I had a session in the man-cave the other day and got to thinking about all the work that had gone into some of the start up sequences on consoles of old. A lot just give you a blank screen, but some, such as the GameCube (with it’s multiple start ups) have obviously had a crazy amount of time and thought lavished upon them.
So here are my top 5 retro videogame console start ups, you may have your own top 5 and I welcome you to comment with any suggestions you have.
1: Nintendo GameCube
As some of you may already know I’m not the biggest fan of Nintendo’s sixth generation console, in fact I hardly even regard it retro; but no-one can deny that it has one of the catchiest jingles and best looking start ups of any console either before or since. Not only that but by pressing various button combos whilst starting up you can see a number of different start up screens including speeded up and slo-mo versions. Great fun.
2. Sega Saturn
This is a start up that means business. Flying polygon shards all converging to make a shiny Saturn logo and dramatic music make this one of the most theatrical of introduction sequences.
3. Neo Geo Pocket/Color
One of the cutest console start ups has to be on this gem of a handheld. If you have never listened to a NGP/C start up then you have missed a treat. That music just gives a hint of the fun to be had with that wonderful little machine.
4. Sega Dreamcast
Great sound effects and a bouncing dot give this start up a unique look. Nothing too OTT and certainly nothing pushing the hardware at all but straightforward and classy.
5: Atari Jaguar
A disappointment to many (especially Atari), this console takes fifth place for me, not because of the start up graphics, but because of the Jaguar growl. A spinning cube covered in Jaguar graphics points to what the Jag is capable of but not much more. It’s all in that growl.
[youtube:http://youtu.be/dizIpFYnayY]
The GameCube start up does look good… But my vote for the number one start up would be the DreamCast, it’s just pretty. The Playstation 2 start up should also be on this list, in my opinion.