Why do you play old school games? Is it unique gameplay? Older games had less to work with so they were forced to be more innovative. Is it nostalgia? A way to recapture youth without buying a new convertible?

Maybe it's simplicity; only having two buttons and direction to worry about. It could be a sentimental attachment to characters; familiar faces we've come to know and love. Gameplay can make or break a game, it has to be intuitive with a fair bit of depth to it. I think everyone will agree that old school games have unique gameplay, but there's one problem, the word unique is too open-ended. A game can be unique but still play like crap (Mighty BombJack comes to mind). The importance of old school games cannot be overlooked, the restrictions and limitations they had to overcome paved the way for some very innovative games. One of the most innovataive games in both concept and gameplay is Mario 3; Miyamoto was defiantly on something when he created this gem (and whatever it was he should bottle it and resell it with some Goombas on the package). Mario 3 had familiar gameplay, iconic characters, and simple, intuitive controls. I can still play it and invoke happy memories of the first time I played it.

While nostalgia garnishes our memories of the past with puppy dogs and rainbows, rarely does it retain any accuracy of reality. There are a lot of games that I have float around in my head and make me yearn to play them once again. Few are actually still enjoyable. I played Nemo (NES) again just recently, and after dying for the fifth time (after one hit) I dropped the control and walked away. I enjoy a challenge, but this was ridiculous; most games at least have a learning curve. C'est la vie, I came back and popped in Adventures of Lolo 3, another game I held dear (in my head). After the first level, Lolo had proven itself true. The puzzles, the gameplay, were still challenging and more importantly, fun. So nostalgia can be dangerous, it is flawed and it is subjective.

Though systems and their mascots have undergone many facelifts over the years, the characters, and their stories are the source; the core that games are built upon. Icons of a generation; the flagship character has to embody the everything the company and the game stand for. A good character is iconic, an instantly recognizable hero (or villain), someone unique who stands out from the rest of the cast. Mario and Link for the Nintendo, Sonic for Sega; these characters are as well known as Bugs Bunny or Abraham Lincoln (hell, most kids know who Mario is long before Lincoln). Having a likeable, recognizably entity is important in this age of throw away technology. Having a mascot to rally around adds more depth to a game, it gives players a chance to identify with and care about the fate of the game.

For myself, I do let nostalgia play it's part, but am quick to put it to bed if it's a crappy game. If it's really going to be worthwhile it needs to be fun. Quick to pick up and get going, and have something for me care about.