Games are important when it comes to entertainment and having fun. The first games to be developed were sketchy and slow due to the low processing power of old computer models. Nowadays computers and laptops have the higher processing power, large storage capacities and they consume less power. This technological advancement has encouraged programmers to developed complex 2 dimensional and 3-dimensional games. Game development is big business. Some games are free while others are not. However, even the so-called “free games” are not totally free. Most free games have ads and referral links of other sites to enable the developer to generate some income. Most payable games have no ads. The developers make money by charging users a one-time fee, monthly/yearly subscription fee or a few bucks per game level.
There are thousands of games on the market. However, a large percentage of the games are either sketchy or require a lot of memory and processing power. There are some classic games which are worth playing. Some of the top classic games include: Assassin’s Creed, Super Mario Kart, Contra, Mortal Kombat, Mario Bros, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong among others. Most of these games were developed using a C programming language which is super-fast and it has a low memory footprint.
Classic games are good for all generations since they consist of educational, casual and serious games. Playing the games improves the way someone follows directions and reads maps. Spatial reasoning is an important thing in our daily lives, especially when navigating in big cities. Obstacles and game restrictions improve the player’s problem-solving skills and thinking capability. Shooter games such as Contra improves the player’s ability to multitask, hand-eye coordination and other motor skills. This is because you have to control the joystick while keeping track of the character, enemies, direction, and speed at the same time. Multiplayer games require teamwork and fine coordination between players. This creates comradeship between the players.
Reasons why you might want to play video games
- Video games provide entertainment and fun.
- They reduce boredom.
- Improves your problem-solving skills.
- Video games with new features enhance creativity and inspire other game developers and graphic designers.
Classic games that you might want to play
1. Assassin’s Creed
Assassin’s Creed is a game series that was published by Ubisoft in 2007. The game is known for its originality, visuals, storytelling, and the general art design. This action-adventure game is highly interactive and runs well in most if not all modern computers. The site right here is one of the top sites that offer Assassin’s Creed game series. Assassin’s Creed involves a struggle between assassins and Knights. The player’s mission is to carry out several assassinations ordered by the commander. The player has to travel from the Kingdom to other cities to find an agent who has some vital information. The player spies on the targeted individuals by pickpocketing, eavesdropping, interrogations and using informers. When an assassination mission is complete, the player returns to the Brotherhood to receive more sophisticated weapons as a reward before advancing to the next mission.
2. Space Invaders
This amazing two-dimensional shooting game was developed by Tomohiro Nishikado. It was released to the market in 1978 and became one of the first games to be played on a console. The game environment has aliens that look like octopuses, crabs, and squids. The player moves a laser-armed tank across the screen while shooting five rows of aliens. The game ends if you get hit by alien’s firepower or if the aliens touch the ground. In case you destroy an alien ship, you get bonus points. The slow gameplay design is the main challenge in this game. Space Invaders has several game levels and players have to complete one stage before moving to the next.
3. Mario Bros
This arcade game was released in 1983 by Nintendo. The game requires the player to jump and hit enemies until they get defeated. The enemies move in and out of pipes which are on top. The maximum score that you can get is 999,990 points and the game loops if you complete the 99th phase. Therefore, the game doesn’t come to an end even if you play all the game levels.
4. Donkey Kong
This video game was also developed by Nintendo. In this shooter game, the player fires bug spray on Donkey Kong. The spray destroys any insect that is hit. The game has different types of insects including bees, flies, and moths. The insects try to steal flowers located at the bottom. If it happens, the bonus reduces that you had accumulated reduces by a few points. If Donkey Kong moves to the top of the screen, all bugs die and the level is complete. The player can also use a super spray to complete the game faster. However, this kind of spray rarely appears on the screen.
5. Street Fighter
This game was released in 1987 by Capcom. Street Fighter is an advanced fighting game that is controlled using the command line and six buttons. The player fights computer generated opponents in three energy-intensive rounds. You win the match if you knock out your opponent or if you remain with a greater amount of energy at the end of a knockout round.
6. Galaga
This game was released in 1981 by a Japanese firm known as Namco. In this game, the player manipulates an armed 2D spacecraft. The spacecraft at the bottom of the display screen shoots enemies at the top. Enemies try to attack, destroy or collide with the spaceship from multiple directions. The game requires you to be keen and fast in order to destroy enemies that appear randomly on the screen. The moment you destroy all the enemies, the game allows you to advance to the next stage.
7. Pac-Man
This arcade game was developed by Toru Iwatani. This influential game was released in Japan and the USA in 1980. The player controls a character which consumes pellets on the screen while avoiding four ghosts. The ghosts have multiple colors to allow the player to easily identify them. The ghosts move more rapidly and become more aggressive as the game level increases. You get more points if you consume fruits that appear on the screen.
8. Contra
Contra was designed and released by Konami in 1987. Contra can be played by two people simultaneously. The game involves running and shooting. The characters can shoot while standing, running or lying down. One character is named Bill while the other one is Lace. You can control the character and the entire game in many ways. The eight-way joystick changes the direction in which the character is moving. The joystick can also be used to aim targets before firing the gun. The player can shoot using the left action button and jump using the right one. You can dodge enemy fire by lying down. This can be achieved by pressing the joystick downwards when the character is standing.
9. Metroid
This adventure video game was developed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan in 1986 before reaching other parts of the world. The gameplay involves controlling the character “Samus Aran” and attempting to retrieve a stolen Metroid. If the Metroid is not retrieved, the aliens use it to create biological weapons and destroy Samus and other creatures thus ending the game.
10. Dig Dug
Namco published this arcade video game for the first time in 1982. The player is supposed to eliminate several enemies that are located underground. This is achieved through drilling passages or tunnels to reach the hiding enemy. The player has to choose wisely where to make a passage to avoid drilling long tunnels which waste time. The only way to destroy the enemy is to hit them with rocks or pump air into their bodies until they explode.
11. Doom
This 1993 shooter game is one of the most interactive video games. The game has three episodes which have nine-game levels each. The player controls a space marine who fights dozens of invading enemies. Play this game if you have no problem with violence graphics and Hellish and bloody imagery.
Modern computers are smaller in size but more powerful than the ones which were used in the 80s. A modern laptop or desktop computer can run most if not all games available on the market. Playing video games is advantageous since it can help you reduce boredom and improves your problem-solving skills. If you are a video game enthusiast, you can try out some powerful classic games such as Assassin’s Creed, Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, Mario Bros, and Donkey Kong. Contact the developers or online forums in case you encounter an installation or runtime error when using any of the games.
