Bringing Back “Nintendo Hard”

With the release of Mega Man 9, the proof is now in the pudding that a video game whose flagship feature is challenging gameplay rather than high-definition graphical eye candy can find its place in today’s market. With this and so many classic titles still finding audience in the current generation, is this more than just a trend of retro-chic? Or are we witnessing the return of “Nintendo Hard”?

Back in the good ol’ days of gaming (in my case, I’m referring to the 1980s), we didn’t have fancy 3D-rendered graphics. We didn’t even know what the “uncanny valley” was. We didn’t need to! What made a game great was the challenge that it offered us. There was an exhilarating thrill in finally defeating that annoying end boss, avenging so many controllers destroyed through frustration.

Looking at the advances that video gaming has taken in the past 25 years, one might assume that with the technological opportunities now available to us, gameplay can be more complex, thus more challenging. In truth, all those extra peripherals and features have only made games easier, if not just more confusing. More options mean fewer obstacles for us to overcome. And if the development team is incompetent, then no bells and whistles can save your game from being dismally unplayable.

If I may shake my cane, kids today have it too easy. Video games have evolved from a personal means of sharpening one’s nerves into mere distraction. With the gratuitous use of cut scenes and increased in-game advertising, many modern games are barely distinguishable from normal television.

But there’s still hope! The mainstream may hesitate to budge from producing stimulation over risking innovation, it’s true. However, there are plenty of independent game developers willing to take the lessons gained from the past and create simple, yet formidable types of games.

Many of them—big surprise—come from Asia. Some are direct hacks of classic games, such as those found in the video series nicknamed “Asshole Mario”. Others are made almost from scratch, like Jineseiowata no Daibouken, a Mega Man-style game constructed entirely out of ASCII graphics. Similarly, Syobon Action Cat-Mario appears to be a mere Mario clone, though it’s filled with deceptive traps and pitfalls. You can see what I mean in the video below…

Those are just some of the more extreme examples. With a quick Google search for “free web games,” you’re bound to find plenty of free games designed to test your reflexes and puzzle-solving skills. Some of those games have even made it into the mainstream market: for example, Newgrounds’ Alien Homonid and the artistically-inclined Line Rider have been ported to modern consoles and handheld systems.

With the of popularity for independent games like these on the rise, video game publishers may depend less on bloated franchises and invest more into games that are as addictive as they are simple. Whether it’s high scores, achievements, or figuring out that damned disappearing block pattern, there’s nothing sweeter than the taste of self-victory.