Best multiplayer system

[Schmead55]

My friend and I were discussing the Colecovision and how it's pretty much a "solo" console. Most of the multiplayer games for CV aren't being played by both players at the same time. Usually when a friend is over, we end up playing the 2600, not the CV.

 

So this brings up a question I'd like to throw at you: What's the best system for multiplayer games? Or simply, which system do you use the most when a friend is over?

 

 

TTFN

Mateo

[pmpddytim]

Well I really think it depends on how you define "multiplayer". If you count online play the PC is the king since millions of people enjoy MMORPGs. Or if you include online but limit it to gaming consoles the Xbox would probably be it due to Live.

 

However, if you simply mean all the players are playing on the same specific console in the same room I would go with (and get blasted for) The Gamecube. Smash Bros, Mario partys 4-7 if I remember correctly, Pac-Man Vs, a Plethora of Mario sports titles, Four swords, Donky Konga, Sega Soccer Slam, WarioWare Mega Party Game, crystal chronicles, golden eye, Mario Kart DD, Metroid Prime 2 (I think), Super Monkey Ball 2, F-Zero, time spliters...

 

Now many people will complain that many of these games are Mario or Nintendo character oriented but I really don't give a poop.

 

-Tim

[Atarifever]

Well I really think it depends on how you define "multiplayer". If you count online play the PC is the king since millions of people enjoy MMORPGs. Or if you include online but limit it to gaming consoles the Xbox would probably be it due to Live.

 

However, if you simply mean all the players are playing on the same specific console in the same room I would go with (and get blasted for) The Gamecube. Smash Bros, Mario partys 4-7 if I remember correctly, Pac-Man Vs, a Plethora of Mario sports titles, Four swords, Donky Konga, Sega Soccer Slam, WarioWare Mega Party Game, crystal chronicles, golden eye, Mario Kart DD, Metroid Prime 2 (I think), Super Monkey Ball 2, F-Zero, time spliters...

 

Now many people will complain that many of these games are Mario or Nintendo character oriented but I really don't give a poop.

 

-Tim

I don't think you'll get blasted for that. The GameCube is a great system for 4 players in the room type fun. The PS2 cares so little for that type of gaming that it requires a perephrial for it. The Xbox is a better system for online multiplayer, but I don't see a hugh amount of press for their 4 player split screen games (as it isn't necssary when you can put together online deathmatches and big LAN parties, or so I've been told).

[Dusk2600]

N64 or gamecube

[Schmead55]

Yeah, i didn't realize I left out the PC and online angle of things. I was talking about playing on one console. I'd agree with the N64, 4 players (if you have a big enough TV) is great. I've always been a fan of the EAsports PS2 games 4 player, but you need the adapter. We have a PS2 LAN set up, but most PS2 games need you to have an uplink to the game in order to play, so titles are limited for us.

 

When I was in high school, we'd hook up the N64 and use a signal splitter to play it on two TV's, we'd then put aluminum-foil over half of the TV, to cover up the other teams screens, turn off radar, and play Goldeneye ALL NIGHT with two vs. two. Now THAT was fun!!!

 

TTFN

Mateo

[vdub_bobby]

Yeah, i didn't realize I left out the PC and online angle of things. I was talking about playing on one console. I'd agree with the N64, 4 players (if you have a big enough TV) is great. I've always been a fan of the EAsports PS2 games 4 player, but you need the adapter. We have a PS2 LAN set up, but most PS2 games need you to have an uplink to the game in order to play, so titles are limited for us.

 

When I was in high school, we'd hook up the N64 and use a signal splitter to play it on two TV's, we'd then put aluminum-foil over half of the TV, to cover up the other teams screens, turn off radar, and play Goldeneye ALL NIGHT with two vs. two. Now THAT was fun!!!

 

TTFN

Mateo

Ah, half the fun for my friends and I was sneaking a peak at the other guys' screens.

 

Then you get folks camped in corners, facing the corner to prevent anyone from knowing where they were, plus folks that would watch others too closely and not notice when they were about to get blasted! Fun times.

Edited June 29, 2006 by vdub_bobby

[+kisrael]

Yeah, lately it's been Nintendo at least for "couch" shared view gaming.

 

I was thinking Xbox, but as my friend pointed out its mostly limited to FPS.

