Arcade and video games have always attracted children and adults equally. Over the years, thousands of games have been developed, and more and more people have become addicted to video games, spending hours playing video games to complete levels and beat high scores. In this article we take a look at some Classic Arcade Video Game Logos of the 90’s.
It was in 1940s when the first video game was introduced in the market. During the 1990s arcade games evolved and gained global popularity. Customised game logos are designed to develop a distinct and unique identity with the game in question. With their creative and catchy designs, these logos have been an instant reminder of mime and many other peoples childhoods.
In this article i have gone back to the beginning of the 90’s (apart from a few others that were slightly before and at the end of the 80’s) and include the games that i remember playing while growing up as a kid and also others that were popular during the 90’s era.
My mum and dad had a shop when i was younger, and i would always go to tradeshows and get to play the latest games and see new toy releases way ahead of the official release.
My parents would plan and save ahead of time, and ask what i liked and they would pre-order it and buy it for me. Happy Days! 🙂
As a kid i was into the following game consoles and got them as either a birthday or Christmas present. The Saga Mega Drive which was released in the UK on September 14th, 1990, The Original Nintendo Gameboy was released the same year in 1990, and then the Original Playstation (PS1) console mainly focusing on the PS1 that was released in 1995. Over the years i have stuck with the Playstation and currently have a PS4 and I’m getting the PS5 when it’s released.
Table of Contents
Pac-Man
The Japanese maze arcade game Pac-Man was first released by Namco in 1980, originally titled Puck Man, but the name was changed for its international release. This was done as a preventive measure against defacement of the arcade game machine by changing the “P” to and “F” forming an obscene name.
Midway Games published the game outside of Japan as part of a licensing agreement with Namco America and the game has an enduring commercial and cultural legacy, both an important stage and mild-stone in gaming, not to mention an influential title among gamers and gaming history.
Growing up i remember Pac-Man being so addictive, either playing it in arcades, on Atari with my cousins or my original Game Boy. Everyone in school was playing Pac-Man and we will never forget the sounds of Pac-Man as he ate those dots.
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong was originally an arcade platform game first released by Nintendo in 1981. The object of the game was that the player would control Mario (originally named Mr. Video then Jumpman) to rescue his girlfriend, aka Lady, later renamed Pauline from the giant ape known as Donkey Kong.
Donkey Kong is the first example of a complete narrative told in video game form and, like the 1980s Pac-Man, it employs cut-scenes to advance its plot.
The game opens with Donkey Kong climbing ladders to the top of the construction site. He then puts Pauline down and starts to stomp his feet, which causes the steel beams to change their shape. He moves to the final place and sneers.
Music plays, and the level starts. This brief animation sets the scene and adds background to the gameplay. This was a first for video games at this time.
Once you reach the end of the level, another cutscene starts, then a heart appears between Mario and his girlfriend, but Donkey Kong then grabs her and climbs even higher up the level, and this then causes the heart to break. The narrative concludes when Mario reaches the end of the level.
He and his girlfriend are reunited, and a short intermission plays. The gameplay then loops from the beginning at a higher level of difficulty, without any formal ending.
I remember seeing this in the arcades, and my mum and dad bought me a handheld Donkey Kong game. I must have only been 5 or 6 at the time. It was awesome! I would play for hours. I later got it on the original Game Boy a year or two later.
Tetris
Tetris was originally designed in 1984 for the Electronika 60 by Alexey Pajitnov, a Russian game designer and computer engineer. During the late 80’s the game was published by numerous companies who battled for game rights. Nintendo published the game for a significant period but during 1996 the games rights were reverted to Pajitnov, who had then co-founded The Tetris Company with Henk Rogers to manage the Tetris Licensing.
Tile-matching puzzle games challenge players to complete lines with different shaped pieces (geometric shape composed of four squares) by interlocking them into place.
I remember getting Tetris for the Original Game Boy. My cousin also had one and we would connect them with a cable and go head to head. Those battles were tense but a lot of fun we would play for hours even in the back of the car while traveling.
Like Pac-Man, I would place Tetris right at the top with the all-time greats, a game that almost everybody loved that was also extremely addictive.
Super Mario
I’m fairly certain that even those people who don’t play video games are aware of Super Mario, the Japanese video game created by Nintendo first released on September 13th 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was the first 2D scrolling platform game to feature the legendary Mario character.
