
let’s just face it retro-gaming wasn’t as rose-tinted as we all remember
as rose-tinted as we all remember
as rose-tinted as we all remember remember kids if you’re under 18 ask
remember kids if you’re under 18 ask
remember kids if you’re under 18 ask your parents before calling welcome to
your parents before calling welcome to
your parents before calling welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 things that sucked about retro gaming
things that sucked about retro gaming
things that sucked about retro gaming thank you already for one of the
thank you already for one of the
thank you already for one of the roughest video games around for your
roughest video games around for your
roughest video games around for your Atari game system for this list we’re
Atari game system for this list we’re
Atari game system for this list we’re looking at those things that frankly
looking at those things that frankly
looking at those things that frankly kind of sucked about retro gaming these
kind of sucked about retro gaming these
kind of sucked about retro gaming these flaws include anything from the games
flaws include anything from the games
flaws include anything from the games themselves to their marketing to their
themselves to their marketing to their
themselves to their marketing to their setups as long as it was a significant
setups as long as it was a significant
setups as long as it was a significant factor in gaming at the time its
factor in gaming at the time its
factor in gaming at the time its eligible for critique that’s brilliant
eligible for critique that’s brilliant
eligible for critique that’s brilliant right you and your friends are dead
right you and your friends are dead
right you and your friends are dead game over number 10 irrelevant
game over number 10 irrelevant
game over number 10 irrelevant commercials awesome sound awesome
commercials awesome sound awesome
commercials awesome sound awesome pictures awesome choices in today’s age
pictures awesome choices in today’s age
pictures awesome choices in today’s age game commercials are practically an art
game commercials are practically an art
game commercials are practically an art form in and of themselves the production
form in and of themselves the production
form in and of themselves the production quality is outstanding they’re exciting
quality is outstanding they’re exciting
quality is outstanding they’re exciting and most importantly they often show
and most importantly they often show
and most importantly they often show actual gameplay footage to let you know
actual gameplay footage to let you know
actual gameplay footage to let you know what you’re getting into back in the day
what you’re getting into back in the day
what you’re getting into back in the day however you’d practically be going in
however you’d practically be going in
however you’d practically be going in blind as the commercial certainly didn’t
blind as the commercial certainly didn’t
blind as the commercial certainly didn’t provide any help Sega Genesis is 16-bit
provide any help Sega Genesis is 16-bit
provide any help Sega Genesis is 16-bit 3do is 32 bits the Atari Jaguar is 64
3do is 32 bits the Atari Jaguar is 64
3do is 32 bits the Atari Jaguar is 64 bit which is more advanced clifford hmm
bit which is more advanced clifford hmm
bit which is more advanced clifford hmm they often included overly enthusiastic
they often included overly enthusiastic
they often included overly enthusiastic announcers corny songs and little to no
announcers corny songs and little to no
announcers corny songs and little to no mention about what the game is actually
mention about what the game is actually
mention about what the game is actually about or how it plays sure they were
about or how it plays sure they were
about or how it plays sure they were kind of entertaining but they definitely
kind of entertaining but they definitely
kind of entertaining but they definitely failed as informative game commercials
failed as informative game commercials
failed as informative game commercials 60 more levels massive enemies whose
60 more levels massive enemies whose
60 more levels massive enemies whose Yoshi tricks all served up to the latest
Yoshi tricks all served up to the latest
Yoshi tricks all served up to the latest graphic technology morph nation number
graphic technology morph nation number
graphic technology morph nation number nine early 3d
there was a time when 3d was the new and
there was a time when 3d was the new and exciting addition to video games you
exciting addition to video games you
exciting addition to video games you could fly planes around in three
could fly planes around in three
could fly planes around in three dimensions or move the camera as well as
dimensions or move the camera as well as
dimensions or move the camera as well as your character but simply it was
your character but simply it was
your character but simply it was revolutionary however that doesn’t
revolutionary however that doesn’t
revolutionary however that doesn’t detract from the fact that early 3d at
detract from the fact that early 3d at
detract from the fact that early 3d at least on consoles was atrocious
while PC games had comfortably entered
while PC games had comfortably entered the realm of 3d graphics thanks to
