Gaming Nostalgia: My Journey Through Classic Video Games

I used to enjoy playing computer games so much that I would occasionally become addicted for a brief period, only to grow bored and move on to the next one. In the interim, more serious matters like studies, jobs, and exams often provided the necessary distractions to overcome my gaming addiction. There was a time in my life when I aspired to design and build computer games, but unfortunately, that dream never came to fruition. Recently, I decided to introspect and reminisce about the games I've played, leading me to compile the following list. These are the games I spent a significant amount of time playing, and I managed to complete most of them.

Racing Games:

Road Rash: This motorcycle combat racing game series allowed players to engage in illegal street races, battling opponents with melee weapons while racing to the finish line.

This was the first desktop game I ever played, courtesy of my friend Keerthi. It was on his desktop, the first one in our hostel among our batch. We used to take turns playing it, and I still remember Sheriff Rhonda, who used to chase us. The most fun part was kicking other riders and hitting them while racing.

Need for Speed (NFS): Known for its high-speed races, vehicle customization, and engaging storylines. 

This game series was an upgrade from Road Rash for us, with better graphics and maps. The best part was the various camera angles and the slow-motion view you'd get when you crashed.

Asphalt: This racing game series was characterized by fast-paced arcade-style gameplay, stunning graphics, and a wide range of cars and tracks. It's available on mobile platforms and offers various game modes.

Action-Adventure Games:

Urban Chaos: In this third-person action-adventure game, players assumed the role of a police officer in a crime-infested city, engaging in combat, solving crimes, and restoring order. 

We often played this game as a group, with most of us watching while one person played. Meghamsh and Keerthi were usually the ones playing, and they were incredibly accurate in shooting and quick in their reactions. The rest of us would cheer and offer ideas.

Tomb Raider: This iconic action-adventure series featured Lara Croft, an adventurer exploring ancient tombs and solving puzzles. 

I was the only one addicted to this game to the extent that I'd visit the campus computer lab just to check online walkthroughs shared by players from around the world.

Max Payne: Known for its dark narrative and "bullet time" gameplay mechanic, which allowed players to slow down time during gunfights, this third-person shooter provided intense adrenaline-pumping action. 

I still remember the iconic side jump and shooting on the fly.

Role-Playing Games (RPGs):

Diablo: An action role-playing hack-and-slash game set in a dark fantasy world. Players traversed dungeons, battled monsters, and collected loot to improve their characters. 

My friends from IIT still make fun of me for playing this game for 30 hours straight, even falling asleep while playing it. Thanks to Bhargav, it was his system on which I played this game.

Real-Time Strategy (RTS) Games:

Age of Empires: This classic real-time strategy game series allowed players to build and manage civilizations from different historical periods, involving resource management, military strategy, and diplomacy. 

I introduced this game to my colleagues in TCS when I was in Saudi, and it became our savior from the boredom of living there. We often played in multiplayer mode, with Sridhar Talatam and me teaming up to crush our opponents with cunning strategies.

Caesar: A city-building strategy game set in ancient Rome, where players acted as Roman governors building and managing cities. The game threw curveballs when you least expected them.

Simulation Games:

FarmVille: This popular social simulation and farming game allowed players to cultivate and manage virtual farms. It gained widespread popularity on social media platforms.

Open-World and Sandbox Games:

Grand Theft Auto (GTA): An open-world action-adventure game known for its freedom of gameplay. Players could explore expansive cities, engage in missions, and often indulge in illegal activities. 

This game needs no introduction; it's a fantasy game where you can break the law and experience the life of a gangster.

First-Person Shooter (FPS) Games:

Half-Life: A critically acclaimed first-person shooter known for its immersive storytelling and innovative gameplay, which involved combat against various alien creatures.

Rainbow Six: A tactical shooter game emphasizing team-based strategies and counter-terrorism operations. 

This game sometimes had so many keyboard controls that it required 2-3 people to help the player. I still remember the incident when Kalyan (Pichuk) was playing a level where the objective was to kill terrorists with hostages. If the terrorists suspected your presence, they'd trigger an alarm, resulting in the hostages' deaths. After multiple attempts, Pichuk almost reached the spot, and the next moment, I casually mentioned, "What if the terrorists realize you're there?" That was all it took—the terrorists in the game heard me, and the alarm went off. Everyone in the room yelled at me. I was infamous for my iron tongue that whenever I said something bad, for sure happened :D

Delta Force: A first-person shooter game series focusing on military operations and strategic gameplay, often featuring large maps and emphasizing stealth and precision.

Counter-Strike: A popular first-person shooter game known for its competitive multiplayer gameplay, involving terrorist and counter-terrorist teams in objective-based missions.

Battle Royale Games:

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG): A popular battle royale game where players competed to be the last one standing on an ever-shrinking map. It involved intense combat and strategic gameplay.

Unfortunately, this game is now banned. I used to play it on my Poco-F1 phone, which got stolen on the Mumbai local train.

Even as I drafted this post, I relived those moments when I played these games. In the future, I am determined to design a game and hopefully release it to mainstream audiences. As a player, I know what elements give me a rush and keep me engaged in a game. Do let me know of any ideas and any of your experiences with the games I have shared above.