RETRO VS REALITY - Happy Console Gamer

Johnny talks about the difference of retro gaming versus the reality!
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Join Johnny Millenium The Happy Console Gamer as he discusses new video games and reviews forgotten games that not many people know about but should!

[@theBryansBasement]

Approach old games as a historian, you can’t look at games through the lenses of today.

[@mgarcar1255]

To enjoy retro games, you really have to be tolerant to that era's playstyle, graphics, etc. It is much easier for someone who lived through it, but some people can look past certain modern emanates and still enjoy retro regardless. Keep recommending all the games you love, new and old!!

[@tarasybnios5356]

To be tolerant of the gameplay, graphics etc is not just for retro games but for video games etc of every era. There are games released right now with awkward gameplay mechanics, graphics that many are whining about etc. The art pixel style is not something to whine about even if you didn't live at that time, it is art.. not all people appreciate art so..

[@AbstractM0use]

I started on the Atari 2600 and grew up playing them all. I still have to reprogram my brain to go back and play some of the older games from the PS1 and PS2 era. I've gotten so spoiled on the range of control we have on the camera now, it's jarring when it's taken away. As far as graphics, I'd be a liar if I said they didn't matter. Every gamer I knew growing up wanted better and better graphics. We also discovered that good graphics don't make a bad game good, but that doesn't mean we didn't want games to continue looking better. There is charm in pixel art, I love it, but it was all we had back then and we wanted more.

[@user-zu1ix3yq2w]

Getting a good CRT or an emulator setup on a modern TV with the right config and CRT filters and motion-blur reduction would go a long way to improving the retro game experience. Many of them were designed to be played on CRTs -- it makes a difference!

[@ancientflames]

Graphics don't matter at all. It's hand play. Just because something is old doesn't mean it's bad gameplay is excused.

[@CRedd9830]

Simmons (AssistMeDoom) lived through that era, he just doesn't enjoy the Xenosaga games.

[@Dorelaxen]

I dunno. I've always felt that the inherent clunkiness of retro games was part of the charm. Even today I still like that aspect of them.

[@NeonPizza80s]

It's safe to say that the 8-16 bit generations have aged 1000x better than pretty much any 3D game that belongs on the Saturn, PS1 & N64. A link to the Past for example is just timeless. Same can be said for a lot of SNES games.

[@fernandosepulveda7297]

I like it when the framerate stutters because there's so much shit going on screen.

[@Fasneocroth]

@@fernandosepulveda7297 ha yeah gives ya time to work out wtf is going on or appreciate it more sometimes in slow motion.

[@HiNRGboy]

@@NeonPizza80s The early 3D console era is UGLY AS SIN.

[@TIDbitRETRO]

One of the things I really appreciate about retro games is they let you just jump in and play. Whereas a lot of modern games inundate you with countless brain dead tutorials at almost every baby step of progression. #DitchTutorialsBringBackManuals

[@Fasneocroth]

I recently bought FFXIII-2 and Lightning Returns and was pleasantly surprised to receive a beautiful colour manual with each game.

[@iCABALi]

@@Fasneocroth manuals were still commonplace during that generation of consoles, so why were you surprised? It wasn't until the PS4/Xbox One that manuals were all but done away with and swapped to an online format, if they wanted to make one at all.

[@duffman1876]

You have to update it first before ya start em tutorials 🍻🍺

[@turismofoegaming8806]

@@duffman1876 let’s not forget installing it also which I guess you could say it’s part of the update!?!?!? 🥵by the time it’s ready

[@TheLemonsims]

I used to spend 15-20 minutes memorizing those handbooks

[@BlueMilkJedi]

One of the biggest part of retro gaming is the nostalgia of the amazing memories we had of that period and time of when we played those games. You can’t buy or replicate something you didn’t experience.

[@arminius504]

Some of the games are still amazing though even some of I haven’t played when I was younger.

[@AnarickTheDevil]

Then why is it when I buy a retro game I missed out on at the time it's still better than the majority of the trash released today? I don't have nostalgia for these games so nothing is being replicated and yet they are still better.

[@inglcaraballo]

played dragons trap last year, immediately called it the best metroidvania of all time. And I didn't play it back in 1988.

[@tarasybnios5356]

I disagree.. A part is nostalgia of that wonderful time of course but not the biggest part. As many have said I discover games I didn't even heard from the 80s and 90s and I have the greatest time playing them right now! I didn't play those games then so 0% memories.

[@KyleReeseCel2029]

@@tarasybnios5356 I agree with you both. However our interest level is different because of the culture we grew up in. Some things are only good to a generation, while subsequent generations mostly might not like said thing. For example I don't care for pre-nes games or ragtime music but others loved that stuff at the time.

[@fyiicheckforspies]

There's always concessions that have to be made when enjoying any kind of old media, whether its video games, TV shows, movies, etc. because things were different in the past. Despite the last decade being almost nothing but reboots and remakes, prior decades actually had distinct cultures and technological differences. Modern gamers can complain about "the clunkiness" of older games but I think there are still merits to playing the original Resident Evil vs. REMake for example.

[@1BALINT1]

I was actually just thinking about that! Like I was too young to play the original Resident Evil games so I first got introduced to the franchise with RE4. And I have to admit I enjoy the 2 and 3 remakes more than the originals because the tank controls are gone (and I think that is partially what made the classic ones scarier), the camera is in classic third person view, the graphics and animations are obviously much better, the action sequences are way smoother, etc. But I DO respect the opinions of older players who grew up on the originals and adore it because at THAT time it was the very best developers could do. They had such a big impact on gaming for a reason.

