Popular Video Game Consoles in 1996

In 1996, the landscape was dominated by:

• Sony PlayStation: Undisputed leader. Powerful hardware, Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, rapidly growing library.
• Nintendo 64: Unique 3D gameplay (Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, GoldenEye 007). Innovative controller.
• Sega Saturn: Strong launch but struggled vs. PlayStation. Nights into Dreams, Virtua Fighter 2. High price, limited software hurt it.
• Super NES (1990): Still popular due to huge classic library and low price.
• Sega Genesis (1989): Fading but still sold on budget/library.

1996 marked the shift from 16-bit to 32-bit/3D, with PlayStation's dominance defining the era.