of the game.

[MrSmiley381]

Before there was Myst, there was The 7th Guest.

Wow, actually, I almost forgot that. Myst sold more units though in the long run... not sure about launch. And, actually, I thought it was fun compared to Myst.

[davidbrit2]

Hmm... I've always thought that my poor performance re: DC's Daytona 2001 was more due to my lack of patience for racing games than for an inherent control flaw. I always assumed that better controlling cars were to be unlocked if I could progress past the first few tracks....

Anyway, thanks for addressing my concern. You touched upon an issue that was largely ignored by all of the reviews that I've read of the game.

Yup, the control is just really, REALLY badly implemented. Do a few laps on the Saturn version, even with a plain old digital control pad, and you'll see what I mean. I'd take Saturn Daytona with a d-pad over Daytona 2001 any day. Heh.

[Ed Oscuro]

Before there was Myst, there was The 7th Guest.

Wow, actually, I almost forgot that. Myst sold more units though in the long run... not sure about launch. And, actually, I thought it was fun compared to Myst.
Same...played the CD-i version, though, so I might be biased ;)

It's a much better looking game.

[RCM]

there's some good games on this list. I define a killer app as a system seller. a game that creates interest and success for a system. Killer app isn't necessarily an indication of quality.

ToShinDen for PS comes to mind as an early killer app that was just shit. I remember a lot of fools at the time labeling it as the best fighting game ever. Ha!

[evildead2099]

Before there was Myst, there was The 7th Guest.

Wow, actually, I almost forgot that. Myst sold more units though in the long run... not sure about launch. And, actually, I thought it was fun compared to Myst.
Same...played the CD-i version, though, so I might be biased ;)

It's a much better looking game.

Myst may look spectacular, but I don't consider it very fun or even very interactive. If you really think about it, Myst could technically be played over the world wide web, since all you're doing most of the time is pointing and clicking on 'hot spots' or gorgeously rendered still photos to become transfered from one screen to the other. Most of the game's puzzles could conceivably be programmed for the web through Java or some such language.

I mentioned The 7th Guest since it was one of the first games to really demonstrate the potential of CD-ROM gaming that was inherently lacking in cartridges.

[evildead2099]

A faithful port of Killer Instinct was supposed to have been the Ultra 64's killer app... Until the system's launch was delayed and it was renamed the Nintendo 64!

If you play the arcade edition of Killer Instinct 1, you may encounter a commercial which states that the game will be playable on the Ultra 64. That's one of the few instances in which I've seen a coin-op game advertise a console release. @_@

[CosmicMonkey]

Goldeneye. Mario 64 was (and still is) truly amazing, but the real system seller was Goldeneye.

It's one of those few games that have reached Legendary status. Everyone's played it, everyone remembers how great it was and everone will tell you that they're unbeatable at it.

I mean, it sold so well in the UK, the N64 came packed with the game and a gold pad.

[squidblatt]

I agree that sports games collectively made the killer app for the Intellivision. You could argue Donkey Kong, but it sucked as bad as Atari Pac Man.

Donkey Kong was the Colecovision's killer app beyond question in my mind. It was the first time you really felt like there was an arcade in your living room.

[attilathehun]

Intellivison: Donkey Kong
Colecovision: Zaxxon
Atari Pong: Pong LOL
Atari 2600: Missle Command
Atari Jaguar: Alien vs. Predator
NES: Mike Tyson's Super Punchout
SNES: Zelda....
Master System: Hang On GP
Genny: Sonic 3d Blast
32x: Doom
Sega Cd: Eternal Champions
Neo-Geo CD: Metal Slug
Saturn: Panzer Dragoon Saga
Playstation: GT2
N64: Mario 64
3do: Castle Wolfenstein 3d
GB: Tetris
GBC: Donkey Kong Cuntry
GBA: Dragron Ball Z....
Game Gear: Mortal Kombat II
Atari Lynx: Blue Lightening
Dream Cast: Soul Caliber
PS2: Mortal Kombat Deception
Xbox: Gotham Racing(Sorry never played halo)
Game Cube: Star Wars

[kirin jensen]

The killer app for the Virtual Boy was "OH GOD MY EYES." Anyone remember that game?

Wasn't that EVERY game for the Virtual Boy?

[blue lander]

Am I the only one who never had eye problems with the virtual boy? Come to think of it, the only time I've played the VB for more than an hour was late at night, right before I went to bed. So if my eyes were screwed up, I didn't notice because the room was dark.