[@ataridc]

I never owned a N64 and only recently within the last 5 years played through Ocarina of Time because it is held up as kind of like the Citizen Kane/Pet Sounds of gaming, and I can honestly say that it was impressive for how good the game was considering its age and with no nostalgia goggles, but I would never call it one of my favorite games ever. People really should try hard to put themselves in other's shoes before making these kind of reccomendations. Like it would be pointless to reccommend the movie Aliens to someone that exclusively watches romantic comedies if you don't at least preface it with the warning that it isn't within the comfort zone of things they usually watch, but we never do this for games for some reason. A simple, "hey, I played this game when it was new and fresh and you personally can never have that experience." style disclaimer would go a long way in at least tempering expectations. I personally have adopted a new rule to mostly disregard any overly gushing opinions about media that people have some kind of fond childhood memory for.

[@yanceyboyz]

The original resident evil 2 for mez is better than any remake or any other resident evil game.

[@MrDrunkReviews]

Dynamite Dux is a masterpiece, you just experienced it at the wrong point in an inception loop. It redefined the beat ‘em up genre at a time that you were too cynical because it wasn’t satanic enough. Nothing is ever satanic enough for you Johnny, not even the AGG Whale.

[@manaowls]

Someone who's born today might think in 20 years of Breath of the Wild as a bad game. It's all about being at the right time and right moment with the right surroundings.

[@vilvismargots5937]

Yes imagine Zelda on next gen VR done right.

[@cd4playa1245]

They’ll still have fun with botw 20 years from now lol

[@flyingplantwhale545]

It's just REALLY hard to imagine BOTW ever being viewed as bad. I mean.. to me it captures everything that's fun about games. I guess eventually I'll be that old fart talking about 'back in my day' lol.

[@holleringsmith3837]

Breath of the wild is a bad game TODAY. The most overrated game of all time.

[@gypate74]

Not a single Zelda game, even the older ones, is considered as bad today. This is a magical license

[@cutter6900]

As someone who's been around for every generation of video games, this rings true. I can play a AAA modern game one day and then enjoy myself with some Atari 2600 gaming the next. Sure, things have progressed, but a good game is for all time. Some may not agree, but that's fine - that's life! No hate, like you said, just joy from such a wide variety of options.

[@xenos_n.]

I would have to semi-agree, I think some games are good for all time, but others are absolutely mind blowing and revolutionary when they come out but age very poorly.

[@sagepirotess6312]

Maze craze, pitfall, combat,

[@sagepirotess6312]

@@xenos_n. final fantasy 7 fits your example

[@sonkakaroto9000]

“I can’t believe HCG recommended this game” 😂😂😂

[@HappyConsoleGamer]

:(

[@sonkakaroto9000]

@@HappyConsoleGamer I played the Tales series based on your recommendation. Great series thank you!

[@VirtuaColin]

When Sega was rereleasing the original Phantasy Star on Switch, I was interested to try it out, so I went to KZbin to know if it was any good. From your old series review video, you actually got me into not just the first game, but the rest of the series as well.

[@James-gj8rn]

You know what i really miss Johnny? Demo Discs. I have a nostalgia for them, on the PS2 specifically because it's how i was introduced to the Yakuza series with a Yakuza demo back then and now that's my favourite game series of all time and Kiryu's story really resonated with me :)

[@Chicomite]

So mad I threw all my magazines, demo discs and Jampacks away, I had every single Jampack, many PS Underground discs, they were so awesome. $4.99 for a disc full of huge demos of the latest games, cheats, videos for upcoming games, and even memory card saves, what a deal. It was super easy to convince your parents to get a $5 disc than a $50 game. Yea, those days are done, $4.99 to customize your gun to be blue now.

[@CosmicWolfPack]

Demo disks on the ps2 almost feels like a dream. It was a time I remember so fondly. Those weird demo hub words they would create sometimes too is just weird to explain to someone nowadays that wasn’t around for that.

[@HappyConsoleGamer]

Dreamcast demo discs were great!

[@JMrealgamer]

Yakuza is awesome man. Have you gotten a chance to play Yakuza 7?! RPG goodness at its finest!

[@residentevilclone]

I had so many PS1 demo discs. A huge CD book of them from PSM, OPM, PS Underground, Jampack… It is entirely possible I spent as much time playing those as I did actual full length PS1 games.

[@NamooNara]

I’d be curious to know what retro games this streamer enjoys. I wonder if it’s more of a matter of taste than a matter of nostalgia

[@CRedd9830]

Simmons (AssistMeDoom is the streamer) is a huge fan of ARPGs but there are some turn based RPGs he enjoys like Grandia, Skies of Arcadia, Shining Force III & Chrono Trigger. He loves the Xenoblade games but hates Xengears and Xenosaga.

[@DSan-kl2yc]

@@CRedd9830 heh so it's just a person that likes one rpg and not another and it's not about it being old. I also don't like saga. Not saying it's bad. Just didn't like lots of it.

[@VidalSuperNinjaGaming]

I'm still very excited and find it very enjoyable to go back and dig up older retro titles. I feel video games are much like any piece of art or well made slice of entertainment. Truly great music, movies, and games from vintage or retro eras may "Go out of style" but can always stand the test of time. Ironically Chrono Trigger immediately comes to mind in this regard, as it is a game I only played fairly recently for the first time and still felt it was a masterpiece. A perception of good quality and great taste can often be lost or completely underdeveloped in younger folks, they'll happily digest trash in all of these mediums simply because, they don't know any better. However I know a lot of older folks who also can't appreciate anything that isn't spoon fed to them as the "latest and greatest" thing. It really is an interesting topic but I'm always try to implore other gamers to broaden their pallets... There is so much good stuff out there.

