Entering into a whole new world, with exciting new thoughts, ideas, and a way to escape reality -- that's what gaming is. Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokemon are three of the most recognizable video games throughout history. Every day children would rush home to get on their gaming consoles and immerse themselves in a completely different world. As gamers got older, gameplay, as a whole, changed through three games: Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokemon have changed and progressed through several decades, whether it be by graphics, controllers, or plot.

One of the first childhood games that most gamers played is Mario. Mario is an iconic game character that made one of his first appearances in 1985, and would be one of the first video game characters most people know (Kelar). The graphics by our standards were not great quality, but at the time were cutting edge. It was one of the first games where the pixels were only visible if really close to the screen.

This is the first level of Super Mario Bros for the NES.

Nintendo released Super Mario Bros for the NES rekindling the at home gaming business (Molina). Super Mario was revolutionary at the time and a lot has changed. In fact, only ten years later a huge change in the game occurred; Super Mario 64 was released on the Nintendo 64 console. The three changes that occurred with Super Mario 64 were: a new controller, 3D movement, and a new interesting plot. The controller was completely different, in fact many gamers had:

“...a hard time adjusting to the controller's analog stick, which meant Mario's first movements were running frantically around in circles.” (Kelar)

The new controller brought along by the N64 was a hassle in the beginning but once gamers got used to it, better gameplay occurred. The second difference was that of Mario no longer being a side-scroller, a game where you can only move left or right, but now included 3D movement. A new controller was something that Super Mario players had never encountered, and lead to a much needed change to how the game was played. Speaking of how the game was played, Super Mario 64 lead to a dramatic change in the plot of the game. The plot of Mario has practically been the same; Mario and Luigi stomp around to save Princess Peach from Bowser and his army of Koopa-Troopas and Goombas (Kelar). Mario’s original gameplay changed as players were still saving Peach from Bowser but were facing an army of well… everything. Mario no longer would have to play just in levels but could in fact go wherever they wanted in and out of Princess Peach's Castle. After a change out of the usual Nintendo went back to the original but added a little twist:

“New Super Mario Bros. U for the Wii U have an amazing modern twist on that old-school, side-scrolling nature that made the iconic series.” (Kelar)

A new spin on an old classic is something that games do quite often now, allowing players to remember where it all started. Mario will forever be a memorable figure in gamer’s minds world wide, even though some change has occurred since the first game.

Some of the key differences from the original and the present is several things: graphics, a small portion of the gameplay, and of course a new controller. The graphics have progressed so much from the original Super Mario Bros to the modern day New Super Mario Bros U. From pixilated and blocky to 1080p and high definition, graphics truly have progressed and will continue to progress and will probably continue until the end of time. Gameplay for Mario really does differ but the main goal is still to save Princess Peach from Bowser.

Picture from one of the most recent Mario game, Super Mario Bros U, the change in graphics is gigantic.

“The neat thing about Mario is, it isn't about how good you are -- the fun of the game is giving a second controller to a friend or a family member and playing together.” (Kelar)

The difference in the new game is you can play with up to four different players and can play as Mario, Luigi, or Toad. Also, many different characters such as Bowser Jr. & Koopalings have been added to enhance the gameplay. Finally a new controller has been added along with the standard Wii remote the Wii U Gamepad has been added to help gamers. The Wii U Gamepad is a controller as well as a screen that can be used for several different things. It can be used as a screen to play the game on, a map, or something to check your inventory on. Nintendo is always looking for a new way to help gaming, whether it be through graphics, gameplay, or the controllers.

From flat screens and side scrollers, one of the first 3D movable games was released, The Legend of Zelda. The first was rightfully called The Legend of Zelda and was one the first games moving toward 3D gameplay. Although it was not fully 3D, The Legend of Zelda allowed for a player to move up, left, down, and right. 3D movement was monumental compared to only move left and right. The gameplay though was very much like Mario, save the princess from the evil guy. The difference was it was not Mario saving Peach in the Mushroom Kingdom, but it changed to Link saving Zelda in the Kingdom of Hyrule from the evil wizard Ganandorf . Of course, there are also different enemies such as the Leever and the Molblin. The next step Nintendo took with the Legend of Zelda series was the same approach they took to the Mario games, make it have 3D movement. The Ocarina of Time could arguably be one of the greatest games in the Legend of Zelda series in all aspects of the game. The graphics were groundbreaking:

“The game features real-time 3-D sequences that are simply stunning. Watching Link silhouetted against the moonlight as he rides his steed across the land will leave you speechless.” (Ham)

Link riding Epona through Hyrule field under a full moon, this was one of the best games overall in its time, and some think that to this day.

The small details and time that were put into the game left a legacy of greatness. People could not believe all the time and effort that was put into this game to make it so perfect, it was astounding. The effort was not just apparent in the graphics but also in the Gameplay:

“One of the things fans love about the games are their depth, offering hidden gems and tidbits to discover even after the main storyline is finished.” (White)

The hidden gems where apparent in Mario but the Ocarina of Time game took it to a different level. It would many days to figure out of the easter eggs and hidden items in the Ocarina of Time even if it was known where they were already. The new cutting edge ideas put The Legend of Zelda out there as a top game.

