The best video game systems of the 90's

The 32-bit and 64-bit revolution arrived in the 1990s.

The so-called fourth generation of video game consoles in this decade of the 90s, a generation that took us to 1996 with some remarkable facts, will still live a few years.

As in 1990 appeared the first Nintendo portable, the Game Boy, a year later appeared the most exclusive console to date, the Neo Geo, a console that was designed for the wealthiest families because its price was clearly prohibitive.

The Neo Geo was a console directly inspired by the best arcade machines that inhabited the arcades and its graphics, sound and gameplay was far above what had been seen so far.

However, and although this is not something that concerns the hardware and therefore the consoles themselves, it failed to succeed beyond fighting games and space killers, or at least was not able to overshadow Nintendo and Sega who had taken some magnetic characters up their sleeves, such as Mario and Sonic respectively.

In 1993 and until 1999 the so-called fifth generation of consoles burst into the market, which represented a remarkable leap in the computing power of the consoles.

This extra power made possible the transition from two-dimensional games to three-dimensional games.

These consoles also incorporated CD reader units, which began to leave behind the limited concept of cartridges seen in previous consoles, but which in turn greatly facilitated the copying of games and the pirating of consoles when the first CD burners for computers came onto the market later on.

Some consoles of this fifth generation are mythical, such as the PlayStation, the first, the original, which was released in 1994, as well as the more unknown Sega Saturn, a console prized by collectors today.

We can not forget 1996 with the Nintendo 64 at the head, a console that still retained the cartridge format, and for which came out some titles and iconic characters that today still remain one of the most leading and best-selling franchises of Nintendo.

Jaguar

The Atari Jaguar was the first 64-Bit game console, and Atari's final console.

Sega 32X

Sega's short-lived jump into the 32-bit gaming era began with this add-on to the Sega Genesis.

Amiga CD32

The Amiga CD32 was Commodore's attempt at a gaming console and what turned out to be their swan song. The majority of its library were upgraded Amiga games.

Saturn

A 32-bit game console developed by Sega. Due to development difficulties and the rising popularity of the PlayStation and N64, the Saturn was discontinued overseas in 1998, but continued to sell in Japan until 2000. It was Sega's most successful console in Japan yet their least successful console overseas.

Neo Geo CD

The Neo Geo CD was released after its cartridge-based equivalent, in an effort to reduce manufacturing costs.

WonderSwan

The WonderSwan was a Japan-only handheld game system that had a fairly large library of games and many accessories.

PC-FX

The NEC PC-FX was a console designed in the form of a PC and planned to be upgradable. It failed due to lack of 3D graphical power and little developer support. The PC-FX is known for its large percentage of adult titles and was NEC Corporation's last gaming console.

Game.Com

Tiger's second short-lived portable console was a video game and PDA hybrid

Virtual Boy

The Virtual Boy pioneered portable 3D gaming, but became Nintendo's biggest (and arguably only) market blunder. Despite innovative display technology, various design and marketing mistakes doomed it to poor sales and quick retirement. Fewer than two dozen titles came out worldwide and only 14 in North America.

Neo Geo Pocket

The Neo Geo Pocket is SNK Playmore's first handheld video game console. The console did not do as well as expected, and had a short life span and small game library.