Gaming has come a long way, from the 8-bit graphics of the NES era to the lifelike visuals of the PlayStation 4 and the current generation. Yet as technology has continued to innovate, the decades-old debate has only grown in power: Should modern technology dominate the video game industry, or should retro gaming trump all?

PlayStation 4 vs. NES

NES

Console:

Pros: 8-bit microprocessor, revolutionized memory mapping, compact controllers

Cons: Not very powerful, prone to malfunction, sound quality wasn’t very good

Controller:

Pros: Nostalgic feel, simple design, no changes needed

Cons: Wired to the console, strange grip, box-shaped

Games:

Hits: Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, Excitebike, Mega Man

Flops: Super Pitfall, Chubby Cherub, Where’s Waldo

PS4

Console:

Pros: Free games every month with PlayStation Plus, sleek design, good specs

Cons: Pay for online, only supports 2.4 GHz channel, barebone ports (HMDI, ethernet, PS4 camera)

Controller:

Pros: Streamlined, wireless, monospeaker and touchpad give unique experience in games

Cons: Sometimes too small, short battery life, thumbsticks wear easily

Games:

Hits: Infamous: Second Son, The Last of Us Remastered, Killzone: Shadow Fall

Flops: Watch Dogs, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Thief

Retro Gaming

By Timothy Leoncio

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With all the hype coming from next-generation games left and right, there has to be an argument made for the classics – the games and systems that got them there in the first place. Original games like the N64’s Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, NES’s Castlevania series, PS2’s Kingdom Hearts and Xbox’s Baldur’s Gate come to mind, almost nostalgically.

There are several reasons why these pioneers are so well remembered and cherished despite the development of newer, more technologically advanced games. First of all, the gameplay was, in all honesty, much better and innovative than today’s counterparts. The developers got creative with levels, bosses, special abilities, you name it. Everything was extremely challenging, but extremely fun. Sequels (like Banjo Tooie from Rare’s legendary Banjo Kazooie franchise) actually felt like sequels instead of copy-paste reboots with barely any new content. They were whole new games, with completely new mechanics, characters and bosses.  And who could ever forget the side-scroller madness that came from games like Super Mario World? What current and next-gen gaming seem to have forgotten is that life and character that their predecessors made integral to their games.

Plus, there’s a lot of modern-day hassle that you would never have to deal with. You could forget about  loading times or 20 DLC expansions that cost ten bucks each; just plug in and play! No updates, no online payment plans, no unexpected glitches, no mod/hacks, no downed servers, no trolls, no stolen accounts, no ping battles, no walkthrough spoilers – really, no worries. Analog systems meant a problem-free gaming experience. The worst conundrums could be solved by simply blowing into the cartridge, for better or worse. Multiplayer was simplified: four slots, four controllers and four friends (or screen watchers, depending on who you ask) were all that was needed. If anything, old gaming was more personal and social by “necessity.”

In reality, “retro” games and systems are what new games aspire to be; stripped of all the fluff, target marketing and smoke and mirrors – just plain, good old-fashioned fun. This way of gaming is truly the better way to play.

VS.

Modern Gaming

By Jacob Balatico

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Gaming has come a long way. We’ve gone from 8-bit graphics to amazing realism in games and while it’s great to look back at the old times, we should also look forward to the future. There have been amazing games that have come to current generation consoles such as The Last of Us, which has been praised for its amazing story and take on the cordycep fungus, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which was praised for its high level of content and superb level design.

Many gamers argue that games aren’t as expansive or original as they used to be and are being held up by graphics. While there have been let-downs in the past, we musn’t forget that every console has had at least one bad game. Graphics have made it possible for some games to bring to life characters that we could relate to which increases the enjoyment of the game.

Another thing that has been frowned upon in gaming is making remastered versions of games. Halo: The Master Chief Collection comes to mind. While there were some gamers excited for the remaster, there were also other gamers who opposed it, saying companies were trying to milk the games. For me, being able to play the remastered version of Halo brought me new joy as you can switch between the old and new graphics so it was familiar and brought back memories from my childhood as well as provided me with new experiences from a reimagining of the game.

As consoles progress, the overall power gets better. Instead of taking long to load or save, it now takes half the time on newer consoles. The consoles get lighter as well. I remember having to lug my Xbox over to my friend’s house when we wanted to play Halo. Now, they make carrying cases because they can be transported. If a game has a software problem, having a disc instead of a cartridge means companies can release a patch to fix those problems. While online does have its flaws, it also provides a means for friends who are in different states or countries to come together and enjoy playing a video game.

With new generations of console gaming come new problems. But when these flaws are ironed out then really, the way of the future isn’t looking half bad. Retro gaming was a good past but now the future is upon us.