Why Do We Keep Playing Retro Games?

 

Why Do We Keep Playing Retro Games? 

I've had numerous conversations with folks who wonder why I continue to play retro games when there are newer, more graphically appealing games on the market. Why do I still enjoy playing ancient arcade games like Donkey Kong and Mr. Do? Why have I spent so much time looking for games I used to play on Atari ST, Spectrum, and Amiga systems when I can just get a PS4 and play these fantastic games with fancy graphics and effects? What do older games and consoles have that newer consoles don't?

NOSTALGIA

The world has conditioned us to replace the old with the new in order to stay up with the times. My Atari 2600 was replaced with a Spectrum, then an Atari ST, then an Amiga, and eventually many PCs, each one more powerful than the previous. We spend our lives by letting go of the old and welcoming in the new. Why would you want to go back to something less than ideal when you have something so much better?

I remember being ecstatic when I initially learned about these methods. When I recall playing old adventure games like The Secret of St Brides and Twin Kingdom Valley on the Spectrum, I get a nice fuzzy sensation. I recall many wonderful hours spent in my bedroom playing Chuckie Egg and attempting to complete the game by getting through the near-impossible Level 40. Upgrading to an Atari ST and being blown away by the first time I heard sampled sounds in a game. I believe that great graphics and effects aren't required for a game to be enjoyable. It's the enjoyment you get from a game that matters.

EASIER CONTROL SYSTEM

A joystick that could be manipulated eight ways and a single fire button was used in older control systems. You can even create your own keys if you want to. These were available on systems ranging from the Atari 2600 to the Amiga. Later systems, such as the Megadrive and Nintendo, added more buttons to the game while keeping it simple. A simpler control method made it easy to get into the game and was consistent across all games for that system. Up, down, left, right, and fire/jump were the primary controls. Later systems, such as the PlayStation 3, included a plethora of new combinations that would be offered in tutorials as you progressed through the game.

HIGH SCORE TABLES

You may discover that once you've completed some games on the newer systems, you won't want to play them again for a while. After all, you've read the book and finished the tasks. Some older games have the advantage of recording your score each time you play, with each level becoming more difficult and complex. So you get more enjoyment out of a game when you're going for a high score, especially if you're competing against a friend. People would earn a high score on an arcade game and then return later to see if another player had beaten them.

NO MORE TO PAY

In the ancient days, you didn't have to pay anything else when you bought a game. People are spending a fortune on packs to obtain extras in games wherein in older games you might earn them by doing certain objectives. Although it is possible to earn money by playing games, most people feel that paying for something saves them a lot of time and work.

WIDER VARIETY OF GAMES

The typical price of a PS4 game ranges between £40 and £70, so developers must deliver a lot for that money. Hours of video footage, massive maps that take forever to explore, and a slew of flashy visual effects make up this game. There was a greater range of games available on previous platforms, ranging from free to budget to full commercial price. Games like static screen platformers, text adventure games, rebound games, and simple shoot 'em ups could be obtained that would never see the light of day on a more current system unless they came as part of a pack or were available through a subscription service.

CONCLUSION

What matters most about a game is what you gain from it. You don't have to believe that all you have to do is play the most recent games like everyone else. Many retro lovers on Facebook still play games on older systems while occasionally playing a new game on the PS4. Please pardon me, but I need to get Mario through the castle in order to save the princess.