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Pixel Blast arcade cabinet with ghosts, mushrooms and rings bursting out of the screen in a dark arcade room
Photo: OpenAI
Video GamesEasy

Retro Video Games of the 80s-90s

Super Mario Bros. launched in 1985 on NES and saved the industry post-crash. Tetris was created in the USSR by Alexey Pajitnov in 1984. Gunpei Yokoi's Game Boy sold 118 million units.

10

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The 10 quiz questions

Question 1 : In what year was the first Super Mario Bros. released on the NES?

Possible answers:

  • 1983
  • 1985
  • 1987
  • 1989

Explanation: Super Mario Bros. was released in 1985 in Japan, becoming one of the best-selling games of all time and saving the video game industry.

Question 2 : Which character is Sonic the Hedgehog's rival created by SEGA?

Possible answers:

  • Tails
  • Shadow
  • Metal Sonic
  • Knuckles

Explanation: Knuckles the Echidna first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 1994 as a rival, before becoming an ally.

Question 3 : Which 1980 arcade game features a yellow character that eats dots?

Possible answers:

  • Space Invaders
  • Donkey Kong
  • Galaga
  • Pac-Man

Explanation: Pac-Man, created by Toru Iwatani for Namco, became a cultural icon and one of the most popular arcade games in history.

Question 4 : Which Russian puzzle game created in 1984 became a worldwide phenomenon?

Possible answers:

  • Columns
  • Dr. Mario
  • Tetris
  • Puyo Puyo

Explanation: Tetris, created by Alexey Pajitnov in the USSR, is one of the best-selling games of all time, popularized notably by the Game Boy.

Question 5 : Which portable Nintendo console was released in 1989 with Tetris?

Possible answers:

  • Neo Geo Pocket
  • Game Boy
  • Game Gear
  • Lynx

Explanation: The Game Boy, created by Gunpei Yokoi, dominated the portable console market for over a decade with more than 118 million units sold.

Question 6 : What is the name of the princess Mario must save in most games?

Possible answers:

  • Princesse Zelda
  • Princesse Rosalina
  • Princesse Peach
  • Princesse Daisy

Explanation: Princess Peach (formerly called Princess Toadstool in the West) rules the Mushroom Kingdom and is regularly kidnapped by Bowser.

Question 7 : Which 1991 fighting game popularized combos and special moves?

Possible answers:

  • Tekken
  • Street Fighter II
  • Mortal Kombat
  • Fatal Fury

Explanation: Street Fighter II by Capcom revolutionized the fighting game genre and launched a wave of similar games in the 90s.

Question 8 : What item must Mario collect to get an extra life?

Possible answers:

  • Un champignon vert
  • Une fleur de feu
  • Une pièce d'or
  • Une étoile

Explanation: The green 1-Up mushroom gives Mario an extra life, while the red mushroom makes him grow.

Question 9 : Which 1996 PlayStation game revolutionized the survival horror genre?

Possible answers:

  • Alone in the Dark
  • Clock Tower
  • Resident Evil
  • Silent Hill

Explanation: Resident Evil by Capcom defined the survival horror genre with its terrifying atmosphere and puzzles, launching a successful franchise.

Question 10 : Which 16-bit SEGA console was the rival of the Super Nintendo?

Possible answers:

  • Mega Drive
  • Dreamcast
  • Master System
  • Saturn

Explanation: The Mega Drive (Genesis in North America) was SEGA's flagship in the 16-bit console war against Nintendo in the 90s.

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