Why were we more skilled at more difficult games when we were younger?

I'll give you an example. Just for kicks I've been playing an emulator for the Super Nintendo and I'm playing Super Mario World. I'm not using the keyboard, but instead a wired 360 controller I've mapped so the experience is virtually the same (even though the Super NES controller, more accurate, smoother then the 360).

I recall when I was a young buck this game or just about any other on the SNES or SEGA Genesis seemed much easier. I'm still dominating the game, just not like I was previously capable of a couple decades ago. What gives? I was doing alright up until Star Road.

[IMG]http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101111022318/mario/images/c/c1/Star_Road.jpg[/IMG]

Those stages above were a cakewalk. Finding the secret keys and unlocking the next level was simple. It wasn't until the Star Road *SPECIAL* that follows I began having issues.

[IMG]http://wikicheats.gametrailers.com/images/2/29/SpecialZone_SMW.png[/IMG]

I'm sure some of you guys remember all this. Have any of you revisited this classic in recent years and feel the same pain I am? Meaning you've noticed your skills have somewhat declined. Your Mario smoothness isn't as sharp as it used to be.

Here on these Star Road *SPECIAL* stages, there's no secret keys to locate in order to advance to the next stage, you just have get from the beginning to the end of one and the level designs are intended to kick your ass, and they do.

The first stage Gnarly wasn't too bad, actually. I'm now on the second, Tubular and she's getting the best of me at the moment. I didn't go back to save my progress so had to start over with Gnarly. I'll update with each stage once I advance and report back the experience.

I just don't remember this beast being this damn hard. I think these are the more difficult stages in the game; even more than 7, 8 and the final Boswer battle. That Princess pus[COLOR="Black"]s[/COLOR]y must be that fire if Mario and Luigi keep sticking their di[COLOR="Black"]c[/COLOR]ks out in such danger to keep saving her fine royal pus[COLOR="Black"]s[/COLOR] time and time again. Bitch better throw in one of them highness blo[COLOR="Black"]w[/COLOR]jobs this time 'round.

:lol

maybe you just got dumber with age? prolly the drugs tbh.

[QUOTE=Goliath Uterus]maybe you just got dumber with age? prolly the drugs tbh.[/QUOTE]
This.

Them damn opiates kill brain cells.

Update: alright so after getting past the beast that was Tubular it offered/allowed me a save point. The next stage called Way Cool wasn't as bad as Tubular, but as equally frustrating. I had to hit "switch" boxes and ride scrolling platforms, and on top of that dodge (because you can't combat/kill them) the enemies that look like mean mug hairy pus[COLOR="Black"]s[/COLOR]ies. No joke, here's a screenshot of the stage/enemy.

[IMG]http://www.mariowiki.com/images/b/b9/Way_Cool_Screenshot.png[/IMG]

... the journey continues.

[QUOTE=Goliath Uterus]maybe you just got dumber with age? prolly the drugs tbh.[/QUOTE]

No, because games like Mario Kart, Star Fox, etc I've already played through and completed no problems. Hand and eye coordination is same. It's the side scrolling games that are giving me issues. Not sure if you guys remember a SNES game called Gradius III, but it's a side scrolling aircraft shooter and it was hard then, shit is hard now.

Long term use of opiates isn't anything like doing meth or dropping LSD/ecstasy. I've never been heavy into the brain cell killing ones. At one time I was big into coke, but that was very short lived. Opiates have always been my thing, and there's no evidence it's really bad on the brain like a lot of other substances.

There's no doubt it impacts and affects the brain, but I'm just as dumb now as I was with or without popping pills.

:oldlol:

Tubular was the hardest level of that entire game. I struggled with it massively when I was young. I'll never forget it with those damn P-balloons.

The thing I'm surprised is how did I ever beat games like A Link to the Past as a 9 year old without any walkthroughs/guides.

[QUOTE=Qwyjibo]Tubular was the hardest level of that entire game. I struggled with it massively when I was young. I'll never forget it with those damn P-balloons.

[B]The thing I'm surprised is how did I ever beat games like A Link to the Past as a 9 year old without any walkthroughs/guides.[/B][/QUOTE]

This is exactly what I'm trying to get these knuckle heads to understand (the two guys who just want to say "you did drugs, now you'll be a dumbass the rest of your life" ...

