koifish | 598 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 Simply put, what consoles are your absolute favorite simply by design? Which one is most aesthetically pleasing to you? People use different words for it, like "cool" or "sexy" (they're out there) to describe their favorite designs. I'm curious what systems you like the most if only looks are considered (you don't even have to care about what games are on it). For me, this is really an excuse to just gush over the Nintendo DSi series. I think Nintendo must have inexplicably hit a gold mine of design thinking when they built these consoles. The DSi and DSi XL just look. so. GOOD. Clean lines, little interruptions, even the camera hole feels tastefully positioned. Open it up, and the controls are simple and well laid out. Extra points because almost every color variant of the DSi is matte, meaning no fingerprints everywhere (unlike far too many handheld devices from the 2000s...lookin at you, PSP!). There are some glossy ones (restricted to the uncommon red, orange, and green variants it seems) but otherwise the lineup is great (and frankly, even they look great, though I admit I have a soft spot for orange). Yet somehow, the DSi XL series is almost all glossy exterior, and it still looks great! I think it's because only the top is glossy. While this unfortunately gives it a great scratch pad to absorb the worst of your commute, it means that you get a great contrast between the glossy top and the edges. Even better to me as most of the consoles have matte black edges for the outside and bottom. This looks best IMO with the Mario 25th anniversary system, where the deep red glossy top mixed with the matte black edges gives the impression of a lacquer box, like a higher-grade bento, or the IBM Thinkpad (which was also inspired by black lacquer bento). Yet even the ones that don't have the black edges look good; I also love the look of the burgundy DSi XL. It just shines in that color, even if you don't get the contrast like in the other colors. The only thing I wish I had was an orange/black DSi XL, but alas. The colors that do exist are pretty good. And of course, once you open up the DSi XL, you get a similarly well-laid out interface. No garish or unsightly colors, no ugly bits, just sleek, color-matching controls. Everything is well placed, and everything is very usable. It's a smart, professional-looking console, which ultimately fits the "non-gamer" core they were increasingly targeting in that console period. Yet it means that they made a system whose looks continue to impress and which continue to make a statement. For as much as I love other systems that look wacky and crazy (just look at my love of the regular-sized New 3DS which looks like a skittles factory threw up on it), this one is just hitting all the right notes in a different song, and hitting them well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT | 181 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 I love all the funtastic colors for n64. From more of a design standpoint, I always thought the Dreamcast and it's controller looked slick. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDIRunner | 2,922 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 I've always liked the Model 2 Genesis. Probably the only time that I've preferred a later model design over the original. I've also always enjoyed the Dreamcast and original PlayStation designs. Also, I used to love the design of the US SNES until I learned about the designs in the other parts of the world. Once I knew what we missed out on, I've had a hard time enjoying the look of the our version. Ignorance really was bliss back in the day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeatherRebel5150 | 1,103 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 The Pikachu N64 because of how different it was from the standard model. It wasn’t just a color variant and it wasn’t a slimmed down model, I think it’s actually bigger, it was completely unique for a variant model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wongojack | 322 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 (edited) Maybe a bit of a curveball, but I like the looks of the Quest This guy was also pretty nice looking I also really like the nice small footprint of the Intellivision II, but you almost need the other consoles from the era next to it to appreciate it. Edited August 22 by wongojack 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quaze | 357 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 The good ol' N64. It's a badass-looking console, and blew my mind with it's coolness when it first came out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabonga | 2,533 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 Not a console but another important innovation - this was the first laserdisc player sold commercially: 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacepup | 2,488 Administrator · Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 I don't know if we're talking handhelds, but I've always loved the beauty and simplicity of the Nintendo 2DS XL: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RH | 5,237 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 I really liked the look and feel of the Game Boy when it came out but, to be honest, there was something about the Game Boy pocket when it was released. It was so small but such an improvement over the original hardware. I still love the OG Game Boy because of the green screen is where the nostalgia is deep, but I got to say, I loved this form factor as a kid. Then there was the Game Boy Advance Micro! This thing felt like it was destined to be a classic and collectible item as soon as it was released. Paired with the fact that you could swap face plates AND there was a Famicom model, it couldn't get any better! And though it's a repeat, of the same console, the Game Boy Advance SP great for pocket travel, but there's something about the original version of the GBA and the form factor that was perfect. It was only missing backlighting. I even had a buddy in college who loved it so much, at that time, he sent his unit off to have the fluorescent light mod, that installed the lights on the side of the screen. You guys remember those? I think it cost him about $100, or so, at the time. That was a killer unit. Also, to this day I love purple consoles, and that OG, purple Game Boy Advance was the best purple console design. The GC is close, but the GBA is better! