15 Best Years In Video Game History
6. 1996
Notable Releases - Super Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, Pokemon Red/Blue
Not only did 1996 demonstrate how far video games have become, it gave us a good idea of what the future would behold. Resident Evil showed how chilling the survival horror could be. Pokemon Red/Blue was a monster hit, popularised data transferring between players, and reinvigorated the handheld market. New IPs like Crash Bandicoot and Tomb Raider won our hearts, and demonstrated the significance of 3D gaming.
But let's be honest - you can't talk about the influence 1996 games had on the industry without mentioning Super Mario 64. Even though many weren't sure if the nimble, coin-collecting hero would work in the third dimension, the Nintendo 64's launch title was a showstopper.
Super Mario 64 didn't just make the transition into 3D smoothly - it broke the mould. From the virtual camera system to the analog controls, there was little, if anything to fault. It was also a stroke of genius for the gameplay to focus on objectives rather than reaching a goal, since it encouraged players to explore.