With vintage gaming reaching new heights in popularity each year, it seems fitting to discuss some of the gems found both online and in retro shops. Regardless of the console, as a collector, it is easy to see the simplistic joy found in looking at your video game library. Cartridges especially help to beautify a gaming room, even if systems such as the Nintendo 64 lack end labels on their loose cartridges. Nonetheless, being a collector of older systems is an art form in of itself, with even greater attention to the canonical aspects of organizing software. More a reflection of consumer trends rather than a boisterous meandering, this is a highlight of some of the recent games found on my collector’s journey into the world of classic games.
Aero The Acrobat (Sega Genesis, 1993)
One of the defining platformers of the 16-bit generation, and an absolute gem by its creators Sunsoft, Aero the Acrobat symbolizes everything that era of gaming stood for in the 1990s. A multiplatform title during its initial release, the game follows the titular protagonist, Aero, on his journey from the circus to his final confrontation with the malevolent and rich Edgar Ektor. Each level is displayed in a lush 2D background environments that utilize Sega’s parallax scrolling technology. Sunsoft was still in its infancy at this point and relatively new to the at-home console market, but yet they still managed to deliver an unparalleled platforming adventure that foreshadowed its future releases on the Nintendo 64. This is a special game and not because of the genre tropes it sticks so heavily to but because of its visual style that left players imagining what it is like to accomplish acrobatic
Quest 64Â (Nintendo 64, 1998)
It seems odd to find a complete in box Nintendo RPG for such a dirt cheap price online but that is exactly the case with this much-underrated classic. THQ did not deserve all the flack is received two decades ago for this 3D adventure. Granted its lack of variation, HUD, and singular protagonist did little to enhance the game’s standing amongst its competitors at the time. Simply put this is a game worthy in being in anyone’s software library. Brian, the protagonist of Quest, never achieved the same adulation that other RPG characters were given on the PS1 or Sega Saturn, but that does not matter when looking at the game’s lush production value and landscapes. Quest is the hidden gem on the Nintendo 64, the one title that everyone should have played especially since it existed on a console that starved for high fantasy role-playing experiences. If anything, at least try to find this game complete in the box since the packaging, manual, and cover art is a gem in and of itself.Â
Odin Sphere (
More a visual novel than just a simple action RPG, Odin Sphere symbolizes everything the Playstation 2 could achieve with simple aesthetics and lush visuals. Atlus studios, known for its avant-garde visual style, produced this masterpiece. With five different characters to choose from and six scenarios to play it, Odin Sphere has high-level replayability. Atlus brilliantly revamped the experience point-based system and used elemental
The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim (Nintendo Switch, 2017)
At times buggy, at times laughably spoken, the world of Skyrim is mesmerizing to behold even on Nintendo’s handheld hybrid console. Granted, one can buy this game cheaply on other platforms, but the Nintendo Switch holds something special. There is something aesthetically pleasing in being able to venture into the grandiose world of Skyrim at any time and at any place. TheÂ
Final Fantasy VII: The Dirge of Cerberus (PlayStation 2, 2006)
This game holds a special place in any FF7 fans heart because it is based on one of the series most iconoclastic character Vincent Valentine. A
Leave a Reply