Video Games Then And Now: A Mind Twisting Comparison

What is retro to you? Is it the arcade halls of the ’80s or just the 8-bit graphics that used to drive the games that you spent countless hours in front of just because you had to finish them? We all have a different idea about what retro is, yet it still all refers to yesterday’s awesomeness. However, sometimes the old is reinvented, and that is when I have the hardest time determining what I like the most. I don’t know if it is the same for you, but whenever I see something that I used to love back in the day, I always get a little confused. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s of course a dream that those things come back in style.

As we are talking about games, do you remember the games you loved to play as a kid? I mean, do you sometimes think about them and remember what they looked like and maybe even compare them to the games of today? I know I do, quite a lot actually. I am the first one to admit that I am furiously and constantly looking for more information about tomorrow’s graphics engines because I want to know where we are heading. Besides, comparing is a good thing because it means we get some perspective about how far things have come.

I found an interesting comparison between games on the awesome Retronaut website that I truly think portrays the progress in computer power that we have had since the early days of the computer and of course the console. It’s an impressive showcase of mind twisting improvements, and you have to look at each genre by itself to really understand what has happened. This is an illustration of what has happened in the last 15 years. Can you imagine where we are heading and comprehend where we will be in another 15 years? It’s nothing less than impressive and mind boggling, wouldn’t you say?

The Legend of Zelda vs. The Legend of Zelda – Skyward Sword

Sonic The Hedgehog vs. Sonic Generations

Pole Position vs. Gran Turismo 5

Mortal Kombat vs. Soul Caliber 50

Mike Tyson’s Punch Out vs. Fight Night Round 3

Metal Slug vs- Battlefield 3

Mario Brothers vs. Braid

Marble Madness vs. Portal

GoldenEye 64 vs. Halo 3

Contra vs. Metro 2033