The original game featured heroes Mario and his brother Luigi who lived in the mushroom kingdom, who must rescue princess Toadstool from Bowser/King Koopa. It’s one of the best-selling video games of all time.
The game has had many different releases over the years from 1985 through to 2019, and although i was never into the Nintendo console some of my friends had one and i would play Mario with them. I did have it on the original game boy which i still have stored away and would play for hours so it’s definitely a game from my childhood.
Legends of Zelda
The original Legends of Zelda was first released on February 21st 1986 and includes 19 titles on all of Nintendo’s major game consoles, the game featured a mixture of puzzles and battle adventure gameplay.
The Legends of Zelda is also a pioneer in the industry by introducing features that would later become industry standard in gaming. For instance, the original game was the first console game which introduced a save function which enabled players to save their progress and resume playing at a later stage. Zelda: Ocarina of Time introduced a targeting system for players to lock the camera screen onto an enemy which simplified 3D combat both features that are expected in games today.
Although I personally was never a fan of the game, a lot of kids in the 90’s were big fans of the game and it’s one that comes to mind when i think back of popular games during the 90’s, and it was one of Nintendo’s most popular, prominent, and successful franchises with a number of Zelda titles considered to be among all the greatest of all time.
Altered Beast
A game i was very fond of, and was first released as a 2D side-scrolling beat ’em up arcade game in 1988. When i got my Sega Mega Drive in 1991 which came bundled with “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “Alex the Kidd,” I purchased this with gift money slightly afterwards and it was a game i would play for hours.
Looking back, Altered Beast had mixed reviews but i thought it was cool!… It was set in ancient greece and features a character that was resurrected by Zeus to help rescue his daughter Athena from the ruler of the underworld, Neff. Using power-ups you assume the form of magical beasts. I have very fond memories of this game and probably the very first beat’em up (as we called them as kids) i was introduced to at 7 years old.
The Revenge of Shinobi
The Revenge of Shinobi was released in 1989 by Sega. It was released in Japan under the name The Super Shinobi. I got this game shortly after i got the Sega Mega Drive on release and it was a game i loved to play.
Shinobi is a side-scrolling platform game. You play the hero Joe Musashi a ninja who travels the world to rescue his bride from the criminal organisation known as Neo Zeed.
I remember having a lot of fun playing this game. Does bring back some good memories!
Golden Axe
The Golden Axe was another Arcade 2D side-scrolling beat ’em up game first released in May of 1989 then the year after for Sega Mega Drive, and like Altered Beast it was another game i was fond of.
The lead designer of the game was Makoto Uchida who was also the lead designer for Altered Beast so it’s no surprise I was hooked on this too. The game takes place in Yuria a Conan, the Barbarian-style medieval fantasy world, a fictional place for the game’s setting.
Death Adder is an evil entity who has found the Golden Axe and captured the King and his daughter holding them captive in their castle. He threatens to destroy both the Golden Axe, (the magical emblem of Yuria) and the royal family unless the people of Yuria accept him as their ruler.
The game has 3 warriors consisting of a battle axe-wielding dwarf, Gilius Thunderhead, a male barbarian named Ax Battler, wielding a two-handed broadsword, and a longsword-wielding amazon named Tyris Flare, who set out on a quest to all look for revenge on Death Adder.
I have great memories of playing this game. My favorite was the dwarf. I will never forget jumping around and swinging that axe, with that enemy screaming as you kill them all while listening to that killer soundtrack. A true classic!
Michael Jackson: Moonwalker
Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker game was based off the 1988 film Moonwalker featuring Michael Jackson. The game was developed and released by Sega in 1990 for the Sega Mega Drive, there was also an arcade version.
I remember having this game in the early 90’s, not the best game i had ever played but i thought it was fun, especially playing Michael Jackson’s background music. My mum and dad would watch me play this and laugh when Michael did the moonwalk. Happy times! 🙂
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog was created by Sega in 1991, and they launched its new game Sonic the Hedgehog to compete with its rival the Nintendo’s Mario. Sega was looking to create a mascot character to go head to head with Nintendo’s Mario which successfully put Sega on the map and helped them become a leader in video games during the 16-bit era of the early 90’s.
