Many will argue that the 90s were the peak of gaming, and they might not be wrong. After all, iconic consoles like the SNES, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and PlayStation 1 were all released in that era. The world also got introduced to some legendary games and characters that became an essential part of people’s lives.
But times have changed, and games have become more advanced. Consoles are now smoother, and you no longer have to blow cartridges. Characters have gone beyond the collation of shabby pixels, and games are becoming more realistic. Despite these technological gaming advancements, it’s hard, almost impossible, to forget those iconic 90s game characters that shaped the gaming industry.
This article will look into six of the most iconic video game characters of the 90s; enjoy! Also, as a gamer, you can enjoy your games while still earning cash from your other hobbies, especially through sports betting. There are hundreds of sports events you can bet on daily to make some extra cash. To get started, you should check out the top betting apps in your location. You can also follow tipsters, betting prediction sites, and develop your interest in diverse sports to increase your chances of winning. If you are a college student, it is a pretty good way to make money and buy rhetorical analysis essay or other academic papers.
- Sonic The Hedgehog
The 90s battle between Sega and Nintendo is one reason why the era is loved so much. At the time, Mario was the number one gaming character in the world, and Sega wasn’t too happy about that. In a bid to launch their own iconic character and also dethrone Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog was born.
Unfortunately for Sega, Sonic couldn’t reach the heights of Mario but still managed to make millions of 90s gamers happy. The character garnered worldwide popularity, and Sonic the Hedgehog was one of the most played games at the time.
- Crash Bandicoot
With the release of PlayStation 1, Sony knew they needed a mascot character like Sega’s Sonic or Nintendo’s Mario. After much deliberation, Crash Bandicoot was unofficially chosen to take the mantle.
It’s safe to say that Sony made the right choice as Crash Bandicoot became an integral part of the gaming world in the 90s. From his odd-looking appearance to his cool dance moves after every win, 90s gamers won’t be forgetting him anytime soon.
- Solid Snake
The 90s were a time when cartoony and rather simplistic games were in high demand. However, Sony felt like these games were not appealing enough to the mature populace and decided to create one that was. 1998’s Metal Gear Solid was the result.
Solid Snake had a realistic look, unlike most of the other famous characters in his era. He was also a really cool character. His iconic grey outfit and black headband, IQ of 180, and fluency in over six languages are some of the reasons why he’s the most loved video game character to date.
Solid Snake also showed the world that games could mean more than cartoony characters and puzzles. He basically inspired most of the action games that were developed in the past decade.
- Lara Croft
Lara Croft’s debut in 1996’s Tomb Raider saw a change in the portrayal of female characters in video games. She’s the most popular female video game protagonist and even has six Guinness World Records to her name.
In the initial game, Lara Croft was recruited by Jacqueline Natla to find a unique artifact called the Scion of Atlantis. Lara uses her knowledge as an archeologist, gun fighting skills, and athleticism to overcome challenges and defeat enemies.
Lara Croft became popular and was one of the first gaming characters to be successfully adapted to a full-length film.
- Link
It’s probably because millions could relate to him, an ordinary boy whose body was chosen to reincarnate the soul of a legendary hero, but whatever the reason might be, there’s no denying that Link is one of the most iconic video game characters in history.
Despite being released more than three decades ago, Link is still the most acclaimed video game character and was behind Mario in the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition list of the best video game characters of all time.
A Shigeru Miyamoto masterpiece, Link was the protagonist in two viral games released in the 90s; The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
- Mario
Not kidding, we could genuinely write Mario and call it a day, no further explanations needed. That’s how iconic the character was. It’s been over two decades since Nintendo released their legendary mascot character, and no one is yet to reach its height; no one is close too, well, maybe Link. He certainly isn’t a Bluechip Aviator.
Although Mario’s first appearance was in the 80s, his popularity peaked in the early 90s, just years after the release of the first Super Mario game. His influence grew beyond the 90s, and he’s still the most popular video game character to date.
The Mario franchise is also the most commercially successful video game franchise in history and has places, events, and even people named after him.
The Bottom Line
The influence the 90s had on the gaming industry can never be understated. The competition between Sega, Nintendo, and PlayStation was really entertaining and led to the development of some of the world’s most iconic games and characters.
We’ve taken a trip back to the past and explored some iconic 90s characters the world will never forget. Our top six are Sonic The Hedgehog, Crash Bandicoot, Solid Snake, Lara Croft, Link, and of course, the great Mario. We hope you enjoyed our list; which character would you have added?
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