In addition to CBS Colleco Vision I would also add N64 , this for me brought multi player as a real subgenre. As has been mentioned by other , Goldeneye was awesome. U also had turrok and perfect dark. These spawned a multitude of multiplayer shooters!
I was lucky enough to have some games consoles during my childhood. But for me the best was CBS Colleco Vision. 1982 I think. Way ahead of its time!
What was yours ?and why?