Thinking Out Loud: A Personal Reset

When I decided to jump back into the NES game a few weeks ago, I set into motion a shift that’s had multiple implications. My attitude has changed. I’m feeling more enthusiastic and energetic than I have in a long time. I’ve let go of many games that I had been just sitting on for years. I reorganized my retro gaming space and am proud of how it turned out. I’m complaining less about modern video games and sharing more positive posts about games that I’m rediscovering and enjoying. I’m having fun collecting again.

It’s been a much-needed attitude adjustment.

The return of genuine enthusiasm has been huge. I’m enjoying talking about these older games so much, piggybacking onto relevant posts on socials with my own experiences while sharing thoughts, photos, and even a few videos of my own. The 1990s have always been my favorite era in video gaming, so this return to that era felt like a homecoming. Sure– I’ve been focused on my library of original PlayStation games (and Nintendo 64, though to a lesser extent) for over a decade now, but that’s the second half of the decade. NES, SNES, and Genesis largely represent the first half for me. I also had a TurboGrafx-16 and a 3DO for shorter periods, but those prices? Nope.

I have more fun playing these games, too. Many are shorter experiences, especially arcade ports and conversions. There are no loading times, no internet hooks, no fees or subs. It’s very “WYSIWYG”: What You See Is What You Get. I can shift from game to game without a ton of time invested, which goes perfectly with my “Video Game ADD” personality. Admittedly, some games I own (or have on wish lists for later) are “bad” games, but I like trying them for myself. Some of that also calls back to the time Before Internet, when we rented or bought games based on what was on the box or what we saw in a video game magazine.

Starting over with NES, Genesis, and SNES feels very much like a huge reset. I’ve reset my collection. I’ve reset my retro gaming space. I’ve reset my social media posting focus. I’ve reset my video gaming priorities and expectations. I’m playing more games. I’m finally taking the time to explore and enjoy the library of games I have, motivated to this reset.

To that end, I spent multiple hours playing N64 and SNES games this past weekend. Star Fox 64 kicked my butt as I was way out of practice. I popped in Cruis’n Exotica for the first time in almost a decade and aced a few tracks. I played a dominant game of NBA JAM T.E. and showed that my skill wasn’t completely gone. I sampled some Tecmo Super Bowl III, and then started a season on the first Tecmo Super Bowl. It felt like old times. Good times. Fun times.

I’m excited to keep talking about and sharing photos and video of these games with anyone who reads, watches, and listens. I’ll keep sharing the growth of my collection and share what I’ve been playing. There will be more installments of series like The Ones and RePete, I’ll be talking about RetroWorld Expo as we get closer, and more. I’m heading to Retro World Games today after work, then visiting Legends on Saturday– maybe I’ll write about these great stores.

I never thought that things would change like this a few weeks ago, based on getting one retro console. It’s been life-changing in delivering a personal reset that I didn’t know I needed until it happened.