Games you used to love, but lost their magic.

[Hikari.EXE]

I recently began to have this feeling of animosity towards some games I used to play about 5 years ago. I used to love the Souls series to death, but after picking up Bloodborne again for a casual playthrough, I just couldn't get into it, the game was fine but it was just something intrinsically about its core mechanics that just stopped clicking with me, mind you after trying to fuck around with Bloodborne I wanted to try Lies of P, and the game blew me away! They share the same genre, but different executions of their core gameplay, and may I dare, their dificulty. I never felt like Lies of P gave me the short end of the stick, while Bloodborne had many non-sensical desing choices that left me questioning the game's quality.
This might be just me getting old and a little cynical, so I wanted to open this to discussion, is there any game that you were crazy for, but lost its magick once you got older?

 

[Waffles]

Yes, Half-Life was one.

I was literally shaking with excitement when I got it to run for the first time, and even beat it on several marathonic sessions that saw me drop everything (during finals!) to play juuuust a little more of it. Then I continued on with Opposing Force and Blue Shift.

But after watching Freeman's Mind and getting the urge to play it again, I just couldn't. It bored me and made me quite anxious.

 

[CrydersMakesMeJump]

Terraria. I used to be so good at it and had a TON of hours put into it but now idk if its the game or me getting old but I cannot play it for more than like 5 minutes or without like pulling up the wiki every 5 seconds

 

[android]

Definitely know what you're talking about. For me, that game is Factorio. About 8 years ago, I could play 10-12 hours a day, no problem. I’d have a podcast or a movie on the side and just lose myself in optimizing production chains, fighting bugs, expanding my base, building trains, and all the stuff people love about Factorio. I even got into mods and experimented with different setups.

But after making it to the rocket launch a few times, and especially with drones (for those who’ve played with drones, you know what I mean), it started feeling too easy. The drones, combined with the boxers, just changed the dynamic. I’d mass-produce them, not even efficiently, but for fun—and that fun eventually faded. Now, every six to eight months, I get the urge to start it up again, but five or ten minutes in, I’m done.

It’s still a brilliant game; I just played it to death. The magic didn’t go away because of the game—it’s just me.

 

[fake-kun]

Mega Man 3.

After a dozen or so playthroughs it's easy to see the game's numerous flaws, such as the unpolished level design and messed-up difficulty curve. I still like the music, though.

 

[Hikari.EXE]

The magic didn’t go away because of the game—it’s just me.

This goes very hard for no reason...

 

[tenkaistar]

Mass effect 2. They leaned too hard into what was popular at the time which is gears of war chest high cover shooter with constant spawning enemies until the game says to stop, and it’s just not interesting to me anymore. I actually prefer mass effect 1s janky but less derivative gameplay now. Still love the storytelling from the whole trilogy though!

 

[android]

This goes very hard for no reason...

I played Pokémon Red again last year, a modded version I got from here that adds colors and makes it look mostly like a GBC game. I’m not saying I had zero fun or no fun, but it made me realize that I can’t recapture the magic of playing the game through a child’s eyes by simply replaying it. It’s not the game that has changed, but my tastes combined with a mind that has expanded since then.

 

[newageretrohippie]

I played gauntlet dark legacy at the arcade last night and i just couldnt get into it..

it was prolly my mood in general tho. Also, that machine had deteriorated quite a bit since i last played it, 5 years ago (spongey controls, fading phosphor)...

also i was playing alone. it is really more magical multiplayer, i think

 

[Hikari.EXE]

I played Pokémon Red again last year, a modded version I got from here that adds colors and makes it look mostly like a GBC game. I’m not saying I had zero fun or no fun, but it made me realize that I can’t recapture the magic of playing the game through a child’s eyes by simply replaying it. It’s not the game that has changed, but my tastes combined with a mind that has expanded since then.

I have to lightly disagree, you can still feel magick for games that you played as a child. I gave examples of games that didn't hold up some years ago, but I can equally give the same amount for games that did, for an example, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's inside story. The game was just as good as I remember playing it (I replayed the OG DS, I like it over the remake) and it gave me the same wonder as a child when I first played it but now with the added eyes of a critical adult, I reconized the game's faults when they showed but also praised the many things that it did right, and to my surprise it did more right than I remember.
It was a very unique experience to relive a childhood classic that re-kindled my love for the series, just goes to show that it is possible to love again (corny alert!) so yeah, give the games that made you another chance, maybe they where a flash in a pan, but maybe you can truly understand what made them special to you in the first place.

 

[android]

I have to lightly disagree, you can still feel magick for games that you played as a child. I gave examples of games that didn't hold up some years ago, but I can equally give the same amount for games that did, for an example, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's inside story. The game was just as good as I remember playing it (I replayed the OG DS, I like it over the remake) and it gave me the same wonder as a child when I first played it but now with the added eyes of a critical adult, I reconized the game's faults when they showed but also praised the many things that it did right, and to my surprise it did more right than I remember.
It was a very unique experience to relive a childhood classic that re-kindled my love for the series, just goes to show that it is possible to love again (corny alert!) so yeah, give the games that made you another chance, maybe they where a flash in a pan, but maybe you can truly understand what made them special to you in the first place.

You are absolutely right, I must have expressed myself badly. I still enjoy games from my childhood, and there are definitely ones I can go back to and appreciate, even with a more critical perspective, like you said. But a certain childhood magic, like playing Pokémon for the first time, Mario Kart 64 with friends, or dueling with Yu-Gi-Oh! cards after school, just doesn’t come back the same way. Maybe that kind of magic will return when I have my own kids someday, but probably not sooner.

