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Top 10 Things That Sucked About Retro Gaming


let’s just face it retro-gaming wasn’t

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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