Retro vs Modern Video Games: Which Is Better? - Retro Bird

While the lines between the two have been blurred over the years, the debate still rages on. So, I offer my take on the subject by analyzing some of the differences that stick out the most.
Retro vs Modern Video Games: Which Is Better? - Retro Bird / Old Video Games Versus New Video Games
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#retrobird

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Games played: Castlevania (0:00), Breath of the Wild (0:19), Rayman (0:25), Sonic 3 (1:25), Celeste (2:25), Goldeneye 007 (2:55), Spider-Man (4:29)

[@spyrojoe4721]

I just enjoy good games, could be anything from ascii-hyper realism graphics, so long as I enjoy story/gameplay

[@TheColehabo]

the new gta versions vs old was a miss to not show;p

[@ii-wv4cs]

@@TheColehabo enough of that gta "fast food" equivalent, time to grow up.

[@crudmuffin64]

Hey Retro Bird, love your content. Just wanna let you know there is someone impersonating you in the comments of this video, probably some sort of scam. Looking forward to your next video!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

@@crudmuffin64 I appreciate it and thank you for letting me know.

[@jodibishop3302]

I’ve been playing video games for 35 years, and your videos are like reading a Nintendo Power or an EGM back in the day. Perfect!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you for that! Very kind of you :)

[@Neutrinos6]

me to i played modern games back in the games retro games even tho i like retro gaming more no Store Transactions just play games retro gaming is more fun then modern games. and i played wow over 17 years i have a good pc and good android box like nvidia shield tv pro and formuler z10 pro max i can use retroarch nice game emulator themes and play my oldschool games i love all super mario games on nes snes n64 etc and sonic and all metal slug on arcade there so goood great retro games.

[@JEFFALITY]

Actually, I think Birds better. I remember a lot of writers I really disliked back in the power days. One in particular that kept saying how much better tabletop games were. God I hated that guy.

[@deadsharkisart]

Chris Slate, Francesca Reyes, Bill Donohue, Patrick Baggatta, Mike Salmon... Retro Bird 🥰

[@WeegeeCool1]

Once again I'd love to say that I am a younger person (18) who is into gaming with older games. Especially the collecting aspect of it.

[@eccosx]

im currently 20 yrs old & wanna collect too… mainly PS2 & PS3 games because they’re my childhood but it’s such an expensive hobby

[@FTChomp9980]

I want to start collecting 360 games as well as Wii games. Because I want to start videogame collecting I already have a collection of DS,3Ds,PS4,and Switch Games.

[@survivalhh2995]

im the same exact age and from earning money from my job oh boy do I now have a banging collection my biggest being a total 168 complete 360 game I also have a big original xbox collection and I also love collecting for the n64 and would love to get a complete set. Yeah older games I have more fun with even though I have a more then capable pc its a i7 11th gen with a rtx 3060 ti. I could emulate everything but why? That would be lame and I wouldnt have my friends looking at my wall full of virigin shit asking why I need all of it.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Always love hearing about the younger generations caring about and enjoying these games :)

[@WeegeeCool1]

@@RetroBirdGaming I already have a complete Nintendo home console set. Hoping to get a complete Sega home console set soon.

[@cheesetastesgood9940]

Another thing I appreciate about retro games is the unique visual style. I feel like a lot of big budget modern games have the boring realistic art style

[@PaulRockey]

Tough call. I’m turning 40 in a month, and I love both. Everything from the NES to the PlayStation 5.

[@raggamuffinmcgee]

Since I've gotten older with a family, I still enjoy games but have so little time to immerse myself in a game. Retro games tend to have a steep learning curve but the games are usually short whereas so many modern games have a flatter learning curve and by the time I get back to it I've forgotten the control scheme, crafting items, etc. Modern games also are chock full of content to make them seem even longer or may have gameplay that favors someone with more time to play. My answer would be different for when I was in college and had time for Halo , CoD and Starcraft. Happy 2023.

[@That1PissedOffBoomer]

Yeah you should incorporate your kids into your playing somehow. Anyways I don't have kids but I have a gf I have like 1000 games and all I mostly do is switch between them. I'm sure you can figure out a way to get more gaming done if you really want to, it all comes down to what you want. It comes down to what are you willing to sacrifice and how good of a juggler you really are.

[@raggamuffinmcgee]

@@That1PissedOffBoomer Oh absolutely! They're finally getting old enough to play with me and we have a blast! We play Mario Kart, Smash Bros, and Ninja Turtles. They also like watching me play solo games like BotW. As much as I've tried to get them into retro games though the difficulty is too much for them yet. I also don't play violent games with them. They're 5 and 6. Enjoy playing with your gf; my gf turned into my wife and our beginnings were with Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

[@nickjoe2260]

So true😊

[@costello8675309]

@@raggamuffinmcgee The games that got my kids into retro gaming are Ice Climber, Bubble Bobble, and Super Mario Bros.

[@themailman3331]

As I’ve said before, just when we needed you the most, you returned.

[@SuperSteve152]

Cometh the hour, cometh the RetroBird

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Haha. Glad to hear the videos are appreciated :)

[@immitationstation3369]

Honestly the sweet spot between retro and modern is the best with the 6th gen consoles for me (PS2,Xbox,Gamecube, and Dreamcast) the games of that era were downright fantastic. Didn't have as much cryptic game design of the 4th gen and no micro transactions or battle passes of the current crop and manly focused on great single player experiences and couch co op and multiplayer

[@nathanlamont9920]

A lot of people seem to think (myself included) that 6th gen was the apex of gaming. Even some younger games who's childhood was the PS3/360 seem to agree on this point. It was the last era, many games had soul in them. The late PS3/360/Wii era, gaming became too corporate. They wouldn't dare attempt a Xenosaga or Dot Hack series these days. The former WAS rumored for a HD release for years now and both have a cult following.

[@immitationstation3369]

@@nathanlamont9920 That era had the vibe of if a developer had a great idea for a game they found a way to will it into existence. Now (aside from indy games) It seems a game has to hit a live service check mark for the most part

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Lot of cool ideas turned into games that generation. Games like Okami and Eternal Darkness always come to mind.