[@ScottX68000]

Johnny, just so you know I picked up Ys Books 1 & 2 because of you and really enjoyed the game, I haven't finished it yet but i've had a really good time with it. I've also picked up Ys Origin but I haven't played that one yet, I have no doubt it will be great though.

[@luisbadolato]

When you play a game that's more than two or three generations old I think you have to adapt your mindset to having a different kind of experience than the one you'd have playing a recent game. I love Ys books 1 and 2 or Neutopia and I never played them when I was younger, so I don't think it's the nostalgia factor necessarily what makes me love plugging in the Turbo Duo.

[@TheRetroBrian]

Totally agree. A game needs to fit into your own preferences, and then you can enjoy it even more. The example of Chrono Trigger is a perfect example. Because that game will Always stand the test of time to anyone who loves turn based JRPS.

[@ilpohartikainen2771]

Thanks to Johnny I found out that I really, really love Ys games. I have ignored them before I saw Ys book 1 and 2 in this channel and oh boy I was hooked (and still am). So cheers!

[@rogerdonovan1759]

I kinda have the same story with the Ys games. It's thanks to Johnny and a French podcast that speaks about Japanese games that I had the curiosity of starting the journey. I do not regret it one bit ! I went through older games in the series with a lot of enjoyment so there's that as well

[@LorenHelgeson]

@@rogerdonovan1759 I love the Ys series. With the earlier games in particular, it's what I like to call "Hydlide done right."

[@Aragorn7884]

Altered Beast and Golden Axe 😬🙄...and that's coming from someone who grew up as a Genesis fanboy 🤷‍♂️

[@1914fallen]

I understand what your saying perfectly as I just went thru this with Assassin’s Creed. Having finished Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on my PS5 I was going thru withdrawal so I had purchased Assassin’s Creed The Ezio collection for The Switch. Finally popped it in started playing and struggling because of course the gameplay mechanic basics are there but very crude compared to the newer title. Still a great game but you have to play it for what it is.

[@seedofwonder]

If you play Xenosaga III without playing the first two, you have my respect. I would have been confused AF. Amazing game, but out of context I would have hated it.

[@Xeronarth]

I usually end up doing the opposite. I'll play an earlier game and think: "Wow! This is great! Perhaps even better than [New Game in Series]!" Not always, as some games truly are limited by when they released, but so many great games exist from back in the day that I feel hold up just as well, if not better, than their big presentation counterparts.

[@xenos_n.]

Kirby's Dream Course has aged like a fine wine. Still one of the most fun multiplayer games.

[@backyardparkworks]

I often purposefully come to retro game channels to get recommendations that are outside of my normal wheelhouse and personal taste. I think thats the joy of youtube gaming channels. Even if something isnt my cup of tea, I want to get someone else's take and maybe get to expand my horizons.

[@ManiacMonkboon]

I'm so glad I'm from an era where game's we're actually good and complete. Yeah, there are some great games out, but have they really evolved other than graphically? My favorite game of all time, Shenmue on Dreamcast. You can damn near enter any place. Most games now only allow one to enter scripted places. I still enjoy PS1 and Nintendo 64 game's. Retro game's are awesome. Yeah, I'm an old gamer. 50+ ish. 😊

[@carlstevenwilletts]

Shenmue is a masterpiece, but it's as clunky as hell. I would play it any day of the week, but imagine anyone who has only played games for the last 5 years or so playing the game for the first time. It would take a lot to see past the control system and truly see what the game has to offer.

[@ManiacMonkboon]

@@carlstevenwilletts That is very true. But hopefully, someone not as ancient as I am would quickly notice all the features Shenmue has, in spite of its quirkiness. I'll always prefer Shenmue, Yakuza, Judgment, Sleeping Dog's, Spec Ops: The Line, Vanquish, Binary Domain and a few others compared to what's main stream.

[@chrilz1498]

If it makes you feel any better, Johnny, you’re the reason I love the Dragon Quest series, so you win some you lose some, haha! The fact that your passion made the fellow try the game in the first place is a testament to how contagious your energy is. Thanks for another great video, my friend!

[@paulb3849]

Same here. I played through all the dragon quest, almost all final fantasy and almost all xeno games due to this channel. I still have a few to go, but I think those games are the bomb.

[@chrilz1498]

@@paulb3849 That's awesome! I'm glad I'm not the only case study--he honestly made a JRPG fan out of me over my time watching these past 7 years.

[@krduggan9159]

Dragon Warrior I on the NES is my favorite RPG. 🥰. I love the iPad version with a fancier soundtrack. It’s so beautiful. ❤️

[@chrilz1498]

@@krduggan9159 I haven't played the original, but you're inspiring me! Perhaps I'll have to peak at the releases, the iPad version being among them, and see what would suite me :)

[@FalconStrikeGames]

Thank you for the awesome uploads! I love your positive energy towards games (old and new) and the gaming community.

[@DrRESHES]

Welp, you suggested Huntdown to me. I finished it, and i love it a lot!

[@TheGoldfishh]

I recently played through Phantasy Star 1 for the first time because of this channel and I LOVED it. You’re right though, you have to go into some games from the pov of the time they were released to really enjoy some games. Not every game is going to be a timeless classic, but at the time of their releases they were bangers.

[@GameGalaxyshow]

While my knee jerk reaction is to get upset and scream "get off my lawn" to a bunch of ungrateful youngsters; I will stand by and say a good game can stand on its own for all time. You have to compare breath of the wild and the original Zelda in different lights for obvious reasons; however the core foundation of what makes the original legend of Zelda great is timeless. 8k resolution, controllers operated from my butthole, 240hz refresh rates, and ray traced nipple hairs don't automatically equal a good game.

