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Super Nintendo
The Super Nintendo (aka SNES) is a 16-bit gaming system that was made by Nintendo. Although not the first 16-bit system to be released around this time, the SNES became one of the most popular consoles of this generation with games such as Super Mario and Donkey Kong. It offered notable graphics improvements over earlier 8-bit systems and also featured more buttons (4 buttons on the right plus two shoulder buttons). -
Playstation
This first Playstation console made by Sony effectively secured the company's foothold in the gaming industry. As a company with no experience in game developing, Sony swept the competition with effective marketing strategies and an affordable console that rivaled the industry dominant Nintendo and Sega consoles. This meant that more gamers could get their hands on a gaming system, and Playstation also found itself in the hands of more age groups than some of its competitors. -
Nintendo 64
This gaming system made by Nintendo, aptly named for its 64-bit processor, saw even more improvements with its processing power. The smooth graphics of the N64 made it a favorite for some gamers, as did the availability of 4 controller ports for local multiplayer games. It also featured an analog joystick as well as a d-pad, unlike most game controllers around which just had the latter. This was a revolutionary addition that enhanced how players could move around in gameplay. -
Game Boy Color
The Game Boy Color is one version of the handheld Game Boy console from Nintendo, and it was the first to feature a color display. In addition to being portable (the Game Boy Color required just two AA batteries) it came in a variety of appealing colors which made it highly recognizable. Handheld consoles like the Game Boy Color popularized the idea that gamers could take their games with them anywhere they went. -
Dreamcast
The Dreamcast console made by Sega was one of the first gaming systems that offered an online gaming experience, and you could even browse the internet with the console. In addition to surfing the web, you could video chat using the console’s digital camera. These features were far beyond anything that previous generations of consoles had achieved and showed the great advancement of gaming systems in just a short period of time.