[@yololthepikminenjoyer]

amen

[@ThomastheDankEngine8900]

@@nathanlamont9920 yup, sixth gen was king

[@sonicmania9993]

I'm well into my 50s -- I still play retro and modern games just about equally. Since I so deeply enjoy & love the magic of retro games, it's hard for me believe how some gamers my age say "video games are the best they have ever been" -- but I've had several conversations like that both with friends and online. To me, it's hard to compare -- kind of like asking which is better -- classical, jazz, or rock? Is Led Zeppelin or Miles Davis better than Beethoven? Like Bird, I just play what I'm in the mood for (that goes for music *and* video games!). I do believe that the best modern games offer great experiences -- and it's really great to play something new that's just been developed in the last couple of years ... by adult programmers who played the same games we played when they were younger. I also love following the scene of upcoming games, especially games from Japan and Asia. But on the flipside, I have a large retro game collection that enables me to celebrate that side of my personality often -- so in that sense, I feel so lucky! Now if you change the question slightly, and ask "Was videogaming better in the 80s and 90s ... or now?" I would say 80s and 90s in a heartbeat. It's not that the games were "better", though some of those all-time classics have been dear to our hearts for decades. But the hobby was more fun & joyful back then. It felt much more organic and creative -- and constantly surprising! Because of today's mainstream game tastes (often so violent), monetization rampant, the fact that so much modern gaming is online, coupled with the pervasive negativity on the internet (and even in real life?), gaming now isn't as fun as it was 25-30 years ago ... even though I think some modern games are really excellent. I miss fun-loving 90s game mags. I miss going over to a friend's place to play the console he or she had, and then them coming over to play the console I had. I miss borrowing each other's games. I miss info dumps (like the 90s E3's), where literally dozens of awesome games I wanted to play got announced all at once. What unbelievable excitement! I even went to most of those 90s E3's with a press pass (but very little responsibility to actually "work"), and let me tell you those were special experiences. Nothing like that today, with the dripfeed of details about new games, boring showcases, occasionally punctuated by a "pretty good" Nintendo Direct or something. A few modern games make me feel "joy and wonder" when I play them today -- but from the late 70s up through the early PS2 ... I felt that "joy and wonder" just about every time I played a good game. Some people would suggest maybe I've "grown out of" that phase ... but I don't think so. I still feel it when I play a really good retro game for the first time today. So ... nostalgia for simpler times, maybe? Well that's a factor for sure. But anyway, from my point of view, videogaming was more fun back in the day -- even though we have all the old games and all the new games available to us to play today. And what an embarrassment of riches that is!

[@tonyp9313]

So basically your life was better as a kid. Good to know.

[@sonicmania9993]

@@tonyp9313 Not really -- I've been much happier in recent years than I was through most of the 80s and 90s! Plus I wasn't really a kid after the mid 80s ... graduated high school in '87. But yes, the world of games was more joyful back then. I even felt that in my late 20s/early 30s. A lot of changes came to the world of videogames in the mid-2000s -- that is objectively demonstrable.

[@SuperBlessedFamilyMan]

One of my biggest gripes with modern games, you mentioned; the abundance of cut scenes. With my relatively limited time for games, I actually like to play, not watch. That’s why I still tend to pick up games like Tony Hawk Pro Skater and things like that so I can just pick up and play for a few minutes here and there. Great video as always!

[@theglassarrow_]

Alot of modern games with mostly cut secens are good. Just did a play though of until dawn and Catharine full body. Both great games. Both minimal actual game play

[@SuperBlessedFamilyMan]

@@theglassarrow_ (sorry for the delayed reply) I guess I should have had a bit of a caveat in there because, though I haven’t played Until Dawn, I have dabbled in that series some with one of the dark pictures games, and it’s cool. Also, I really enjoyed Heavy Rain as well. But I guess I just refer to games that are heavy on cut scenes like the metal gear series or things of that nature. My time is relatively limited, so when I have time for gaming I actually want to play rather than watch in most cases.

[@FTChomp9980]

Retro Games have more heart and soul put into them because when I played N64 games like Chameleon Twist 2,Banjo Kazooie,and Mario 64. I still like Modern Games but only games made with love like from Nintendo themselves and Indies.

[@aaronpischke5019]

Absolutely love both retro and modern depending on my mood. It's so rad to go back and forth! One of the best parts of living in the "future!"

[@totallyfrozen]

“Great Scott, Marty!”

[@GoodVibeCollecting]

I think it's more common to find a younger person who likes retro games compared to an older person who likes modern games.

[@megamob5834]

Option 3: current “retro style” games with modern sensibilities incorporated. Stuff like Shovel Knight or Bloodstained Curse of the Moon. Which is amazing btw! If you’re a fan of old school Castlevania, in particular CV3 you owe it to yourself to play the CotM games. Sooooo good. Also, sweet Nomad RB 😎🤙

[@AnthonyFlack]

I always complain about people calling old games "retro" because they're not. Retro games are something else, games like Shovel Knight are retro. NES games aren't retro, they're old. Very few retro games were made before perhaps the late 90s.

[@handsomeDRAC]

Castlevania legacy of darkness n64. Super underrated. Playing it right now actually.

[@ESEJESEJ]

Bloodstained: curse of the moon (a truly great game) but a rather funny name if you think about it.

[@handsomeDRAC]

@ESEJ Blood stained: curse of the red panties.

[@theultimateninja]

Man, that outro song plays in my head all day. So good.

[@newm0116]

Honestly for me, I generally play and enjoy modern games more. I grew up playing retro games (my dad had a NES and a SNES in the house, my first systems were a Game Boy and an N64) so I am nostalgic for a lot of stuff from that time, and I do enjoy going back (I just beat Super Metroid this weekend for the first time since I was obsessed with that game something like 25 years ago) but generally the bigger scope, both in terms of story and just raw game, that modern games have wins for me. One of the reason's I love your channel is because you are not only very passionate about the hobby, you are passionate in an inclusive way. You aren't about one thing being better, you are about people thinking about which is better *for them* and being okay with other people's answers being different from your own. So thank you for creating so much great and fun content that is also passionate and positive.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you for understanding what I try to be about. Means a lot and I appreciate having good folks like yourself on the channel.

