Retro Gaming- Unreal Tournament: (1999)

When it comes down to first person shooter games the Unreal Tournament may possibly be one of the most recognizable titles in the history of that genre.  Before we had the Halo series for Xbox there was the Unreal Tournament which was developed by Epic Games & Digital Extremes.  In the late 90’s the original Unreal Tournament was released for Microsoft Windows in 1999 along  being available for consoles such as the PlayStation 2 and Dreamcast during the early 00’s.  The graphics for the Unreal Tournament at the time was great and seemed like it was ahead of its time considering the fact that it had utilized the original Unreal Engine developed in 1998.  The Unreal Tournament was a game that many people may have  preferred for Microsoft Windows over the console versions since it provided exclusive features such as level editing feature.  Along with being a pretty cool 3D first person shooter title the Unreal Tournament had an interesting plot that took place around the 24th century.

The formation of a new world government during the war between the humans and Skaarjj had seemed fascinating but at the same time frightening.    Despite, how scary the plot may have seemed the Unreal Tournament had provided people with a series of gameplay options including Death Match, Last Man Standing, Assault, and Dominion.  The original Unreal Tournament had included a variety of game modes that would keep players busy for many hours, months or even years until Unreal II: The Awakening was released between 2003-2004.   When it comes down to first person shooter games the Unreal series was one among many that was popular with teens and young adults during the 00’s.  Even though, the very first Unreal Tournament game was pretty good the series had only improved as time progressed.  In terms of which Unreal game is the best in the entire series is debatable but some would probably consider the second installment to be in that category.

Classic Gaming- Mortal Kombat III: (1995)

When it comes down to the first three 16-bit Mortal Kombat games within the series many people would argue that the third installment was probably the best in terms of gameplay.  Mortal Kombat III was developed by Midway Games and released during the mid 90’s following the popularity and success of Mortal Kombat II in 1993.  Not only did Mortal Kombat III have improved gaming mechanics from it predecessor but it also had exciting new stages and characters which made the game itself more enjoyable.  Mortal Kombat III had included new characters such as: Striker, Cyrax, Sector, Kabal, Sheeva and  boss character named Motaro.  Along with the addition of new character Mortal Kombat III also so the return of some of the others from previous games such as Liu Kang, Shang Tsung, Kung Lao, Sonya and boss character Shao Khan.  Not only is the story for this game slightly darker than Mortal Kombat II but it also seems more violent as well.  In Mortal Kombat III the Earthrealm was in more danger than before considering the fact that Shao Khan was trying to merge it with the Outworld following the resurrection of Sindel.

Along with the addition of new characters and a more interesting storyline Mortal Kombat III had also introduced some fascinating concepts to the series such as animalities and brutalities following the end of each battle.  Along with those two new features players can still perform fatalities, babalities along friendships similar to that of Mortal Kombat II which it was pretty cool since it gave them more options on how to destroy their opponents.  The combo system in Mortal Kombat III was one of the many aspects in the game  that really stood out since it was fast paced and required a decent amount of skills to pull some of them off.  The pit fatalities in MK III such as the Tower and the Subway stage were also creative along with being exciting places to battle at.   Without a doubt Mortal Kombat III was and still is an arcade classic that some people would argue was one of the best 16-bit fighting games of the 90’s.

Classic Gaming- The Need For Speed Road & Track: (1994)

Sometimes its hard to believe that the very first Need For Speed game was released over 20 years ago on game consoles such as 3DO, PlayStation and Sega Saturn in the early 90’s. When The Need For Speed Road & Track was first released in 1994 many people were blown away by the visual presentation of the game especially for game systems such as the Sony PlayStation. Need For Speed Road & Track was not only a cool 3D racing game that was developed by Pioneer Productions and EA Canada but it was also published by Electronic Arts and was one of the most popular racing titles of the 90’s prior to the release of Gran Turismo in 1997. The original Need For Speed had an epic intro for the PS1 that screamed 90’s along getting players hyped up to play the game itself. Need For Speed Road & Track features both a single and a multiplayer mode which provides players with gameplay options such as: Time Trial, Head to Head, Single Race and Tournament Mode which were all very interesting.

