The Popularity Of Retro Gaming Explained
Retro Gaming is big business and has been popular for some time now. The current generation of gamers are playing the games from way back when either as remastered versions or the originals. But why is retro gaming so popular?
Simplicity
Retro games are all about simplicity. No tutorials are needed, no need learning how to operate a dual analogue gamepad, no downloading patches. What you see is what you get. Just plug in the cartridge or read the short instructions on the arcade cabinet and just start playing.
Because most retro games are influenced by arcade games, they are designed to be easy accessible for everyone. There is a certain charm and attraction being able to just jump into a game and have fun playing it.
Affordable
The current generation of gaming consoles will set you back around $400, buying a decent gaming PC even more. A second hand retro gaming console with games is a nice cheap alternative for some good gaming experiences.
Available games
The list of games available for consoles like the Nintendo SNES, computers like the Commodore Amiga or arcade classics is immense. So there are plenty opportunities available to find something to your liking.
Classic
Just like we how can enjoy a classic car, so can we enjoy a classic game. It may not be as modern as we are used to but it still can be very enjoyable to take her out for a spin. Just like classic cars a lot of retro games are considered timeless. Games like Donkey Kong, Mario, Sonic, Space invaders, Pac Man are considered the ones that started it all. Replaying those oldies with their addicting gameplay is something that we can still enjoy today.
Quality
The makers of games back then had less to work with so they had to squeeze everything out of the limited hardware and software. This often led to a high level quality of games. The games had to be of high quality to stand out in the arcades and the developers were in a constant battle to outdo each other. Graphics (Art), Sound, Gameplay, Controls everything had to be topnotch for them to lure you to their cabinet or console.
The graphics
The 8-bit/16-bit pixel graphics are still considered beautiful. The bright colors intended to draw in arcade visitors are often just pure works of art. It shows that good gameplay and beautiful art is more important than 4K graphics.
Nostalgia
If you grew up around the time that Street Fighter II was the biggest thing in the arcades or the Nintendo SNES was just released, chances are that you can not resist reliving those moments again. Replaying all those games from your youth or playing games that you didn't get to play because you couldn't afford it at the time, is just priceless.
Difficulty
Arcades defined a lot of retro games and these games were meant for you to spend your coins. No respawns, hints or do-overs. The arcades have spawned some of the most difficult games ever. Reaching the end credits of an arcade game was only accomplished by enormous skill or a large wad of cash. Consoles continued this trend and games like Battletoads and Metal Slug are infamous for their level of difficulty. Try finishing one of those games game without losing a life, I dare you...
The complaint with modern day games is that they are often too easy. For example Uncharted 4 is a beautiful game but when I played it, I never felt challenged, the puzzles were very easy to solve and the same goes for the shooting, jump-climbing and driving parts. The game looks good, the story is good but the difficulty laughable.
There is a reason why games like Ninja Gaiden and the Soul series are popular. They present a challenge and on completion you really feel that you have accomplished something.
Diversity
In trying to upstage each other, developers of Retro Games were always trying to come up with new things. A lot were gimmicky but it also led to some brilliant games. Games like Karateka, Street Fighter II or Track and Field were all games that had innovative gameplay, in contrast with modern day games where everyone seems to be either busy making another first-person shooter or open world game. The developers back then were constantly trying out new things to distinguish themselves from the competition. This led to a great variety in games and gameplay.
Passion
But one of the most important factors is that Retro Games herald from a time where the developers were passionate about the thing they were creating. That passion is what makes their game enjoyable until now. The developers didn't seem to be bothered much with returns on investment but just wanted to make good games. They took chances that modern day big developers would never take, sometimes it paid off and sometimes it did not. In the end it doesn't matter because even the weird games are something that we can enjoy just for the mere fact that they were made with passion.
Do you play retro games and why do you like playing them? Let me know in the comment section.
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I think my name says it all! I've owned just about every version of Play Station and Xbox, and currently have a $5000+ PC VR setup ( with Rift ) and I still always return to the classics of my youth for all the reasons you stated and more. I guess it's a bit like music - every one is attached to genres and styles that spoke to them as a kid.
I love my retropie! high five
True, but the younger generation of gamers are also picking up the retro games and 8-bit/16-bit look alikes.
So true, I'm amazed at how many games are released each year with a retro "feel" to them. Bro Force and Party Hard are probably two of my favs.
I loved 1942, grew up on the original nintendo; super mario, zelda, kid icarus... oh yeah
A Sega man myself, but also love the Nintendo games. Played Super Mario until my hands bled :)
Nostalgia from simpler times and the sheer simplicity of the games kinda makes retro-gaming a big thing. My RetroPie is always on!
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Agree with this article. I got back into the retrogaming hobby in 2013 for basically all the reasons stated. Retro gaming is as much about being my favorite "game genre" as it is nostalgia. I will say this about modern gaming. I bought a Wii U a month ago and haven't been disappointed. The Mario games and other games are easy-to-use and in a lot of ways retro style. I'll probably end up getting a Switch bc it will have online multi player for retro-games .
I am saving up for a switch too. Nintendo is a company with its roots still firm in retro gaming. They are passionate about their games and willing to take risks like with the wii U or switch.