The 1990s exploded with phenomena in such a way that it completely changed face away from the glossy technicolor aesthetics the 1980s are classically adorned by. Films saw the rise and prominence of blockbusters, pop swept the music scene like an infectious rash and technological advancements were improving exponentially. Yet maybe it's the videogame industry that saw the largest evolution. After a cataclysmic 1983 where videogaming almost died, the industry started picking up the slack courtesy of Nintendo and their unwavering contributions to the industry making quality games and household names with the likes of Mario and Donkey Kong at the helm. By the early 90s, gaming was back on track and heading for the stratosphere with the emergence of a spikey blue hedgehog called Sonic in 1991, ushering in a new era of videogames that refused to yield for the remainder of the decade. Mario's first jaunt into the 3D realm with Super Mario 64 came about in 1996, making the leap from 2D platformers to a whoppingly jaw-dropping third third dimension is one of the most incredible feats the industry saw. One year later, SONY and Square Enix hit a homerun by releasing the cinematic tour de force Final Fantasy VII and then a year later Metal Gear Solid put the stealth action genre on the map-not just because of its stellar gameplay but its strangeness as well. The 90s was truly a decade where videogames went boom in the best way forward unlike a decade beforehand where boom would've meant the total annihilation of the industry.
Many people even to this day think videogames are a waste of time and money but what do they know? Such short-sightedness has parasitically gnawed at the industry for the longest time, but if these people took a closer look with their manacles they'd realise that videogames have more potential than other similar mediums. People will say gamers are lazy and don't do anything worthwhile whilst playing, but then I'm sure those same people watch films where all you do is stare at a screen for a few hours. Why start this paragraph in this fashion? Because it's important to reflect the industry's change with the changing attitudes of people when they realise just how vibrant videogames are if they considered watching and playing them for a few hours. New icons like the aforementioned Sonic, Yoshi, Crash Bandicoot, Lara Croft, Duke Nukem, Kirby and Spyro brought colour and diversity to the forefront, some with attitudinal quirks that make them more relatable to the younger generations. It's through this acknowledgement of the young adult and teenaged gamer where 90s gaming sets itself apart from any decade in the medium-because it realised that gamers grow up and they want to play more games that reflect their beliefs and values.
Speaking of growing up, the advent of the violent videogame took off in the 1990s with the release of Mortal Kombat and its grisly and graphic dismemberments and decapitations known in the game as fatalities.....oh sorry I meant FATALITY! With an edgier and far more mature streak of violence than had ever been seen before in videogames, Mortal Kombat burst onto the scene and eviscerated players with its gory delights-but the controversial would grow in the following decade.
Younger gamers were also catered to in the form of extreme sports games like Tony Hawks Pro Skater, which was an astronomical success that saw skateboarding as a whole pick up steam and helped to elevate interest in skating culture. To this day there are few games that can rival the gratifying and impulsive brilliance of THPS game because stringing together tricks really makes you feel like a master and the game's ability to encourage you to learn all of its tricks, grabs and grinds is totally and truly rad.
Speaking of growing up, the advent of the violent videogame took off in the 1990s with the release of Mortal Kombat and its grisly and graphic dismemberments and decapitations known in the game as fatalities.....oh sorry I meant FATALITY! With an edgier and far more mature streak of violence than had ever been seen before in videogames, Mortal Kombat burst onto the scene and eviscerated players with its gory delights-but the controversial would grow in the following decade.
Younger gamers were also catered to in the form of extreme sports games like Tony Hawks Pro Skater, which was an astronomical success that saw skateboarding as a whole pick up steam and helped to elevate interest in skating culture. To this day there are few games that can rival the gratifying and impulsive brilliance of THPS game because stringing together tricks really makes you feel like a master and the game's ability to encourage you to learn all of its tricks, grabs and grinds is totally and truly rad.
When it comes to horror videogames in the 90s you cannot speak of the topic until you namedrop Resident Evil. Debuting in 1996, the original Resident Evil made waves by enticing players into a gripping horror experience inside the confines of the Spencer Mansion, where you're introduced to not only bloodthirsty zombies who was to chew your neck off-but cheesy one-liners from Jill Valentine and Barry Burton like the infamous "Jill Sandwich" and saying she's the "Master of Unlocking". The sequel's arrival in 1998 doubled down on the horror, where Capcom produced what is quite possibly the greatest horror game of all time with shambling hordes gurgling outside the view of fixed camera angles, and making the entire experience gripping and eerie from beginning to end-as well as introducing you to new frightening monstrosities like the Lickers.
It's the new genres and understanding of the maturing audiences that made the 90s videogaming scene boom, spawning new exciting franchises that continue to be celebrated with new entries and innovations to this day. Without the 90s would we really ever grow up and depart from the basic necessities of videogames? Sure gaming would've still been great fun but without the evolutionary steps of the 1990s, videogames would probably have flapped about like a fish out of water not knowing what to do or where to go. Gamers of all ages should give credit to the 90s for making videogames as brilliant, diverse and exciting as they are today-and with all the potential that has been and gone since those halcyon days we shall doff the hat and say THANK YOU!!! The 1990s and to Nintendo and SONY for leading the way.
It's the new genres and understanding of the maturing audiences that made the 90s videogaming scene boom, spawning new exciting franchises that continue to be celebrated with new entries and innovations to this day. Without the 90s would we really ever grow up and depart from the basic necessities of videogames? Sure gaming would've still been great fun but without the evolutionary steps of the 1990s, videogames would probably have flapped about like a fish out of water not knowing what to do or where to go. Gamers of all ages should give credit to the 90s for making videogames as brilliant, diverse and exciting as they are today-and with all the potential that has been and gone since those halcyon days we shall doff the hat and say THANK YOU!!! The 1990s and to Nintendo and SONY for leading the way.