The game became an instant hit with the Hedgehog’s supersonic running and spinning speed and was an instant classic with video gamers. Sonic the Hedgehog is definitely Sega’s flagship franchise and ranked among the best selling video games of all time.
The main character is Sonic the Hedgehog who is an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who battles the evil Doctor Eggman, a mad scientist. The game is a 2D side-scrolling platform game in which the player must progress along the screen, Sonic could run at supersonic speeds and curl into a ball, primarily to attack enemies while collecting power-up rings and avoiding obstacles in his path.
I got Sonic the Hedgehog with the Sega Mega Drive in 1991 and it was one of the 2D side-scrolling adventure games I had played along with Mario for the NES. I was hooked on it and would play for hours trying to collect all the rings without missing one, it was super addictive and popular with kids at the time definitely a benchmark in video games.
Lemmings
Lemmings was originally developed by DMA Design in Dundee, Scotland and published by Psygnosis for the Amiga on 14th February 1991, then later ported to numerous other platforms. Lemmings was a puzzle platform game being the objective of guiding a group of lemmings through obstacles to the exit and by doing so saving the required number of lemmings to win.
The player must determine how to assign different skills to certain lemmings this allows those selected lemmings to alter the landscape, affecting the behaviour of the other lemmings in the group, this allows those lemmings with skills to clear obstacles to create a safe passage for the rest of the lemmings.
I was first introduced to the game on a friend’s Amiga system and would play while i was at their house. The game was totally original and nothing i had ever experienced before in gaming.
I remember it being a lot of fun and similar to Tetris you could use a little skill and tact to guide the lemmings through the level. I later got the the game on the Original Game Boy it was a lot of fun and a cool concept for a game back then.
During the 90’s it was one of the best received games, The game is a best seller being called a predecessor of the modern real-time strategy (RTS) video game genre.
In 1996 it was voted the second highest rated game in history by Amstrad Action, a monthly magazine, and also considered the 8th greatest game of all time by another magazine called Next Generation.
Lemming holds its spot as a pioneer in the gaming world as according to some articles, the game was the first major game that introduced the ‘indirect-control’ concept, and in today’s world that is now common in RTS style games. Talk about paving the way!
Micro Machines
Micro Machines was released in 1991, and people were playing it on everything. I got it on the Sega Mega Drive and it was a fun game. We all had Micro Machine toys as kids so this game was cool and addictive.
The memory i have of this game is a friend of mine “Nicky” was so addicted to this game i remember during the summer holidays my mum or dad would be answering the front door at 6am as he could not wait to come in and play it he would say he had not slept as all he could think about was the Micro Machines game.
My mum and dad would let him in as they were kind like that, and he would come upstairs and play while I got ready. Then we would play together
This was a regular daily thing during the summer of 1991! I wonder if he still plays it?
Kirby
Kirby is a japanese video game created by a then 19 year old Masahiro Sakurai in 1992 and owned by Nintendo and one of their most famous and familiar icons. who is constantly ranked as one of the the most iconic video game characters. Early in the game’s development, the character was known as Popopo and later replaced Kirby, chosen from a draft list of potential names.
According to Shigeru Miyamoto, a game developer and director at Nintendo, he stated that “Kirby” was chosen in honor of American lawyer John Kirby, who defended Nintendo in the Universal City Studios, Inc. v. Nintendo Co., Ltd. case in 1984 and that the guttural-sounding name contrasted amusingly with the character’s cute appearance.
I got Kirby’s Dream Land for the original game boy on its release, and i remember it being a fun game to play similar to Mario and Sonic, a 2D side-scrolling platform game that was highly enjoyable.
The character is an innocent and cheerful creature who loves food, and in the face of danger becomes fearless and clever. Kirby would inhale objects and creatures to gain their abilities. He could also float by expanding his body using his powers to rescue land, including the homeworld of planet popstars, from evil forces such as Dark Matter and Nightmare and crossing paths with rivals King Dedede and Meta Knight.
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco the Dolphin was originally developed for the Sega Mega Drive and was first released on 23 December 1992. I have always been interested in sea life and when i first saw this game i got it.
The underwater graphics at the time were amazing and a soothing exploring game to play, it was fun jumping and flipping out of the water while ramming sharks headfirst and using sonar to communicate with Wales.
Definitely a fun game to play but it was extremely difficult taking me ages to finish going back to it time and time again until i beat it.
