Last night I whipped out the SNES and popped a grey cartridge into the grey machine. I had a friend over and it had just passed 8PM. He had unbelievably never played Super Mario World before. He grew up with Sonic and Shining Force, shying away from the Italian plumber.
So off we embarked on what was for me a huge nostalgic trip. What amazed me was my acute knowledge of every single nook and cranny of the game. It's been years since I played it but boy I've not forgotten. My friend was taken aback by the relative difficulty for a short period before pronoucing that "they don't make games like they used to!". And this is my problem with games of today. Generally speaking of course. I used to be able to sit for hours, nay days on end in awe at the quaint 2-dimensional displays my older console would produce on my tiny portable television.
My friend and I switched off the grey box at 6.30AM - all 96 levels conquered and a feeling of great satisfaction. Not since Mario 64 have I played for that length of time completely absorbed in a game.
I'm not trying to spark up a debate on whether there really was a "golden age of videogaming". Actually, I'm more interested in hearing about other peoples' "gaming marathons". But one thing I have noted while playing is that a classic game is one that can stand the test of time and still play better than virtually all of the current generation.
Tonight I'm planning on plugging in Super Metroid. Sleep depravity no doubt will continue. I'm just hoping that cramp in my left hand and the blister on my right thumb isn't so bad later. Oh happy days!
So off we embarked on what was for me a huge nostalgic trip. What amazed me was my acute knowledge of every single nook and cranny of the game. It's been years since I played it but boy I've not forgotten. My friend was taken aback by the relative difficulty for a short period before pronoucing that "they don't make games like they used to!". And this is my problem with games of today. Generally speaking of course. I used to be able to sit for hours, nay days on end in awe at the quaint 2-dimensional displays my older console would produce on my tiny portable television.
My friend and I switched off the grey box at 6.30AM - all 96 levels conquered and a feeling of great satisfaction. Not since Mario 64 have I played for that length of time completely absorbed in a game.
I'm not trying to spark up a debate on whether there really was a "golden age of videogaming". Actually, I'm more interested in hearing about other peoples' "gaming marathons". But one thing I have noted while playing is that a classic game is one that can stand the test of time and still play better than virtually all of the current generation.
Tonight I'm planning on plugging in Super Metroid. Sleep depravity no doubt will continue. I'm just hoping that cramp in my left hand and the blister on my right thumb isn't so bad later. Oh happy days!
added bonus no work either 
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