Even though, players were not provided with too many options to choose from the selection menu allowed players to select cars that range from around $60,000 to over $200,00 in price such as the Lamborghini Diablo VT, Corvette ZR-1, Porsche 911 Carrera and the Ferrari 512TR which was one of the most expensive vehicles in the game. Along with having a pretty decent selection of vehicles players had the option to race on some nice race tracks including Rusty Springs, Costal, Alphine and the City stage.While the PS1 version of Need For Speed Road & Track arguably has better gameplay than the 3DO version the loading times can sometimes be unbearable but worth the wait. As cool as the first Need For Speed game was for the PS1 many people enjoyed the following two sequels probably more than the original. At this point it would be safe to say that as time progressed the Need For Speed series was gradually improving with age in more ways than one throughout the 90’s and the 00’s.

Retro Games- Mortal Kombat II: (1993)

When it comes down to classic fighting games from the 90’s how can anyone forget about how cool Mortal Kombat II was during its arcade release in 1993. While the arcade version of Mortal Kombat II was produced by Midway Games a majority of the home ports were developed Acclaim Entertainment for consoles such as the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Sega Saturn and a few others. Out of the first three Mortal Kombat games in the 16 bit series the second one is arguably the best when it comes down to visual presentation. Not only were the visuals for Mortal Kombat II great but the game itself included an interesting storyline along with new characters as well. Mortal Kombat II introduces both Shao Kahn & Motaro as the main villains of the game following the aftermath of Shang Tsung’s defeat in MK I. Not only does Shao Kahn restore Shang Tsung’s youth but he also holds a tournament in the Outerworld. Not only does this game include returning characters such as Liu-Kang, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Johnny Cage, Reptile, Shang Tsung and Raiden it also introduces new ones like Kitana, Mileena, Baraka, Jax and Kung Lao.

Along with the addition of new characters Mortal Kombat II also included some secret battles in arcade mode with the likes of Jade, Smoke and Noob Saibot who where almost as difficult as Shao Khan himself. While having new characters and stages were great features to the second installment of the Mortal Kombat series people were also interested by the fact that characters had more than one fatality. Also, the addition of babilities and friendships made the gameplay for Mortal Kombat II more interesting because it shows the lighter and humorous side of game itself. While some of the babilities, fatalities and friendships in this game were tough to pull off playing Mortal Kombat II in arcade centers or one any game console was a unforgettable experience to many people. When it comes down to classic fighting games Mortal Kombat II is without a doubt one of the greatest arcade games of all time and arguably the best out of the first three games in the trilogy.

Classic Gaming- Pokemon Stadium: (1999)

When it comes down to the gaming world the mid to late 90’s was an exciting time period for the industry itself.  There were various game consoles like the Sony PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and the Sega Dreamcast that produced some innovative titles that many people were impressed by.  When it comes down to 3D gameplay and graphics one of the many games that was impressive for the Nintendo 64 was Pokemon Stadium which was released in 1998.  Even though, the game itself did not have a storyline it was interesting because allowed players to download their own Pokemon using the N64 Transfer Pak.  With the utilization of the N64 Transfer Pak players were allowed to download creatures from Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow into Pokemon Stadium in order to battle a series of trainers at the stadium.  When the game was first released for the Nintendo 64 many people were excited about it during the time since Pokemon was very popular during the 90’s and the early 00’s.

While Pokemon Stadium provided  a platform for players utilize their respective Pokemon for battle some people would probably argue that the game itself could have been much better if an actual storyline was included.   Along with the inclusion of numerous battles in the game players had the opportunity to win different prizes such as the Pika, Petit, Poke and Prime Cup in stadium mode.  Even though, playing Pokemon Stadium alone is fun the game also offers an exciting multiplayer mode in which people can challenge their friends if they also had an N64 Transfer Pak .While some people absolutely loved Pokemon Stadium others probably did not think that it was such a big deal.  Despite, what most people thought about the game itself Pokemon Stadium had managed to sell over five million copies since it was first released in Japan in 1999 along with being made available in America and Europe in 2000.  Pokemon Stadium was not only one of the most popular games for the Nintendo 64 but it was also special since the entire 3D series started with this game.