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat developed by Midway and released in 1992 as an arcade fighting game. Becoming one of the most popular best-selling games, Mortal Combat has a massive fan following.
The game has come under controversy as one of many video games that came to prominence between 1992 and 1993, and the controversy came from parents and public officials due to extremely violent content and concerns over realistic representations of human fighters in the game as opposed to cartoon-like characters.
This caused the courts to order the entertainment software industry one year to form a rating system, later becoming the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) requiring all video games be rated and placed on the games packaging.
I suppose it’s another landmark in the gaming industry. Mortal Kombat raised the bar of fighting games with its brutal fighting powers and deadly fatalities to finish off opponents to win the fight.
I was around 9 or 10 at the time of release and a time when video games were starting to get more violent and realistic, and I remember watching and playing with the bigger kids in the arcade (Winner Stays on!… I was Brutal!) on occasions when my dad used to take me to the local videobox which was a video rental shop, and they had an arcade, my dad would also have a go :).
He would take me and i would play for a while and then we would choose videos to rent out and take home. Happy Days! I later got this game on Sega Mega Drive and Game Boy, and some of my mates had it on The Super NES (SNES) we would go to each others houses and play winner stays on or a round robin tournament. FIGHT! …FINISH HIM! …FLAWLESS VICTORY …FATALITY
Street Fighter
Then came Street Fighter, another beat ’em up and boy did i love this game! Street fighter was one of the most popular Sega games all the kids loved it.
Street Fighter was developed and published by Capcom and originally released in arcades on March 18 1992. Just like Mortal Kombat I would play the arcade version with friends in the Video Box store where we rented videos from.
I remember the crowds around the arcade machine as we would play winner stays on, and it did seem more popular than Mortal Kombat with the kids i knew.
It was definitely the hottest game of the year as it won best game of the year in 1992 and 1993 for the Electronic Gaming Awards (Formerly Arcade Awards)
I got the opportunity to advance play it on Sega Mega Drive before it was released at the tradeshow we always went to with my mum and dad. My dad knew i loved the game from our time at the video box arcade.
I later got this for the Sega Mega Drive for Christmas in 1993 and i was over the moon! My mum and dad had pre-ordered it!, Great parents, such happy childhood memories!
It cost my mum and dad £60 which was a lot back then! I was so excited i could not wait to play it, and all my friends could not wait to come over and play.
Eternal Champions
With the success of fighting games, Sega released Eternal Champions in 1993. At the time it was one of the few fighting games that was developed from the beginning as an exclusive to home consoles, rather than being an arcade game first.
Sega released the game hoping to capitalise on the fighting game’s popularity following the success of other popular fighting games such as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.
They tried to set the game apart with the difference being placed on a heavier emphasis on story, as i think this game had a very creative story concept the characters were from different time periods, they had previously been killed and then meet in the afterlife and fight to beat the eternal champion for a second chance and the ultimate price of life.
I remember this game being quite difficult and definitely a challenge to complete, to say this game was made after Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat to success of the likes of those previous fighting games, they did a really good job and I am surprised it’s not been remade.
Doom
Doom was released in 1993 and the game is a first person shooter (FPS) developed by id-Software for MS-DOS . Doom that helped define the FPS genre, inspiring others. similar games of its style.
Players take on the role of a space marine known as Doomguy as you fight your way through hordes of invading demons from hell. The game’s popularity became a problem in people’s workplaces as people played during work hours, clogging up network usage.
According to people who played the game they reported that it was so addictive One person claimed he stayed up 72+ straight hours to play the game, and another reported that “Linking four people together for a game of Doom is the quickest way to destroy a productive, boring evening of work”.
In 2001 it was the No.1 game of all time in a poll that included more than 100 game developers and journalists
Doom has had plenty of good things said about it over the years such as being the breakthrough game of the year, has been named Game of the Year, The most talked about PC game ever!, and the No.1 game of all time!
I have never been a fan of Doom or FPS style games but you have to admit that Doom did help pave the way for the first person shooter games and definitely has its spot as a pioneer in the gaming revolution.
Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim is a side-scrolling platform game released in October 1994. Finding success with the licencing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Playmate toys wanted to start their own franchise, and through the inspiration of Sonic the Hedgehog they decided the franchise would be a video game
Oh boy Earthworm Jim, I remember going to my mate’s house and he was playing this game and I was like, “What the hell is this?” And he said, “It’s awesome, have a go!” It was fun. I bought it not long after for the Sega Mega Drive.
