Current Gaming vs. The "Good Ol' Days."

[Million]

The current gen of gaming is a huge step up from the old days. I really don't see how someone could argue against this notion. Some of it is not even a matter of opinion. Technology has progressed significantly, which naturally translates to games that have much more to offer in terms of pure entertainment value than any 8bit game from the 80s. You cannot dispute the fact that we now have a deeper levels of gameplay, better sound and music, more depth of story, better visuals, etc. etc. ....we have more of everything. Here, someone would chime in with "More isn't always better", but you still have simplistic gaming experiences today. There is Geometry Wars, which is like the perfect evolution of Asteroids mixed with Time Pilot....and more recently and perhaps a better example---Crackdown. The main criticism of that game is "there isn't much to do", as it's really just one assasination mission after the next. However, the game is still fun, at least for me.....and now that I've played through it, I'm not sure I would've liked Crackdown with too much "other stuff" in terms of missions.

Even in terms of systems, we now have 3 main choices on the market, compared to the 80s, when it was all Nintendo and *maybe* a Master System if you were insane and wanted to play some random, no-name shit.

And then there is internet, which has erased the pain of split-screen multiplayer, and given us a new "arcade" of sorts, all with much more convenience in that I can play with someone who could be anywhere else in the country or the world... at any time.

Anyway, this is something I will probably forever disagree on with other people from the Atari Generation. I can't help but think the opposing point of view here is blinded by their rose-tinted nostalgia glasses. There's also the comment some will make that "there's so much crap these days...most games suck.", when it was still pretty much the same ratio in the old era as well.....it's like this with any form of entertainment. Lame trash will always be what comprises the majority. The stuff that is good isn't so common. Movies, for example....there will never be a year where MOST movies that came out are good.

Discuss.

[TheMaidenMasha]

do you have gears of war yet?

[thurst]

videogames are just like anything else bcuz it came first, and way back when people will assume it's better and defend it to the death. look at movies, most old movies have special effects and sound that suck horribly, have shitty acting, etc... but people still insist that the good 'ol days were better even though any objective criteria shows the exact opposite. same goes for music to a certain degree, cartoons, etc...

[Wild Kitty]

Just something short here.

Even though most things are unarguably better today for games... graphics, story depth, gameplay depth... just about everything like you listed, that feeling 15 years ago when you got a new game or system when you were like 10 or 12 or something. You just can't top that. Gaming was so much sweeter back then, it's just not the same anymore. Maybe i've just been around it so long that nothing really impresses me anymore. It's like "yea, sure, that's cool" but I don't think anything can really impress me graphically anymore until we get VR.

It just doesn't feel to me anymore that it's anything special when you accomplish something in single player games anymore. Everything seems to be multi-player oriented. If you wanted to play the original TMNT game with a friend, you guys had to switch turns. Maybe switch out turtles or whatever after you die. There was nothing worse than having to helplessly sit by and watch as your friend was squirming in his pants trying to get through the fucking seaweed in the Dam/Underwater level of that fucking game. There are many other instances of this. You just don't get that sense of accomplishment or anxiety anymore I think.

[debs]

i'm with ^that guy. these new games don't impress me...nothing is giving me the feeling of when i first opened:

donkey kong country 1 and 2
mario rpg
parasite eve
brave fencer musashi
final fantasy VII
jet grind radio
rival schools
super mario 3
sonic 2
river city ransom
etc.

it seems like the last good system was dreamcast. even if a game has crazy, never seen before graphics, the gameplay has to be good as well. most games IMHO, nowadays lack great gameplay and music. its just hard to get into any of these new games the same way as i did a lot of the old games...its not because i was 10 or 12...i was in like 9th or 10th grade when dc first came out.

[Theycalledhim Alan]

Games have evolved far beyond anything imaginable. Not only have graphics dramatically improved, but because of the computing power that creates these graphics; so have the worlds we interact in. The A.I. capable now was unthinkable years ago, everything has improved. Now you may ask how can anyone deny these truths? Simple. Nostalgia is a blinding mistress. Most of us have been playing games for so long that we're not easily impressed anymore, we've grown up experiencing these changes one step at a time, some would say we've become jaded. I was certainly much more excited about gaming in those days, back when R.C. Pro-Am was the best racer in the history of the world and playing Streets of Rage all night into morning was called Saturday. Those feelings these experiences caused you are irreplaceable, but they're also blinding. There are still games that have withstood the test of time nicely, but let's be honest.. we've progressed. Sometimes I wish I were a kid again because I know I would adore playing all these new games out now at that age much more than I do now, sadly time constraints, women and life in general all play a part in all of this.

Words from a former Nintendophile, I now loathe Nintendophiles, their blindness annoys me. Frankly I can't stand anyone with an allegiance to any of the those companies, none of them really give a shit about you. I just love games.

[debs]

but back then there was a reason to be a "nintendophile."

the new generation doesn't have what we had. they don't have a:

street fighter 2
mortal kombat (for the drama it caused in the media)
sonic 2
mario 3
etc.

they have a bunch of fps...and ratchet and clank or however you spell it. *shrugs*
their saturday morning cartoons suck, their toys suck, hip hop is garbage now, etc. i'm sure glad i'm an 80's baby.

[DS]

I would just like to add the following:

Being young and ignorant, you tend to enjoy games a lot more because you don't know the technical background of the game. You know, hitboxes, collision detection and all that frame data stuff that we take into consideration when we play SF. Hell, any other game for that matter.

In today's era of gaming for anyone above the age of 21, we tend to look more at the cons than the pros. Simple fun can no longer be had without overanalyzing a video game. Back then, we'd play and enjoy the game only because you wanted to beat the game and just have fun. With RPGs, it was all about the storyline and stats. So, are we really just bitter gamers these days?

Video games have taken a HUGE step forward in the past few years in terms of budgets and all that nonsense that is merely cosmetic(to any old school gamer that is). We have excellent soundtracks that are fully orchestrated, we have voice acting in our games(no matter how bad they are), we have full interaction with them and we have online gaming.

My only gripe with this current era of video games is the fanboyism and all the crazy technology that we're getting in one package. I'll tackle fanboyism first because some of it really exists on this site, no matter how anyone wants to deny it.

For me, it all started going downhill when the PSX made it's debut in 1995. You had the N64, the Saturn and the PSX all going at it for video game console supremacy. Now, if you look at it, everyone thought this was gonna be Nintendo vs. Sega Round 3. And it wasn't. It all ended up going to the PSX. It was the underdog in that generation. It came out of nowhere, made the right moves and kept everyone hooked. The big blow? FF7. As much as ANYONE here can attest to hating the game, or simply thinking it's average, it still put Sony on top. After all, Nintendo was due for an FF game on N64 and it only made it to the concept stage. Sony got the entire package and basically ran away with it all.

