Beauties and Beasts: Each Generation's Best and Worst Looking Game Consoles

pcmag.com:

In 1972, the first home video game console entered the market, jumpstarting an entertainment industry that would span the next 50 years. That's a long time, especially in the consumer technology world. In fact, video games have been around so long that experts group the various systems into “generations,” segmented eras that categorize consoles that share the same space in the competitive market. As a result, console manufacturers must quickly snag a potential buyer, and the worm on the hook is typically aesthetics.

Aesthetics are everything when selling a product. Looking back on these machines is like opening a time capsule and seeing how trends evolved. Is a console a kid's toy? Is it a home version of an arcade cabinet? Is it something positioned toward adults?

Let's take a look back at the video game consoles with looks that aged like fine wine, and the ones that were huge misfires. Due to changing trends, we'll pick a winner and loser per console generation. Where does your favorite system fall?

The Magnavox Odyssey was the first home game system, yet it resembles contemporary consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S. Sure, the wooden trim and odd controller reveal the machine's age, but it looks tasteful and evokes “the future.”  

From its puffy triangle shape to its questionable shade of brown, the Coleco Telstar Arcade is a visual mess. This extends to its game cartridges, tacky triangles that you flatly inserted into the console's center. The UFO-shaped Telstar Arcade’s mission statement makes a bit more sense (kinda) when you watch its commercial.

The trendsetting Atari 2600 is another retro gaming console that looks fairly modern versus the competition. The machine sits in a black tray secured by