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RH | 5,237 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 2 minutes ago, Tabonga said: Not a console but another important innovation - this was the first laserdisc player sold commercially: This might be too far of a derailing of topic but if we're going to talk about amazing looking hardware, I got to say that really old VCRs that popped up were the best. Also, I'd really like to get a recapped and services SONY CDP-101--the first commercial CD player. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PII | 2,041 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 9 minutes ago, Tabonga said: Not a console but another important innovation - this was the first laserdisc player sold commercially: I'm presuming that you took that first pic of it outside your garage on account of its being so big you have to park it like a car.... jk Cool piece of history! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fcgamer | 5,019 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 Aaronix Famiclone. This thing is huge! Even my mom, who knows nothing about these things, felt that this looked so much cooler than the original Famicom. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkTone | 1,017 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 Mega drive and super nintendo. Trying not to add handhelds. Nothing of recent times have been great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brickman | 4,215 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 @RH and me are definitely on the same wavelength. OG GBA like RH showed and the SP with NES shell would rank at the top. Then I absolutely love the GB Pocket transparent: Console would probably rank third and go to the N64. 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xelement5x | 119 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 First version of the Wondermega (Sega or Victor version) https://segaretro.org/Wondermega It's very sleek and cool when running, and it covers the MD/Genesis and CD libraries. The access lights are nice accents, and the motorized lid makes it truly feel like a high end piece of tech. The Wondermega 2 (or X'Eye here in the US) doesn't hold a candle to the original design. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabonga | 2,533 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 1 hour ago, PII said: I'm presuming that you took that first pic of it outside your garage on account of its being so big you have to park it like a car.... jk Cool piece of history! I don't have that particular model but I have the next Magnavox model - thing is indeed huge. The remote is about 2.5 times as big as a gameboy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefaultGen | 5,727 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 21 minutes ago, xelement5x said: The Wondermega 2 (or X'Eye here in the US) doesn't hold a candle to the original design. I've argued with someone who says the X'Eye is one of the coolest looking consoles. The dark blue color is the worst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefaultGen | 5,727 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 I mean I'm not exactly going deep with this pick, but the Atari 2600 heavy sixer is pretty great. If the 3DS XL prioritized ergonomic controls instead pushing them awkwardly to the side, I'd probably like its design best overall. Love a clamshell handheld. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kguillemette | 1,630 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 Gotta go with the cube. It looks so nice in an entertainment center. Always has! I've mostly only ever had silver, though black looks sweet too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a3quit4s | 4,386 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 11 minutes ago, Kguillemette said: Gotta go with the cube. It looks so nice in an entertainment center. Always has! I've mostly only ever had silver, though black looks sweet too. If I was gonna go with this it would have to be the Panasonic Q - the chrome and screen on it looks like a dope 90/2000 stereo system lol 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kguillemette | 1,630 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 41 minutes ago, a3quit4s said: If I was gonna go with this it would have to be the Panasonic Q - the chrome and screen on it looks like a dope 90/2000 stereo system lol I forgot what those looked like. You aren't wrong there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhuno | 163 Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 9 hours ago, CT said: I love all the funtastic colors for n64. I'll second this. The N64 has a neat design in general and the colors are great. I also like the original Genesis; the volume slider for the headphone audio is a particularly unique touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdStrongestMole | 443 Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 Dreamcast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PII | 2,041 Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 (edited) 7 hours ago, Tabonga said: I don't have that particular model but I have the next Magnavox model - thing is indeed huge. The remote is about 2.5 times as big as a gameboy. Yeah, I've seen one or two remotes like that IRL and it looked like something you'd use to launch missiles or take remote control of a fighter jet. Edited August 23 by PII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PII | 2,041 Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 (edited) On 8/22/2024 at 1:33 PM, wongojack said: I also really like the nice small footprint of the Intellivision II, but you almost need the other consoles from the era next to it to appreciate it. Edited 9 hours ago by wongojack The small Int II footprint is indeed sweet. Although I think I've inadvertently done more here to show off the very slick Atari 7800. I also think that the PSP is a really nice looking slab of metal and plastic, particularly with the screen being so massive relative to the whole. Edited September 7 by PII 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now