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Nintendo 64 Vs. PlayStation: Which console was more innovative?
- Thread starter Jubenhimer
- Start date
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Spukc
always chasing the next thrill
how is this even a debate..
what console had super mario 64?
it was the moment when people started taking 3d gaming seriously. 2D to 3D n64 wrote the rules about moving in 3d space targeting etc.
ps1 had way more games obviously. and the n64 suuucked as an rpg console... when the snes was the best ever imo.
but innovation??
naaah ninty
what console had super mario 64?
it was the moment when people started taking 3d gaming seriously. 2D to 3D n64 wrote the rules about moving in 3d space targeting etc.
ps1 had way more games obviously. and the n64 suuucked as an rpg console... when the snes was the best ever imo.
but innovation??
naaah ninty
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FR1908
Member
Playstation made gaming cool and more acceptable. You could say Sega was there before, but they were cool for teens. In Europe (in Rotterdam and London at least) you saw demo pods in clubs that gave it an underground, fresh and confident look and made you feel like you weren't part of a solitary existence at a time when video games were still a geek thing once you got past 14.
In the end it was just an upgrade from all those failed CDROM machines like CDI, 3DO and Amiga CD32 that came before it. The timing was perfect because the technology gave us double-speed CD-ROM drives and a graphics engine that could make acceptable polygon creations. The imaginary poor people who couldn't identify with a 10 pixel plumber looking to save his 12 pixel princess from a 20 pixel dragon could now race a smooth frame rate race car instead of a dino in a kart.
On the other hand you had this 64bit MIPS/RISC/anti-aliased powered beast that got delayed and delayed and had a Dreamteam working on it that consisted of studios nobody knew, because this was going to be something special. A Capcom or Squaresoft couldn't create games for this ‘Project Reality.’ You needed special 3D developers like Sierra On-Line and Angel Studios to create content; ULTRA Developers! You needed more than just your regular game developers! Thanks to "Nintendo Magazine Systems" news item: "..capable of producing graphics up to the standards of the computer-generated dinosaurs in Jurassic Park," my hypometer went through the roof. After seeing the first demo at the Soshinkay show and seeing Bowser got tossed at the screen by Mario, I knew I saw his 3D model before in that Steven Spielber's classic... sort off.
In the end I think both systems did something special in their own way, but the N64 did more to me with its new controls, zero loadtimes and revolutionairy games like SM64, Goldeneye and Zelda. Only Metal Gear Solid on the PSOne is up there too. But that awful software drought on the N64 killed it. It was easy to live with only a Playstation. I can't say the same about the N64. I call it a tie.
In the end it was just an upgrade from all those failed CDROM machines like CDI, 3DO and Amiga CD32 that came before it. The timing was perfect because the technology gave us double-speed CD-ROM drives and a graphics engine that could make acceptable polygon creations. The imaginary poor people who couldn't identify with a 10 pixel plumber looking to save his 12 pixel princess from a 20 pixel dragon could now race a smooth frame rate race car instead of a dino in a kart.
On the other hand you had this 64bit MIPS/RISC/anti-aliased powered beast that got delayed and delayed and had a Dreamteam working on it that consisted of studios nobody knew, because this was going to be something special. A Capcom or Squaresoft couldn't create games for this ‘Project Reality.’ You needed special 3D developers like Sierra On-Line and Angel Studios to create content; ULTRA Developers! You needed more than just your regular game developers! Thanks to "Nintendo Magazine Systems" news item: "..capable of producing graphics up to the standards of the computer-generated dinosaurs in Jurassic Park," my hypometer went through the roof. After seeing the first demo at the Soshinkay show and seeing Bowser got tossed at the screen by Mario, I knew I saw his 3D model before in that Steven Spielber's classic... sort off.
In the end I think both systems did something special in their own way, but the N64 did more to me with its new controls, zero loadtimes and revolutionairy games like SM64, Goldeneye and Zelda. Only Metal Gear Solid on the PSOne is up there too. But that awful software drought on the N64 killed it. It was easy to live with only a Playstation. I can't say the same about the N64. I call it a tie.
Darlingcognito
Member
What was innovative about PSone? Buying out 3rd party exclusives? N64 by a mile.
AutumnLeaves
Member
Say what now? I understand preference but don't knock PS1 games as they definitely had quality.
