TVG Talk - Retro Games

The Rise of Retro Gaming

It's no secret that retro games are "a thing" now, and that for many, if you're not into the old classics, then you're not a "true" gamer, but how have classic games found a spot in modern gaming?

Let's not forget that a few years back, once the 32 and 64 bit era began, everybody was going 3D, and it was not always pretty, ideas that were great and worked in 2D, once changed into 3D it didn't always work, of course, you have games like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, where not only did they work but they changed their genre for years to come.

Then, during the Gamecube and PlayStation 2 era we had these "classic collection" games from famous franchises like Zelda or Megaman and nobody was buying them, collections now desired by collectors and gamers alike.

So how did we get from an era where old games were pretty much look down upon, to one where they are welcome? a generation where games like Earthbound and A Link to the Past sell even better than other games on the eShop? Not only that, but games like Sonic the Hedgehog 4 part 1 & 2, and the whole New Super Mario Bros. Series, that welcome and revisit those concepts and ideas in modern day graphics, and games like Megaman 9 and 10, and Shovel Knight, which mimic games from the 8-bit era can be not only critically-acclaimed, but also commercially successful?

It'll probably sound funny, but I believe it's because of the games. That's right, it's about gamers telling the industry "We don't care about graphics and specs as much as we care about the gameplay" because let's face it, those cutting edge graphics you see, will age, not always all that well, but a game with a fun gameplay has a better chance of survival over time.

What do you think of these classic titles returning to the masses? Do you believe that retro games like Megaman 9 and Shovel Knight have a future in the industry? Please tell us what you think in the comment section below.