Playstation 2

I have owned both the Slim and Fat PS2s.

I think, in a lot of ways, the PS2 rather than the N64 is the true successor to the SNES. Just like the SNES, it was THE system to have in its day. While the N64 promised and hinted at the capabilities of 3D gaming, it was the PS2 which really delivered in all the ways people expected. Also, just like the 'nintendo', the 'playstation' was inches away from becoming a generic trademark synonymous with video games.

The Fat PS2 was sturdy all around, perhaps more prone to problems than Nintendo systems, but it was definitely pretty reliable. The Slim one is a bit more flimsy, especially the disc cover.

The controller is wonderful. It's the only controller of the new generations that feels really good to me. The button layout is almost identical to the SNES, except with another pair of shoulder buttons, and two analog sticks. Unlike the N64, Sony chose not to put the analog stick on a separate prong, but stuck it right next to the D-Pad, which makes it much more versatile and comfortable. The only part of the controller I dislike is that they chose to name the buttons with symbols rather than letters.

The game selection is great. Except for a few Nintendo exclusives, this sytem has everything from the generation.