Times are always changing, even if we don’t notice on a day-to-day basis. But interestingly, the past tends to stay with us, and this can be seen a lot in entertainment media, like when remakes of old classic movies are released and old music albums are remastered. This link to the past is also heavily present in the world of gaming across a broad scope of genres.
Games that were originally launched a couple of decades ago may still get new releases, extending the series further. Some of the very original characters of gaming, like Mario and Pac-Man, are around to this day and going strong, thriving across platforms from video to arcade games. Wherever you look among the clamour for the latest tech and new gaming innovations, it’s hard to shake the past.
That nostalgic feeling
A new title can give players a great sense of anticipation that they are going to experience something unique and special. But what new games can’t do is tap into the feelings for comfort and familiarity. Nostalgic games can give players the warm fuzzies because, more often than not, they link back to something that was enjoyed during childhood.
This nostalgic feel also goes beyond the arcade and into the massive industry that is online casinos. Sitting alongside newer, expansive video game slots, like Legacy of Dead where high-end graphics and innovative bonus features such as expanding symbols rule, there exists an entire subset of retro-style games.
But analysing this closer, even with modern slot titles, many are still based on a classic theme that has been doing the rounds for decades. In Legacy of Dead, for example, the storyline is based around the protagonist exploring an ancient temple. Games based on classic themes like ancient Egypt and Greek Gods, featuring epic quests and mythical creatures, just don’t go away—they are too popular.
What nostalgia delivers
So, what is it exactly about nostalgic things that arcade players enjoy so much? The aforementioned comfort and familiarity offer players a sense of security, especially when it’s sticking to a certain game theme, for example, like ancient Egypt. By doing so, the player knows what to expect in terms of visual clues that drive the game, like Hieroglyphics, pyramids, and temples.
That provides a more predictable experience from the get-go, and it also means that there is going to be a low barrier to entry for playing. There’s not going to be a steep learning curve when playing a nostalgic racing game, for example, because there will be familiar and basic gameplay, which leads to another important element of nostalgia.
Older games are typically more relaxed and less complex. Look around at the latest console and PC releases, a lot of them have highly complex, story-driven gameplay that can take a huge investment of hours to learn the nuances of and complete. Nostalgic games have simpler gameplay, controls, and plot lines (if any).
Another great feature of nostalgic games is that they have a way of providing a sterner gaming challenge. Completing a level often had to come without multiple save points along the way, as it was a one-and-done style of play. Playing on older games was also a much less time-invested enterprise and more about just dipping in for a quick level before getting on with life, because they gave an instant bang of gaming gratification.
Unlocking the past
As it’s the older demographic that typically leans on nostalgia the most, this can be a powerful trigger for unlocking those cherished memories of launching into arcade gaming from days gone by. But the genre isn’t exclusive to that older demographic, of course.
The fact that there is still a large demand for this style of gaming, as seen by the surge of remakes, proves that retro-style gaming is still very relevant. Younger players can get just as much gratification from visiting some of the great old gaming characters that have had an upgrade, and from getting a taste of what classic gaming was all about.
The present surge
It’s hard to keep the past at bay, and modern advancements in technology play a part in this. Better quality hardware and programming can give old classics a new lease of life with serious upgrades in graphics, better game physics, and maybe some NPC characters driven by AI.
While some may turn their nose up at these remastered games, they help to preserve the history of gaming. A lot of great old games just aren’t playable anymore because of the hardware being outdated. But rebooting and releasing them to newer generations, where they are easy to grab through cloud gaming, gives players access to classics without having to try and source old hardware.
Devices
This fascination with nostalgia extends from the actual games to the devices on which they are played. Grabbing an old Sega Game Gear, Nintendo Game Boy, or even a newer handheld emulator that is designed to replicate that nostalgic experience can trigger a sense of joy that is often greatly missing from today’s modern gaming world.
Old-school gaming was a much greater tactile experience than it is today. Yes, there are controllers around PC and console play, and modern handhelds like the Switch. But nothing beats the feel of a chunky, weighty old-style handheld device with a tiny screen, clunky buttons, and limited graphics that gave such endless hours of exciting gameplay.
Modern satisfaction with the old
Older games were easy to grab and go because the controls were intuitive. It was a very different gaming experience from the one that exists today because most were designed with an “easy to learn and hard to master” ethos. This is a great philosophy and approach for gaming, and it’s still extremely relevant. As the modern world races along at a thousand miles an hour, older games offer a quick, exciting burst of action, where it may be an attempt to beat a high score.
It’s that kind of simple game execution that helped get the gaming genre off the ground, instilling that competitive drive in players. Whether that was gathered around a screen in the local arcade for bragging rights or earning a personal conquest on a handheld device. The accomplishment came through a pure focus on gameplay, far removed from the elaborate, story-driven narratives of modern blockbuster AAA titles. It’s a style of gaming that is far from going extinct.