Tetris has one of the most fascinating origin stories in gaming. Created in 1984 by Soviet programmer Alexey Pajitnov, it became a global phenomenon that transcended borders and politics. Humble…
Read More
The battle between Nintendo's NES (and later SNES) and Sega's Genesis was one of the most intense console wars in gaming history. This rivalry shaped the entire decade. Nintendo's Dominance…
Read More
Chrono Trigger, released in 1995, represents one of the most ambitious collaborations in gaming history. Three legendary creators came together to create what many consider the perfect RPG. The Dream…
Read More
When Doom was released in 1993, it didn't just create a new genre - it changed the entire gaming industry. Here's how id Software's masterpiece revolutionized everything. The Engine That…
Read More
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, released in 1991, didn't just create the fighting game genre - it perfected it. But the road to its creation was filled with challenges…
Read More
The 1990s marked a golden age for 2D platformers. Games like Super Mario World, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Donkey Kong Country pushed the boundaries of what was possible with side-scrolling…
Read MoreDid you know that Super Mario Bros. was originally going to feature Popeye characters? Nintendo couldn't secure the license, so they created Mario instead - and gaming history was made!
Tetris was the first video game to be played in space! In 1993, Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Serebrov played it on a Game Boy during a mission aboard the Mir space station.
Sonic the Hedgehog was created as Sega's answer to Nintendo's Mario. The character was designed to be "cool" and appeal to older audiences, with his speed being his main selling point.
Street Fighter II revolutionized the fighting game genre in 1991. It introduced the combo system, special moves, and character selection - features that became standard in all fighting games.
Pac-Man was inspired by pizza! Creator Toru Iwatani removed a slice from a pizza and created the iconic character. The game was originally called "Puck Man" but was changed to avoid vandalism.
Final Fantasy was named "Final" because Square was on the verge of bankruptcy. They thought it would be their last game - but it became one of the most successful RPG franchises ever!
Doom revolutionized first-person shooters and was created by id Software in just one year. The game's engine was so advanced that it could run smoothly on 386 processors. John Carmack and John Romero worked tirelessly, with Carmack coding the revolutionary 3D engine and Romero designing levels. The game was distributed via shareware, a revolutionary business model that allowed millions to play the first episode for free.
Fun fact: The game was originally going to be called "Knee-Deep in the Dead" but was changed to "Doom" because it sounded more impactful. The game's success led to the creation of an entire genre and influenced countless games that followed.
Myst was created by brothers Robyn and Rand Miller using HyperCard on Macintosh. The game featured pre-rendered 3D graphics that were revolutionary for the time. It became the best-selling PC game until The Sims surpassed it in 2002.
The game's success was unexpected - it was a slow-paced puzzle game in an era dominated by action games. Myst proved that there was a market for thoughtful, immersive experiences. The game's beautiful visuals and mysterious atmosphere captivated millions of players worldwide.
Shigeru Miyamoto wanted to create a game that captured the feeling of exploration he experienced as a child exploring the forests and caves near his home in Kyoto. The game introduced many mechanics that became series staples, including the Master Sword and the parallel world concept.
The development team worked for over two years to perfect the game. They created a massive overworld with two parallel dimensions - the Light World and Dark World. This innovative design influenced countless action-adventure games that followed.
Chrono Trigger was a collaboration between the "Dream Team" of RPG developers: Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy), Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest), and Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball). The game featured multiple endings, time travel mechanics, and a revolutionary combat system.
The game was in development for three years and pushed the Super Nintendo to its limits. It featured over 2,000 frames of animation and a dynamic soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu. Chrono Trigger is still considered one of the greatest RPGs ever created.
Nintendo released the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), introducing 16-bit graphics and Mode 7 technology that revolutionized gaming visuals.
The console war began as Sega launched Sonic the Hedgehog, directly competing with Nintendo's Mario. This rivalry defined the decade.
id Software released Doom, creating the first-person shooter genre and introducing shareware distribution to millions of gamers.
Sony entered the console market with PlayStation, bringing 3D gaming to the mainstream with titles like Ridge Racer and Tekken.
Nintendo released the N64 with Super Mario 64, revolutionizing 3D platforming and introducing analog stick controls.
Legendary titles like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid, and Half-Life were released, marking one of gaming's greatest years.
"Super Mario World was my childhood. The level design, the secrets, Yoshi - everything about it is perfect."
"Street Fighter II taught me that games could be competitive. I spent countless hours mastering combos with my friends."
"Chrono Trigger is the perfect RPG. The story, the music, the multiple endings - it's a masterpiece that never gets old."