19. March 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

Backwards compatibility has always been a problem for the games industry. It is one of the limitations that has kept and still keeps videogames from becoming a form of entertainment or art even to rival music or movies. The cyclical nature of the industry with each upcoming generation rarely supporting the previous generations does not help either. Sony promised a while back that its own systems will always support backwards compatibility. Of course as with many promises this one proved empty and the company introduced a cheaper non-PS2 compatible Playstation 3 which will eventually be the version that sells the most.

This meant that if you wanted to play an older game, like Super Mario Bros, you needed to have the NES console connected to your tv alongside the current generation’s consoles. Not very practical is it. The porting of games from console to console was a mixed blessing as the quality of the game always varied so it could never really considered a substitute. Then we had the emulators with which you could play NES games on your PC or arcades on hacked Xbox’es. But it was never going be the manner in which old games would re-establish their presence.

Thankfully now with downloadable content this is about to change. All three consoles have online stores where you can download either NES, Mega Drive, PS1 or Xbox games. There is no need to own all consoles ever made in order to play them. I know that videogamers are usually more concerned with current generation games as they are attracted to shinier graphics and more online capabilities.

But there is a legacy. And it is a strong one. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, Sonic: The Hedgehog, Metal Gear Solid, Halo: Combat Evolved the list goes on and on.

Some of the biggest entertainment classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Star Wars and (Led Zeppelin) were all created before i was born and yet i have read, watched and listened to all three. The majority of the greatest games of all time are not of the current generation consoles. Aren’t you interested in playing them?

Now we can.

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8. November 2007 by Costas Taliadoros.

Indeed, as i mentioned to you in a previous Games i have missed post i was trying to get hold of two old-gen games i had my eye on for some time now. Finally they are now in my collection. I got Metal Arms: Glitch in the System (XBOX) and Gregory Horror Show (PS2) for a total of CYP16 (incl p&p) on Ebay. Both sealed and in mint condition. I think Christmas season is great for some retro gems alongside the next-gen games. Will get back to you for my impressions.

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2. November 2007 by Costas Taliadoros.

Every now and then i try to get a copy of a few games i was thinking of about but never actually did. Games i sacrificed from other titles. This is how i got my Ico game and SW:KOTR. I played both of them years after their release and i am glad i did. Fantastic games.

Right now i am trying to get my hands on the following two games.

The first is Metal Arms: Glitch in the System (XBOX edition) which although i had read the good reviews it received at the time i never crossed my mind to buy it. None of my friends had ever heard about the game so i left it at that. After reading an article about it again in last month’s Edge issue and listening to the guys on the Totally Rad Show podcast talking about how good it was i finally made up my mind to hunt for a copy.

Gregory Horror Show on the PS2 is the second game. To be honest i tried to get a copy on ebay a couple of times before but the bid went over my maximum offer and just left it there. I think this time i will try and get a copy even at not a bargain price.

Any games you missed and now you wish you had bought?

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