Nostalgia: Does it live up to your memory

[GameWizard001]

I've recently played the Sly Cooper HD Collection. I never got the chance to play the first game so this was a great opportunity. My video rental store at the time didn't have it when it first came out, the 2nd and 3rd game yes, but never the first one so obviously I had a steep learning curve as far as backstory was concerned but they did a nice job in the intro for the 2nd game.

After I got done playing the first and a bit into the 2nd I came to this realization that the game wasn't as good to me the second time around. Granted I played the 2nd Sly Cooper game roughly 10 years ago or maybe more (I'm 25 now so that is a bit of stretch back for me). I didn't feel connected to it like I did that first time, didn't excite me to keep going.

Has anyone had those moments where they find themselves looking through their collection, find a game you haven't played in a long time that you know you liked once but find out you don't like it now after so long of a time from playing it?

What games have you played where nostalgic memory is far more pleasant than reality?

[Psychospacecow]

Its partially embellishment over time, partially the fact you know what will happen.
Its like that with Fallout New Vegas for me, even if the game isn't all that old. God knows I love that game, but I've played through it so many times that I know exactly what every conversation selection does.

[gamemaster1991]

It's funny you bring up Sly. I love the series to death and will most likely never sell them, even if I go poor (okay, may be not that extreme but you get the idea). When I was younger, I hated the first one due to how hard it is and loved the second for how much they changed it. Latter on in live I went though my usual Sly marathon and found that the first one is not as bad as I thought, to the fact that it is in my top 10 favorite games. However, I really can't say the same for Sly 2. It's really missing that thing that Sly 1 had and what Sly 3 has. It's not a bad game it's just not a good sequel to my favorite game.


As for Nostalgia for other games, I have to say Mario, only because it does not feel like his games are trying to do something new since Mario 3, World, and 64. I did a big rant on the game Vent thread on the subject.

[Hexadecimal*]

I've actually been pretty fortunate in that most games do keep their appealing to me, but it has to stay EXACTLY how I remember it. I got that whole nostalgia chill when I got the Star Fox 64 remake for the 3DS until... The characters spoke. I don't care that it's the same cast; the delivery is not the same at all and I stopped caring.

The only game where I realized it wasn't as hype as I remembered is actually Banjo-Kazooie, of all things. Short levels and that BS where if you die you have to collect notes all over again is infuriating. Plus, the whole plot element where Rare even admitted they forgot to turn Mumbo back into a human is a pretty serious error.

[GameWizard001]

Another big one for me was with Metal Gear Solid 2. First time I played it, it was the same way with Sly and even the Harry Potter books: I started in the middle or the second game to introduce myself to the series. Big mistake in the long run as the other games before and after were far superior to it.

At first it was okay, you are doing the stealth mission deal, you sneak through areas without discovery. You know the whole stealth genre at its finest.....then you play it again after playing the first game and the third one after. Say what you want about Raiden, like/love/hate/indifferent, but he is not a good substitute for Snake. Also having a level where he is naked and cartwheels his way around the area with no weapons or items for support isn't a good idea.

[Combat Lobster]

I think Sly aged very well mechanically, and I'd certainly replay it just for the gameplay alone. Plus Sly's pre/post chapter narration is wonderful.

Now a game I recently revisited and am playing now is Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow. (Yeah, I know I keep bringing this game up; it's my favorite okay? ) I've replayed it about 7-8 times with the 9th time being for my on-going LP. The first couple of playthroughs it seemed alright, and played exactly as I remembered it, but as I started practicing and researching the other versions of the game to prepare for the let's play I noticed that some sections were very gimmicky as well as some mechanics were poorly thought-out. Despite that I'd still replay it, though I don't think it aged nearly as well as I thought it did before.

[GameWizard001]

I've actually been pretty fortunate in that most games do keep their appealing to me, but it has to stay EXACTLY how I remember it. I got that whole nostalgia chill when I got the Star Fox 64 remake for the 3DS until... The characters spoke. I don't care that it's the same cast; the delivery is not the same at all and I stopped caring.

The only game where I realized it wasn't as hype as I remembered is actually Banjo-Kazooie, of all things. Short levels and that BS where if you die you have to collect notes all over again is infuriating. Plus, the whole plot element where Rare even admitted they forgot to turn Mumbo back into a human is a pretty serious error.

I've actually had 2 games be like that where it still holds up to my memory: First one was Legend of the Dragoon for PS1 and the other was FFIX. Both were the games that really made me more interested in video games, especially RPGs. Doesn't matter how much time has passed those games always stay great for me.

I don't think it would bother me too much with Star Fox with the different delivery for the characters, with the exception of Flippy in that I hope his annoying little cries for help aren't there. God that amphibious little pest annoyed me. That and depending on how you play could have an entire level to try and rescue him while playing in a tank which had the worst controls.

[Mass Distraction]

Didn't we have a thread like this a while back?

I guess the only game that I've went back to and didn't feel the same connection to it anymore is Resident Evil 4. Come to think of it, it's literally the only RE game I don't feel like going back to.