When we were younger amazingly we could perform at certain video games at a much higher skill level than when we're in our late 20s / early 30s. Perhaps it's our attention spans? At those young ages our attention to detail with something such as video games for example, was uncanny and to me, just IMO, it's somewhat odd.

Tubular was hard as a muthafu[COLOR="Black"]c[/COLOR]ka and now I'm struggling with the 4th stage Awesome. I could just take the easy route and get a Blue Yoshi, but that's probably the lame shit I did as a kid just so I could beat the level without effort. I like and respect the challenge now, so I'm doing it with no enhancements. Starting out as little Mario. No items or Yoshi.

Back to the game/topic. I just completed awesome. It was frustrating b/c you get a star about 2/3's the way through the level (and there's no halfway progression mini save point mind you throughout these *SPECIAL* stages mind you, making them that much more difficult and when you get to the very end, if you still have the star in effect there's a duck/turtle you have to jump on top of in order to get to the final high platform to finish the stage. Well, if you jump up and hit the enemy you automatically destroy him, going right through him instead of bouncing of his head and you fall to your inevitable death. Damn, I was pissed.

:lol

*Jigga music playing in the background*

On to the next ... "freeze, somebody bring me back some [I]turtles[/I] please"

:dancin

Groovy and Mondo are up next. The mission goes on.

Groovy and Mondo were a breeze. Surprisingly easy. I'm thinking like Qwyjibo was alluding to, Tubular was a monster. Awesome gave me a couple fits too, but outside of those two it's been rather simple. I'm thinking I was [I]jumping[/I] to conclusions; get it, you know, Mario and "jumping" ...? No? Yeah I know, that was lame as all hell.

:facepalm

To be continued. Two more stages left in *SPECIAL* land. Will explore and report all the while listening to some 400 lb baby-looking black man on American Idol singing his nuts off and sounding like he's got baby nuts.

But damn... this chick up now go the face and body going on. Don't give a shit about some dime a dozen voice, lookin' like a legit Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Dude just complimented his stomach. Girl got it going on.

Done. Finished Outrageous and Funky. You'd expect Funky to be a bit more challenging being the final stage of the area and all, but it wasn't too bad. Lost of couple lives in the process. Outrageous however didn't disappoint. Shit was difficult as hell if you're playing a "little man" no fire-power or cape/leaf flying ability Mario, which is what I did, and it was mega frustrating at parts. Tubular was mos def the most challenging and it was only the second of the eight.

Over the years I've grown to love and appreciate the simple yet classic level designs that is collectively the Super Mario Brothers franchise. Super Mario 3 on the NES and Super Mario World on SNES are without question the best releases. I have yet to play the Wii Super Mario game that is supposed to be the next in the platform series, and not like Mario Galaxy that is 3D.

Don't get me wrong, I liked Mario 64 and the 3D world of Mario and all, but nothing will ever replace or be better than the original. Side scrolling platforming Mario changed the history of gaming and still to this day one of the most entertaining of them all.

_____

Outside of Star Road and this *SPECIAL* section of the game, what are some of the more challenging and difficult stages/levels? List them. While you're at it, tell me some of your favorite stages; where you really liked the design for some reason or another, some boss or enemy you hated or enjoyed going up against. Ghost Houses, Castles whatever muthafu[COLOR="Black"]c[/COLOR]ka, tell this ATM Super Mario fan that you 'bout it 'bout it when it comes to them gumpas, them turtles, tell me that Yoshi is your nig[COLOR="Black"]g[/COLOR]a and that you [I]got his back[/I] ... get it, 'cause you're riding on his, you know, back.

OK that was gay.

:facepalm

imo games were tougher when i was younger. we didn't have no auto save, if you wanted to beat a game you had to do it start to finish in one sitting. kids have it easy gaming now :lol

[QUOTE=El Gato Negro]imo games were tougher when i was younger. we didn't have no auto save, if you wanted to beat a game you had to do it start to finish in one sitting. kids have it easy gaming now :lol[/QUOTE]

I'm talking about playing the same game, revisiting one you've already played from the past, and not generational gaps.

Reaction time slows down as you get older, Josh

[QUOTE=Josh]I'm talking about playing the same game, revisiting one you've already played from the past, and not generational gaps.[/QUOTE]
It's been the opposite for me. Games from the 8/16 bit era aren't nearly as challenging as I remember them(with a few exceptions).

Edit: Butter Bridge 1 is the only level I have any trouble with.

