The ’90s were 30 years ago, a different era full of occurrences that would be considered odd or hilarious by today’s standards. For one thing, technology wasn’t nearly as efficient, making the video games of this decade considerably less sophisticated than their modern equivalents.
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High paced, adrenaline-fueled digital adventures usually require powerful engines to deal with all the variables in such short periods of time. Dozens of moving objects and an evolving environment are not easy things to simulate. Although some games have aged poorly, there are many ’90s titles that were ahead of their time in certain regards.
10Banjo-Kazooie (Nintendo 64)
The ’90s were one of the golden eras forNintendowith the Nintendo 64 drawing in developers and customers like crazy. One of their smash hits was the 1998 3D platformer adventure gameBanjo-Kazooie.
Of all similar titles that were released in this time period, the world inhabited by this dynamic duo was arguably the largest. At the time, it had many gamers scratching their heads at how expansive the world was.
9Unreal Tournament (PC)
Many consider this 1999 title to be one ofthe best first-person shootersof all time. The smooth controls and intuitive movement allow snap reflexes that are crucial to the gun-totting combat.
Unreal Tournament’s supreme balance and design have earned plenty of praise, which is especially impressive considering how hyper-critical gamers can be of this genre. Many games since have tried to emulate this game’s fluidity, though with little success.
8Street Fighter Alpha 3 (PlayStation)
Fighting gamesrequire players to make many quick inputs in succession, rendering responsive controls essential to satisfying gameplay. Although many games in theStreet Fighterseries boast excellent speed and depth, 1999’sStreet Fighter Alpha 3on the PlayStation is considered the franchise’s pinnacle of balance.
Each and every character has strengths that players can use freely, making the roster feel like a weapon rack of polished blades that are ready for battle.
7Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night (PlayStation)
Older games in theCastlevaniaseries usually require only great dexterity with a controller and a little bit of background knowledge to beat, however,Castlevania: Symphony of the Nightchanged things up by including many RPG elements and a tremendously big map for 1999.
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The combos between items and different equipment combined with a world that was fun to repeatedly explore caused a trend for some future games in the franchise. Some aspects even went on to become staple elementsin the series.
6Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64)
A whimsical world and the very firstSuper Mariogame in three dimensions.Super Mario 64takes full advantage of theNintendo 64’s capabilitiesand allows players to truly immerse themselves in the Mushroom Kingdom.
This game created signature moves like the Long Jump, Triple Jump, and Backflip, which were Mario’s core tools in exploring the varying landscapes. These became ingrained in all future 3DSuper Mariogames, regardless of what other fascinating powers the plumber receives.
5Quake (PC)
Quakeis a 1996 title that is considered to be amongthe best FPS gamesof all time. It took what made the olderDoomgames so wonderful and put more refined skins on everything.
Quake’s multiplayer experience was as well-received as the single-player for its excellent balance. Sophisticated audio for the time as well as better AI helped establishQuakeas a timeless classic, one that set the bar high for all that came after it.
4Tekken 3 (PlayStation)
Of all the games in theTekkenseries, as well as fighting games in general, 1998’sTekken 3stands out as one of the most detailed in almost every aspect. Each character has a wealth of moves for every situation as well as combos for days.
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Thegraphics are also pristinewith very little clipping or visual anomalies. Furthermore, the length of combos one could unleash upon their adversary pushed the limits not only in this franchise but others as well, forcing a steady power creep in this area for the genre.
3GoldenEye 007 (Nintendo 64)
Incredible music, detailed textures, and smooth controls are some of the things that make 1997’sGoldenEye 007so fun. Both the deep, challenging single-player missions and often frantic multiplayer frenzies give this game near-infinite replay value.
Unlike PC games of the same era,GoldenEye 007didn’t have thousands of dollars worth of hardware to boost its potential. Rare’s game raised the overall standard for all FPS games, both on PC and major consoles.
2Half-Life (PC)
Half-Lifeis one of the most immersive games of all time. Right from the start, the player is sucked into such a detailed andenjoyably bizarre worldthat hours can pass like the blink of an eye while exploring this intricate virtual realm.
In addition to phenomenal storytelling,Half-Lifecombines elements of strategy and planning into its gameplay that separates it from other first-person games. A hybrid of groundbreaking gameplay and fantastic storytelling makeHalf-Lifeone of the most innovative games ever.
1SoulCalibur (Dreamcast)
In all fighting games of the ’90s, there were only two planes of movement. Towards and away from one’s foe, and moving up and down by jumping or crouching.SoulCaliburfor the Dreamcast broke this mold like a hammer by introducing the ability to move side to side.
This novel mechanic made fights seem immensely more real, drawing many new and old gamers alike. By allowing players to circle around opponents, the developers gave everyone a whole new world of combat to explore. Furthermore, this made it possible to explore and enjoy the intricate settings and their features.
