--- title: The Old School Game Vault – Retro Video Game Blog - Page 9 description: Explore the retro gaming world with The Old School Game Vault. Read expert articles, collector guides, and reviews on classic Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, and Xbox games - Page 9 canonical_url: https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog language: en-GB date: 2025-12-08T20:34:12Z notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog. markdown-tokens: 1372 --- > **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content. > **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above. [ ![Hard Mode and the unforgiving experience of the gameplay.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/Ranking-Souls-Games.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/articles/617-difficulty-levels-and-video-games "Some Games You Have to Play on Hard Mode to Fully Enjoy") My friend shouted across the frisbee golf field: "You have to play Persona 3 Reload on hard!" Here's why difficulty settings make some games feel completely different. [ ![Brandon Perton bought the game Hotels to play with my family during COVID.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/The-Game-of-Hotels.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/articles/686-board-games "Board Games vs Video Games: Why In-Person Gaming Still Wins") During COVID, my family played board games every Friday - usually Hotels or Monopoly. Those game nights proved what I already knew: in-person board gaming offers something video games can't replicate. [ ![In-game book showing readable text used for worldbuilding in video games](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/Reading-in-Video-Games.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/articles/965-video-game-reading "From Skyrim Books to Disco Elysium: Reading in Video Games") I was surprised to discover Bloodborne hides its lore in item descriptions - from Skyrim's 820 books to Baldur's Gate 3, proving players love reading, text enhances gaming more than you think. [ ![Blood-stained game controller symbolizing debates around violence and player choice in video games.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/Violent-Video-Games.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/articles/620-design-of-violence-in-video-games "Can Violence Influence Your Choice on Playing Certain Games?") My son bashed Call of Duty so I popped Modern Warfare 2 in my PS3 - the 7th gen memories came flooding back, and it got me thinking about which games got violence design right. [ ![Enemy leveling systems can really make or break an RPG. The key is knowing when to fight and when to run away.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/Final-Fantasy-XII-T-Rex-Encounter.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/articles/enemy-leveling-systems "Enemy Leveling Systems in RPGs: When to Fight and When to Run") Enemy leveling systems can make or break an RPG. Oblivion proved what happens when you get it wrong. Final Fantasy XII's T. rex shows what getting it right looks like. [ ![A lone Tarnished in Elden Ring represents immersion, challenge, and focus. These elements pull players into long gaming sessions.](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/Elden-Ring.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/articles/943-are-video-games-a-waste-of-time "Are Video Games a Waste of Time? A Gamer's Honest Deliberation") I sunk 120 hours into Elden Ring. Felt like eating too much junk food after. But after 30 years of gaming, I still say video games are not a waste of time. [ ![](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/Sexism-in-Video-Games.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/articles/metroid-last-of-us-representation "Sexism in Gaming: How Metroid and The Last of Us Got It Right") Metroid revealed Samus was a woman at the end, not as the game's focus, but just as a fact. The Last of Us did the same with Ellie in the Left Behind DLC. Both got it right. [ ![Gender Choices started with Resident Evil 2](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/Leon-Jill-Gender-Choices-Resident-Evil-2.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/articles/903-male-or-female-video-game-characters "Gender Choice in Games: From Resident Evil to Baldur's Gate 3") When Resident Evil first launched, choosing Chris or Jill wasn’t a statement. It was about the gameplay I preferred, like grenade launchers or lockpicking. [ ![Chrono Trigger SNES real buyer review – The Old School Game Vault](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Blog_Images/Intro%20Images/Chrono-Trigger-Buyer-Review.webp) ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/articles/is-the-old-school-game-vault-legit "Is The Old School Game Vault Legit? An Honest Answer") An honest answer to 'Is The Old School Game Vault legit?' with proof, reviews, and how to verify us yourself. ### Sell Your Retro Video Games for Cash The Old School Game Vault has been buying since 2008 with an A+ BBB rating and 4.99 on Trustpilot. - Instant quotes, no listing fees - Free shipping - Cash payment in 3 to 4 days [ Sell Your Retro Video Games ](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/search-results) [ ![BBB Accredited Business A+ Rating](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/BBB_TheOSGVault-Seal.webp) ](https://www.bbb.org/us/il/morton-grove/profile/video-game-dealers/the-old-school-game-vault-0654-88378868) [ ![4.99 on Trustpilot](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/trustpilot-theosgv-image.webp) ](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/theoldschoolgamevault.com)