This week in gaming history provides GameRevolution’s readers with a blast from the past, going back in time to outline all the biggest news stories from this week in games. Every week, we will take a look at some things that happened this week in video game history over the past three decades.
Last week,we saw a major mobile release in Subway Surfers and the release of the iconic Super Mario Galaxy 2. This week, we will celebrate the founding of a major publisher, see the beginnings of a long-running franchise, and a lot more. So without further adieu, let’s take a look at this week in gaming history for the week of May 27 – June 2.
This Week in Gaming History | May 27 – June 2
May 27, 1986 | The Dragon Quest series begins
Dragon Quest, originally known as Dragon Warrior in North America, was released on May 27, 1986 for the Famicom. Players must save the Kingdom of Alefgard and rescue the princess from the main villain, Dragonlord. This would be the first game in a long line of Dragon Quest games, which are still being made today.
Many consider Dragon Quest as a game that set the template for future RPGs. It received favorable scores from media outlets, despite slow initial sales. Thankfully, a sluggish start didn’t slow down a series that has had a major impact on gaming history to this day.
May 28, 2015 | Nintendo releases Splatoon, a colorful shooter
Splatoon is a cartoony third-person shooter where players fight with paint. Nintendo released it for the Wii U on May 28, 2015. The game’s characters are known as Inklings, who constantly fight with various ink-loaded weaponry.
Splatoon is the first game in the series and received positive reviews upon release. Upon its initial announcement, many were surprised that Nintendo was creating its own shooter IP. However, once it released, it showed how it was a true Nintendo game. Splatoon was critically acclaimed when it came out in 2015, garnering it an 81% on Metacritic. All of its success earned it a sequel, which hit the Nintendo Switch in 2017.
May 29, 2007 | Yet another Mario Party is churned out
Speaking of Nintendo, another well-known game, Mario Party 8, was released on May 29, 2007. Given that it was on the Wii, it was pretty much your standard Mario Party game.
But despite being a well-loved series, Mario Party 8 was met with a little bit of hate, due to a poor campaign mode and less than stellar visuals. It also had a rough launch in the U.K. and had to be recalled shortly after release, allegedly for using the term “spastic,” which is a derogatory term. However, despite the harsh reviews and a rough release, it went on to sell over 7 million copies and is one of the best-selling games for the Wii. This just goes to show that even a tough launch can still make for a commercially successful game.
May 30, 1979 | Capcom is founded
Before it was known as Capcom, Japanese businessman Kenzo Tsujimoto started I.R.M. Corporation on May 30, 1979. Despite a different name, the companies roots have always been in video games, since I.R.M. Corp. was known for distributing electronic game machines. It wasn’t until June 11, 1983 that I.R.M. would change its name to Capcom.
Capcom’s first video game was a side-scrolling shooter known as Vulgus. After its humble beginnings, Capcom would go on to publish tons of well-known franchises like Street Fighter, Mega Man, and Resident Evil, just to name a few. No one can deny the impact that Capcom has had on gaming history and its roots go back to the early days of the medium.
May 31, 1999 | Superman: The New Adventure shows a new low for superhero games
Based on the beloved television series, Superman: The New Adventure made its way to the Nintendo 64 on May 31, 1999. The game pits Superman against his main rival, Lex Luthor. Luthor has trapped Superman and his friends in a virtual version of Metropolis, and it is up to him to save them all.
Unlike other superhero games, such as Marvel: Spider-Man or the Batman Arkham series, Superman: The New Adventure was not received well at all and is considered one of the worst games of all time. The game’s development was allegedly hampered and constrained by DC Comics and Warner Bros., which negatively affected the final product. This just goes to show that just because something is successful in one form of media, doesn’t mean it will find the same success in another. Maybe RockSteady can do a better job.