You play as an earthworm called Jim who wears a robotic suit and fights evil. It was a funny game to play.
Worms
Worms is a 2D artillery tactical game developed by Team17 and first released in Europe during October 1995. Worms had a lot in common with Lemmings, basically it was Lemmings, but without the puzzling aspect of the game and with weapons instead. It was developed in the UK and originally made for the Amiga console.
I got the Worms game in 1995 on the original Game Boy, and then later on the Original Playstation (PS1). Just like Lemmings, it had a great fun actor feel, although it looked very similar to Lemmings. It had a whole new game concept and endless replay value.
Players took timed turns controlling a team of worms against either each other or the CPU with the aim being to use various weapons to destroy the other team of worms using skill and tactics to be the last worm standing. The game had the ability to multiplayer with up to 4 players.
Worms was a hit and clearly well-liked by gamers, being described as one of those games that is so unique, it doesn’t fit into any category – except innovative and incredibly addictive. Named “Top 5 Most Original Games of 1996” and runner-up for Strategy Game of the Year.
Tekken
Moving on to a new generation of consoles and a new generation of fighting games in the form of Tekken, originally released in arcades in December 1994, and then on the Original Play Station 1 (PS1) a year later in 1995.
I remember playing it at a tradeshow and being blown away by the 3D fighting style and control mechanics, and it was a nice jump from 2D fighting games i was previously playing on the Sega Mega Drive even though the graphics did look rough and blocky and i do think the game’s graphics were its weakest point, but a new standard for fighting games that was only going to get better with time. I remember Jack’s arms being bigger than his entire body!
It was a fun game to play with my mates at each other’s houses and we would hold tournaments over a certain amount of days and whoever racked up the most wins was the winner.
What was great about Tekken and something I had not seen in a fighting game before was the ability to control all four of the characters limbs independently which made fighting more realistic.
The game was popular with fighting game fans, becoming the first fighting game to feature simulated 3D, becoming a best seller in the UK, and the first Playstation game to sell over 1 Million units, the game has drastically improved over the years. I later played Tekken 2 released 2nd October 1996, followed by Tekken 3 in March 1997.
Wipeout
Wipeout was developed by Psygnosis/SCE Studios (then later Sony Studio Liverpool who closed in August of 2012), Sony’s European developers based in Liverpool UK, and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment on 29th September 1995. Wipeout is a futuristic anti-gravity racing game.
I got this on the PS1 and was hooked to its fast paced racing game play and techno trance music, and Showcase of 3D graphics in console gaming, and i found it a very unique gaming experience!
The wipeout series is notable for its distinctive graphic design identity, provided by The Designers Republic for the first three games in the series.
Wipeout games have been well received by critics, especially Wipeout 2097 as it’s listed as among the Playstation’s best games. I played future wipeout games for PS2, Ps3 and have the current Wipeout Omega Collection on PS4 which is amazing and if you’re a fan of Wipeout games.
The original was special, and I believe they broke through a technology barrier with the wipe out series. I have very fond memories of playing it!.
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot was first released on 6th September 1996 created by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin while they were working at Naughty Dog for Universal Interactive Studios . Originally published by Sony Computer Entertainment: and exclusive to the PlayStation console from 1996 to 2000.
The game has appeared on numerous consoles and platforms through various developers and in different genres.
I got this game on PS1 through its likeness to Sonic the Hedgehog as most of us love playing those types of games as a break from fighting, racing and puzzles.
The game concept was similar to sonic but in a 3D experience, you play Crash, a genetically enhanced bandicoot. He lives on Wumpa Islands and is pursued by the games’ main antagonist, Doctor Neo Cortex, the man who created Crash and he wants to terminate Crash as he is a failed experiment, so Crash must defeat Neo Cortex and stop him in his path of domination.
Crash Bandicoot is a very popular video game series and a commercial success. The series is one of the few Western video game series to find blockbuster success in Japan. It is the 7th best selling Playstation game of all time.
Pokemon
Pokemon was first released on February 15th 1996. The series of games were developed by Game Freak for the Pokemon media franchise. The game was published by Nintendo, with the first release being for the original Game Boy the same year.
