One Gaming Struggle From the 1990s and 2000s I Won’t Miss

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Anyone who played video games in the 1990s or early 2000s remembers having to buy physical copies. We’re talking about huge stacks of CDs, plastic cases, and a really exciting time for the gaming world. It was a period of trying new things and making big improvements, but the technology of the time also meant games had to fit onto CDs or early DVDs, which limited what developers could do. This often resulted in compromises you don’t see in modern games.

Many modern gamers have forgotten the hassle of games spread across multiple discs. But for those who remember, it was a genuine challenge. Games with bigger stories and more impressive visuals used to come on several discs – Final Fantasy VII, a classic RPG, needed three! Today’s massive open-world games would likely require four or five discs just for all the cutscenes. While there’s some nostalgia for those days, I’m glad we’ve moved past needing so many discs to play a game.

The Hassle Every 90s Gamer Still Remembers

Changing discs wasn’t just annoying for a lot of us; it completely ruined the flow of the game. I’d get comfortable and excited for a key moment – like a dramatic scene or a challenging boss battle – only to be interrupted by a black screen asking for Disc 2. It pulled me out of the experience and forced me to hunt around for the correct game case. And if someone else had borrowed it or misplaced the disc, finishing the game could be a real struggle.

Final Fantasy VII really represents gaming during that time. It’s still considered one of the most important Japanese role-playing games ever created, but because it was released on three discs, your progress was broken up across physical media. I specifically remember lending the first disc to a friend and then completely forgetting who had it. When I went to play the second disc, I was disappointed to find I couldn’t continue because I hadn’t finished the initial part of the game. My saved game just sat there, inaccessible. That was just how things were back in gaming’s heyday.

Beyond the worry of losing discs, there was the constant fear of scratches. Even a small scratch on one of the game discs could make it impossible to finish the game, especially frustrating after spending dozens of hours playing. People often romanticize older games, but they rarely remember how stressful it was to manage multiple discs and keep them in perfect condition. Keeping track of everything and making sure you had the right disc was crucial.

Today’s Games Would Have Been an Absolute Nightmare Back Then

Think about how big today’s games are. If games like Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, Skyrim, Cyberpunk 2077, and Starfield had come out in the late 1990s, you’d need to constantly switch discs just to play. Loading a new area in Baldur’s Gate 3 or watching a cutscene in Elden Ring would mean swapping to another disc. These games are so massive that they’d require a huge collection – maybe five or even ten discs – because the technology at the time couldn’t fit them on just one.

It’s easy to take massive open-world games for granted today, but older games were heavily restricted by storage limits. Developers used to have to design levels and storylines around the fact that games were stored on discs that could only hold so much information. Sometimes, they’d even use the moment the game switched to a new disc as a natural break in the story. A good example of what happens when storage isn’t carefully considered is the classic game Xenogears.

Despite the old limitations of physical game discs, some of gaming’s most iconic moments came about because of them. Remember the impact of leaving Midgar in Final Fantasy VII and suddenly having a vast world to explore? It felt like a completely new game, and even the need to switch discs added to the experience. However, while that might sound nostalgic, most gamers wouldn’t want to return to the hassle of swapping discs today. Digital downloads and large storage drives have made things much more convenient, and that’s a good thing.

Why This Gaming Struggle Needed to Stay in the Past

We often grumble about big downloads or updates needed right away after a game releases. But compared to the old days of losing a game disc or finding a scratch that made it unplayable, these problems seem pretty minor. While physical copies of games still exist, they aren’t as much of a hassle as they used to be. Big Blu-ray discs and digital downloads mean games can now be delivered as one complete package. We’re already seeing how Nintendo’s use of cartridges affects game development on the Switch, with some developers choosing to limit what their games can do. Having to use multiple discs would only make this situation worse.

Honestly, the best part about modern gaming is never having to swap discs again! No more worrying about scratches ruining my progress, or spending ages hunting down that one disc I swore I put somewhere safe. It’s totally changed how I play. I can jump right into the action, seamlessly moving between story scenes and gameplay, and exploring worlds that feel connected and real. It’s awesome that developers aren’t limited by disc space anymore and can just build these huge, unbroken worlds.

Despite advancements in gaming, there’s something fondly remembered about older games that required multiple discs. They showcase how far the industry has come and how determined developers were, even with limited technology. These games, though clunky by today’s standards, paved the way for the more complex and immersive experiences we enjoy now.

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2025-11-22 22:15