2020-09-29T15:47:32 02:00

The best retro games: 8 insider tips

In this retrogaming list you read:

Which old video games you should definitely catch up on
What makes these retro games so special
On which platforms the respective retro classics are available

This list is the personal tips of the author, but we would be happy if you write your own retro game secret tips in the comments.

Earthbound (Mother 1)

Available platforms: Super Nintendo, SNES Mini, WiiU (via Virtual Console), Nintendo 3DS (via Virtual Console)
First released: 1994 in Japan
Suitable for: Role-playing game fans, fans of quirky humor, retro gamers & gamers

We start this list with Earthbound because for a long time it was almost impossible for Europeans to play this retro gem. Earthbound (or Mother 1, as it's called in Japan) was originally only released in North America and Japan. Only through the digital re-releases on the Virtual Console and as part of the SNES Mini is there an affordable way to catch up on Earthbound. The original SNES module is one of the most expensive retro games and is highly sought after by collectors.

But why would you want to play a game that 's almost 30 years old today? Because there is hardly a video game like Earthbound! The story is strange, satirical, socially critical, funny and yet interesting. You play the teenager Ness, who European Nintendo fans know from the Super Smash Bros games. This teenager is tasked by an alien to save the world.

The gameplay in Earthbound is strongly reminiscent of the Pokémon RPGs and the early Final Fantasy parts. You'll travel from town to town, where you'll solve the residents' problems and meet new friends who will join your group. Earthbound is a role-playing game, but elves, orcs and other fantasy clichés don't exist. Instead, the retro game is set in a normal world reminiscent of North America in the nineties.

There is a mysterious force at work there, which makes for all sorts of absurd situations. In Earthbound, people are sometimes corrupted, get psychic abilities or everyday objects turn into monsters. As you can see, Earthbound is a retro game like no other, which is why you should definitely catch up with it.

Demon's Souls

Available platforms:PlayStation 3, PS Now, PlayStation 5 (As Remake)
First released: 2009
Suitable for: Dark Fantasy fans and Soulsborne enthusiasts

Demon's Souls' success story is a modern video game fairy tale. During its development, Demon's Souls was on the verge of being cancelled several times. A certain Hidetaka Miyazaki took on the project, formed an uncompromising role-playing game according to his ideas and created an entire genre. Meanwhile, the Souls series is the biggest franchise of the developer studio From Software and Hidetaka Miyazaki is the company's president.

In Demon's Souls you travel as a nameless character to the land of Boletaria, which is haunted by demons and a mysterious mist. The only safe place is the Nexus, from where you go to the five kingdoms of Boletaria to fight back the demons and track down the origin of the mist.

Everyone has probably heard of From Software's later titles like Dark Souls 1-3, Sekiro and Bloodborne, but Demon's Souls in particular has an atmosphere all its own that still makes Souls fans return to the series' origins.

Of course, everyone has their own In our opinion, the level design, the characters and the attention to detail in Demon'sSouls surpass the later titles. The retro game still looks passable graphically and is very playable in terms of controls, which is why we definitely want to recommend it to you.

Meanwhile, a Demon's Souls remake has even been officially announced, which will be released exclusively for Sony's PlayStation 5.

The Demon's Souls remake is not developed by From Software itself, but by Bluepoint Games. However, they have already proven what they can do with the outstanding remake of Shadow of the Colossus () and the remasters of the first three Uncharted parts. We are therefore optimistic that the Demon's Souls remake will also be a real success.

Here you can also find an up-to-date list of all PlayStation 5 games known so far.

Shadow of the Colossus

Available platforms: PlayStation 2 (original), PlayStation 3 (remaster), PlayStation 4 (remake)
First released: 2005 (Japan), 2006 (Europe)
Suitable for: Everyone, really; it's a video game milestone.

Of course, Shadow of the Colossus can't be missing from this list. The epic has won countless awards and for many gamers it is one of the best video games ever. The desperate attempt of a young man to revive a dead woman already moved us to tears in the original from 2005 and can also be experienced in contemporary visuals with the PlayStation 4 remake released in 2018.

For those who have already played through the game, we recommend Shadow of the Colossus Hard Mode, where all the bosses have new abilities that give you another fresh gaming experience.

Shadow of the Colossus even appears outside of the video game cosmos in the drama "The Love in Me" (original title: "Reign over Me"), in which you can see Adam Sandler in one of his few serious roles. The film is about two old school friends - played by Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler - who meet again after years and help each other overcome their current problems. In the process, there's a scene where the two play the original version of Shadow of the Colossus on the PlayStation 2.

So be sure to play a version of Shadow of the Colossus and check out "Reign over me" while you're at it. Developer studio Team Ico is also responsible for 2016's The Last Guardian and the eponymous Ico (2001).

Deadly Premonition

Available platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One
First released: 2010
Suitable for: Gamers who like quirky mystery stories as well as David Lynch fans

Deadly Premonition was already technically outdated when it was originally released. The graphics look like something out of a PlayStation 2 game and the gameplay doesn't win any trophies either. Nevertheless, we would like to heartily recommend the title to you, because apart from these weaknesses Deadly Premonition is a very special game.

As FBI agent Francis York Morgan, you are sent to the small American town of Greenvale to investigate the murder of a young woman. Together with the local police forces you try to solve the mystery of the so-called "Raincoat Killer". Sounds like a typical detective story at first, but nothing is as it seems. With every city dweller you meet, you realize that no one can be trusted here.

The characters are written in such a way that it's never clear whether someone is suspicious, hiding something, or just inherently strange. This is true even for the film's own main character, Agent Morgen, who seems to have some sort of split personality, talks to himself continuously, and is repeatedly attacked by zombie-like monsters, but only he can see them.