Sony signed ALL the major developers and was stomping on the competition in America and in Japan. The Saturn would eventually die out after no support in the U.S. and failing to get any of the good games to America and the N64 would stay fighting a losing battle. Sure, it had it's great games here and there, but the PSX was just pouring the hits out like hotsauce on a taco. From there on out: The Fanboy was truly born. EVERYONE started to hug Sony's nuts.

Nowaday's on most forums with a video game section, you can't go without someone saying Sony is the best and all that jazz. All these little 15 year olds that DON'T know shit about gaming walk and talk like Sony was the first video game company. I mean, seriously, what the fuck? All this "Nintendo sucks" and "Microsoft is the worst" talk just makes me want to quit gaming altogether.

These little virgin-gamers think that if MS and Nintendo leave the scene it's gonna be a much better world for gaming. Bullshit. Competition is the best and it gives you the best of both worlds. Open-minded gaming is really just obsolete. It's like, if you don't have a Playstation console in your home, you suck. What if Sony just doesn't have the games that cater to you? "Oh, that's a cheap excuse. Sony has ALL the games EVERYONE wants." Yeah, bullshit junior.

Anyway, I'm done with my rant.

SoR2 and TMNT IV: Turtles in Time were the high points of my 16-bit days. Those games will always remain timeless in my eyes. I have a few others, but I'm forgetting them right now.

[Shade]

^Couldnt have said it better myself.

[True Grave]

I'm mix of both. I like the current gaming stuff a lot, but also still like playing the old classics from time to time as well, and still appreciate the old days.

[Remy Saotome]

Does it really matter? If you're having fun... have fun. Don't worry what other people tell you sucks/doesn't suck.

[HeaT]

Just something short here.

Even though most things are unarguably better today for games... graphics, story depth, gameplay depth... just about everything like you listed, that feeling 15 years ago when you got a new game or system when you were like 10 or 12 or something. You just can't top that. Gaming was so much sweeter back then, it's just not the same anymore. Maybe i've just been around it so long that nothing really impresses me anymore. It's like "yea, sure, that's cool" but I don't think anything can really impress me graphically anymore until we get VR.

It just doesn't feel to me anymore that it's anything special when you accomplish something in single player games anymore. Everything seems to be multi-player oriented. If you wanted to play the original TMNT game with a friend, you guys had to switch turns. Maybe switch out turtles or whatever after you die. There was nothing worse than having to helplessly sit by and watch as your friend was squirming in his pants trying to get through the fucking seaweed in the Dam/Underwater level of that fucking game. There are many other instances of this. You just don't get that sense of accomplishment or anxiety anymore I think.

what you are talking about probably has nothing to do with "gaming" but rather your age...it felt sweater then because you were much younger...i am sure kids these days find the same feeling when they open up god of war 2 get the feeling of omg sweat!!!

im outi

Roberth

[Theycalledhim Alan]

Fanboys have been around since I can remember, it's just that now it's easy to notice the annoyance of fanboys because you've grown up. Back then it was "Sega sucks dude, what do they have sports games and Sonic? LOL" "At least we have fatalities and blood in our Mortal Kombat, bitch" I hated Sega just because I was a Nintendo supporter, ah to be young and ignorant. Kids now are doing the same, alot of them grew up with the Playstation, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I'm no better because I grew up back when Princess Peach was called Princess Toadstool. Now you have the Xbots who praise anything Microsoft and Halo, you have your Nintards who believe they're the informed "true" gamer and would play a game based on This Old House if it had Mario characters in it, then you have the Sonycunts who would brand the Sony logo on their asses just to show you how much cooler they are.

Frankly all this Sony hate nowadays is expected, everyone hates the big cheese and wants them to die. Quite frankly I am glad they came along, they've done alot for the gaming industry in the last 10 years and most importantly it forces others to try and best them. Competition is the way to go, consumers benefit when this happens. With that said I do miss Sega, it seems that ever since they resigned from the hardware business they've lost all desire to make all the awesome games they used to churn out.

Just enjoy games, don't worry what console it's on. Oh and don't ruin gaming for the little ones, dicks.

[Higher-Jin]

We remember games that were ahead of their time. When we open up the box and play them again we remember the feeling we got when we first played them.

Sure, special effects back then can't compare to now, but sometimes in certain new games (usually games with rushed development) there is something missing from the overall gameplay design that makes it inferior to games of old.

Just look at Superman 64, sure objectively it looked better than anything on nintendo, but sometimes good game design simply isn't present in some of these games. That's not to say they are all bad however, it's just shameful when a new game falls short of a NES game...there's little excuse for that.

[Theycalledhim Alan]

what you are talking about probably has nothing to do with "gaming" but rather your age...it felt sweater then because you were much younger...i am sure kids these days find the same feeling when they open up god of war 2 get the feeling of omg sweat!!!

im outi

Roberth

Dude that reminds me. I'm playing God of War 2 and I've found myself saying "OH SHIT!" or "OMG BADASS!" a few times. I felt like a kid again. :angel:

[Goose]

I don't think videogames can be considered old. They've been around for what... 35-40 years or something around that? And it's not based at all on a person's age. Gamers come in all different generations. Kids can call games old, and so can grandparents. So what is considered old? It's all relative. And a little rediculous.

Have you ever heard someone refer to the internet as: "...remember the 'old' internet?"

[Infested Jester]

I like both....I'll never part with my Sega CD, Streets of Rage, Super Castlevania, etc. However, I need my God of War, Gears of War, etc. on the HD.

[DS]

Have you ever heard someone refer to the internet as: "...remember the 'old' internet?"


Yeah, it was slower. Thank God for DSL and Cable modems, right? =p

[DropOff]

Games have evolved far beyond anything imaginable.
Stopped reading after this, as a young lad I always daydreamed about the future of gaming, the "perfect game" and what not. It was easy to predict after the 32/64 bit era that 3d graphics could only get better.

[Wellman]

The only real draw back with current gaming as far as I can see, is that there doesn't seem to be as many good games being released after the N64/PSX/DC died.

Maybe it is because I am no longer a Electronic Gaming Monthly reading kid, with school and homework to take up gaming time or maybe it is because I am no longer impress with games that 'borrow' major elements from more successful games. But it seems to me that in the previous generations before the last one, there were a lot more outstanding games.


But then again, I am also more of a GC/Xbox man.

[TTZ231]

It is alot due to overanalysis.

I would play Rad Racer for hours...in which a Ferrari 308 and F1 both handled the exact same, and were the same speedwise, and only topped out at 255 km/h, this was when I was a kid....now I look at all this stuff and determine if a racing game is good, car noises authentic? Manual shifting? REAL cars? Draw distance? selection? How each car cpmares to real version? Car models?

