Super Mario Bros for the NES is NOT a Retro Game!
Hey, everyone, it's good to see you. Thanks for joining me. Oh, wait. Sorry.
Obviously I can't actually see you. And you're not physically here with me. Those are just expressions, right? We use them all the time, even though they don't literally mean what they say.
That kind of thing can be confusing sometimes. And that's exactly what I want to talk about today, a common mix-up in the gaming world, specifically the way we use the word retro to describe our favourite old games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Brothers.
And here's the thing... those games aren't really retro at all.
Let me explain why.
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| Super Mario Bros. |
When people talk about games like Sonic and Mario, they often call them retro because they're from the past and bring back memories. But just because something is old doesn't make it retro. That's a common misunderstanding.
And it all comes down to what retro really means By definition, retro means "imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the past". In other words, retro is about creating something new that mimics the look and feel of an earlier era. It's not about being old, it's about intentionally recreating the past.
Take Xeno Crisis, for example. This game was released in recent years, but was designed specifically for older systems like the Sega Mega Drive. It's a perfect example of a true retro game, because it was intentionally created to mimic the style and gameplay of the 90s. The developers took modern technology and applied it to create a game that feels like a classic, complete with pixel art and chiptune music that defined the era. So while Xeno Crisis is a new release, it captures the essence of retro gaming by deliberately evoking the past.
This is what makes it retro. It's a contemporary creation that pays homage to the old school games that we love.
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| Xeno Crisis |
Now let's look at the classics, Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario Bros. and others from that era.
These games aren't retro, they're vintage. Vintage means something that is genuinely from the past, an original piece from its time. These games were groundbreaking when they were released, setting the standards for design and gameplay. They weren't trying to imitate the past. They were the past.
Think of it like this a 1965 Ford Mustang isn't a retro car. It's a vintage car, a real piece of automotive history. And the same goes for these games. They're not modern recreations. They're the real deal from their own time, and that's what makes them special.
Playing Super Mario Bros. On the NES or Sonic the Hedgehog on a Mega Drive isn't just about nostalgia. It's about experiencing a part of gaming history as it was when it was first created.
So next time somebody calls Super Mario Brothers or Sonic the Hedgehog a retro game, remember they're actually vintage. It might seem like a small distinction, but understanding it helps us to appreciate these games even more.
Now, I get it. Retro and vintage are terms that people often use interchangeably. The lines between them have already blurred in everyday conversation. And who knows, one day the dictionary might even update its definitions to reflect how people actually use these words. But for now, it's worth recognising the difference, whether they're vintage originals or retro callbacks to a beloved past. These games deserve to be celebrated for what they truly are.
Let's just keep enjoying these games for the joy that they bring and the memories they create.
Thank you for reading!
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