I was thinking about this lately, but I always loved the look of the PS2. I I think the black and blue color scheme works really well. And I like the two levels like the top and the bottom part of it.
Second to this, I think the Dreamcast looks really great. The angles on it make the console look so compact. The orange light on the console is placed really well too.
What do you like?
Loved this lil guy, small, sleek, simple and played great
The PC Engine is definitely a contender. Looks like something from the set of Star Trek TNG, takes unique little cards, and is extremely tiny* and compact. (particularly for a system that was ahead of its time) I think it’s neat!
*roughly the size of a sandwich
Nintendo GameCube
Purple, had a handle for carrying and the gray perfectly offset the purple
For me all colors are cool. This machine is gorgeous.
My fist general purpose console was the Sega Master System. It had a flowchart displayed on the top telling you how to use it.
It might not have been pretty in the traditional sense but I loved it.
Looking back on it the chart was somewhat misleading, the console had two built in games that were only accessible if you didn’t insert a cartridge or card (Hang On, and Safari Hunt), and a third that also needed a controller connected and a few buttons held down when you turned the system on (snail maze).
I have one of these. I got it at a yard sale as a kid. I don’t think I knew about the built in games.
DS Lite: the most timeless handheld imo
I had that exact DS Lite. It was such a huge improvement over the original DS. Such a clean design
I wasn’t even considering handhelds when I wrote this, but you are right. That looks so good. I guess I also love the gameboy pocket.
SNES.
The NES was a box, and the SNES had lines.
but the American SNES was also a soulless box.
Are we talking about the same SNES?
The European snes is beautiful, more likely what he’s referring to:Sorry I see you’re OP, Id have to agree the states snes version is not very attractive in my view, I’m sure I’d feel differently if I’d grown up with one though…
I grew up with the US one. Yours looks better. Classier maybe, more grown up or something. Ours looks like Fisher Price.
I feel the opposite. The rainbows give me a fisherprice vibe on a fake PC. The purple looks classy and it looks like a first party console
I’ve always said that the PAL/JP hardware with the US purple would look awesome.
Absolutely, that would have been perfect.
I always loved those rainbow colors!
yeah, gross, check other reply.
so strange the Americans didn’t also redesign the controller to be less sexy too.
edit: gotta say I am a fan of the purple though
The original Wii
I liked the way it would just swallow the discs whole
And the blue LED ring 'round the disk slot that doubled as an activity indicator. So cool.
Physical console design? Atari 2600. The black slots and wood grain front with the sleek angular design is still peak console styling IMO.
User interface design? Xbox 360 Blades. Hands down. Easy to navigate, easy to understand, and good potential for minimal advertising abuse.
Were blades the original UI for Xbox 360 or were they the update? I remember getting a beta invite to try the new UI, I can’t remember whether it was going to or away from blades. But yeah, I liked that one too.
Yes the original dashboard used blades
Black Dreamcast is pretty sexy.
I always liked the translucent purple N64 and the controller that came with it. If they made a GameCube that way it would probably be my favourite.
I loved the translucent things (or even pure transparent)
Found an article with a few more
https://www.wired.com/story/remember-when-you-could-see-inside-gaming-console/
For actually released consoles, I think the Famicom is just neat looking
I also like the Famicom. I almost put it in the post.
The Dreamcast still looks futuristic in 2024.
The GameCube in a cool color (like Spice Orange). Not just because I like orange. It has great contrast with the grey and black parts of the console. And the whole thing is wrapped up in a tidy, aptly-named package!
Gamecube.
2nd would be PS Vita (original OLED version).
The PS5 is probably my most hated look and shape. Just an idiotic and clunky design, and moronic decisions to go white.
I considered the GameCube too. I probably played that the most out of that generation of consoles.
Amstrad GX4000! Fantastic looking machine, sold mine a few years ago, which is a bit of a regret. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000
That looks like it would give me at least 25 hp when I pick it up.
