Video gaming in 90's are one of the best era that is not the only defining the gaming industries, but also defining our childhood nostalgia.
From early to late 90's, there are so many selection of groundbreaking games titles that were well known for pioneering the genres, being a system's best-seller, and gaining more popularity from gaming fanbase are the reason why video games are so successful over the decade.
We had seen so many of video game magazines and TV commercials that catch us attention to get more interested with gaming entertainments with full of exciting big AAA titles to look forward too such as games like Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, Doom, Half-life, Mario Kart 64, and so many of great titles to choose from.
I had such a fond memories of playing these kinds of games as a kid and how much I've love spending time playing with my friends and families when we had PCs and Consoles in our home as I grew up playing on SNES, Genesis/MD, Dreamcast, Gamecube, PCs and so on.
Today, I wanted to make my own top 5 games that defining my gaming nostalgia as a young child. I've played several of games from 90's that I was blown away with the appealing graphics, catchy soundtrack, memorable characters, and innovative gameplay.
So here is my top 5 favourite 90's games of decade.
5 - Doom (both PC and Consoles)
First Person Shooters is one of the genres that was pioneered by previous Id Software's title such as Wolfenstein 3D which was originally released in 1992 for PCs and various console platforms for later release. It was critical and commercial success which had gained several awards and sold over 200,000 copies that helped popularise the genres as being the grand-daddy of FPS.
The success of Wolf 3D had led the Id Software to make another shooter title which is Doom was originally released in 1993 for PC and various console platforms for later release.
The game takes control of space marine known as Doomguy in first-person perspective view, battling against the hordes of demons from the hellish place of Mars.
Doom was heavily regarded as being one of the greatest games ever made that pioneered networked multiplayer gaming, 3D graphics technologies, and support for customised mods (WADs files).
The legacy of Doom had inspired many of similar FPS titles known as Doom Clones.
I remember first time playing it when my brother had bought Windows 95 PC to my home as a kid where I got interested with the home computer. Along with the PC, he had a demo software disk which contains these shareware titles that you get to tryout the demo version, so I've played the first episode of Doom on Win 95 and I was impressed to see how realistic the game been played on home computer.
So my brother had finally went to gaming shop to pick up a full copy of Doom for Win 95 and I am so excited to play the full version of the game along with my cousins.
What I've liked about the Doom is the fast-paced 3D gameplay filled with the hordes of monsters to shoot at, discovering secrets area, obtaining keys to open new areas, and the main goal is to head at the exit room.
I also liked the selection of simplistic weapons such as pistols, shotgun, chaingun, rocket launcher, plasma rifle, and of course the biggest main signature of Doom franchise is big f***ing gun 9000 can wipe the f**k out of the demon with huge ass green plasma.
The levels in each mission is well designed for its speedruns challenge which normally appears on score stats tells you how long can you beat single mission less than the par time which really adds the overall challenge of the game.
The graphics in the game did hold up to today standards regarding the visuals has the neat textures, great use of lighting, and well animated enemy's sprites are still very appealing for FPS titles like this.
The presentation has very dark and gory themes of demonic looking level filled with sinister atmospheres and lot of bloody settings that really fits the tone of the game's personality.
Doom was also known for the original soundtrack by Bobby Prince was inspired by songs from heavy metal bands (such as Metallica and Pantera) making it one of the most memorable video game musics in history.
I got to say Doomguy is one hell of the guy that kicks all the demons asses making it most recognisable video game characters of all time, while it also shares with the memorable hordes of enemies in the game such as Shotgun Guy, Imps, Cacodemon, Hell Knight, Cyberdemon and Spider-Mastermind.
Doom is the game that not just the only made me got into with FPS genres, but it is also being my childhood favourite shooter, so if any of you wanted to be a hardcore and edgy as f**k then GET READY FOR MORE RIP AND TEARRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!
4 - Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (SEGA Genesis/MD)
Ah yes good old Sonic the Hedgehog, a beloved video game mascot had started in 1991 where SEGA developer's Sonic Team had bought the original Sonic the Hedgehog for SEGA Genesis/MD.