the realm of 3d graphics thanks to
the realm of 3d graphics thanks to powerful video cards the consoles of the
powerful video cards the consoles of the
powerful video cards the consoles of the mid-90s struggled hard to maintain a
mid-90s struggled hard to maintain a
mid-90s struggled hard to maintain a balance between framerate graphical
balance between framerate graphical
balance between framerate graphical fidelity and enjoyable gameplay then
fidelity and enjoyable gameplay then
fidelity and enjoyable gameplay then again if you go back to the earliest
again if you go back to the earliest
again if you go back to the earliest forms of 3d visuals on the PC and Amiga
forms of 3d visuals on the PC and Amiga
forms of 3d visuals on the PC and Amiga you find the same problems the console
you find the same problems the console
you find the same problems the console suffered
suffered
suffered awful graphics moving at an awful awful
awful graphics moving at an awful awful
awful graphics moving at an awful awful fragrant’ number 8 early copy production
fragrant’ number 8 early copy production
fragrant’ number 8 early copy production the kernels bequests was one of these
the kernels bequests was one of these
the kernels bequests was one of these which came with a unique red lens
which came with a unique red lens
which came with a unique red lens magnifying glass that was used to search
magnifying glass that was used to search
magnifying glass that was used to search the game map for hidden fingerprints in
the game map for hidden fingerprints in
the game map for hidden fingerprints in order to prevent theft some early PC
order to prevent theft some early PC
order to prevent theft some early PC video games throughout the 80s and 90s
video games throughout the 80s and 90s
video games throughout the 80s and 90s came with very annoying forms of copy
came with very annoying forms of copy
came with very annoying forms of copy protection not to mention you had to
protection not to mention you had to
protection not to mention you had to decipher code by deciphering a table to
decipher code by deciphering a table to
decipher code by deciphering a table to get to the deciphered game entry code
get to the deciphered game entry code
get to the deciphered game entry code which just sucks these forms of
which just sucks these forms of
which just sucks these forms of protection required the player to have
protection required the player to have
protection required the player to have the original packaging that the game
the original packaging that the game
the original packaging that the game came in as the answers to the game’s
came in as the answers to the game’s
came in as the answers to the game’s protection hints or codes were usually
protection hints or codes were usually
protection hints or codes were usually found in the manual or box you see these
found in the manual or box you see these
found in the manual or box you see these guys didn’t want you just copying the
guys didn’t want you just copying the
guys didn’t want you just copying the copy protection page they made it so
copy protection page they made it so
copy protection page they made it so that you had a copy a ton of pages
that you had a copy a ton of pages
that you had a copy a ton of pages however developers started to get more
however developers started to get more
however developers started to get more cryptic with their copy protection
cryptic with their copy protection
cryptic with their copy protection methods be it with code wheels such as
methods be it with code wheels such as
methods be it with code wheels such as the one found on the Secret of Monkey
the one found on the Secret of Monkey
the one found on the Secret of Monkey Island box or the lens lock a rather
Island box or the lens lock a rather
Island box or the lens lock a rather unreliable lens with prisms inside that
unreliable lens with prisms inside that
unreliable lens with prisms inside that didn’t work on certain monitors that
didn’t work on certain monitors that
didn’t work on certain monitors that were either too big or too small what
were either too big or too small what
were either too big or too small what you had to do was put the Lim’s lock up
you had to do was put the Lim’s lock up
you had to do was put the Lim’s lock up to the screen and move your head and do
to the screen and move your head and do
to the screen and move your head and do just the right position to see the code
just the right position to see the code
just the right position to see the code deciphered through the prisms number 7
deciphered through the prisms number 7
deciphered through the prisms number 7 bad translations Japanese games were as
bad translations Japanese games were as
bad translations Japanese games were as popular back in the day as they are
popular back in the day as they are
popular back in the day as they are today however the difference between now
today however the difference between now
today however the difference between now and then is not the quality of the games
and then is not the quality of the games
and then is not the quality of the games but the quality of the writing all your
but the quality of the writing all your
but the quality of the writing all your base are belong to huh Japanese
base are belong to huh Japanese