[@shutup1037]

👍

[@MGM_Think]

hear, hear.

[@ozzyfanatic666]

Sorry man, if I can't control the game with my butthole I just can't enjoy it. Some things you can't go back from.

[@jhauer2935]

Looking at games through the “nostalgia” glasses lol. Some games just do not age well. FF VIII is that way for me.

[@jhauer2935]

Your Xenosaga 4 video is what TikTok is right now lol

[@decimustv4257]

But you said that FF8 was like the best game of all time? I’m like confused?

[@jhauer2935]

@@decimustv4257 I wouldn’t say ff8 was the best game of all time because FF8 isn’t even in my top 3 FF games. Lol.

[@jhauer2935]

@@decimustv4257 I remember it better than it actually was is what I’m getting at

[@drowningin]

Age well? FF8 didn't release well!

[@joniden2215]

I'm going to get flack for this. But I watched one of HappyConsoleGamer's videos about Phantasy Star. I got the first game on the Switch... And put it down as I got to the first dungeon. I bet it's a fantastic game but is not my cup of tea at this time. However to counter balance this. HappyConsoleGamer's video about Dragon Quest 8 3D sold me on the game and I love the game.

[@jc4446]

We grow up , our tastes change , games rarely impress me…even today most of its already been done before . Nostalgia has a ton to do with why we like old games but newer games are just rehashing what old did and add in the graphical power etc . I tried to recommend silent hill 2 to a friend and he couldn’t finish it because controls were too clunky , graphics bad etc . I feel like it’s one of the greatest game ever though 😂

[@grizzlybearking1878]

The controls ARE bad and the graphics compared to todays ARE bad and I still think its the best survival horror game ever. "Rehashing" is a stretch. You are implying its the same games from 3-4 decades ago but better graphics which is an extremely reductive argument that can be used for every piece of entertainment media ever created.

[@newgameaaaa]

I actually like games more when people recommend them because I can feel the excitement. I hear a lot of great things about Resident evil games with those tank controls and other similar games like silent hill. I tried playing it a long time ago and didn't like it. I think I would like it a little more now because I have a different expectation.

[@jrbluedup]

If you want a great game today play elden ring..its phenomenal

[@chrishof3917]

@@grizzlybearking1878 and don't forgot that the clunky controls are actually part of the experience: clunky controls add stress in dangerous situations. I remember screaming ' nonoNOOOO!!' while trying my very best to perfectly turn those corners and try to escape some certain death... wow... it still feels so scary even thinking about it

[@billyd5917]

Honestly when it comes to horror games gameplay is not as important atmospher and it being creepy, clucky controls can add to the atmosphere and the feel of dread, imo there is no horror game today that can compare to the classic Silent Hill.

[@mechaotakugamer]

I'd love to play Xenosaga episode 3 but that game is too damn expensive. Not paying 250-300 for it. And the sad thing is I need that game for collection. I have the other 2 xenosaga games but I never owned 3

[@damonke79]

I will eventually buy it. Also looking to get a copy of Suikoden II at some point...that's the one that's gonna hurt

[@grahfkarate1799]

Funny, had a OG copy I bought new but wanted a 360 and sold all my games for it.. Had the urge to play Xenosaga about 4 years ago. 1 and 2 I bought cheap but XS 3 was 60 bucks at the time.. crazy that game is going for that much now. I think the popularity of the blade games have increased value and the fact that they didn’t make too many copies of XS3

[@damonke79]

@@grahfkarate1799 All the retro RPGs have skyrocketed. Shadow Hearts is now 150 bucks. Shadow Hearts Covenant is basically 100 bucks. It's just crazy. What sucks is...I missed out on a lot of games from that time period because I was broke, busy starting a family, etc. So now trying to go back and catch up has been a challenge. I'm also a collector who is battling with resellers in a market where people are buying games and selling them for profit down the line. It would be one thing if I paid a high price to buy a game, played it and then resold it but I have no interest in doing that

[@mechaotakugamer]

@@damonke79all 3 shadow hearts was at one of my favorite game stores and I can't really remember the prices

[@grahfkarate1799]

@@damonke79 it’s why I’m not against emulation. I personally don’t partake but I understand it. If companies don’t make it easy to purchase older games I completely support emulation. Otherwise games would die. Think about these old PS2s. How much longer are they going to last?

[@gwarriorfromhell]

It all depends on where you were when a game came out. Sure we all love the timeless classics, but the niche games that we all love are niche for a reason. Not everyone loved Xenosaga, not everyone loved Shadow Hearts, not everyone loved the classic Monster Hunter games. We all have our own tastes and those of us who grew up with broken mechanics and games that require some borderline breaks in order to get through them easily are more understanding and accepting of these older games.

[@user-zu1ix3yq2w]

One of those reasons is lack of supply/sales -- i.e. not many people played the game because not many could. And yes, that comes with a different geographic distribution model.

[@paulmaloney4387]

Ever since beating Elden Ring ive been looking for something to fill my gaming void. I've never played an Elder Scrolls, and am now 35 hours into my first Morrowind play through on Series X. Its genuinely one of the most immersive games I've ever played - I love hows theres little to no handholding in this *massive* world (just like Elden Ring)

[@colinDESU]

It’s just like talking about “best inventions of all time.” Someone could argue the “wheel,” while someone could argue the “car.” The fact is that the car wouldn’t have happened without the wheel coming first. Even though the car is more complex, that doesn’t make it a better invention when you take into consideration time periods and technologies during the separate times. Breath of the Wild is possibly the best modern game in existence (come at me lol), but there was nothing like Zelda 1 at the time either.

