I was born in 75 I am definitely over 30. I started gaming on the TRS-80 where I fast forwarded and rewinded data tapes to play Shark! and DK! in glorious black and white and the 2600 when I was around 5. I remember and played all of the games you mentioned. I killed more time on river raid than I care to remember. I wasted a ton of time on Spy hunter and begged for tons of quarters for Tempest and the wireframe Star Wars game. I dropped a ton of quarters in Pitfall two but never finished it. Even spent a ton on later games like Cadash in the Arcades.

Yes games like Berserk were fun I loved those game systems. Then the crash happened gaming had changed. Basically there is no way the Atari 2600 was better then the NES even with Nostalgia as afactor. There are far fewer games on the 2600 which give that nostalgia feeling compared to the NES. The sheer number of games as well as the Variety. The first time playing Dragon Warrior or Ultima, games like Mega Man and Contra or Ghost and Goblins. The number of memorable or good games were just to numerous to compare.

You said:

"The first time playing Dragon Warrior or Ultima, games like Mega Man and Contra or Ghost and Goblins. The number of memorable or good games were just to numerous to compare."

Several Ultima games appeared on PCs before they were on the NES.  And Contra and Ghosts and Goblins were also arcade games. 

You slight the 2600 for one of its most redeeming qualities then turn around and praise the NES for it.

Those werent the only games I played on the NES only a snippet. But you know feel how you want but you obviously have a block you need to loosen up. I know Ultima was on the PC I played them too. I also didn't mention games like Zork or Pyramid or Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy or leisure suit larry. However I prefered the NES version of Exodus and Avatar. I have never seen Ghosts and Goblins in an Arcade but it is very possible it was. Some games were more regional then otehrs.

Hawk.Yup I still have dreams about syntax error 80. I also used to get Rainbow magazine when it was meant for Color Computers. I have fond memories abotu my Trash 80 but it by far not my best computer system it goes to the Amiga.

 Those are all great NES games. Hmmm wonder why you didnt say anything about that....

      I didn't say anything about that because you said,"Let's face it guys, back in the late 80's the best games were on the NES."  And that is pretty much the truth.

     However, it doesn't mean that the NES was the best console ever.

      Well, you would have been 9 during the crash which means you probably didn't play them that much before the crash occurred.  There is the chance that the NES just made a bigger impression on you with its better graphics, etc.I was 12 in 1984, and I received my 2600 when I was eight, and I read most of the big game magazines of the day, so the games I wanted were generally the most critically appreciated of the time.

     I think you would get the following results if you conducted a poll of video game players to get their opinion on what was the greatest video gme system ever made.

36 and older with experience playing most of the games from the Golden Age of Videogames (1979 to 1983) Atari 2600

35 to 30 Atari 2600 or NES

30 and below one of Nintendo's or Sony's systems with the xbox getting a lot of votes as well.