Video games evolved significantly throughout the 1980s. The decade started with arcade titles being simple maze games or single-screen platformers, while home releases, whether for the Atari 2600 or the Commodore 64, were simple action romps meant to provide a few minutes of entertainment.
By 1989, video games had become far more sophisticated, featuring elements like cutscenes and complex world designs. This led to the releases of memorable classics like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure and Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon. And these were just two amazing titles to come in this fantastic year for gaming.
Super Mario Land Revolutionized Portable Platforming
Super Mario Land was released alongside the Game Boy, and it helped demonstrate that the handheld was capable of complex home console-like platforming. Notably, rather than Mario rescuing Peach from Bowser, Super Mario Land sees him rescuing Daisy from Tatanga, an alien whose forces have invaded Sarasaland.
The game stands out from other Mario games of the time for its unorthodox items and enemies, including exploding Koopas and the Ball Flower power-up. These elements have not appeared in any Mario game since, which makes Super Mario Land all the more charming in retrospect.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Leaves a Challenging Legacy
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the NES is based on both the comic book series and the contemporary animated show of the same name. It sees the titular turtles — Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo — out to rescue their ally, April O’Neil, from Shredder, who has dastardly plans to overrun New York City with his goons.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is still just as hard to play today as it was back then. There are certain parts of the game, including the infamous underwater stage, that will bring players’ blood to a boil, but it’s a fun time all the same.
Space Quest III Is a Morbid Classic
Sierra was a prolific video game company in the ’80s; in 1989 alone, the company released hit titles such as Leisure Suit Larry III: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals and Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be a Hero. However, those two games are nothing compared to Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon.
One of the most memorable things about the game is just how morbid it is, even by Sierra standards. The game, which sees space janitor Roger Wilco trying to rescue a pair of kidnapped game developers, has so many gratuitous deaths that it’s worth playing just to see just how audacious it can get.
Prince of Persia Is Still a Fluid Platformer Today
Prince of Persia was a notably late Apple II release, coming out long after the platform had been supplanted by the likes of the IIGS and Macintosh. Still, even on the Apple II, Prince of Persia shows its chops as one of the most fluid platformers ever made, with a relatively meaty plot to go along with it for the time.
The game sees the titular Prince traversing through guarded dungeons in order to rescue his love interest, the Princess of Persia. The game requires precise jumping, which is something that can be hard to get used to. In the end, however, Prince of Persia is still a thrilling platforming romp.
Final Fight Is a Beat ‘Em Up Classic
What started as Capcom’s follow-up to the first Street Fighter game turned into one of the biggest beat ’em up classics of all time. Final Fight follows Metro City mayor Mike Haggar and his friends, Cody Travers and Guy, as they go out to rescue Haggar’s daughter and put an end to the Mad Gear Gang’s dastardly plans to take over the city.
Games in the beat ’em up genre are already known for being both tough and satisfying to play at the same time, and Final Fight is no different. What makes the game even better than most beat ’em up games is the sheer variety of attacks which can be performed, including spinning attacks and jump kicks.
SimCity Marked the Simple Start to the Whole Sim Franchise
Without the first SimCity game, there wouldn’t have been The Sims, let alone spin-offs like Spore and SimCopter. The game has players build cities from randomly generated maps. Other than zoning for residential, commercial, or industrial possibilities, players must also manage this city by levying taxes to help fund new infrastructure projects.
Later SimCity games are more intricate than the first, but there is no denying that the first game still holds strong nostalgic appeal. It proves to be enjoyable to try and raise the city’s population, all the while managing it so that one’s humble town grows into a bustling metropolis.
Based on the animated television show, and by extension, the comics of the same name, DuckTales is Capcom’s greatest Disney game, an impressive feat considering Capcom’s excellent track record with the property. DuckTales sees Scrooge McDuck trying to outdo his chief adversary, Flintheart Glomgold, by going on an epic treasure-hunting adventure.
Scrooge will travel all over the world, and even the solar system, to collect as much treasure as possible. It’s a joyous platformer, with some of the smoothest mechanics and best music on the NES.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure Is a Faithful Adaptation
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure was developed by Lucasfilm Games, and was incredibly faithful to the movie it is based on. Here, Indiana Jones is trying to find his father, who has been kidnapped while searching for the Holy Grail.
For those wanting an authentic Indiana Jones adventure without all the action, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure should do the trick. As a point-and-click adventure, the game lets players interact with elements in the world and see how they will impact the story.
Mega Man 2 is One of the Greatest Platformers of All Time
Mega Man 2 is set a year after the first game, with Dr. Wily, who is down but not out, seeking to exact his revenge on Dr. Light and his creations, including the titular Mega Man. To facilitate this plan, he has created his own cyborg minions, all of which Mega Man needs to take down.
With its booming soundtrack, variety in level design, and flurry of memorable bosses, Mega Man 2 outdoes the first Mega Man in just about every way. The game does get challenging where it matters, but for the most part, the sequel serves as a nice introduction to the series for beginners.
Tetris Is the Perfect Game Boy Game
Tetris saw a myriad of releases on different platforms over its forty-year-long history. However, the game was never more at home than as a launch title for the Game Boy in 1989. Even today, Tetris remains the perfect Game Boy game.
For the somehow uninitiated, Tetris has players lining up falling tetrominoes the best way they can in order to clear lines. As simple as it may sound, that’s all part of the game’s appeal. This is especially the case with the Game Boy version, which is perfect for killing time and offers peak satisfaction for clearing lines.
