So Bad it’s Good: Spice World 1998
In the mid-90s, everyone wanted to be a Spice Girl.
Although it's been a while since the group has made headlines, the sensationalism of the Spice Girls is undebatable. In the 1990s, it was impossible to listen to the radio without coming across one of their hits; they had a movie, they had dolls, they had endorsements and they even had a game. "Spice World 1998" was a PlayStation 1 game that gave fans elusive insight into their desires: becoming a Spice Girl.
Spice World 1998 was an immersive music experience rather than a traditional game. It invited players to create their own unique remixes through nine sample clips form five of the group's biggest hits; create a choreographed dance and then partake in a TV performance that exudes all the throbbing-neon realness of a 90s nightclub.
Descriptively, Spice World 1998 sounds like a great concept for fans, however, it is generally regarded as a flop. Although the game sold out in the U.K immediately upon its release and garnered a new demographic of players to PlayStation, criticism against Spice World 1998 was massive.
The graphics were regarded as hideous, even when keeping in mind the quality that the PS1 is known for. Players found the song remixing purposeless, as making a "good" remix was unachievable due to the choppy clips provided and claimed the dance choreography in which you create a routine with the main character, and then teach to the other girls, was too difficult.
Despite these grievances, it's clear that this was a game made for fans and not for the general gamer, thus die-hard fans were surely not disappointed. Upon finishing the game, players are even able to unlock exclusive interview footage of Spice Girls, to ensure satisfaction.
Although initial reviews of Spice World 1998 were generally bad, the resurgence of 90s and Y2K culture have revitalized interest in trashy/cyber aesthetics, allowing Spice World to regain significance as a cultural gem.
