You don’t have to buy a Playstation 3, go for a retro games console
The Playstation 3, X-Box 360 and Nintendo Wii may have all of the best graphics and accessories but they aren’t cheap! Kids these days are bound to be banging on to their parents, asking for the latest in games console technology, but you don’t have to buy the top of the range to ensure your kids will have fun.
Some of the best games consoles and accompanying games are from the years gone by. All of the heroes from the gaming world are now seasoned veterans. The likes of Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lara Croft, Pacman and Donkey Kong are all still going strong but why not see where they began?
If you sit your children in front of the earliest games consoles I can guarantee they will have fun and eventually you will be hooked on the colours and sounds of the retro games console. Here are a selection of entertainmetn systems that you can buy for cheap, which won't fail to entertain your children.
Super Nintendo (SNES)
Released in Europe in 1992 the Super Nintendo was one of the best games consoles ever. It was the home of some of Mario’s best games including ‘Super Mario World’ and ‘Super Mario Kart’.
Where the Nintendo Wii is over £100 the SNES can be picked up second hand on the cheap and is a very simple console that is perfect for young kids. The lack of violence on the SNES is possibly one of the best points about this console. If you buy one of these second hand I can guarantee you won’t be let down.
Sega Mega Drive
Mario’s rival Sonic the Hedgehog really came to life on the Sega Mega Drive in the form of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’. This console has some great cartoon games and Sonic is the king of Sega. Kids will love the speed of sonic and it will keep them as entertained as modern games like ‘Grand Theft Auto’ that have a lot more adult content.
Other great games on this old console include ‘Streets of Rage 2’, ‘Story of Thor’, and ‘Earthworm Jim’. Again, if you would rather spend a large sum of money on a brand new Playstation then feel free but the Sega Mega Drive is a great alternative at half the price.
Playstation
The original Playstation, the beginning of a huge tale of success, is often forgotten when talking about games consoles, but the Playstation 1 was the first video game console to ship 100 million units. It really was that good. You can pick these up relatively cheap when second hand and some people won’t consider it old enough to be deemed retro, but consoles have come a long way since this one was released.
Show your kids where games consoles began their revolution and get them an original Playstation. Some of the best games began on this console including the Lara Croft series: ‘Tomb Raider’. This was possibly the first game with a female lead character and has pioneered many games since.
Nintendo 64 (N64)
This is, in my opinion the greatest games console ever released. Yeah the Playstation 3 has all of the online gameplay and stunning graphics, but the N64 had ‘Mario 64’, ‘Fifa 99’, ‘Legend of Zelda’, and of bloomin’ course, the greatest game ever made (again in my opinion) ‘Goldeneye 007’.
This is the console I love the most as it has a little something for everyone. If you kids are begging you for the latest Playstation or Xbox just tell them all about the N64. They will not be disappointed.
So second hand Playstations and N64s may be a lot cheaper than their more modern rivals but don’t let that put you off. They aren’t lacking in quality and fun. Any of the consoles I have mentioned above will be sure to keep you entertained.
I know modern technology is taking gaming to a new level. You could probably get better graphics on your iPhone than on all of these consoles put together, but these four have a certain rustic charm that will hold them in good stead for years to come.
Picture by Brett Jordan
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