The game is a series of role-playing video games (RPGs), and referred to as the “core series” by their developers, the game has continued on every generation of Nintendo’s handheld consoles. It is normally released in trios, then later pairs each containing different Pokemon’s.
They release a remake of the games around a decade after the original for the next gen consoles. The Pokemon franchise is Nintendo’s 2nd best selling game, behind Nintendo’s very own Mario franchise.
In addition, Pokemon is the worlds largest media franchise with successful animated series, films and merchandise. Pokemon Go has peaked with over 1 million mobile game downloads across the globe.
I have never been into this game but its popularity deserves credit as a popular game within the 90’s and beyond. It is known as one of the best selling games in history. IGN stated that its the No.1 Nintendo game “not made by Nintendo”, stating that having to catch each Pokémon made the games addictive.
Resident Evil
The Resident Evil franchise began on March 22nd 1996 with the video game Resident Evil, The game was created by Shinji Mikami and Tokuro Fujiwara, and owned by the games company Capcom.
The Resident Evil franchise is a series of survival horror games, and also includes blockbuster movies, animated films, comic books, and merchandise.
The Resident Evil story focuses on a Zombie outbreak created by Umbrella Corporation. The game is story driven, incorporating elements of action, horror and puzzle solving with cut-scenes throughout the game as the story progresses.
You play Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, who are members of an elite task force called S.T.A.R.S. They are sent to investigate the outskirts of Raccoon City following the disappearance of their team members.
They soon become trapped in a mansion infested with zombies and other monsters. The player can select to play as Chris or Jill at the beginning of the game, you explore the mansion to uncover its secrets.
I got the first game that was released on the original Playstation (PS1) I believe this was my first 3D horror game i had played. I could not wait to play it as i loved zombies and people were saying it was a really scary game. I loved it and something I had never experienced before in a video game. It was that good that I played both characters’ stories numerous times. I went on to play later games in the series apart from the first-person versions as I’m not a fan of a third-person gamer.
The Resident Evil game has been credited with popularising survival horror games and taking games in a cinematic direction, as well as re-popularising zombies in mainstream popular culture from the late 1990s onwards.
The PlayStation game became a best seller in the UK and North America. Shortly after its release it became the best-selling PlayStation game at the time. I also played Resident Evil 2 released January 21, 1998 and then Resident Evil 3: Nemesis released September 22, 1999. The 90’s was sure a good year for Resident Evil games.
It’s definitely a pioneer in the gaming world as it deserves its spot among the best games of the 90’s and years to come.
Tomb Raider
During the same year as Resident Evil Tomb Raider was released later that year on October 25 1996. The game was developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive. The game was presented from a third person perspective. I had to get it having enjoyed Resident Evil so much. I enjoyed the game and finished it multiple times.
Tomb Raider follows the exploits of the main character Lara Croft, an English archaeologist in search of ancient treasures. The object of the game is to guide Lara through tombs and other locations in search of treasures and artefacts, while killing dangerous creatures, animals, and human enemies while collecting objects and solving puzzles.
The game’s emphasis relied more on exploring, solving puzzles, and navigating Lara through her surroundings to complete each stage.
It is the most popular action game with the female lead character. Cited as one of the best-selling video games of all time, critical acclaim, with some even declaring it one of the greatest video games ever made. It is one of the most popular action games among female gamers.
It’s been named game of the year by Game Strategy Plus, and won the magazine’s best 3D action game award. It was one of the first games to be released on PlayStation’s Platinum series, and its success made the follow-up Tomb Raider II the most anticipated game of 1997.
Lara Croft’s character was prominently featured in popular media outside of video gaming, for instance on the cover of a pop culture magazine.
Grand Theft Auto
The original Grand Theft Auto Game was released on the 21st of October 1997. The first game was created by David Jones and Mike Dailly; it was primarily developed by British development house Rockstar North (formerly DMA Design), and published by its parent company, Rockstar Games.
This was a game i was so eager to get my hands on for the original Playstation (PS1). A story set in an open free world where you can steal cars, get chased by the police and cause utter destruction sure I can’t wait to play!
Even though the game had been controversial for its adult nature and violent themes. The game became a commercial success despite mixed reviews from critics. This success paved the way for a series of GTA games that have drastically improved over the years becoming more life-like and a real world experience. The first game was fun but it was only the start of things to come!
