In the modern era, video game trailers get criticized for the overuse of CGI cutscenes instead of using actual game footage. They are selling you an idea of what the game is, rather than the reality. It’s something that’s not all that necessary, as gaming and graphics have become so advanced over the decades that simple footage should be enough to get people interested.

Back in the ‘80s, we didn’t have that option. Yes, there were good games out there, but advertising was more of a challenge. Everything around the gameplay was going to have to do the heavy lifting and really get you to think that 2600 Pacman was going to be something special. The commercials that really put in the work at least stayed with children and helped paint a reality that the limited graphics were trying to push.

Here are some that truly stand out from our most fool-pitying decade.