cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/13809164
Ignoring the lack of updates if the game is buggy, games back then were also more focused on quality and make gamers replay the game with unlockable features based on skills, not money. I can’t count the number of times I played Metal Gear Solid games over and over to unlock new features playing the hardest difficulty and with handicap features, and also to find Easter eggs. Speaking of Easter eggs, you’d lose a number of hours exploring every nook and cranny finding them!


This brings me back. I grew up with older brothers, watching them play through games that I didn’t have the skill to complete. I remember my oldest brother playing Donkey Kong Country and slapping nearly every spot on the ground to find hidden bananas/balloons, and exploring to find the hidden games and levels. I learned a lot by sitting back and watching until it was finally my turn to play.
I, myself, never made it to the Special world on Super Mario World, but my brothers did. I can’t be sure if that’s the first place I saw the words “gnarly” and “tubular,” but only because Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were equally as popular in our early 90s household and they definitely used that “surfer” language too. I just remember thinking those words sounded weird and funny, and have a strong mental connection between them and this game.
I don’t really have a point to this comment, just reminiscing…