After a long time, I found myself browsing through reviews for new computer games, and something struck me – the graphics are perfect. They're that perfect that it's hard to say if I'm watching a movie, a reality, or merely a video game. But while I was playing that demo games, something was missing. They were all perfect, but none of them had "soul." I didn't know quite how to describe it, but it felt as if the magic that makes a game truly sparkle was lacking. These new games are wonderful, I guess, but. empty.
It reminded me of the good old MS-DOS games I used to play for hours on end. The ones with little, barely visible graphics but so much heart. Those games had something the new ones lack – a charm, a story, a connection. I used to spend hours in front of my computer, playing these games with friends, typically in a small room full of laughter and rage, but always totally immersed in the experience.
One of the first games I ever played on my computer was Wolfenstein 3D, an old-school first-person shooter where we were heroes, shooting Nazis in a pixellated maze. It wasn't great, but the thrill of making our way through the levels, battling the bad guys, and saving the world. It meant something.
photo: archive.org/
And then there was Dune 2: Battle for Arrakis. Oh, the hours that I spent building buildings, juggling resources, and battling the baddies. The graphics were all wobbly, the game itself straightforward, but the strategy and excitement kept me hooked for what felt like forever.
photo: archive.org
And then the Sim games came – SimCity 2000, SimPark, and so on. Building cities, managing parks, building worlds. the graphics were not fantastic, but the depth of those games, the pleasure of seeing something grow under your care, was unmatched.
photo: archive.org
Of course, no such list would be complete without the inclusion of** Sid Meier's Civilization and Civilization II**. Those were not games – they were an experience. The feeling of guiding a civilization from the dawn of time into the future, making decisions that could alter history. it was engrossing.
photo: DOSdays.com
Another oldie that I can never seem to recall is Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? It wasn't about the graphics – there were none, really – but the challenge of trying to find Carmen across the globe, and along the way learn geography, was an experience in itself. Functional but simple.
photo:classicreload.com
Let's not forget UFO Enemy Unknown, or UFO Terror from the Deep. Those tactical strategy games were thrilling, full of fear and suspense as you fought off the alien invasion. The graphics were low-tech, but the tension and strategic gameplay had us on the edge of our seats.
photo: wikipedia.com
I also recall an old game, the name of which escapes me, but it involved playing as a taxi driver on wild, weapon-laden deliveries. The cab was equipped with machine guns, flame throwers, and bombs. it was absurd and fun.
Others were there like Elite, Golden Axe, Operation Wolf, UGH, UGH 2, Scorched Earth, C&C Red Alert, StarCraft, Alone in the Dark, among many others. All of these had a favorite corner in my heart.
So now, here's the big question: What's better? Games with awful grainy graphics, or new games with perfect visuals but no heart? It's a tough question, but for me, the answer is simple: the old games with heart. The ones that weren't about shiny graphics but about storytelling, creativity, and that feeling of really being a part of something.
If someone remembers a fantastic old game I haven't listed, please, do tell. I'd be glad to hear about the classics that lasted till midnight, as they did for me.