What games did you dismiss as a kid, but now appreciate?

[legato10]

I'll go first. For me it was Dragon Warrior for the NES. When I first played that game, I think I was like 8 or so. Needless to say, I didn't really care for the game then. I was thrown off by various things, but now as an adult I revisit it with a newfound appreciation. I'm certain amny of you have a similar experience with different games and I'm interested in hearing about them.

[AppliCotton]

I'll be the first but not the last to say shmups. I sucked terribly at games when I was a kid, I needed an emulator to beat Mario 2. But in the name of self-improvement, I'm going back and addressing all the demons that once haunted me, sucking at video games being one of them.

I loved Dragon Warrior as a kid. Problem was I had really bad experiences with battery paks, they'd always friggin die on me. The second I rediscovered video games, the first thing I did was Dragon Warrior with an emu, then Final Fantasy.

[legato10]

Final Fantasy was another game that took some time to get into as a kid. Though my gripes as a kid would be similar to Dragon Warrior, what I disliked the most of the original FF was that if you have your party ganging up on one enemy in multi enemy battle and it died, they didn't automatically attack the others.

That is one game that I most definately prefer to play its GBA counter part than the original, and I'm one that tends to prefer the orignal out of respect.

[legato10]

Oh and as for shmups. That was one genre that I didn't pay much attention to until I played Ikaruga on GC. That game seemed so simple, and is in many ways just the bare bones of that genre, but there just enough depth disguised as simplicity to win and maintain my attention.

[Zing]

I loved Dragon Warrior as a kid. Problem was I had really bad experiences with battery paks, they'd always friggin die on me.

Please push RESET, hold it in, then turn off the POWER. If you turn the power off first, the Imperial Scroll of Honor containing your deeds may be lost.

[alienjesus]

Revenge of Shinobi for sure. As a kid I didn't like the style much, and I found it awkward to control and too hard, and never played it anywhere near as much as Golden Axe and Streets of Rage, which it shared a cartridge with (Mega Games II). Since becoming a responsible grown-up though, I've revisited the game and left with not only a newfound appreciation for the game, but the whole series. Revenge is also my favourite in said series, and is definitely up there with my top recommendations for the mega drive.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

Space Invaders. I grew up playing 80s arcade games, but I just never enjoyed it when I was younger. Maybe I was spoiled by Defender, Gradius and Bosconian. Now I think it's pretty cool, even if it's really simple.

[SamuraiMegas]

RPGs in genral when i was 11 and younger, that took too darn long.

[harper]

Super Mario Bros. 2 - I just thought it was weird and kind of creepy when I was younger. Never got very far, but the "Phantos" guys freaked me out. haha

Star Trek 25th Anniversary (NES) - This one belonged to my brother. I also thought this game (or at least the first level, since that's all I saw of it as a kid) was creepy. That music and the blood sucking worm thingies... haha Plus, I didn't really understand what was going on or what you were supposed to do.

I reacquired both games shortly after picking up an NES a few years ago. SMB2 ended up being one of my favorite Mario games, just because it's so quirky. I also liked the challenge, however frustrating, it made me even more proud to actually finish it. The ending though, yeah that part sucked. lol

As for Star Trek, it actually has a neat story, if you like that sort of thing, which I do. The levels and "missions" are pretty interesting, and there are even a few puzzles thrown into the mix. I was very surprised at how much I ended up liking it. Not sure how popular this game is but I recommend it, even if you're not a Star Trek fan.

[Jmustang1968]

shmups for me as well... They still aren't my cup of tea, but I at least have a respect and appreciation for them that I didn't before.