Only A 90s Kid Can Name These Old School Video Game Characters
- by Sosa Manuel
- – on
- in The Geek Corner
Many people consider the 1990s to be the golden age of video games. And there's no doubt that tons of amazing games came out during this era. Some of them faded from our memories, while others will live forever on in our most precious childhood moments. Some video games had their start in the 90s, and went on to spawn numerous sequels and entire franchises based on that one hit. Others seemed to make it big and then fall out of the spotlight. Those of us who had the pleasure of growing up during the 90s were spoiled for video games, as the industry really began to gather steam and more people were making games.
Many games set the tone for future generations, and entire gaming genres were born. The first person shooter was created, as well as many other types of games we take for granted today. Graphics and other details have improved in the current era of games, but do our games today carry that same level of charm that they once did? Many would say no. But is that just our sense of nostalgia talking? How well do you remember your favorite old school video game characters? Take the quiz to find out...
This Italian Plumber
Let's start the quiz off with something easy, something pretty much any gamer will be able to get without so much as a second thought. Yes, this character was a huge name in the 90's, but admittedly he was around before this decade as well. Nonetheless, many people got to know Mario very well over the 90's, and he contributed to some amazing and classic games, usually starring a lead role. But can you guess which 90s video game character this is?
This Explorer
This character is another well-known 90's video game hero, although you truly have to have lived in the 90s to remember him. This character was part of an amazing franchise that is still going strong to this day - Castlevania. This hero ends up exploring the vampire infested lair, and coming into contact with none other than dracula himself. Gaming has changed since this game, but he remains a legend. But can you guess which 90s video game character this is?
This Princess
This character might not be the main character of the game she appears in, but the game itself bears her name. This princess is the love interest of the main character, and she always seems to need saving or rescuing in some way. In many ways, she is similar to Princess Peach, although she and the entire game franchise have a much more fantasy, medieval inspired feel to them. But can you guess which 90s video game character this is?
This Young Warrior
Here's the character who ends up saving princess Zelda, time and time again. This is one of the few characters on this quiz that 90s gamers truly fell in love with during the decade. He was the protagonist for some of the most successful, highest rated games in gaming history, let alone just the 90s. He may be young, but he's clever and great with a variety of weapons. But can you guess which 90s video game character this is?
This Villain
Of all the villains in gaming history, this one might just be the most recognizable. Gamers in the 90s and onwards fought this giant villain on more than one occasion, and he always seems to fall victim to Mario and his friends. The villain also has a penchant for kidnapping Princess Peach, Mario's love interest, and he can never quite convince the Princess to acquiesce to his charms. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Fighter
Here's another video game character that you might be familiar with, and she appears in one of the most well-known fighting games in gaming history. Although this game was immensely popular during the 90s, it continues to be a major hit to this day, and fans know many of its many characters like the back of their hand. This character in particular is a huge favorite, and a great fighter. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Hero
This hero is one of the 90s most iconic characters, and he appeared in video games as well as cartoons during this decade. He is actually part of a four part team of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The video games involving these teens were awesome, and these seemingly strange characters suddenly became a major hit. Although it's easy to recognize the game this character is from, it might not be so easy to tell which exact turtle he actually is...