ONLY game I can just play like a kid is Grand Theft Auto. You JUST know that shits gonna be fuckin awesome, and that it will LAST.

[9TNine]

Personally, it's gotten a lot harder for me to maintain interest in a lot of the games that come out. I'm not saying it's all because of the titles coming out anymore, I imagine some of it is just me growing apart from them. The last game I played that REALLY pulled me in was Okami, and before that SotC.

-9

[722]

but people still insist that the good 'ol days were better even though any objective criteria shows the exact opposite.What objective criteria can be applied to subjective entertainment media?

Obviously as technology's improved developers are capable of things they couldn't pull off before, what disappoints me is we've thrown out a lot of game concepts in the name of progress because developers felt like they had to to make the best of new hardware. I mean back when you had run-and-guns and shmups coming out every two seconds most of them were crap, but I'd take that over today when you've got basically all of zero run-and-gun developers and only Cave bothers to release a shmup more than once every five years.

They'll all be back, I mean fan-developed stuff gets better all the time (Cave Story) and handhelds are working out well as the platform for game concepts that don't necessitate a huge budget, I'm just getting bored waiting for the next game I actually like..

[SFFanatic]

I'm only 16 myslef, but I got a big appreication for ol' school games. I love SOR2, Sonic 3 & K, and Metal Slug; but I got to have the God of Wars and Ninja Gaiden Blacks of today. Whenever there is a new 2d style game, I'm all over it.

[Zor]

I would just like to add the following:

Being young and ignorant, you tend to enjoy games a lot more because you don't know the technical background of the game. You know, hitboxes, collision detection and all that frame data stuff that we take into consideration when we play SF. Hell, any other game for that matter.

In today's era of gaming for anyone above the age of 21, we tend to look more at the cons than the pros. Simple fun can no longer be had without overanalyzing a video game. Back then, we'd play and enjoy the game only because you wanted to beat the game and just have fun. With RPGs, it was all about the storyline and stats. So, are we really just bitter gamers these days?

Video games have taken a HUGE step forward in the past few years in terms of budgets and all that nonsense that is merely cosmetic(to any old school gamer that is). We have excellent soundtracks that are fully orchestrated, we have voice acting in our games(no matter how bad they are), we have full interaction with them and we have online gaming.

My only gripe with this current era of video games is the fanboyism and all the crazy technology that we're getting in one package. I'll tackle fanboyism first because some of it really exists on this site, no matter how anyone wants to deny it.

For me, it all started going downhill when the PSX made it's debut in 1995. You had the N64, the Saturn and the PSX all going at it for video game console supremacy. Now, if you look at it, everyone thought this was gonna be Nintendo vs. Sega Round 3. And it wasn't. It all ended up going to the PSX. It was the underdog in that generation. It came out of nowhere, made the right moves and kept everyone hooked. The big blow? FF7. As much as ANYONE here can attest to hating the game, or simply thinking it's average, it still put Sony on top. After all, Nintendo was due for an FF game on N64 and it only made it to the concept stage. Sony got the entire package and basically ran away with it all.

Sony signed ALL the major developers and was stomping on the competition in America and in Japan. The Saturn would eventually die out after no support in the U.S. and failing to get any of the good games to America and the N64 would stay fighting a losing battle. Sure, it had it's great games here and there, but the PSX was just pouring the hits out like hotsauce on a taco. From there on out: The Fanboy was truly born. EVERYONE started to hug Sony's nuts.

Nowaday's on most forums with a video game section, you can't go without someone saying Sony is the best and all that jazz. All these little 15 year olds that DON'T know shit about gaming walk and talk like Sony was the first video game company. I mean, seriously, what the fuck? All this "Nintendo sucks" and "Microsoft is the worst" talk just makes me want to quit gaming altogether.

These little virgin-gamers think that if MS and Nintendo leave the scene it's gonna be a much better world for gaming. Bullshit. Competition is the best and it gives you the best of both worlds. Open-minded gaming is really just obsolete. It's like, if you don't have a Playstation console in your home, you suck. What if Sony just doesn't have the games that cater to you? "Oh, that's a cheap excuse. Sony has ALL the games EVERYONE wants." Yeah, bullshit junior.

Anyway, I'm done with my rant.

SoR2 and TMNT IV: Turtles in Time were the high points of my 16-bit days. Those games will always remain timeless in my eyes. I have a few others, but I'm forgetting them right now.

That was an excellent post.

I pretty much agree with Million. Older games can't compare to what we have now in terms of overall quality. I think 'achievments' in games seemed better back then because when you're young, everything seems bigger and more important. Not just games, and you also haven't yet lived long enough, or seen enough yet to the point where you're not easily impressed. Personally I still love and play old games. I buy just as many old titles as I do new ones. Some of it is admittedly because of nostalgia, some due to collector's value, but alot of it is for the gameplay. I've always love old school 2D hack n slashers and nothing new can scratch that kind of itch for me like games from the days of old. So while I agree that games today are more enjoyable overall, both still bring alot to the table in their own ways, at least for me.

[thurst]

What objective criteria can be applied to subjective entertainment media?

graphics, sound, complexity of controls/gameplay, load times, etc...

[scentless]

I think the greatest drawback with this new generation of games (32bits era and beyond) is that the designers have so much things they can do with the graphics that the game end up with a lacking game play or vice versa, or they make a balanced game between graphics and game play but a experienced player will notices that the game could have been better, that the designers could have push things a little further....

Back then (16bits era and earlier) there wasnt much thing the designers could do with graphics, so they concentrated on the gameplay, mixing complex and simple concepts, with great depth, and thats where i think the old games are better and have a great re-playabilty factor, you could play the game again again e again and never feel tired, and even today when you play that old game it still fells fresh, thats gameplay right there not graphics. TOday games you play once and put it back on the case, and never play again, with some rare exceptions.

With kids today only caring about graphics and 3d 3d 3d, the designers have no motives(with rare exceptions) to make a deep game that you can replay again and again and dont feel tired, and they right, why work hard on new concepts, detph and gameplay when you can make a noobified game with "aweasone" and colorful 3d graphics that kids will buy anyway?.

Like someone said im too am really glad of being born in the 80's where when you beated a game you felt really good about yourself and the hard work you put on it instead of a game that is noobifed and rewards you for want everything easy.

[Septimus Prime]

Some of the best older games are not only still around, they're PORTABLE now. Today owns yesterday.

[FighterX]

As one who has come up and seen all the major eras of gaming, I have to say that the good game to crap game ratio is about the same as it ever was.

The only difference is, if you get a crap game for $50, you're not necessarily stuck with it.

Example, *GOD OF WAR II SPOILER*



The 2nd level of GOWII begins as a flying level. Thanks to the advancements in sound/technology, the stage feels EXACTLY how I would have done it if I had the technology.