Other two might be Darkside Chronicles and Missions but I don't have any nostalgia for those, DSC being a new purchase for me and Missions being so bad that I'd rather just forget about it.

[BumblebeeCody*]

No. Because if you go back and play those old games you'll most likely realise they're a lot shittier than you remember...but those with rose tinted glasses/nostalgia boners think they're better than what's out today. Like how Pokemon Yellow and it's 150 Pokemon is better than Pokemon X/Y. Yeah sure, hipster.

Same with games such as: Ocarina of Time, Resident Evil 1 or Balloon Fight(as a recent example).
Damn good games but there are a large amount of flaws which make the games look and feel dated or with glaring obvious flaws.

[Hexadecimal*]

I don't think it would bother me too much with Star Fox with the different delivery for the characters, with the exception of Flippy in that I hope his annoying little cries for help aren't there. God that amphibious little pest annoyed me. That and depending on how you play could have an entire level to try and rescue him while playing in a tank which had the worst controls.

I am just crazy sensitive when it comes to voice acting. There was a situation in Persona 4: Golden where they could not get Chie and Teddy's original VAs back. Teddy is fine; he's extremely close to how he was in P4. Chie made me rage and changed her from being near the top of my favorite ladies to the very bottom because of how obnoxious she sounds.

No. Because if you go back and play those old games you'll most likely realise they're a lot shittier than you remember...but those with rose tinted glasses/nostalgia boners think they're better than what's out today. Like how Pokemon Yellow and it's 150 Pokemon is better than Pokemon X/Y. Yeah sure, hipster.

I can't help but think this was a bit directed at me. I can't help that I'm not having as much fun with the newer Pokemon games as I did with the old ones, save SoulSilver/HeartGold, because they took two very good games and almost made them perfect.

I am looking more into X and Y and seems like they actually put a bit more effort into these games that they might be worth buying. Previous games really only added in more Pokemon and had a pretty half-assed story, IMO. In Red/Blue especially it felt like what you were doing was important. It was fun having such evil baddies to strike down and a rival you really wanted to crush. I really didn't care after Gold/Silver because the folks you were fighting against just got silly.

[gamemaster1991]

I am just crazy sensitive when it comes to voice acting. There was a situation in Persona 4: Golden where they could not get Chie and Teddy's original VAs back. Teddy is fine; he's extremely close to how he was in P4. Chie made me rage and changed her from being near the top of my favorite ladies to the very bottom because of how obnoxious she sounds.

I'm going to say that you did not like the anime then? I'm not bothered by voice acting unless it's really major and you can really tell. I know that it has happened to me before, but I can't tell you an example right now.

[Hexadecimal*]

I am just crazy sensitive when it comes to voice acting. There was a situation in Persona 4: Golden where they could not get Chie and Teddy's original VAs back. Teddy is fine; he's extremely close to how he was in P4. Chie made me rage and changed her from being near the top of my favorite ladies to the very bottom because of how obnoxious she sounds.

I'm going to say that you did not like the anime then? I'm not bothered by voice acting unless it's really major and you can really tell. I know that it has happened to me before, but I can't tell you an example right now.

I didn't like the anime because it turned Yu into an asshole. Also, I know with limited episode times you can't do the entire story, but I was really sad that Ai wasn't allowed any character development. She actually turns into a pretty decent person in the game and never has that stupid bitch fight with Chie.

[GameWizard001]

I am just crazy sensitive when it comes to voice acting. There was a situation in Persona 4: Golden where they could not get Chie and Teddy's original VAs back. Teddy is fine; he's extremely close to how he was in P4. Chie made me rage and changed her from being near the top of my favorite ladies to the very bottom because of how obnoxious she sounds.

I should elaborate just a tish because this made me think of a game that had changed voice actors from the 1st to the sequel game. I agree that voice acting in general if you have it is important. Just replay the first couple of Resident Evil games to see some truly bad 90's voice acting. With regards to StarFox 64 I wasn't too into the voice acting. I was a little kid when it came out and all I cared about was flying around in a space fighter jet shooting things and tossing bombs at enemies....while flying through rings? (I'm a trained seal it seems with a deadly killing machine).

The game that came to mind with your statement was Xenosaga Episode 2. That game had several voice acting changes, one was actually good from the first to the second and the other 3 were terrible.

The good one was Shion's brother Jin. The first game only had him for like 2 seconds with a phone conversation so I didn't care too much. By the second game where he becomes a more prominent character and a playable one, did his voice become important especially since he is a powerful swordsman in the game.

The other 3; chaos, KOS MOS, and Shion herself where not great replacement voice actors. With the exception of chaos the other two got their original actresses to reprise the role for the 3rd and final game in the series. These characters all had solid actors playing them in the first game, each one unique and distinct. The sequel comes out and they sound like they got some college kids to come in and do the lines. I don't think it was any time issues cause the game is big and expands greatly on the story, with lots of little things in between like the previous game did. I haven't looked to much into it yet so I don't know why the originals didn't come back (scheduling conflicts maybe). Either way it didn't turn out good for the acting.

So Hexadecimal I agree with you, voice acting is really important if you wish to care what the character has to say else you could care less if they get killed off or something horrible happens to them.