With the release of the new PlayStation 5 as well as the Xbox Series X and S upon us, developers are going to be pushing the games envelope more than has ever been previously possible. The ray-tracing graphics capabilities that both of these devices have means that the visuals of AAA games will be closer to reality than has ever been doable before.
This new hardware also means games will be bigger, with room for larger maps, new features, better AI, and more simultaneous players.
However, there’s something to be said for retro games. They don’t have the same photo-realistic graphics or ragdoll physics, but they’re just as fun to play, if not more.
It should come as no surprise then, that many publishers are re-releasing remastered versions of their old titles and that gamers are willing to hand over money to play old games that they likely still own in a different format. Many people are turning to emulators and re-released versions of old hardware to enjoy their favourite titles from years gone by.
Here are some of the best retro games of all time.
Pac-Man
Originally released in July 1980, Pac-Man became a gaming icon and is still played by millions of people around the world. Several sequels and rereleases have been made available since, including Ms. Pac-Man and a Google version that first appeared on the company’s home page in May 2010.
The game is just as fun today as it was back in 1980, with players trying to navigate Pac-Man around the maze, eating all of the pellets while avoiding the ghosts.
A side-scrolling sequel that bore many similarities to Mario, known as Pac-Lan, was released in 1984, though it failed to capture the imagination of anywhere near as many fans.
Today, Pac-Man is available on most modern consoles, mobile devices, and even some smart TVs, as well as multiple PC versions.
Slot Machines
Slots are about as retro as they come. The first mechanical machines were created in the late 19th century by a German-American inventor called Charles August Fey. They became popular almost instantly and soon appeared in the new city of Las Vegas where they got the nickname of the "one-armed bandits".
More than a century later and slots are just as popular as they were then. Many modern versions look a lot different thanks to the video screens that have replaced the mechanical parts. This allows for developers to create unique bonus games that make modern slots more varied and engaging.
That said, there's still a huge demand for classic slots that feature the traditional fruit symbols.
Today, you can enjoy this century-old retro game from the comfort of your own living room, the bus, the park, or anywhere else with an internet connection thanks to online casinos. Many also offer free spin bonuses to new customers which means you can play them without having to spend a penny.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
The Game Boy was a pioneer in the handheld gaming market, with nearly 119 million units being sold worldwide, making it the third-best-selling console ever behind only the Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2.
One of the reasons it was so popular was its great selection of games. Super Mario Land was the first-ever handheld Super Mario game and really helped to demonstrate the console’s capabilities.
However, Super Mario Land 2, which went on sale three years after was by far the best.
It was still a side-scrolling platform game but contained several new elements that added more depth. Playing as everyone’s favourite Italian plumber, your task is to get to the end of each level so that you can capture a golden coin. Levels have their own boss, each with unique abilities that add some variety to the game.
Once you’ve got all six coins, you can use them to get into the castle, where you have one final boss level to beat. There are additional levels that are unlocked by finding secret portals within the levels.
It’s also the first time Wario appears in a game, creating the basis for the Super Mario Land 3 story.
Driver
The Driver franchise is one that many fans wish had taken a different path. The first title was a huge hit, but the sequels never managed to live up to it.
Going on sale in 1999, Driver was a 3D driving game where you played an undercover police officer who completed missions for criminals in order to disrupt a plot to kidnap the President of the United States.
As well as its main storyline missions, Driver includes a free roam mode where you’re given the chance to drive anywhere you like in each of the game’s four cities. In many respects, this was better than the original Grand Theft Auto that was released at a similar time.
While you were unable to get out of the car or use weapons, you had the freedom to explore a living, breathing city. While the graphics are a little dated, the driving mechanics are still really fun, allowing you to handbrake turn and drift around corners as you run away from the police.
Microsoft Solitaire
Almost everyone who has ever used a computer has played Microsoft Solitaire at least once. It’s a game that has been included in all copies of Windows (except Windows 8) since 1990. It was created to help computer users learn how to use a mouse.
While it may seem like second nature today, before then, most computers used command-line interfaces, requiring the user to input commands using their keyboard. Windows was a completely new way to interact with a computer, so Microsoft felt it needed a way to help people make the most of it.
Despite being more than 30 years old, Microsoft Solitaire still attracts around 35 million players, completing around 100 million hands each day.
Solitaire was even included in some versions of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system, making it an early smartphone game. Today, you can download solitaire games for both iOS and Android and even the Linux operating system.
Despite being a legendary game played by most of the world, Microsoft Solitaire was actually created by an intern working at the company. It has since made it into the World Video Game Hall of Fame, alongside other retro names like Doom and Tetris.
No comments:
Post a Comment