Fast Links
In an era where millions of people are largely focused on ‘the next big thing’, what happened in the past sometimes gets overlooked. However, nostalgia still plays an important part in retro games, modern society, and particularly when it comes to the entertainment industry.
That point is perfectly highlighted by the number of movies and television shows that are given a reboot to bring them back into public consciousness. It is a similar story in the gaming sector, with many classic games of the past coming back into style and enjoying renewed success. Here are five of our favorites.
Bingo
Once snobbishly dismissed as being purely a pastime for working-class people in the north of the United Kingdom, bingo is on the cusp of becoming a truly mainstream entertainment activity. The creation of the internet helped to spark a resurgence in the game’s popularity and many more people are expected to play online bingo over the coming months.
The social element of bingo has been recreated by operators, allowing players to enjoy a gameplay experience that closely replicates the land-based venues of the past. This retro game is now extremely well placed to appeal to an entirely new demographic and re-establish its status as one of the most popular games around.
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong was one of the most iconic arcade games of the 1980s and subsequently spawned many successful sequels. Inspired by the Super Mario series, Donkey Kong Country was amongst numerous reboots of the game and was probably the best of the bunch.
This retro game has now been added to the Nintendo Switch system, giving players old and new the opportunity to play this true gaming icon. With a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you will once again be able to guide Donkey Kong through jungles, snow-capped mountains, and more in search of missing bananas.
Final Fantasy
If you are a long-standing gaming fan, it is highly likely that you will have played at least one version of Final Fantasy during your life. It is one of the most successful gaming franchises of all-time, but the older versions are undoubtedly the ones that people look back on with the most fondness.
A few of the earliest Final Fantasy games have already been ported across to console or PC, and more are expected to follow in the future. Some of the titles are now over 20 years old, highlighting the enduring appeal that the Final Fantasy series still has with gamers.
Crash Bandicoot 4
First released back in 1996, Crash Bandicoot proved to be one of the most popular platform-style games released on the PlayStation One. Crash became the template for many of the successful platform games that followed, although the genre eventually suffered a decline in popularity.
However, this will be addressed later this year, with Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time set to hit the gaming world. The game will launch on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 2 and has been widely tipped to become as popular as the original incarnation.
Altered Destiny
Ziggurat Interactive has launched a new monthly program to bring back classic video games of the past entitled ‘Retro First Friday’. They kicked things off during August with four titles including the weird and wonderful sci-fi adventure Altered Destiny.
The game received mixed reviews when it was first released, particularly with regards to its level of difficult and strange settings. However, in some respects, it was way ahead of its time and is unquestionably a welcome addition to the retro gaming landscape.