One thing that makes video games different than, say, movies or television is how poorly old-school games have aged. No matter how iconic a classic game was on release, it often lacks the technological advancements and quality of life updates that are hallmarks of modern game design. I’m not just talking older games with outdated graphics here; think about shoddy controls, long load times, and a complete lack of accessibility. There’s been a recent trend in gaming to remake older games for the modern era, and it’s resulted in these iconic games becoming playable again. As for the games in their original state, however, you can add them to an ever-growing list of retro video games that have aged poorly, regardless of how iconic and beloved they were at release.

Resident Evil

Remember how I said that I’m not just talking about older games with outdated graphics? Might as well start with Resident Evil, given the growing trend in the indie space towards developing horror games with a PS1 graphical style.

There are two major things that hold the original Resident Evil back. First, the load times: why do I have to wait for five or so seconds every time I open a door? Second, the controls are atrocious. I don’t know how anyone put up with it back in the day; maybe it’s because we didn’t know any better?

Don’t get me wrong; for its time, Resident Evil is a great game. That’s the key thing, though: for its time. There’s a reason Capcom has remade so many of the original Resident Evil games, but I’m not sure why they remade Resident Evil 4, other than wanting more money.

Dark Souls

While FromSoftware’s iconic dark fantasy action RPG helped not only prove that there was a demand for overly difficult games but also launched its own genre (Soulslikes), there are some key issues with the game if you boot it up today.

Some of the game’s design choices are annoying. They don’t feel like they’re in place to make the game difficult, but because they’re old and clunky. Attacking in a narrow corridor results in your sword hitting the wall far too often. Enemies that poison you are way too overpowered. There are also several quality-of-life improvements seen in later FromSoftware games that are lacking here.

If there’s one thing that FromSoftware has done well over the years, it’s polish their games to an immaculate shine. There’s no better example of that than Elden Ring, which is simultaneously the easiest and most accessible FromSoftware game while also being one of the hardest. rrrrrr

Super Mario 64

Despite the fact that Super Mario 64 helped usher in a new world of 3D gaming and platforming wonder, my god, I hate playing this game today.

To be fair, it’s a little easier to dive into when I’m not playing on a Nintendo 64 controller (shoutout to its Nintendo Switch ports), but I’m still battling the game’s clunky camera system. There’s also the fact that every time I pick up a star in a world, the game kicks me out back into the castle, and I have to jump back into the world to keep playing. It’s not the seamless experience that exists in Super Mario Odyssey.

Now, I know what you’re going to say: comparing a game from 1996 to a title released twenty years later isn’t a fair fight, and I get that. However, Banjo-Kazooie, which was released a year after Super Mario 64, has aged like a fine glass of wine over the years.

Super Mario Kart

As iconic as the Mario Kart franchise is today, especially with the Nintendo Switch’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, taking a step back to play the original on the Super Nintendo is a huge turn-off.

Every now and then, when I’m at a local barcade with my wife, we get the urge to gravitate to the SNES and give Super Mario Kart a spin. Five minutes later, we’re quickly looking to find any other game we can. Racing games that utilize a D-Pad are always awkward, but there’s something about Super Mario Kart‘s track design in particular that’s especially annoying.

It’s not necessarily about the tracks, especially since a lot of them have been redone for modern Mario Kart games. While the D-Pad is, again, frustrating, I don’t recall having the same issues on the Game Boy Advance’s Mario Kart Super Circuit. There’s just something about Super Mario Kart that feels archaic and off-putting today. Great for a quick trip down memory lane, but best left in the past.

GoldenEye 007

I love this game to death and play through the campaign every year. So why, then, is it on a list of iconic video games that have aged poorly?

Well, let me clarify something: I’m playing this on the Xbox platform, complete with modern controls. go

When the game was re-released in 2023, there were two versions. The Nintendo Switch saw the authentic original version, with all of its quirks and frustrations. Yes, that means an awkward control system that makes me want to snap my Switch console in half.

The Xbox version, however, saw a revamped control scheme that’s more in line with modern console FPS games, resulting in a buttery smooth experience that’s a blast from start to finish. This is the premiere way to play GoldenEye 007, and I refuse to let the game be slandered any further.

Grand Theft Auto 3

Speaking of games that desperately needed a remake, have you tried to boot up the original version of Grand Theft Auto 3 lately?

I remember doing it a few years back, only to turn it off five minutes in. Rockstar was notorious for quirky control setups in the GTA series, but GTA 3 takes the cake in frustration.

The good news is that the game, as well as the rest of the PS2 trilogy, was remastered in 2021. The bad news is that it was one of the worst remasters of all time, though after several changes, the games are finally seeing a positive reception from users.

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