There comes a time when I, too, grow older and start to miss the classic games I played with my friends.

These days, everything can be done on smartphones, but suddenly I remember the nights spent laughing and chatting in internet cafes back then.

Was it in the year 2000... when internet speeds were slow and CRT monitors were the norm? There was a game that captured my heart back then. It was 'Fortress 2'.

Back then, just seeing 'Super Tank' made my heart race. The heavy feeling of its firepower! The thrill of my tank dominating the field was a sensation that modern games simply cannot replicate. I always insisted on using tanks. There was a certain joy in firing each shot, almost mindlessly. The focus required for power adjustment and angle calculation was a completely different kind of immersion than the fatigue I feel in meetings now.

I remember the times after school when I would wait with my friends at the PC bang saying, "Hyung, let me know if a spot opens up!"

My character on the screen was 2D, but the battles felt so real. When the shells flew, the terrain crumbled, and the crosshairs trembled in front of me, I felt like a commander on the battlefield. Once, I accidentally team-killed, and I still remember the chat filling up with "ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ". That was the humor of that time.

When a Super Tank appeared on the field, the atmosphere changed dramatically. Everyone fought desperately to take it down. Occasionally, when I managed to get the Super Tank, supportive messages like "Tank-type, I believe in you!" would pop up in the chat. In that brief moment, I was the hero of the PC bang. I was tense until the results screen appeared after the game, and I would feel a little proud when my rank went up.

Back then, the community was warm. Instead of comments filled with insults or political discussions like today, there were pure compliments about the game like, "Wow, what was that shot?" and "I acknowledge your skills."

Strategizing with friends, engaging in mind games with the opposing team, applauding teammates for their good plays, and laughing off mistakes were the norm. When someone made a perfect shot with a high angle, we all marveled at it. The angle calculations and power adjustments of the pros were, even now, a form of art.

These days, games are too complicated. There are so many types of weapons, skills to memorize, and communication has to be done through Discord. Fortress was simple, but that made it even more passionate. You only had to focus on angle, power, and wind. Within that simplicity, there was strategy and psychological warfare, and when we failed, we laughed and tried again.

Now, all my friends are working adults, and we have more golf appointments than PC bang visits, but... sometimes I want to play a round of Fortress again like back then. The synergy with teammates, the competitive spirit in every shot, and the excitement when a Super Tank appeared. That was probably a part of my youth, and it still lingers in the corners of my memory like a spark.

I still... love Super Tanks.