Summary
The 80’ssaw the tail-end of the Cold War, as well as the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was also the decade that many of the greatest gaming franchises of all time first saw the light of day, which can probably almost be considered nearly as important, if spun correctly.
From games featuring a hammer wielding Italian plumber, to a fire-ball shooting martial arts master, much of the decade’s video game output featured some ofgaming’s most iconic faces. Additionally, some of the most ubiquitous and lucrative gaming franchises were established during this time, leading to these games' long lives, which continue to this day.
Video games have had to wade through countless controversies throughout the medium’s life. Yet, against all odds,Mariofound his way through it all, and into the homes of millions around the globe.
Nintendo’s premier mascot is belovedfor good reason. His charming and simple design, as well as the world he hails from, just has that much mass appeal. This is why, sinceDonkey Kong, Mario has found a space in every genre, medium, country, and creed, and is now one of the most recognizable pop culture figures on the planet.
Debuted In 1981
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is the highly-anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, Wolfenstein: The New Order developed by the award-winning studio MachineGames. An exhilarating adventure brought to life by the industry-leading id Tech 6, Wolfenstein II sends players to Nazi-controlled America on a mission to recruit the boldest resistance leaders left. Fight the Nazis in iconic American locations, equip an arsenal of badass guns, and unleash new abilities to blast your way through legions of Nazi soldiers in this definitive first-person shooter.America, 1961. The assassination of Nazi General Deathshead was a short-lived victory. The Nazis maintain their stranglehold on the world. You are BJ Blazkowicz, aka “Terror-Billy,” member of the Resistance, scourge of the Nazi empire, and humanity’s last hope for liberty. Only you have the guns and gumption to return stateside, kill every Nazi in sight, and spark the second American Revolution.
In 2014,Wolfenstein: The New Orderwas released, feeling like a triumphant return for a long-dormant series. Of course, itwasn’t a genuine feeling, as the series had seen steady releases since its inception up until this point.
It’s sequel,The New Colossus,features a truly unhinged story, complete with some jaw-dropping moments. ModernWolfensteinfeels as if Machine Games reached back through its decades-long history, just to bring back some of the franchise’s best aspects and stuff them into the series we know today.
It’s rare that a game franchise makes it as long asThe Legend of Zeldahas without putting out many true duds along the way. Yes, each entry’s mileage may very in the eyes of fans, but for every tenOcarina of Timelovers, there are just as manySkyward Sworddiehards.
This is a feat for any franchise as long-lasting as this one. It’s a sign that Nintendo is unafraid to try new things, with each new game’s release giving fans something new, whether that’s a fresh new art style,like inWind Waker, or an iconic innovation in the gaming space, like with Z-targeting inOcarina of Time.
Dragon Questis yet another genre-defining series from the 80s. Created by some of thebiggest names in the gaming space, including the creator ofDragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, as the series' character designer, it was simply poised for success from the start.
Every entry inDragon Quest’scanon is full of adorably realized monsters like Slimes and Dracky, all inhabiting a worldwell worth wandering. It’s also a world that’s further fleshed out by way of its healthy amount of side content, including manga and anime.
Street Fighter 2was one of the first fighting games to ever do it, as well as one of the best, rocking arcades everywhere since the 90s. Its now iconic roster of fighters, eachwith their own playstylesand special moves, has followed it throughout the years, and has just recently been included in a 6th major installment.
People often forget that the originalStreet Fighter, released in ‘87, is where it all started. This first game is where the Ryu and Ken rivalry was established, as well as their incredibly well-known movesets, which included theirsupernatural hadouken blastsand shouryuuken uppercuts.
To date, there are 16 mainlineFinal Fantasygames that players have been able to sink their teeth into. Then there’s the countless spin-offs that have been released alongside them across just about every gaming device in history. There are very few franchises in any medium as expansive asFinal Fantasy.
From tactical games to Soulslikes to movies and mobile experiences,Final Fantasyhas never been one to stay out of the limelight. It’s also a series that isn’t afraid to take fans back and forth through time and dimensions, exploring aspects of past games while staring starkly toward the future.
For the past 34 years,Maddenhas been a staple in the sports video game scene. Each entry hasn’t been made equal however, with features being added and removed to make each year stand out in one way or another, but not necessarily making each entry an improvement on the last.
What has stayed constant, though, has been the steady ramp up in graphical fidelity that the series has seen. With new animations and a great emphasis on photo-realism as of late,Maddenhas been able to prove that it just doesn’t play where the look of the gridiron is concerned.
Hot off the heels ofThe Lost CrownandThe Rogue, it’s clear that thePrince of Persiafranchise is having a moment as of late. Though, it hasn’t all been easy going for the series following a storied history of re-releases, reinventions, and re-imaginings.
There are some consistencies that have stayed with the franchise through its ups and downs, though. Namely, the high octane acrobatics that the titular Prince can pull off, as well as his ability to reverse or manipulate time. The series has only grown more impressive as gaming’s graphical capabilities have advanced over the years.