This Speedster
Here's another hugely popular character from the 90s video game era, and it's really hard not to identify this character if you truly call yourself a gamer. This character got extremely popular on the internet, with so many people obsessing over his antics. This is because for so many people, the character was a massive part of their childhood, and even to this day is a source for pleasant memories. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Protagonist
Yet another character you might recognize. This character was the main protagonist in a huge video game series from the 90s, and this series has faded a little as time passed. But even to this day, the impact that this character made on the gaming world is strong. The character is actually a robot of sorts, except a very human one, capable of making decisions and acting rationally. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Slayer
It's not possible to look at this image without a feeling of total awe and elation. That's especially true if you remember what it was like to play this game when it first came out in the 90s. This game was huge. It basically pioneered the first person shooter, and everyone just copied this game as soon as it came out. The main character never actually gets a name, but we get to know him very well. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Bounty Hunter
Another truly iconic video game character, this one is still going strong even to this day. This interstellar bounty hunter truly made her name back in the 90s, however, and she made some awesome memories for a lot of us back them. Today, this game is still being released on the 3ds, and the developers have actually returned to the basics on which this franchise was built - side-scrolling awesomeness. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Guy
Here's another classic character that we all know and love. Like so many other characters on this list, this amazing character survives to this day, and is included in many of Nintendo's current generation games. He actually first began long before the 90s, in one of the first big arcade games which also featured Mario. The lovable ape has become less of a villain and more of a hero in recent iterations. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Strange Hero
Many of us can remember tons of hours spent playing this game in the 90s, and during this time we got to know this crazy character very well. Definitely one of the most unique characters in this quiz, he was nonetheless a very capable hero. The game in which he was included, which bears the same name as the main character, was known for wackiness and humor not usually associated with games. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Fighter
Back in the 90s, fighting games were really taking off. There were tons of them, and many became massively successful and popular with kids going crazy over them. These were games that were great for playing with friends, and you didn't need to dedicate hours to playing them. But one game really stood out, and this one later got its own movie as well as tons of sequels. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Hero
Here's another hero you might recognize from your days playing video games as a kid growing up in the 90s, and this one really left a mark on a lot of us. This guy was a total badass in every sense of the word, and his one-liners and general macho attitude matched classic 80s and 90s action movies of that generation. But the gameplay was what really set this game apart. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Explorer
Definitely one of the most recognized female characters in gaming history, this character is loved by both male and female gamers, and it's been that way ever since the 90s, when so many gamers were first introduced to her. This character is a symbol of female strength and power, and many people were attracted to her and the game she represents as a result. This gun-toting explorer was also for some amazing gameplay. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Legendary Soldier
Of all the soldiers ever to appear in video games, this one might just go down as the most iconic. By the time the 90s swung around, this character was known by pretty much all gamers, and his games were gripping and incredibly thrilling. The stories were always top class, and this game introduced elements like stealth and tactics when previous combat games were very straight forward indeed. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Hero
Horror video games are now a huge thing, and so many different games litter this genre to this day. But back in the 90s, the entire genre was pretty much dominated by one game - Resident Evil. With the release of Resident Evil 2, a new female lead character was also introduced for the first time, and gamers got to know her very well as one of the two player characters. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Funny Accomplice
Though he might have started as a really minor character in his first few appearances on the SNES, this funny little accomplice has actually been given more and more of the stage in Nintendo's world. A fan favorite today, and an iconic Nintendo character, this strange fellow is characterized by his floating cloud which he rides around on, and his fishing rod. You might know him from Mario Kart as the guy who puts you back on the track after falling!
This Top Fighter
Here's another character from a very well-known fighting game, and this one was a favorite right from the start. This game franchise is still alive and kicking, like so many other games in this genre. It all started back in the 90s, however, and that's when so many gamers were introduced to this character in particular. He's a karate expert, and he's capable of dishing out some serious pain. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Antagonist
This antagonist is very famous, and he appears in the world of Zelda. Like so many other bad guy's from Nintendo's world, he has a penchant for stealing away beautiful young princesses, and for that he is the main villain, and the guy that Link is trying desperately to stop. The huge, hulking fighter is clearly a master of fighting and someone who is no stranger to battles. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
These Crazy Characters
Many of you probably forgot these 90s video game characters even existed in the first place. But a picture like this will bring many 90s gamers right back to their childhoods with that sweet sensation of nostalgia. Obviously these two characters were the main characters of a very interesting game, and the game bears the name of the two characters. Interestingly, it is rumored that the two will be returning to the Nintendo Switch! But can you guess which 90s video game characters these are?
