Discussion: what games from before the year 2000 should everyone still play?

Games are an interesting medium in that unlike (for example) literature, the advances of technology have rapidly changed what it’s possible to do in a game. But that doesn’t mean that the newest games are necessarily the best! There are plenty of old games that are still totally worth playing, so we ask you: not including games you just play for nostalgia, what games from before the year 2000 are still worth playing?

Charlie: Crash Bandicoot: Warped. The Crash Bandicoot series holds up remarkably well given its age, probably because the cartoony art style didn’t call for much graphical processing power to begin with. And while sure, it’s not as pretty as a newer platformer like Little Big Planet, Warped is one of the best platforming games of all time thanks to its unique art design, clever gameplay variations, and finely-tuned controls. My brothers and I still play it whenever we’re together, and it’s not really because of the nostalgia. Even 15 years later, Warped is still one of the most fun 3D platformers I’ve ever laid my hands on, and I don’t plan to stop playing anytime soon.

Mary-Anne: Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage!. I don’t know about all that fancy-schmancy Skylanders stuff going on now, but the old-fashioned platforming Spyro was where it’s at! Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage was the second game in the series and had an overhaul when compared to the first. It played better, it looked better, and it had memorable NPCs and well-designed levels. It was a platformer that was tough enough to be challenging, that had worlds designed to evoke the completionist in you, and god damn it it gave me the best boss fight I’ve ever fought. It also had a truckload of content since there were three main bosses to defeat, which is more than I can say for a lot of newer games.

Chris: King’s Quest 6: Heir Today Gone Tomorrow As a kid I loved the point-and-click adventure series King’s Quest. King’s Quest games were known for their puzzles and puns, which I loved, but King’s Quest 6 included a really well put together story that even included multiple endings that changed based on what decisions you made in the game. For a PC game made in 1992, that’s pretty impressive. The visuals may seem a bit dated now, but the puzzles, jokes, and story surely will stand the test of time. If you get the chance, check out King’s Quest 6.

Xairylle: Contra. This is a game I plan on letting my future kids play. Way before the realistic shooting games and action RPGs that we have now, Contra was one of the games what could make you understand what it means to dodge desperately. The story about fighting alien invaders is something you might consider common, but the gameplay is what you’re after. You need to deduce patterns and decide on which kind of ammunition to use as quickly as possible because everything is after you. Contra was and still is challenging not only because of the projectiles, enemies, and obstacles that are all out to get you, but also because you are forced to play the game in different views. I mean, after getting used to nothing but seeing your character in profile, you’re suddenly forced to play from bird’s eye view. It was annoying and frustrating, but also so challenging that I couldn’t stop playing. Oh, and did I mention that the Konami code works for this?