5th Generation Game Consoles 1993-1998
The fifth generation marked another spike in graphics. Up until this time, games were made with 2-dimensional graphics. Sure there was some 3D effects, and even some 3D games, like Star Fox, but they were only made with enhancements included in the cartridges. Speaking of cartridges, that is the format that most games were stored on. This generation included more CD based games. This generation is known as the 32-bit and 64-bit era. That is enough graphical power to make true 3D graphics. Some important titles released during this time were Star Fox 64, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Resident Evil, Pokemon Red/Blue, Final Fantasy VII, Super Mario 64, Silent Hill, Crash Bandicoot, Dragon Quest VII, Metal Gear Solid, Spyro the Dragon, and Tomb Raider.
3DO Interactive Multiplayer (3DO)
3DO
The 3DO is a unique 32-bit console released in 1993 by The 3DO Company. Even though the console's release adds were spectacular, and made with the best technology, it didn't sell very well because of its high price. It costed $600 when it was released. The reason being that the company wanted to make money off the system itself and not the actual games. The games came on CDs, and many of the games had video in them. This made the games seem too much like a movie, and not actual games.
Atari Jaguar
Atari Jaguar
The Atari Jaguar was released in 1993 as the first 64-bit console. It wasn't that popular though mostly because most of the games did not use the consoles full capability. The 64-bit graphics was generated by a combination of different processors, which made it hard for programmers to make games to fully support it. It did have popular games like a version of Doom and Tempest 2000. Normally it used cartridges, but an add on called the Atari Jaguar CD was made that used CDs. However, the Atari Jaguar CDs are know to malfunction.
Neo Geo CD
Neo Geo CD
The Neo Geo CD was a console released in 1994 by SNK Playmore Corporation. It was essentially the same as the regular Neo Geo, but it used CDs instead of those huge cartridges. Many arcade games were released exclusively for this console instead of both it and its predecessor.
Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The Sega Saturn came out in 1995 by Sega. It had 32-bit graphics. The controllers had six buttons, a directional pad, and a start button. The Saturn was popular in Japan, but not in the United States. It played Saturn CDs, and had storage cards to save game data. Virtual Fighter II was the best selling game of this console.
Playstation (PS1 or PSX)
Playstation
The Playstation was released in 1995 by Sony. It was Sony's first home console. The Playstation came along because of a deal with Nintendo and Sony to make a CD based add on for the SNES, which failed. So Sony went on to create the Playstation. The Playstation was very popular, and sold 102 million units worldwide, due to it being in production until 2006. Many popular game series started on this system, like Resident Evil and Crash Bandicoot. The normal controllers had four buttons, a start button, a select button, and a directional pad, but a controller with a rumble feature called the Dual-Shock controller was released and it had two analog sticks added. This console used memory cards to save game data.
Nintendo 64 (N64)
Nintendo 64
The Nintendo 64 came out in 1996 by Nintendo. Out of all of the consoles of the fifth generation, this one was the most advance. This one was truly 64-bit. The controllers had two normal buttons, four c-buttons, a start button, directional pad, analog stick, and three shoulder buttons. Unlike most controllers, the N64 had three handles, and the way you held the controller depended on the game. Also unusual about the controllers, they had a slot on the back where accessories could be placed. Some accessories are the Rumble Pack and the Transfer Pack. Another one was the Expansion Pack, which would replace the Jumper Pack that came with the console in a little slot on top. Adding the Expansion Pack increased the RAM from 4 mb to 8 mb. Some games, like Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, needed the Expansion Pack to play. Also, another important accessory was the Nintendo 64 Disk Drive. (64DD) This was an add on that only came out in Japan that allowed the system to play games using re-writable disks with twice the amount of memory of the standard cartridges. It didn't sell well in Japan, so it was never released in the United States. Many popular games were released for the Nintendo 64, most having the number 64 implemented into their names. Titles like Donkey Kong 64, Megaman 64, Star Fox 64, Super Mario 64, Star Wars Rogue Squadron, F-Zero X, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Resident Evil 2, Turok Dinosaur Hunter, and Super Smash Bros. The N64 sold about 33 million units worldwide.
Handhelds
Sega Nomad
Sega Nomad
The Sega Nomad is a 16-bit handheld console released in 1995 by Sega. This is basically a handheld version of the Sega Genesis. It is unusual for being able to play games from different regions as well as its own region. However, the handheld had a short battery life of 2 hours. It also couldn't connect with the Sega CD or Sega 32x without problems. It also had AV ports for connecting it to the television. It was praised for its incredible back-lit screen, which was usually horrible in other consoles.
Virtual Boy
Virtual Boy
The Virtual boy was released in 1995 by Nintendo. It had 32-bit graphics and was the first console to have the ability to make true 3D graphics, not just 3D effects. The graphics were monochrome, being only red and black. To play, you would place the red visor over your eyes and you would see a screen inside. There was actually two screens showing two slightly different images which would simulate images like the real world due to the left and right human eyes. Your eyes would put the two images together to make a 3D image. It was made to give the fans something while they were making the Nintendo 64. The console did not sell that well because of the monochrome colors.
Game.com
Game.com
The Game.com (pronounced "game com") is a handheld console released in 1997 by Tiger Electronics. It gave new ideas for what a handheld console could do. It had a touch screen and stylus. It also had a main menu for other features besides games such as a phone book, calender, calculator, high score collector, and a built in game of Solitaire. The idea was used in later consoles such as the Nintendo DS and PSP. The console was targeted towards older gamers, but it failed to capture them even with titles such as Resident Evil 2 and Duke Nukem 3D. Thr graphics were black and white, which was out of date for the time.
Gameboy Color (GBC)
Gameboy Color
The Gameboy Color Came out in 1998 by Nintendo. It was an update to the original Gameboy, and as the name says, had color games. Like its predecessor, it had 8-bit graphics. With color, the games could be displayed in more detail. A few games were re-released for the Gameboy Color called the DX series. These games were Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, R-Type DX, and Tetris DX. The games had color added to them. This handheld could better rival the Sega Game Gear since it was in color.