The GTA games have a sense of freedom as the player does not follow a specific rule set or completes specific missions in a certain order, allowing you to approach them as you want to, making it a more real world experience.
Grand Theft Auto is for sure a gaming Pioneer, being one of the best selling games in history and one of the hottest games around
I have always looked forward to the next instalment and can’t wait for GTA 6 More than likely on PS5!
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee was first released on September 18th 1997, and developed by Oddworld Inhabitants and published by GT Interactive. I remember getting this game for the PS1 when it was released as i had played it in advance at the tradeshow and loved the concept and the Abe character.
The game is a platform style game were you play as the main character Abe who is a Mudokon slave at the RuptureFarms meat processing factory. He eventually discovers that the meat factory is going to slaughter all the Mudokon workers, and Abe escapes to set out and save as many Mudokons as he can.
Through the game you solve puzzles and navigate obstacles while avoiding enemies. The game had a stealth element to it as Abe would tiptoe to avoid alerting nearby enemies, Abe also had the ability to telepathically control and take over Sligs, an enemy type within the game and use them to attack other enemies.
throughout the game Abe encounters other Mudokons to rescue them, and is able to command them to “follow him,” “stay put” and activate mechanisms, as well as praise or criticise them.
The game had a very unique concept that drew me to the game, with the addition of stealth, and commands with the incorporation of puzzle elements. It was a unique game play experience that I thoroughly enjoyed, it has since been re-released on the PS4 and although it’s not the original game experience it still looks great and a nice touch /nod the the original!
The original game was a big success, and a commercial hit receiving positive reviews, having been widely acclaimed for having innovative gameplay, excellent art direction and engaging cutscenes. It also won many awards including best director, game of the year, outstanding achievement in sound and music and best voice acting of 1997.
The game is definitely an all-time great that brings back some really special childhood memories. While writing this all i can hear is Abe saying the “follow me” command. Happy Days! 🙂
Metal Gear Solid
The first ever release of Metal Gear was back in 1987 on 13th July by Konami for the MSX2 computer in Japan and parts of Europe. The game was considered to be the progenitor of the stealth game genre. The original was the first video game fully developed by Hideo Kojima, who would go on to direct most of the MGS sequels.
I was first introduced to Metal Gear Solid on the PS1 , and I remember playing the advanced demo game play at a tradeshow and preordering it. I remember I could not wait to play the stroy and game play was amazing.
I have very fond memories of this game as it helped me through a difficult time, at the time i had the game i had not yet played it and my dad had to go into hospital to have a hip replacement but had to stay in for 2 weeks and we were not expecting him to be there that long.
My mum allowed me to bring my playstation downstairs to play on the bigger TV to take my mind off it and we were concerned and missing him being at home.
After the first 2 weeks we eventually got him home for a week, but he had to be back in for a further 2 weeks. It was a very stressful time as we are a very close family. I’ll always be grateful for this game as it gave me something to focus on while my dad was in hospital.
During the game you play as Solid Snake, a soldier on a stealth mission to infiltrate a nuclear weapons facility in Alaska’s Fox Archipelago codenamed “Shadow Moses”, that has been seized by the enemy
His mission is to neutralize the terrorist threat made by FOXHOUND, a renegade special forces unit who have seized control of the island and threatens to use the nuclear-capable mecha, Metal Gear REX.
During the mission Snake must liberate two hostages, the head of DARPA known as Donald Anderson who suddenly dies of a heart attack (but is really FOXHOUND disguised artist Decoy Octopus who gets infected with the FoxDie virus from Anderson’s blood), and Colonel Campbell’s niece Meryl Silverburgh, who is also being held in a nearby cell, help Snake escape.
Snake locates another hostage, ArmsTech president Kenneth Baker, who also suddenly died of a heart attack, known as the the FoxDie virus.
During Snake’s quest to confront the terrorists and stop them from launching a nuclear strike, throughout the game Snake is also helped by Metal Gear’s designer, Dr. Hal “Otacon” Emmerich and his former ally Gray Fox, He is confronted by and must battle FOXHOUND member Revolver Ocelot. Vulcan Raven. Psycho Mantis. Sniper Wolf and a series of battles with Liquid the leader of FOXHOUND.
