90s games were more advanced than 80s by a lot but still immediately competitive, no long story to get into, quick play, simple menu, no config, just straight into the game, same settings for everyone and 100% ability comparison. The high score thing grew into profiles with badges now and no one cares anymore.
The creativity put into the games made them a cult too, I mean we are talking about a 1995 game in 2021. I think it is unique to its time, games like these define that 90s futuristic grunge subculture that lingered to show up in The Matrix although a bit modernized.
What do the 2010s and 2020s have in regards of this unique and define culture characteristics? Loot boxes? We don’t have as much fun anymore. Maybe it’s the decline of arcades? The closest I can feel to those 90s gaming tournaments or high score races is playing Mario kart or smash, everything else feels like it takes 30min just to get started. Lobbys, learning rules of the game, loading screens, intros, Blehg just put me in a high intensity game right away and let me blow up some stuff as I race a made up ship!
That'd be the fun.
Buy a Nintendo Switch.
"Multiplayer" at the time really meant split screen with friends. It was assumed that a good chunk of time would be spent playing the game solo. So they couldn't slack on that part of the game.
Now it's all multiplayer-first, and instead of paying a one-time fee for the game, warts and all, you're nickel and dimed endlessly for "season passes", "custom skins" and other eye-rolling 'bonus' content.
> The creativity put into the games made them a cult too, I mean we are talking about a 1995 game in 2021. I think it is unique to its time, games like these define that 90s futuristic grunge subculture that lingered to show up in The Matrix although a bit modernized.
We're in a different era, different technology and culture conditions, etc. agreed—however I'll say that there are games which hit on these points, they're just not going to be in the same sentence as Mario Kart or Smash
e.g. Cruelty Squad [1], released this year: experimental art game, excellent mechanics—behind somewhat intentionally deceiving (postinternet?) aesthetics—maybe best described as quake-hitman-immersive-sim, building cult fanbase, suprisingly high reviews from mainstream for what it is [2][3]. (goty for me so far, actually)
[1] https://store.steampowered.com/app/1388770/Cruelty_Squad/
[2] https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22596014/cruelty-squad-immer...
[3] https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/cruelty-squad-revie...
Thanks for sharing!
Hollywood, amirite?
Not to mention, it too had a pretty amazing soundtrack..
Includes lots of footage not seen in the movie.