Most Underrated Console Feature?

[Baloo]

Definitely that headphone jack on the Model 1 Genesis. Stereo sound for the time was definitely a breakthrough.

Also, the Sega CD and Saturn's ability to play Audio CDs. At the time, CD players were expensive, and the ability for them to play CDs was actually very good. Sega CD can even play CD+Gs.

[8bitgamer]

Also, the Sega CD and Saturn's ability to play Audio CDs. At the time, CD players were expensive, and the ability for them to play CDs was actually very good. Sega CD can even play CD+Gs.

Perfect example!

Any others?

[onReload]

Exchangeable power/RCA cables. My PS2 and Dreamcast can both use the same power cord (which might even be from a laptop's power adapter), and I have a few of them at that. RCA cables also wear down a lot faster when you're constantly switching them in and out, so being able to replace them without needing specific/proprietary wires is a plus...though right now I'm only thinking of my FC Twin, which has three RCA jacks on the back, meaning it uses Male-Male cables - this sort of feature isn't common between official systems, no?

[Astrocade]

The built-in game on the Master System was kind of a throwback to the older consoles, and you be surprised how many people I knew that owned a SMS that never had any idea it had such a feature.

I always appreciated the versatility of the 9-pin controller port; it was used on everything from the VCS to the 3DO.

I don't think the NES gets enough credit for having the RCA out on it in addition to RF out. As far as I know, it was the first system to offer both options.

I remember being wowed by the Sega Genesis' stereo sound.

I'm a sucker for the Astrocade's built in cartridge rack, pistol grip controllers, dust cover and common-sense keypad. As far as I know it was also the first system to have four controller ports. That was the first system I recall thinking was built by gamers, for gamers.

I liked that the Colecovision came with a leatherette dust cover. The steering wheel module was also nifty.

The first "real" system, the Channel F, had a pause button. That seemed to be a feature ahead of its time, but sorely needed.

Good luck on the third book, Brett. I eagerly look forward to it (and the second one, which I still haven't picked up yet.)

[Kitsune Sniper]

On-system backup memory.

Useful for those people who didn't want to spend $50 on a memory cart. (Saturn / Sega CD.)

[NayusDante]

On-cartridge backup memory, for similar reasons. You don't appreciate it until the medium becomes read-only.


On a similar note, the expandability of cartridges and the usefullness of the cartridge slot is underrated. You can't put a coprocessor on an optical disk. Until consoles become modular, the launch-day spec is what you're stuck with. On the plus side, we'll never have another 32X...

[The_Chosen_One]

The Neo Geo's Memory Card (I believe the first system with a memory card) could be used in the arcade machine as well as the home system.

So if you saved Fatal Fury just before the awesome Geese Howard fight and went to the arcade and put in your card you could show everyone how badass you were.

[SegaAges]

The built-in game on the Master System was kind of a throwback to the older consoles, and you be surprised how many people I knew that owned a SMS that never had any idea it had such a feature.

THIS. I was strangely in love with the maze add-in game that came on mine, but then again, when my family was poor and got a SMS instead of NES because of price, I had to enjoy the free games, hahaha

[TurboGenesis]

Definitely that headphone jack on the Model 1 Genesis. Stereo sound for the time was definitely a breakthrough.

Also, the Sega CD and Saturn's ability to play Audio CDs. At the time, CD players were expensive, and the ability for them to play CDs was actually very good. Sega CD can even play CD+Gs.

this can also apply to the Turbo Grafx CD player… I had mine in 1991 and it served as my music CD player as well! Turbo CD also had CD+G playback, though I never had one to ever use the feature…

as for possibly an underappreciated feature, was the turbo switches on the Turbo Grafx 16 controller… this saved wear and tear on my controller, as well as my thumb and prolonged my playtime and enjoyment!

[Gameguy]

The pause button first included with the Atari 5200(pretty sure this was the first). It's hard to believe that consoles didn't always have a pause feature, it's just thought of as normal today.

[8bitgamer]

The pause button first included with the Atari 5200(pretty sure this was the first). It's hard to believe that consoles didn't always have a pause feature, it's just thought of as normal today.

The pause button on the 5200 was as great feature, but it wasn't underrated. Every gamer of the era loved it and wished the ColecoVision had it.