TOP TEN FAVORITE NES GAMES
A History Lesson...
I may be dating myself a bit by saying this, but it was the late 1980's when my dad brought home our family's first NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM also known as the original NES. I was a kid in single digits during those days and for the most part sucked at video games but, man, did I love playing them.
We had a handful of games (less than ten) for those ensuing ten years, the usual Super Mario Bros., Battletoads, Godzilla, Cobra Command, and maybe one or two more. I used to borrow games from my friends and my cousins to play others or even go to local Video Store to rent games.
Story time, kids!
Now you see kids, before the internet, Netflix, or Gamefly if you wanted to see a movie or play a video game but didn't want to buy it, you went to these buildings called "Rental Stores" where hundreds of movies and video games were physically there for your perusal, eagerly awaiting your selection. You'd pay these people called "Clerks" a nominal fee, say anywhere from $1 to $3 and you'd be able to physically take the game home for a twenty-four hour period. The next day you were responsible for returning the game within said time-frame or you'd be charged a "Late Fee."
Sounds exhausting, right?
Anyway, that's how I played many a game while only owning four or five games personally. Keep in mind that these games brand new in store fetched $60 price tags (I seriously dropped $60 for Battletoads, new in box, at Kaybee Toys in 1991) so you couldn't afford an extensive library of games (at least I couldn't at age 8 on a $2.50 weekly allowance).
By the time I was in high school and the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Playstation, and N64 had all come out, nobody gave a crap about their old NES games. Nobody except me. By this time a small chain of stores had opened up in the Lincoln/Omaha area called GAMERS. Gamers was essentially a pawn shop for used video games. And they had a ton of old NES games ranging in price from 90 cents to $18. By the time I was out of college my meager collection of five NES games numbered around one-hundred twenty games or there abouts.
In today's world everybody and their dog wants the old NES games. The game I paid only 90 cents for (10 Yard Fight was the game) costs around $5 to $10. So by that math the games that used to be $18 are now $60 to $100! That's right, kids. We've come full circle to when I was age 8. It's too expensive yet again to start collecting these games.
Long story short, the NES is my all-time favorite video game system! Ironically I still suck at most of them (I'm learning that the hard way while currently playing Adventure Island), but I'm a little better today than I was when I was 8. Only a little.
You were expecting a list when you started reading and instead were given an old man's tale of the "Good ol' Days."
"Back in my day we had to walk three blocks to get to Davison's Furniture just to rent a movie or video game and that was one way! (True story) Through ten feet of snow! (not so true)"
Anyway, I've added a few extras to the list like I always do, just cause I'm nice like that (and I don't understand the concept of a Top Ten list).
GET ON WITH THE LIST ALREADY!
#14
Release Date: 1986
Out of the 120 games I once owned you can imagine I have quite a list of favorites. Kid Icarus is one of the best platform adventure games in Nintendo's NES library. A classic side-scrolling action game in the vein of Super Mario Bros. but with the addition of weapon upgrades and armor. I was first introduced to the game at a friend's house when I was in Kindergarten but never really dived deeply into the game until my sophomore year in college. There my friends and I took it to the distance.
#13
Release Date: 1990
The second best 2 player co-op game on the NES, in my opinion. Arcade style stage layouts, you and your snow brother are trapped on a single screen stage with badguys. You roll your enemies up into snowballs and kick them across the screen. Once the screen is clear of baddies you advance to the next screen. It's simple. It's bright and colorful. And it's a ton of fun. One of the best games you and a friend can play together in a cooperative effort to win.
#12
Release Date: 1986 (on Nintendo)
Perhaps the only truly classic arcade game that I was ever any good at. In college I had Pac-Man on NES and my buddy Chad had Donkey Kong 3 on NES. He took to Pac-Man very well and I took to Donkey Kong 3. We traded games and that's how I ended up with it. Still, no one I know has beaten Chad's high score on Pac-Man (although Ross came close) and no one I know has beaten my high score on Donkey Kong 3 (I maxed out the point counter!).
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Never NEVER keep a High Score sheet amongst friends. It's sounds good in theory but if you want to keep your friends, for the love of God, DON'T DO IT!
#11
Release Date: 1991
This game should really be in my Top Ten. Adventure Island II is one of the best action/adventure platformers ever. The original Adventure Island was more or less a Super Mario Bros. knock off (and hard as hell! It is one of the bane's of my existence!). But the sequel expanded upon the foundation laid in the first game and became its own entity altogether. Instead of merely running and jumping through the jungle hurling axes and rocks at snakes and birds, now Higgins can tame and ride dinosaurs! (which I guess is kind of a knock off of Mario and Yoshi now that I think about it) Oh well, the game is incredibly fun and entertaining.
#10
Release Date: 1987
I am not a sports game player. But I do like me some Tecmo Bowl. Most people agree that TECMO SUPER BOWL is the better of the Tecmo Bowls on NES and with good reason. But I've always preferred the original. Four plays to run. That's it. I always played as the Chicago Bears. Walter Payton all the way. But the usual team of choice for those who want to rule this game is the San Fransisco 49ers. Either way you go this game is great. I just want to know which stadium in 1987 had huge advertisement banners for Ninja Gaiden and Rygar?
#9
Release Date: 1987
It's the only game of its kind on this list and one of few in this format. But of those boxing games in existence, Punch-Out!! is the best (whenever I say "the best" I mean that in my opinion only. Just so we're clear. Don't want to offend anyone). I remember playing it way back in the day and only being able to beat the first three fighters. Later, in high school, I got better. A lot better. I can tool every fighter in the game... except for Tyson. I beat Tyson using the fabled Game Genie once or twice but never without cheating. That man is a monster. Still, one of the most enjoyable games on the NES.
