Games that Hold Up Over Time
I've played Zelda OOT many times before. It's my favorite game after all, and as a child it totally captivated me. Since I've been getting into collecting though, I've had the opportunity to pick up an N64 and some of my favorite games of that era. I was a little worried about OOT though. Would it be as fun as I remembered, and would it hold up all these years after? I popped the cart in and hoped for the best.
There was no disappointment. Sure the visuals are quite outdated, but the characters and the world have so much charm that it still sucks you into the experience. The puzzles and dungeons are still major fun, and the music still rocks. The pacing is perfect and the controls are super tight. To be honest, I've played the game close to 20 times, and it was still as exciting as the first run through (maybe a little less magical).
This gets me thinking, what Zelda games hold up the best to this day? Which ones don't hold up quite as well? Looking in a broader sense, what are some other series and titles that hold up? I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on games that they still think are as fun now as the day they were released. A couple that I think of, along with OOT, are Mario 64, A link to the Past, Super Mario World, Mega Man 2, and Super Metroid.
Comments
The first time I played a Link to the Past was a couple years ago on an emulator. It is now my second favorite Zelda game, proving that just because you did or didn't grow up with it, it can still be a wonderful and inspiring game. For those that haven't played OoT, it's worth a try (even if you didn't grow up with it).
Apart from Zelda and Mario, any other franchises that you think hold up really well? For me, Tetris is still very fun, and to a lesser degree, I think the Ninja Gaiden games hold up pretty well. On the SNES, I would say Chrono Trigger, as the first time I played it was a couple years ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I may be a bit partial, but I think the Donkey Kong Country games hold their own as well.
Aside from the Zelda titles mentioned (to which I say the original is still the best), another amazing game that stands the test of time is Super Metroid. That game is a blast every single time I play it, which is usually once a year or so.
This was the first game that came to mind. Super Metroid has aged very well! I also think that LTTP is just as sweet today as it was 20 years ago!
Puzzle games are really excellent for replay value, since they're so easy to pick up and play. But I feel the same way about some platformers (Castlevania, Metroid, Little Samson, Megaman series, Kid Icarus, Kirby) ... the biggest difference with those games is that after you learn them, you start to know them by heart. I played the original Zelda so many times that I could probably recreate all of the dungeon maps from memory. I guess that's good if you do speed runs. But, I found myself just finding new ways to challenge myself. Ignoring upgrades such as items or heart containers can make the game feel a lot different.
I guess I'd say if a game is good, it's good. Time doesn't really enter into it
I feel that way about most cart/sprite based games, but I dare you to try and go back and play some of the great Playstation classics. Lots of early 3d style games are just hard for me to stomach now.
As far as 3D is concerned, I don't think it really came into its own until the GC, PS2, and Xbox era. Regardless though, the N64 is still one of my favorite consoles.
Pretty much every game that I enjoyed in the past, when a kid, a teen, even a young adult, still holds up as they were then. If I thought them to be great games then, what changes about them to make them any less so now? Nothing. And my taste in games hasn't really changed either which makes it so easy for me to continue to appreciate them for what they are, fun games. And for many of them, they've actually gotten even more enjoyable with time. I got me a couple hundred favorites on the NES, yes, there are that many really good ones to me. And I'd say its pretty much the same for games on other consoles as well, what's good is always good, I enjoy them the same regardless of when. Sure there are a few, that's it, just a few games that I'd say don't quite live up to what I thought of them when I first played them so many years ago, but those are ones that I let myself get over-hyped about to begin with, just took me a little bit to realize they weren't all that.
I still get into the swordplay in Zelda II, the awesomeness of the flame whip in Castlevania II, the 3rd level in Life Force, climbing walls in Blaster Master, and all kinds of other cool stuff. I like it all, graphics, music, sound effects, the easy to get into gameplay of most of the older games, and also that most don't require an entire lifetime to complete (an exaggeration of coarse).
I only beat Link's Awakening once, but it was a lot of fun and I look forward to doing it again.
Mario64 is one of those games that holds up ridiculously well for me. And same goes for the first Tomb Raider.
I think there is something to be said for some loved games not holding up so well. Take Perfect Dark for instance. I loved that game and played it to death. However, the way that FPS games operate today (with the dual analog format) makes going back and playing through some sections really hard. Why? Because the controls that people are used to for FPS games happen to be radically different. I feel PD is a fine example of a cultural change that has rendered a game slightly harder to grasp and play. Most of the NES and SNES classics have very simple and intuitive controls that are still useable to this day.
I think Perfect Dark's controls held up fine. Maybe it's just me, but I was still able to pick up and play through the game on special agent even after having not played it for over a year. Call of Duty and the like have okay controls, I suppose. I like the dual thumbsticks for FPS games when it's done right, but I still prefer the Perfect Dark/Goldeneye feel. I never really played many FPS games since then, though. Just here and there. Perfect Dark is just way more fun to play
The only other games that i habitually play again and again are on nintendo. Chrono Trigger, All the Metroids, Castlevanias, Zeldas, Marios and Final Fantasys.
Sprite-based graphics have a particular charm and appeal that blocky polygons never had, for me.
For me, it's only early 3D stuff that tends to age poorly.
Sprite-based graphics have a particular charm and appeal that blocky polygons never had, for me.
I agree with this. I think NES, SNES etc. still look quite good. While stuff like the n64 or ps1 are unplayable. Even when they were current I felt that way though.
As far as gameplay, the games aged really well for me, personally. I never liked games once they hit 3d anyways, so my tastes have just stayed the same since I was a kid. NES rpgs didnt age well for me...but then again I did not like them when they were current.
I think there is something to be said for some loved games not holding up so well. Take Perfect Dark for instance. I loved that game and played it to death. However, the way that FPS games operate today (with the dual analog format) makes going back and playing through some sections really hard. Why? Because the controls that people are used to for FPS games happen to be radically different. I feel PD is a fine example of a cultural change that has rendered a game slightly harder to grasp and play. Most of the NES and SNES classics have very simple and intuitive controls that are still useable to this day.
Have you tried Perfect Dark on Xbox Live? It plays flawlessly in dual analog format and the graphics were upscaled quite nicely...
I think there is something to be said for some loved games not holding up so well. Take Perfect Dark for instance. I loved that game and played it to death. However, the way that FPS games operate today (with the dual analog format) makes going back and playing through some sections really hard. Why? Because the controls that people are used to for FPS games happen to be radically different. I feel PD is a fine example of a cultural change that has rendered a game slightly harder to grasp and play. Most of the NES and SNES classics have very simple and intuitive controls that are still useable to this day.
Have you tried Perfect Dark on Xbox Live? It plays flawlessly in dual analog format and the graphics were upscaled quite nicely...
I've yet to play it. However, I think that proves my point. The dual analog format is great for FPS games, and back then sure, PD and 007 controls were great, but since we are so used to the dual analog format (those of us that keep up with modern games), it can be tough getting back into the one analog stick/ c button setup. For something like Perfect Dark, I feel that it isn't the game that is dated or doesn't hold up, it's the control scheme. I still think the game is one of the best FPS games ever, but for those not used to it's old control scheme, it could be a real hinderance to the enjoyment of it. That is why I'm quite happy with the XBox Live port, it takes the goodness of the game and presents it in a way that newer gamers can grapple with.
I actually played through the first Zelda on Saturday for the first time in at least 10 years, all came back to me, only bit I couldn't remember is that you need 12 hearts to get the magical sword
I really enjoy Links Awakening on the GB too, its another classic.