One thing I have never liked about the video game industry is its glorification of “classic” titles, which may or may not even hold up particularly well by today’s standards. It’s like a QoL blindfold is put over people’s eyes when it comes to improvements made on the original formula. The original is the best, no ifs, ands, or buts. The games that were amazing back then are still amazing, even if their gameplay has been improved upon thanks to new innovations and existing hardware. He who does it first, does it best. It’s an attitude I really cannot get behind, and one that irritates me every time it comes up in conversation…and it inevitably does, because people just LOVE their nostalgia.

Don’t get me wrong here, I do too…well, to some extent. It is important to understand video game history, and where these ideas and trends originate. But what is NOT acceptable, or realistic, is putting the origin of these ideas up on a pedestal as the best example of the medium.

Fans of Secret of Mana, look away now.

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