Class of 95 – 20 Years On, Where Are These 11 Gaming Legends Now?

In 1995 a number of iconic game series and heroes emerged for the first time, each adding an essential chapter to gaming’s history. But do they continue to thrive 20 years later.

2015 has been a stellar year in gaming, but it perhaps can’t quite match the feat of 1995. Twenty years ago, the gaming world was forever changed by the launch of the PlayStation and – in less positive ways – the launch of the Virtual Boy. But Sony wasn’t the only icon making waves in gaming, and a number of beloved game series appeared for the first time in that fateful year. We remember them fondly, but where are they now? Let’s take a look.

Rayman

The limbless hero flopped his way into platforming history in 1995 and in an around the two genuine sequels that followed, an embarrassing number of spin-offs emerged - eventually the brand felt somewhat soiled by the end of the 2000s. Thankfully, 2011 saw the arrival of the excellent Rayman Origins, followed in 2013 by a sequel, Rayman Legends. The character and series has never looked in better shape, nailing it on consoles and also delivering solid mobile fun with the likes of Rayman Fiesta Run and the upcoming Rayman Adventures. Creator Michel Ancel is currently working on a new IP for PS4 called Wild.

Grab Rayman Legends

Grab Rayman Fiesta Run

Command & Conquer

While Warcraft fans may argue otherwise, it was the arrival of Command & Conquer that really set the real-time strategy genre on fire. With its focus on fast-paced, modern military units, and the ability to play four-person multiplayer, it captured a wider audience who fell in love with the battles of the GDI and the Brotherhood of Nod. Developer Westwood Studios would drive the series into the stratosphere with further titles like Red Alert, and even delivered the goods after being acquired by EA in 2003 (a rare feat). The last of the 10 titles in the series was an MMO released in 2012, however the future of the IP does not look that solid. The last two games – FPS spin-off Tiberium, and RTS Command & Conquer: Generals 2, were cancelled before release and Westwood – now called EA Phenomic – was shut down.

Grab the C&C Ultimate Collection

Destruction Derby

In the heavily male teenager dominated era of gaming that was the 1990s, a racer where you got to destroy cars was always going to hit big. Reflections’ race ‘em up was damn fun to play, and watching cars break apart as you rammed all-comers has never felt better, despite many other attempts at the genre. Three sequels followed in quick succession, before Reflections moved on to the Driver series. The developer is still in the driver’s seat today, most recently working on The Crew when not lending its open-world skillset to the likes of Assassin’s Creed and The Division.

Grab Destruction Derby on PlayStation

Grab Destruction Derby on N64

Star Wars: Dark Forces

Going back and playing it now, this cult favourite feels so clumsy and basic. But when this – the first of the Star Wars FPS games and the forerunner to the just released Star Wars: Battlefront - launched it was heaven for fans. The FPS genre had only just become a thing and the iconic sounds and visuals were so immersive. Four more games in the series would follow, changing to the moniker Jedi Knight over time.

Grab Star Wars Battlefront

Grab Star Wars: Dark Forces

Chrono Trigger

This SNES and later PlayStation classic from RPG stewards Square remains a cult favourite for genre enthusiasts. It steered clear of the JRPG complexity of the era, offering easier combat and a welcoming storyline with plenty of humour, all supported by surprisingly varied gameplay. A sequel, Chrono Cross, followed in 1999, but a third game came to legal loggerheads during the 2000s and despite the filing of a trademark, Chrono Break, in 2011, this series looks destined to remain in memory. Thankfully, you can now play the game on iOS (grab it here)

Grab the original Chrono Trigger

Grab Chrono Cross

Descent

Games don’t get any harder to describe than Descent, a vertigo inducing, space-set, cockpit shooter where you head through labyrinth-like mines blasting away at virus infected robots. The unique visual style and “six-degrees of movement” gave you this distinct impression of never knowing which way was up. Sequels followed in 1996 and 1999, then things fell apart. Developer Parallax Software became Volition, and set off on the road to Red Faction and later Saints Row. While publisher Interplay died. A prequel, Descent: Underground, was recently Kickstarted and is due out in March 2016.

Grab Descent

Worms

Has any game heralded more laughs into a single room than Worms? Sitting with friends at a monitor in 1995, blowing each other to smithereens turn by hilarious turn with evermore ridiculous weapons was a blast. Truly one of the greatest multiplayer games of all time, Worms put Team 17 on the map and countless sequels have followed over the years. The series unwisely went 3D in the 2000s, but is back doing what it does best in a 2D landscape now. Worms Battlegrounds released just last year on PS4 and Xbox One, while Worms 3 is now available on iOS.

Grab Worms 3 on iOS

Grab Worms Battlegrounds

Grab Original Worms

Full Throttle

One of the legendary adventure games by genre guru Tim Schafer, Full Throttle’s short play length hasn’t stopped it joining every other “top 10” list. Remarkably two sequels, one in 2000 (Full Throttle: Payback) and one in 2002 (Full Throttle: Hell on Wheels) were nearly rolled out, but were cancelled mid-development. A sequel now looks highly unlikely, but Schafer continues to produce titles for his long-time fans. The recent Broken Age for iOS (grab it here) is definitely work checking out. You can also pick up his other ninety’s gem, Grim Fandango, on the format here.

Grab Full Throttle

Time Crisis

It’s a testament to the fun of PlayStation launch title Time Crisis that it survived the demise of the Light Gun and has kicked on for years. A genuine arcade on-rails shooter, although with added story, nine sequels or spin-offs have followed, including Time Crisis 5, which was released to arcades in March this year. Most recently, Time Crisis has appeared on mobile, but Time Crisis 2nd Strike has disappeared off the App Store as of the time of writing. You can probably blame iOS 9’s arrival for that.

Grab Time Crisis

Twisted Metal

Also a PlayStation launch classic, this genre-defining vehicular combat title offered the perfect mix of humour, action and multiplayer mayhem for the couch-gaming revolution. With iconic characters and gameplay that would be copied for decades to come, Twisted Metal was the game to own at the launch of the machine. Four rapid sequels were fired out before 2001, and then two more – as well as some spin-offs emerged in the decade following – the latest a Twisted Metal reboot for the PS3 in 2012. The current status of the series is unknown, despite the relative success of the last entry – perhaps that’s because creator David Jaffe (who also gave us God of War) has gone indie and is currently working on PS4 exclusive Drawn to Death.

Grab Twisted Metal

Tales Of...

Once upon a time, Tales of Phantasia was just another, albeit enjoyable, SNES JRPG from the oddly named developer Wolf Team. Now it’s a narrative behemoth with so many faces and storylines it’s hard to follow what is going on. Some 15 main games and a tonne of spin-offs have emerged, and they’re still to this day heavily Japanese focused, with delayed releases coming out to the West eventually. The latest game, Tales of Zestiria, only just released on PS3, PS4 and PC.

Grab Tales of Zestria

Writer:

Chris Stead

If you are wondering who we are, we're primarily a digital magazine for the iPad focused on the coverage of indie video games. Run by the former editor of Game Informer, you'll find worldwide exclusives, but also an interactive media experience unlike any you have seen before. If you have an iPad, you should check out the free sample issue at the very least, or enjoy one of our other episodes as listed below.

Get Every Episode:

- Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)

- Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn

- Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley

- Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua

- Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz

- Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle

- Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic the Gathering

- Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star

- Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition

- Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

- Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

New comment

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Disqus