How old were you when you beat your first game?

[jlarlee]

For me I was nine and while I was home sick with the chicken pox I beat Super Mario Brothers.

My son who doesn't turn 6 until April just beat Battalion Wars on the Cube. I'm actually quite impressed because it is not an entirely easy game. This generation of kids seem to take to video games a lot more naturally than my generation (I'm 29)

[willardhaven]

4 or 5 when I beat Fall of the Foot Clan.

[Rodimus]

Honestly I can't remember. Back in those days it didn't concern me to beat the game. I just played till I got bored. I'm assuming I was 7 or 8 years old. Probably Chip n' Dale or Mega Man 2.

But keep in mind when I was 5 they didn't have "beatable games." They were endless games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Centipede. I would play those alot.

[cyborg2040]

I was 4 when I beat SMB

[Kajiba]

Super Mario World. Me and my twin brother tag team that game. My brother was mario and I was luigi. We had to be 3-5 years old back then.

[DesertEagleXIX]

When I was a kid, games didn't have endings. You played until things got too fast or hectic. So the first game I 'beat' was probably Zelda.

[VAD3R or Fro]

8 Years old, Crash Bandicoot 2. I just got 25 crystals not the gems.

[Aegith]

Three. The Legend of Zelda and Mario. Back in '88. Also Zelda II.

[Thomas96]

My atari games didn't have an ending, but I saved a lot of people in defender...
first game beat, probably was mario brothers. Since i'm the same age as the OP, I figure I had to be around the same age.


My first RPG completed was Dragon Warrior, Crystalis, and then Final Fantasy.. ( I think)

[Scorch]

I'm told that I beat Super Mario Brothers when I was two or three, but I don't remember.

[whoknows]

Forty-Two and I beat Hannah Montanna

[cochesecochese]

Five - Zelda.

[sonicfreak5]

6 yrs old. Pokemon Red. that game was teh shite.

[Dark Slayer120]

5 Zelda

[lordxixor101]

I think I was much older than the 4-6 ranges. But, when I was young, I had an Atari 2600, and you just couldn't beat most of those games.

I think I beat SMB at a friends house when I was 7 (I think I was about 9 or 10 before I got my own NES).

[VioletArrows]

I guess 9 or 10, and it was Kirby's Adventure. The other games I had or shared with friends either didn't have endings, or I ran out of time before getting to the end.

[Nephlabobo]

Younger than 10
Maybe....7 or 8? I had a Vic 20.

[niceguyshawne]

6 or 7, ET on the 2600

[dmaul1114]

10 I think. Was in 4th grade when I got an NES for my Birthday and beat SMB in a couple of weeks.

[Mospeada_21]

grade school, Kangaroo on the Atari 2600. Like everyone else said, no real ending, just gets more difficult; arcade style.

[epyon399]

I beat Mega Man 3 when I was 4.

[Kendal]

Forty-Two and I beat Hannah Montanna

He said beat, not beat off to. :lol:

Chip n' Dale or Mega Man 2.

Chip n' Dale is an awesome game. I am going to go find it on half.com. Thanks for helping me spend monies. Probably. If it isn't less than $10. That fat cat with the cigar. That is pretty much all I remember about the game.

I am not sure what my first beaten game was. Mario, Zelda or Metroid. Has to be one of those. Before I had a Nintendo, I had a Intellevision and those games generally didn't have an ending, like most games of that time.

[munoi]

Not sure I think I was 5 or 6 when I finally beat a game by myself. It either was TaleSpin or World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck... good times

[Rodimus]

^ Chip n' Dale was a great co-op game for kids. It wasn't too hard to finish. I beat that game countless times with my brother & friends.

Looks like most adult gamers (like me) didn't have the luxuary of a beatable game until we got a NES.

[PR Mega X]

I think I got a Nintendo when I was 8, and I know the first game I beat was Mega Man 2.

Secret shame: I still haven't really beaten SMB. I beat the rom...but only by saving every 20 steps or so on the last level >.<

[onikage]

As seems to be the case for many of us, the first game I can remember beating was SMB when I was 4 or 5. Though I had a 2600 for a while before that and can remember playing the few games I had, I don't remember finishing any of them.

[javeryh]

Anyone who thinks they beat a game at 3 or 4 is just crazy. I am around 3 and 4 year olds all the time (I have a kid that age and so does everyone I know) and they just don't have the reflexes and dexterity necessary to do something like that. I mean maybe a 4 year old could finish a game but he or she would have to be just shy of 5.

[Pylis]

Beat SMB when I was five. I was at a point where I could keep going forever, really. Can't do that now, though.

By some fucking miracle, I beat the Legend of Zelda when I was five, too. I wonder if my dad was playing on my character when I wasn't around, because I have no clue how I could've done it.

[evilpenguin9000]

I was 7-8 and I beat Megamania on the Atari 2600. It's a Space Invaders kinda shooter and I played it until the score couldn't go any higher and the game froze.

[ananag112]

Probably like 4. There was this snowman DOS game I beat. I also won jeopardy on DOS as well as PGA golf, but I guess those don't count.

