Playing classic online video games is more than just a mindless trip down memory lane for lonely and isolated gamers. Many notable classic games have been around for 20 years or more, and the average age of a gamer is 34. Thus, it appears that Generation Xers may be returning to their beloved childhood games. Indeed, a new media psychology study indicates that video game nostalgia can make people feel more connected to their history, friends and family, and even themselves.
The popularity of old and classic games may come as a surprise. Even skilled gamers may find older games unpleasant to play due to pixel-based graphics that can appear blurry on contemporary televisions. However, in 2016, Nintendo released an NES Classic Edition console, which sold out in just three months. In June 2018, the company produced more and began selling them. Other old gaming consoles are also popular. According to a fast search, hundreds of businesses sell original and refurbished vintage video game consoles on eBay and Amazon. Modern games that immerse players in beautiful, photo-realistic, interactive worlds dwarf these previous games.
They say you can’t reinvent the wheel, but in the case of vintage online games, this is not the case, as award-winning creators make a living out of bringing a tired franchise or a previously ailing series of games back to life. Vintage games, some of which have been around for decades or centuries, long before the internet, video game consoles, and smart mobile phones, are a perfect example of this.
The best examples usually come from the pixelated arcade game period, when the emphasis was always on gameplay rather than flashy aesthetics. However, as evidenced by Nintendo’s releases of Pac-Man 99 for the Switch and Space Invaders Forever for the same mobile platform, many of the gaming firms that own the rights to such series or properties are usually keen to expand their selection of game varieties. Tetris, which now has a crazy VR version dubbed Tetris Effect, is another one that has been spruced up with modern gamers in mind.
However, it’s the originals we are focusing on today, so let’s take a stroll down memory lane and explore some of the classic online games that keep gamers coming back for more!
Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 begins a few years after the events of Half-Life, with Gordon Freeman, the game’s mute protagonist, waking up to find that the alien threat from the original game has won. Freeman joins the resistance, receives a slew of fun firearms to play with, and even meets a mechanical dog, Alyx Vance’s pet. It’s been a long time since the game was published, and despite the community’s demands for a sequel, it doesn’t appear like one is on the way anytime soon. As you might guess, there are a slew of mods for the game, so you can fire it up and enjoy a replay without worrying about all those janky pixels.
Final Fantasy 14
MMOs haven’t vanished; they’ve expanded their narratives in their own unique ways, becoming denser and more complicated without sacrificing the social features that the genre is known for. Final Fantasy 14 is a living example of this, establishing itself as one of the series’ most intriguing entries, and for a good reason. The expansions included more content and entirely new plots and locales to explore, as is customary.
If you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to dive in, now might be the time. Not only does the free trial edition include the base game, A Realm Reborn (which has been updated to be more welcoming to new players), but it also includes the first expansion, Heavensward. In addition, there are no time limits, and you won’t have to subscribe for dozens of hours. You can also level up jobs up to level 60, which act as specialist character classes that significantly impact your playstyles.
Space Invaders
We will finish with one of the ultimate classics that takes us back decades. In 1978, Space Invaders, an arcade game about shooting aliens, became a worldwide sensation. It visually defined the image of commercial video games with its blocky, recognizable aliens. It also pioneered the shoot-em-up genre and used music to influence players’ emotions, paving the way for modern video games. It was the first game to feature a difficulty curve, becoming more difficult as you progress. This, however, was not done on purpose; instead, it was a technological glitch. Fewer aliens on the screen meant a smaller load on the processor and, as a result, faster rendering as you shot them away. The invaders and the 4-note soundtrack both accelerated.
As the saying goes, class(ic) is permanent. Classic gaming has almost become the future of gaming. Now isn’t that ironic?
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