At the end of the game Snake finds out the government’s true reason for sending him: Snake does not realise he is carrying a weaponized “FoxDie” virus that causes cardiac arrest in FOXHOUND members on contact, allowing the government to retrieve REX undamaged.
Over the years there have been a number of sequels released for multiple consoles, which have expanded the original game’s plot and prequels exploring the Metal Gear origins and those of recurring characters.
The Metal Gear franchise has achieved great success also adapting to other media, such as comic books, book novels, and drama CDs, toys and collectable models . The game has won numerous awards and is credited for pioneering and popularizing stealth video games and “cinematic video games”.
The series as a whole (namely concerning the Kojima-directed titles) is often regarded as one of the most influential of all time and has received largely critical acclaim from critics and players. Most of the numbered installments are considered to be some of the greatest video games of all time.
Spyro The Dragon
Spyro The Dragon was first released and published by Sony for the PlayStation on September 10, 1998. The game was developed by Insomniac Games and it’s an open-ended 3D platform game where you play as the main character Spyro, a purple dragon who is accompanied by his friend a dragonfly named Sparx.
They journey across Dragon Kingdom to defeat Gnasty Gnorc, who has taken over 5 dragon homeworlds and trapped other dragons in crystals and turned their gems into his army of minions.
I got this game for the original Playstation as it looked fun and similar to the likes of sonic and crash bandicoot. I was in my last year of comprehensive school and still liked the odd fun game to play who doesn’t! But it was very easy and did not take long to finish.
It was pretty enjoyable and fun to play. It was very similar to crash bandicoot in both graphics (which were very impressive at the time!) and game play and the most fun 3D platform game I have played since Crash.
According to the developers of Spyro, game sales were slow at game launch but quickly picked up following the holiday season and became the 3rd best selling game in the UK behind Tomb Raider and Fifa 99.
The game was well-received and its popularity helped the Spyro character become a popular mascot for Playstation alongside Crash Bandicoot.
Silent Hill
One of the last games i played at the end of the 90’s was the original Silent Hill on Playstation. The game was released on the 23rd of February 1999. It was published by Konami and developed by Team Silent, a group in Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo.
I was pretty pumped for this release and had it on pre-order, the game was similar to Resident Evil using a third-person view, with real-time rendering of 3D environments.
Unlike previous survival horror games that would focus on protagonists with combat training, the main character of Silent Hill is an “everyman” a typical, ordinary individual.
You play Harry Mason who is searching for his daughter Cheryl who’s missing in Silent Hill, (a fictional American town); stumbling upon a cult conducting a ritual to revive a deity it worships, Harry discovers her true origin.
Playing as an ordinary man was a highlight of the game as it added to the realism of playing as Harry as he could not sustain much damage from enemies and was out of breath a lot after running.
Armed with a flashlight that only lit up a couple of feet playing through heavy fog that made visibility low was creepy, but his portable radio was a godsend as it alerted him to the presence of nearby enemies with bursts of static.
Harry was armed with both melee weapons and firearms but inexperienced with guns, and his aiming was unsteady, also adding to the realism. I remember the game having 5 different endings dependent on certain choices made during game play which i played through just to see them.
The game had a good story that made form of a disturbing atmosphere and although very similar to Resident Evil a different playing concept altogether and creepier which was nice to experience for a survival horror game.
Silent Hill received positive reviews from gamers on its release and was a commercial success. It’s considered a defining game in the survival horror genre, and on the list of the greatest games ever made. Silent Hill moved away from B movie horror elements toward a more psychological horror style, emphasizing the atmosphere more. A GameTrailers video feature in 2006 ranked Silent Hill as number one in its list of the top ten scariest games of all time.
In 2006 Yorkshire actor Sean Bean starred in the Silent Hill Movie. Although it was an adaption to the game and did not follow the original characters it did bring the game to life on the big screen.
These are the logos of different video games from the 90’s with exception to some from the late 80’s that i personally have good memories of playing and these titles have gained immense popularity within the gaming world by becoming pioneers and paving the way for future games.
I have really enjoyed working on this article Classic Arcade Video Game Logos of the 90’s, it took some time to complete but it sure did bring back some happy childhood memories. I really did sum up how games have evolved over the years. Hopefully when time allows, I may still follow up with this article with games from the 90s and 2000’s.
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