Top 5 Weirdest Game Consoles!

The Weirdest Console Hits and Misses of All Time

Hey guys, this is Austin with over 40 years of console hits and misses. Here are the weirdest coming in at number 5 is the Nintendo Wii Mini. Making cheaper versions of consoles late in the lifecycle has been going on for a while, but Nintendo really went over the top with the Wii mini. It comes in a red light finish which doesn't look too bad, but it's about as stripped down as it gets when it comes to wanting to play online or access gamecube games. No Wi-Fi, no SD card slot, and only 480i resolution - that's just basic.

You do get the newer motion plus controller included in red, so games like Wii Sports will be totally fine, but even those are limited by the lack of component video out. The list goes on and on with the lack of an SD card slot and a top-loading disc versus the original slot loading drive. To be fair, there is still a solid library of games available, but the mini is missing out on a lot compared to the standard Wii.

This wouldn't be crazy on an older console, but the Wii mini was released in 2013 here in the US, and that's definitely getting weird points all around. Coming in at number 4 is the Sega Nomad, which unlike the Wii mini, had one big selling point: it's a full portable version of the Genesis.

It's an absolutely massive handheld with all your controls built-in along with a color screen, but it has the full internals of the Genesis pop into it and you're basically good to go. It's not exactly what I would call great, but considering it's 20 years old, it's usable. It also has some cool extra features like a controller port and AV out to connect with a TV, letting it fully replace the Genesis unless you're really really attached to your Sega CD.

The weirdest thing is the lopsided design, which makes everything seem slightly crooked, especially the screen. Being a full game console in a portable package means powering it is a pain - you either have to plug in or use six double-a batteries which only lasts a couple of hours.

Release six years after the Genesis, the Nomad wasn't very successful, but it's still unique even to this day. Next up at number 3 is an obscure one: the Apple Bandai Pippin. Apple's first and only game console, released in 1995, was essentially a small computer running a modified version of Mac OS 7.

The Pippin was meant to be a gaming platform that other companies could license to make their own consoles using the basics of the Mac like the powerPC processor, Bandi made this one which came with the bizarre AppleJack controller - it's best described as both a controller and a mouse with a trackball and left and right click buttons around.

Back in the 90s Apple was all over the place, and this might be one of the best examples. The Pippin was meant to be a gaming platform that other companies could license to make their own consoles using the basics of the Mac like the powerPC processor, but for the most part it was just a really weird experiment.

Number 2 on the list is the Nokia N-Gage, which was absolutely ahead of its time as an early smartphone that could play games back in 2003. It had a lot going for it including the ability to run apps online gaming dedicated physical games and decent controls. But try using it as a phone though - you'll find the speaker on top which forces you to hold it in a very specific way.

It actually does still connect to cell networks today, even has Bluetooth, but there are tons of poor choices like having to remove the rear shell and pull the battery just to put a game in. The screen is small but it's not a deal-breaker. It just needs some practice getting used to its unique design.

Coming in at number 1 on our list of weirdest consoles of all time is the Nintendo Virtual Boy, which was released in 1995 and has become infamous for its weird design. It had a red and white color scheme and a distinctive red light visor that looked like it belonged on a sci-fi movie set.

The Virtual Boy was meant to be a virtual reality console but it lacked head tracking, making it pretty uncomfortable to use for long periods of time. But despite all this, the Virtual Boy still manages to capture the imagination and has become one of the most beloved consoles in gaming history.

If you guys enjoyed watching this video, please go check out my friend Kevin Kenton's video going over some of the weirdest controllers of all time.

