Why the Revolution is my Next Gen Choice
Here we all are on the verge of a new generation of consoles and decisions must be made. Many maturing gamers are now starting families and cannot easily afford or have the time necessary to enjoy multiple consoles. This fact is even more prevalent because of a solid and growing handheld market that is also competing for our time and money. So, unlike the current generation I feel that many will be settling with one at home console. As not to mislead anyone reading further I have chosen the Nintendo Revolution as my future console purchase, what I would like to do now is explain this decision and the difficulty in reaching it.
Let me begin with an easy to remove option, the Xbox 360. I have never enjoyed first person shooters on consoles, nor do I spend much time playing sports titles. Equally I have grown more than tired of the paint by numbers third person shooters that have been filling the market since Grand Theft Auto’s spectacular debut. Since these genres tend to dominate Microsoft’s gaming line up, this is an easy buffet to skip. Additionally I feel the desperate to be hip marketing was pretentious, leaving the same sour taste as ten minutes of primetime MTV viewing. That being said, I am left with a difficult choice.
In this current generation have owned but one console; the PS2. It has treated me with an unimaginable bit of kindness. I have explored its inner workings like teens in a backseat. I have nursed this version one PS2 and it has continued to put out. Hardware wise I could not be happier.
What brought me into the arms of the PS2 to start with were many pleasurable experiences with the first Playstation of a former college roommate. From far too many hours of Street Fighter to a straight start to finish run through the original Silent Hill many great adventures experienced. Upon leaving college and getting a job, it was also time to claim a console of my own. PS2 had been out for a bit by this time and a close friend of mine looking for the gaming high like an addict in an evidence room was ready for Microsoft’s first offering. Gladly taking his sloppy seconds I purchased his used PS2 and about six games for about two hundred and fifty U.S. dollars or the equivalent of a tank of gas in a SUV. Of course I found a used copy of Silent Hill 2 the same week as my PS2 purchase, and life was good.
I had many wonderful Turkish gaming delights with that first year with my PS2. I experienced the then revolutionary free world roaming GTA 3 and the breathtaking splendor of ICO. I spent many a night on the near impossible goals of Palmers: Pro Snow Boarder. Essentially I got off of work and the console came on.
Slowly but surely however the games began to blur and those that were unique and captivating were coming out and only a trickle. I had ended up at a point where my PS2 held more dust than games, only awakening for the next installment of Silent Hill or a Karaoke Revolution party. A few blips however have prevented a total flat-line into mediocrity, God of War, Katamari Damacy, the awe inspiring Shadow of the Colossus, and hopefully the upcoming Okami. What could revive me from this gaming coma? All I remember is someone standing over me screaming “CLEAR” and repeatedly shoving a bizarre dual screened gizmo in my face.
Everyday I praise my DS, I am in love and not afraid to admit it to the world. If I could write sonnets and poems to it I would. This little handheld device taught me all over again what it means to be a gamer. From the simple pleasures of Animal Crossing to the raw competitiveness of Mario Kart everything is in the DS and all offering innovation is some form. I have purchased more games in 4 months than I have in the past 3 years since getting my beautiful teal DS.
The Nintendo DS has also breathed the breath of life back into many of my friendships. Much like poker nights of our forefathers I am gathering with all of my friends at least once every other week for some great multiplayer action. Strange the things that keep people close.
The DS has shown me not only the importance of innovation in gaming but also the care and commitment of Nintendo to fun and quality gaming. So while those that I know and love, Silent Hill, Karaoke Revolution you know who you are, will never be forgotten, I must move on.
Unless someone wants to buy me a PS3 to set next to my Revolution…
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I also thought the DS was going to be the end of Nintendo. I was like ... wtf? Nintendo is resorting to cheap trickery. Virtual Boy II I called it. Man was I wrong.
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Originally Posted by jezt