Metal Gear Solid
Tenchu 1 + 2
Final Fantasy 7-9
Parasite Eve 1 + 2
Einhaender
Ridge Racer Type 4
Resident Evil 1-3
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1-2
Wipeout XL
Castlevania Symphony of the Night
Blood Omen
Soul Reaver
Tekken 3
Vagrant Story
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Oddworld Abe's Odyssey + Exodus
Final Fantasy Tactics
Chrono Cross
Silent Hill
Xenogears
The Legend of Dragoon
Twisted Metal 1 -3
Klonoa
Tomb Raider 1- 3
Suikoden 1 -2
Ape Escape
Bushido Blade 1 -2
Medal of Honor + Underground
Mega Man Legends
WWF Smackdown 1 +2
Spider-Man 1 +2
Driver 1 +2
Parappa the Rapper
Hogs of War
R-Tyoe Delta
Mr. Driller
One
Bloody Roar 1+2
Jade Cocoon
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne
Galerians
Tobal 2
Disruptor
Vandal Hearts
Alundra 1 +2
Ehrgeiz
Persona 1 +2
Heart of Darkness
Rival Schools
Tomba 1 +2
Star Ocean 1 +2
Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo
Legend of Legaia
Um Jammer Lammy
Yeah, sure are "weeb" games. Whatever the hell that means.
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iHaunter
Member
Rumble Pak is the opposite of innovation. If we're talking about hardware, I don't see where N64 wins? It's arguably one of the worst controllers ever made. If we're talking about games, there were 4-5 on N64 worth mentioning.
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Kataploom
Gold Member
If anything, PS was only innovative in their marketing philosophy which let the devs use all their creativity to make games for different audiences... and that alone is big enough IMO.
The console itself wasn't something innovative, the controller was basically a SNES controller with two more triggers, the dual sticks configuration wasn't different than N64 stick + c buttons which Nintendo just moved to a stick due to it being easier to use (probably they copied this from PS but probably not, it was an obvious step forward for 3D).
Also, I don't think it brought games to mainstream before the Wii, but it certainly expanded the market due to a more open marketing approach compared to Nintendo, since I started seeing adults playing games back with PS (people that you could tell they were new players and not old game fans).
Technical innovations came basically all from N64, market innovation came basically all from PS
The console itself wasn't something innovative, the controller was basically a SNES controller with two more triggers, the dual sticks configuration wasn't different than N64 stick + c buttons which Nintendo just moved to a stick due to it being easier to use (probably they copied this from PS but probably not, it was an obvious step forward for 3D).
Also, I don't think it brought games to mainstream before the Wii, but it certainly expanded the market due to a more open marketing approach compared to Nintendo, since I started seeing adults playing games back with PS (people that you could tell they were new players and not old game fans).
Technical innovations came basically all from N64, market innovation came basically all from PS
What is your point? That brought it to the mainstream and brought the econimies of scale that others could not. Yes of course but once again its was the playstation that popularised it. The controller 3D shape they came up with the ps1 dualshock became industry standard for decades and still is now. It is the default standard of even third party controllers for PC.
S0ULZB0URNE
Member
Better 2D + fighting games by a mile and at the time 2D + fighting games were the biggest thing still.
PlayStation was just better
better at what?
Banjo64
cumsessed
I thought we were talking about good games?
nkarafo
Member
In what way the CD was PS1's innovation?
A ton of CD based consoles existed years before it.
AutumnLeaves
Member
I thought we were talking about good games?
You're going to say those games are bad? Thanks for letting me know that you're not hear to discuss games, but take a side. Utterly pathetic.
Banjo64
cumsessed
There’s just no comparison to be had for comparing 80% of the games on your list to literal timeless classics that still influence game design today like Mario 64, OOT and Goldeneye.
a multicultural team of v
Member
In the dictionary under "Stockholm syndrome" there should be a picture of a kid who had one console, and it was a N64.I thought we were talking about good games?
nkarafo
Member
This is just a list of some popular and some random games.
The PS1 has literally almost 10x times bigger library than the N64, it's going to win by default if we just make lists of games and judge them by their size. Doesn't matter if the games are bad or good, the point of these lists is to "prove" that one console has "more good games" than the other and any system that has a more games will "win".
These lists are pointless. Both consoles have their fair share of good and bad games.
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Tschumi
Member
i kinda understood in the abstract that ps discs allowed for more information on things like textures, but that it used ram in weird ways that meant it was not as good as n64 for, like, solid colour 3d objects... i mean, i can see that, compare goldeneye to mgs1 and yeah, ugly as it was goldeneye had faces ... spyro to mario... and i believe crash bandicoot was one of the best looking games because naughty dog hacked the ps to achieve really high detail and polygon counts... but yeah ur video is instructive thanks ^_^
Banjo64
cumsessed
Men_in_Boxes
Banned
PlayStation had quantity.
