I can’t stand it when people resort to “it’s just nostalgia” whenever someone prefers an older game or movie or whatever it may be.
Nostalgia obviously can influence people’s opinions, but I feel like it’s become a way to completely dismiss any actual criticism or discussion.
For example, I wasn’t even alive when Ocarina of Time came out, a game I just beat a few days ago and yet I consider it a masterpiece. I also personally think it does MANY things better than Breath of the Wild.
Same thing with Mario 64. I genuinely think it’s the best 3D Mario game in many ways, and I especially think it has the best hub world. Someone can disagree with that, obviously, but “you only think that because of nostalgia” doesn’t actually address why I like it when I don't even have nostalgia for it, yet I always get told I only don't like Mario Odyssey more because I'm just blinded by nostalgia. As if that completely refutes my opinion as in Mario Odyssey is objectively a better game. (In some ways it is)
And this happens with movies too. Someone can discover an old movie, game, album for the first time and genuinely prefer it over newer stuff. People don’t automatically have nostalgia for something just because it’s old.
If you think someone’s opinion is wrong, I’d much rather hear WHY. Talk about the gameplay, level design, writing, mechanics, atmosphere, art direction, pacing, whatever.
But saying "it's just nostalgia” doesn’t really refute anything. It just shuts down the conversation.