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

*Tekken* *3* *vs.* *Tekken* *5* Tekken 4 and 5 are prettier. And 5 added way more characters. But I still prefer 3 over 5 and 5:DR. I played that game from 1998-2002. Just has flawless gameplay. Lei wasn't nerfed.

[@drowningin]

I got my copy of Pocky & Rocky from playasia. Games quality blew my mind. Some of the best sprites this gen, and done by 1 person 😱😱😱 retro game that 1000% holds up

[@thisisstupid6524]

I've ordered elsewhere can't wait to get it

[@EricFraga]

Video games are art. And like every other art, it's a matter of personal preference ONLY. You will only discover if you like a game until you play it. Opinions of any other person in the world won't make ANY difference on your appreciation of a game. It's as simple as that. Great video Johnny, that moment you saw the streamer commenting, what a coincidence you were there watching! :)

[@ulysses2162]

This ☝🏼 100%. It's the same for everything really, not just video games. What one person or a group of people like, may not be liked by others. Everything is subjective, and down to personal preference and choice. That's why people arguing online about what's good and what's not is silly really.

[@Jarbalius]

Can't be sure if my experience with YS Books 1&2 we're the same as yours back in the day, but what i can say is that your channel made me want to try out YS games and i fell in love with the series. I've played every single one of them now and can't wait to get more of Adol Christin.

[@AutomaticSnake]

Who cares what younger generations like? They grew up with bad music, Fortnite, streamers, COD, woke games lol. It's a generation that wants everything easy and fast. I never played Xeno, but I'm playing San Andreas right now and having fun. Better than Cyberpunk.. and most agree with that. The retro scene is getting bigger for a reason. Its never been as big as now.

[@JoshMarzolf]

I usually have the opposite problem where the newer versions of classic games disappoint me. In my opinion every Nintendo franchise went downhill after going 3D. But the original NES was my jumping in point so that colors my judgment.

[@NueThunderKing]

Your nostalgia is getting the best of you then. My first Zelda game was ALttP, but that didn’t stopped me to find OoT and MM the masterpieces they still are. Hell MM is one of my favourite Zeldas to this day, and I enjoyed every one of them, even the DS ones. Games today (the ones that are truly great) are better than their old counterparts, no discussion here. That doesn’t mean their first iterations are bad, far from it, but there are quality of life improvements in the new releases that go above and beyond of what they had.

[@thealexgamez7948]

I can enjoy old games quite a lot, even though I didn’t grew up with them. And I mean, a great game is a great game. No matter when it was released.

[@shiBuyaking109]

That’s why remasters are so popular

[@rmathiesen5125]

It's funny you're talking about this right now. I'm going through the same thing right now with something I'm playing. I grew up on the NES and the SNES is one of my favorite systems. I never played Chrono trigger growing up and didn't really look into getting it until a year ago. I'm finally sitting down on the steam version and playing currently. 12 hours in and Lavos just hit the earth. To me right now the game is just (ok). The soundtrack is incredible, everything else is good, but it's just ok. I have to constantly remind myself that this came out in 1995 and back then, it was amazing to have a game with such a solid story and characters, and the time travel, and the NG+ aspect and the 15-18 different endings... In 1995, that's probably worth 100+ hours of gameplay, and for then, it's AMAZING!! It did so many things better than all the other games of the time. So hopefully I don't get too much hate over this comment, but I do enjoy the game and I probably won't get into the NG+ to much bc there's other things to play right now, but I'm glad I will be able to scratch this one off my backlog.

[@K3nVV]

Chrono Trigger was a game I missed back in the day. I've tried to go back and enjoy it, but I've had a difficult time getting into it.

[@danholo]

Lol. This just happened to me with Panzer Paladin. Visual presentation, music and theme were great but the weapon mechanic was burdensome and uninteresting to me.

[@CarlosXPhone]

I was just gonna ask "Is Panzer Paladin, Panzer Dragoon?" Then I googled it. I'm like "Oh."

[@timhammond9814]

we was very lucky to grow up and see and feel the different stages of video games .

[@JoeyBoxOfDonuts]

Isn't it interesting how this hobby sometimes boils down to chasing a feeling you had, but it's almost impossible to grasp because that feeling was a product of the time and your circumstances at that time. It's both precious and elusive

[@Gorlokk666]

Lol yeah, I remember having my mind blown as a wee bean playing Super Mario World, climbing on the fences, and more importantly, being able to flip to the other side and punch enemies off from behind the fence. For some reason that was the greatest thing ever to me lol.

[@wolfy.gaming3184]

Perfectly understandable for that streamer to feel that way when he's playing the game, he just need to remind himself that he's playing 10+ year old game with outdated design. Yesterday I started to replay Infinite Undiscovery after more than 10 years since I've finished it. Back when it came out in 2008, it is considered an average game by critics but as I was playing it there're certain things that are worse than I remember (the combat feels more clunky than I remember, the input lag, the framerate, voice acting, quest design, etc.), but there are also certain things as good as I remember (the musics, the story is fun). So yeah it can happen when there's a certain things doesn't align with what you remember. Please check Infinite Undiscovery, it's still an Xbox 360 exclusive and is backward compatible from Xbox Series.

[@The8bitbeard]

I've said before one needs to get into a "90s mindset" to enjoy those old games, and of course that's a lot easier to do when you were around back then.