N64 had quality.
N64 had quality.
OrionNebula
Member
Really? That’s ALL they were missing?
You’re just going to skip over all 3D Final Fantasy games, mature games like Silent Hill, or even Resident Evil? Metal Gear Solid rings a bell? Tomb Raider? & a thousand more?
I ended only having like 7 games for N64 in the end. Quite disappointed in most of their library vs my tastes. If it weren’t for the Capcom exclusive deal for the Cube, N64 would have been my last Nintendo console
nkarafo
Member
Nah. There are only 2 or 3 PS1 exclusives i really wanted VS 10 or more N64 ones.
KingT731
Member
This is true but one would hope a console that released 2 years after both the PS1/Saturn would be better.
AGRacing
Member
Playstation was the machine that brought 3D graphics home. To gloss over that is a sin. Ridge Racer was SO incredible looking at launch in 95 that it turned me from a schoolyard Sega fanboy almost instantly. It's too easy to blur that all together in 2021... but it was a DISTINCT moment then. Of course there's the old stories about what Sega may have "panic added" to the Saturn because of what was coming....
But all things considered... I can't call that PlayStation launch lineup anything if I can't call it innovative. It was a genuine shock.
But all things considered... I can't call that PlayStation launch lineup anything if I can't call it innovative. It was a genuine shock.
Team Andromeda
Member
Some of us on the micro 8bit and 16-bit computers were already taking 3D seriously. I will say mind only NCL were able to make a platform 3D game as good as Mario 64 at that time
Spukc
always chasing the next thrill
aye aye i played elite long before the n64.. on my amstrad..
but i am talking mainstream not the first
LiquidMetal14
hide your water-based mammals
Tech or software? Both were great for their time considering polygon graphics were so new.
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fart town usa
Member
2 eras when it comes to these two consoles.
N64 was more innovative at first because of the analog stick on the N64. The N64 quickly became trash though once the PSX really started firing on all cylinders.
I'd go with PSX because of the game library, it completely destroys the N64. And I say this as someone who was a diehard Nintendo fanboy back then. The thought of owning a PlayStation seemed sacrilegious for the first few years. Eventually I played the PSX and realized what I was missing out on. Once I had a PSX I rarely went back to the N64.
N64 was more innovative at first because of the analog stick on the N64. The N64 quickly became trash though once the PSX really started firing on all cylinders.
I'd go with PSX because of the game library, it completely destroys the N64. And I say this as someone who was a diehard Nintendo fanboy back then. The thought of owning a PlayStation seemed sacrilegious for the first few years. Eventually I played the PSX and realized what I was missing out on. Once I had a PSX I rarely went back to the N64.
Naked Lunch
Member
Mario 64 changed gaming forever.
Playstation had Tomb Raider - but it controlled piss poor - Mario was on a whole other level and was the template for 3D gaming control moving forward.
Playstation's library is vastly superior - N64's is a joke in comparison.
PS's voice acting and FMV were big additions to gaming - but that Mario 64 innovation was too huge for the op's question.
Playstation had Tomb Raider - but it controlled piss poor - Mario was on a whole other level and was the template for 3D gaming control moving forward.
Playstation's library is vastly superior - N64's is a joke in comparison.
PS's voice acting and FMV were big additions to gaming - but that Mario 64 innovation was too huge for the op's question.
Skifi28
Member
I guess it depends on how you view innovation. Technically the N64 had more stuff going on like rumble, analog, etc. But, did these innovations create games not possible before? I'd say probably not, games played better but these things didn't change what was possible. I'd argue the CD was more of game changer and allowed things not possible at all before.
Redneckerz
Those long posts don't cover that red neck boy
They both were. The N64 was more forward looking in terms of rendering, the PlayStation was cheaper to produce, easier to developer for and had Net Yaroze.
Although i only have owned PS1 and still do (1997 model still working ace) the N64 holds me dear because of its power. Its also the only machine from the 3D consoles that saw straight ports of Doom/Doom 2 and Linux.
Although i only have owned PS1 and still do (1997 model still working ace) the N64 holds me dear because of its power. Its also the only machine from the 3D consoles that saw straight ports of Doom/Doom 2 and Linux.
ReBurn
Gold Member
It definitely had more power and pushed more polygons. I always thought it was weird because N64 seemed to have sharper graphics overall but the textures always seemed worse on it and so many games used fog to hide issues with pop in and draw distance. PS1's texture warping bothered me too but nine of it really mattered as long as the games were fun.
Rran
Member
Wasn't the Sega Saturn the first 3D home console?