[@RetroRivals]

We’re just as guilty for pitting modern against retro, hell I think we’ve probably done a video or two on it. My biggest problem is MAYBE we need to stop pitting the two against each other. Instead of modern vs retro how about just play what makes you happen. Certainly not criticizing the topic. I love your channel and have for quite some time. Watching the video just gave me these deep thought provoking moments and that’s what came to the forefront. It’s hard being on KZbin and not trying to meet a certain standard depending on how your brand yourself. Just like how you mentioned people think you don’t like modern games. Great video again!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Appreciate your viewership and thoughtfulness as always :)

[@raggamuffinmcgee]

New vs old isn't only in gaming. It's across everything: "Boomers vs Millennials vs Zoomers". I think there are perspectives and learnings for everyone to consider. If you hate a whole generation (gaming or people) because of what you've heard about it and not personal experience then you're choosing to be closed minded about the benefits of each. 90s were great times but I don't miss the dial up or printing map quest for a trip but likewise in this generation social media can be cancer but without it we wouldn't have Retro Bird vids.

[@RetroRivals]

@@raggamuffinmcgee I couldn’t have said it better! Great point

[@michaellowery6201]

Honestly a loaded question. It really depends on what genre you like and how much free time you have imo. I go more for the old stuff cause I like the plug and play arcade aspect since I'm always busy from work as an adult

[@carlosjuliop]

I think I prefer modern games, although I enjoy retro gaming quite a bit too. It's nice to be able to do both. Mostly, I think about the game itself that I want to play, not so much whether it's old or new.

[@holisticreviews]

My taste in games-era has been regressing for several years now - I’m back to the early 2000s and continuing backwards. I figure I’ll land on Go played with whalebone pieces by the time I’m 60.

[@raffyvalky4527]

As someone who grew up with the wii, ds, and ps3, I have to say both types of games are equal. I played a lot of 7th gen games, but also always loved retro gaming because of the wii's virtual console. It was perfect for a dumb kid like me because I feel like the 7th generation was the generation of retro gaming/2d/ and retro franchise revivals. Dont worry, there are still kids (im 15) playing retro games 😁

[@brianhatcher2799]

I’m going to have to say retro games. There is just so much charm to them, plus like you brought out before, the quick pick-up-and-play nature of them, the simplicity, and the challenge factor are all things that I really enjoy. Some of those games you feel so euphoric over when you get past a part that you were stuck on for a while. Other games like Mario 3, Mega Man 2, or early Sonic games are games pretty much anybody can play, but it also takes a lot of time, skill, practice, and effort to get really good at them. I actually haven’t played anything newer than the Wii U but there are things about newer games that I like, and I think you pretty much covered it. Graphics of course probably being the best part and that sense of progression.

[@turnervelascofilms7448]

I personally don’t have a preference between retro in modern, I have favorite games from both sides, and I just love video games. I don’t think one is better than the other. I think they’re both different but fun in their own ways.

[@trevorwiant8838]

Retro Bird has officially won 2022’s Most Wholesome Gaming KZbinr Award. In my book at least.

[@ShamrockParticle]

I recall pc games of the 90s telling a story along with the action. It's amazing, the evolution of gaming!

[@herculesbrofister265]

WoW tells a story. a very elaborate one at that.

[@Likaboss480]

To be blunt, when you get over the "oldness" and just play a retro or older game with full intentions, retro gaming and modern gaming just become "gaming" provided you have the dough, you can have your cake and eat it too. It's all just different art styles and the modern "retro" indie games prove that there's no reason to have sprite based games be absolute.

[@megathesimper4050]

Retro gaming for me honestly, I barely play newer games nowadays

[@Zahir658]

Don't forget the music! The retro gaming music is pretty rad and I have a playlist full of my favorite retro gaming music. And I also play those great modern indie games as well. Just check out Final Vendetta and TMNT: Shredder's Revenge.

[@leeartlee915]

I’m an equal opportunity kind of guy when it comes to games. But I also go through phases. For awhile, I was playing my Series X and PS5 all the time. Then all of a sudden I went months without evening turning them on, instead playing games on my Switch, modded 3DS (with a ton of retro games on it), and my Wii U tablet. I think that’s what I like most about older games: they are always there for you when modern games can’t/don’t scratch the itch. Random point: the reason why my Series X, Wii U, and 3DS have quickly become my favorite consoles of all time is that they bridge the gap between modern and retro games so well. I could be playing the latest CoD game on my Xbox, then switch over to Sonic Adventure 2, slide in a quick round of Peggie, and then complete my run through of Max Payne, all without leaving my couch. I think when people draw that line in the sand they cut themselves off from too much. Like I have friends that won’t watch any movies that aren’t new. All the cheesy 80s action films, they want nothing to do with them. Screwball comedies from the 1930s? They could care less. It’s a shame really because older media still has value. Can you imagine someone looking at the sistine chapel ceiling and saying “meh, too passé” or shrugging at a Van Gough? Just seems silly to me.

[@bluefates58]

5:52 the last games I played/watched a playthrough of that made me cry was Gravity Rush 2, the RE8 DLC, and GoW Ragnarok. To answer your question I like both equally although have been playing both for an equal amount of time

[@Robodob0]

I prefer the simplicity of Retro Gaming and the nostalgia it comes with. I have a Steam Deck, an Asus Gaming Laptop, an OLED and v1 Switch, and i still play on the Retroid Pocket 3+ more everyday.

