Memories have their own habit of catching up and time-machining you back into the hay days, and same was the case for us when we sat down to list out the best NES games we have played till date. The legendary Nintendo console which has provided millions of hours of joyful gaming to people from around the world is now more than 30 years old, and those who have owned it will still recount memories of the glory days. True, the console was an incredible piece of technology, but it was the subsequent arrival of magnificent titles which gave the Nintendo Entertainment System its true identity. One after the other, incredible gaming experiences kept invading the markets, leaving us with no choice but to break our piggy banks. Today, we’ll be listing out some of the finest games which the console had to offer, but in no particular order of preference. Here you go with the list.
1 – Duck Hunt
No one who’s ever played this game will forget the utterly annoying image of the dog cunningly laughing at your incompetence when you failed a round. But thankfully, that wasn’t the only memorable thing from this game; there were plenty other, including its stellar shooting-based gameplay. Using the NES’ Zapper gun, you are asked to shoot birds as they appear on the screen one or two at a time. Points are won upon the shooting of each one of them, and once the requirements of the round are met, you move on to the next one. Back in the day, this was as close as to an FPS game as it could get.
2 – Mega Man 2
This highest selling in the Mega Man series was released back in 1988, with its tremendously enjoyable platforming gameplay. This second entry to the original series was drastically different from its predecessor in terms of graphics as well as gameplay. A password system was one of the most useful among all of its new additions. Mega Man 2’s diverse weapons were useful in different situations, and that gave the game some great versatility. Moreover, this title contains incredible music as well.
3 – Super Mario Bros.
The plumber from Donkey Kong finally got his first game, and boy was a great one. The legacy of Super Mario Bros. is explained by the fact that it is still ported to newer Nintendo systems, even after more than 25 years of its initial release. This wonderful platformer designed by the legend himself, Shigeru Miyamoto, played a huge role in popularizing the side-scrolling genre. It asked for extreme skills in its latter levels, and was punishing towards those who didn’t have them. Diving underwater, moving through pipes, jumping on goombas and turtles, all brought in the kind of innovativeness that signifies something iconic.
4 – Duck Tales
Disney’s Duck Tales series couldn’t have asked for a better video game adaptation than this one. Released in 1989, this spectacular title developed by Capcom managed to grab the fancy of millions of gamers from around the world thanks to its utterly enjoyable gameplay. It tells the story of Scrooge McDuck traveling to various locations around the world with an aim of collecting treasures and beating rival Flintheart Glomgold to become the world’s richest duck. Its bold visuals and intuitive controls remain unforgettable, and so does its clever non-linear gameplay.
5 – The Legend of Zelda
Of course, we couldn’t have missed this one. The first ever entry to the ace series, this game redefined the action-adventure genre and re-established it for other titles to take inspiration from. The Legend of Zelda combines elements from the said genre with RPG mechanics, and presents you with an incredible blend of addictive gameplay.
6 – Contra
Shooting countless enemies, collecting power ups, saving your mates, killing gigantic bosses and a lot more defines the Contra experience for those who’ve played and loved it. Developed by Konami for arcades, and then for the NES, this run and gun game contains ten magnificent areas filled with newer and newer challenges. And the finest part is that Contra is a co-op game filled with unforgettable hours of two-player experiences.
7 – Super Mario Bros. 3
Possibly the finest NES game ever made, Super Mario Bros. 3 is a stroke of pure genius. It’s the game that has enriched the childhoods of many, and for them, cherished memories of it are impossible to discard. Also a side-scroller, it gave the series several new innovative features. Eight worlds containing four levels each, greeted you with their collective brilliance, and not one of them lacks the polish, the visual dazzle, the crafty musical prowess and the sheer addictive gameplay pleasure which make this game such an icon.
8 – Metroid
It’s a hard task to fit in just eight games in a list which can be populated by so many awesome games. We eliminated many others to decide upon Metroid being our last pick. Released way back in 1986, it was something overly different from what was being witnessed at that time. It’s unique overall style, its focus on exploration, its incorporation of power-ups, its mind-boggling story and many more such elements gave Metroid the legacy it enjoys today. Moreover, its open-ended world and its gorgeous graphics too deserve accolades. Having sold more than 2.73 million units, Metroid was an immense success.
Conclusion:
There you go with our compilation of best NES games. We know we’ve missed out on quite a few biggies, but after much deliberation, we have agreed upon these eight titles to be the finest in our opinion. Tell us which ones you think should have deserved a spot in the list.