I've been gaming since the early 80s but I didn't get my own console until the NES in 1988.
Gen 3 and earlier was too crude and, despite a few gems, I can't go back to that. Even games I loved as a kid like Super Mario 3 don't have the same luster.
Gen 4, the SNES was the only system I had. It was fantastic and had some classics that I still enjoy.
Gen 5, again was too crude. Mostly unplayable for me today outside of the rare 2D games. I owned an N64 and a PS1.
Gen 6 is about as far back as I can play. I owned everything except the original Xbox and I have some good memories but the games have aged pretty badly. The graphics are decent enough but devs were still figuring out camera controls a lot of the time.
Gen 7 was when it all came together. Great graphics, even by today's standards. Great 2D and 3D gaming. Story telling and acting reached a level that wasn't embarrassing. Online finally hit the mainstream. I bought every console and I probably play games from that era more than I play newly released games.
8th gen, for me, was mostly 7 gen with better performance. Not enough classics. It's like I couldn't buy enough games last generation to satisfy my hunger. This gen, despite owning everything again, I often go weeks if not months between new game purchases. I often don't finish the games I buy--and yet I have the time and passion to completely replay 7th gen titles. Not to mention that poor business practices (that I admit began in the 7th gen) got taken to a whole new level this gen. VR has been a blessing but a lot of the novelty has worn off. Probably due to a lack of "must own" content.
Gen 9? Not even sure when or if I'm jumping in. Not on day one, that's for sure. Unless you count the Switch. Then, day one.
TL;DR: Gen 7 was the best.
Last edited by d21lewis - on 15 March 2020