[@jaycromer]

My current top 5 games of all time are Lunar 1&2, Super Mario 3, SSX Tricky and Breath of the Wild. Taking me from 1990 to 2017. I love both retro and modern games, but there's a lot of value in modern game design. For a long time Streets of Rage 2 and TMNT4 were in my top 10 games list, but their newest sequels kicked them out. Streets of Rage 4 and Shredder's Revenge have gameplay improvements that edged out the older titles. It doesn't make the retro titles bad, but modern took what was great and kicked it up a notch. Yet, I still find myself popping on the snes TMNT for some beat em up fun.

[@rotallyPumpered]

I think one of the major advantages of modern games is how diverse they've become. A genre like RPGs used to describe a fairly specific kind of game, but now there are all sorts of different subgenres and games with entirely different focuses. Mass Effect, Pokémon, Fire Emblem, Octopath Traveler, Dragon Quest - all vastly different, and will appeal to different kinds of players. "Retro games" is quite a broad term, too. My appreciation for games from the early eighties, like Missile Command and Donkey Kong, is completely different from what I like about games from the late 90s, like Half-Life and Ridge Racer Type 4. If you're willing to play older games, there's so much different stuff to find, and different approaches to develop an appreciation for. Part of the appeal for me is the historical interest, and the story of the industry that you can grow a better understanding of by playing the games. There's not a lot of games in the recent Atari 50 pack that I would have played, divorced of their historical context, but learning of the developers' intentions and the kinds of challenges they were up against, helped me appreciate what they produced. I find myself growing less interested in the big advertising events, like E3 and The Game Awards, where huge publishers attempt to show off their big projects to the widest audience possible, but there's still a lot of new games being made today that I really enjoy. Tony Hawk's 2 will always be on my shelf, but maybe I want to play OlliOlli or Skater XL instead. That's the benefit of how big the industry has become.

[@princessnodak]

I agree about how diverse games have gotten(and how some old genres have died out cuz modern graphics and such have made them obsolete), but at the same time, sometimes it boggles my mind how games don't have a certain subject or genre that I think is a no brainer....altho, I think REALLY big, and I think file size has a lot to do with why my game ideas haven't come to fruition yet

[@tonyp9313]

I prefer retro 2D games over Modern games. 3D Retro games (N64) I am really glad you brought up Golden eye as an example of 3D not holding up well. Which I agree with 100%. 1 main thing you should have mentioned is that you can play 1000's of retro games using save states & a rewind feature. You can't do that with Modern gaming. With Retro gaming you can also put codes such as level select, Invisibility, unlimited lives & continues or just use a game genie, Game shark, Action replay Codes what ever enhancement devices you want. Also if you play off the ever drives you can put in a ton of Game Genie, Game shark codes. Again you can't do that with Modern gaming since the PS3 & up. Also the camera moves with you in the 2D games so you see everything on the screen. With modern games you are controlling the camera which is a bad thing because you can't see everything when enemies shoot at you at times. Modern gaming. You need a Super fast internet if you want to play Modern gaming. I have a 1.5 gb internet speed now. Which is really fast. I downloaded The Last of US 2 a 80gb file within 30 min. If I had slower that would take like 5 hours. I also changed my PS4 hard drive to a 1TB SSD. Which is super important if you want your system to load fast when it brings up the menus & also the load times for games being a lot quicker. For Modern games I go digital. I love the fact you can just buy any game for really cheap now. I never buy a game for $80. I'll wait now till it goes on sale for $20 & lower which they do. The online play is awesome too as you don't have to leave your house to play your friends. As for the games themselves, not too much fun because they'll feel like movies & take way too long to beat. Modern 2D games such as Streets of Rage 4, Turtles Shredder's revenge, Cup Head, Mega Man 11, Mighty No 9, Kaze & The Wild Mask, Double Dragon 4 etc. These are good games however I just prefer the retro games that much better because the controls are that much more responsive when you play on a CRT tv. Yes that makes a huge difference when you are comparing the retro titles to these ones. The Sega Genesis controller or the Nes controller along with the Snes. Way better controllers to play the 2D games with. Again Modern games lack the save states, codes & game Genie codes. Sure they will save at checkpoints but it's not the same thing. I want to save anywhere & everywhere. Lets not forget the gun games that retro provides through a CRT. Can't do that with Modern gaming.

[@riversart2030]

I like retro and modern games but I do think retro has the advantage. I feel like JRPGs (my favorite genre) peaked on the PS1/Dreamcast and afterwards just got more and more bloated with unnecessary side quests, too much exploration and less focused stories. The major exception to this would be Dragon Quest XI, a modern game that reminds me of all the things I love about retro RPGs while still incorporating enough new mechanics to make it feel fresh at the same time. I would love to see more games that balance tradition and innovation like that.

[@BigHushAffiliate]

Im just like you I love both. ❤ Awesome video as always!! ❤

[@steelzepplin2012]

Retro ftw! I will always play video games, new and old, but nothing like the oldies! Sure games may have been simple back then, but they sure are hard and this ensured you get your moneys worth or for multiple blockbuster rentals. And i must ask, what is your favorite retro game? Or top 5? Gotta know. Here is a decent list for myself; NES - DuckTales/Ninja Gaiden/Double Dragon 2, Gameboy - Super Mario Land, Genesis - Toejam & Earl/General Chaos/Streets of Rage 2, SNES - Zombies Ate My Neighbors/Super Mario RPG, N64 - Zelda OOT, Atari Lynx - Basketbrawl/Scrapyard Dog, Saturn - The Horde/Dragon Force, Dreamcast - Crazy Taxi

[@andycanoy863]

I enjoy both retro and modern gaming. Each has their own pros and cons. Some older games are outdated and some modern games have been released in buggy, unfinished states. Whichever you prefer, if you're willing to sift through a lot of titles, you find something that you'll enjoy.

[@Jburneyjr]

Being 35, I'm split 50/50. On one hand, i love the newer stuff because of all the advancements I dreamed of when I was younger. Feeling like I'm in a realistic movie taking me on this visual adventures. On the other hand, many of my favorites you can't just hop on a wimb. You have to remember some button combinations, where in the game you've progressed to, and for anyone who like to play on the hardest difficulty. I have to fight some tough competition. The older stuff, I'm still exploring since I didn't play everything. I'm still buying the physical copies. And I can just hop in and play. But with the price hikes in retro gaming, you have to figure out what is worth the $30 to even $100 purchase. Among other issues. But I love them both just have to weigh the pros and cons of each.