[@yeahyeahwowman8099]

Back then philosophy doesn't really apply anymore because we have millions of indie developers making retro style games, as well as certain companies reviving old classics. Of course there's the nes, snes, Genesis mini, emulators, God knows what else. What I am saying is that if it was way harder to get your hands on these games then maybe.

[@Aragorn7884]

*A LOT* of NES games have 'nostalgia goggles' 🤔🤐

[@IlliyaVjestica]

Going in with modern expectations 👌 you've certainly recommend some great stuff over the years. I played the original Ys games and they hold up extremely well. Of course, some retro titles haven't and that's the whole point. Some classic will never be forgotten as the core gameplay is soooo good.

[@JohahnDiechter]

I recommend Wizardry 8 for the PC all the time knowing full well that it can be frustrating for modern gamers to understand. Once you get it, you will love it though. Or you won't. First-person party -based games are a relic of the past.

[@morrowmon85]

Was playing it this morning drinking coffee! Can be very frustrating but love it too.

[@tomderry7295]

I periodically evaluate my favorite games. Do they hold up? Is nostalgia why I like it so much? Things like that. Considering those things, Contra (NES) is still in my top ten all time!

[@gamewithgreg]

What are the other 9?

[@tomderry7295]

@@gamewithgreg Good question! In no particular order Link to the Past Final Fantasy Tactics Chrono Trigger The Last of Us Shadow of the Colossus Final Fantasy 4 Castlevania SOTN Metroid Dread (used to be Super Metroid) RE 4

[@sealone777]

I played all xenosaga and loved it! These days everyone have hundreds of backlog games to play. Back in the day JRPG games were not mainstream and very limited. One thing I have to say is that modern JRPG stories lack depth.

[@dadou3jdcify]

Yes games come out to often now a days lol 😆

[@DamienDrake2940]

This raises an interesting question: Which retro console is easiest or hardest for first timers to enjoy today overall?

[@jameskozy7254]

I think the n64 is hard to enjoy. It has aged poorly and the controls are a mess. However, I think the super nintendo has aged like fine wine.

[@newgameaaaa]

I'll take a crack at your question. First, I grew up with the intellivision, then NES and kind of stopped at PS2 because college, work, and life takes up time. I think gaming systems and their games have gotten progressivly better. I still love great games from any era. I bought a modded xbox that has a lot of retro games on it with many older consoles. I still love the games on the intellivision especially burgertime. It is so easy to pick up and play and enjoy. I tried games for the Atari 2600, 7800, colecovision, commodore 64, amiga. I just don't find them fun. Maybe also because I didn't grow up playing them and they weren't on my radar. The colecovision and the intellivision had a number keypad which makes it difficult to get into because the controls are unknown or look at the overlays. The amiga and commodore used a keyboard which is annoying for me. However, I loved Doom on the PC. I also just recently played it on my modded xbox with a controller and liked it better for the controls. I think NES, SNES and Genesis are easy to enjoy because you just turn on the system and press start and go. You will quickly figure it out.

[@NamooNara]

PC Engine and Dreamcast are easy to enjoy

[@Xpancakes11X]

I'd say the Wii is the easiest to get into. The hardest to enjoy for first timers today would be an atari 2600 or any parser/text only game.

[@ulink265]

@@Xpancakes11X Wii isnt really that retro, i would put the snes as the easiest one, It has the most appealing graphics out of any retro console, an incredible library of games and games werent that hard anymore

[@UseTheBoost3D]

I struggled a lot going back to older games, once I started that whole journey. I will say, almost all of the ones I've dived into because of this channel specifically have been big hits with me! I think the arcade stuff has aged particularly well BECAUSE of their simplicity. As I've grown up I've gotten more and more overwhelmed by the scope of a lot of modern "AAA" games, especially the ones that take SO LONG to just beat! A shorter run time is actually selling point for me. I do try to put myself in the headspace for the time that a certain game came out, and usually that helps, but a lot of times, ya just had to be there! I think that that's especially true once gaming started to go 3D. A ton of people are quick to point out how the N64 hasn't aged all that well, and I think I generally agree, but considering the impact of the time puts it into perspective. Ya can't just pick up something from the past and expect yourself to totally sync up with it, especially if you're ALSO playing current stuff.

[@Konuvis]

Man this conversation could go on forever honestly. It's all so dependent on likes but also timing. Even games I love if I'm not in the mood I may not enjoy it at that time.

[@NerdyTransformed]

This. It took me years to get into Fallout 3. Now its one of my favorite games

[@rednoggy]

I find anything from my starting era is fine. So 8/16 bit and upwards I can go back to no problems. Anything before that I struggle with. Tried atari 2600 games multiple times. Just can't do it.

[@jckorn9148]

The NES era has definitely fallen into the nostalgia realm. SNES games though really do still hold up. I feel it has to do with how complete and accessible the games were for the SNES.

[@xenosanctum2531]

I played Xenosaga Epsidoe 3 in 2015 after getting into the Xeno series via Xenoblade 1. Loved the game, still my #1 PS2 Game and #1 best turnbased JRPG. The game look incredible for the PS2. The only issue is the fact that the game is kind of built of 2 lackluster JRPGS in Ep 1 and Ep2 but besideds that its a great game. Glad to see people talking abou it in 2022, also check out my Retrospective on my channal if you get the chance as I like talking to people about the Xeno games in my comment section.

[@GalathNox]

AC II is my favorite game of all time. It's obviously not "retro" in the traditional sense, but the franchise has evolved (and devolved) quite a bit over the years. The controls for it could be frustrating at the time, but can be downright infuriating now in comparison to modern games of the genre. That's why it's difficult for me to recommend it to anyone.