N64, meanwhile, absolutely made gameplay that was not possible. Nothing was like Super Mario 64 and the analog stick at the time, it was a completely new style of game that has been used as the foundation for 3D gameplay leading up to today. Add in the rumble and Z-trigger and that's a trio of major innovations that have stood the test of time.
As for the libraries, I think the N64's top games beat the PS1's rather handily. But after the 20 or so best games of both systems, the N64 falls off while the PS1 still has some strong ones.
I feel the opposite. The CD format allowed for CGI cutscenes, which really had very little to add to actual gameplay (outside of those silly FMV-type games like Night Trap), and the load times were very much a DETRIMENT to gameplay. Although to be fair, the boost in sound was nice.
N64, meanwhile, absolutely made gameplay that was not possible. Nothing was like Super Mario 64 and the analog stick at the time, it was a completely new style of game that has been used as the foundation for 3D gameplay leading up to today. Add in the rumble and Z-trigger and that's a trio of major innovations that have stood the test of time.
As for the libraries, I think the N64's top games beat the PS1's rather handily. But after the 20 or so best games of both systems, the N64 falls off while the PS1 still has some strong ones.
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Ghost of Caelid
Banned
PlayStation and innovation never go hand in hand. Which isn’t that bad. They rarely do anything bee but perfect what others created. PSP is still the best handheld ever.
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Imru’ al-Qays
Member
The CD format allowed developers to innovate more on PS1 than on N64.
FromDuskTillGameOver
Member
Well PS used the CD in a meaningfull way which benefited the game worlds, before it was "just" high quality audio and FMVs.
MiguelItUp
Member
Not to be THAT guy, but I think they were both incredibly innovative in their own right. Both excelled with different games and experiences.
People can beat on their chest and yell all they want about which one is "better", but the reality is, both shined very brightly when it came to innovation.
People can beat on their chest and yell all they want about which one is "better", but the reality is, both shined very brightly when it came to innovation.
Rickyiez
Member
In the end it's software that decide who wins. This is very subjective but Nintendo64 has nothing against
Final Fantasy 7-9
Xenogears
Parasite Eve
Chrono Trigger
Vagrant Story
Silent Hill
Fear Effect
Metal Gear Solid
Fear Effect
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Street Fighter Pocket
Tekken 3
Gran Turismo
Ridge Racer R4
Breath of Fire 4
Resident Evil 3
Dino Crisis
Castlevania SoTN
Syphon Filter
Soul Reaver Legacy of Kain
AMD many many more. This is the second best library of all time only second to the PS2 IMO
Final Fantasy 7-9
Xenogears
Parasite Eve
Chrono Trigger
Vagrant Story
Silent Hill
Fear Effect
Metal Gear Solid
Fear Effect
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Street Fighter Pocket
Tekken 3
Gran Turismo
Ridge Racer R4
Breath of Fire 4
Resident Evil 3
Dino Crisis
Castlevania SoTN
Syphon Filter
Soul Reaver Legacy of Kain
AMD many many more. This is the second best library of all time only second to the PS2 IMO
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Derktron
Banned
Umm you are missing one game from Sony --- The Legend of Dragoon one of the best RPG games ever made from Sony if not ever
FromDuskTillGameOver
Member
The Saturn was designed primarely as a 2D console, sega put that powerfull co-processor way to late in. So only very skillfull first party devs could use that power back then. PS 3D with all the CD benefits was designed form the start.
Magnific0giganticus
Banned
How did they make any of those "mainstream", when The mainstream console was the PSone that dwarfed N64 in sales, and was sold with a Dualshock controller that as we all can see became the standard controller for all consoles.
assurdum
Banned
I wouldnt't call a win anything relative the N64 which almost shut down nintendo, they abandoned even the controller design...the choice to use the cartridge and such horrible RAM was incredible stupid. Only the CD ROM driver probably would have changed the nintendo fate with the condamn of underpowered hardware release for the rest of their existence.
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I read the question and decided that shit in the long run didn’t matter.
Lol fine, can’t be best at all things.
Team Andromeda
Member
Well, the ZX Spectrum (RIP Sir Clive) was rather mainstream in the UK and even that little system had some nice 3D games. I was well into 3D on my Atari ST with the amazing F29 sim and Geoff's amazing GPF1 and then when I had my uncle's Amiga loved the likes of Elite 2, Bird or Pray Ect. Maybe that's why NCL had to go running to the UK to learn how to do 3D?aye aye i played elite long before the n64.. on my amstrad..
but i am talking mainstream not the first
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