[@cOnNoReXiStS]

This Channel is great :) as a huge nerd and a newbie to retro gaming this is very helpful( the content in general) Also the you are in fact correct about younger generations playing, as I only grew up in the Wii u era, and have just been really interested in Nintendo history

[@bananonymouslastname5693]

I heavily prefer old games and modern games made in their image. It's a great time to be into metroidvanias! That said, I really enjoyed a lot of modern VR games as well. I think my issue with modern 3D games comes from a handful of things that lessen my enjoyment of them. 1. When games all try to look photorealistic, they lose a lot of what makes them look unique. The limitations of 2D and older 3D systems forced games to use the visuals as a way to stand out from the crowd instead of an arms race for who can animate the most strands of hair. 2. Modern games can sometimes feel stagnant from a gameplay perspective. 3D platformers haven't gotten significantly better than Super Mario 64 in the gameplay department. Sure, cameras are better and graphics are more detailed, but the way you play hasn't changed much, which makes games need something else to make them feel special. You could say the same about 2D gameplay, but they benefit from more graphical variety and their limitations can engage your imagination. 3. They tend to take themselves too seriously. Some games feel like developers are begging for recognition more than trying to make a fun game to play. Not all games, of course, but many. It can make games feel pretentious. There's more "industry" talk in sites and magazines than game talk. I think that's one of the reasons I've embraced VR as much as I have. Due to how different the interactions can be, it feels new, and developers have made games that are interesting just by exporing what they can do.

[@mattlockwood6089]

I rotate between ps4/switch and nes/snes/n64/gamecube/sega MS/G/CD/saturn/DC . 1 next-gen/ 1 OG. Retro inspired indie games like curse of the Moon 1&2, blazing chrome, valfaris are amazing and blend everything together to the point I feel guilty

[@Agus-wp2cc]

I'm 22 but grew up playing retro games on emulators, and always will be grateful for that since it helped me to appreciate a good amount of consoles and games.

[@Simoss13]

I just like good games regardless of age. My fav type of games are indie games that use modern quality of life but retro game mechanics Surprising there is alot of modern games that are complete and have some high value in playing but also unknown. Look at Little Samson, not many people knew about it at the time but grew in popularity over the decades. I do hunt, play and speculate on those modern games.

[@Yipper64]

I think one of the things that draws me to retro games as opposed to modern games is replay value. Yeah, modern games often come with loads of content that you can play for a very long time, but once its done, its done. You generally dont replay these games because well... they are hundreds of hours long. But for retro games its a game that you master, and can play again and again after doing that!

[@therealjaystone2344]

Especially modern JRPGs after putting 100+ hrs of gameplay (including all side quests completion) and you won’t play it again unless there’s DLC for sometime to play again. Xenoblade is known to have that.

[@nickwallette6201]

Well, I still think of "new" games like Chrono Cross, so for me, the division between retro and modern is: Have I played it yet? It's either one of my all-time favorite games that I've loved forever, or an all-time favorite that I haven't discovered yet. :-D

[@mjdf122]

Retro Bird Is Back And He’s Here To Talk About Video Games Soaring Way Above The Competition 2023 Starting Off Right

[@W3S3333]

I'll admit I've never played The Last of Us, but the tears I've shed over Mother 3 made it the greatest video game I ever played. It's also the only game that ever got to me like that.

[@skaraborg55]

Retro gaming is not only about playing or collecting games. It's about LIMITATIONS of the hardware. WOW, amazing graphics, it should not be possible on my Atari ST. That's a big vital part of retro gaming, to make as much as you can using very limited hardware. You miss that in todays gaming, and even if the graphics is amazing, there's nothing left to impress you. Okey? Shouldn't it look like this? This hardware can handle millions of polygons, so what? That's why i like retro gaming så much. WOW, WHAT GRAPHICS, and the music is amazing. Something you can't experience with new games. 🙂

[@danielespeziari5545]

Yes! Limitations are what pushed creativity. That's why people still want to develop for the NES or the Atari 2600

[@shira7211]

younger guy here (19) if that contextualizes anything, when you mentioned that older games are more simple, one of the main things that gravitates me to retro games is how complex they are in comparison to modern games. modern games feel a lot more rigid in scope because of a set formula for success, only really having indie developers deviating. whereas i feel a lot of retro media is a lot more expansive and experimental especially during the 4th-6th generations, games were willing to take more risks since there was no formula, and studios were more willing to sacrifice financial investments for artistic initiative. majoras mask is one example of the novelty of retro games in comparison to modern zelda, born from a lack of formula and rushed development. metal gear solid 2 could never have been released with such a budget in a modern storytelling given the ballsy, avantgarde storytelling, either i feel. xenogears has the most experimental, philosophical story that portrays psychological themes with incredible respect especially during the times, yet modern xenoblade is a simple sci fi in comparison. i love retro games because they pushed the envelope for whst is possible in an interactive art, born from the impetus of a new medium of expression with no established conventions or rules yet

[@brisingr14]

You make me laugh dude. I appreciate your videos. I'm on a retro bird marathon.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Happy to hear you're making your way through a bunch of 'em :)

[@RetroCheats]

Depends on what you want. Do you want quick shorter gameplay that's quite challenging.. or do you want slower gameplay with waiting(cutscenes, loading, tutorials) but the games are much longer.

[@tonyp9313]

You can take the challenge out of retro games but you can't take them out on Modern games.

