Clash of the Consoles, pt. 2 (And the One Reason 90s Kids DID Want to Go to School)

Reason #3 kids wanted to stay home: Sony Playstation

Look at that sleek, savvy thing up there. That was one bitchin console when it came to us from Japan in 1995. It caught the attention of kids like wildfire with its impressive graphics and fast gameplay, and even though it lacked an iconic character like Sonic or Mario, it offered many popular game franchises like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Frogger, the video game giant that is the Final Fantasy series, and a slew of sports and racing games. It catered to everyone; Hell, you could practically hear a choir of angels singing as you opened the box. This wonder machine has claimed millions of childhood hours worldwide, while parents’ suggestions to “go outside!” fell on deaf ears.

Ahh, Frogger…so many good times. So many angrily thrown controllers.

And the winner by a long shot: Nintendo 64

The granddaddy of classic video games, the Nintendo 64. Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario Kart 64, Goldeneye 007; this console holds claim to the heavyweight champions of the classic video game world. It came to us in 1996 and hasn't stopped being great since. You haven't fully experienced video gaming until you've played at least one of these great titles. The number of hours 90s kids spent collecting stars, shells, swords and bullets, and stomping on, stabbing at, and shooting up colorful villains must be astounding. I know I spent a good 3 years of my life playing on this system. And regardless of where you look, these games make it on nearly every list of the top video games of all time. Of all time; this console offered games in the late 90s that beat out games powered by a 250GB Playsation 3 more than a decade later. Japan sure knows their video games. I've probably spent a couple hundred hours playing through the big-name titles time after time, how about you?

What are your memories? Let's get some feedback! Post a comment with your favorite console, game, or memory, or maybe your worst; frustrations are welcome as well. You know you played at least one of these games or systems, and you know you loved it. Now revel in it!

Ok, you've been waiting and suspecting since seeing the title of this post, now it's time to sate your curiosity. The one reason 90s kids did want to go to school was...

Oregon Trail

Yes it was. You remember this. Oregon Trail day. The day the class got to use the computer, and that was the best day of the week for damn sure. No one even cared that it was an educational game, we loved it anyway. The only thing that wasn't awesome about it was that eventually the class would be over (alas, the great despair of all video gamers), and you would have to go back to boring, actual learning.

Book learning sucks.

You led a caravan of settlers through the titular trail, you hunted deer, rabbits and oxen, and maybe died of dysentery. AND YOU LOVED IT.

AND, since I know how you really want it, I'll go ahead and indulge your pangs of nostalgia. There is an ONLINE VERSION OF THE GAME. Oh yes. Enjoy. Go die of dysentery. It'll be the best thing you've done all day.

Hooray for reliving 6th grade!