{"id":71734,"date":"2025-04-05T22:29:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-05T22:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2025\/04\/05\/the-5-best-barely-used-features-in-game-console-history\/"},"modified":"2025-04-05T22:30:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T22:30:46","slug":"the-5-best-barely-used-features-in-game-console-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2025\/04\/05\/the-5-best-barely-used-features-in-game-console-history\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Best Barely Used Features in Game Console History"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n

Online game consoles are not any stranger to bizarre and weird gimmicks. A few of these options unexpectedly grew into system-selling successes, whereas others have been forgotten for a cause. However not each good concept will get the popularity it deserves, particularly when among the finest console options have been sorely underused.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Listed here are among the finest options in gaming {hardware} historical past that went totally under-utilized.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 5 <\/span>
\n
\n The 3DS Introduced Video games to Life With AR
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n \"A\n <\/picture>
Nintendo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

When the 3DS first launched, its augmented reality (AR)<\/a> digicam initially appeared like one of many handheld’s most promising options. In the event you aren’t acquainted with augmented actuality, it refers to software program that may overlay a digicam show with digital 3D fashions. At its finest, AR could make digital objects and characters seem as if they’re inhabiting real-world areas. This expertise can be utilized in apps like Google Search’s 3D viewer<\/a> and Pok\u00e9mon GO<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Among the finest makes use of of the 3DS’s AR digicam is AR Video games<\/em>, a tech demo that got here pre-installed on the system. By scanning the AR playing cards that come bundled with the 3DS, AR Video games <\/em>makes use of your environment as a stage for minigames themed round archery, mini-golf, fishing, and quite a lot of smaller widgets. Sure AR playing cards will be scanned to take photos of iconic Nintendo characters\u2014together with your own Miis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related AR modes appeared in different 3DS video games, although most of them used the AR digicam as a 3D gallery or a photograph mode for taking photos of characters. Video games like Bravely Default <\/em>and Child Icarus: Rebellion<\/em> even launched particular AR playing cards themed after objects and characters from their respective video games, however even these playing cards have been completely utilized in photo modes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There have been a number of AR video games on the 3DS that did not require AR playing cards. Face Raiders<\/em>\u2014one other app that got here preinstalled on the 3DS\u2014is a capturing recreation during which you battle flying enemies primarily based off photos of individuals in your picture gallery. Equally, the horror recreation Spirit Digicam: The Cursed Memoir<\/em>\u2014a by-product of the Deadly Body <\/em>sequence\u2014requires gamers to make use of the 3DS digicam to {photograph} murderous spirits lurking of their actual world environment.<\/p>\n

Though the AR digicam wasn’t used for a lot, the video games it supported have been persistently entertaining. Seeing a dragon come out of your kitchen counter or posing characters for goofy photos by no means will get previous, even after practically 15 years because the 3DS’s preliminary launch. Nonetheless, after the success of Pok\u00e9mon GO <\/em>and the numerous video games it impressed, it is abundantly clear that AR is best suited to cell video games.<\/p>\n

\n 4 <\/span>
\n
\n The Wiimote Can Switch Consumer Knowledge
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n \"A\n <\/picture>
Tim Brookes \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

At a time when different consoles have been starting to shift their focus to online gaming<\/a>, the Nintendo Wii set itself aside with its consistent support for local multiplayer<\/a>. Together with the console’s huge library of sofa co-op and aggressive multiplayer video games, the Wii distant\u2014often known as the “Wiimote”\u2014carried a handy multiplayer characteristic that the majority gamers ignored.<\/p>\n

The Wiimote features a 16-kilobyte EEPROM reminiscence chip, which can be utilized to save lots of person knowledge onto the distant. Two kilobytes can be found for storing as much as 10 Miis, permitting you to make use of your favourite customized characters on another person’s console with no need to recreate them from scratch.<\/p>\n

One other 4 kilobytes can be utilized to retailer different knowledge from particular video games. There weren’t many video games that used the Wii distant’s reminiscence chip, nevertheless it was largely utilized in video games that allowed you to create and share customized characters and different user-made content material.<\/p>\n

Monster Hunter Tri <\/em>and Carnival Video games: Mini Golf <\/em>mean you can retailer avatars made utilizing their character creators<\/a>. My Sims Racing<\/em> and Fortune Road<\/em> characteristic related customization choices, but in addition mean you can entry unlockable content material saved in your distant. Aggressive video games like Pok\u00e9mon Battle Revolution <\/em>and 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa <\/em>mean you can switch full groups into the Wiimote to face off towards different gamers.<\/p>\n

There have been different makes use of for the Wiimote’s storage, comparable to having the ability to save a customized controller format in Tremendous Smash Bros. Brawl<\/em>, however the characteristic was largely ignored all through the Wii’s lifetime. Whether or not it was as a result of rising recognition of on-line multiplayer or the truth that most Wii house owners did not even know this characteristic existed, the remote-based storage by no means returned for Nintendo’s later consoles.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n \"Nintendo\n <\/picture>
KAMONWAN SIRIWAN\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Years earlier than the GameCube and PlayStation 2 tried to ship their very own voice controlled games<\/a>, Nintendo included a surprisingly practical microphone for one in every of its earliest house consoles, the Family Computer<\/a> (often known as the “Famicom”). The Japan-exclusive console options two hardwired controllers, one with entry to the “Begin” and “Choose” buttons, and the opposite containing a built-in microphone.<\/p>\n

The Famicom microphone was largely used for minor gameplay gimmicks and secret options. For instance, sure enemies within the Japanese model of The Legend of Zelda <\/em>are weak to loud noises and will be shocked by yelling into the second controller. Equally, you may “negotiate” with retailers in Child Icarus <\/em>by talking into the microphone. Different Famicom video games discovered equally intelligent makes use of for the microphone.<\/p>\n

Though the Famicom microphone was an extremely progressive characteristic\u2014particularly for an 8-bit console launched in 1983\u2014its technical limitations made it a reasonably pointless addition to the controller. The microphone is designed to detect noise, however its usefulness is proscribed by its incapacity to discern particular phrases or phrases. Even for video games that activity gamers with saying particular strains (or singing total songs, within the case of the infamous Takeshi’s Challenge<\/em><\/a>), it does not matter in the event you comply with the directions or simply begin yelling\u2014the Famicom mic cannot inform the distinction.<\/p>\n

The Famicom microphone was too easy to quantity to something greater than a gimmick. Most builders selected to disregard it, and the microphone was eliminated totally when the Famicom was launched abroad because the Nintendo Leisure System.<\/p>\n