It is a main rivalry to Nintendo's mascot Mario during the console wars fallout between Genesis/MD and SNES in the beginning of early 90's.
Sonic the Hedgehog is a critically and commercially success at the release which had sold over 15 million unit worldwide making it system's best-seller that really helps the overall sales of SEGA's 16-bit hardware.
The success of Sonic first game had led SEGA to develop another sequel in year after the original is Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for SEGA Genesis/MD which introduced a sidekick named Miles "Tails" Prower and featuring two-player modes which are also well-received and had same praises as the original making Sonic's series being a all-time popular video game franchises.
The game takes place after the first original game. The blue hedgehog hero named Sonic and his new sidekick Tails in their quest to stop the crazy mad scientist Dr. Robotnik from stealing 7 coloured gems known as chaos emeralds to power his space station.
Back in my old days where I normally go to my cousin's house every weekends with my sibling as I remember seeing my cousin playing a 2D platformer on his SEGA Genesis/MD which had caught my attention to see how colourful the game is and the game is so much different from the game that I've normally played on my SNES such as Super Mario World, but Sonic 2 is actually a much faster game that really focusing on speedy gameplay which was the reason why the game is so much appealing to my view.
I had a chance to play Sonic 2 on my cousin's 16-bit game system which makes it one of my very first Sonic game that I've ever played.
The reason why I loved this game is because I really liked playing several of platformer games with simplistic 2D gameplay and bright colourful graphics, so Sonic 2 has 13 zones to play featuring 3D bonus stage to collect chaos emeralds and two-player couch co-op with your friends.
The main goal is to head at finishing line, while playing as Sonic has his ability to run, spin-dash, and jump as well as jump attack on smaller enemy which I finding it very straightforward to play for 2D platformers.
Each of the zones takes places in different locations such as Emerald Hill Zone, Chemical Plant Zone, Casino Night Zone, Mystic Cave Zone, and there's more of them to play.
Most of the levels in the game are very unique for its gameplay design with bigger 2D levels filled with hazardous objects, Dr. Robotnik's minions, finding different route, discovering secrets, collecting rings, swimming underwater (Yeah we already know Sonic definitely hates water), and plenty of more platforming action including obtaining 7 chaos emeralds through the 3D bonus stage.
I got to say that the battling against Dr. Robotnik is clearly the best part of the game that really adds the fun factor of the game making it the greatest boss character in video game history.
I really liked the variety of level environments on each zones which has great use of background parallax scrolling and 2D stage layouts that made the game look very appealing for 2D platformer title and I also got blown away to see how impressive the 3D bonus stages looked for SEGA's 16-bit system because it really proves that the game did really show off the system powerhouse due to SEGA Genesis/MD ran on 7.67 MHz CPU Speed which is two times more faster as opposed to their rivalry SNES that ran on 3.58 MHz CPU Speed.
Sonic 2 is the game that offers not just the only gameplay and graphics, but also has the replay value that is worth playing the game again.
3 - Super Mario 64 (N64)
Super Mario is one of the Nintendo's biggest landmark of all video game franchise. It was started out in 1985, a two year after the struggles of video game crash that happened in 1983, where Nintendo finds the way of saving the gaming industries is their killer apps for NES which is Super Mario Bros, a 2D Platformer game that becoming universally worldwide phenomenal had sold over more than 40 million copies and also viewed as one of the all-time greatest games in gaming history which led the success of the franchise had spawn numerous of sequels, TV shows, merchandises, and comic book.
In the year 1996, Nintendo took their time to finish their next-gen console such as Nintendo 64 to be ready with the next console wars competitors such as SONY Playstation and SEGA Saturn that had already started two years ago before the release of the N64.
There are one of the game that caught my attention as a kid was Super Mario 64 is a 3D Platformer game which is a part of the launch title for the N64 initial release.
