Video games have come a long way since their genesis in the late 70's and early 80's. In the year 2017 we have three different versions of the fourth PlayStation, the third Xbox, which confusingly sounds like it's the first one, several different virtual reality headsets, and a Nintendo handheld that can also easily connect to your TV screen.
For those overwhelmed by all this new technology and different choices, there are still new games that will help make them feel as if they never left the simpler times they remember.
Here are 8 recently released games for any fan of 80's and 90's nostalgia.
The Disney Afternoon Collection
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
This highly anticipated collection contains five games from the NES era based on different cartoons that aired on the Disney Afternoon programming block on the Disney channel in the late 80's and early 90's.
The games in the collection are: Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers, Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers 2, DarkWing Duck, DuckTales, DuckTales 2, and TaleSpin. Out of these five games, Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers 2 and DuckTales 2 are the most difficult to find the original NES cartridges of.
The collection also features a rewind mode so players can undo past mistakes, time-attack and boss rush modes, as well as concept art to look and music to listen to from each game.
The Disney Afternoon Collection is available for download on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Saban's Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: Mega Battle
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
This nostalgic game released a few months before the new movie, which is rather odd timing. But nonetheless, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Mega Battle is a beat 'em up based on the original series, and similar in playstyle to the original Power Rangers games, which were on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis.
In Mega Battle, you can play as the original six rangers, and you have the option to download three replacement rangers as DLC. The game is a pretty standard beat 'em up, but it doesn't do anything new or interesting. The graphics also make the game look like it would be something you'd play on your web browser, rather than a game you would play on a modern console.
Despite its low-res graphical style and subpar gameplay, Saban's Mighty Morphin's Power Rangers Mega Battle is still a game where you can have a lot of fun playing co-op with your friends.
The game is available for download on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Transformers: Forged to Fight
Platforms: Android & iOS
Transformers: Forged to Fight is a free-to-play mobile fighting game by Kablam featuring both the original G1 Transformers and Transformers from the live action movies, as well as other Transformers from the entire Transformers universe.
Transformers: Forged to Fight also has some light RPG mechanics. In this giant robot fighting mobile game you can: Fight against other players using special attacks and ranged blasting, while demolishing destructible terrain in large three-dimensional arenas; play with your friends and battle in global events; set a group of Transformers to defend your base from other players; and deploy teams to obtain loot.
Transformers: Forged to Fight is a surprisingly great fighting game for any fan of the Transformers Franchise. The game is available on Google Play and the App Store.
Cosmic Star Heroine
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
Cosmic Star Heroine is an indie RPG by Zeboyd games and is heavily inspired by beloved RPGs of the past, such as Chrono Trigger and Phantasy Star.
In Cosmic Star Heroine, you play as Alyssa L'Salle, an agent of the Agency of Peace & Intelligence on the Planet Araenu, who goes rogue after uncovering a horrible conspiracy. 2D visual style straight from the height of gaming's 16-bit era! Animated cutscenes reminiscent of the Sega CD & Turbo Duo era!
Cosmic Star Heroine features the ability for players to save anywhere, no separate battle or overworld screens, a turn-based combat system that focuses on flow & strategy and multi-character combo techniques.
Cosmic Star Heroine is surely an enjoyable experience for any fan of RPGs from the 16 bit era.
The game is available to download on PC, PlayStation 4, or PlayStation Vita.
Yooka-Laylee
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
This spiritual successor to the beloved Nintendo 64 game, Banjo-Kazooie, may not have the best reviews, but is a great purchase for fans who would like to feel like they've gone back to a simpler time.
Yooka-Laylee may not do anything new or interesting to improve the gameplay of its predecessors, but it provides a great amount of nostalgia for gamers who prefer older games.
Yooka-Laylee was also part of a short lived yet interesting controversy with a popular YouTube personality, which you can read more about here.
Yooka-Laylee is available for download on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and will be Nintendo Switch in the near future. Yooka-Laylee also has physical copies available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Snake Pass
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Snake Pass, is a recently released platformer developed by Sumo Digital.
Like Yooka-Laylee, was also inspired by Nintendo 64 era platformers, although whereas Yooka-Laylee sticks to the formula created by its predecessors, Snake Pass has a unique twist which helps make it somewhat more interesting.
You can read more about the comparisons between Yooka-Laylee and Snake Pass here.
Snake Pass is available for download on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a remake of the 1989 Sega Master System game, Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap.
In the game you play a Hu-Man, a character who has been cursed into being a half-human and half-lizard monster by the Meka-Dragon, on his journey to find the Salamander Cross so he can remove his curse.
You can also play as Hu-Girl, Hu-Man's new co-star, Lizard-Man, Mouse-Man, Piranha-Man, Lion-Man, and Hawk-Man, who each have their own unique special abilities.
With amazing hand-drawn graphics, a re-orchestrated soundtrack, and the ability to switch from modern graphics and sound to 8-bit graphics/audio whenever you want, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap provides an enjoyable experience for both players who grew up in the 1980's and newer players today.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is available for download on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The game is also planned for release on PC in June 2017.
PaRappa The Rapper Remastered
Platforms: PlayStation 4
One of the first modern rhythm games is back, and features updated HD graphics and sound.
PaRappa The Rapper is an iconic game which is commonly credited for starting the modern rhythm game genre. In the game, you play as amateur rapping dog, Parappa, as he tries to impress the girl he likes and learns to believe in himself.
PaRappa The Rapper Remastered is a great musical experience with a catchy soundtrack--although arguably not as good as the soundtrack of the sequel-- and can provide fun for any fan of late 90's PlayStation Games.
PaRappa The Rapper Remastered is available for download on PlayStation 4. The sequel to the original game, PaRappa The Rapper 2, is available for download in the PS2 for PS4 section.
The Past Fondly Remembered
Although all of the games on this list released just this year, their inspirations and/or source material shows how much players and creators appreciate the nostalgia the past has provided.
With more remasters, new games based off of older properties, and spiritual successors to games of the past still to be announced and released, the nostalgic past won't be forgotten any time soon.
Published: Apr 28, 2017 01:29 pm