I think any NES game that was good "back in the day" holds up even now. Gameplay and graphics had a nice simplicity that holds up today, unlike most pre-NES games. It was a period when games were just starting to become what they are now, with plots, actual level design, and "thinking" enemies, but without all the complexity. Sure, most NES games won't hold your attention for hours at a time, but they're still enjoyable in brief sittings.
What I find impossible to play today are early 3D games. So much time and effort was spent trying to make the games look cool and flashy at the cost of gameplay, and it was when most devs really didn't even know how to make a 3D game. Most first-year PS1 and N64 games are examples of this.
Yeah, I still play Final Fantasy on occasion, though Dragon Warrior has weathered a bit worse (the grind is a bit harsh, though the sequels are better).
I think this is because good gameplay doesn't age as quickly or as harshly as good graphics. Graphics have improved greatly, while gameplay hasn't come quite so far.
Comments
I think any NES game that was good "back in the day" holds up even now. Gameplay and graphics had a nice simplicity that holds up today, unlike most pre-NES games. It was a period when games were just starting to become what they are now, with plots, actual level design, and "thinking" enemies, but without all the complexity. Sure, most NES games won't hold your attention for hours at a time, but they're still enjoyable in brief sittings.
What I find impossible to play today are early 3D games. So much time and effort was spent trying to make the games look cool and flashy at the cost of gameplay, and it was when most devs really didn't even know how to make a 3D game. Most first-year PS1 and N64 games are examples of this.
Yeah, I still play Final Fantasy on occasion, though Dragon Warrior has weathered a bit worse (the grind is a bit harsh, though the sequels are better).
I think this is because good gameplay doesn't age as quickly or as harshly as good graphics. Graphics have improved greatly, while gameplay hasn't come quite so far.