It is one of the first Mario game being played on the 3D perspective, making it a departure of traditional 2D side-scrolling from previous game. It is becoming not just the only N64's highly acclaimed and best-seller title, but also a most influential video games that defines 3D platform experience had inspired several of the developers to create their own 3D platformers title such as Naughty Dog's Crash Bandicoot, Rare's Banjo Kazooie, Insomniac Games's Spyro the Dragon, and SEGA's Sonic Adventures.
I remember at the time in 1997 where my brother had to sell my SEGA Saturn in able to get the Nintendo 64 and the copy of Super Mario 64 from the video game store for my Christmas gift as it got me really excited to play a 3D Mario game on the Nintendo's 3D system. It looks like Mario had to do it all over again by nothing but saving his damsel of distress from the same old villain just like the previous Mario games.
You play as the Mario on 3D perspective where you have a freedom to wander in big open worlds in all directions and discover the level environment as your main goal is to collect all stars in order to access to the new worlds by completing the each objectives in the game which is very new to its 3D platforming genres.
Mario has ability to run, jump, climb, crawl, swim, punch and kick which is pretty standard for 3D platformer where you can able to perform more variety of special moves such as triple jump, long jump, dive attack, back-flip, ground pound, and wall jumping which is very useful for some levels that requires to use these moves to reach a higher up areas, thanks to N64's analog controller making the full use of 3D stick is really shows that it plays so flawlessly for 3D games like this on N64.
What makes the game quite unique for Mario games is collecting all stars which you will need to beat the objectives to obtain them, so there are lot of fun gameplay segments such as battling with bosses, race against koopa, saving baby blue penguin, puzzle solving, reaching higher up castle, and collecting all 8 red coins are the main reason why this is one of my all-time favourite Mario game so far.
Super Mario 64 is a revolutionary 3D platformer game that has aged remarkably well over the years with outstanding gameplay, fantastic graphics design, and has stunning replay values.
2 - The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past (SNES)
Speaking of Nintendo, they are also known for their legendary Action-Adventures series called The Legend of Zelda which started out their first debut of the original game for NES in 1986. It is worldwide success that sold over 6.5 million copies which leading into a major video game franchise. The success of the franchise had spawned numerous of sequels, spin-offs, merchandise, and some others.
As a child back then, I wasn't familiar with the genres like role-playing game which has numerous of the sub-genres such as Action-Adventures, Turn-Based, Strategy, Tactical, and you name it until my siblings had discovered the game in shopping store for SNES such as The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past which is Action-Adventures title being released in 1991 and it is a third installiment of the series had gone back to traditional top-down view since Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link for NES.
The story takes place before the event of the original game, a Hyrule hero named Link was awakened by Princess Zelda in telepathic message said that she was been held captive in the castle dungeon by treacherous wizard named Agahnim who attempting to release his dark master Ganon.
As the story progresses, Link set his quest to save Hyrule, defeat the dark lord, and rescue the descendants of Seven Sages as well as he can travel between the worlds of light and dark places.
You take control of Link in overhead view which allow you to travel and explore the open-world environments.
Link has basic sword attack to damage against the foes, while his shields are used for deflecting the enemy's projectiles such as arrow.
It also introduces some newer elements that improves upon the game such as the spin attack that makes it easier to give sword advantage for combat gameplay, and the bombs and arrow are now separate items can be used without wasting the amount of rupees.
There are numerous of useful items for most of the locations like you have several of equipments that allow you to pick heavy objects, sprinting, swimming on water, and improving your weapon and shields, while these items can be selectable on inventory such as boomerang, bomb, rods, hookshot, lantern, medallion and etc. which you will need these to benefit your main quest.
I really liked the exploration in the game where you can go out wandering to find hidden secrets, buying items from shop, winning prizes, discovering new locations, and talking to villagers to get clues.
Zelda series are very wide-known for most of the dungeons locations which is a maze-like levels filled with the enemies to fight against, the puzzle solving aspects which brings you the challenge of solving the puzzles, and of course the biggest highlight of the game is the epic boss battles such as ball swinging dude, 6 large blue knights, gigantic sandworms, lizard-like creature, huge ass moths, and of course Ganon that brings the overall gaming experience of the whole Zelda franchise.
