Price: $139.99
Release Date: 1991
In-Box: Control Deck, 2 Gamepads, Super Mario Game Pak, Manuals & Extras
Features: Parallax Scrolling, FX Chip Capability, 32K Colors Available
# of Bits: 16

Nintendo's flagship console for the War of the Super Systems. A hot seller with great graphics, innovative developers, and a steady stream of great games on the horizon. The existing library is also massive with a wide array of genres available from action-platformers to role-playing games. It has garnered a kid-friendly reputation, which may be a plus or a minus depending on the player. The SNES is going strong is a solid choice for '94.

Price: $89.99
Release Date: 1985
In-Box: System, 2 Gamepads, Super Mario 3 Cart, Manuals & Extras
Features: 52 Colors, Scrolling Graphics
# of Bits: 8

The former world champion of the video game world. The original Nintendo Entertainment System is undoubtedly in its twilight years, but it maintains a ginormous library of games and a vast assortment of accessories and gadgets. Despite its age, the Nintendo is just as fun as it was when it first launched nearly ten whole years ago. It's perfect for a young child as a "starter" system or a more casual games player on a tighter budget.

Price: $129.99
Release Date: 1989
In-Box: System, 1 Gamepad, Sonic 2 Cart, Manuals & Extras
Features: Arcade Graphics, Blast Processing, Upgradability
# of Bits: 16

The first, true 16-Bit system on the market, the Sega Genesis is still a hot commodity even on the heels of its fifth birthday. Its medicore sound chip is offset by a blazing fast processor, shown off brilliantly through the stellar pack-in, Sonic 2. Sega's all-new six-button gamepad makes for perfect fighting game action! The new "Model 2" even comes at a lower price! With tons of titles in stores and more on the way, Sega is an easy choice.

Price: $229.99
Release Date: 1992
In-Box: CD System, Three Game Discs Included, Manuals & Extras
Features: HiFi CD Audio, Custom Graphics, FMV Capability
# of Bits: 16

This CD attachment is an upgrade companion for your Sega Genesis. With it, you'll have access to a new library of CD games (75+ as of November) capable of trumpeting out quality full-motion video and digital audio. We've seen some developers go full throttle in their development for the system, and others not so much. There's plenty to love about this system, and as we move into an era of CD gaming, the Sega CD is absolutely worth the price of admission if you own a Genesis.

Price: $299.99
Release Date: 1992
In-Box: CD System, One Controller, Multi-Game Disc, Manuals & Extras
Features: Custom Graphics, 512 Colors, CD Audio
# of Bits: 16

The TurboDuo is the "Black Sheep" of the game market. Its base unit launched at the same time as the Genesis but was vastly overshadowed by its competitor's speed and graphical superiority. It lacks much third party support these days, and unfortunately many excellent games are locked in Japan. Turbo boasts a handful of entertaining titles, but it may not survive 1994 unless TTI can find a magic lamp and turn their luck around.

Price: $79.99
Release Date: 1989
In-Box: Handheld System, Earphones, Tetris Game Pack, Manuals & Extras
Features: Dot Matrix LCD Display
# of Bits: 4

Its green-and-black graphical interface may seem a touch antiquated as we approach an era of 32 and 64-Bit devices, but, heck, the Game Boy outlasted President Bush. Its popularity shows no signs of slowing as 1994 rolls around. With a library of hundreds to choose from and consistent support by Nintendo, the Game Boy lives on. Pick up a magnifier, though...and a flashlight along with a bunch of AA-batteries. You'll thank us later.

Price: $129.99
Release Date: 1991
In-Box: Handheld System, Sonic Cart, Manuals & Extras
Features: 4096 Colors, Lighted Display
# of Bits: 8

Sega's Game Gear is, in some ways, above and beyond Nintendo's portable device. Game Gear offers 8-bit gameplay with a lighted, liquid-crystal display in a broad range of colors. Tons of games are available for the Sega handheld from Batman to Shinobi and you'll have no shortage of accessories, either. Expect brutal battery drain as the required 6 AAAs quickly peter out under the strain of the light-up screen, however.

Price: Varies
Release Date: 1993-4
In-Box: Varies
Features: 64M+ Pixels/Second, Millions of Colors On-Screen, CD Capabilities
# of Bits: 32

Of the next generation of gaming systems, two will have undergone limited launches by the time you read this handbook. The 3DO and the Atari Jaguar pioneer the next wave with upcoming releases by Sega and Nintendo sometime in the next year or so. Keeping in mind the small number of units for sale and the tiny game selections we cannot widely recommend either system at this point, but if you DO manage to get your hands on the $700 Panasonic or the $250 Atari, better snag 'em!

Price: $19.99
Release Date: 1993
In-Box: Electronic Handheld Game
Features: LCD Display
# of Bits: N/A

From Tiger Electronics comes a slew of all-new LCD handheld game devices. Claiming to understand "what's hot with kids," Tiger has prepared about eight versions of this gadget, utilizing acquired licenses from Jurassic Park, Aladdin, Sonic and more. It's cheap, and boy is it cheap. No graphics to speak of, nor much in terms of sound. In essence, these are enlarged versions of those calculator game watches. Fun for small children, at least for an afternoon.