Given the vast history of home video game consoles and arcades spanning well over 40 years, most people will have their own choices and reasoning about what they believe is the peak of gaming. However, there are some fairly common answers, such as 1985 and 1998. , 2007, and some might even claim as recent as 2022.
Masahiro Sakurai, creator of Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, recently released a new video on his Creating Games YouTube channel about what he considers to be the greatest year for the gaming industry.
Interestingly, Sakurai's new grab bag video starts with a Hadouken motion, but the answer has nothing to do with Street Fighter.
As soon as you read the title, you can tell that 1986 was a legendary year in gaming.
So what makes 1986 so special in Sakurai's eyes? A lot of it has to do with how many iconic franchises (at least in Japan) were born in that 12 months, and he Most of the cases mentioned are still relevant almost 40 years later.
The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Kunio-kun (River City), Dragon Quest, Castlevania, Bubble Bobble, Ganbare Goemon! (Mystical Ninja), Kid Icarus, Ikari Warriors, and many more that left their mark on the industry.
The third year of the NES in Japan was a year in which developers got to know the console better and branched out to new ideas, and the Famicom Disk System was launched in Japan, opening the door to even more possibilities. It was also a year of opening.
This was on top of the increasing competition between consoles, PC, and arcades in the region as well, with almost every store offering something interesting.
This also led to games becoming more complex than ever, with programmers leaving hidden codes, secrets, and easter eggs for players to discover as well.
Sakurai also points out that nearly all of the iconic titles he mentions have appeared in Super Smash Bros. at some point, including the music from Valkyrie's Adventures.
It's also important to point out that Sakurai was 15-16 years old at this point. If you think back to that point in your life, there's a good chance this period is one of your favorite gaming eras. Formative teenage years.
“The path we walk was first blazed by our predecessors many years ago,” said the veteran creator. “And now we must do our best to forge a new path for ourselves.”
Check out Sakurai's short new video below to hear more about why he feels 1986 was so special.