*END POSSIBLE SPOILER*

Now, if you'd have shown me today's games say, 15 years ago, I'd have called bullshit. Like a few of you, I remember my days of blind Nintendo Fanboyism. I claimed to hate Sega (just because they went against Nintendo), but I often found myself renting a Genesis every other weekend just to play Sonic the Hedgehog. Then, I woke up to all the possibilities and ended my system hate.

Some of the best older games are not only still around, they're PORTABLE now. Today owns yesterday.

Damn right! And plus you can emu on them too? I always hated those Tiger hand-helds, even back then.

[AdverseSolutions]

atari generation needs to kill itself. good gaming started with the SNES and that's pretty indisputable IMO. the NES had some good games but doesn't even compare to the next generation.

[Kuprin]

It's funny, coming from an academic background in game development I'm continually baffled by things the industry does. The biggest one, in my opinion, is play control. Why is it that everyone says games have evolved, but control latency has gotten WORSE since the n64? The Dreamcast and the Gamecube are two of the worst for it, but all of the supposed next-gen systems suffer from the same thing.

It really comes down to gameplay for me, and as far as graphics go, the ability to work within a medium. Ragnarok Online still has amazing graphics, because they didn't just make a game world when they designed RO. They made a work of art...then put a really shitty game on top of it, sadly. Mario 3 is another good example; go back and look at its gameplay, its graphics, how the whole thing goes together...there is almost NOTHING you can find wrong with that game. Nowadays? It's bug this, control failure that, ridiculously impossible gimmick level this, nine million mandatory "sidequests" that.

Personally when I'm teaching game development (which I will be in the next few years, when I finish my doctorate) I am making damn sure that everyone in my class has played the classics, and seen just about everything influential by the time they graduate, starting from the earliest arcades, through the PC adventures and early RPGs, into the sidescroller era and the first BIG divergence between PC and console, through the 90s and into the new era, where PC and console game have equal measures of suck. :p

[X-Death]

I'm still stuck in 94/95. Those will always be the best gaming years to me.

SNES = Win.

[Dios <-X->]

Im just glad now or a few years back, if we played a arcade game, we know the port would be, Gasp! of that same game! not some game with the same title thats radically different or alterated all whacked out. Marvel Super Heroes and Battletoads im looking at you , you assholes.

[ReggieHadoken]

Some of the best older games are not only still around, they're PORTABLE now. Today owns yesterday.

For reals. Final Fantasy I, FFIV, FFV, FFVI, Super Mario World, Super Mario Bros. 3. All of these games can be carried around in my pocket. That right there is ownage.

I love old-school as much as the next guy. I have my Genesis, Saturn, and NES hooked up to a 13" TV in my bedroom. My older systems/games see about as much play time as the current gen stuff. I'm always finding old games to add to my collect.

As much as I love my old games and old systems, I just cannot deny the ownage that current gen gaming has given. If someone says they can't find anything to play on today's systems, I think they should pull the nostalgia stick out of their anus. There are so many awesome titles to play that it really is tough to afford it all.

[ParryAll]

Technology moves forward with time, but great game is a great game and this will never change.

This is stupid it's like arguing that movies have gotten better, better effects whatever then you'll get guys in here saying nothing can touch the classics. The truth is there are great old movies and great new movies, and that will go on forever until the industry dies or whatever.

As for which era sported the best games so far, dunno. I would say early 90's if you include arcades was my personal favorite era. I'm partial to my Genesis/SNES collection and if you count all the amazing arcade titles .... Too good.

[ParryAll]

Oh shit, yeah, if you count the SNES 2 (gameboy advance) and SNES 3 (DS), then yeah, I think we probably are ushering in the best era of gaming.

[Black Chanler]

I believe the community now is way better and competition is a lot easier to find compared to when I was little. Information is easier to find and its easier to find rare games. On top of that...its not like all the games from yesteryear burned or something, they are always making emulations and rereleases.

Some people may complain about the magic gone from games these days...but thats a given when you are not in your childhood anymore.

[FighterX]

For reals. Final Fantasy I, FFIV, FFV, FFVI, Super Mario World, Super Mario Bros. 3. All of these games can be carried around in my pocket. That right there is ownage.

I love old-school as much as the next guy. I have my Genesis, Saturn, and NES hooked up to a 13" TV in my bedroom. My older systems/games see about as much play time as the current gen stuff. I'm always finding old games to add to my collect.

As much as I love my old games and old systems, I just cannot deny the ownage that current gen gaming has given. If someone says they can't find anything to play on today's systems, I think they should pull the nostalgia stick out of their anus. There are so many awesome titles to play that it really is tough to afford it all.

I have the Genny, Saturn and SNES games on my X-box, but there's just something about playing the OG game on the OG system with the OG controller from time to time that just feels good. I have my Saturn hooked up (as always) and my Genny and SNES is put away, yet stored in a way for easy-access in case I want to break out some Shinobi III or Hagane with the original controllers. I've slowed down a lot on the old-school collecting, since I picked up every game that I've ever wanted for the older systems. My hunt was over as of a few years ago.

Yep, get that nostalgia stick out of your ass (those who have it in there) and get out and try today's new gen games. The technology is amazing. I for one, love to hear rain-based levels with thunderstorms going on with my surround system for a dose of total immersion. - Gears of War.

[Bounce]

new games are like jay-z's newest song comparing old rappers to new rappers. the game (industry) is different and the measures of whats good are different too.

as the line goes:

you praise the one who got shot, i praise the shooter

[pherai]

I don't think you can really compare how you felt about gaming when you were like 12 to how you feel when you're in your 20's. You don't get the same thrill, not because of the quality of games, but just because things don't excite you as much anymore. I could buy a fucking new car, and it still won't compare to the feeling of when I got my power wheels jeep when I was 6 years old. I don't know the reasons for it, but you get more of a thrill from games and toys when you are younger, which is independent of what games and toys you had

[FragMasterGen]

anyone else from the "good ol' days" think that growing up on old school games ended up making us more skilled gamers today?

i mean, games back then were hard as fuck! and my parents were cheap, so if they bought me a game i better play the shit out of it before i whine for another one. i can remember getting a new game (ie ghost and ghouls or back to the future) and playing the FIRST LEVEL over and over again till i got so mad i'd quit for the day, only to return later and make new progress.

nowadays, most games i can run through without having to continue and they make you feel special for the most simple acheivments. god damn, kids these days must have fucked up self esteem

[DS]

anyone else from the "good ol' days" think that growing up on old school games ended up making us more skilled gamers today?





Naturally. Why do you think most of us got really good at fighters? We played ST and learned EVERYTHING from that one fighter. We carry those experiences onto the fighters of today.

