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Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 3:20 pm
by NickSCFC
So I thought it'd be interesting to take a more structured look at nostalgia, specifically 20 years ago. If this thread proves popular it could become an annual thing with 1998 being next year's focus.
So...
- What are your memories of 1997?
- What were your favourite games?
- Any games you're playing or plan to revisit from this year?
Major releases
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 3:34 pm
by rinks
Getting G-Police and the PS dual analogue pad together. That extra stick changed games so much.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 3:57 pm
by NickSCFC
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 4:01 pm
by Glowy69
Cant even remember, but I had an N64 I believe. Cant really remember much from gaming till early 2000 when I started earning my own money.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 4:43 pm
by Met
Never had a PS1 growing up, but '97 gave us FFVII, Time Crisis and Symphony of the Night. So I'm happy with that taking the top spot.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 4:58 pm
by Garth
I only had a Mega Drive in 1997
Didn't get another console until the Dreamcast launched, though I did have a PC to game on in the years between.
That said, I did get some time with my cousin's N64 - played GoldenEye and Mario Kart mainly.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 5:30 pm
by Lotus
Genuinely can't remember what I was playing in 1997. I definitely didn't have my N64 at that point, and probably got my Playstation a bit later. A mate got the N64 at launch though, so I probably played some of that with him.
Some truly classic games released that year though...Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Diddy Kong Racing, Final Fantasy VII, Mario Kart 64, Lylat Wars, Super Mario 64. Some of my favourites right there.
Can't forget that Gunpei Yokoi died in 1997 as well. What a tragic loss.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 5:44 pm
by Alvin Flummux
Age of Empires and Quake II, two of the very best games of my childhood.
Couldn't wait to get home from school to play them.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 6:33 pm
by AndyXL
1. Spending £250 of my hard earned cash for an N64 console on launch day, plus £60 for Mario 64 and £50 for Pilotwings 64.
2. Playing those games like crazy and loving every minute.
3. Watching in horror as Nintendo knocked £100 off the N64 a few months later.
4. Being so hyped for Mario Kart 64, and then it's the biggest let down ever.
5. Playing Wave Race 64 and thinking it's one of the best games of all time.
6. Playing Diddy Kong Racing, and thinking it is the best game of all time.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 6:43 pm
by NickSCFC
Hmm, ok, memories...
- Getting to school in the new year gloating about my Saturn only to realise that everyone in class had a PlayStation for Christmas
- Being blown away by Mario 64 in Toys R Us
- Playing Final Fantasy VII at a friend's and being in sheer awe at the sheer scale
- Sega kicking off next-gen early in the arcades with Virtua Fighter 3 and Scud Race and melting my eyes
- Saturn's big games either being cancelled or just plain disappointing
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 7:02 pm
by rinks
NickSCFC wrote:- Getting to school in the new year gloating about my Saturn only to realise that everyone in class had a PlayStation for Christmas
Suddenly, everything seems so clear.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 7:30 pm
by Ironhide
In 1997 I think I only had a Saturn plus my Megadrive and Gameboy which I very rarely used due to only being able to afford games for a single system.
My favourite games from that year were mostly bought a year or two later when my income was dramatically increased (disability benefits = more gaming funds) but of the ones I did play during '97, Saturn Bomberman and Fighters Megamix got hours upon hours of use.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 7:59 pm
by Glowy69
rinks wrote:NickSCFC wrote:- Getting to school in the new year gloating about my Saturn only to realise that everyone in class had a PlayStation for Christmas
Suddenly, everything seems so clear.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 8:04 pm
by andythevillan
AXL wrote:1. Spending £250 of my hard earned cash for an N64 console on launch day, plus £60 for Mario 64 and £50 for Pilotwings 64.
2. Playing those games like crazy and loving every minute.
3. Watching in horror as Nintendo knocked £100 off the N64 a few months later.
4. Being so hyped for Mario Kart 64, and then it's the biggest let down ever.
5. Playing Wave Race 64 and thinking it's one of the best games of all time.
6. Playing Diddy Kong Racing, and thinking it is the best game of all time.
This was me except I got the N64 after the price cut. It was my first year in full time employment so felt I could buy what I wanted when I wanted. Also remember playing FFVII well into 1998. Happy days
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 8:06 pm
by Mafro
NickSCFC wrote:Sega kicking off next-gen early in the arcades with Virtua Fighter 3 and Scud Race and melting my eyes
Literally
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 8:12 pm
by Death's Head
Got the N64 after a price cut. Can't remember the shop, some now defunct music chain but they had 15% off so bought the N64 and Pilot Wings (PW was 2nd had, also had 15% off and was about £35). How times have changed, can't remember the last time I spent more than £20 on a game!
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 8:19 pm
by HSH28
I didn't have a console at the time, I did have a PC however and I still have my copy of Blade Runner (which is excellent by the way) so I guess I was playing that.
What I was probably still playing most though was Sensible World of Soccer 96/97 on Amiga 500 from the previous year.
EDIT - Also had the following on PC.
Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter
Outlaws
Little Big Adventure 2
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
I-War
Quake II
Total Annihilation
EDIT 2 - I War was amazing.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 8:44 pm
by Jordan UK
AXL wrote:1. Spending £250 of my hard earned cash for an N64 console on launch day, plus £60 for Mario 64 and £50 for Pilotwings 64.
2. Playing those games like crazy and loving every minute.
3. Watching in horror as Nintendo knocked £100 off the N64 a few months later.
4. Being so hyped for Mario Kart 64, and then it's the biggest let down ever.
5. Playing Wave Race 64 and thinking it's one of the best games of all time.
6. Playing Diddy Kong Racing, and thinking it is the best game of all time.
Why was Mario Kart such a disappointment for you? That was our go-to game at Uni (along with GoldenEye - of course). The £100 off thing was a bit of a stinger. I remember my dad writing a letter of complaint (even though I had bought the console with my own money from my Saturday job) and Nintendo sent two controllers and a game of my choice - not bad compensation!
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 10:38 pm
by Death's Head
I was also disappointed with MK64. For me, the problem was that the SNES MK was utterly amazing and my expectations were through the roof. Needless to say, MK64 didn't live up to them.
Re: Gaming in... 1997
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2017 10:42 pm
by Drumstick
Regards the poll, it would be easier to vote if you listed the games in the OP by format.
What I remember thinking at the time was that the PS had the quantity but the N64 had the better quality games. Since I was reasonably poor at the time being a mere ten years old I opted for the N64. All these years later and I still believe I made the right choice.