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PC Authority > Features > Retro Gaming: Why it’s cool (and profitable) to love the '80s again

Retro Gaming: Why it’s cool (and profitable) to love the '80s again

by Daniel Long on Nov 11, 2008

5 Comments

With a new Ghostbusters game coming in 2009 and released by original '80s kings Atari, we pay homage to those games that honour the '80s best. Have the '80s become better with age or are just kidding ourselves?

Those geeky memorable 80s themes, catch phrases and fashions are making a comeback through a host of new gaming titles including the long awaited Ghostbusters release and a cringe-worthy David HasselHoff inspired addition.

It looks as if nothing is going to stop the 80s revival cash machine from reminding us just how dorky we once were. Make no mistake; the neon era of spandex and mullets are here to remind us why some cultural references may never retire.

Remember the years that gave us....

It’s the 1980s and in between daily bouts of Dungeons and Dragons, and Final Fantasy and Choose Your Own Adventure books – you had a world of gaming superheros taking over the scene. Mario, Donkey Kong, Tetris and Pacman are each at the height of their popularity.

It’s an era of inspired, out-of-control creativity; iconic fashions and brave designs fuelled by a guzzling greed to embrace, express and engage. It’s the decade of excess that refuses to go away as a new audience of youngsters are introduced to some old faces through the latest in video game technology. And if it wasn’t already obvious, it’s finally ‘cool’ to be in love with the 80’s again. Rock on!

The top five 80s inspired games:

Game: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Inspires memories of: Miami Vice, Al Pacino films, new wave, hot neon

Platform: PS2, Xbox, PC

Why? As the GTA series goes from strength to strength, a watershed moment occurred for the 80s crowd with the release of GTA: Vice City for the major platforms and to a lesser degree, Vice City Stories which served as a prequel (set in 1984) for the PSP.

Set against the backdrop of Vice City - a surreal reinterpretation of 1986 Miami - the top selling PS2 game details an entertaining mix of violent mayhem with a bright 80s colour scheme, combining over the top ‘Scarface’ style fashions with neon brass balls. The vibrant 80s soundtrack won a lot of fans to the GTA series, as the music propels the game narrative with a pulsing beat, celebrating new wave and rock-glam tunes from Phil Collins, Flock of Seagulls and Wang Chung. You can even fly a DeLorean – how cool is that?

Game: Ghostbusters (2009)

Inspires memories of: Bill Murray jokes, Gozer, levitating Sigourney Weaver; everything you love about the 80s

Platform: PS3, Wii, Xbox, PSP, PC, DS

Why? Over the last two decades, the phrase ‘Who you gonna call?’ has long become synonymous with giant marshmallow men, proton packs and cigar chomping ectoplasmic entities, or ‘Slimer’ as we better remember him. The game has been on the drawing board for the best part of the last ten years, as rumours swirled regarding a third movie, giving film geeks something to hope for.

Coinciding with the 25th anniversary celebration of the film’s original theatrical release, the game will be available in 2009 and released by original 80s kings Atari. The game will feature the entire voice cast of the original actors who made the original movies so special. It’s also written by Harold Ramis and Dan Akroyd who co-wrote the first film together, in what became an unmatched 80s comedy classic.

By the sounds of things, the game is going to be huge, porting across all platforms including the PS3, Wii and Xbox. And those rumours of a third film? Surprisingly true. The third film is getting into gear and a new script is currently being written. We can only hope the Ghostbusters make their modern comeback, which would seem rather fitting in today’s iPhone tech-crazy world.

Relive all the action from the film in the new game

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Comments: 5

totoaus Nov 14, 2008 4:02 PM	While it's perhaps off-topic, this article raises a big question: why do we have to cringe about our past? The whole idea of "an embarrassing past" permeates this article (well I stopped reading at the end of page one). Why is it that when I tell people that I never stopped liking ABBA, they look at me as though I belong in a straight jacket? I mean shouldn't we be comfortable with our heritage, that's what I was taught. Comment made about the PC Authority article: Retro Gaming: Why it’s cool (and profitable) to love the '80s again ? With a new Ghostbusters game coming in 2009 and released by original '80s kings Atari, we pay homage to those games that honour the '80s best. Have the '80s become better with age or are just kidding ourselves? What do you think? Join the discussion.
Slatts Nov 15, 2008 11:07 PM	Toto... Abba? Some things are best not uttered in public.:-# My youngest has a memstick full of retro 2D games and simulators. I found him today happily playing a game featuring Astro Boy. if that's not retro I don't know what is.
.:Cyb3rGlitch:. Nov 15, 2008 11:10 PM	Ha! My favorite game at the moment is Tetris! =P
Slatts Nov 15, 2008 11:21 PM	personally, I own at solitaire\:d/
Nat.W¿LL¿ Nov 16, 2008 10:07 AM	personally i dont even know how to play solitair:( but frogger and pacman all the way! there is nothing wrong with the 80's lol