Consoles and games may now be more powerful than ever, and the graphics have never been better. However, for some, we just can’t escape our childhood and the games that we grew up playing. These titles stay with us forever, and given a chance, we would jump at the opportunity to play them again.
With retro game-themed bars around the United Kingdom now open, such as NQ64 in Birmingham now allowing this experience, they have proven more popular than ever. But, which games are we obsessed with despite the fact that some of them were released over 20 years ago.
Crash Bandicoot
Back in the day, everybody seemed to have a PlayStation, and one of the titles that was a must for all fans was Crash Bandicoot. For many that are approaching their 30s, they grew up playing the Naughty Boy title, and have stayed loyal to Crash throughout the career of games that he has appeared on. However, the love affair with the character for most began in 1996 when ‘Crash Bandicoot’ was released on the PlayStation.
Crash’s aim in the game was simple, to save his girlfriend from the evil Dr. Neo Cortex. Fans quickly adored the game, and it sold over six million units, which made it one of the best-selling games on the PlayStation. Its success also led to the re-mastered version that was released in 2017 on the PlayStation 4 titled ‘Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy’.
Super Mario Kart
Mario has stood the test of time, and remains one of the integral characters in games to this day. In many of the arcades that you can find around the world, Mario titles will be prominent. However, it was the release of Super Mario Kart in 1993 that took his popularity to a different level. The title, which was released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, went on to become the fourth best-selling game of all time on the platform.
It sold nearly nine million copies around the world, and has been re-released on a number of different occasions. The game was first made available on the Wii in 2009. One of the main reasons why the game was so beloved was how simple it was to understand. Players would control one of eight Mario series characters and compete in races, either against the computer in cup races or against yourself in time trials.
Pokemon Red/Blue
We are huge fans of Pokemon, and are already counting down the days until the releases of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. However, for many fans, the obsession with Pokemon games started with the releases of Red and Blue in 1996. The titles focused on the original story, with characters starting in Pallet Town selecting from the three starter Pokemon of Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle.
Players would travel throughout the Kanto region with the ambition of being a Pokemon Master, challenging the eight gym leaders, before taking the fight to the Elite Four. Trainers would also attempt to complete the Pokedex, which would mean catching all 151 Pokemon in the game. It was a first stepping stone for fans into the franchise, as over 31 million copies were sold around the world
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