I've re-played some games of my youth and found them to be easier than I remember. However, I think some of the apparent difficulties could have to do simply being out of practice. Another poster was right, I think there's times when we were young where we'd lock in and fixate on difficult portions of certain games. Other games just may require us getting back into the groove.

Sidenote, for Josh, can I ask what controller you're using for your emulator? It seems there are a slew of third party controllers out there and I had no idea how to choose the right one, as reviews were often mixed.

[QUOTE=Josh]I'm talking about playing the same game, revisiting one you've already played from the past, and not generational gaps.[/QUOTE]
hmm i don't see any challenge in beating a game you have already beat. i have found the opposite true myself, no arthritis yet so my gaming skills have trended upward the older i get. although i do have less time to game now as i work 7 days a week.

[QUOTE=El Gato Negro]hmm i don't see any challenge in beating a game you have already beat. i have found the opposite true myself, no arthritis yet so my gaming skills have trended upward the older i get. although i do have less time to game now as i work 7 days a week.[/QUOTE]

What career/occupation do you have now that you're working 7 days a week?

[QUOTE=Josh]What career/occupation do you have now that you're working 7 days a week?[/QUOTE]
i work in a metal fab shop running and programming lasers and robots. which isnt nearly as interesting as it might sound.

[QUOTE=El Gato Negro]i work in a metal fab shop running and programming lasers and robots. which isnt nearly as interesting as it might sound.[/QUOTE]

I'm using this at the bar tonight

[QUOTE=Josh]Done. Finished Outrageous and Funky. You'd expect Funky to be a bit more challenging being the final stage of the area and all, but it wasn't too bad. Lost of couple lives in the process. Outrageous however didn't disappoint. Shit was difficult as hell if you're playing a "little man" no fire-power or cape/leaf flying ability Mario, which is what I did, and it was mega frustrating at parts. Tubular was mos def the most challenging and it was only the second of the eight.

Over the years I've grown to love and appreciate the simple yet classic level designs that is collectively the Super Mario Brothers franchise. Super Mario 3 on the NES and Super Mario World on SNES are without question the best releases. I have yet to play the Wii Super Mario game that is supposed to be the next in the platform series, and not like Mario Galaxy that is 3D.

Don't get me wrong, I liked Mario 64 and the 3D world of Mario and all, but nothing will ever replace or be better than the original. Side scrolling platforming Mario changed the history of gaming and still to this day one of the most entertaining of them all.

_____

Outside of Star Road and this *SPECIAL* section of the game, what are some of the more challenging and difficult stages/levels? List them. While you're at it, tell me some of your favorite stages; where you really liked the design for some reason or another, some boss or enemy you hated or enjoyed going up against. Ghost Houses, Castles whatever muthafu[COLOR="Black"]c[/COLOR]ka, tell this ATM Super Mario fan that you 'bout it 'bout it when it comes to them gumpas, them turtles, tell me that Yoshi is your nig[COLOR="Black"]g[/COLOR]a and that you [I]got his back[/I] ... get it, 'cause you're riding on his, you know, back.

OK that was gay.

:facepalm[/QUOTE]

Had to go back and watch videos of the levels because I have not played in a while. My favorite stages weremYoshi's Island 2 Vanilla Dome 1, Forest of Illusion 1, Chocolate Island 5, Valley Of Bowser 3 . My least favorite are Larry's Castle, Butter Bridge 2, Soda Lake, Sunken Ghost Ship, Tubular.
The enemies I hated were

Rip Van Fish they keep chasing you
Grinders the could be hard to avoid
MagiKoopa keep trying to hit you with the spell and would disappear and appear

[QUOTE=GoSpursGo1984]Had to go back and watch videos of the levels because I have not played in a while. My favorite stages weremYoshi's Island 2 Vanilla Dome 1, Forest of Illusion 1, Chocolate Island 5, Valley Of Bowser 3 . My least favorite are Larry's Castle, Butter Bridge 2, [B]Soda Lake[/B], Sunken Ghost Ship, Tubular.
The enemies I hated were

Rip Van Fish they keep chasing you
Grinders the could be hard to avoid
MagiKoopa keep trying to hit you with the spell and would disappear and appear[/QUOTE]

Yeah, Sunken Ghost Ship was lame. Too easy and just so random why they even had it in the game to begin with. But [U]Soda Lake[/U], you got that as one of your least favorites? E-ga is you crazy? One of the better stages and placed/positioned at the perfect location on the world map. Happy Meals and Soda Lake. Dutta dut dah duh, I'm lovin' it ... and you hatin' it? Shame brugh.

