It's time for my second post in the Retro Gaming Blogging Challenge. I was a little unsure as to what I was meant to go for here. Is it the first game i every played or the first game I ever owned? As I can't remember what was the first game I ever played I decided to go for the first video game I ever owned. This has a close connection to my first video game console which was the Super Nintendo, or SNES.
When I unpacked the SNES it was bundled alongside Super Mario World. The image of the box is glued to my mind to this day, over 20 years later. My very own video game console and my very own Super Mario game. I didn't have to beg my mom to rent a console from the video game console anymore. I could play Super Mario whenever I wanted. As long as she wasn't watching her soap operas of course.
I remember this first evening of being a video game console owner very vividly. We didn't hesitate for even one second to plug the console in and start playing. I was glued to the TV. Sitting there on the floor with my head raised towards the TV. I'm sure my neck must have been aching but I never noticed and I never cared. My only care in the world was Super Mario. I really pushed my limits about how long I was allowed to stay up for that night.
As I said in my previous post my SNES is stowed away in a box somewhere at my dads place. Or at least so I hope. Luckily that isn't to much of a problem as the Nintendo Switch has it's own emulator for the SNES that you get access to as long as you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online. In honor of my first ever video game I booted it up and took it for a spin.
My oh my was I taken back. The nostalgia juices started flowing right away. The first thing I noticed and realized is that this game is hard. You need some serious mechanical skills and a good reaction time if you're to play this. You need quite a bit of accuracy at times.
One thing that actually surprised me, and that I had totally forgotten, was how unforgiving games were back in the day. If you die in a level it's back to the level selection screen. You have to try again from the start, unless you make it halfway through the level where you can find the one and only checkpoint. In some levels, like the Koopa Castles, there isn't even a checkpoint. You have to make it through the level and beat the boss in one go if you're to progress. Being an avid Dark Souls fan this isn't a big deal to me, but it still surprised me. I think it stems back to a lot of games holding our hands these days. Like in Super Mario Odyssey you just get put back in the world with no real penalty if you die. You loose 10 coins and that's it. Sure, they're two completely different games. As a kid I never even flinched. If I died there was nothing to do but try again.
Super Mario World, is in my opinion, a really good looking and atmospheric game. The world is colorful and feels alive while the levels are fun, challenging and diverse. What hits me the most though is the music. The soundtrack to this game is superb and really strengthens the atmosphere of certain levels. Like the Castle Theme and the Ghost House Theme. What's funny is if you asked me two days ago to recite any of these songs I wouldn't stand a chance, but after hearing just the first couple of seconds of every theme they all came back to me instantly. I sat there humming along as I ran through the levels. You can find the full soundtrack here.
Sadly adult life and responsibilities got the better of me and I had to put it down. I managed to beat two worlds and the adjoining two bosses before I had to go to bed. That means I made it to the third world, the Vanilla Dome where I'll be picking it back up from today. I was just gonna play a little bit for the sake of nostalgia but now I have the urge to play it all the way through.
I remember as a kid this game kept me occupied even though I had both the Gamecube and the Nintendo 64. Even though I spent endless hours in games like The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Super Mario Sunshine and Need for Speed: Most Wanted they still couldn't keep me away from taking the good old SNES and Super Mario World for a spin. I remember sitting in the basement trying to find all the alternative exits in the levels and even speed running the game way before I knew speed running was an actual thing. I would use a stop watch to take the time. I can't remember my times but I can assure you all there weren't any world records involved.
I've been having a lot of fun looking back at my childhood and re-experiencing the things that got me into gaming in the first place. The next theme "Video games you have completed" will be tougher to touch on. Where do I even start? Which ones made the biggest impressions? Which ones felt really special to beat? I'll have to do some brainstorming on this one.
If you have a Nintendo Switch and the online subscription I recommend checking out the emulators for both the NES and the SNES. There's a lot of fun to be had.
And if you didn't know already; today is Hive Power Up Day! Go check it out. I challenge you all to participate by powering up today if you haven't already. I've already powered up today and gotten my sweet and shiny badge. You can read about it HERE.