base are belong to huh Japanese developers often didn’t have the time or
developers often didn’t have the time or
developers often didn’t have the time or the money to perfectly translate their
the money to perfectly translate their
the money to perfectly translate their games for Western audiences and as a
games for Western audiences and as a
games for Western audiences and as a result we were treated to some god-awful
result we were treated to some god-awful
result we were treated to some god-awful script how you handle the beginning is
script how you handle the beginning is
script how you handle the beginning is everything good not sure the lines
everything good not sure the lines
everything good not sure the lines didn’t make a lick of sense and the
didn’t make a lick of sense and the
didn’t make a lick of sense and the stories often suffered as a result but
stories often suffered as a result but
stories often suffered as a result but damn were they fun to spot and laugh at
because home console games were often
because home console games were often inspired by or direct ports of arcade
inspired by or direct ports of arcade
inspired by or direct ports of arcade games this affected the difficulty curve
often games were difficult to the point
often games were difficult to the point of being unfair and this can be blamed
of being unfair and this can be blamed
of being unfair and this can be blamed on two things first they were often very
on two things first they were often very
on two things first they were often very short
short
short thus the difficulty was there to
thus the difficulty was there to
thus the difficulty was there to artificially extend the life of the
artificially extend the life of the
artificially extend the life of the games
also the arcade mentality of trying to
also the arcade mentality of trying to kill the player to get more quarters out
kill the player to get more quarters out
kill the player to get more quarters out of them still persisted at home hey man
of them still persisted at home hey man
of them still persisted at home hey man I spent a lot of quarters to buy this
I spent a lot of quarters to buy this
I spent a lot of quarters to buy this console you can chill with the
console you can chill with the
console you can chill with the difficulty bro
number five no online guides in today’s
number five no online guides in today’s age of instant online access tricky
age of instant online access tricky
age of instant online access tricky sections of videogames are as easy as
sections of videogames are as easy as
sections of videogames are as easy as booting up Google and seeking help or a
booting up Google and seeking help or a
booting up Google and seeking help or a quick tutorial search on YouTube
unfortunately for gamers back in the day
unfortunately for gamers back in the day no such gratification was granted sure
no such gratification was granted sure
no such gratification was granted sure there were strategy guides and various
there were strategy guides and various
there were strategy guides and various walkthroughs in magazines but that
walkthroughs in magazines but that
walkthroughs in magazines but that required purchasing the guide flipping
required purchasing the guide flipping
required purchasing the guide flipping through it reading while you’re supposed
through it reading while you’re supposed
through it reading while you’re supposed to do and trying it up for yourself
to do and trying it up for yourself
to do and trying it up for yourself which was often difficult due to the
which was often difficult due to the
which was often difficult due to the cryptic game design of the time it’s now
cryptic game design of the time it’s now
cryptic game design of the time it’s now much easier to simply hop on YouTube and
much easier to simply hop on YouTube and
much easier to simply hop on YouTube and check it out first hand back then if you
check it out first hand back then if you
check it out first hand back then if you were stuck chances are you might stay
were stuck chances are you might stay
were stuck chances are you might stay stuck forever I’m lost in the dinky
stuck forever I’m lost in the dinky
stuck forever I’m lost in the dinky island jungle in monkey – ah look there
island jungle in monkey – ah look there
island jungle in monkey – ah look there are only two ways out of the room you’re
are only two ways out of the room you’re
are only two ways out of the room you’re in
in
in figure it out knucklehead number four
figure it out knucklehead number four
figure it out knucklehead number four new patches
in today’s gaming landscape patches are
in today’s gaming landscape patches are extremely necessary not only does it
extremely necessary not only does it
extremely necessary not only does it seem like every game that comes out
seem like every game that comes out
seem like every game that comes out today is released broken and buggy but
today is released broken and buggy but
today is released broken and buggy but patches are often used to fix certain
patches are often used to fix certain
patches are often used to fix certain issues in game or help improve it in
issues in game or help improve it in
issues in game or help improve it in some meaningful way while many see this
some meaningful way while many see this
