For many gamers today, the nostalgia of cathode-ray tube televisions, commonly known as CRTs, may only be a distant memory. These bulky devices dominated home display technology before the advent of sleek flat screens.
CRTs served as the foundation for analog home televisions and shaped the gaming experiences of those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s. While these classic displays are no longer the norm and are typically used for novelty purposes, their warm glow and unique characteristics still resonate with many.
Interestingly, a number of modern games have incorporated advanced filters designed to replicate the classic CRT experience. These filters can enhance gameplay by adding nostalgic effects such as scan lines and screen curvature, thereby immersing players in a retro aesthetic.
10 Cyber Shadow
Right Out Of An NES
Cyber Shadow pays homage to classic ninja games from the NES era, including iconic titles like Ninja Gaiden and Shadow of the Ninja. As a tribute to the Nintendo Entertainment System, this game enriches the experience with an optional CRT filter that creates an authentic retro feel.
This filter emulates the curved screen and introduces scan lines, alongside a “Bad Wires” effect to simulate screen ghosting, allowing players to relive the nostalgia of the 80s gaming in the comfort of their own homes.
9 Blasphemous
Low-Def Old Testament
Blasphemous features pixel art graphics that draw inspiration from various retro games, particularly Metroid and Castlevania. While not directly referencing a specific title, players can still enjoy the charming stylings of yesterday.
This game offers an optional CRT filter, featuring four distinct presets. The first adds simple scan lines, while the subsequent presets introduce screen curvature and varying degrees of color washout for a more authentic retro experience.
8 Yooka-Laylee
Back To The N64
Yooka-Laylee proudly embraces its roots in Nintendo 64-era gaming, celebrating the beloved collect-a-thon 3D platformers of that time. To recreate the nostalgic experience of playing on a CRT, the game includes an unlockable “64-bit” tonic that transmutes its visuals to mimic the aesthetic of N64 titles.
This delightful feature not only softens the graphics to resemble low-poly models but also integrates a CRT filter with scan lines, evoking fond memories of playing classics like Banjo-Kazooie.
7 Sonic Mania
Genesis Did What NintenDon’t
First released in 1991, the original Sonic the Hedgehog game on the Sega Genesis marked a significant moment in gaming history during the CRT era. Sonic Mania encapsulates this nostalgic essence, serving as a heartfelt tribute to its predecessors with an optional CRT filter to enhance gameplay.
Players can choose between two CRT filter options: the Sharp filter emphasizes stark contrast, while the Soft filter smoothens edges and enhances colors, ensuring an immersive throwback experience.
6 Fight’N Rage
Like A Cabinet In A Dim Arcade
Combining classic gaming with modern design, Fight’N Rage adopts the aesthetic of CRT displays commonly found in arcade cabinets. Designed primarily for multiplayer beat ’em ups, the default CRT filter provides a nostalgic curvature and retro scan lines reminiscent of dim arcades from the late 90s.
Although players can opt to disable the filter, doing so may diminish the nostalgic experience the game aims to deliver.
5 Narita Boy
Embodiment Of The 80s
Narita Boy immerses players in the 80s aesthetic, reflecting the vibrant pop culture of that era through its neon colors and synth music. The complete experience is heightened by an ever-present CRT filter, inherently mimicking the appearance of an old-school display.
This stylistic choice evokes the nostalgia of watching iconic films like Tron on a classic television, creating a unique and immersive gameplay atmosphere.
4 Hotline Miami
Scan Lines Warping Reality
Hotline Miami presents a gripping narrative intertwined with gameplay that reflects the protagonist’s deteriorating mental state. The game’s aesthetic is punctuated by heavy use of 80s-inspired CRT visuals, creating a disconcerting visual experience with heavily washed-out colors and pronounced scan lines.
The retro-style visuals are integral to its storytelling, enhancing the sensation of viewing a chaotic rampage through the lens of an old security camera.
3 Zero Katana
Fast-Forward, Rewind
In a similar fashion to Hotline Miami, Katana Zero employs retro visuals to enhance the narrative experience. The protagonist’s drug-induced precognitive abilities are emphasized through CRT distortion, as players witness his thought process before taking action.
Each stage showcases a rewind mechanism which, combined with the CRT distortion, reinforces the effect of watching a sequence of events unfold on a flickering screen reminiscent of an old security feed.
2 Loop Hero
Memories Of Graphical Interfaces
CRTs also found their way into the realm of early home computer monitors, establishing a visual foundation for PC gaming. Loop Hero harkens back to this era, featuring an elaborate interface and pixelated graphics that evoke memories of classic PC games.
The game is graced with a constant CRT filter, complete with delicate scan lines and a slight curvature, enhancing its nostalgic vibe and inviting players to reminisce about the graphical interfaces of yore.
1 Murder House
Like A Cheap VHS Tape
Drawing inspiration from the slasher horror films of the 80s, Murder House channels the atmosphere of that era through its gameplay and aesthetics. The game pays tribute to classic PS1 horror titles, featuring CRT scan lines and the distortion reminiscent of a worn-out VHS tape.
This overwhelming visual style amplifies the oppressive atmosphere of the game, creating an unsettling experience that captivates players immersed in its chilling storyline.
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