[@interghost]

Thats a very cool observation. I totally agree. There are games I LOVE on the old ZX Spectrum, but ask a friend now adays to play it and they really wont enjoy it. Its defo nostalgia. Yes they were GREAT in their time, but playing it now with out that 'playing it at the time of release' mentallity just doesnt work. - Love this idea.

[@sifarid4502]

old jrpg still has better mechanic than modern JRPG, BOF 3, Grandia, Xenogears etc.

[@mattmaddogwheaton4724]

A-1 fucking right mate.

[@K3nVV]

You've made recommendations over the years that I went and played, or bought the games, and I just didn't enjoy them. For example, the Y's series I just couldn't get into, but seriously tried. I don't think it's necessarily just retro vs new mechanics/story. As for the Mario comparison...SM2 all the way. Sorry, disagree with you again. However, I'm sure there are many who disagree with me, and that's okay. *edit* wanted to add Zelda for example...such things as "dowsing", etc, just muddied the waters for me. The last real great Zelda game imo, is Ocarina of Time.

[@turismofoegaming8806]

I would pay $100 for a good Xenogears remake!! I wouldn’t be against paying $59.99 or even $69.99 for just an upscale remaster with trophy achievements(if it happen to make it to Xbox also?) Xenogears is one of my favorite games of all time and I just get super nostalgic when I hear the music!!

[@glory3333]

Final Fantasy 7, It's one of the most boring games I've ever played. I put 10 hours into it. Horrible game. The remake is great though.

[@DecimatedSoul]

I played Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII the other day and finished it, and it still was a blast as when I played it when I was 11 years old, so sometimes games can last and other times not, same with Dark Cloud 2 still absolutely Incredible

[@Lloydo111]

I don't think you should be sad at all! Firstly we don't know if he played XS1 & 2 or just jumped into this,is he the type of persons who plays 2 mins and says to anything sucks which i never respect thats why not all opinions tbh is treated the same, XS3 is one of the best looking games on PS2 to this day, its absolutely fantastic, its not about being old, games are amazing and timeless, ppl in 17 years will say oh breath of the wild is chunky and unplayable which is ridiculous, XS3 is polished and fantastic rpg, everyone have their opinions but not all opinions treated, because i lost count how many times ppl say bad unreasonable things about great games and it turns out they never ever played it! Some are so young that they shit on old games which is also stupid, you should never feel bad Johnny! Games will keep evolving but that doesn't mean anything Fantastic now isn't gonna be in 15 years, RE1R still a masterpiece to this day for example, nostalgia plays part in some games but quality? I never said something is fantastic cuz of nostalgia at all!

[@grahfkarate1799]

Saga 3 is a masterpiece but I get it. It’s like when people complain about the random battles in old JRPGs. I get it, but growing up with them I’m used to it.

[@adamdam]

Yes, it's the era of rpgs I got into and I now miss turned based and random encounters in popular modern titles...like final fantasy, I have almost zero excitement for 16 and to me that's kinda heartbreaking.

[@grahfkarate1799]

@@adamdam it sucks because they can do turn based that feels modern. Look at Persona 5. That combat is fucking incredible. Proof that you can do turn based. I HATED FF7 remake combat. Wish they pulled a persona and made it turn based

[@adamdam]

@@grahfkarate1799 I fully understand and agree.

[@andrewtaylor5723]

I remember I recommended Revenge of Shinobi to my nephew who's 12 absolutely loves the old school Sonic and some old beat em ups. He HATED it lol said it was "too Hard"🤣

[@bradlaird743]

I felt that way with Elden Ring. I have no idea how that game received universal acclaim. Especially for a player like I was was, that had no previous history with Dark Souls. I gave it a good try, but sold the game and never want to play it again.

[@danbooke2001]

The new God of War. Could not stand using the L/R buttons for combat, nothing I did could make me get used to it, completely ruined the game for me honestly and I couldn’t even finish it.

[@zevzero]

On the flip side an interesting topic would be games that have gotten better with time. For example I hated FF15 when it came out. 2 weeks ago I saw a video about it and thought I would give the Royal Edition a try. I now love the game and it might be a favorite rpg of mine now. I think some games get better because of updates or after being are done reviewing you can just play it and enjoy it for what it is.

[@fairygamer77]

hi happy. great video. I loved that series myself. Alot of younger gamers who weren't around when these games came out have no clue of the wow and nostalgia factors we olders gamers have for the "good oh days of gaming". If the older game doesn't have alllll the modern features they are used to then they automatically complain and say game stinks or why did u recommend this game etc. Modern gamers who grew up in this day and age of gaming mosttttt will never understand the love we have for the humble beginnings of gaming and older games Happy. So don't ever let a gamer like that make you second guess yourself on something you love. 😎😎

[@Corfield81]

unpopular opinion of mine is Goldeneye....or any N64 game. I just couldn't get past how the graphics looked they hurt my eyes and the controls even to this day on that controller

[@stop88729]

Most complaints lobbed at retro games sound as absurd as someone declaring Casablanca a shit movie because it's not 4K HDR with 7.1 sound.

[@IanHsieh]

I think it's has to do with knowing a game from the past and now, and the person's tolerance to archaic mechanics. Recently I was chatting with friends online about an old game we all love. They mentioned that they were re-playing the game, and was amazed how they could tolerate the tanky control of that game back in the day.