That said, working in Unity on my own game has its own kind of magic. It’s something I never experienced as a child. It’s a different feeling, but just as special in its own way. I think it’s all about finding new ways to appreciate the things we love.

 

[DunkeyKong]

This is an example of opposite nostalgia. It's not that I hate the old games, some of them just doesn't aged well.

Take the one with tank controls for example, it is bearable for like Resident Evil, but 3D platformers and shooters? No thanks

This is why some remakes are necessary, it fixes what needs to be fixed while giving the much needed change visually

 

[Hikari.EXE]

Take the one with tank controls for example, it is bearable for like Resident Evil, but 3D platformers and shooters? No thanks

3D platformers with tank controls??? The only one that comes to mind is Bubzy 3D, and honestly that's the least of the game's problems!

 

[dropsmegamega]

this never happens to me Pokemon Emerald. I used to replay it a lot and it still gives me a lot of nostalgia, but the turn based combat is so slow and flawed. I would need to play with fastforward and turbo, but at that point I may as well just play something else

 

[Cocaine Owlbear]

I run into this with Civilization games in general. I was obsessed with the series, flaws and all, up through 5. I got 6, started it up, and bounced off of it. Like, hard.

So I was like "Well, whatever, I still have the older ones..." turns out not so much. I can't get more than a few turns in before I just get bored. I have no idea why this might be, and I wish it weren't the case, but I just can't seem to enjoy them anymore.

 

[Boo Man]

This is an example of opposite nostalgia. It's not that I hate the old games, some of them just doesn't aged well.

Take the one with tank controls for example, it is bearable for like Resident Evil, but 3D platformers and shooters? No thanks

This is why some remakes are necessary, it fixes what needs to be fixed while giving the much needed change visually

the tomb raider trilogy remake has the same tank controls as the originals
that's literally the only change i wanted

 

[DunkeyKong]

3D platformers with tank controls??? The only one that comes to mind is Bubzy 3D, and honestly that's the least of the game's problems!

For some part, yes
It is the product of it's time though

the tomb raider trilogy remake has the same tank controls as the originals
that's literally the only change i wanted

That's cool, I think it is a necessary change for the others that got used to it

 

[Ikagura]

Terraria. I used to be so good at it and had a TON of hours put into it but now idk if its the game or me getting old but I cannot play it for more than like 5 minutes or without like pulling up the wiki every 5 seconds

I'm also not that fond of Journey's End. 1.3 was a perfect end imo.

 

[Gexon]

tony hawk.. before i never get tired playing any type of it, but now i rarely play any... maybe my drive now is on playing jrpg's...

 

[middler]

This is totally unfair to the super creative minds that pour their talent into them, but the RPG Maker format of gameplay kills my ability to play them. To the point that I tried to go back and play the games that inspired the format like Dragon Warrior, and I end up in the same boat. All those great stories that I can't make myself experience

 

[werewolfgimmick]

Pokemon. They look soooo fucking dull from gameplay to story to aesthetics i cannot see anything to like about them. And I was so into them as a teen. Like i was so into them i played different editions of the same game to completion for no reason. I beat Pokemon X and then I beat Pokemon Y and I didn't even like Pokemon X in the first place, what was wrong with me? Now I lowkey look down on Pokemon fans like it's the gaming equivalent of being a Disney adult, there are so many better JRPGs out there why do you decide to be stuck with the cashgrab baby series for dumb stupid babies? I'm kidding but fr you could not pay me to play them.

 

[alphatetra]

I play and play MGS from 2 to 4 sooooo much ,I considered them at par whit the best movies i watch, now man ... Sometimes i fell the good game desing but the cinemátic direction , for me , is a mid anime o si fy movie sadly .

The Only one untouchable,in mi eyes is MGS Rex.

 

[Yousef]

I recently began to have this feeling of animosity towards some games I used to play about 5 years ago. I used to love the Souls series to death, but after picking up Bloodborne again for a casual playthrough, I just couldn't get into it, the game was fine but it was just something intrinsically about its core mechanics that just stopped clicking with me, mind you after trying to fuck around with Bloodborne I wanted to try Lies of P, and the game blew me away! They share the same genre, but different executions of their core gameplay, and may I dare, their dificulty. I never felt like Lies of P gave me the short end of the stick, while Bloodborne had many non-sensical desing choices that left me questioning the game's quality.
This might be just me getting old and a little cynical, so I wanted to open this to discussion, is there any game that you were crazy for, but lost its magick once you got older?

Probably kingdom hearts for me.

 

[OhhMannGoddDamm]

I recently began to have this feeling of animosity towards some games I used to play about 5 years ago. I used to love the Souls series to death, but after picking up Bloodborne again for a casual playthrough, I just couldn't get into it, the game was fine but it was just something intrinsically about its core mechanics that just stopped clicking with me, mind you after trying to fuck around with Bloodborne I wanted to try Lies of P, and the game blew me away! They share the same genre, but different executions of their core gameplay, and may I dare, their dificulty. I never felt like Lies of P gave me the short end of the stick, while Bloodborne had many non-sensical desing choices that left me questioning the game's quality.
This might be just me getting old and a little cynical, so I wanted to open this to discussion, is there any game that you were crazy for, but lost its magick once you got older?

Dead Rising 4 completely turned me off and I loved 1-3. Story was absolute garbage and Frank's character to me was completely assassinated, complete opposite of what was in the first game.

 

[stealthRUSH]

Monster breeding games like Monster Rancher, Pokemon, Digimon, Dragonseeds, Pup Breeder for example.