[darthbudge]

Lets see I think I was 8 or 9 and I beat the original Ape Escape on the PS1.

[InuFaye]

4 when I finished SMB3.

[I_Am_ProZac]

I started when I was like 1, so it was probably SMB2, TMNT2, Double Dragon 2, or something like that around 2-3 area. (The first in those series are hard... I still don't think I've beat the original SMB just b/c I'm not really a big fan.)

[onetrackmind]

I was 6 or 7, i beat Super Mario Brothers on Christmas night after getting the NES.

[javeryh]

I started when I was like 1

No, you didn't.

[red flare graf]

7 or 8 maybe? I think it was Zelda: LTTP. I don't even know when that game came out but it sounds right. Or Super Mario World. It's a toss up, I don't remember which came first.

[geko29]

SMB when I was 8, then Metroid, Kid Icarus, and Zelda when I was 9.

[hero101]

I was around 6 when I beat TMNT 2.

[Rodimus]

I started when I was like 1, so it was probably SMB2, TMNT2, Double Dragon 2, or something like that around 2-3 area. (The first in those series are hard... I still don't think I've beat the original SMB just b/c I'm not really a big fan.)

Laying it on a bit thick, huh? At year 1 you don't technically play a video game, you hold the controller in your hand and wave it around like a maniac, laughing hystarically. I doubt anyone could beat a game at age 2.

[eldergamer]

Oregon Trail or Kings Quest 2 back on my old Apple IIe when I was around 7 or 8.

[daminion]

my son was 5 when he beat Super Mario Galaxy. He was 4 or 5 when he beat Sunshine.

As for me... my first console was an Atari and I don't recall any of those games actually ending. I did play Pitfall for way more than was healthy.

[InuFaye]

I beat Smash TV without dying once when I was 2.

[johnnypark]

I beat SMB when I was probably 6 or 7, and beat SMB3 when I was 9. All my friends were into Game Genie and being cheap, and I beat that game all the way through without any cheating. It was incredibly satisfying.

[niceguyshawne]

Laying it on a bit thick, huh? At year 1 you don't technically play a video game, you hold the controller in your hand and wave it around like a maniac, laughing hystarically. I doubt anyone could beat a game at age 2.

My 3 year old daughter got through the Dora Purple Planet game last summer. I agree with you that he was not playing games at 1 with any precision and, after watching my 2 year old, I really doubt he was finishing the types of games he is indicating he did at that age.

[Puffa469]

I beat Smash TV without dying once when I was 2.


I beat 'Womb Raider: The Escape!' the same day I was born.

[sfriedlander]

Links awakening on my gameboy pocket. (what ever year the pocket came out)

[sfriedlander]

my son was 5 when he beat Super Mario Galaxy. He was 4 or 5 when he beat Sunshine.

As for me... my first console was an Atari and I don't recall any of those games actually ending. I did play Pitfall for way more than was healthy.

i believe the super mario galaxy, but gamecube controlers wouuld be too complicated for 4 year olds.

[whoknows]

When I was 6 months old I played and beat Tetris.

[sfriedlander]

6 or 7, ET on the 2600


isnt that suposed to be the shittest game ever (et looks like a duck)

[ViolentLee]

My first game console was a TI 99-4a. I remember playing through all 26 levels of Munch Man (Pac-Man derivative), beating Tunnels of Doom, and conquering many puzzles in Hunt the Wumpus. That had to be during or before kindergarten, so I must've been about 4, 4 1/2 (I was young for my grade). I used to get some bad-ass Dig Dug scores back then, too. Too bad I suck at Dig Dug now...

Mega Man 2 was the first NES game I beat. I bet I was 8. It was hard, but when you only had a couple of games, you played till you got good.

[redroversk]

play action football-nes/ 5 yrs.

[Feigr]

Prince of Persia the Sands of Time when I was 20 or 21.

[ighosty]

Pokemon Red, 7 or 8 years old

played a lot of tetris before that tho, but could never beat it.

[bostonfrontier]

Wow, I read the thread title real quick and misread it......almost died laughing that someone would ask such a personal question

"How old were you when you beat your ________?"

[javeryh]

Wow, I read the thread title real quick and misread it......almost died laughing that someone would ask such a personal question

"How old were you when you beat your ________?"

I was probably 12. 7th or 8th grade.

[vherub]

i couldn't beat atari or nes games because it would require too much time in one sitting. So a shorter game, like contra, I could finish in under 30 minutes, and with my sister was probably the first game I beat. In fact, i've probably beaten contra more than every other game i've beaten of the 1st three systems I had combined (atari/nes/snes). Maybe around 10 then.

[mary_at_gamefunk]

My brother and I use to try to see how many times we could beat Super Mario Bros. in one sitting. My record was 3. His was 8. I think I was around 7 years old.

But I didn't really get into video games until just after high school. And then I beat Baldur's Gate on my PS2. Those were sweet times.

[GreatNocturn357]

about 4. super mario brothers

[scuba t]

3 or 4 Super Mario World it's still my favorite game of all time.

