When does a game become "retro"?

[sdp]

TP is definitely retro that game is nearly 20 years old even if it came out on Wii at the same time. It looks and plays dated even if you play the HD remaster on Wii U.
I don't play sports games but from what I've read people online they just keep coming out since people buy them but they're basically just updating the rosters every year, the actual gameplay is not changed so they're called, they're all just basically "official mods" for the last real entry of a sports game they made.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

It kind of blows my mind when the Mario Galaxy remasters just came out on Switch, and you realize Mario Galaxy 1 came out in 2007 and Mario Galaxy 2 in 2010. Even Mario Galaxy 2 is 15 years old now! That is absolutely crazy.

To put that into perspective, when the original Mario Bros. 1 on NES came out in 1985, 15 years from that was the year 2000 when we were in the last year of the N64.

Now 15 years ago Mario Galaxy 2 came out. The passage of time is crazy.

How good are the Galaxy games remasters, btw?

I mean, I still have my Wii and own both games. They all work perfectly fine. Is it really worth it to spend 60 euros or so on the Switch remasters in my case? Especially since I play the Switch in handheld mode always. In handheld mode you don't use motion controls, which are a significant part of the Galaxy games....

[CyberCubed]

They're the definitive way to play the games. The remasters are great and they added new textures to the ground and walls. The joycons also work well compared to the Wii remotes. The game still has Wii-era graphics so don't expect full remakes, but they made everything look a little better.

[Prowler]

Graphics are my least concern. The Galaxy games look pretty good. The Wii is not the Nintendo 64.

My concern are with the handheld controls. I don't feel like buying a modern day TV (yes I still have a very old TV, so sue me) just so I can play those remasters. So I'll pass and just replay them on the Wii again someday if I feel like it.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Prowler

How good are the Galaxy games remasters, btw?

I mean, I still have my Wii and own both games. They all work perfectly fine. Is it really worth it to spend 60 euros or so on the Switch remasters in my case? Especially since I play the Switch in handheld mode always. In handheld mode you don't use motion controls, which are a significant part of the Galaxy games....

The Remasters are top notch. Galaxy 1 even looks way better than in the 3D All Stars version. Textures redone in 4k.

[CyberCubed]

Funnily enough I virtually never play my Switch in handheld mode and play it on TV 99% of the time. Honestly most of the time I legit forget it's a handheld. It surprises me when most people play it in handheld a lot of the time. Same for the Switch 1, I think in the 8 years I owned it I took it out of the dock to play in handheld mode like...twice? Once when I first got it and one other time.

But yeah, the Galaxy remasters are great. The Mario 3D World Switch port also got the added Bowser Fury game which is like 7 hours of DLC content in its own game. Mario 64 and Sunshine are on the first All-stars collection and are or will be on Nintendo switch online too.

The only major 3D Mario game not on Switch is Mario 3D Land, the 3DS game. 3D World is basically a full sequel to it, but I like the bite-sized levels of 3D Land. You can only play it on 3DS to this day.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

The Remasters are top notch. Galaxy 1 even looks way better than in the 3D All Stars version. Textures redone in 4k.

I believe you but I'm perfectly satisfied with how the original Galaxy games still look on the Wii.

Perhaps I will buy them sometime later when they can be found for a significantly lower price in used games shops.

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Funnily enough I virtually never play my Switch in handheld mode and play it on TV 99% of the time. Honestly most of the time I legit forget it's a handheld. It surprises me when most people play it in handheld a lot of the time. Same for the Switch 1, I think in the 8 years I owned it I took it out of the dock to play in handheld mode like...twice? Once when I first got it and one other time.

But yeah, the Galaxy remasters are great. The Mario 3D World Switch port also got the added Bowser Fury game which is like 7 hours of DLC content in its own game. Mario 64 and Sunshine are on the first All-stars collection and are or will be on Nintendo switch online too.

The only major 3D Mario game not on Switch is Mario 3D Land, the 3DS game. 3D World is basically a full sequel to it, but I like the bite-sized levels of 3D Land. You can only play it on 3DS to this day.

I have 3D World on the Switch and 3D Land on the 3DS. This might be a controversial opinion, but I prefer 3D Land over 3D World. They're both pretty good, though.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Funnily enough I virtually never play my Switch in handheld mode and play it on TV 99% of the time. Honestly most of the time I legit forget it's a handheld. It surprises me when most people play it in handheld a lot of the time. Same for the Switch 1, I think in the 8 years I owned it I took it out of the dock to play in handheld mode like...twice? Once when I first got it and one other time.

Probably like 2 or 3 times for me, ever. If the wife is playing something on the big TV then sure, it makes sense for me to take the Switch (now Switch 2) off the dock. Not really any other time.