[@Cimone90]

Ocarina of time is my game like this. I don't get all the gushing over it. Its cryptic and irritating. Unpopular opinion I'm sure but it's how I feel

[@TLW4118]

Metroid on NES is one I just can’t get into no matter how many people tell me it’s great or to play it all the way through. It just doesn’t click with me. I see how lots of people consider it great and the soundtrack is amazing but it’s just not for me

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

*Final* *Fantasy* *VII* *vs.* *Final* *Fantasy* *X* FFX is prettier but I prefer VII more for the characters, story, Materia system, mini games (Gold Saucer), and music. This isn't from nostalgia. I still love FFX though.

[@Rienafoutredusurnom]

I was worried you were going to say Xenosaga 3 was not as good as you remembered. I replayed the trilogy a few years ago, while i could understand 1 and 2 are harder to get into, 3 is still great, gameplay graphics and obviously story.

[@Artimes.]

Back in the day I would never consider my self able to view and play certain classical forms of media from anime to video games in the 60-80's now I can play something from the Comodore 64 era and still find some apprecation from it. How is that possible? I think alot of it has to do with what your saying. These works of art were a product of the era but if your able to put your self into that mindset and headspace of that generation, I think players may enjoy more primitive games especially if your interested in the evolution of the medium, its history and even notice specific trends and evolutions. These things add to the immersion I think. If you did not know or were not aware of how popular street fighter is as a franchise or Sonic the Hedge hog and that it consisted of books, cartoons, movies, and more modern works to enjoy. You may think of it as just another random classic game. But that kind of realization and discovery of how popular and iconic the franchise is, im sure motivates you to discover its origins and appreciate its internal beginings.

[@alyx4436]

I have a friend who cant even go back to some of the earlier games from last gen. Whereas i can go back to the NES and have just as much fun as the latest game. I just don't get that mentality but whatever floats your boat i guess!

[@AnarickTheDevil]

That doesn't even make any snice. The graphics are not even a significant step forward and they still play the same.

[@ArtofWEZ]

Probably the 2D final Fantasy titles. I think because back then i played mostly action games, I did really like phantasy star 1 when I went back to try that tho, not sure why. Xenosaga blew my mind playing for first time a few years ago, amazing game series

[@jacobbroder1789]

Chrono Trigger...not that I hated the game by any means, but it just did not live up to the unbelievable hype for me

[@MrDEBO217]

This is how I am about shining force 1 & 2 on the genesis. My all time favorite games to this day and replay them both at least once a year.

[@flutebasket4294]

I would've just said "git gud" and then I'd start menacingly brandishing this spiked bat I made

[@JCbeatProductions]

For the most part - games just get better over time due to technology and being able to build off previous games. Its evolution!

[@ryukijpn9843]

lmao literally all the games you have recommended retro or modern I LOVED. Because of you I am now a huge Ys fan and am enjoying so many better games and anime. Your recommendation for Macross all those years ago changed my life. Macross and Megazone 23 are now some of my favorite all time media pieces and I have you to think for showing those to me. Also, the problem I see is there is a big divide between gamers of the modern era and gamers of the retro era. I believe a game like Xenosaga series or going further back with Xenogears is equally as good sometimes better than Xenoblade Chronicles 1 and 2. Nowadays, we just have such high standards that something lacking modern standards such as graphics automatically makes a game "bad". Today during classes I was playing the switch port of No More Heroes and someone looked over and said "what kind of cheap trash are you playing". For a second I was a bit offended but realized that this person probably only grew around modern games and has those high standards and just judges based on a modern perspective. As you said John, everyone is titled to their opinion and we respect that. There are plenty of great games from decades ago that I believe are good not for nostalgic value but because I see both a modern and retro perspective. I love Final Fantasy 1 just as much or sometimes more than Final Fantasy XV or VII Remake.

[@sparkofcuriousity]

Imagine being the fool that said Xenosaga was a bad game ... For shame!

[@ShadyPlatinum777]

They were a streamer so it was probably too hard for them

[@AstaIsAMonster]

8:16-9:58 😂 good troll video man.💪🏽

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

Video games is similar to any content like movies, shows, and books. Games are the most attached to nostalgia. Go to any retro game comment section and most words you will read will be: nostalgia, childhood, and memories.

[@albundy1485]

Xenosaga 3 is still the best RPG on ps2 along with FF10 and Shadow hearts.

[@dhall5661]

i played samurai shodown because of your videos within the last few years.. and i love them!

[@kaitsurugi3280]

I think that if you can find joy in all games regardless of time time period, you are a true gamer at heart ❤

[@JohnnyWasabi]

This happened to me my friend played ff8 for the first time he hated it. its still my favorite game of all time

[@orchNEStra]

Some old games legit have awful controls or gameplay, but the same can be said of games released today. Not all "evolution" of gameplay is good or objectively better. Some games age like fine wine, other like milk. "Better" is just as subjective as "bad". I think a good chunk of games now are worse objectively because older games were fully featured complete experiences. Now? Freemium style free to play or incomplete DLC messes or live service garbage masquerading as real games. As someone who has played games for nearly 40 years, gaming has never been weaker than it is now in the most important aspects. Graphics sure are pretty though.

[@jaygarcia6388]

now a days people can just upscale graphics for a game i think the younger crowd just dont appreciate art in general. i probably wont care a bout a young cats opinion if all they know is mumble rap and call of duty LOL

[@brudbrud9137]

He should play xenosaga 2 if he didn't like 3 lol

[@bluezio123]

That Xenosaga 4 spoof is proper old KZbin :-D.

[@codshin]

Basically: Perception and opinions differ and are subject to change over time. Someone who experienced the journey of earl(ier) videogaming has a different approach, viewpoint and different expectations than someone who has not or started gaming way later... But the same goes for almost everything else in life, I guess.

[@newgameaaaa]

I agree. When I play a game from a different era, it takes me back to that time.