Pokemon Go is everywhere. It’s crazy!
The last time I remember this much hype around Pokemon the only way to play was on a tiny hand-held screen.
Actually, not much has changed.
With Pokemon Go currently trending harder than Snapchat filters and 70s style, Saved By The Bell haircuts, I got to thinking about some classic 90s games.
There is terrifyingly high amount of people out there whose first gaming experience was on a sixth generation console: PS2, Xbox or GameCube. Could be worse, could have been an iPad.
While the millennial generation has been treated to a smorgasbord of gaming gold — Call of Duty, Halo, etc — games that promise to live on as classics, they have missed plenty of other truly incredible gaming experiences. Sure, the graphics of the pre-naughties were basic, but that didn’t stop the games being pure magic.
It’s not just the millennial generation that I’m writing this blog for, though.
From a nostalgia point of view, any 90s gamer would dream of going back and reliving the classics. Who wouldn’t want to return to those days of wired controllers, save cartridges, low-resolution and clunky controls… There was good stuff too, right?
Still, it is actually easier to get your hands on many of those classic 90s games than you might have thought. Here’s how to play classic video games you thought were lost forever!
Tomb Raider II (1997)
At FinalBoss, we’re all about honest reviews. So, when I say Tomb Raider II is amazing, you just gotta trust me.
The reason I say this is because the controls take some getting used to — and when I say ‘some’ I mean ‘a hell of a lot’.
If you can move past the choppy movements and the upsetting camera angles, Tomb Raider II has a lot going for it. For its time, it was an incredible leap forward in the action genre, but in 2016 it still offers an engaging story and a whole lotta pulse-pounding fun.
Watch out for the tigers… And the creepy butler.
How to Play Tomb Raider II
Tomb Raider II is available for download on the App Store for Apple desktops and laptops, as well as on Steam.
It’s also available on mobile devices but if you really want the classic 90s game experience, go for the keyboard option.
Super Mario 64 (1996)
Super Mario 64 was the Italian plumber’s first outing in the 3D world, and he bloody smashed it!
If you are looking to play some classic video games, look no further than Super Mario 64. An absolute joy to experience, the lush, clean-cut cartoonish graphics fit the franchise so well.
One of the most popular games in the Mario series, it received rave reviews — and, if you want my honest review, I’d have to say it was my favourite Mario game of all time.
In this open-world platformer, you spend your days jumping on Koopa Troopers trying to find those elusive stars to, you guessed it, save Princess Peach.
This is one classic 90s video game you can’t afford to miss.
And you don’t have to!
How to Play Super Mario 64
Accessing Super Mario 64 is simple. You just need a Wii U.
Go to the Wii U eShop and search for Super Mario 64. You will then be able to purchase the game for the Wii U virtual console. Wait for it to download and there you go, it’s just that simple. This can also be accomplished on the original Nintendo Wii through the old virtual console.
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
If you’ve played Ocarina of Time, chances are you reminisce about it from time to time. If you haven’t played it, well, you’ve been missing out.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time truly deserves its namesake, it was absolutely legendary.
Why?
The gameplay was playful and enthralling, the world was – and still is- absolutely beautiful and the creativity and thought that went into this game was something we’ve rarely seen since.
There is an epic world in this game, full of fearsome enemies and adorable allies — and a really annoying fairy named Navi.
NO YOU LISTEN, NAVI!
How to Play Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
So, you’re itching to dive into the legendary world of Hyrule, eh? Well, for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, just grab your trusty Nintendo Switch, head over to the Nintendo eShop, look up Ocarina of Time, slap that purchase button like a boss, wait for it to download, and bam! You’re all set to embark on an epic journey with Link.
Go show Ganondorf who’s the Final boss!
Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow (1996/1996/1998)
Nobody knows if Pokemon Go is just a fad or if it’ll last for years. However, I do know its predecessors were in it for the long haul.
The original Pokemon catch-n-collect games are icons 90s video gaming. Complete with engaging battles, addictive collecting, an innovative levelling system and a random encounter system that made you want to tear your hair out, these games are as exciting and immersive today as they were twenty years ago.
There have been plenty sequels to these games released over the years, many of which are also great in their own right. But, you simply can’t beat the feeling of playing these classic Pokemon artefacts.
How to Play Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow
To play Pokemon Red, or yellow or blue, you’ll need a Nintendo 3DS. Right, now here is where things get tricky: You must go to the Nintendo Store, put in your card details and buy it. It’s less than £7, not exactly bank-breaking. Although, if you don’t have a 3DS, it could get a bit more expensive.
You can, of course, be naughty and emulate Pokemon games, but we definitely do not advocate that… Ignore that link. IGNORE IT.
Doom (1993)
Doom is a one of a kind shooter. It opened up the FPS genre, bringing in so much hype and controversy that we can’t rule it out as being the catalyst for many of our favourite modern video games.
There is a story surrounding Doom, but nobody really cares about it. All you need to know is that you’ve got a gun, there are demons and those demons need to die.
Doom is an absolute cult classic, one of the best and most well-known 90s video games there is. You can’t really call yourself a gaming fan until you’ve experienced the brutality of Doom first hand.
How to Play Doom
This is a fact that flew under most people’s noses, but both the first Doom and Doom 2 are available on the Xbox One and PS4 online stores. Just head over and download them now.
They are really making this too easy.Well, fellow gamer, strapping on the plumber’s cap in Super Mario 64 is a piece of cake on the Nintendo Switch! Simply hop onto the Nintendo eShop, search for Super Mario 64, hit that buy button, wait for the download, and voila! You’re ready to start stomping on some Goombas. Easy peasy, right?
Looking for more content? We’ve got plenty of game blogs for you, with more to come.