Anyway, guys, thank you so much for watching and I will catch you in the next one.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enHey guysThis is Austin with over 40 years of console hits and misses here are the weirdestComing in at number 5 is the Nintendo Wii MiniMaking cheaper versions of consoles late in the lifecycle has been going on for a whileBut Nintendo really went over the Top with the Wii miniIt comes in a red light finish which doesn't look too badBut it's about a stripped down as it gets want to play online. No Wi-Fi how about gamecube games?Not happening. Take one look at the menu, and you'll see just how basic things are this is made to play gamesAnd that's it you do get the newer motion plus controller included in red. So games like Wii sportsWho are totally fine?but even here were limited to480i as there's no component video out the list goes on and on - like the lack of an sdCard slot and a top loading disc versus the original slot loading drive to be fair there is still a solid library of gamesBut the mini is missing out on a lot compared to the standard WiiThis wouldn't be crazy on an older consoleBut the Wii mini was released in 2013 here in the us this definitely gets weird points all around for number 4There's the sega nomad unlike the Wii mini. Which was generally kind of terrible the Nomad had one big selling pointIt's a full portable version of the genesis it is an absolutely massive handheldBut it has the full internals of the genesis pop in a game, and you're basically good to goYou've got all your controls built in along with a color screenIt's not exactly what I would call great, but considering is 20 years old. It's usableIt has some cool extra features too like a controller port and Av out to connect with TV letting it fully replace the genesisUnless you're really really attached to your sega CDThe weirdest thing is the lopsided design it slopes down which makes everything seem slightly crookedespecially the screen unfortunatelyBeing a full game console in a portable package means powering it is a pain you either have to plug in or use six double-aBatteries which only lasts a couple hours release six years after the genesis the nomad wasn't very successfulbut it's still unique even to this day next up at number three is an oBscure one the apple Bandai pippin asApple's first and only game console back from1995 this was essentially a small computer running a modified version of Mac os 7 the pippin was a massive failure with just over40,000 sold and for good reason it didn't make much sense. It's a CD based consoleWhich only had a few games including Super MarathonWhich was actually bungees very first console game before they moved on to haloBack in the 90s Apple was all over the place and this might be one of the best examplesThe pippin was meant to be a gaming platform that other companies could license to make their ownConsoles using the basics of the Mac such as the powerPC processor, bandI made this one which came with the bizarreApplejack controller that it's best to be both a controller as well as a mouse with a trackball and left and right click buttons aroundBack it was a little ahead of its time with the built-in modem but for the most part it was just a really weirdExperiment and number 2 is the Nokia ngAge nowThis was absolutely ahead of its time as an early smartphone that could play games back in 2003 on paperThis has a lot going for it including the ability to run apps online gamingDedicated physical games and decent controls try to use it as a phone thoughAnd you'll find the speaker on top which forces you to hold it in a very specific wayIt actually does still connect to cell networks today and even has BluetoothBut there are tons of poor choices like having to remove the rear shell and pull the battery just to put a game in whichIs crazy the screen is small but decent with a backlight, but the taco shape not only looks ridiculousBut seriously you were supposed to talk into it like thisNokia followed it up with a QD version which fix some of these issuesBut it was still a pretty major failure if Nokia try something like this five years laterIt actually may have worked out, but as it is modern smartphones have absolutely replaced what the engage was trying to be lastBut absolutely not least at number one is the Nintendo Virtual boyIt doesn't get much weirder than this the virtual boy was its own console that was shipped Alongside the game boy right before the Nintendo64 and was the first serious effort toward virtual reality the headset has a pair of red displays that cleverly scan up and down toMimic a 3D effectThe graphics have a super nintendo feel but it's not bad and most importantly the 3D works surprisinglyWell with an actual sense of depth it lacks head tracking and is fairly heavySo you'll need to use it on a stand which can get pretty uncomfortable over longer periods it has a decent controllerBut it has the Ac adapter Built-in which makes things a little awkwardall of this put together with a fairly expensive price meant the virtual boy just didn't catch on with less than a million units soldIt was discontinued less than a year after releaseIt's a shame considering that 20 years later virtual reality is just starting to hit the mainstreamBut there's no doubt that the virtual boy was one of the weirdest consoles of all timeIf you guys enjoyed be sure to go check out my friend Kevin Kenton's video going over some of the weirdest controllers of all timeAnyway guys. Thank you so much for watching and I will catch you in the next one