Do you remember what happened in 1995? It was an incredible year for video games, with surprises and wonders that made us dream and have a lot of fun. (Nintendo UK’s Official Site, n.d.) It was a golden period for the video game industry, marked by innovative and revolutionary releases that set new standards for the future. Throughout this article, we will explore some of the best titles that captured the attention of gamers and left an indelible mark on video game history.

Get ready to travel back in time!

1. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island.
Who doesn’t love Yoshi? This is a platform video from the Super Mario series, developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo console in 1995. (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995), n.d.) The game begins with Mario falling from the sky when he was transported, along with his brother Luigi, through the stork, landing on the island of the Yoshi clan.

This game features a friendly green dinosaur as the main protagonist. He must take care of the adorable baby Mario, which he carries on his back, and keep him safe in a magical and colourful world, and to do so, he has ways of attacking, such as swallowing enemies with his tongue, diving, and throwing eggs as weapons. (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995), n.d.)

When Yoshi is hit, losing control of the baby, he has to touch it to prevent his enemies from capturing it.

This game was a revolution in its time, with a great graphic style, a unique appearance, and innovative gameplay that mixed platforms, puzzles, and action.(Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995), n.d.) With creative and surprising levels, original enemies, and secrets to discover, it became an instant classic and one of the best platform games of all time! Be part of this sweet story; you will have fun!

2. Chrono Trigger.

This RPG is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game console in 1995. (Romano, 2022) It fused time-travel elements with charismatic characters.

It is a gem of the Japanese role, where we live a daring story together with a group of young adventurers, accidentally transported through time, to discover that the world would be destroyed in the distant future. Trying to avoid disaster, they travel through different eras with the intention of saving the planet.

This video game was considered revolutionary in its time, among other things, due to the multiple endings and secondary adventures. Its unique and dynamic battle system and the ability to make decisions that affected the course of the game made it one of the most influential games of its genre. (Romano, 2022) The music was wonderful, composed by the brilliant Yasunori Mitsuda, who transported us to each stage with his music.

A game that must be played and enjoyed!

3. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness.
Do you like mediaeval wars with orcs, humans, and magic? Then you will surely like Warcraft II. After the first war, which brought the fall of Azeroth, the survivors fled to the human kingdom of Lordaeron, and the Orcs decided to conquer this territory, triggering the second war. Both sides have prepared by acquiring allies, capabilities, naval and air units, and the largest and most powerful spellcasters.

In this second war, the Orcs triumph at first, as humans and their allies take the initiative, thanks to an Orc rebellion initiated by the warlock Gul’dan, who seeks to raise the sunken tomb of Sargeras. (Wowpedia, n.d.)

It is a fantasy real-time strategy computer game developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released for MS2 and Microsoft Windows in 1995. (Wowpedia, n.d.) It is a sequel game to the successful Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, improving everything that was already good: graphics, sound, and gameplay. With the possibility of choosing between the Alliance and the Horde. (Fight for Honor in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, 2024)

Ultimately, the Alliance pushes the horde into Blackrock Spire, but Anduin Lothar, commander of the alliance, is killed. (Warcraft II Guide – IGN, 2012) In the final battle, the Alliance manages to exterminate the Orc clan and capture its commander and his forces, destroying the dark portal. (Fight for Honor in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, 2024) In this game, players were immersed in a world of epic battles and unparalleled strategy. A unique and unforgettable experience!

4. Rayman.
This platform game was created by video game designer Michel Ancel for Ubisoft since the game’s launch in 1995 and is distributed by Ubisoft, Nintendo, Gameloft, and Feral Interactive. (Rayman® Forever, n.d.) The series is set in a magical and fantastic world with environments or landscapes made of stationery.

The protagonist is Rayman, a magical being recognised for his great courage and determination. (Square, 2018) He must save the world from villains with the help of his friends.

This character has some characteristics that differentiate him from the rest of the heroes: he is a creature without arms, legs, or a neck, but with hands, feet, and a head that can move independently of his body as well as his hands. (Rayman® Forever, n.d.) Because he has no arms, he uses his fists as weapons, throwing them at his enemies.

He is able to glide by spinning his hair like the blades of a helicopter. This game too us through a vibrant and fantastic world, full of colour and fun. With its challenging gameplay and unique visual design, it stood out from the crowd of games in its genre. (Square, 2018) It has catchy music; it is an unforgettable adventure. Rayman, an unmissable classic!

5. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest.
It is a single-player video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo in 1995. It is the sequel to Donkey Kong Country. Rare showed off this game, and with its impressive level of graphical detail and exciting gameplay mechanics, it was a true technological milestone. (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, n.d.) Starring Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong, players rescue Donkey Kong from the clutches of the evil King K. Rool.

The action takes place on Crocodile Island, which is made up of several worlds totalling 52 levels and is influenced by the world of piracy. This video game presents improvements in its visual appearance and terms of gameplay that are more complex and focused on exploration, including many secrets, hidden bonus rooms, and collectible objects. This game received praise for its graphics and gameplay. (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, n.d.) The music is fantastic, composed by David Wise; it transports you to each environment and makes you feel part of the adventure. The player can run, fly, jump, and swim through fantastic levels of secrets and challenges. Unmissable, Don’t wait any longer; play it!

The year 1995 was a magical year for video games. He gave us masterpieces that marked us forever. From the adventures of Yoshi to the time travel of Chrono Trigger, through the strategies of Warcraft II and the unparalleled fun of Rayman. (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, n.d.)

Even now, many years after their release, they continue to be enjoyed and remembered by players of all generations. Relive these classics and discover why they are considered authentic gems in the world of video games!

References

Romano, S. (2022, March 9). Chrono Trigger for PC and smartphone update to add full-screen support, auto-battle speed boost, more on March 11 - Gematsu. Gematsu. https://www.gematsu.com

Wowpedia, C. T. (n.d.). Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. Wowpedia. https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Warcraft_II:_Tides_of_Darkness

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995). (n.d.). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com

Rodriguez, A. (2020, June 19). The story of how NBA Jam became a video game and sports phenomenon. https://www.clipsnation.com

S. (n.d.). nba jam « SEGADriven. https://www.segadriven.com/tag/nba-jam/

Desatoff, S. (2024, January 3). The best train games on PC in 2024. PCGamesN. https://www.pcgamesn.com

Fight for honour in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, now available on Battle.net. (2024, January 30). https://news.blizzard.com/

Warcraft II Guide, IGN. (2012, April 3). IGN. https://www.ign.com/wikis/warcraft-ii-tides-of-darkness/

Rayman® Forever. (n.d.). GOG.com. https://www.gog.com/ru/game/rayman_forever

Square, P. (2018, December 1). Review: Rayman: An ’Armless PSone Platforming Treat. Push Square. https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps1/rayman

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest. (n.d.). Nintendo of Europe AG. https://www.nintendo.co.uk

Latest Posts