Retro Games- Crazy Taxi: (1999)

When it comes down to driving games one of the most memorable titles from the 90’s that comes to mind was Crazy Taxi which was released in arcade centers around the world in 1999 and for the Sega Dreamcast in 2000.  When Crazy Taxi was first released many people were impressed by the concept of the game itself since it provided players with somewhat of a feel on what it was like to be a taxi driver.  When this game was released in the late 90’s it was probably one of the most popular racing games that anyone would see in arcade centers at the time.  Crazy Taxi was so much fun to play because it game players the ability to travel around many different areas to pick up and drop off other people within specific time limit.  As fun as Crazy Taxi seemed the game was little more difficult than it actually looked.

While picking up other people and driving them to their destination the only help that players will generally get are arrows that would stare them in the right direction. Crazy Taxi did not give players a road map that would help players get to their destination before starting with their next person.   As cool as the arcade version of Crazy Taxi was many people liked the Sega Dreamcast port of this game because it played liked the original and offered more gameplay options.  The Dreamcast version allowed player to work for 3, 5 or ten minutes along with the option of playing under arcade rules.  Not only did Crazy Taxi feature great gameplay but it also had amazing graphics that looked better than anything that one would see on the Sony PlayStation or Nintendo 64.  Crazy Taxi is without a doubt is a true driving classic developed by Hitmaker that is cherished by some people until this day.

Retro Games- Super Castlevania IV: (1991)

When it comes down to the gaming of the 80’s and the 90’s who can possibly forget about the Castlevania series.  There have have been many memorable Castlevania titles that have been released on various consoles including the NES, SNES, Sega Genesis and even the original PlayStation game system.  While many people have their own opinions on which one out of all of them was the best Super Castlevania IV was definitely a popular choice for the SNES back in the 90’s.  When Super Castlevania IV was released in the early 90’s for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System the game had looked impressive from a visual standpoint.  In terms of graphics Super Castlevania IV was arguably one of the best games within its series during the 16-bit era.  In this game people got to play as Simon Belmont who was responsible for stopping Dracula following his resurrection.

While the plot may have appeared to be generic the gameplay for Super Castlevania IV looked impressive along with various other aspects of the game including its level design.  While the graphics for each stage were nice and detailed others were simply mind blowing mainly due to the inclusion of Mode 7 which was popular in certain SNES titles such as F-Zero, Chrono Trigger and Star Fox. Along with the inclusion of mode 7 some would argue that Super Castlevania IV had a decent soundtrack.  While the soundtracks in Super Castlevania IV were decent its quite debatable on which game had the best between this one  Dracula X,  and Symphony of the Night.  When it comes down to 2D plaftorm games of the 16 bit era Super Castlevania IV was probably one of the most innovative titles that one will ever play.  Konami has developed many great classics back in the 90’s and when it comes down to 16 bit titles Super Castlevania IV was certainly one of the most memorable games they had developed for the SNES.

Classic Gaming- Mortal Kombat: (1992)

When it comes down to memorable fighting games of the 90’s it almost impossible for anyone to forget about the original Mortal Kombat game that was released during the early part of that decade.   When the original Mortal Kombat game received it arcade release in 1992 many people were both impressed and shocked by the level of violence included in the game.  While games like the Street Fighter II series were popular throughout most of the 90’s the Mortal Kombat series in many ways rivaled it.  While the Street Fighter II series had great gameplay, character designs and cool mini games Mortal Kombat had also included those same elements.   One of the key elements that Mortal Kombat had that made it stand out from the Street Fighter series was the use of fatalities after players win using their respective character.  Not only was Mortal Kombat one a groundbreaking fighting game but it also introduced some of the most legendary characters in the gaming world today such as Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Johnny Cage, Kano, Raiden and Sonya Blade.