 

DC was no slouch, with ChuChu rocket, PowerStone 2, Worms Armegeddon, Quake III, etc etc

 

And Sony not getting a clue and putting 4 ports on the PS2 is one of the reasons I'm hoping to see the PS3 go down in flames. I think that there were a lot of 4 player modes that weren't made because PS2 needed a multitap for 'em.

[JagFan422]

i'm going to have to say N64 for one game. 007

[figgler]

Lately I am thinking DS is the king of multiplayer. Three guys have bought a new DS Lite in my office over the past couple weeks and during lunches and slacker time, we've been having tonnes of fun playing wirelessly.

What really seals the deal here is that they don't have many games at all, but with the coolness of single card download, they can leech off my games. Being able to hook up 4 player Bomberman, Mario Kart and Tetris with only me having the actual games is just way too awesome to dispute

[JagFan422]

imo PSP multiplayer is better than DS when it comes to options and functionality, but neither would get my vote as best multiplayer console.

[figgler]

imo PSP multiplayer is better than DS when it comes to options and functionality

 

Well what options and functionality would make the PSP better? I mean either it's multiplayer or it's not. They are both wireless right? Unless you are talking about something from a specific game.

 

Does PSP have the single game download thing? I'm not sure I must say, but I can't see too many arguments that can downplay how wicked it is to play multiplayer games with up to 8 players when only one of you needs to actually own the game.

[+kisrael]

i'm going to have to say N64 for one game. 007

Funny, I'd say the same thing but for Mario Kart. Or maybe Smash Bros.

 

Seriously, I never thought 007 was all that, but maybe that's just because I got it late.

[vdub_bobby]

i'm going to have to say N64 for one game. 007

Funny, I'd say the same thing but for Mario Kart. Or maybe Smash Bros.

 

Seriously, I never thought 007 was all that, but maybe that's just because I got it late.

That's an interesting reaction...I have the same feelings towards SMB 64 - I got it late and have never found it especially compelling. It's fun enough, but it isn't in my top 10 for the system, probably. But in most quarters the game is regarded as one of the best games of all time. But to me it's just a mostly generic 3D platformer with an annoying camera and a Mario theme. Guess you had to be there.

[+kisrael]

yeah, I thought it was cool seeing the nostalgic stuff translated into 3D, and it has some neat parts, but it wasn't ALL that... not enough to make me get a N64, it was Star Fox that did that...

[Video]

If your talking classic systems, you gotta go with Nintendo, almost every Nintendo system has an awesome selection of Multiplayer games.

 

If you want Older, The Atari 2600 is awesome for multiplayer, the other's during it's era tended to cator more to single play experiance.

 

For the more modern systems, it depends on the types of games you want. If you want fun Party game type and kart racers, the Game Cube is the clear winner. If you want Deathmatche and FPS then the X-Box wins out, especially in the Co-Op arena. Yes, I'm aware the PS2 can support coop on FPS games, but often only in link, which IMO defeats the purpose.

[super_dos_man]

Lately I am thinking DS is the king of multiplayer. Three guys have bought a new DS Lite in my office over the past couple weeks and during lunches and slacker time, we've been having tonnes of fun playing wirelessly.

What really seals the deal here is that they don't have many games at all, but with the coolness of single card download, they can leech off my games. Being able to hook up 4 player Bomberman, Mario Kart and Tetris with only me having the actual games is just way too awesome to dispute

 

hands down!

[+kisrael]

If you want Older, The Atari 2600 is awesome for multiplayer, the other's during it's era tended to cator more to single play experiance.

On the other hand Intellivision had a lot of games, especially sports, that were ONLY 2 players, if memory serves.... plus some neat one offs like Utopia.

[shadow460]

i'm going to have to say N64 for one game. 007

 

I had the feeling something was missing...

Yeah, words. You took 'em right outta my mouth.

 

Second would be the 2600 (Warlords, Party Mix), followed by GameBoy classic at a distant third. Four people on Super RC Pro Am makes for a good time, with each of them trying to hold the portable system "just right" to get that extra bit of control.

DMG GameBoy had a lot of other decent two player titles, like Tetris 1 and 2, Power Mission, Radar Mission, you name it. I don't know how many hours I spent on that thing linked with someone else.