some meaningful way while many see this as a crutch that lazy developers and
as a crutch that lazy developers and
as a crutch that lazy developers and publishers lean on this is still better
publishers lean on this is still better
publishers lean on this is still better than the opposite because unfortunately
than the opposite because unfortunately
than the opposite because unfortunately for retro games there was no such thing
if a game was shipped broken or glitchy
if a game was shipped broken or glitchy which did happen then the player was
which did happen then the player was
which did happen then the player was stuck with that glitchy mess of a game
stuck with that glitchy mess of a game
stuck with that glitchy mess of a game which they just spent their hard-earned
which they just spent their hard-earned
which they just spent their hard-earned money on
PC games started to bring in patches in
PC games started to bring in patches in the mid 90s but have fun downloading
the mid 90s but have fun downloading
the mid 90s but have fun downloading each and every update in the order they
each and every update in the order they
each and every update in the order they were released on your 56k modem number
were released on your 56k modem number
were released on your 56k modem number three gaming was much more expensive
three gaming was much more expensive
three gaming was much more expensive will you be the one to experience the
will you be the one to experience the
will you be the one to experience the Nintendo Entertainment System comes with
Nintendo Entertainment System comes with
Nintendo Entertainment System comes with Rob zapper control deck two controllers
Rob zapper control deck two controllers
Rob zapper control deck two controllers gyromite and duck hunt while it seems
gyromite and duck hunt while it seems
gyromite and duck hunt while it seems like video gaming today is an expensive
like video gaming today is an expensive
like video gaming today is an expensive hobby it’s nothing compared to the cost
hobby it’s nothing compared to the cost
hobby it’s nothing compared to the cost of the older generations at the time it
of the older generations at the time it
of the older generations at the time it comes with 27 games but that’s just for
comes with 27 games but that’s just for
comes with 27 games but that’s just for starters
starters
starters for example the Atari 2600 which was
for example the Atari 2600 which was
for example the Atari 2600 which was released in 1977 had a launch price of
released in 1977 had a launch price of
released in 1977 had a launch price of $199 which when adjusted for inflation
$199 which when adjusted for inflation
$199 which when adjusted for inflation would be around 780 dollars in 2016 no
would be around 780 dollars in 2016 no
would be around 780 dollars in 2016 no George mine the original NES launched in
George mine the original NES launched in
George mine the original NES launched in 1985 and it’s cheapest launch bundle
1985 and it’s cheapest launch bundle
1985 and it’s cheapest launch bundle also went for $199 about 440 today
also went for $199 about 440 today
also went for $199 about 440 today indicating a downward yet still pretty
indicating a downward yet still pretty
indicating a downward yet still pretty pricey trajectory the one to play with
pricey trajectory the one to play with
pricey trajectory the one to play with Rob the extraordinary video robot
Rob the extraordinary video robot
Rob the extraordinary video robot batteries not included some more
batteries not included some more
batteries not included some more examples for you speak better to turbo
examples for you speak better to turbo
examples for you speak better to turbo on SNES retailed for 75 bucks plus tax
on SNES retailed for 75 bucks plus tax
on SNES retailed for 75 bucks plus tax strider on the genesis retailed for 80
strider on the genesis retailed for 80
strider on the genesis retailed for 80 while fantasy star for on the genesis
while fantasy star for on the genesis
while fantasy star for on the genesis was a hundred bucks and don’t even get
was a hundred bucks and don’t even get
was a hundred bucks and don’t even get me started on the Neo Geo yo win number
me started on the Neo Geo yo win number
me started on the Neo Geo yo win number two no saving think about this if you
two no saving think about this if you
two no saving think about this if you wanted to say beat Super Mario Brothers
wanted to say beat Super Mario Brothers
wanted to say beat Super Mario Brothers 3 without using warps you had to do it
3 without using warps you had to do it
3 without using warps you had to do it all in one city
while it’s true that some video games in
while it’s true that some video games in the 80s employed what was called
the 80s employed what was called
the 80s employed what was called password saving that was extremely
password saving that was extremely
password saving that was extremely flawed not only where the passwords
flawed not only where the passwords
flawed not only where the passwords often long in complex but they had to be
often long in complex but they had to be
often long in complex but they had to be written down meaning they could easily
written down meaning they could easily
written down meaning they could easily be lost smudged or written incorrectly
