Retro Corner

Growing up in the '90s makes you a fan of Legends of the Hidden Temple. Now, we all loved the fact that kids our age were running through a maze trying to complete certain tasks, but I don't think we truly appreciated the benefits this show presented to our childhood. It taught us competitiveness; everyone wanted a chance to go through Olmec's maze. It taught us to be diligent in our studies by testing us on the Steps of Knowledge. It taught us the importance of being active, primarily through the elaborate obstacle courses. In truth, though, every aspect of that show motivated me to be a better person. Some people say the individuals that inspire us the most are our parents; however, I say it was the voice of Olmec.

With Olmec telling stories about Xerxes, Roland, and Napoleon, what need is there to attend any more Civ history lectures? There were even comical items, such as The Trojan Horseshoe and The Walking Stick of Harriet Tubman. Do not be confused—these were all insightful in their own ways. That quick five-minute story in the beginning was enough to entice me into reading some Herodotus. Okay, so that might be an exaggeration, but knowing the background information really helped me do well in Civ!

I remember having bad dreams about running through the temple and being captured by a Temple Guard. That stuff freaked me out. You never knew when they would jump out. It could be right when you entered The Dark Forest or right after you finally put together the Silver Monkey (you had to watch out for that head though; it was a tricky one). Who wouldn't freak out when a weird guy dressed in Mayan sentinel clothing jumped out and grabbed him?

The Legends of the Hidden Temple costume is always a popular one for Halloween. It's important to stay close to your roots. Legends of the Hidden Temple was just one of the many things that helped shape who we are today.