When legends of the gaming community become urban legends in video games: a nostalgia trip that spans an entire generation.
A world without the Internet, without game instructions with the click of a button. Yes, it sounds scary. These were the times of the 90’s and early 2000’s, when urban legends in video games grew up on school campuses and rumors were spread by word of mouth. Who has never heard of how to find Mew under a truck in Pokemon? My God, how our imaginations have flown!
The gaming community feeds on these legends, some of which have influenced the development of future games. This my friends is more than game time talk; This is an interactive entertainment story.
Legends and Tricks: From Mario to Zelda
Ever since the beginning of Zelda and Mario, more or less plausible theories about hidden secrets have circulated. For example, in Ocarina of Time, the existence of the Triforce became an international debate. Although the game doesn’t show the existence of this legendary object, players continue to search for it, complete the game without dying, and even discover hidden temples. Pure devotion or pure insanity, whatever you choose to call it.
On the other hand, in Super Mario 64, players guessed about Luigi’s presence in the game, thanks to a statue with the faint inscription “L is Real 2401”. It wasn’t until 2020 when Luigi was confirmed to be in the game files, though it wasn’t made public.
The power of the game community
The driving force behind these myths is none other than society. Some rumors are so popular that the developers include them as easter eggs in future titles. For example, in the Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire remakes, players can finally travel to space, which is part of the story spread in the original 2002 games.
Those hidden clues or easter eggs we find in recent games are more than a simple bonus. They are a connection to the past. Located next to the famous truck believed to be “Lava Cookie” Mew in Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green, it’s nostalgic for those baseless but fun rumours.
Rumors of the past are a pillar of gaming culture. Generations of players have spent hours finding cheats that turned out to be fake, but they’ve incredibly enriched the gaming experience and strengthened communities online and offline.
Untouchable Legends: How These Urban Legends Changed Our Gameplay?
One thing is clear, these urban legends in video games were not just schoolyard rumors, but came to shape the culture of gamers in the right way. Come to think of it, it wouldn’t be unusual to find a video game addict who decided to study programming because he wanted to solve one of these myths. These tales of the digital world often serve as an inspiration for new generations to look beyond the obvious, to question virtual worlds and explore them with the same passion that these legends were consumed with.
And, paradoxically, even though most of these cheats have since been scrapped, they have left a mark on game design and how players interact with them. Some developers take these legends and turn them into easter eggs and even game mechanics. Who can forget how the famous myth of Polybius influenced a series of psychological horror titles? Ah, how the lines between myth and reality intersect in this small world.