Edited July 1, 2006 by shadow460

[sega saturn x]

The dreamcast and staurn often get the shaft when talking about multiplayer. Both have a plethora of fantastic fighters and odd ball titles like power stone and guadian heroes. All I know is whenever I boot up steet fighter alpha 2 or marvel Vs. capcom 2 I can count on 10 rounds at least.

[Video]

If you want Older, The Atari 2600 is awesome for multiplayer, the other's during it's era tended to cator more to single play experiance.

On the other hand Intellivision had a lot of games, especially sports, that were ONLY 2 players, if memory serves.... plus some neat one offs like Utopia.

 

Yeah, but almost no system then had sports games with brains to play one playored. (odly enough though, I do seem to remember several Atari 2600 games having one player options :/ ) Utopia is one of the best games ever from that era and will offer hours of play time easy. But unless your friends are a fan of the Intelevision, I wouldn't try to put them into shock with the controllers.

 

 

i'm going to have to say N64 for one game. 007

 

I had the feeling something was missing...

Yeah, words. You took 'em right outta my mouth.

 

Second would be the 2600 (Warlords, Party Mix), followed by GameBoy classic at a distant third. Four people on Super RC Pro Am makes for a good time, with each of them trying to hold the portable system "just right" to get that extra bit of control.

DMG GameBoy had a lot of other decent two player titles, like Tetris 1 and 2, Power Mission, Radar Mission, you name it. I don't know how many hours I spent on that thing linked with someone else.

 

Wasn't RC Pro Am for the NES also four playered if you had the multi tap thing, what was that called? Team tap or something right? But yeah, the Gameboy's have always had an awesome selection of multiplayer games, long as you can find enough copies. Don't forget Faceball 2k, it was also four playered, and IMO better than the console version, though I only played the SNES so that's the only one I'm comparing it too.

Edited July 1, 2006 by Video

[+kisrael]

Wasn't RC Pro Am for the NES also four playered if you had the multi tap thing, what was that called? Team tap or something right? But yeah, the Gameboy's have always had an awesome selection of multiplayer games, long as you can find enough copies. Don't forget Faceball 2k, it was also four playered, and IMO better than the console version, though I only played the SNES so that's the only one I'm comparing it too.

If memory serves both the NES and SNES versions of Micro Machines Racing had multitap as well as "2 players on one controller" schemes. Great game, that, with a lot of variety of vehicles and courses.

[ninjarabbit]

I think the N64 wins. I had lots of fun playing multiplayer Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Mario Kart, and WCW/WWF wrestling games on it.

 

However the DS might surpass it soon with it's wireless games and how many games like Tetris need only one cart to play on.

[+kisrael]

I was trying to think why I instinctively don't think DS is great multiplayer gaming, despite all evidence to the contrary. At first I thought it was because it doesn't have everyone sharing a single big screen, but I think historically it's been one guy has the game system and everyone else just shows up.

[narutofan]

Yeah, i didn't realize I left out the PC and online angle of things. I was talking about playing on one console. I'd agree with the N64, 4 players (if you have a big enough TV) is great. I've always been a fan of the EAsports PS2 games 4 player, but you need the adapter. We have a PS2 LAN set up, but most PS2 games need you to have an uplink to the game in order to play, so titles are limited for us.

 

When I was in high school, we'd hook up the N64 and use a signal splitter to play it on two TV's, we'd then put aluminum-foil over half of the TV, to cover up the other teams screens, turn off radar, and play Goldeneye ALL NIGHT with two vs. two. Now THAT was fun!!!

 

TTFN

Mateo

Ah, half the fun for my friends and I was sneaking a peak at the other guys' screens.

 

Then you get folks camped in corners, facing the corner to prevent anyone from knowing where they were, plus folks that would watch others too closely and not notice when they were about to get blasted! Fun times.

that's definitely the best part. My brother always uses the excuse "I heard the rocket launcher being loaded" or whatever, and I never buy it, so now, whenever he says I am screen looking, I just say I smelled it

[Jubal]

Wasn't RC Pro Am for the NES also four playered if you had the multi tap thing, what was that called? Team tap or something right?

/snip

 

The NES 4 player attachment was called 4Score, and a game had to be designed to take advantage of it.

 

the game like RC pro am that is 4score compatible is "Super Off Road".

other 4score games that get play at my place are Gauntlet 2 and M.U.L.E.