It also applies to any game of this era. You have kids crying about some games today being too hard and shit. What the hell? Just look at the latest Final Fantasy games. They have gotten TOO easy these days. In the old FF games you were FORCED to level up in order to really get far. And items? Ultra expensive. You were forced to work for your shit in those games. And the leveling system was a lot strictor. You couldn't get NOWHERE unless you were properly leveled up. Nowadays the monsters level up with you. What the fuck is that about? I want a challenge, not a walk in the park.

Or like in DMC3. Normal was Japan's Hard difficulty. EVERYONE and there mother bitched about the game's difficulty. I found it mildly difficult. The AI would kick in on certain stages of the game. Beowulf and Virgil(Final Virgil) were the two hardest bosses in that game for me.

So yeah, those old games made it easier for us. We have better execution and know how the game works.

[Mixah]

there were games after sf3?

[kainzero]

I like the older games better, or at least the old style. You still see flashes of it in games like Wario Ware, or as the topic starter said, Geometry Wars. It all comes back to twitch gameplay. I still have fun playing Gradius and Gradius 2, or Contra... this comes from the challenge, being mentally absorbed into dodging bullets and manipulating them. SMB3 is one of the most perfect games ever and is platforming at its finest.

It's why I like my action-type games two-dimensional... trying to execute simple things perfectly is what keeps me on my toes and what I love the most about playing games. The DS and GBA seem to be bringing the old styled games back so far, and I'm definitely liking them.

A lot of Japanese-styled RPGs suck nowadays. They all have some creative battle system, but they're still all easy as fuck. Sure, the stories and locations all have more depth, but having more depth doesn't necessarily make it better if they elements like pace, and gameplay. I liked FF12's story, but I really hated spending 2-3 hours on a dungeon just to get to the next plot point, and the dungeon wasn't fun to explore nor relevant to the plot. Plus all J-RPGs tend to have a bunch of really shitty minigames that really don't have anything to do with anything, and are often pure crap that you have to go through to get "really powerful weapon" or, in a worse case, advance the plot.

My favorite RPG of this generation was DQ8, and I hate how the general RPG community shitted on it. Complaints like "dated gameplay" really pissed me off. WTF is dated gameplay? Who cares if it's turn based, it was still moderately challenging and engaging, and it made a lot of weak-minded RPGers grind forever and complain about that because they couldn't handle the challenge of beating it at normal levels. Hah, I remember buying Angelo the second worst bow and having him use it till almost the end of the game. Not to say I'm a complete DQ fanboy, because DQ2 blows and DQ7's graphics were so bad they made the game worse, and I usually don't care about graphics.

Still, there's plenty of good games nowadays that I like. GT series, Gears of War, PC FPS and RTS, American RPGs, simulation-type games, and sports games. But if I were to take my favorites from the 8-bit / 16-bit days and compare it to my favorites of the PS2 generation and beyond, I would definitely have more of the former.

[CapMaster]

Give me yesterday's fighters and side scrolling action game challenges, and today's sports games, and I will be set forever.

[aktham]

i like games and all (both new and old-school), but some people take it WAAAAAAYYY to seriously. I've been on both ends of the retails business:

when i worked seasonal for gamestop: This fat nintendo nerd is telling me about how great nintendo is and all that (which is ok i suppose) then he FLIPS OUT and goes about this rant about RE4 coming to PS2. This guy was really pissed about it i guess. He said something about stealing Nintendo's exclusive games and crap. I couldn't keep a staight face and honestly it made me a little ashamed as a gamer.:wonder:

i went to a place called gamers: I just bought my PS3 and another fat nerd (who worked at this place) is getting mad because i wanted to use my credits to purchase RFoM and he tells me that sony has failed and i shouldn't support them. He suggested that i buy zelda for the wii and i told him i own it for the GC, and he tries his best to get me to buy a Wii. I just got my HDTV and i want to get the most out if and wii wasn't interesting to me.

</rant>

I'm just sad that gaming forums fanboys have carried their trolling habits into RL :sad:

[Naslectronical]

Naturally. Why do you think most of us got really good at fighters? We played ST and learned EVERYTHING from that one fighter. We carry those experiences onto the fighters of today.

It also applies to any game of this era. You have kids crying about some games today being too hard and shit. What the hell? Just look at the latest Final Fantasy games. They have gotten TOO easy these days. In the old FF games you were FORCED to level up in order to really get far. And items? Ultra expensive. You were forced to work for your shit in those games. And the leveling system was a lot strictor. You couldn't get NOWHERE unless you were properly leveled up. Nowadays the monsters level up with you. What the fuck is that about? I want a challenge, not a walk in the park.

Or like in DMC3. Normal was Japan's Hard difficulty. EVERYONE and there mother bitched about the game's difficulty. I found it mildly difficult. The AI would kick in on certain stages of the game. Beowulf and Virgil(Final Virgil) were the two hardest bosses in that game for me.

So yeah, those old games made it easier for us. We have better execution and know how the game works.

Level grinding ad nauseam didn't make the first FF games any harder, it just made them overly tedius, if anything.

Older games really weren't any more difficult than today's games, it's just certain things that make them seem that way. The biggest thing is that they didn't have 60 gazillion save points. We're also a lot older now, so it doesn't surpise me that games seem easier when we're in our twenties and thirties than they did when we were still in grade school.

[Theycalledhim Alan]

i like games and all (both new and old-school), but some people take it WAAAAAAYYY to seriously. I've been on both ends of the retails business:

when i worked seasonal for gamestop: This fat nintendo nerd is telling me about how great nintendo is and all that (which is ok i suppose) then he FLIPS OUT and goes about this rant about RE4 coming to PS2. This guy was really pissed about it i guess. He said something about stealing Nintendo's exclusive games and crap. I couldn't keep a staight face and honestly it made me a little ashamed as a gamer.:wonder:

i went to a place called gamers: I just bought my PS3 and another fat nerd (who worked at this place) is getting mad because i wanted to use my credits to purchase RFoM and he tells me that sony has failed and i shouldn't support them. He suggested that i buy zelda for the wii and i told him i own it for the GC, and he tries his best to get me to buy a Wii. I just got my HDTV and i want to get the most out if and wii wasn't interesting to me.

</rant>

I'm just sad that gaming forums fanboys have carried their trolling habits into RL :sad:

Oh man lol, I've had more than one encounter with Nintenerds and their rants about "evil" Sony. I sincerely don't understand how grow men can be so misguided and passionate (for the lack of a better word) about something so trivial. I remember when RE4 was announced for the PS2, oh what a wild day on the internet (online petitions talking about betrayal) that turned out to be.

