The Video Game Critic

I find it kind of annoying how unlike other media like music and movies, older games are regarded with such derision. With the introduction of the newly repackaged NES, an excitement has been dismissed as pure nostalgia. Sure, that's a major factor, but the games themselves are timeless and excellent. It's as if the media judges games solely on their graphics. And the sad part is - it's not just the media. I see the industry taking the same attitude!

Okay I get it - most members of the media don't even have a decent grasp of modern games much less game released 30 years ago. But you don't hear them write off old music or movies because they are old. In fact, these are usually regarded with a certain reverence lacking from classic game coverage.

I'm hoping interest in the new NES will help the industry wake up. These old games should be celebrated. There's something to be said for 2D graphics and simple gameplay. I think the people who frequent this site have known this for years.

Modern gaming gets a lot of derision too. The hardcore retro gamers never have a good thing to say about modern games. And retro games get blasted by many younger gamers who didn't grow up with the classics and by graphics whores. Now, I'm more of a retro gamer myself, but I recognize that a good game is a good game, regardless of age. Perhaps gamers in general should judge a game on its actual merits and flaws, not "old games suck" or "new games suck."

Gaming and Tech media don't really have quality filters so, I don't know what you're expecting of them...

Here's the perception a lot of younger gamers have. True story from my 16 y/o son who games all the way back to the nes:

Son: Regarding the current gen, if you want good exclusives get a WiiU.

Friend: The WiiU doesn't have good graphics.

S: If you want good graphics get a pc.

F: Well graphics aren't everything....

Obv for this kid they really are. The game could be terrible, but hey look at the graphics.

The majority of the young put there noses up at great classic games because it's all about GRAPHICS!

I just want fun and it is sad.

I agree with LoganRuckman that a game's quality has nothing to do with the generation it comes from. I've been playing games from nearly all eras since I was a little kid. Graphics don't mean anything if the game is enjoyable to play (Adventure on Atari 2600 comes to mind).

The NES Mini isn't just nostalgia for me--it will be my main gaming console. I currently don't have a console at all because I don't like newer games and don't have the money to collect older games (which have gone up in prices like crazy lately).

I just want a cheap, accessible way to play classic games with my kids for 15-30 minutes at a time.

I lucked out because the Mini compromises over half the games I'd want to play anyway if given the choice. Really, between NES Mini and a 64, I could be set. A SNES Mini would be awesome, as long as it had Super Metroid, Super Mario World, and Yoshis Island.....if it ever happens.

I have several 8-bit systems: I prefer the older games to newer ones. When I see a friend playing a game like Skyrim, Uncharted, etc. the graphics are very impressive - but is the game play itself really any different? Jump from this platform to that one, shoot the moving target, flip the switches in the right order to unlock the door, etc. The actually concepts behind how most games play (there are some exceptions of course) really haven't changed much in 30+ years.

I actually haven't owned an NES for years, and if the Classic gets good reviews I will definitely buy one!

There is something to be said for 2D graphics and simple gameplay. And there is much to be said for immersive experiences found often in many technologically advanced games. Part of the problem, as I think someone else mentioned, is we're comparing the wrong things. There's little point in comparing a classic or traditional video game with so many modern-style games just as there's no real benefit of comparing games from different genres. It's much easier to compare music and film across time as even though styles of music and film making have changed over time the way we interact with them has remained mostly consistent. Whereas the way you interact with something like a Mario platformer versus something like an Elder Scrolls game are vastly different. You're really going into it with different expectations and coming away with a completely different experience... and yet, on some fundamental level they are both technically "video games."

Something like the NES Classic is a wonderful idea so long as people approach it with the right frame of mind. Never is it meant to compete with anything other than traditional or classic gaming experiences. If players young or old, with or without nostalgia try some of these games they may find that, for what they are, hey - these are pretty fun video games (for that style of gaming).

Less related to the topic but something else I really like about this is that it enables gamers to own and play classic games without the physical overhead of traditional collecting, which while fun for a lot of people can be costly and quite involving as it's essentially a hobby unto itself.

One cool thing: old classics have found new life with the speedrunning community. Just check out speed demos archives or the awesome games done quick marathons or twitch and they are everywhere. For example, lots of folks are practice for the Big 20, which is a race to beat 20 classic NES games the fastest. They always throw in some awful games for fun as well (Super Pitfall this year).

I love speedrunning. For example, i beat super Mario 3 so many times, I got bored with. But to watch the runners blaze through it and give their commentary about all the tricks and tactics makes it fun all over.