#8
Release Date: 1986
Shooters (not to be confused with First Person Shooter) have long been a staple video game genre. Some amazing shooters fill out the NES library like 1942, Gradius, Tiger Heli, Stinger, Silver Surfer, and many many more. The best of these, in my opinion, is LIFE FORCE. The second adventure of the starship Vic Viper, the hero of the Gradius video game series. Life Force simplified the weapons power-up system and varied the level layout. The graphics were upgraded too. The first Gradius set the bar and the pace for the future of shooter games. Life Force, the second game in the Gradius series, perfected it.
#7
Release Date: 1988
I am a serious Godzilla fan. This game was one of the first few games I ever owned for the NES. I saw it advertised in an early issue of Nintendo Power and my parents special ordered it for me. The first and greatest of all the Godzilla video games. It is a strategic action adventure game where you control Godzilla and Mothra, travel the solar system, and battling enemy kaiju. The Godzilla films belong to the Japanese movie studio TOHO. During Godzilla's movie heyday of the 1950's, 60's, and 70's Toho produced many other kaiju films and sci-fi action thrillers. This video game is like a fan's love note to that era of Toho. I love everything about this game... well almost.
#6
Release Date: 1988
Sandwiched between the two hardest game in the series, Mega Man II was the first Mega Man I ever beat and a great example of what the series has to offer. It's super fun with a catchy soundtrack. I know I should say more but what more need there be said? It's the best of the original six Mega Man games on NES. Of course true fans of the Mega Man series may disagree with me.
#5
Release Date: 1986
The best 2 player co-op video game on the NES. This game and Snow Brothers are remarkably similar and both incredibly fun. This game goes on for over 100 levels and for most of it the same midi tune plays over and over. It's simple. It's fun. And it is addictive. Here's the secret to beating the game. If you do it solo you get the bad ending. You must 2 player this game in order to get the true ending. Aww... Nintendo was promoting togetherness and socialization. So, if you decide to tackle one of the best games ever make sure you bring a friend.
#4
Release Date: 1989
The classic 2 player side-scrolling beat-um' up game. This game was hugely popular back in the day. Whether it was in the arcade or at home on the NES, this is one of the top games on everybody's lists. Epic multi-player action! This game was the closest thing we kids could get to experiencing the excitement of the TMNT cartoon for ourselves. As awesome as the first game was, this one blew the original out of the water! So much so that this game set the pattern for the next several years of sequels. Also, Ultra Games, was a label under Konami's ownership. After this game Konami started putting their name on it instead.
#3
Release Date: 1987
The action movies of the 80's were ruled by two names: Stallone and Schwarzenegger. The dude on the left is obviously Dutch from Predator. The guy on the right with the thick head of hair and red headband... Rambo. Let's throw in a H.R. Giger xenomorph to seal the deal. And behold! CONTRA! I loved this game as a kid and love it just as much today. A buddy and I when we were kids used to dress up in red and blue snowpants during the summer pretending we were player 1 and player 2 from Contra. I was never a master at this game though. That title belongs to my buddy, Chad. That guy beat the game once for each weapon available, playing with nothing but said weapon for the entire game. FYI, Laser is the most difficult.
Needless to say, this game holds an epic place in my memory.
Up up down down left right left right A B start select
#2
Release Date: 1987
One of my top two video game franchises of all time is the CASTLEVANIA series. Inspired by all things horror, especially the Hammer Horror films and a little character called Vampire Hunter D. The first Castlevania is the hardest of the original trilogy. The second is impossible unless you have a guide or a seasoned veteran coaching you. Castlevania III is one of the best NES games ever made. So why am I not talking about Castlevania III? So we're clear, I love Castlevania III and could sing its praises til the sun comes up. But where my heart truly lies regarding the NES trilogy is with Simon and his quest.
Simon's Quest was the first Castlevania I ever played, at a friend's house when I was in Kindergarten. It was the first Castlevania I ever owned, buckled down and defeated without cheating. I love the music track "Bloody Tears" which first debuted in the series with this game. It is also the first non-linear Castlevania in the series and the first to incorporate RPG game-playing elements. It has multiple endings depending on how fast you complete the game too. It is also the first game to spell "Belmont" correctly instead of "Belmondo."
Must be an assumed name...
I love this game.
Starring what's his name.
That was lame.
Isildur's Bane.
Okay I'm done.
#1
Release Date: 1989
If there was one game that I proudly claimed to own, both in the literal and figurative sense, it would be NINJA GAIDEN. My all-time favorite NES game. It helps that I love Ninjas. It also helps that this game was incredibly cinematic for its day and told an epic narrative worthy of a movie. I could play this game day in and day out.
Story time, kiddies...
For the longest time I had never beaten this game. I could cut a bloody swath from the beginning to the last level. But that last level, urrgg, that level was my bane. It ends in three boss battles back to back. Once you defeat the first boss you lose all your weapons and power-ups. And if you die, whether its a game over or not, you get sent all the way back to the beginning of the last level (which did I mention is the longest and hardest level in the game?). Luckily you don't have to repeat any bosses you may have defeated. But just getting any practice against the second and third bosses was a royal pain, maddening even. It wasn't until I was in college that I finally beat the damn game... with help. I played my way to the final bosses, tooled the first, and when I died at the second my buddy Ross (who is also very good at the game) played through the last level again for me and saving my sanity. Because of him I managed to defeat the other bosses and beat the game. That was 2002 or possibly 2003. In 2016 I finally beat it on my own without help. When I first played the game back in 1990 I never imagined it wouldn't be until 2016 that I'd finally beat it on my own.
If it had been easy it wouldn't have been worth it.
And there you have it! Hope you enjoyed the list!
What are your top NES games? Assuming you're old enough to have experienced the NES that is.
Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading!