[Prowler]

I'm guessing you guys don't go on long train rides or fly a couple of times a year either. A long haul flight is a perfect time to pull out your switch and play it in handheld mode. Not that I have done it but the longest flight I took so far was 4 hours long approximately. But if I ever go on a longer flight, I'll seriously consider taking my Switch in my hand luggage. Or just end up taking my 3DS. Not to mention my Kobo Touch. I read one of the Discworld novels last summer flying from Lisbon to Krakow.

But yeah, if I ever manage to go to Japan or South Korea that could mean a layover in, let's say, Turkey or the United Arab Emirates. That will make two long haul flights. Plus will need entertainment while I'm stuck in the airport in transit. Although finding free plugs in airports is a pain in the ass.

[2012Mikey]

My general rule of thumb has always been 20 years.

[Stu_Padasso]

To me, a game is “retro” is whenever I buy a game that doesn’t require downloading a patch to make it work.

[oldmanwinters]

Arguably, when it gets a budget-priced re-release (physical media era).

Definitely, when it gets a remake/remaster.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by 2012Mikey

My general rule of thumb has always been 20 years.

2006 games are 20 years old. Is Zelda Twilight Princess retro now? Resistances Fall of Man for PS3?

[sdp]

Originally Posted by 2012Mikey

My general rule of thumb has always been 20 years.

So the SNES was not retro in 2010 yet? That's a wild take.

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Funnily enough I virtually never play my Switch in handheld mode and play it on TV 99% of the time. Honestly most of the time I legit forget it's a handheld.

I mostly play my Switch in handheld mode but I do occasionally play on the TV. I'd say it's a 70/30 split. There's just something comfy about playing anywhere on the house.

I also in general don't use the TV for anything, I rarely watch TV or movies, maybe once a week. It's really funny how it's become a piece of technology I don't really use and while it doesn't use that much space, it still feels it uses way too much space for something I don't really use that much. Funny how TVs have become obsolete tech the last ten years or so.

[2012Mikey]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

2006 games are 20 years old. Is Zelda Twilight Princess retro now? Resistances Fall of Man for PS3?

I'd certainly consider those retro, though I'm also a lot younger than most of the users here, which definitely plays a part in my perception.

Originally Posted by sdp

So the SNES was not retro in 2010 yet? That's a wild take.

I think the SNES would've been retro far earlier than that. I admit it's me being inconsistent, but technology improved so rapidly during the earlybyears of the industry that things became retro quicker. I'd say my 20 year rule applies from gen 6 onwards.

[sdp]

I still feel I created the best format, it just works and it works even if the generations become longer because of lack of technology moving as fast.


anything before (retro) -->
previous gen (old but not retro) -->
current gen (Not retro)->
Next Gen (Not out yet, not retro)->

It just works, let's try it out.


anything before (retro) --> PS3, PS2, PS1
previous gen (old but not retro) --> PS4
current gen (Not retro)-> PS5
Next Gen (Not out yet, not retro)-> PS6


anything before (retro) --> Wii U, 3DS, Wii, DS, Gamecube etc
previous gen (old but not retro) --> Switch 1
current gen (Not retro)-> Switch 2
Next Gen (Not out yet, not retro)-> Switch 3(?)


anything before (retro) --> Xbox 360, OG
previous gen (old but not retro) --> Xbox One
current gen (Not retro)-> Xbox Series S/X
Next Gen (Not out yet, not retro)-> Xbox Project Helix

Does anyone actually consider PS3 not retro? Those games are 20 years old now, Wii U is the most recent console that is now "retro" and it's almost 15 years old at this point, it also has the same graphical powers of the PS3.

Also I don't buy the excuse that games just last longer. Talk to any kid or Gen Z about Fortnite a game that continues to this day but specifically talk to them about Chapter 1 or Chapter 2 and they talk about it like its ancient history, just as we talked about the SNES during the Gamecube era.
Granted my system might need some exceptions here and there but overall it works, and if any game is over 10 years old then yeah you should likely see if it's retro or not.

[IMJ]

It's hard to believe but there are kids who probably consider the PS3 "retro" now.

[Barkworm]

Originally Posted by IMJ

It's hard to believe but there are kids who probably consider the PS3 "retro" now.

Well, that's two generations ago. That's pretty retro.

[CyberCubed]

That's because power levels have hit a ceiling in terms of videogames. That's why back in the early 2000's, retro games were strictly considered 2D games like NES, SNES, Gameboy or Genesis games.

Then N64 and Playstation 1 games became retro because they were early 3D games and look very old graphics wise.

Now we're at the point where PS2/Gamecube/Xbox games are over 25 years old, and are basically retro.

PS3/360+ onward still feel relatively recent, and while are a little outdated graphic wise, don't feel much different than modern games.

[member_removed]

I would say at least 2 generations prior.

So, from the 7th and before. The 7th Gen being PS3/Wii/360.

Starting to see a few PS3 Games getting a PS5 remaster, such The Last of Us.
Also seeing heaps of cheaper games from that gen now days.