be lost smudged or written incorrectly
be lost smudged or written incorrectly is it really necessary to have both
is it really necessary to have both
is it really necessary to have both capital and lowercase letters as well as
capital and lowercase letters as well as
capital and lowercase letters as well as numbers question marks and exclamation
numbers question marks and exclamation
numbers question marks and exclamation marks to eventually game started to
marks to eventually game started to
marks to eventually game started to include battery backup saving first seen
include battery backup saving first seen
include battery backup saving first seen in the Legend of Zelda on NES allowing
in the Legend of Zelda on NES allowing
in the Legend of Zelda on NES allowing players to save their progress until the
players to save their progress until the
players to save their progress until the battery died this also fed into the
battery died this also fed into the
battery died this also fed into the problem we discussed earlier apropos to
problem we discussed earlier apropos to
problem we discussed earlier apropos to difficulty and the short length of the
difficulty and the short length of the
difficulty and the short length of the game’s fun stuff before we look at our
game’s fun stuff before we look at our
game’s fun stuff before we look at our most annoying pic here a few honorable
most annoying pic here a few honorable
most annoying pic here a few honorable mentions if your systems ever not
mentions if your systems ever not
mentions if your systems ever not working you probably know by this point
working you probably know by this point
working you probably know by this point that’s the first thing to check push it
that’s the first thing to check push it
that’s the first thing to check push it the channel 3 to make it simple on
the channel 3 to make it simple on
the channel 3 to make it simple on yourself number 1 no online resources to
yourself number 1 no online resources to
yourself number 1 no online resources to warn us of bad games anyone who follows
warn us of bad games anyone who follows
warn us of bad games anyone who follows gaming these days knows that there are
gaming these days knows that there are
gaming these days knows that there are very few surprises after you bought
very few surprises after you bought
very few surprises after you bought something today you can simply hop on
something today you can simply hop on
something today you can simply hop on Metacritic and see the numerical value
Metacritic and see the numerical value
Metacritic and see the numerical value to get a quick assumption of the game’s
to get a quick assumption of the game’s
to get a quick assumption of the game’s quality or read the 50-plus aggregated
quality or read the 50-plus aggregated
quality or read the 50-plus aggregated reviews if you thought I was serious
reviews if you thought I was serious
reviews if you thought I was serious about this game absolutely right because
about this game absolutely right because
about this game absolutely right because I was just kidding I was just kidding
I was just kidding I was just kidding
I was just kidding I was just kidding back in the day though there was no such
back in the day though there was no such
back in the day though there was no such thing there were reviews and magazines
thing there were reviews and magazines
thing there were reviews and magazines but again that required actually buying
but again that required actually buying
but again that required actually buying the magazine and listening to one
the magazine and listening to one
the magazine and listening to one critics opinion if you missed the issue
critics opinion if you missed the issue
critics opinion if you missed the issue where they discussed that game – yes so
where they discussed that game – yes so
where they discussed that game – yes so it was either that or word-of-mouth
it was either that or word-of-mouth
it was either that or word-of-mouth which was rather limited you mainly just
which was rather limited you mainly just
which was rather limited you mainly just had to buy your fifty dollar game and
had to buy your fifty dollar game and
had to buy your fifty dollar game and hope for the best
hope for the best
hope for the best usually this involved judging a game by
usually this involved judging a game by
usually this involved judging a game by its cover not exactly a surefire
its cover not exactly a surefire
its cover not exactly a surefire strategy
do you agree with our list I love it
do you agree with our list I love it it’s just great what annoyed you about
it’s just great what annoyed you about
it’s just great what annoyed you about retro gaming for more critical top 10s
retro gaming for more critical top 10s
retro gaming for more critical top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe
published every day be sure to subscribe
published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com you have any idea how
to watchmojo.com you have any idea how
to watchmojo.com you have any idea how many calls I get a day about that don’t
many calls I get a day about that don’t
many calls I get a day about that don’t ask me about it again
”
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