Lately I have been delving into the world of nostalgia. Three specific games I have been playing are Final Fantasy VIII, Super Mario 64, and Chex Quest 1-3. All of theses games I played as a kid, but I never finished any of them. The other commonality between them is that I have warm memories pertaining to each of them. Spending many evenings playing them and enjoying every moment. So I decided to go back through all three with results that were very interesting. All three gave unique results when compared to my memories. This in turn showed me how versatile nostalgia can be when thinking back upon games.
Final Fantasy VIII was the first RPG and FF game I ever sat down and gave it the time of day. I instantly fell in love with the art style and battle system. It was so unique from previous games I had played, (e.g. Wolfenstein, Starcraft, Mario). While it hadn’t been too long since I have played the game, I always looked back upon it with good memories. Playing the game, I have to say it held up to my impressions from the past. It was just as engaging and addictive as I remember it. Unfortunately I’m unable to finish it right since I don’t have all the disc’s available. I can say that I am eager to finish it though.
Super Mario 64 was one of the first console games I owned. While I had a computer and a Gameboy previously and friends who owned the NES, SNES, and Genesis, the N64 was the first console I could call my own. That being said, it holds a lot of sentimental value to me. Tearing into Super Mario 64 was one of the first things I did. Not only did the game take Mario into the third dimension well, but it also provided so many levels and challenges I couldn’t put it down. Now playing through it again I am baffled at how I held the game in such high regards. It did do a lot for the time period and the game is fun while slightly challenging. Sadly though it doesn’t age as well as I thought. While it certainly isn’t among the worst aged games, it’s not among the best.
Back even further is Chex Quest. For those who don’t know, Chex Quest was a cereal box pack-in for Chex. The game was essentially a Doom mod that replaced the characters from the series with flem monsters, healthy breakfasts, and Chex pieces. Strangely enough this provided for one fun game. It was simple, short, but very fun. The game went on to have a cult following that received Chex Quest 2 and the fan made Chex Quest 3. Recently I saw they are all available online for free. So I decided to take a trip down memory road. The result was complete surprise. The game had much more in common with Doom then I originally thought. Tons of secrets, an escalating difficulty curve, and multiple unique weapons. Even more surprising was the fact that at the end you are provided with the story of the game and a lead in to the next one. Needless to say, this game rose above my expectations.
These are just a few examples of the diverse effects of nostalgia. Ranging from impairing your view of the past, to focusing to much on something that really doesn’t matter. this little experience has taught me that whenever I discuss or talk about a game from the past; I should at least play some of the game recently. It gives a much wider range to talk about the game while making sure your not hindering yourself in any way to the experience of the game.
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Tags: Chex Quest, FFVIII, Final Fantasy, Mario, Memories, N64, Nostalgia
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