The idea of having the ability to play after beating the main quest presented a new exciting edge to the gameplay, making sure you have defeated the entire game just not the main quest. In other games it was just beat the main quest and that is all you have to do. It was interesting to have things that were there to benefit the players and make it easier but not totally necessary. The idea of side quests is what probably made it one of the most memorable games in the Legend of Zelda series. Many games nowadays have actually adapted this format allowing players to complete the main quest if they wish but also to just free roam around the map and look for the hidden secrets. The last game and most recent game that has been released by Nintendo is Hyrule Warriors and several things are different in all aspects of the game. Like all other games the graphics have increased in definition but some would argue the small details that were present in the Ocarina of Time are not present in modern games. Some argue that this is a regression and more time should be spent on those small details than the graphics as a whole.

A new idea always revitalizes a game and being released with this new game, Hyrule Warriors, is the ability to not only play as Link but other heroes and villains. There are 16 playable characters in all, 10 of which are heroes, consisting of: Link, Zelda, Sheik, Midna, Darunia, Princess Ruto, Fi, Agitha, Impa, and Lana. The other six characters are villains and consist of: Ganondorf, Ghirahim, Zant, Cia, Wizro, and Volga (Raze).

Majority of the Legend of Zelda villains and how the looked in different games.

Nintendo has also said that there would be future DLC, downloadable content, for other characters that will be playable. Having this new idea is one of the most unique Legend of Zelda games that has been released seeing as one can play as almost any main character that has been in the past games, including the villains. The levels that are played through during the main quest actually resemble different parts of different games allowing for a nostalgic feeling when playing through the entire game. Same as the new Mario game in Hyrule Warriors the gamepad can be used in several ways. It can be used as a map to tell where to go and how to beat certain dungeons. The Gamepad can also be used as a way to check inventory or the game can be played on the gamepad by using the screen as a Mini-T.V. There are many different opinions on the gamepad but overall it adds a new perspective to the gameplay. The Legend of Zelda has definitely upgraded its inventory with better graphics, the same intuitive gameplay, and new spin on a great plot line.

The first decision a player has to make in any Pokemon game.

“Are you a boy or a girl?” “ What’s your name?” Most people remember these as the first questions that were asked when starting any Pokemon game. The Pokemon franchise first made its appearance in America on September 28, 1998, with Pokemon Blue. The game was something that had a completely new idea; having a team of Pokemon, or monsters that had certain attacks based on element type, that would allow players to fight other Pokemon Trainers. Players would go from town to town facing Gym Leaders, catching Pokemon, training those caught Pokemon, and finally challenging the Elite Four, the best four trainers in the game. The graphics were poor compared to today’s standards and were not the greatest back when it was released but many people still love the classic Pokemon games. The reasons the graphics were so poor is because Pokemon Blue could actually be played anywhere because of the system it was played on. The Gameboy was the portable system that Pokemon Blue was playable on as long as one had two double A batteries. Many people loved that gaming was no longer just an at home thing. Portable gaming became huge, in fact:

“More than 40 million Pokemon games have been sold in the United States since you were born, and they're still going strong.” (MacDonald)

Pokemon was one of the starting games for a new day and age of portable gaming.

The Pokemon franchise challenged the Mario and The Legend of Zelda franchises and was and still is extremely popular. Pokemon Blue was so successful in America that all other generations of Pokemon games have been released here. The III generation of the game had two games Ruby and Sapphire but a third would soon be added:

“Pokemon Emerald was spawned from the union of Ruby and Sapphire versions.” (Roe)

Pokemon Emerald was one of the first Pokemon games to be in color and the graphics were no longer pixilated and blocky. What really moved gamers to buy the new games was because every game introduced around 150 new pokemon adding continual constant change to the game. Also each game takes place in a different region of the Pokemon world and each region has Pokemon specific to it.

Pokemon Blue took place in the Kanto region and Pokemon Emerald in Hoenn region. This intrigued players that the general gameplay would stay the same but each game had its own different take on the Pokemon world.

This is when the player saves Professor Birch from a Zigzagzoon in the beginning of the game.

Pokemon Emerald was playable on two different portable devices, the Gameboy Advanced and the Gameboy Advanced SP (Roe). The Gameboy Advanced was similar to the Wii U gamepad but was smaller and the screen did not have a light in it. The Gameboy Advanced SP was a big square flip-phone looking device that had the controls on the bottom half and the screen, now with a light that could be turned on and off, on the top. It could close and be put into a sleep mode that would save battery but still keep the game going. Players rejoiced in the Gameboy Advanced SP because they could now play Pokemon at all times of day.

The most recent Pokemon game that has been released is Pokemon X, it has a sister game like all the other Pokemon games called Pokemon Y. Pokemon X takes place in the Kalos region and brought along with it seventy-two new Pokemon with it. Players can still take their Pokemon adventures with them wherever they go but with the new 3DS. With the new intuitive 3D gameplay players have never felt so involved in the Pokemon world. The graphics have moved completely away from blocks and now are making characters that look a lot more like people than in the other games. Pokemon has definitely evolved its graphics, plot, and the portable systems used to play.

The three concepts that have been continually changing since the beginning are: graphics, plot line, and controllers. It has been most apparent when looking at three games: Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Pokemon. Games have always been “evolving” and “leveling up” throughout history. It is amazing to see how far games have come in the past couple decades and many cannot wait to see where gaming is going in the future.