[QUOTE=Josh]Yeah, Sunken Ghost Ship was lame. Too easy and just so random why they even had it in the game to begin with. But [U]Soda Lake[/U], you got that as one of your least favorites? E-ga is you crazy? One of the better stages and placed/positioned at the perfect location on the world map. Happy Meals and Soda Lake. Dutta dut dah duh, I'm lovin' it ... and you hatin' it? Shame brugh.[/QUOTE]

I have never been a fan of underwater levels in Mario they just are not as fun as levels where you can jump around.

I used to think it was your skills "diminishing" before, but now I think it's more tied to you just being mentally far removed from certain games that you used to play, versus the more "modern" ones that you enjoy now.

It's kinda like learning to solve math problems using only paper all over again, and not using a calculator. Sure, you can still solve those math questions, it just takes a while to get readjusted to doing it without any cheats or crutches like you can nowadays.

Even with the newer games, you'll find yourself failing a lot. It's just that for most of them, you're not forced into a "game over" screen and then kicked back to the first level like before.

As much love as I have for the old school games, I find myself enjoying the "modern era" of games (PS2 and on...) a lot more.

after 20 years I finally finished contra. :rockon:

(well havent played the game in 20 years)

I think it's just lack of practice, I've gone back many times and played games I used to play as a kid and sucked. If i keep at it for long enough I get back in the groove. One thing I put it down to is that as a kid if i got a new game I'd play that one game for hours on end until I'd mastered it, these days I'll get a new game and play it for a half hour before I'm bored and move onto the next one.

[QUOTE=Josh]No, because games like Mario Kart, Star Fox, etc I've already played through and completed no problems. Hand and eye coordination is same. It's the side scrolling games that are giving me issues. Not sure if you guys remember a SNES game called Gradius III, but it's a side scrolling aircraft shooter and it was hard then, shit is hard now.

[B]Long term use of opiates isn't anything like doing meth or dropping LSD/ecstasy.[/B] I've never been heavy into the brain cell killing ones. At one time I was big into coke, but that was very short lived. Opiates have always been my thing, and there's no evidence it's really bad on the brain like a lot of other substances.

There's no doubt it impacts and affects the brain, but I'm just as dumb now as I was with or without popping pills.

:oldlol:[/QUOTE]LSD doesn't kill brain cells.

Starcraft is like hardest game to play competetively. There is 0 pro players in their 30s that still compete. Reaction and stuff is just not there anymore. Also you learn faster the younger you are. There is 0 pro players who started playing rts in their 20s.

Game are definitely easier now as an adult. I think what's happening with the OP is that back then people didn't have an infinite amount of games to play, so as a kid you would play your games over and over again, becoming a sort of an expert on them, after struggling to beat them the first time.

What you're remembering is you being good at games that you were very familiar with, and comparing them the struggle that people have when first playing again.

[QUOTE=El Gato Negro]i work in a metal fab shop running and programming lasers and robots. which isnt nearly as interesting as it might sound.[/QUOTE]

I do some of that. I also work in a metal fab shop, do a lot of QC, purchasing, cost analysis. Occasionally I have to program, although not much.



Anyway,

In the past year I've used an emulator to beat Metroid and Zelda. Neither is a terribly twitchy game. But I've also taken a stab at a few other classics and haven't faired well. The Mario games I haven't been great at. Contra, Mike Tyson's Punchout, Ghosts and Goblins, I've been even worse at.

I'm sure my twitch skills aren't what they used to be, and those games were never my thing even when I was beating them as a kid. But I also think the quick twitch stuff doesn't translate to the emulators as well either. I've played some levels of newer Mario games on my nephews' DXs' and haven't found them as hard as the emulator stuff.

I think it's less your physical reaction time and more after not playing for a long time you lose your skill.

You are undoubtedly slower than you once were. But I don't think that's the fine line between you not being able to handle an older game. It may compound it, but I think after not having played those type of games for a while you just lost the skill to play it. Remember as a kid you were playing that game a lot more.

I also think there is a tendency for modern games to always give you some way to progress. We are so conditioned now for challenges in video games to be tall hurdles, but not walls. As a kid all the games had potential walls so we were more used to it and it didn't stand out as much.

If that makes sense.