The Oregon Trail Remake Is A Great Update
Some of my fondest memories in elementary school were from getting a turn on the classroom Apple IIe to play a little game known as The Oregon Trail. And if that name resonates with you at all, you are probably as old as me if not older. It’s a game that introduced many to the less romantic aspects of the pioneering era of the good old US of A. Chances are, you probably learned what dysentery was by playing it. And if you are nostalgic for the halcyon days of avoiding demoralizing digital despair, then you are in luck. Gameloft has you covered with their remake of the classic adventure title.
The Oregon Trail was created in 1971 by three student teachers at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., in the school’s HP-2100 minicomputer. One of these students, senior Don Rawitsch, had the idea to create a computer program for a history class he was teaching, and recruited two of his friends, Paul Dillenberger and Bill Heinemann, both of whom were students teaching math, to help.
A good amount of care was put into representation this time around as stated by Gameloft on its website: “In creating this new game in the beloved The Oregon Trail series, we were determined to better depict Native American perspectives. For Indigenous Peoples, westward expansion was not an adventure but an invasion. Recognizing this complex history, we have collaborated with Native American scholars to bring a new level of respectful representation to the game. For the first time, the game features Native American playable characters and stories, celebrating the history and cultures of the Peoples who first lived on this land and still live here today.”
With such an important factor in play with this remake, I can say this remake is off to a strong start. The game’s updated graphics are just the right blend of contemporary mixed with classic pixel work. And it’s all quite a lovely sight to behold.
The gameplay is mostly unchanged. Updated controls make it accessible for modern consoles, but at least from what I can tell it feels the same. The music has been updated with a beautiful orchestral score that takes this old country boy back to the halcyon days of K-12 in the small town of Burgaw, N.C.
This game is an excellent way to connect with a new generation of gamers with their parents who grew up playing the original. It’s my favorite type of educational entertainment, making learning fun without talking down to the audience.
It’s not a title for everyone though, and while it is a great way to relax, the FPS, instant gratification gamer crowd (you know who you are!) probably won’t dig it. But I can’t recommend this nostalgia trip enough.
I give The Oregon Trail a 4 out of 5.
