Tom Nook , Cloud Strife , Ezio Auditore , and Sonic the Hedgehog , these are all familiar aspect of mod gaming who can support alongside many of the media ’s greatest . But for some illustrious face of the virtual worldly concern , experience address volumes , especially when your series is still fit strong since the 1980s .

Whether you realise it or not , many of our favorite video plot characters have had surprisingly long calling , some date as far back as the earliest Clarence Shepard Day Jr. of the arcades . Today , we ’ve compiled a leaning of various virtual   oldtimer who have been with us since the very beginning . How many of these guys have you played with ?

Mega Man (1987)

Although his second deed is by far the ideal start point for his serial publication , the Blue Bomber has been blasting his way through Robot Masters since the NES geological era in 1987 . Definitely one of the games that defined the term " NES - heavily , " Mega Man is an icon of Capcom games and the platformer writing style .

Having seem in 29 different title since he first embellish the NES , Mega Man has had more than his fair share of adventures , king , and look .   Robot superheroes scarcely go out of style , so we do n’t think Mega Man will be retiring anytime presently .

Solid Snake (1987)

For those of you think our old pal Snake   made his first launching back in the sound one-time days of the PlayStation 1 , we regret to inform you that you are horribly mistaken . In fact , along with the ilk of Mega Man , the originalMetal Gear Solidfirst appeared on the NES in 1987 .

Although the original top - down title   is almost nothing like some of his more action - tamp outings we know and love today , the unmanageable stealth play and fight sequences were still there , just in a more 8 - bit aesthetic .   Although the series did n’t truly take off until the PlayStation title of respect , the boss has still been with us a good while .

It should come as no surprisal that the Hero of Hyrule graces our list . After all , he did define the adventure game musical genre as we all get it on it .   Until the green - clad champion   set out upon his seeking to rescue Zelda from the clutches of Ganon , adventures were more schoolbook - based than exciting and explorative .

The Legend of Zelda was quite literally a game - changer .   UntilLinkhit the scene , adventure games were attempts atD&Dcampaigns , focus more on storytelling than activity . games like theZorkseries were n’t horrific , but they hardly had us go for our blades . With aBreath of the Wildsequel reportedly on the rise , Link ’s adventures are far from over .

Ryu (1987)

TheStreet Fighterseries made its entry in arcade cabinets   around the world . For those of you expecting something along the lines of what you toy on the SNES ,   sample scale it back a few pegs .   The original secret plan was Ryu against the world in this 1987 classic .

Although the first entry is n’t as nearly as well as what the serial would become , it revolutionize the fighting game genre .   While it boast the the likes of of Ryu , Ken , and Sagat , the rest of the external fighters went out with the dodo . Everyone has to start somewhere , good ?

>Samus Aran (1986)

Next to Sigourney Weaver’sRipley , Samus Aran of Nintendo’sMetroidseries is well one of our all - time favorite alien amplitude hunters . Although her pleasure trip on the Super Nintendo will always be her beneficial workplace , the original NES risky venture   decidedly fix the tone for what the series would become .

If you may , conceive back to the original Metroid title . The environs are dark , mysterious , and more or less haunting . you may only progress so far without the right equipment and it ’s very easy to get recede in this alien world . It ai n’t all mushroom and princess , common people .

Carmen Sandiego (1985)

Say it with us now , " Where in the humans is Carmen Sandiego ? "   we ’re give the ruby caped femme fatale   an honorable mention on our tilt thanks to her recent launching into modern media through   the Netflix series of the same name .   Whether she ’s on the home computer , a telecasting plot show , or streaming service , there ’s no tell what she ’s up to .

Premiering on PC back in 1985 , Carmen Sandiego has been around just as long as Link or Samus , and she decidedly deserves more props . Though her series is an educational tool nowadays , she was earlier designed to be a telecasting game icon . But who state learning ca n’t be fun ?

BJ Blaskowitz (1981)

You might lie with him from the revolutionaryWolfenstein 3D , Return to Castle Wolfenstein , or even the much - beloved reboot serial on the PlayStation 4 . But this torpedo - blaze hero made his introduction in the originalCastle Wolfensteinway back in 1981 , a top - down maze game featured on the Apple 2 computing machine .

Nowadays , BJ is respectable at one thing and one thing only , knock down the swastika off of Nazis with utmost loads of firepower . But before 1992 , Wolfenstein was as simple as a game environment could be . You could still take a few soldiers here and there , but it was nothing like the mod series we recognise .

Donkey Kong (1981)

He ’s Nintendo ’s original boss battle , he ’s the leader of the bunch with a tremendous appetite for bananas , he ’s none other than DK himself .   Although the gravid ape   has had his own solo serial for a good while now , he first premiere in Nintendo ’s arcade classic , Donkey Kong .

The colonnade day were a uncomplicated time , a time where   all an ape - like DK needed was an 8 - bit construction site , a princess , a plumber , and lots of barrel .   Yes , the giving guy wire has come a long way since 1981 , but he did n’t do it alone . We opine you know who we ’re talking about .

Mario (1981)

aboveboard , was there ever any doubtfulness thatMariowouldn’t make our list ? Although the title that leap - pop his serial publication premier in 1985 ,   many people forget that along with the previously mentioned Donkey Kong , Mario made his launching in arcade soothe a full 4 year prior .   Since then ,   Mario ’s career has simply skyrocketed .

The portly plumber has done everything fromsaving the Mushroom Kingdom on a veritable basisto go - karting to tennis and to   even practicing music .   With all of the various entries in Mario ’s library , it ’s no wonder he ’s arguably the most accredit video game character reference of all time .

Pac-Man (1980)

Mario might be one of the most illustrious video biz characters in existence , but if you ’re talking turn and experience ,   you have to go all the way back to the year 1980 when everybody beguile Pac - Man Fever . If there ’s one game everyone has played , it’sPac - Man .

This yellow ball of fun has probably swallowed more one-quarter than cherries in his day , and with a tried - and - true formula that has seldom change aside from a few oddball entries here and there , Pac - Man ’s games still retain their classical pick - up - and - play style anyone can enjoy .   You know what they say , if it ai n’t pause do n’t deposit it .

NEXT : deadly Kombat ’s Horror Guest Fighters Ranked , Worst To respectable

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

David Corenswet’s Superman getting up from a crater with a citizen’s help in the Superman movie trailer

Cassian Andor looking angry in Rogue One (2016)

gaming - featured Cropped

Mega Man title and character

Metal Gear original NES Solid Snake

Boomerang and Link in The Legend of Zelda

Street Fighter 1

Samus Aran at the end of Metroid

Carmen-Sandiego Older Game

Castle Wolfenstein Apple II

Donkey Kong

Mario beneath the Super Mushroom power-up in the original Super Mario Bros.

Pac-Man