ome games have long involved plots, intricate mechanics, and hours of gameplay. Some of them don't. But how long does it take to learn everything you need to know about any game? Welcome to Game in 60 Seconds, where you get to experience an entire game in less than a minute--well, at least the important stuff, anyway. In our first edition of this feature, we'll take you on a whirlwind tour of five classic games from beginning to end. And afterward, you're welcome to try your hand at creating your own Game in 60 seconds.
Please remember that we're covering games in their entirety, so consider this your only spoiler warning.
Let the Games Begin!
The Secret of Monkey Island
Publisher: LucasArts
Developer: LucasArts
Release Date: 1990
The Secret of Monkey Island, Ron Gilbert's pirate-themed masterpiece, is one of the classics from the heydays of PC adventure gaming. If you haven't yet played it (for shame!), then you're missing some of the best inside jokes that video games have to offer. And if you have, well, it's probably been awhile, so you should haul it out of your closet and play it again! In the meantime, to whet your appetite, we'll take you through pirate mastery, insult swordfighting, and the travails of lovable Guybrush Threepwood in a mere 60 seconds.
Resident Evil
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 1996
Resident Evil, the English title of the Japanese horror favorite Biohazard, has become a classic series in its own right, and it all began with this little game. From its cheesy-but-lovable dialogue to the awkward controls and truly frightening camera angles, Resident Evil has had people screaming for years. But no matter which system you've played it on, the original Resident Evil has remained one of the most atmospheric and scary games of all time. Peek inside for the full experience.
Mortal Kombat II
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Midway
Release Date: 1993
Though most people who have played Mortal Kombat II have played it for hours on end, we could probably boil the experience down to just one word: brutal. Since we have 60 seconds of time to give you instead, we're going to take you on a jaunt through the story, the action, and all the awesome effects of this classic fighting game. Don't believe that there's that much going on? Oh you have no idea.
Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
Publisher: The Learning Company
Developer: MECC
Release Date: 1985
Probably the most successful educational game of all time, Oregon Trail is about survival in the American wilderness through some of the most grueling conditions this country has ever seen. Armed with only a Conestoga wagon and a merry band of dysentery-infected friends, you must make it across the continental US before you all completely fall apart. Days turn to months, which turn to years, which turn to seconds, right here.
Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Release Date: 2003
Beyond Good & Evil, Rayman creator Michel Ancel's critical darling, may have met low sales due to its esoteric title and seemingly obscure plot. But the game, despite its poor positioning, tells an interesting and worthwhile story that far too many people seemed to miss. This is a game definitely worth playing, and for a little glimpse into the reason why, watch our 60-second homage to the mysteries that protagonist Jade uncovers, and the dissection of the game's interesting and unique gameplay.
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Game in 60 Seconds
We take you swiftly through five classic games in this video-driven piece that challenges GameSpot editors to dissect entire games in merely 60 seconds.
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