There’s something special about playing games on the original hardware they were made for. If you have extra cash to spend and want to experience gaming on an older console, there are things you need to look out for in order to get the most bang for your buck.
REGION
You know that older console you’re interested in buying? It’s probably not region-free. What this means is that you will need to buy an NTSC/US console to play NTSC games, a PAL one to play PAL games and a Japanese one if you want those sweet Japanese exclusives. If you already own the console and want to buy games, make sure you know the region that console belongs to and buy the correct games. Nothing sucks more than spending $100 on that rare game only to find out your console can’t read the damn thing. If you’re in Europe, buying an older console from the US might have some hidden costs like adapters, shipping prices, customs taxes. Always keep those extra costs in mind.
WATCH OUT
Whether you’re buying online from eBay or a thrift store, always make sure the console/game you’re buying is relatively clean. You don’t want to purchase something that has a coating made up of 10 years of cigarette tar and dust on the inside and the outside. Also, roaches inside second-hand game consoles are a thing, so always make sure you see pictures of the product to get a general idea of how clean it is. You want it to be as pure as it can be and the price to reflect that. We’re still talking about retro game consoles, right?
You can always purchase an old game console that’s fairly disgusting and restore it. But never pay as much as you would for one which is in a good, clean condition.
GAMES
When it comes to buying games for your retro console, ask yourself why you’re doing it. Are you a collector who wants to have a collection of games and only play a few of them, never to completion? Are you a gamer seeking to play and experience a game you always liked (and maybe could never play)? Whatever the case may be, be careful not to buy too many games. Do some research, figure out your goal is and why you want to purchase an older console and manage your budget accordingly. I wanted to experience Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire on Nintendo 64. I only got that game and a fancy box to store it in. My goal was to experience, not collect the greatest N64 hits.
SCAMMERS
Beware of scammers selling unofficial controllers, reproduction cartridges prices as much as original ones and fake Android-based consoles that play 2393 games from 1970 to 2010. There are countless sites detailing important distinctions and characteristics so you can spot fakes and avoid them like the plague. Be smart, research and always keep in mind that someone might try to scam you and sell you an inferior products if you’re not careful. Before purchasing my Nintendo 64, I made sure I knew the region the console I bought was from, how to spot original games from the shape and size of letter embossed on the plastic cartridge, I made sure the controller was an original one and that I had purchased a clean console.
Have you got any tips for gamers looking to buy original game consoles of the past? Let us know in the comments below.