[@RetroCheats]

@@tonyp9313 yes you can. Called Game Genie & Modding :)

[@ShinSynZero]

Cool vid as always, I really enjoy both. However, forced to choose, I'm going to give the slightest ever nod to modern games. Especially those that find their inspiration in what I consider the golden ago gaming...the 4th and 5th generations (two things can be true, both classic and modern gaming are greta). Classic games are still very awesome, but there have just been so many advances that have made gaming even better...not the day 1 or constant updates. I remember when a game shipped if it was complete, and if it was broken it usually stayed that way 😅. ...oh yeah, those bananas need some more speckles to be ready for muffins or banana bread 🙂

[@jtlerch]

What do I prefer? Until recently I would have instantly said retro... recently I have been playing more of the more modern games (well xbox one new, I'll pick up ps5 and series x when I can get one on the 2nd hand market.) I still lean toward retro games because I can just sit down and quickly get in a few quick minutes of game play.

[@erneststackhouse1133]

I don't hate newer games it's just older games don't come attached to my credit card!. Anything with my card on file is my console forever. That is how I now own a PS4, as my son has moved up to a PS Five. The PS4 has my favorite (new) game of all time Godzilla. That game put a tear in my eye as I truly felt like Godzilla for the 1st time. Kind of like how Spiderman made you feel when you played it in your video. So I don't hate newer games, its just I prefer turning on a console & play the game now & not wait for updates & installs or worry about my password getting hacked.

[@dreaming_dolce]

I love your humorous writing and B-roll footage. I hope your channel sees much growth in 2023.

[@ItzLuckful]

I mean, my playtime definitely leans more towards modern games but that’s more cause of multiplayer I play with friends online, ultimately they’re all just games! I love retro games and experiencing gaming history, 2022 finally saw me tick off Metroid and I liked that game a lot, looking forward to Metroid Samus Returns and Super Metroid - which shows how much I jump between the two. Ultimately I just like playing games, I’ll target different franchises at various times and wherever I land I’ll play the next game on my list whatever platform it is on, retro or modern 🤪 Great video as always, love your content man. 👍

[@jpixels4042]

The hero we needed, but don’t deserve.

[@johnross2946]

I’m a huge retro gamer who has also played/owned all the newer systems as well. I found myself taken out of gameplay somewhere between Xbox one and PS4 and they collect dust now as do my PS5 and Xbox X. I originally thought this was because the games weren’t challenging anymore. However, I find myself playing my switch far more than any other system even going as far back as PS2 when the open world concept in games was still new enough to be a novelty. I really still enjoy 2d platformers and seeing new ones being made on switch with the updated graphics of current hardware capabilities has renewed my desire to play new games. Perhaps it comes down to the type of game you prefer. Sadly the 1st/3rd person shooter or fantasy games now all just seem like the same thing with a different skin.

[@tonyp9313]

I sold all my PS4 physical games.

[@Residentevil1998racooncity]

I would say retro games because I love the music of the old games better instead of modern day movie sounding music . And play right away no cutscenes or download updates . And all the other stuff that's bad about modern games.

[@GamesTuesday]

Personally I enjoy both equally, though I find myself playing modern games more frequently as it allows me to keep in touch with friends & I can never turn down a good co-op game. With that said, I do want to play more retro games than I currently do (about 1 every 2 months now) & I'll be doing my best to squeeze it in as life gets back to post holiday pacing.

[@stephenhughes5156]

I think there are good things about both. I know its common to hate on modern games these days (and with good reason), especially with how underwhelming the PS5/Series X has been thus far- but there are still tons of great games being made (look at all the great games from the PS4/One/Switch generation), as well as the advantages of things like Gamepass and extensive backwards compatibility (with Xbox at least). Though I think we definitely hit the sweet spot with the 6th and perhaps 7th generation.

[@swavezmartin]

I've been playing video games since Nintendo and all the old games were great and all but, there's nothing like the games of today :) 😀

[@SideScrollersPodcast]

Just wanted to drop a line and let you know I appreciate your content. Always a fun watch.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you. The viewership and support means a lot :)

[@SideScrollersPodcast]

@@RetroBirdGaming No doubt! If you ever want to create any videos together, reach out! Would be fun.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

@@SideScrollersPodcast Cool! I'll keep you in mind :)

[@marccaselle8108]

Great video Retrobird. I love the skits. It took me quite a while to get used to the original PS1 controller because of the weird directional pad and the 2 extra shoulder buttons (L2 and R2).

[@BigChunkySkates]

it’s those retro style and indie retro stuff like Streets of Rage 4 that I like best. I know you avoided that purposely but that’s the ultimate sweet spot for me. I don’t play new big budget games but I’m weird and don’t like 99% of 3d games

[@ryanpierce5460]

I'm 42 and love retro and modern games. My favorite console is the nes but doesn't mean I don't love sekiro or GTA5

[@whattheheck1000]

I was born at the end of 1992, so I grew up primarily with the PS1, PS2, GameCube, and Xbox 360, with a few others thrown in. To this day, 2000s-era gaming - Dreamcast/PS2/Xbox/GameCube and Xbox 360/PS3/Wii generations - are my favorites. By this time, games had appealing 3D graphics, could be just as long and engrossing as today's games, and the excessive difficulty that was common before about the mid-1990s had been toned down. Yet the barriers to entry were a lot lower then, it didn't take near as much money to develop a game. The number of video games that came out in the '00s was simply massive. Mobile gaming hadn't ruined gaming on the go, we had actual handheld consoles. Games were expected to be actually finished on launch day and once you bought them, they were yours, none of these day one updates and download-only stuff. So, my answer to retro vs. modern, as presented in this video: the time in between. January 27, 2023 12:57 am

[@riaanki8889]

Another great video thanks, Mr. Bird. I like a combination of both. Retro and modern. However, I do miss how retro games took chances. Older games introduced new concepts. Some ideas were good and some were not. But at least they tried something new. Modern games all feel the same. Most AAA games at least.

[@tonyp9313]

Yeah games feel the same is because huge Companies now like Sony & Microsoft want to make as much money as possible so they don't take risks & rely on safe. Which is bad because it means gaming has stayed the same now since the PS3 era & will continue to do so.

