Without a doubt, the video game industry pivots on the market of desktop consoles and PC; however, the portable platforms They make up an important part of the history of the medium and there are still those who enjoy the ability to play their favorite titles anytime, anywhere.
He Nintendo Switch showed that there is still room for such ecosystems. With recent rumors of Microsoft and Sony preparing new portable platforms, it’s worth looking back and revisiting the retro consoles that paved the way.
While it’s easy to think of older platforms as obsolete, the truth is that they still offer unique experiences that are conspicuous by their absence elsewhere. So, here are some retro handheld consoles that are still worth owning in 2024.
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Gameboy ― Available from $1050 MXN
Of course, we had to start with one of the most iconic portable consoles in history: the Nintendo Game Boy. After its debut in that distant 1989 in Japanese lands, it represented a revolution that took the concept of the classic Game & Watch to the next level.
He Gameboy was technically inferior to Game Gear of SEGA and to Turbo Express of NECbut its excellent value for money allowed it to enter the homes of a much wider audience. Of course, its success came from a large collection of video games that became icons of popular culture: from Super Mario Land and Pokémon Red & Blue until Tetris and Kirby’s Dream Land.
However, the Japanese company faced the complex challenge of staying ahead. This is where the Nintendo Game Boy Pocketa revision that arrived in 1996. This new version was lighter and smaller, requiring fewer batteries. It also substantially improved visibility and response time.
The Nintendo Game Boy is a relic and remains one of the most beloved consoles by nostalgic gamers. Despite the passing of the years, it maintained a good commercial performance and the latest figures indicate that it has managed to sell 118.69 million units since its debut almost 30 years ago.
Nintendo DSi ― Available from $1499 MXN
Naturally, Nintendo learned from the unprecedented success of the Game Boy and attempted to replicate it. The mission was a difficult one, but it managed to hit the mark a couple more times: first with the popular Nintendo Game Boy Advance and then with the highly successful Nintendo DS.
The portable console was characterised by its dual screen, one of which was touch-sensitive. This particular hardware arrangement opened up a new range of possibilities that developers took advantage of. New Super Mario Bros., Nintendogs, Mario Kart DS, Brain Training and Pokémon Diamond & Pearl were their best-selling games.
Like its predecessors, the platform has had a couple of revisions. One of the most interesting was the Nintendo DSiwhich debuted in 2006. Unlike the Nintendo DS Lite and the original console, this version had 2 digital cameras and included an SD card slot. Another interesting novelty was that it could also connect to an online store.
For many, the Nintendo DSi It is the best version of the successful portable console, which managed to sell more than 154 million units among all its editions.
PSP 3000 ― Available from $2799 MXN
Of course, Nintendo was not the only company that bet on the portable console market during the first decade of the 2000s. Sony surprised everyone with the PSPalso known as the PlayStation Portable.
Just like the Big N’s platforms, this portable hardware also had its fair share of revisions. Along those lines, the PSP 3000 It stands out as one of the fans’ favorite versions thanks to its built-in microphone and its new LCD screen that offered better definition and contrast.
So, the PSP 3000 It was an excellent option to enjoy the extensive catalog of the Sony console. Some of the most interesting games were God of War: Chains of Olympus, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
It’s unknown if Sony will ever really venture into the handheld market again, but the PlayStation Portable, including the PSP 3000, was a big part of its long history. It’s for that reason that many still prefer it over the failed PlayStation Portable. PlayStation Vita of 2011.
But tell us, did you have any of these consoles? Which one was your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
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