[blue lander]

Am I the only one who never had eye problems with the virtual boy? Come to think of it, the only time I've played the VB for more than an hour was late at night, right before I went to bed. So if my eyes were screwed up, I didn't notice because the room was dark.

[Ed Oscuro]

If you had problems with the VB, your eyes would feel sore/tired, and I don't think lower ambient illumination has quite the same effect an asprin would LOL

[sabre2922]

Hmm... I've always thought that my poor performance re: DC's Daytona 2001 was more due to my lack of patience for racing games than for an inherent control flaw. I always assumed that better controlling cars were to be unlocked if I could progress past the first few tracks....

Anyway, thanks for addressing my concern. You touched upon an issue that was largely ignored by all of the reviews that I've read of the game.

Yup, the control is just really, REALLY badly implemented. Do a few laps on the Saturn version, even with a plain old digital control pad, and you'll see what I mean. I'd take Saturn Daytona with a d-pad over Daytona 2001 any day. Heh.

Agreed

The DC Daytona USA was OK and looked damn good but they still couldnt get the control right.
The original Daytona for Saturn could have been perfect if they had more time to develop the graphics engine before its release as we all know that the Saturn could do good looking 3-D with knowledgable programmers and artists at the helm.

Damn I miss my Saturn more every year :(

[sabre2922]

there's some good games on this list. I define a killer app as a system seller. a game that creates interest and success for a system. Killer app isn't necessarily an indication of quality.

ToShinDen for PS comes to mind as an early killer app that was just shit. I remember a lot of fools at the time labeling it as the best fighting game ever. Ha!

Hey back in the day the original Toshinden on Playstation amazed me even more than Ridge Racer :roll:
Funny how things change so fast as I dont mind playing the original Ridge Racer for PSX but Toshinden ....NO.

[VG_Maniac]

A faithful port of Killer Instinct was supposed to have been the Ultra 64's killer app... Until the system's launch was delayed and it was renamed the Nintendo 64!

If you play the arcade edition of Killer Instinct 1, you may encounter a commercial which states that the game will be playable on the Ultra 64. That's one of the few instances in which I've seen a coin-op game advertise a console release. @_@

Cruis'n USA was also meant to be an N64 killer app right along with KI. Both the arcade versions of the games were released so people could get an early taste of the N64 (Ultra 64), since both games were slated to be launch titles...and both of them displayed the Ultra 64 logo at the beginning of the game. Of course, only Cruis'n USA made it to the N64. And by that time, two years after it had been released in arcades, it didn't look so impressive anymore.

[sabre2922]

A faithful port of Killer Instinct was supposed to have been the Ultra 64's killer app... Until the system's launch was delayed and it was renamed the Nintendo 64!

If you play the arcade edition of Killer Instinct 1, you may encounter a commercial which states that the game will be playable on the Ultra 64. That's one of the few instances in which I've seen a coin-op game advertise a console release. @_@

Cruis'n USA was also meant to be an N64 killer app right along with KI. Both the arcade versions of the games were released so people could get an early taste of the N64 (Ultra 64), since both games were slated to be launch titles...and both of them displayed the Ultra 64 logo at the beginning of the game. Of course, only Cruis'n USA made it to the N64. And by that time, two years after it had been released in arcades, it didn't look so impressive anymore.

Not to mention that the actual N64 console turned out to be far less powerfull than the then cutting edge Killer Instinct / Cruisn USA arcade cabinets.

Hell kids the Ultra64 was promised to BE nintendos next console and the arcade cabinets were great big arcade advertisements for Nintendos next home console but what did we actually get? we got the N64 something faaaar different and less powerfull than the ULTRA64 to put it nicely (Im not about to start another N64 bashing thread :D )

After the whole ULTRA64 - N64 thing I never really trusted good ol Nintendo again and everytime I think of how everyone at the arcade I used to regular was so hyped about the ULTRA64 just because back then Nintendo was promising a perfect home console port of not only KI but Cruisn USA and they actually stated in print that Killer Insinct would be arcade perfect but what did we get? we got a freaking hack job hybrid port of Killer Instinct 2 with graphics only slightly better than what the 2-D capable Supernes could produce...the HORROR the HORROR O_O
I thought to myself THIS IS NOT ULTRA64 AND THIS IS NOT MY FUCKING KILLER INSTINCT THAT NINTENDO PROMISED :angry:
....I have never fully forgiven them :(

but yet again Im :deadhorse: with the whole ULTRA64 vs. N64 thing.