Video Game Hall Of Fame Has New Additions; ‘Halo,’ ‘Pokémon,’ ‘Donkey Kong’ And ‘Street Fighter II’

The Video Game Hall of Fame is a platform where some of the video game industry’s most influential and iconic titles are recognized for their contributions. The most recent additions count “Pokémon Red and Green,” “Street Fighter II,” “Donkey Kong,” and “Halo: Combat Evolved”. While the list certainly counts some of the industry’s most beloved video games, some titles have more to offer than others.

The oldest video game in the list that is credited to have the most impact on the industry would have to be “Donkey Kong”. Designed in 1981 by famed developer Shigeru Miyamoto, the organization behind the Video Game Hall of Fame award credits the game for sparking the story-driven tradition in future titles, NBC News reports.

Anyone who knows anything about video games would be aware that the 80s classic is the source for several revolutions in the entertainment medium. It’s where Mario from the Super Mario Bros. got his big break, featured one of the first video game damsels, and provided players with a goal that had a semblance of high stakes.

The award will be featured at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. Its director for the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, Jon-Paul Dyson, spoke about “Donkey Kong’s” impact on the video game industry as well.

"Its overarching narrative of love and its vibrant graphics brought the game to life in a way that few other games could in the early 1980s," Dyson said. "It captured the hearts of a generation."

As for the other additions, “Halo: Combat Evolved” is what allowed Microsoft to carve a sizable chunk out of the current console industry with the Xbox back in 2001, The Washington Post reports. “Pokémon Red and Green” introduced western players to the beloved franchise, which led to the worldwide phenomenon back in 2016 known as “Pokémon Go.”

Finally, “Street Fighter II” is credited for kick-starting the modern fighting game industry. Games like “Tekken” and “Super Smash Bros.” owe their existence to this 2D classic.