This Cool Hero
Here's another picture that will send you right back to the 90s, and yes this is another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the franchise, it might be a little hard to figure out which character this actually is. But for the big fans of the series, it's easy to tell the different ninjas apart. The franchise is alive and well, and a movie was made recently. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Epic Boss
The best games are sometimes defined not by their main characters, but by the enemies that the player must face. That was certainly the case with this particular game, when you face the end boss and you're completely blown away by how awesome and epic this character actually is. This boss has actually been upgraded with additional weapons, which makes him very hard to kill indeed. But you must take him down... But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Fighter
Yet another fighter from yet another fighting game, this one is also a classic in so many ways. People might remember this game from the 90s, and it was one of SEGA's finest achievements during that decade. With the popularity of other fighting games, SEGA knew they had to jump on the bandwagon, and they did so with Streets Of Rage. One of the main characters is pictured in the center of this image. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Iconic Character
Here's another famous character, and this one is from the Megaman franchise. Initially, this character appeared in the 90's as a supporting character to Megaman, and as a sidekick of sorts. But he soon got his own series of video games, and became a huge favorite for tons of fans. He's actually the finest creation of the scientist that created him, and he's a very powerful fighter and hero. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
Another Sidekick
Here's another character that almost everyone will be able to recognize, and this one is actually one of the most well-known side kicks in video game history. We got to know this character very well with the release of games like Donkey Kong County, and other games that followed, including a racing game that bore the name of this particular character. Although he's not as big or strong as Diddy Kong, he's more mobile. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
Another Fighter
Here's yet another character from the Mortal Kombat series, and he's one of the most well-known characters from the franchise. He's easy to spot by his traditional hat and his amazing powers of electricity. A favorite choice for many gamers back in the 90s, this character has a cult following to this day. Many people choose to cosplay as this character, and his name lives on in games today. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Protagonist
This protagonist is from one of the longest-running and most famous RPGs of all time, not to mention one of the most successful. This Japanese game has been exported to countries around the world, and countless hours have been spent playing through these amazing games, which now number in the double digits. But many of us remember these games from the 90's, and this character was the protagonist. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
Yet Another Sidekick
Here's another sidekick, and this one is definitely one of the most recognizable characters in video game history. Although his brother Mario was introduced first, it wasn't long until this green-wearing hero was added to the Nintendo games we all know and love. This brother is a little more shy, cautious and clumsy than his brother, but he is a valuable ally when the going gets tough. He now has plenty of his own games. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Famous Hero
Moving away from Nintendo territory, let's look at some of the most iconic Playstation characters from the 90s era. And there were a lot of them. The Playstation 1 was a hugely popular console back in the day, and many of us loved the games that were associated with it. One of these games included this lovable main character. The developers of this game would late create the Uncharted series. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Awesome Character
Here's another character that will no doubt be instantly recognizable to many of you 90s gamers out there. The 90s was the decade during which many of us were introduced to this amazing creature, and he has a whole series of games that bears his name. He's unique as far as protagonists go, because he's more of an animal than a bipedal creature. The series faltered in present day. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Legendary Protagonist
Of all the games ever created, especially those from the 90s era, this character and the game he represents is held in especially high regard among almost all gamers. The game has an almost legendary reputation, and we're still waiting for the third episode. But back in the 90s, we had no idea that this game was going to get so big, and we were just enjoying the first installment. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Amazing Creature
Here's another easily recognizable character from the Nintendo universe, and he continues to be one of the gaming world's most loved dinosaurs. Is he a dinosaur? That's never really been very clear. But he does play a major role in many games to this day, and he was definitely important to his games back in the 90s as well. The dinosaur can be ridden by Mario, creating a perfect team. But can you guess which 90s video game character this actually is?
This Popular Character
Of all the games that came out during the 90s, many of us have the fondest memories of playing a little game called Pokemon. This game was one of the best games to come out during the 90s, and many of us spent hours playing it. Collecting and catching pokemon was a blast, as was battling them with each other and making sure that you caught them all. But how could we forget this central character? Can you guess who this Pokemon expert is?