Even in the era of Unreal Engine, season passes, and downloadable content, there are still some classic gaming recipes that will live forever.
It’s funny I should say recipe because today I’ve rediscovered some of those classic gaming moments at an online resource aimed at familiarising children with food through gaming.
There are over 100 online games on here, and among them are some absolute gems that have whiled away a stormy afternoon, at the very least!
Apple and Onion Beats Battle
Who could forget 1997’s PaRappa the Rappa? An introduction, for me, to the concept of a rhythm game and lovingly recreated here in a food-based theme (and cleverly keeping the onion reference). As a musician, I appreciate this kind of game even more, as seemingly simple beats are broken down to ever more complex rhythms that you must follow on-screen, drawing you further into the music and the game.
The difficulty spike on this is perfect for kids. With things starting to get a little more intricate and interesting at around the third stage, as you guide Onion (or Apple) through dance-offs in various locations against Ms. Patty (or is that a Pastie ?), Mr. Hamburger, and a whole host of colourful dance combatants/food items.
And that’s it! Simple, bright, cheery, but with an undercurrent of trying desperately to stay on the beat, nail the rhythm, and save face. This was, and still is, a fantastic concept for a video game and is more than anything a LOT of fun.
https://www.culinaryschools.org/kids-games/apple-and-onion-beats-battle/
Airport Rush
The origins of my love for this type of flight control/resource management game are lost in the sands of time (possibly Sim City or even the original Football Manager). but who doesn’t get pleasure from being the person in the control tower, and keeping the planes and everyone on board safe?
Airport Rush introduces itself with that soothing kind of elevator instrumental Jazz music that harkens back to the days of Ceefax and puts you in a relaxed frame of mind ready for the carnage to follow. You get three levels or terminals of increasing difficulty with the latter having 2 runways and 4 hangers.
The graphics and gameplay are as basic as it gets and needs to be for a game like this. It’s a simple case of clicking on an icon to land, taxi to the hanger, taxi from the hanger, and take-off again. Juggling plates in other words. It’s such a simple concept, but like the very best, a simple mechanic is given life through an inspired theme (an Airport in this case), and its bold, blocky graphics that are still popular today with the likes of Minecraft.
Of course, it’s not that simple in practice. Things start off serenely enough. A plane lands, taxis in, out again and off it goes. But then the next one arrives a little sooner, then the next, and before you know it, you have a backlog, planes are parked up with no hanger available, then another comes in, and…. Boom!
Iterative, addictive, focussed, laser-sharp gaming at its very best.
https://www.culinaryschools.org/kids-games/airport-rush/
Dennis and Gnasher Defend the Den
I was first introduced to the Tower Defence gaming format with the birth of mobile gaming, but it’s not until now that I’ve realised how perfect these games work right here, on my laptop.
Before I get into how the game plays, a huge shout-out to the Dennis the Menace theme! Instead of harmful gun imagery, we have pea-shooters, whoopie cushions, and grannies! Unlike Airport Rush, this bears all the hallmarks of a bigger budget project, with imagery and sonics from the iconic Beano character all over it in a really impressive package.
As tower-defense games go. It’s the theme and the clever (and funny) weapons that set this game apart. Again, the difficulty curve is perfect for kids, with 4 levels split up into waves. I got through it. Just. But this would keep a youngster occupied for quite some time.
https://www.culinaryschools.org/kids-games/dennis-and-gnasher-defend-the-den/
Classic Gaming Today
Thanks for reading. Today, with identikit Unreal Engine FPS’s, Minecraft-style sandbox meandering, and the next iteration of Fifa, I feel a lot of the magic of gaming has been lost. With a tear in my eye, I know The Golden Age of the Video Game Arcade will never return,
Please check these fantastic games out and give yourself a taste of how pure, clever, innovative, and fun gaming used to be.
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