Tye. Games used to require practice. You didn't just beat a game in a few days. You worked to improove your skill so you could beat said game, and once you finally completed it, you'd feel a real sense of acomplishment. Beating Zelda, Mario, or Sonic you could brag to your friends, and share secrets like 1up locations and other things. Then by the time you finished Sonic 1 for the first time, here comes Sonic 2.
I'm going to predict your response. "playing the same hard game over and over isn't fun" but you're wrong. Games nowadays aren't challenging. There is no sense of acomplishment because you don't need practice. You beat a game in a day or two and move onto the next. You can't fully enjoy a game unless you've put effort into it. This is why people like old games. They offer challenge. Not "hurr waggle to win". Games required skill, practice, and hand-eye coordination. The Chaos Emeralds aren't required. They're called special stages. For extra content and challenge. Sort of like the second quest in Zelda.