[guinaevere]

Doing the math, I must have been six. I beat Dad at Circus Atari through no great skill of my own. I was just playing with the cool paddle thingy.

[xeno]

think it was james Bond 007 on the GameBoy or pokemon red w/e came first

[AdvOfJet]

Younger than 10
Maybe....7 or 8? I had a Vic 20.

This goes for me as well. I was maybe 4 or 5 but it was on the Vic 20. I don't remember the name but it was a stick figure with a toothbrush running around removing cavities from a large set of teeth.

[Mr. Beef]

I was probably like, 9 or 10, but my first game I beat was TMNT 3 for the NES.

[jlarlee]

A week before he turns 6 my son just beat the second BW on the Wii. He had a hard time at first with the controls but ended up beating the game within a week

[paintball745]

i was probally 4 or 5 and i beat super mario world for the super nintendo. i want to go play that game now think about it.

[SeanNOLA]

I remember beating MegaMan 2 when I was 4 or 5, and I remember beating SMB before that, but I'm not sure if that was actually me beating it, or watching my mom beat it...

[Rig]

Four. I completed Super Mario Bros. on our NES. It was one of the three games we had (Excitebike and Duck Hunt being the other two).

My sixteen year old brother was pissed, because he still had not been able to finish the game (and a four year old beat it first :lol:).

EDIT: I think my nephew has me beat though. He finished Pokemon Blue (with all eight badges/Elite Four win and a ton of Pokemon) before he could read. And for a game that is a ton of reading, I thought it was pretty damn good.

EDIT 2:

Anyone who thinks they beat a game at 3 or 4 is just crazy. I am around 3 and 4 year olds all the time (I have a kid that age and so does everyone I know) and they just don't have the reflexes and dexterity necessary to do something like that. I mean maybe a 4 year old could finish a game but he or she would have to be just shy of 5.

I think it may depend on the child, and what their surroundings are. My siblings were much older than I was, and so, I had nobody to play with while they were in school. Naturally, games were a good alternative until they got home. And that's mainly why I remember when I finished SMB. It was before I was in school, and my mom actually wrote it down for me (and the note was tucked inside the SMB case at home :D ).

That being said, another young nephew, is making his way through SMB on the VC. He is four right now, and will be turning five in August. He isn't through it yet, but for his age, he is extremely good. (I think he makes it into World 4 or 5...but I haven't showed him where the warp zones are.)

Another thing I believe that helps is "pure concentration." I used to get red in the face while playing, and it was because I focused on nothing but the game. As you get older, you multi-task, or listen to other things while playing (music/people/etc.). My nephew seems to be able to ignore everything else but the game (like I did...haha).

[Dyson]

Honestly I dont know if this is the first, but the earliest one I can recall is beating Turtles in Time. Right when it came out in 92' on the SNES, I was 7.

[homeland]

was probably 7 or 8 and beat Contra.. Of course the code helped out.

[Liquid 2]

7, with Super Mario 64.

But I may have beaten one younger, because I <3ed the JumpStart games. I'm not sure.

[Chase]

I was as old as when Super Mario Bros. was released. I beat it with the help of my dad, but I beat it, nonetheless. The next game I finished was Bubble Bobble, also with the aid of my dad. Fun times. ^_^

[cdrober]

I think I was around 6 or so, I beat Oregon Trail on the Apple II!!!

I always liked to go hunting and then float my wagon across the river (That guy charging for the ferry is a total rip-off!).

[plasticbathmonki]

Since Combat on the Atari 2600 didn't really have an end, I guess the original, real-deal Legend of Zelda when I was 7.

[S0DA POPINSKI]

2nd grade SMB

[benjamouth]

I think I was about 7, it was a Dangermouse game on our Commodore 64.

[Malik112099]

5 years oldish - Hang-On on the SMS

[depascal22]

My atari games didn't have an ending, but I saved a lot of people in defender...
first game beat, probably was mario brothers. Since i'm the same age as the OP, I figure I had to be around the same age.

Same here. I loved playing Defender. I went straight from the Atari to the Genesis so the first game I beat was Sonic the Hedgehog. That's including getting all the Chaos Emeralds. Looks like I might dig out the Sonic Collection so I can go beat it again later today.

EDIT -- I forgot to mention I was 11 when I beat Sonic.

[eswat]

I beaten TMNT Turtles In Time many times playing with my cousin, I was probably 6 or 7 at the time. Fucking love that game.

As for beating a game solo, I really can't remember. If I had to guess it might have been Kirby's Dreamland for the GameBoy, maybe when I around 9 or 10?

I never really tried to finish games until I got my PC. I finished Quake 2 when I was about 11 or so.

[crunchberries]

I was 4 or 5 when I beat Duck Hunt, 6 when I beat Legend of Zelda, and 8 when I beat Faxanadu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faxanadu).

Ah, Faxanadu. Damn, I loved that game. You could cheat like a mofo by going back and forth from one screen to another and killing one enemy over and over until you could afford this incredibly strong shield that you normally couldn't afford for at least five levels.