The lag is real, but how annoying it is depends on the game.
I know this, though: pulling off a wall jump on the SNES Mini version of Super Metroid is relatively easy. But it's a huge challenge on NSO.
That's partly because the Pro Controller's D-pad is not great. And also partly, I suspect, because of the lag. Especially because the Super Metroid wall jump is so dependent on frame-specific inputs.
But talking about old games is weird because our conversation is weird.
When we're talking about movies, we understand that most kids probably don't want to watch, say, The Passion of Joan of Arc from 1927. But we also understand that says nothing about the actual quality of that film. It was one of my favorites growing up — but I knew I couldn't exactly talk about it to my classmates. Because that's just the way it is. People have to find their way to older media.
With other arts, there's an understanding that you have to make an effort to read or watch the classics. But if you love the medium, you know it's an effort worth making, because they provide an experience that modern films or books don't give you. Trends change, cultures change, looks change, languages change. There's an inimitable texture to older media that you can't get anymore. That's because all art is a product of its time, including the art we're producing right now. The more old films you watch, the more you realize new films are very much a reflection of what's happening now. You realize modern films are just another time period.
And with videogames, it's actually kind of the same thing. I love many games from before my time, like the first Zelda, Tetris, R-Type, Mario 3, Moon Patrol, Pac-Man... But yes, it does take some understanding the context.
That way you avoid weird non-takes like, "Eh, those old arcade games are good for five or ten minutes, but you wouldn't spend two hours on it." Well, no. It's an arcade game. It's built for short play sessions. Same for the first Zelda. "Man, there's no handholding or direction!" Sure there is, but games back then didn't have any memory space, so all the tutorializing is in the instruction manual. Read that first.
That's what understanding the context is all about. It's about making the imaginative leap to another time period. But then the enjoyment is timeless, if that makes sense. I don't "respect" the original Zelda like some distant museum piece. It's genuinely one of my favorite games. The sparseness and simplicity are part of the appeal — and not for nostalgic reasons. It's part of the inimitable texture of the game. Nintendo's not gonna make another game like it ever again. And that's fine, because it already made Zelda 1 in 1986. I can just go play it again.
GTA 3 is influential, like I mentioned above, but saying it created modern gaming seems like a stretch. Besides popularizing open worlds, which is no small feat, I'm not sure what else it did that wasn't already introduced in the late 90s. When I play Control, Death Stranding, or God of War, I'm seeing more Ocarina of Time and MGS than GTA 3, for example.
Mm, I don't know. Prime is amazing, but if we're going by historical importance, the late 90s are where it's at. Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, and MGS were all so persuasive in their transition to 3D, they set the template for prestige third-person games moving forward. Ocarina of Time, especially. Grand Theft Auto 3 was similarly influential a while later. I feel like Prime is a masterpiece from what I've played thus far, but I'm not sure it was that influential. It's like its own weird niche. Metroid-likes typically look at Super for inspiration more than Prime. And First Person Shooters take after either Half-Life or Halo (or both).
Comments 5
Re: "Absolutely Horrid" - Is Nintendo Switch Online's Emulation Really That Bad?
The lag is real, but how annoying it is depends on the game.
I know this, though: pulling off a wall jump on the SNES Mini version of Super Metroid is relatively easy. But it's a huge challenge on NSO.
That's partly because the Pro Controller's D-pad is not great. And also partly, I suspect, because of the lag. Especially because the Super Metroid wall jump is so dependent on frame-specific inputs.
Re: The Making Of: Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid 3's Iconic James Bond-Style Anthem
Hey, what do you mean "now-infamous"? That ladder scene is one of my favorite videogame moments ever.
Re: Poll: Are Game Boy Games Still Worth Playing In 2023?
Yeah, of course.
But talking about old games is weird because our conversation is weird.
When we're talking about movies, we understand that most kids probably don't want to watch, say, The Passion of Joan of Arc from 1927. But we also understand that says nothing about the actual quality of that film. It was one of my favorites growing up — but I knew I couldn't exactly talk about it to my classmates. Because that's just the way it is. People have to find their way to older media.
With other arts, there's an understanding that you have to make an effort to read or watch the classics. But if you love the medium, you know it's an effort worth making, because they provide an experience that modern films or books don't give you. Trends change, cultures change, looks change, languages change. There's an inimitable texture to older media that you can't get anymore. That's because all art is a product of its time, including the art we're producing right now. The more old films you watch, the more you realize new films are very much a reflection of what's happening now. You realize modern films are just another time period.
And with videogames, it's actually kind of the same thing. I love many games from before my time, like the first Zelda, Tetris, R-Type, Mario 3, Moon Patrol, Pac-Man... But yes, it does take some understanding the context.
That way you avoid weird non-takes like, "Eh, those old arcade games are good for five or ten minutes, but you wouldn't spend two hours on it." Well, no. It's an arcade game. It's built for short play sessions. Same for the first Zelda. "Man, there's no handholding or direction!" Sure there is, but games back then didn't have any memory space, so all the tutorializing is in the instruction manual. Read that first.
That's what understanding the context is all about. It's about making the imaginative leap to another time period. But then the enjoyment is timeless, if that makes sense. I don't "respect" the original Zelda like some distant museum piece. It's genuinely one of my favorite games. The sparseness and simplicity are part of the appeal — and not for nostalgic reasons. It's part of the inimitable texture of the game. Nintendo's not gonna make another game like it ever again. And that's fine, because it already made Zelda 1 in 1986. I can just go play it again.
Re: Poll: Is Metroid Prime The Best 2D To 3D Transition Of Any Game Series, Ever?
@zgillet
GTA 3 is influential, like I mentioned above, but saying it created modern gaming seems like a stretch. Besides popularizing open worlds, which is no small feat, I'm not sure what else it did that wasn't already introduced in the late 90s. When I play Control, Death Stranding, or God of War, I'm seeing more Ocarina of Time and MGS than GTA 3, for example.
Re: Poll: Is Metroid Prime The Best 2D To 3D Transition Of Any Game Series, Ever?
Mm, I don't know. Prime is amazing, but if we're going by historical importance, the late 90s are where it's at. Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, and MGS were all so persuasive in their transition to 3D, they set the template for prestige third-person games moving forward. Ocarina of Time, especially. Grand Theft Auto 3 was similarly influential a while later. I feel like Prime is a masterpiece from what I've played thus far, but I'm not sure it was that influential. It's like its own weird niche. Metroid-likes typically look at Super for inspiration more than Prime. And First Person Shooters take after either Half-Life or Halo (or both).