The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past is clearly a breathtaking Action-Adventure title that brings the whole glory to its SNES libaries and it is one of my favourite game in the series that defines our gaming nostalgia.
1 - Super Metroid (SNES)
A one particular game that created the genres known as the Metroidvania, a sub-genre of action-adventure games are popularised by Metroid and Castlevania series, so that is Metroid for NES released in 1986 which is a game that caught everyone attention.
It received many of praises from critics and fans for its non-linear game style focusing on exploration, search for power-ups, and speedrunning that are later influenced other video games titles.
There are a game that really add my interest for SNES libaries is definitely Super Metroid released in 1994 which are being listed as a biggest masterpiece in video game history had received universally acclaim for its atmosphere, gameplay, music and graphics. It really helps the success of the Metroidvania genres had inspired later games such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Axiom Verge, and Shantae.
It took me while to get into with the game with the particular genre as a kid in 90's because its a totally new experience that I really wanted to play on SNES, but unfortunately I had a problem with the faulty save function on game cartridge which I never able to beat the game till later around in my teenage days where I've managed to fix the game's battery save, so I can able to save the game properly as normal.
After beating the whole game, I was completely satisfied with the game that turns out to be one of the best SNES games I ever played. It really changed my life to see how much I love spending time playing video games as my all-time favourite hobbies.
Super Metroid is a 2D side-scrolling adventures where you take control of heroine named Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who travels to planet Zebes to retrieve an infant Metroid creature who was stolen by the Space Pirate leader named Ridley since the incident that happened in Colony.
You will have basic fire blaster to shoot at the enemy, while the game introduced newer elements to its gameplay such as ability to shoot in two directions using shoulder buttons, running by holding the dash button, and moon walk while holding to charge her blaster which is a slight improvement over the previous game thanks to 6-button SNES controller takes advantage of game's controls.
The upgradable items that really adds the variety of Samus's ability which allows her to use really cool things such as turn into morph ball, speed dashing, high jumps, charging up her blaster, using ice blaster to froze enemy, swing around with grapple beam, and her well know signature moves is screwattack which is great for the levels that requires you to reach higher areas, gain access to tight places, and easier to go across to open areas.
What makes Super Metroid so much fun to play is the use of exploration where you can explore any of the levels to discover hidden secrets, collecting items, gaining power-ups, and hunt down the bosses is the reason it plays so much flawlessly on SNES.
It has best looking locations such as Brinstar, Crateria, Norfair, Maridia, and others are fully well designed maps with dark and mysterious backgrounds which really adds the atmospheric scenery of the game as the graphics has the impressive use of the colours, the animations, and overall design of the environments.
It definitely has the greatest soundtrack of all SNES libaries mixed with the ambient mood of sci-fi orchestrated sounds and realistic sound effect with different personalities that the SNES sound chip can able to handle the use of 8 sounds channels on the hardware.
The boss battle in the game are my favourite part in the game which has the foes like Chozo Statue, Kraid, Botwoon, Draygon, Ridley, and of course the Mother Brain which gives you the confidence to gain your Metroid experiences.
I got to say Samus Aran as the character in the game is regarded as being a recognisable female protagonist in video game history.
Super Metroid is my number 1 favourite games of 90's era that never got me dissapointed because it is clearly being one of the biggest SNES masterpiece that shines my gaming childhood.
Honorable Mentions:
Metal Gear Soild
Resident Evil 2
Goldeneye 64
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Soul Calibur
Super Mario World
Legend of Zelda: Ocrena of time
Quake II
Duke Nukem 3D
Half Life
Final Fantasy VII
Panzer Dragoon 2 Zwei
Nights into Dreams
Starfox 64
Unreal Tournament
Chrono Trigger
Super Street Fighter 2
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
Gran Turismo
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
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