[@codenamezz9993]

Time is a precious resource like a lot of people's are experiencing in their adulthood. Retrogaming, kof kof thanks Genesis, made me come back to enjoy videogames like 10 years ago because even if it's a steep curve for difficulty. One hour and you are mostly done...modern games, if its not racing or sports games or Fortnite can be a long time before having that itch fixed. Btw, I've just played for the first time in my life Sonic 😁 3 on ps2 collection. Way better than emulation and I've enjoyed it like it was my first time trying Sonic 2 at the mall🙂. And I'm in my forties. Keep your good work. Do you have a podcast? So I can listen to it while working.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I don't have a podcast, but some people have told me they'll just run my "Every Retro Bird Video" playlist and listen to it as audio-only as if it were a podcast. My videos go pretty far back at this point.

[@codenamezz9993]

@Retro Bird I do that! It's just take a lot of data when I'm at the office. Well I like what you bring to the retrogaming subject, very different and fresh than other channels dedicated to the subject.

[@NegativeGamer418]

I constantly bash on modern gaming, I do play some of them (mostly indee), but there's a lot of problems with it. Retro games represent a golden era where game play was king and having fun with these games were the main thing,(now I wouldn't recommend anything before 16-bit era unless your from the 80s). At the same time, it's thanks to modern gaming that I've been pushed to the glory days and discover many great games that I haven't played before, so there's that. Retro games will always be better than modern ones, not in terms of tech, but in terms of how much creativity when into them, how much variety we used to have and just how insanely fun they used to be.

[@vallaurianv6024]

Both modern and retro. Love them both. As to the decision on what to play? how I’m feeling is one aspect as is the time available. One aspect I’d add to the argument is the physical game cost. Neither is exactly cheap but my tastes in modern are cheaper than my tastes in retro (cib 4th and 5th gens 😣)!

[@mattb6522]

Great topic! I honestly really like both. I grew up on retro and always enjoy going back to play favorites or games I never got a chance to play as a kid. The funny thing is, I actually prefer many modern games that are reminiscent of retro games but with extra quality of life features. At the end of the day, I just enjoy playing whatever I'm in the mood for. Half the challenge can be even figuring out what to play next! 😋 I actually was playing Castlevania 1 on the NES earlier and despite its difficulty, it can be very rewarding to just keep inching your way forward and building up your skills as you keep playing (like many retro games). One of these days, I will reach Dracula and his days (and nights) will be numbered! 😅

[@ericevan12]

I play about half and half. I like retro games for their difficulty, visuals, and immediate feedback loops. I like modern games for their music, characterization, and mechanics.

[@will9357]

I enjoy both... but most (not all) of the modern games I enjoy (which aren't imitating old games) are more likely to be strategy or simulation. (I can't even count all the buttons I use for the DCS World flight sim... it's well over 100.)

[@HatedJared]

I typically create a list of games to beat each new year. Retro or modern, its whatever I think seems interesting. Usually play them in order of the list.

[@dewback88]

When it comes down to it I would choose retro. However I prefer a good mix of both.

[@princessnodak]

I have 30 consoles(plus emulators)from Atari 2600 to the Switch, so I play everything, and it purely depends on mood and time availability, if I have 5-10 minutes to kill, I'll throw on Pitfall or Mario or something that I don't care if I need to shut it off real quick, if I have hours to blow, I might put a modern game on and see how much progress I can make, or I MIGHT put on a retro game that has been giving me trouble and challenge myself to figure it out if I'm in the right mood and time available

[@STP.83]

My first console was a SEGA Master System and first handheld a Gameboy. I love to go back to play games from the 80th, 90th and 2000th and love to try out Saturn games now because in past I didn't have a Saturn. But I love modern games even more, and I'm a big fan of VR gaming since I started to play PSRV.

[@reidlingjunior]

I enjoy both. I don't know anyone that only likes retro. I have found that getting someone who has only played modern to try a retro game is the hardest. I see it getting easier since retro games are becoming more readily available.

[@tonyp9313]

Forget it lol. If they grew up with modern gaming they'll look at Retro gaming & think it's trash simply on graphics. These are the type that move on to a PS5 & everything before it is obsolete.

[@SegaTron64]

Nice RGB mod screen on that Sega Nomad. Did you install that yourself? I've been looking into upgrading mine from the Composite mod screen I put in mine a few years ago. Great video and happy new year Bird!

[@bluefates58]

Oh how could you tell its modded I have never seen gameplay on a Nomad so don't really know what it looks like

[@Estorium]

@@bluefates58 It must be modded because the blur on the original screen is insane. This one looks crisp. Gorgeous.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thanks :) I considered installing it myself, but ended up having somebody else do it to make sure it went smoothly.

[@bluefates58]

@Retro Bird yeah I get that I am planning to get someone to replace the caps in my N64(and maybe NES) since they are super important to and the last thing I want is to wreck them

[@SegaTron64]

@@bluefates58 The original screen was very faded and prone to motion blur. His is crisp and has a fast response time. It is night and day if you look at a stock one and compare them.

[@Bluegundam13]

I play modern games more but I do really love the snes and ps1 and have tried to play more nes games lately even though I need save states to get through them because nes games are really frustrating and too hard for me to be patient without them. But I enjoy playing through them even with save states

[@Deseko]

My first console was a NES back in '89. That being said i love gaming as a whole, but i play modern games way more. Also, that is a fine super soaker collection!

[@videogryphon]

I have two kids (7 and 4) and they love everything from NES to Switch. I think every era has something to offer though I'm definitely more interested in retro.

[@linuxretrogamer]

I play games from all eras. Been gaming since '86 and I think games have only got better. Even so I still love going back and playing games I've enjoyed from the past. I'm actively building a library spanning the decades of games that speak to me. I've around 90 games installed so far. I try to get remakes/remasters/updates if available but the origins of all 90 games, so far, date from '86 or earlier. I've pencilled 300 games into the library so far. I'm gaming on PC with a 4TB HDD so all 300+ games will eventually be installed and ready to run at whim. No carts, no discs, no uninstalling for space and downloading, no streaming. Gaming nirvana!

