Gaming's most important evolutions

35 features that changed the course of interactive entertainment, one game at a time

Words: GamesRadar_ US on October 8, 2010

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trikeman - October 10, 2010 4:59 a.m.

Actually, Dragon Quest didn't start monster collecting. That was the first Megami Tensei game, originally released in 1987 :P
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frostare - September 8, 2011 6:53 p.m.

Really? Oh man, now I crave the game even more!
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Guardian88 - October 10, 2010 3:17 a.m.

What about co op play or add ons?
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GameManiac - October 10, 2010 2:31 a.m.

Hmm, I always thought Pokemon introduced Monster collecting. Turns out, Pokemon made it popular. So many accomplishments for Nintendo.
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neilbeforezod - October 9, 2010 11:27 p.m.

7 pages! Great article.
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Leogon255 - October 9, 2010 8:33 p.m.

Dragon Quest 5 was not the first monster collecting game, Megami Tensei for the NES was the first. Just thought I would point that out.
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JADENkOTOR - October 9, 2010 7:26 p.m.

I saw co-op on there but no PvP? I saw almost nothing that even related to the entire fighting genre. And QTE's suck... just make a quick cutscene. Great in-depth article... great read.
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gamegrid - October 9, 2010 6:32 p.m.

Actually Mega Man having the first level select is incorrect. That honor should go to either Tempest (arcade, Atari, 1980) or possibly Combat on the Atari 2600 where level select was essentially built into the console itself with the Select button.
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DreamWeaverPL - October 9, 2010 6:17 p.m.

"It could be argued that text adventures and computer RPGs told stories before the advent of Donkey Kong, but those weren’t really “stories” so much as they were nameless characters wandering around, solving puzzles and occasionally killing things. Besides, Donkey Kong had a clear, simple narrative that unfolded from beginning to end on the screen. Ape kidnaps girl, hero chases ape, ape falls as hero and girl are reunited. Nothing had to be inferred, nothing was unclear, and you didn’t need to wade through any supplemental manuals or pages of onscreen text to understand what you had to do and why you were doing it." American and illiterate much? Seriously? After all those RPGs and adventures, you think thar the first 'real' story is the one about a giant ape ("DONKEY" king kong?) stealing a bitch from a plumber and throwing barrels at him? Someone here is really retarded, and this isn't me.
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mattchew86 - October 9, 2010 5:21 p.m.

What about Metal Gear Solid for cutscenes and voice acting? Or 3d ploygons being used in an open world?
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NightCrawler_358 - October 9, 2010 4:30 p.m.

this was an amazing article. very interesting. keep up the good work!
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VictorRay - October 9, 2010 3:14 p.m.

I may have accidentally skipped it, but was the ability to save progress listed?
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RazielArcanum - October 9, 2010 3:08 p.m.

Soul Reaver used regenerative health in the spectral realm.
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philipshaw - October 9, 2010 2:11 p.m.

Great and extensive article,RE4 did change everything for modern games
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RazielArcanum - October 9, 2010 2:07 p.m.

Seriously great article; more in-depth, thoughtful and interesting than even your regular lists (which rock)...but QTE were a "gift" to gaming? Really?
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drewbian - October 9, 2010 2:01 p.m.

awesome article, makes coming to this site everyday even better knowing you guys put the time and effort in to make awesome stuff like this
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CaptainIcyHot - October 9, 2010 1:53 p.m.

Great article. Thanks!
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hatebreeder - October 9, 2010 1:47 p.m.

Probably one of GR's most comprehensive articles in a while. good stuff lads!
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FauxFurry - October 9, 2010 12:07 p.m.

Sequential Attack combinations/combos don't rate as one of the most important steps in gaming evolution? Other than over-looking the advancement that made modern fighting games,side-scrolling beat-em-ups, hack-and-slash games and melee combat intensive open world/adventure games alike as varied and fun as they are, that article was worthy of becoming at the very least the helpful schpiel of a tour guide at the Electronic Entertainment Museum if not the 'infotaining' plaques next to the displays (ideally, they would be in the form of cinematic sequences with the at least one instance of the advancement being described,likely made playable via quick-time event). I don't think that "1918: outpow" was an influential mechanic or videogame,reCAPTCHA. It kind of sounds like one,though.
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SausageLozenge - October 9, 2010 10:52 a.m.

An educational read, thanks G-dar. I think an expanded list could include Online Multiplayer, Map/Level editor, the power-up, extra life, boss fight, 3-D seems to be big now, 1st digital download game, 1st streamed game, 1st force feedback, 1st motion control (debatable if its an evolution), and maybe voice communication.
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