One thing that makes video games different than, say, movies or television is how poorly older games have aged.
No matter how iconic a classic game was at 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I’m not just talking older games with outdated graphics here; think about shoddy controls, long load times, and a complete lack of accessibility.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 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Remember how I said that I’m not just talking about older games with outdated graphics?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, they’ve polished 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.
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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, introduced 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 after five minutes. 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.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
While a large (and vocal) part of the World of Warcraft playerbase has maintained that they believe the original Classic version of WoW is superior, there were many who began their classic journey in 2019 with one goal in mind: make it to Wrath of the Lich King.
I get it; this is the expansion where WoW‘s playerbase was at its absolute peak. It’s when we venture to Northrend and have our fateful encounter with Arthas Menethil, the culmination of years of Warcraft storytelling.
Sadly, the expansion hasn’t aged well in the modern era. That’s not to say the gameplay doesn’t necessarily hold up; I was a fan of Icecrown Citadel and most of the class balance and design. Having said that, there were some major issues at play that made Wrath nowhere near as enjoyable as I was hoping.
Naxxramas is still a joke of a raid during the first tier, and Ulduar ran far too long. It also didn’t age as well as many expected. Considering that many viewed Ulduar as one of the best raids of all time, it was a major disappointment.
Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green
The recent re-release of Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green has put the franchise’s first generation back into the spotlight.
There’s something about the Kanto journey that always resonates with me. Yes, it was part of my childhood, but in many ways, it feels like a perfect Pokémon experience. It’s a classic turn-based JRPG experience that does a great job of establishing the Pokémon formula that future generations would utilize and build on.
Sadly, now that we’re 30 years out, the issues with these games have become apparent. There’s a sincere lack of quality-of-life enhancements, and the game’s difficulty curve is something that cannot be ignored, especially if you (correctly) pick Charmander as your starter.
Don’t get me wrong; these games are still great and iconic, but there are certainly better Pokémon experiences out there.
Super Smash Bros.
With the expanded release of games on Nintendo Switch Online, there’s one that people hope makes its way to the Nintendo 64’s library: the original Super Smash Bros.
Back in the day, this felt like the best thing since sliced bread: iconic Nintendo mascots beating each other senselessly. Battles taking place on the Nintendo stages of our childhood. It was crazy, it was over the top, and it was an absolute blast.
Now, as the Smash Bros. franchise has evolved, the gameplay has become more refined. As a result, the N64 version of the game feels clunky and out of date. On the one hand, that adds a certain charm to the experience. Having said that, I’ll take Ultimate or Melee any day of the week.
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