Games have advanced a lot with the aid of technology that have resulted in better-looking games whether that results in high resolution or smooth pixelated indie games, interesting mechanics that expand on old models or create a completely different gaming experience. After seeing the new trend of games players would want to play again for the first time, I look back on some of my nostalgic games that got me started; how they were when I first started playing and what versions are out presently.
Tetris – The Best Block Game Then and Now
The first game that I played was on the Game Boy Advance and I would spend hours clicking away on Tetris. The garbage block game (bet you didn’t know you were dealing with garbage because I certainly didn’t) is a puzzle where you use a variety of different-shaped blocks of garbage to fit into one another until they complete a row. Completed rows will disappear and add points to your score. There were only a few modes on the game ten years back, but one mode would allow for you to choose a level and continuing to do well in the marathon run would only increase the difficulty as you progress. The second mode implemented a bit of challenge by starting off with garbage scattered about the level and the goal was to clear it as quickly as you could while the game would only load in more rows of mismatched spaces to increase the difficulty. Though it was very simplistic in its delivery, it was one of the most fun games I played starting out. I would complete and challenge endless puzzles in various colors that you could achieve by spamming a combination of buttons at the Game Boy Advance starting screen.
Though it is a combination of two popular games, Puyo Puyo Tetris was the first game that blew up in such popularity that reminded me of the Tetris I used to play. The gameplay is utterly ridiculous in its insanity, but you don’t realize how much of a challenge it can be because you’re too busy having fun. Together, with bright vivid colors and an absurd story with unique characters, this game can either be played solo or through co-op to compete against your friends and sabotage your friendships even further. Puyo Puyo Tetris offers a lot more variety in its modes as it is a game that was made recently. You can play each game independently or together in adventure mode, challenge modes or in competition modes, which makes Puyo Puyo Tetris one of the new Tetris games I have obsessed over though there will always be a special place for just the plain stacking of garbage blocks.
Pokémon and Its Many Editions and Facets
Pokémon should be known for its many types of games that is has produced from PokémonRangers to Pokémon Snap and although it may not have been one of the first Pokémon games that were released, I remember vividly running around in Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green since I owned both at the time. My starter of choice was Charmander and I spent way too long in Cerulean City because I didn’t know you had to pass through the house to get around to progressing the story and map. Amongst one of the classics, Pokémonhas run by the same formula for years, each time amping up its graphics and designs one step at a time as if to not completely startle its fanbase.
But in order to garner new gamers, Nintendo has finally breached that through the releases of Pokémon Legends, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Not only have they introduced more open-world mechanics, but they’ve challenged new and old players by having them in the line of fire when it comes to catching and wrangling Pokémon. Pokémonthat have either been reintroduced to new areas with completely different looks and types or brand new Pokémon that are entirely unique to their area. Pokémon and the world alike have grown in diversity to showcase all new ranges of cultures and celebrations to enchant new players. Through their efforts, the games will only become more diverse to expand upon the adventures that captured our hearts from the very beginning.
Final Fantasy VII – The Best of its Peers
Tetris may have been my first game to play, but it all started with Final Fantasy VII, watching my dad play when I was younger that got me into gaming. As a book nerd, it baffled me that a game could hold a story so well while making you invest in a bunch of stylized pixels that run around battling the majority of the time you’re playing. Not only is it an intense sci-fi fantasy game, but it’s turn-based battle mechanics were fun to watch and balanced so well with its music track that helped to set the mood, whether you were resting peacefully in the church, battling out in the wild or encountering a very intimidating long sword and it’s owner.
For the remake, Square Enix are releasing chapters at a time but have revamped the story to better reflect what they would have done differently and advance it for modern times. Now the steampunk style game is even better built and beautifully rendered to reflect a realistic factory setting in a dystopian world. Not too much has changed though in terms of the characters aside from graphics and expanded story details, leaving to the fans the whole new feeling of a brand new game. As the game that started my whole hobby, seeing it get a whole new look while having the story better scripted and extended makes for a nostalgic experience that allows me, and other FFVII fans, to enjoy the game all over again.
Jordan is a student studying Digital and Print Journalism at the University of North Texas. After discovering how much fun gaming journalism can be, she hopes to make a career in it once she graduates. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys playing games such as Genshin Impact, Ace Attorney, and Fire Emblem or watching Murder, She Wrote late at night on weekdays.