Mortal Kombat one also features two boss characters known as Goro and Shang Tsung along with a hidden character named Reptile.  Along with having cool characters the plot for Mortal Kombat was also interesting since it involved a deadly fighting tournament in the Earthrealm which Shang Tsung was seeking to control for centuries. Even though, Shang Tsung is the final boss in this game players have to complete an entire arcade ladder full of fighters to get to him.  The arcade ladder in Mortal Kombat may appear easy to some people towards the beginning but slowly becomes more difficult as players reach the endurance battles before battling Goro and Shang Tsung.   Playing the original Mortal Kombat games in arcade centers was fun depending on how many quarters people had on them.  While the home console versions for Mortal Kombat was also exciting for many people opinions may vary on whether Sega Genesis or Super Nintendo had a superior port in comparison to each other.  Even though, the Sega Genesis version of Mortal Kombat allowed players to perform fatalities some would argue that the SNES version had better graphics.  Despite, which version of the game people have played a majority of them can agree that the original Mortal Kombat game was definitely one of the most revolutionary fighting games to have ever been released in general.

Classic Gaming- Zombie Ate My Neighbors: (1993)

When it comes down to classic games during the 16 bit era for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System there are various titles that instantly come to mind.  Zombie Ate My Neighbors was one of the few titles for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System that many people who owned the console would consider a classic.  Even though, the plot for this title was simplistic Zombie Ate My Neighbors was still a very exciting game.  The main characters include two teenagers named Zeke and Julie who are on a mission to stop Dr. Tounge who is responsible for creating all of the monsters that players must destroy throughout the game. While Zombie Ate My Neighbors can be a very fun game its also one of the most difficult run and gun titles to have ever been released during the 16 bit era.  Along with having over forty different levels the game itself included various types of monsters including werewolves, zombies and aliens. While playing Zombie Ate My Neighbors with a friend in co-op mode is helpful in trying to complete the game many people may experience a lot of difficultly getting halfway through it.

Back in the day many  NES & Super NES games were notoriously hard complete due to the amount of difficulty they  presented.  While Zombie Ate My Neighbors was considered to be challenging many people will argue that the game itself was simply impossible to beat especially if one played by themselves  Some would argue that there were too many stages in the game and that making it to level ten would be considered a great accomplishment.   The password feature in Zombie Ate My Neighbors was very helpful because it allowed players to continue making progress where they left off after losing.  If this game did not have a password feature it would be simply impossible to complete while discouraging many players from even making an attempt to finish the whole thing.  Even though, Zombie Ate My Neighbors was also released for the Sega Genesis the SNES version is arguably more superior in terms of graphics which was one of the many aspects that made it very appealing during the early 90’s.  When it comes down to run and gun games Zombie Ate My Neighbors is considered to be a classic that many would agree still holds up to this day in terms of replay value.

Retro Gaming- Shining The Holy Ark: (1996)

When it comes down to RPG titles of the 90’s the Shining Force series was really popular during that time period. As cool as Shining The Holy Ark was back in the mid 90’s for the Sega Saturn some might argue that the game itself did not get the type of recognition that it deserved. One of the cool things about Shining The Holy Ark was the fact that it looked like a high quality Sony PlayStation game. The gameplay and graphics for Shining The Holy Ark looked great for its time and had also included a generic but interesting plot that was included twists as players progressed throughout the game. The main characters of the game included mercenaries such as Arthur, Forte and Melody who are charged with the task of retrieving a rouge ninja named Rodi. Unlike some of the preceding Shining Force titles for the Sega Genesis right before “The Holy Ark” this game reverts back to the dungeon crawler RPG format that was utilized in Shining in the Darkness which was released in 1991.

Along with being an exciting dungeon crawler RPG there are various features about Shining The Holy Ark that are interesting including the first person gameplay along with the overworld map feature which looked very impressive. Shining The Holy Ark was one of those games that could be considered a hidden gem for the Sega Saturn. When it comes down to RPG titles Camelot Software Planning has produced some pretty cool games such as Golden Sun series which was featured mainly on Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Without a doubt the Shining Force series is considered to be legendary on the older Sega consoles of the 90’s while “The Holy Ark” is arguably considered to be one of best games for the Sega Saturn. As good as Shining The Holy Ark was during its time some people would argue that it deserved some type of re-release or HD Remake. Even though, many gamers of today’s generation probably have no idea on what the Shining series is about old school players who were into gaming back in the 90’s would probably enjoy a possible re-release of this 3D classic by Camelot Software Planning.