This Day in Gaming History is an editorial released 2-3 days per week, that takes you on a ride in its custom-built gaming history blue box. We take a look at titles all released on the same day throughout gaming history, while also giving extra facts and anecdotes as available or appropriate. Got a favorite game that you want to learn more about, or perhaps want to see featured on TDIGH? Send angel1573 a message on the forums, or leave a comment below!
We continue to drag our heels through the last few weeks of spring, looking towards a summer filled with sunshine…outside our windows as we sit inside and play video games. That’s how summers are spent, right? Regardless, we continue to have gaming history coming your way, even as historical releases are dwindling. Look for some summer special posts coming soon to help tide you over til mayhem hits in Q3. The blue box has some stories to tell today, so let’s take a look at one of the most well known-cult SNES titles, revisit some ancient ruins, and piece together a little bit more of the plotweb of Kingdom Hearts–all on This Day in Gaming History.
EARTHBOUND (SNES)
Also known as Mother 2 in Japan, this RPG title was modestly received on its release, only to carry a weighty global legacy. EarthBound has frequently been listed on top games every gamer should play at least once in their lives; often ranked rather highly as well. Critics, as well as players, find the title to be a “classic” of the RPG genre, as well as for its socio-political commentary. Praised for its humor, intelligence, and ability to captivate, EarthBound has continued to charm players of all kinds since its initial release. The title has also quite a cult following, developing slowly ever since its release. The community has struggled to gain access to North American releases of the greater Mother series, developed countless fan art and tributes, and has generally been quite vocal about the series more broadly–a fandom holding strong since EarthBound’s 1994 release.
The sequel to EarthBound/Mother 2 was originally to be released on the Nintendo 64 console, as EarthBound 64, but was later canceled. The title was later revived as a Japanese-only sequel in 2006 for the Gameboy Advance. EarthBound was re-released in 2013 for the Wii U Virtual Console. Beyond the game itself, the lead character Ness, has also become a fan-favorite icon since the game’s release. So much so, that fans advocated for his inclusion in Super Smash Bros. and its sequels). Ness thus has become perhaps more recognizable for his roles in Super Smash Bros than from his own game. Ness has even received his own amiibo figure.
TOMB RAIDER: ANNIVERSARY (PC/PS2)
Released in 2007, Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a remake of the original 1996 Tomb Raider. Utilizing an improved version of the “Legend” game engine, it includes all of the original environments from its prototype. While it was the least commercially successful game in the Tomb Raider series, the title was well received by critics. Nine official trailers and four developer diaries were released in anticipation of the remastered title; highlighting various zones and their updated graphics. Despite being an updated copy of the original, Anniversary featured new abilities, like pole swinging, which had been absent from initial gameplay. A game trailer showing footage of the game was released in June of 2006, however, the then-PSP title developed by Core Design was canceled; the had been leaked and was not meant to be released. In the week following the trailer’s leak, Eidos Interactive announced the Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition for PS2, PSP, and Windows, to be developed by Crystal Dynamics. Core Design is no longer legally allowed to produce Tomb Raider titles; the leaked trailer now considered to be copyright infringement.
KINGDOM HEARTS: DREAM DROP DISTANCE (3DS)
Taking place after the events of Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, the game focuses on Sora and Riku as they prepare for the return of Master Xehanort. Besides these two well known characters, players can recruit Dream Eaters to assist them in fights. Square Enix decided to develop Dream Drop Distance, having been impressed by the quality of the Nintendo 3DS. Taking advantage of the handheld’s functionality, Square was able to include action elements from the series seen in Birth by Sleep, as well as to give plot hints for Kingdom Hearts III. The game has sold well, and an HD remastered version for the Playstation 4 was announced in September of 2015, as part of the upcoming compilation Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue.
Images © Eidos Interactive, Nintendo, & Square Enix
Some other titles released on this day:
- Athena [Japan] – NES – 1987
- Digimon World 3 – PlayStation – 2002
- Hospital Tycoon – PC – 2007
- The Incredible Hulk – PS2/PS3/Wii/Xbox360 – 2008
- Final Fantasy Tactics – Android OS – 2015
My Life, or Something Like It 