[@Tapp-Mourningwood]

For me, the lines between retro and modern games are blurring because I'm an old GenX'er who needs to admit he needs glasses. Have a retro new year everyone!

[@linkuriboh471]

A lot of modern games tend to be long nowadays, especially if they have achievements or trophies. If you are really good, you can beat games like Wario Land 4 or the OG Super Mario Bros in a few hours. That's one of the reasons why I play on the PS Vita. Less free time for video games nowadays.

[@alexroberto6353]

(6:00) Some old movie based games do a pretty good job. I'm playing Hook on SNES after watching the movie. It's not bad I'm kinda feeling like the Pan.

[@DestroyerOfWombs]

My answer would have to be Retro. I could make a dozen arguments for why, but there’s one simple reason that cannot be disputed ; Sooner or later, all Modern games will become Retro games, too.

[@melancholas]

Gaming in general brought me through so many bad periods in life. As many here and you already mentioned, if retro or modern, it depends on my mood. One thing that both have in common what I really love about videogames are the soundtracks. 8 but, 16 bit, bombastic dramatic, calm. Back then I played a game like Super Castlevania was because of the great tracks this game has. Another thing that I enjoy about both: to see how the one is influencing the other in a positive way. The "comeback" odlf games like Resident Evil 2 remake e. g. or denakes of games like Elden Ring for the Gameboy. That retro is still beloved is often shown in modern games, when they include older cabinets or retro influenced games. In GTA San Andreas there have been areas with Arcade cabinets. Some games put in kind a time travel mechanic through the eras of videogames. The Book of Unwritten Tales. And then there are the fans of retro games who were in many cases the motivation for developers to bring out e. g. new point and click adventures. We also have that moral thing, that some developers, who bring out newer games avoid things like microtransactions, season passes and so on. They raise their voices against NFTs, don't copy the idea of "games as a service". With nowadays games, even though it can be a negative thing, is the possibility to play online with friends. Via Nintendo Switch e. g. it is even possible to play Genesis or N64 online. As far as we respect each others positions it is OK for me, when people only enjoy the one or the other or both. What I really detest, is when people try to convince me that you can't like both. As mentioned above, how both side get influenced in a positive way, that's what I like most about both worlds.

[@drewtodd4471]

I don't know. I think retro is old fashioned games. They are new though. I like the old stuff the most. What's the story behind Lance in Contra? Don't care. I think simple is best. Also it's creepy you brought up Spider man. That's exactly what I was thinking of. I just started playing Spiderman on Dreamcast. The camera is really bad. I've easily beaten the PS1 version. It's not bad, it just feels like it's awkward. And, with the comics they used to have a two sentence intro. Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider, has spider powers, GO! I love that. If you want more, go ahead. But Stan said every comic is someone's first. So be inviting. Easy to grasp the basics. I think that's why the Wii was so great. It's accessible and simple. Simple isn't a bad thing. You covered a lot of topics here.

[@Crashinginthesamecar1]

Love your stuff Retro Bird! You should try Tunic!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I've been eyeing that one!

[@My_Dixie_Wrecked_]

Put those things together my friend...modern retro games...Hunt Down, Valfaris, Streets of Rage 4, CupHead, Sega Genesis Collection on ps4...

[@kirikinolatx]

To me, it is mostly about genres and the "feel" of a game, rather than its antiquity. I predominantly like the genres "of old" (2D and 3D platforms, beatemup, shootemup, arcade racers, run and gun, metroidvania, you get it), even the modern titles that fit in them. But for more modern genres I didn't grow up with, it's hard for me to get into, like the cinematic-like experiences, hack n slash, FPS (other than the very old ones), Battle Royale... etc. I definitely don't want or simply can't invest many hours into games that require to do lots of tasks to advance.

[@sonicmania9993]

Totally with you on "genres"! I like modern games quite a lot, but my "hometown" when it comes to videogames are genres that peaked years ago: 90s JRPGs, 90s platformers (2D & 3D), late 90s/early 00s racing games, late 80s and 90s shmups, 90s fighting games, and some late 90s/early00s action-adventure games like Ocarina. Those "genres" were magic at those times.

[@kirikinolatx]

@@sonicmania9993 Yeah, exactly. I'm not much into modern games maybe because they lack the tech limitation the old ones used to have, so they were more innovative and had different ways to keep you entertained for a while. Modern genres are all mostly about levelling up.

[@popculturehero]

Very enlightening piece. That modern games are mostly more comfortable and empowering because they don't need to gate off progress as much. Though modern games also want to retain players and keep you from playing anything else so you'll buy microtransaction items. Just too many modern live service games. Part of why I collect and play retro is to insulate my hobby from corporate connections. Old games don't update or collect data, they might not always respect your time with limited lives acting like a rouguelike. But there is a liberating freedom to finding your own games without marketing or social pressure.

[@GoOKuSj33]

truth is we need both.

[@GizmoFantasyCrew]

Listen as a Gen Z myself I love both retro and modern gaming but I prefer lightyears more retro gaming than modern gaming the reason three letters DLC and playability are the two main reasons why I prefer playing retro games as opposed to more modern games. But that doesn't mean I play modern games

[@Estorium]

I love retro games, but I do love conveniences of modern games (no limited lives, no timed levels, auto and manual saves etc). Edit: Oh and modern games include the Soulsborne games, the best games ever 😁

[@cherokeefit4248]

Gotta admit that some newer games like RE 2,3,7,8 are special games that are on par with any classic snes game. Most newer games die hard though.

[@anonymousm9113]

Thanks for the upload! Love the mix of gaming, nostalgia, and humor! I grew out of games when my oldest was born. Maybe "grew" isn't the best choice of words, but FFVII was new and despite being an early PS player I just fell away from games in the late-'90s. I never got into online gaming, but maybe my inner gamer is still intact. I'll pick up GTA V in a heartbeat and also enjoyed the Injustice games, playing as Harley Quinn and showing my kids up..