Deadly Premonition is a single break in stylewhere you never know what will happen next. The story is equal parts absurd, suspenseful and fun, which makes this retro game secret so unique.

Deadly Premonition is far from a perfect game. All versions have a few technical issues. You can run past most of the zombies, and the police car's handling is not for the faint of heart. Nevertheless, you should bite through and give Deadly Premonition a chance. Games like this don't come around often and should be played by more people.

If you have a choice, we recommend the Nintendo Switch port Deadly Premonition Origins, which was released in 2019, as it runs the most stable. By the way, in the summer of 2020, Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise, an unexpected sequel, was released for the Nintendo Switch.

Portal 1 & 2

Available platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One
First released: 2007
Suitable for: Everyone, really!

If there's one near-perfect video game, it's Portal. There's really no one to whom you can't recommend this classic video game, whether you're a gaming veteran or your own parents. Portal's gameplay mechanic, which lets the player shoot two different portals, is both simple and ingenious.

You'll find yourself in a test lab, where you'll master increasingly complex puzzles and obstacles. Along the way, you'll be guided by a mysterious AI voice that simultaneously pushes and taunts you. In the second part, more mechanics are added, such as bumblebee slime and a two-player co-op mode. Both parts are absolutely recommendable and you should definitely catch up or play them again.

Grand Theft Auto 2

Available platforms: PC, PlayStation 1, Dreamcast, Gameboy Color
First released: 1999
Suitable for: PC gamers who can get along with outdated controls

No matter how big Rockstar's game worlds get, Grand Theft Auto 2 will always be something special. Before the series went for a 3D world and intense storytelling for the first time with GTA3, GTA2 thrilled us with its classic bird's eye view. Please listen directly to the brilliant GTA2 soundtrack:

Grand Theft Auto 2 offers extreme freedom and throws you right into the gameplay - there's no need for long intros or tutorials. You start in a phone booth, where a mysterious caller tells you the basic rule: "Respect is everything". In fact, in each district there are three gangs, for each of which you can complete different missions, gaining their favor.

The more you work for a gang, the more the other factions hate you. At some point, they will even attack you when you enter their territories. More respect in Grand Theft Auto 2 will give you access to more difficult missions, which in turn will bring you more money and, of course, send you into enemy territory.

Which gang you join basically doesn't matter, since the real rule in GTA2 is "money is everything". To get to the next level, you have to reach a certain amount of money. How you do that is completely up to you. Besides completing missions, you can collect rare cars, complete bonus missions or simply cause chaos. Just about everything you can do in the game will reward you with dough.

Grand Theft Auto 2 offers a simple but fun gameplay concept that still works great over 20 years later, so you should definitely play it.

Super Mario Sunshine

Available platforms: Gamecube, Nintendo Switch (via Super Mario 3D All-Stars)
First released: 2002
Suitable for: Jump-and-run fans looking for a slightly different Mario experience

Super Mario Sunshine is considered a very controversial Mario game because it does some things differently. Not every Nintendo fan likes that. For us, however, Super Mario Sunshine is one of the coolest Nintendo platformers for this very reason.

For a change, Sunshine isn't about Princess Peach being kidnapped by Bowser, but about environmental pollution and a legal false accusation. Tough stuff for a colorful jump&run.

Besides the story in Super Mario Sunshine - in which Mario is wrongly convicted and has to clean a polluted island from oil and graffiti - the gameplay is also different from the usual Mario routine. This is ensured by the "Dirt Road 08/17" water cannon, which gives you completely new options for movements and combat.

It is often criticized that especially the later levels revolve too much around the management of the water supply and that there are a few unfair jumping passages. Despite these criticisms, we think Super Mario Sunshine is an extremely good game thanks to its colorful island landscape, great mud and water mechanics, and its departure from familiar Mario conventions.

If you follow our retro recommendation, we recommend the following guide: Super Mario Sunshine: The best tips & tricks for the Nintendo classic!

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Available platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 (HD remaster), Xbox, Xbox 360 & Xbox One (HD remaster), PlayStation Vita (HD remaster), PC
First released: 2001
Suitable for: Gamers who like to be hoodwinked

As with several of the insider tips listed in this retro game list, we've chosen Metal Gear Solid 2 for what we feel is an unjustly criticized title. In general, we are huge fans of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series and strongly recommend you to catch up with it. Here, however, we want to make a plea for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

One thing is clear, Hideo Kojima is a troll and he fooled us with the demo version of MGS2. The demo contained the complete prologue of Metal Gear Solid 2, in which you infiltrate a tanker as Solid Snake. At the time, however, no one knew that in the rest of the game you'd be playing the previously completely unknown character Raiden.

Of course, it's understandable that many fans were disappointed by this feint and the admittedly far less charismatic main character. Nevertheless, we still find the story in Metal Gear Solid 2 so ingenious after all these years that we can only be partially angry with Hideo Kojima.

After all, just like the players themselves, Raiden explores the question of why he is entrusted with a mission that is made for Solid Snake. So there are some parallels between Raiden's story and your experiences in front of the screen.

Besides the personal story of the main protagonists, the Metal Gear Solid 2 story revolves around a theme that is still extremely relevant today: the control and manipulation of information. So even if you're not comfortable with Raiden's role, the rest of Metal Gear Solid 2 is extremely exciting and worth playing.

Currently, by the way, there are new ways to catch up on the retro title: Metal Gear Solid 2 was re-released as a port for PC in September 2020, and there are also leaks of a Metal Gear Solid 1 remake and remaster versions of MGS2-4.

But what are your retro game secret tips? Post it in the comments. We also recommend the following GameZ articles.

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