It can be a risky endeavor to play with people’s gaming memories, as these memories are often deeply connected to our identity. They hold a special place in our hearts and are not just mere recollections. This sentimental attachment to the past is a powerful trigger for grabbing attention, but it also walks a fine line. What happens when modern attempts to recreate the past end up diminishing the original experience? Will the harsh light of reality reveal the limitations of old games compared to what we have now?
I’ve been pondering this dilemma while delving into two games: Skald, a Commodore 64-style RPG, and Crow Country, a survival horror game with a PlayStation 1 aesthetic. Skald was recently released, and we are currently working on a review for it. On the other hand, Crow Country made its debut earlier this month, and our review just went live. This is why I have chosen Crow Country as our featured game for this week.
Crow Country is a visual delight. It captures the muddy color palette and low-resolution claustrophobia reminiscent of PS1 games. The fixed camera angle, chunky character models, and limited polygon count all contribute to its authentic PS1 look. Fans have been buzzing about it on social media for weeks. However, it begs the question: are games like these merely exploiting surface-level nostalgia?