Video game designer Hideo Kojima talks about the game that changed his life: “I can’t really play it now, though.”
The game that made him feel that “this medium would one day surpass movies.”
When we think of legends in the video game industry, one of the first names that comes to mind is Hideo Kojima. The creator of such influential sagas as Metal Gear and Death Stranding was interviewed by Wired magazine and, among other topics, spoke about the game that changed him forever.
During the interview, he was asked which video game he had played the most. His answer was clear: Super Mario Bros. The legendary title, originally released for the Famicom on September 13, 1985, not only marked a turning point in the history of the medium, but also in the life of a young Kojima, who was deeply impacted by the work of Shigeru Miyamoto.
One of the best games ever made that changed Kojima’s life
“Played it for a year,” recalls Kojima. “I was a college student. I skipped shool to play at home. Without Super Mario, I probably wouldn’t be in this industry... Yeah, I can’t really play it now, though.”
The Japanese creative delved into what made that Nintendo title so special: “It’s a side-scrolling action game. Mario just goes left to right. Basically just jumping. But there’s a dash button. Using that and jump subtly changes the jump trajectory to attack or dodge. It had almost no story, but it felt like you were on an adventure.”
For Kojima, that experience was revelatory: “When I saw that, although it was pixel art with no story, I felt this medium would one day surpass movies. That conviction brought me to the game industry.”
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