The golden age of gaming, often considered to be the late 1970s to the early 1990s, was a magical time for children like myself. But... if I had to give the cake to a specific decade, it would be the 90's. Even with that said, just like today's games... there was a progression, but I digress. The energy is different from today because... it was all shiny and new, not to mention it was the thing to do if you were allowed to game. The tech was limited at that time, but one of the more accessible options were video games and it was truly next level! I remember board games still being part of the line up because if it involved a good time, we were there, and... you could play with 4 people. We played cards back then too, but... cards still have a certain energy that some of us still deem as fresh. Cards are still in full swing in casinos, tournaments, house parties, and backyard BBQ's. Especially in my community, someone has a deck of cards to break out for spades. As a matter of fact, I keep a deck of cards in my Solo backpack.
Spades is still my go to card game, but... the excitement and wonder that surrounded video games during this era was amazing and unrivaled.
During the golden age of gaming, video games were a relatively new form of entertainment. The novelty of interactive digital experiences was a major draw for children. The idea of controlling characters on a screen and exploring virtual worlds was revolutionary and captivating. Many new games brought with them a sense of discovery and innovation that kept kids eagerly anticipating the next big release. But... make no mistake, just like there are bad games today, there were horrible games back then. The only difference is you couldn't update the games back then so effort to get it right the first time had to be there even more, which was something Nintendo got props for.
Games from the golden age were often simple in design and easy to pick up and play. Titles like Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., and Tetris... had straightforward mechanics that were accessible to players of all ages. Pac-Man was my first. This simplicity allowed children to quickly grasp the gameplay and enjoy the experience without the need for complex tutorials or steep learning curves. I don't say complex games are bad, but some games require too much for some gamers to get into. Genre's vary, but the easier they are to pick up and play... the more they got our attention. Arcade games are a prime example.
Why is the kid in the black & yellow the only one looking at the TV... somewhat?
Arcades were a central part of the gaming experience during the golden age. I remember frequenting an Arcade called... Tilt, along with my siblings and friends, but my parents gave me my first arcade experience with the table top Pac-Man. These vibrant, bustling venues were filled with rows of arcade cabinets, each offering a unique and exciting game. The social aspect of arcades, where kids could compete for high scores and share tips with friends... or just talk trash, added an extra layer of excitement. I don't think the younger generations could imagine life without cellphones, but that was life. A social life... was in person(!) and we had plenty of it while crowded around various arcade machines like the
X-Men arcade game. Up to 6-player awesomeness that we experienced in games like this... took us on an adventure and put players to the test to take down various baddies like Juggernaut, The White Queen, and Magneto as a team. It was one badass side scrolling beat 'em up experience. The thrill of popping quarters to join in or... continue, it created lasting memories for many children like myself.
The golden age of gaming introduced some of the most iconic characters and franchises in video game history... and they stand as OG's today, still kicking butt. Characters like Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Link became household names and beloved heroes for children back in the day. I don't want to say they wouldn't be hotter than wasabi today if they weren't introduced to us in the past, but... would they be as hot? I don't want to tick anyone off, it's just a question... take a sip of juice and relax. These characters and their adventures captured the imaginations of young players, making each new game release a highly anticipated event and for the most part they're still going strong.
Unlike today, where games are readily available for download... games weren't as easy to access back then (duh of the day). Limited availability based on units and the anticipation of waiting for a new game to be released added to the hype... for sure (physical pre-order rewards were sweet during this window). Kids would save up their allowance, eagerly await birthdays or holidays, and rush to the store to get their hands on the latest titles. There were no spoilers in sight and you couldn't readily snatch up snap shots of leaked images, we had what was presented and our first hand experience when games hit the scene. This wasn't good in some instances, but devs gave us some wiggle room once demo discs emerged and came packed with our video game magazines (for those who subscribed... like myself). Going back to the arcade, that was also a great place to get a taste of what was to come for select games that were headed to console. For those who were around at that time, do you remember when Street Fighter 2 landed on the SNES & Genesis? It was on... it was on... it was on!
By the way, I've said it before... and i'll say it again. I think 1998 was one of the best years ever. I didn't realize how many amazing games were released during this year or close to it:
There were other fantastic games released around this time, but these alone would've been enough to seal the deal. One of my personal faves came out in 1998 as well...
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, as well as X-Men vs Street Fighter. OMG... X-Men vs. Street Fighter was one of those games that I would just step back to soak up the beauty of when it was in the arcades, and it was a must to grab once it hit the Playstation. I was deep in the trenches, and probably could've made a splash in fighting tournaments because I was neck deep in the action. I don't know how I would do today, but I was able to pull off a perfect game in
Street Fighter Alpha 3 (released in 1999) on the Playstation... eventually.
Back to 1998, another lesser celebrated Capcom fighter was released this year as well. This tag-team based 3D fighting game was one that I found myself sinking a crap load of time into. Which one am I refering to exactly? Rival Schools! There were so many characters to choose from who represented different schools, and the game was solid in terms of the game mechanics and pulling off combos. I still know the songs, that's how much of a fan I was... and wouldn't mind seeing a remake one of these days.
Not only did you get hours upon hours of entertainment while fighting with various characters like Sakura (whom I was stoked about seeing in the game)... but you also had some really fun mini games. You could play soccer, tennis, (i'm pretty sure there was) baseball, and other games. You could even get a massage in the game, you would simply place the controller somewhere on your body (i.e. the back of your neck) and enjoy the different patterns and intensity of the massage that you would get.
Spyro The Dragon... also soared into the PS1 in 1998, as well as Medieval, and the badass third installment of Tekken! Until I got my hands on this game, my cousin and I would frequent Toys 'R' Us to play and buy action figures. Eddy was my character, but there were so many awesome complex characters that made the game such a beautiful experience. Do you see what I mean about 1998 now?
It wasn't just the games. Sailor Moon premiered on Cartoon Network as a part of the Toonami lineup, which gave more Western viewers their first introduction to anime... and (sigh) it was just awesome (for me at least). 1990 also was the year the Pokemon tv show premiered in North America.
Games from the golden age often had challenging gameplay that required skill and perseverance so you didn't have to start back over, and while others saved the day with saves. Memory cards took things to the next level for me. If I wanted to replay a certain area, I had game saves ahead of a battle and after the victory... or if I wasn't sure about an area in Resident Evil 2... I found the nearest typewriter.
The sense of achievement that came from beating a difficult level or achieving a high score was immensely rewarding, and I won't crap on the achievements of today but it was a different feel. We didn't have social media like that, nor did we have the means to share what just happened... someone had to have been there to see it. Especially to shut down the little naysayer who would be tucked off in the cut somewhere ready to shout "Lies!". This feeling of accomplishment kept kids coming back for more, determined to improve their skills and conquer new challenges that some of us still pursue. While gaming has evolved significantly since then, the memories and experiences from the golden age continue to hold a special place in the hearts of many... and if you weren't there, at least salute it for happening because they led up to the games of today.
You know what's crazy... there are younger gamers more in love with of the past at times because of our love of said games. So imagine how we felt being there and having that energy just oozing through from our pores. Games come in many forms, but our experiences vary for a number of reasons, and... if it boils down to what you make of a game, do your best to make it memorable! You or a loved one made the investment, so make it worth your while. Fun it up and... game on!
