Why the ’90s Nostalgia Resonates Today

To start, nostalgia hits me in many ways. Whether it’s the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario, or even Metroid, the early ‘90s to around Y2K holds a special place in my memory. Just thinking about nostalgia brings a flood of memories, most tied to popular shows, video games, and even music. I remember those old-school songs that now feel like echoes of a time that’s long gone.

I think back to the good old days, as a kid, playing classic “beat ’em up” or “adventure” games. Those moments with my older brother, John, are some of my fondest memories. We’d play until our eyes were burning red from staying up too late. Our parents always told us to stop and go to bed, but we’d sneak in more game time, pretending to sleep when they came to check on us. It was like we could sense them coming, turning off the TV just in time, only to jump back in as soon as they left.

One of our favorite games back then was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We’d challenge each other, trying to beat the game as fast as possible and compete for the highest score. Not long after, we did the same with Super Mario Bros. 3. That game still holds up for me today—a true classic worthy of its nostalgic reputation.

And it wasn’t just the games. Classic TV shows were part of the magic too. Saturday mornings were filled with episodes of The Amazing Spider-Man and Transformers. Even now, those episodes still make me appreciate the OG movies. When the Transformers movies came out, they instantly sparked the nostalgia we grew up with. But something’s changed. The charm of many of these franchises has faded since the ‘90s, and I think it has to do with the shifts in our social climate as we’ve grown older. Or maybe it’s just the weight of adulthood that dims the spark of things we once loved.

I tried watching one of the newer Transformers movies, Bumblebee, and I still haven’t finished it. For some reason, it just doesn’t hold my attention. Maybe it’s the changes to the car or the new actors—something just feels off. And don’t even get me started on the new art styles for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Scooby-Doo. I remember watching a lot of Scooby-Doo as a kid, even daydreaming about being a detective. But reality sets in, and you realize that kind of life only works out for people like James O’Keefe.

Country music is another strange trigger for me. Even though I’m not a fan of it, I can’t help but think back to when I was a kid, listening to my mom sing Shania Twain or songs like “Born to Be Wild” with us. It makes me miss the simplicity of childhood. Things were so much easier back then, and the world wasn’t so complicated.

Everything has changed in ways I never expected. Video games are more advanced, Pokémon has evolved (literally and figuratively), and television is nothing like it used to be. And now we’ve got AI reshaping everything. It’s wild. Maybe things will settle down in the near future, but for now, it feels like we’re living in constant chaos. Sometimes, I wish the world could just get along. Maybe that’s a question for the future to answer.

Until then, I’ll keep fantasizing about my childhood when I revisit these old shows and memories. The only way to move forward is to stay persistent, and that’s exactly what I plan to do—just keep being me.