Embracing the Future: Classic Games Pave the Way for Gaming Evolution

The rotary phone, telegram (no, not the app), beepers, cassette tapes, and the floppy disk are some of the few technologies that have been lost to time…at least to most millennials and Gen Zs. Time is absolute, and nothing can escape its inevitable passing. However, these vintage inventions didn’t truly vanish but rather evolved into a more efficient and sophisticated version of themselves. This phenomenon applies to games as well. Some of these games have been around since the 1980s, but through their developers’ ingenuity and innovative drive, they are still around and claiming more fame than even fresh releases!

Timeless Entertainment: Modernized Classics

Pokémon – A Nostalgic Favorite for Every 90’s Kid

Whether it’s from the extensive installments of games, the long-running anime series with its forever-ten-year-old protagonist, collectible trading cards, or the charmingly electrifying mouse of a mascot, everyone has heard of Pokémon.

First released on the Gameboy in 1996, the game may’ve been a bit shy at first, but it’s a fantastic late-bloomer that captured the hearts of everyone, gamer and non-gamer alike, with its vast array of powerful and cute pocket monsters. The gameplay utilizes a turn-based combat with strategy at its core, using status ailments, elemental type advantages, and leveling to decide who will reign supreme. In the beginning, you control a young new trainer on his/her way to the professor’s lab to choose his or her first Pokémon. As you battle against wild Pokémon, clash against fellow trainers, overcome gym battles, thwart nefarious plans from shady organizations, and conquer the region’s Pokémon league, you will fill your roster of superpowered creatures and get closer to becoming the Pokémon Master.

From the pioneers of the franchise, Red, Blue, and Yellow, to the latest entries, Scarlet and Violet (it’s just a coincidence, not all Pokémon games are literally color-coded), the game follows the same formula, but what led to its roaring success is its enhanced aesthetics and creative additions of new gameplay content such as new maps and Pokémon, and features like co-op mode and new battle modes with each new entry. The first games had a bland 2D world, could only be played solo, and was black-and-white, ironic considering their colorful titles. However, the latest releases, Scarlet and Violet, are set in an interactive 3D world where multiple players can not only battle together, but also explore the mesmerizing world of Pokémon together, opening a whole new avenue of potential ways to enjoy the game.

Resident Evil – Haunting Memories from Gaming’s Past

Fans of the survival horror genre will probably have heard of Resident Evil and Chris’s boulder-bashing feats. Also released in 1996, the first ever Resident Evil set the tone and laid the foundation for the legend that the franchise has become today. The first games had blocky textures, tank controls, and limited freedom in aiming and camera view. The series continued with the same format until the revolutionary Resident Evil 4, which began the widely-used over-the-shoulder view that many games still use today. RE4 had more freedom in movement and aiming, as well as a more interactive and immersive world that barely contained the horrors within. This format continued for a few more titles until Resident Evil 7, when the games took a deeper dive into the horror aspect the franchise is known for and utilized a first-person perspective to really amp up the immersion and frights. Gone are the cartoony graphics of the previous titles; RE7 used semi-realistic models to create the monsters that would hunt you throughout the game and haunt you all night, even after you clicked quit.

The success of the franchise can be attributed to its ever-changing styles and the unending creativity and talent of its developers. Resident Evil’s constant and drastic evolutions have allowed it to tap into a large player base and never lose their interest.

Casino Games – A Timeless Favorite That Stands the Test of Time

Of course, we can’t end this article about gaming without including one of humankind’s most ancient forms of entertainment. Games of chance are one of the most timeless games that span their influence across land borders and differing cultures. Casinos are equipped with a variety of games to suit anyone’s taste, such as poker, blackjack, etc. However, recent circumstances, such as the COVID-19 lockdown, strained their player base and threatened to leave them crippled or bankrupt, giving the opportunity for online casinos to reach the immobilized market.

Image from: Unsplash

Online casinos function practically the same way as their land-based counterparts but boast anonymity, convenience, and even greater bonuses due to the fierce competition in the online realm. Even after the lockdown has ended, online casinos have already gained a solid foothold and are here to stay. Players looking to play online blackjack or roulette no longer need to travel to the nearest casino, instead, they can play anywhere, even on the loo, without having to reveal their personal identity to strangers. Certain sites even offer thorough analysis and reviews of these online games to ensure the fairness, integrity, and difficulty of winning against the digital house.