Quantifying Quality Over Time

[NintendoLegend]

Before launching into this topic of conversation, I would highly encourage you to read this piece from a member blog at 1up.com concerning which video games stand the test of time, which makes some insightful observations into the seemingly shifting perceptions concerning game quality, and asks tough questions about retro gamers' tendencies to view older games with rose-colored glasses.

So, I am wondering: What makes a game truly great forever?

One could argue that there is room in simplicity for near-perfection; for example, it would be tough to improve on the precision formula of Tetris.

However, for a slow, pixelated, tedious RPG like Dragon Warrior, despite its innovation and contributions to the genre, it will probably only look worse and worse as the years go on.

What are your thoughts on this phenomenon, and what makes a game really great no matter when a player tries it?

[enjoyvideogaming]

This is a discussion that a friend of mine and I have quite frequently when comparing retro games and newer games. And you've hit the nail right on the head: simplicity.

You mentioned Tetris as one that cannot be improved on, and I totally agree. Other titles that I can think of is Berzerk, Wizard of Wor, just games that are simple not necessarily in gameplay, but in design.

Nowadays you look at games on newer systems and they really are pretty to look at, but where is the originality? Who can pick it up and play it without needing instructions the first time they touch it? It's stuff like that which, I believe, makes retro games closer to being great forever than newer games.

Great question you asked there.