[AlterGenesis]

I think the kids these days have way too much now. They can be super-spoiled. With the abundance of good gadgets other there today, it's very easy to want everything. Most of the time, parents give them what they want. Hell, shit is expensive. I personally could only afford a X360 and need to work a lot more hours for a PS3. I have no problem with where gaming is today, but many children have no respect for the games that started it all. They push aside the SNES and Genesis cause' they have shitty graphics and the like. I just can't accept that. Mario FTW.

[Million]

Nowadays the monsters level up with you.I would think this increases or maintains difficulty, rather than make things easier. Easier would be something like me being a level 100 beast Hunter in Phantasy Star Universe, and going back to kill some level 10 monsters. I prefer things this way, actually...as I enjoy occasionally playing the bully role in an action(I won't touch turn-based...but that's another topic there) RPG....(going back to pick on some weak monsters once I have become godlike. heh, it's fun.)

The Over-analysis of things---this was a great point brought up. Some don't even realize it...but they're really just shitting on today's games because they scrutinize every little thing MUCH more than they ever did in childhood. Who really cared about specific frames of animation, or whether or not something game-breaking made a game suddenly "bad", or if something was a blatant ripoff of something else back then? People see a particular instance where there is a small bit of screen tearing, or "clipping" with a character's polys....and then immediately cast the game off as being "trash".....as if they were desparately looking for any little flaw they could use as ammo for why ___ or the system it is on sucks. Anyway, back in the old era, nobody cared about the inner-workings of the game....we played the games to have FUN. I think it's stupid that this has changed. If you're over-reacting to how a weapon clips thru the floor because you made a smaller character, you're not really having fun, now are you? No, you're bitching about a minor detail. I'm still playing the games with the goal of having fun....I'm not "playtesting" shit....I'm not purposely searching for glitches and graphical imperfections.

[Theycalledhim Alan]

It's true. My brother was complaining about how the reload animation in an FPS was inaccurate. I backhanded his soul.

[FighterX]

anyone else from the "good ol' days" think that growing up on old school games ended up making us more skilled gamers today?

i mean, games back then were hard as fuck! and my parents were cheap, so if they bought me a game i better play the shit out of it before i whine for another one.

Definitely! Without a single doubt. We KNOW we had to be tenacious to beat (or even survive) at most games way back when.

We didn't have the most money, so it certainly taught you the value of a dollar.

[{PFH}-Lake]

these kids and other people dont know how good the old days were. I meen back in the old nintendo days I could buy any game almost and it was good. You didnt need online play, super good gfx, or any of that it was just good old fun. Snes and gen days were really good also, even though there games couldnt top the old nes games. Games now adays get old and borring, I played Halo games got borred of them. Gears of war also was really nothing great and borring. PS2 had some bad games also but not as bad as the xbox. I never ownd a gamecube and now that Wii is out im going to buy that.

Games now adays are just not as fun, and ill get half way done with a game and never finish it. Back then if I played something like Mario 3, any megaman game, zelda game or metroid, and the rpgs were way better in the old days. The only games I want arent even out yet like Silent hill 0, and Dragon quest 9. Other then that nothing looks that great. FPS were so fucking great, like the marathon games still the best FPS's ever.

[debs]

I don't think you can really compare how you felt about gaming when you were like 12 to how you feel when you're in your 20's. i don't buy this argument because you have ppl that are from the past generation that are older that are still stuck on the past generation games...for a reason. they were just better.

it doesn't matter if one game is virtual reality and the other is fking pong...if pong is better than its better. graphics, internet play, chat, whatever else they come up with don't make a great game. i dunno, i figured that the majority of the ppl would think that way but na...and its surprising. it seems like ppl love the countless fps, super enhanced graphics of today over the gameplay of yesteryear.
i don't give a fk...nothing is fking with:

mario rpg
mario 3
sonic 2
dkc1 and 2
so on and so on...

those are just better games, period. its not nostalgia. its not, "oh, i was 12 when it came out, the memories..." no, its that those are examples of better games. the gameplay was good, the music was good, the graphics are decent, its just better. i'd pop in jet grind radio over what we have now.

lets flip it. this is a fighting game site...so you're gonna say games like doa or tekken 5 are better than what we had?

Definitely! Without a single doubt. We KNOW we had to be tenacious to beat (or even survive) at most games way back when.

We didn't have the most money, so it certainly taught you the value of a dollar.

but i feel like some ppl on here are missing the fact that we felt the need to continue. nowadays its like, and maybe this is just me and a few others, i don't feel like i need to continue. the shit is boring halfway through.

doesn't it say something when these games now have infinite continues and you still don't feel like finishing whereas back in the day you had like 5 lives, if that, and if you got hit once you were dead and had to start back and the beginning of the level, you barely got continues (you had to earn them) and there was no save feature and you still, STILL tried to beat that game?

back in the day you would spend hours at that one machine with 3 other friends, taking turns or going at the same time trying to beat that machine. i'm not saying that 100% of the games out now suck, i'm just saying i'm not getting that feeling nearly as much as i did back in the day.

[FighterX]

Oh, yeah, it's totally understandable. While there are some really enjoyable games nowadays, the urge to "continue" isn't as strong as it once was. Maybe it's because my interests are changing, but I'm more likely to put down the controller for a while nowadays rather than press on for hours and hours like I used to.

[Mixah]

newer adventure / rpg games are easier, because they're not stupid. sgg on SNES was ridiculous for example, as was final fantasy 1.... now games are more specific and story based... at least that's what i see... there's no more... "youre in the top corner of the map, and the only direction youre given is south west"... derfff?

[Pinnochio]

i miss the immense difficulty of nes games. I really do congratulate anybody who could beat megaman 1 since that game had no password system

[Remy Saotome]

i miss the immense difficulty of nes games. I really do congratulate anybody who could beat megaman 1 since that game had no password systemDoes using the Thunder Beam glitch on The Yellow Demon count? Because I beat it more than once that way. But I had to abuse that glitch on that one boss... He's just too damned hard otherwise.

[The Mullah]

i don't buy this argument because you have ppl that are from the past generation that are older that are still stuck on the past generation games...for a reason. they were just better.

those are just better games, period. its not nostalgia. its not, "oh, i was 12 when it came out, the memories..." no, its that those are examples of better games. the gameplay was good, the music was good, the graphics are decent, its just better. i'd pop in jet grind radio over what we have now.

but i feel like some ppl on here are missing the fact that we felt the need to continue. nowadays its like, and maybe this is just me and a few others, i don't feel like i need to continue. the shit is boring halfway through.


I think games today are often unoriginal and like any commercial franchises, made to make money primarily. There are exceptions of course.
In the old days, games were more creative and expressive with focus on gameplay, but technical limitations made the games pretty shallow and shit by todays standards.


Xbox live arcade has been an eye opening experience for me. playing games from the 80's and 90's again has really shown me how shallow and crap most of them were. I think it's a very valid point that we simply have higher standards today.

