Funny how things come around. One minute, old video games are gathering dust in a cupboard, and the next, everyone wants another go. Games that kept us glued to chunky TVs and old consoles are back in the picture. Some of them are being released again in their original versions on technology that has developed a lot, while others are being modified to fit modern technology.
Street Fighter is one of the best examples. It managed to achieve great success in wide circulation in both arcade gaming and home consoles.. This one has remained an all time favourite slots game online, too, showing how classic gaming characters can find a new audience well beyond their original format. It is a good reminder that when a game gets under your skin, you don’t necessarily forget it just because the technology moves on.
Pac-Man Still Has a Bite
Pac-Man is another one that refuses to disappear. The little yellow character, the maze, the ghosts and those dots are about as recognisable as gaming gets. First released in 1980, Pac-Man blew up into a worldwide craze and there have been plenty of versions since, including modern releases that keep the original idea but add new levels and features.
Donkey Kong Keeps Climbing
Then there’s Donkey Kong. First appearing in arcades in 1981, the game introduced players to a certain jumping hero who would later become known as Mario. The original challenge was simple enough: climb platforms, dodge barrels and rescue Pauline.
For Nintendo, Donkey Kong is the game that just keeps on giving, with multiple releases since it first hit the arcades in 1981. Funnily enough, nobody expected it to take off, as it was thrown together in a hurry to fill unsold cabinets after the company’s previous release Radar Scope. Graphics have been upgraded, more characters and confusion added, but the core concept remains the same. You just have to time things, dodge obstacles, and try again.
Tetris: Simple, But Never Out of Fashion
Tetris is proof that you don’t need fancy graphics to keep people playing. Those falling blocks have been doing the business since the 1980s, and the basic idea hasn’t needed much fixing. Fit the shapes together, clear the lines and try not to let the screen fill up.
It’s been released on just about every type of gaming device you can think of, from handheld consoles to smartphones. New versions have added multiplayer modes and fresh visual styles, but the original puzzle is still the main attraction.
Retro Reels and Reel Rush
The retro influence isn’t limited to traditional video games. Online slots have picked up plenty of old-school ideas, too, from familiar fruit-machine symbols to graphics that look like they belong on an old Nintendo console.
The retro look has a place alongside more modern designs, and it’s easy to see why developers keep returning to it.
There exists a huge market for mini consoles loaded with retro classics, giving players the opportunity to enjoy the titles from their childhood without travelling back in time to get hold of obsolete pieces of equipment. Some come loaded with dozens of titles, while others focus on one particular console or series. Then there are the collections that bring several classic games together in one package. It’s easy to see the attraction. You get the original gameplay, a dose of nostalgia and something you can pick up for ten minutes or spend an entire evening playing. Sometimes, simple really is best.
Old games aren’t always better than new ones, of course. But the classics have something going for them. They’re familiar and straightforward to pick up whether you’re firing up a rereleased arcade favourite or trying a retro-inspired slot, that old-school look is clearly still in fashion.