Bored of games? Play a PWNage Retro Game Today!

Published 1.12.2006 by Dexter | Spread the Chafe

Bored of games? I am. But somehow retro games still PWN in the world of videogaming...

My first console was a Sega Megadrive, or Genesis as it's known in the US of A. The Megadrive was home to classics that I still play to this day. Sonic, Phantasy Star, Shinobi, and who could forget the superb yet super-frustrating Flashback? While I had chance to think today, I came up with a little theory. But before the theory, I'm going to point out that Walt Disney had three fantastic games on the Megadrive. Disney and good game isn't something that normally rubs in the same sentance. What are these games? And what's this little theory?

Quackshot

Quackshot was more than a game. It still is more than most games out there now. You were given three destinations on your little map where Donald could visit, and you had to complete and keep flying from these destinations until you solved puzzles and unlocked new areas to fly to. It was a side scrolling puzzle adventure with a superb sound track and great visuals at the time. While Quackshot might be the most underrated game in this list of three, never overlook it as just a 'platforming' title.

Castle of Illusion

Mickey Mouse was a star back in the day. In this day, Mickey spends his time with twelve-year-old children in Disney Land, but rewind ten years and Mickey was the star of one of the most renowned platforming Megadrive titles ever. In Castle of Illusion you went through gruelling levels, that often were frustrating, but the luring story and the cute yet heroic mouse really made this game stand out from the crowd. Today you might have to save a generic blonde in a game, but in Castle of Illusion you had to save Minnie Mouse. Tell me, how many times do you get to save Minnie Mouse in a lifetime? Exactly.

Aladdin

Aladdin is THE game. If you ever wanted a decent movie adaptation with great gameplay to boot (a rare luxury only Riddick has treated us to recently) then Disney's Aladdin for the Megadrive was the game to get. While this game is the one you're probably the most familiar with on this list of three, I would like to take time to praise the sound track in this game. Catchy Aladdin themed tunes were used to compliment the loose sword fights, and tight platforming jumps. What a game. If you have a GBA you should get the port of this title for a couple of quid on eBay, or better still, get the original if you can find it.

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But you have to ask yourself in the end. Why were these games so good back in the time, and why do they still appeal? Well - back in those days there were no such thing as gaming competition. You didn't really see Sega compete with Nintendo - they were both happy to have a share of the gaming industry. This meant that more gameplay risks could be taken, and as a result, we have games like Castle of Illusion and Quackshot today. Nowadays though, we're just getting FPS after MMORPG after Sports Sim after FPS. Just to please the masses. So if you're bored of games, pick up a Megadrive, and play a dying breed. Play a unique game today, for what I'd like to call a brighter tomorrow.