Playing old games on my 360, such as tmnt made me realise that my enjoyment was usually based on my interaction with the people i played with and not neccesarily on the strength of the game itself.

Games in the old days had just as little replay value as games today, and arguably less motivating factors to make me want to play through them. The only games EVER that held my interest were mario kart/64, tekken, sf and halo. Multiplayer games essentially.

Million is right, when we were kids we didn't give a fuck, we liked any old crap because children have low expectations.cheesy, but i remember it so fondly.

Some poeple being stuck playing old games isn't any sort of proof. The fact vintage car enthusiasts exist doesn't mean the golden era of motoring was in the 30's-50's, it just means like everything else in life, peoplel ike different shit.

[SyAdicate]

I think games today are often unoriginal and like any commercial franchises, made to make money primarily. There are exceptions of course.
In the old days, games were more creative and expressive with focus on gameplay, but technical limitations made the games pretty shallow and shit by todays standards.


Xbox live arcade has been an eye opening experience for me. playing games from the 80's and 90's again has really shown me how shallow and crap most of them were. I think it's a very valid point that we simply have higher standards today.

Playing old games on my 360, such as tmnt made me realise that my enjoyment was usually based on my interaction with the people i played with and not neccesarily on the strength of the game itself.

Games in the old days had just as little replay value as games today, and arguably less motivating factors to make me want to play through them. The only games EVER that held my interest were mario kart/64, tekken, sf and halo. Multiplayer games essentially.

Million is right, when we were kids we didn't give a fuck, we liked any old crap because children have low expectations.cheesy, but i remember it so fondly.

Some poeple being stuck playing old games isn't any sort of proof. The fact vintage car enthusiasts exist doesn't mean the golden era of motoring was in the 30's-50's, it just means like everything else in life, peoplel ike different shit.

If I pull out my dick you promise not to run?

[The Mullah]

If I pull out my dick you promise not to run?

:pray: Oh shit you got me, i should have seen that coming...

[Sexperienced.]

I thought people were complaining about the current arcade scene, not the the consoles.

[FallingEdge]

I see it as this. Look at the way we recieved information back in the day. We got it all from gaming magazines and word of mouth. That's it. Anytime something new came out about a game, it was found in the latest edition of EGM, EGM2, Gamepro, Nintendo Power, etc. If we were lucky, we would get a few pages dedicated to that game. Otherwise, there would be a few screen shots, a brief description and that's it. We had to wait until the next issue for another update.

Then the debate and rumors would begin. We would speak with our friends about what we read and what we heard. Everyone would bring over their copies of their gaming magazines that they own and just browse, speculate, and wonder. There was a ridiculous amount of hype that built up because we didn't know a damn thing about the possible secrets and hidden levels/areas/bosses. When the game came out, everyone was trying to be the first to discover something new.

These days, the internet is where we get all our info. Everytime that there is an update with the game or a new developer interview or game vids, everyone knows about it. Hell, sometimes you can even buy the strategy guide before the game comes out. There isn't any suspense and for the most part, no one is surprised at what they discover in a game.

That's not to say that modern games suck because they don't. There are plenty of games released on the PS2/XBox/GC and to a limited extent on the PS3/Wii/360 that are worth playing. You are fooling yourself if you think otherwise.

Our generation truly grew up in the golden age of gaming. We got to exprience the greatness that was the NES to the original Sonic games on the Genesis to Mario Kart and RPG goodness on the SNES to the nextgen boom that was the PSX and N64 to the extremely underrated DC. Arcades were huge in our lifetime as they were another medium for us to get together and just have fun. Again, this is something the current generation of gamers have no idea of or even known that it existed.

It was fun while it lasted. But look ahead to the greatness. MGS4, FFXIII, DMC5, RE5, Super Paper Mario, Super Mario Galaxies, and so much more. The current scene isn't dead, not by a longshot. It's just different.

Embrace it people!

[Overworld]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

People often just forget that the ratio of crap to gold has allllllllllllllllllways favored crap like 10-1.

There are tons upon tons of crappy NES, SNES, Genesis games, just like there were tons of crappy PS2, Xbox, DC games. It's just how the business works. For every megaman, you'll have a Linus Spacehead. It's just that because you currently getting this crap, it's easy to look back and say "Well Chrono Trigger was better than Disgaea." (And I like Disgaea, but just saying.)

Also to speak to the difficulty of games, I would say there are a multitude of games out there that are very hard. Take Contra: Shattered Soldier, that's not an easy game by any stretch of the imagination. Or try Ikaruga, another game that'll have you thinking some levels are just impossible. It all runs the spectrum.

There were tons of old games that were brain dead easy too, remember Awesome Possum? (I surely hope you don't...) That game was retardedly easy. How about The Ooze? (Another game that would best be forgotten.) The levels barely were a challenge.

Also it's hard to even try to make the argument that current games are hampered by being largely sequel driven. Since well, that's too been the case for a long time. Mario, Zelda, Sonic, Megaman, Castlevania, etc, have been long running franchises that went through the old era. So there has always been a large part of the market devoted to nothing but sequels.

I agree with FallingEdge in that this generation of games isn't worse, just different, and still a lot of fun.

[roninwarrior24]

I know developers do this for depth, but still, must every action/platformer have RPG elements down their throats nowadays? I miss the days when you were given just a sword, a set amount of health/lives, and a powerup or two and had to beat the entire game WITH THAT SAME EQUIPMENT! Now we have level-up systems in games that, although are still good with them, don't really need them. Not that it's a bad thing, but still (I'm mainly talking about Ninja Gaiden Xbox, Devil May Cry, and God of War, but some platformers also fall in this category). The games out now are great, but it would be nice to see a level-based, OG-style action game similar to the old Shinobi games (just an example; if you have any better ones, list them).

[{PFH}-Lake]

I didnt think that the difficulty of the games back then were that hard, cause there were cheats, glitchs, passwords. Only game I found very hard and still cant beat to this day is fantastic adventures of dizzy.

[pherai]

i don't buy this argument because you have ppl that are from the past generation that are older that are still stuck on the past generation games...for a reason. they were just better.

it doesn't matter if one game is virtual reality and the other is fking pong...if pong is better than its better. graphics, internet play, chat, whatever else they come up with don't make a great game. i dunno, i figured that the majority of the ppl would think that way but na...and its surprising. it seems like ppl love the countless fps, super enhanced graphics of today over the gameplay of yesteryear.
i don't give a fk...nothing is fking with:

mario rpg
mario 3
sonic 2
dkc1 and 2
so on and so on...

those are just better games, period. its not nostalgia. its not, "oh, i was 12 when it came out, the memories..." no, its that those are examples of better games. the gameplay was good, the music was good, the graphics are decent, its just better. i'd pop in jet grind radio over what we have now.

lets flip it. this is a fighting game site...so you're gonna say games like doa or tekken 5 are better than what we had?

