Retro Blog: First Three

Here are the first three videogames that I ever played. After that, I obviously lost count in what happens to still be my favorite hobby to spend time into. And I don't see it ever going away, because it is here to stay, it is innovating and best of all there are so many differences between video games in the available genres and through their environments, controls and content.

In honor of them, I managed to beat all three in 2013 again.

#1: Bubble & Bobble

As far as I can remember, this is the one that started it all.

Bubble Bobble is a different kind of puzzle platformer where two players can play little lizards or dragons that are able to create bubbles to trap their enemies and defeat them then by striking with their bodies.

Consisting of about one hundred ten levels, it’s a game that gradually gets tougher to get through.

Powerups such as the umbrella(skipping several levels) and invincibility are randomly popping up to help out.

You are also able to use the bubbles as semi brief platforms in order to get to higher places whenever you are stuck or need to get that last enemy down. If you do not hurry, a ghostly fiend will chase you down and kill you instantly.

As you cheerfully and peacefully traverse the hostile creatures, halfway through comes Level 57 which is an unexpected torture to overcome that seriously has put off a lot of players getting further, unless you got lucky with an umbrella.

But most of the time does Bubble Bobble do play fair, provides enough variety in level design and keeps things interesting with a score system, a letter system letting you able to see the true ending and the last levels plus the powerups I mentioned previously.

Rating: 7.5

                                                           #2: Mega Man

There's another good reason why this franchise continues to make me excited; I grew up with it.
Mega Man feels like it's from a different era than it's countless sequels, which is evident when you look at the score system and the retro graphics that have these certain mood about them.

As the formula wasn't traditional yet, there are only 6 Robot Masters to overcome, a small fortress and only 1 assist weapon to help you progress, nor are there any E or W tanks. The difficully is harsh at times, but the more you play Mega Man, especially the NES ones, the easier the first title becomes.

I remember sitting with my brother during a party with adults, where we were focused with trying to beat Guts Man's stage. We simply couldn't do it. Those damn platforms triggered our defeat  constantly.

That was the first time I experienced the blue bomber in action. I was 3 years old, but this memory is still intact. It wasn't until 1999 that I beat it for the first time, which was pretty satisfying to experience.

Mega Man remains consistent but not "perfected" so to say when looking at the next two sequels. Still, there's a lot of joy to be found here. It's a nostalgia ride and a simple game, but it surely was innovating back in the day when stage select and absorbing boss weapons were original.

Rating: 8.1

                                                     #3: Super Mario Bros. 3

My 2nd favorite Mario game basically. Super Mario Bros. 3 is a very big game featuring large worlds with lots of levels to complete. It also features a fun throwback multiplayer mode to the original Mario Bros. and it is also a pretty difficult game from Nintendo.

As the pinnacle of the early days of the huge franchise, much alike with being the "third time's the charm" similar to A Link to the Past and Super Metroid, Super Mario Bros. 3's main feature is flying around as Mario using the "P meter" which you must boost up by running first in order to trigger it.

By doing so will you be able to uncover secrets in the sky, make several levels a ton easier and be free like a raccoon. But there are other enjoyable powerup suits making their debut here, such as the Frog Suit and the Hammer Bros. Suit.

There are 8 worlds to platform through, such as the Ice Land, Sky Land and Giant Land. It introduced new enemies such as Boos and Thwomps that are of course familiar to everyone now. And as for secrets, these were a joy to find!

The flute letting you skip whole worlds, the airships with the Koopalings, the Kuribo Shoe and the bonus mini games found on the maps; surely was Super Mario Bros. 3 similar to the first one but radically different by it's content!

It's one of the games that I think that every gamer should atleast beat once to truly feel the Mario magic the best way yet. And it continues to be the most popular NES game to this day, because of expanding upon pretty much everything.

Rating: 9.3