What period are you talking about man? Jet Grind Radio was from 2000, while Sonic 2 is from 92. Do you not play any games from the past 5 years? There were plenty of bad games from the early 90's too, and there are a lot of good games that come out now.

EDIT: And I am only talking about gameplay. I could care less about graphics and netplay, and all that glitter.

[DS]

lets flip it. this is a fighting game site...so you're gonna say games like doa or tekken 5 are better than what we had?



Looks like you flipped into my anti-air:

Let's not get fighting games in this because if you've played ANYTHING from SF2 WW and on, you'd know those games are laced with some really bad glitches. And in terms of gameplay, you can't really say it was deep because none of it started getting deep until ST and VF came out. THEN we started getting the better stuff.

And yes, some of today's fighters ARE better than what we had back then. Just look at Virtua Fighter 4 Evo when it came out. You're telling me that wasn't fighting game perfection compared to ANYTHING released in the last 15 years? Fighting games evolved, my man. They actually got better with time.

Thanks to revisions and sequels fighting games were actually playable for a long time. Without them, fighting games would have died with SF2 WW. Sure, this contradicts my statement about glitches in my first paragraph, but still, shit wouldn't have taken off if it wasn't for those revisions.

[leon_shore]

I just picked up the Sega Genesis Collection, and alot of those games hold up well today. Maybe not graphically, but gameplay wise, fun factor, and innovation is still there.

Comic Zone. I haven't played too much of it, but it is badass so far. The graphics are amazing for genesis/32x. I didn't have the luxory of owning a genesis, so I missed out on alot of great games. The animation in this game is crazy! It reminds me of 3S; fluid. Also, the idea behind being stuck inside your own comic world is unique and refreshing. The action is pretty intense, and the game as a whole is fun (which is one of the most important factors in a game being timeless).

Sonic The speed in the early games are still top notch. Great platformer. The 2 player versus game is hilarious! It is fun to this day, and was a great technical achievement back in the day. To me, it still looks graphically impressive.

Vectorman Dayam. I had no idea the Genesis was capable of such splendid graphics. And the action platforming is splendid. Again, animation is top notch. Nintendo has Metroid, Sega has Vectorman.


Now all they need to release is the Sega CD collection. Lunar Silver Star, Lunar Eternal Blue, and Snatcher for the win!

[Naslectronical]

Also to speak to the difficulty of games, I would say there are a multitude of games out there that are very hard. Take Contra: Shattered Soldier, that's not an easy game by any stretch of the imagination. Or try Ikaruga, another game that'll have you thinking some levels are just impossible. It all runs the spectrum.



Ikaruga is what I like to call a "memory shooter." It seems that every shooter that Treasure makes falls into this category(Gunstar Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, Silpheed, Gradius V). The enemies attack in the exact same way every single time, so the difficulty plummets once the bullet patterns and stage layouts have been memorized.

I do, however, agree that shooters today are a lot harder than they were ten years ago. Back then, there weren't manic shooters/bullet hells like Espgaluda, Mushihime-sama, Ibara, Gigawing 1&2, Mars Matrix, Psyvariar 2, etc.

Dodonpachi Dai Ou Jou is the hardest shooter ever created hands down. I'm talking less than fifty people in the world who can beat it without using a zillion continues, even fewer who can meet the requirements for reaching the true last boss, and fewer still who can actually beat the true last boss. This game was released in 2002, and not only is it the hardest shooter of all time, it's one of the most ridiculously difficult games of all time.

[orochizoolander]

Sounds like i'm being asked to answer if i like sonic2 or gears of war better and as the biggest sega fanboy ever i simply cannot choose between new or old games (good thing that the xbl arcade makes it so we don't have to) but if i did have to choose...i would VERY SLIGHTLY be leaning towards the new generation of gaming simply cuz technology and competition can give birth to games that are so toptier they are only limited by the developers imaginations. I think it's safe to say that although the funfactor is the most important element of a game: graphics, AI, sound, controls, and any other technology related element of a game can go a LONG way to make a medicore game/concept just absolutely stunning and produce games that are nearly perfect in every conceivable aspect while simultaenously providing levels of euphoria not thought possible (games like gears of war, god of war, resistance, etc)


With that said nothing and i mean NOTHING as far as videogames go will make me as happy and awestruck as i was when my best friend bought me gunstar heroes for my 6th birthday 1 of the happiest moments of my life real talk.

I still play tmnt hyperstone heist, shinboi3, contra hardcorps, sor2+3, n others on my genesis (greatest system ever) every once in a while and when playing them i still feel that same exact rush of complete heavenly satisfaction that i felt playing them as a little kid.

[BlakHayato]

They need follow GG and improve 2D graphics. These "cel-shaded" trend games look horrid. I'm not a graphic whore, but I think 2D needs some lovin too.

[P. Gorath]

The "Good ol Days" to me means the time when I had little to no responsibilities so I could play games all day or go to the arcade every day after school. There may be better games on console now but at least I got to play the games back then.

[<---SiNN--->]

lol how far we going back Home Alone?Who Framed Roger Rabbit?Nowadays games just focus on graphics and not gameplay.That's the main reason why I burn or wait till the price drop.There good games nowadays but as for the collection of number of games that had me glued to my seat,where the old days.

[catchafire]

THE BIGGEST DISADVANTAGE TO GAMING TODAY:

Compared to yesterday, we have too many games to consider, play, and master. When you have good games coming out every week, fidelity to a game can be low in today's generation. For example, you've got Supreme Commander that just came out for the PC which had a lot of hype, and now we have Command and Conqour 3 to take away some of the spot light. You've got to worry about getting games for not only a gameboy, but also a PSP. THREE MAIN SYSTEMS are out which are all fun and have their own line up of games.

Back then, all we had was a Nintendo. A really bad game would come out, i.e. Fester's Quest, and player's would master it, play it, discuss it, instead of throwing it out the window because something new was coming out this month.

TRUTH.

[Million]

yeah, that's really my only complaint with current era of games(besides piss poor hardware quality and life expectancy). If anything, there's actually too many good things out to keep up with. There's still things from last generation that I'm way behind on, like Wind Waker, both Metroid Primes, Wario World, the latest Mario Kart, etc. etc.

*cel-shade is great, imo. It's the perfect way to present comic book/anime-style visuals in a 3d world. It's the ideal combo of 3d and 2d.

[BlakHayato]

*cel-shade is great, imo. It's the perfect way to present comic book/anime-style visuals in a 3d world. It's the ideal combo of 3d and 2d.Not when its done bad. IMO