The one and only baby!
Written: Jun 30 '01 (Updated Oct 04 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A massive series of 800 games to find, trade, and collect!
Cons: No memory cards, ugly box design means games don't always work, limited colours.
The Bottom Line: The supreme old school game system!
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| StarSoldier1's Full Review: Nintendo NES |
Here it is! The king of 8-bit and the system that put life back into the once dead video game industry. The one and only Nintendo Entertainment System! This system alone has nearly a decade worth of history and to many it's still one of the greatest game systems of all time.
Nintendo (well known for their arcade hit Donkey Kong at that time) created their own video game system in 1983 called the Famicom, but this new system was only available in Japan... so far. The Nintendo President wanted to release the system to North America, but after the Great Video Game Market Crash in 1984, nobody wanted to sell video games here anymore.
If Nintendo wanted to sell their NES (short for Nintendo Entertainment System) in the North American markets they needed a plan to hide to fact that was just another video game system from retailers who got burned by Atari's mistakes. The NES was then designed to look like a common box like VCR (instead of the Top Loading Japanese version) and the gimmick accessory R.O.B. helped to fool nervous retailers into buying the product. Nintendo made a deal with famous toy maker Mattel to help release it in fall 1985 (complete with display units), and the rest they say is history.
The Video game industry is back and with a vengeance! If there's any downsides to the NES it's the lack of colours (only 16 colours on screen at a time) and it's box like design that wasn't always cartridge friendly, which means it could take several tries before you get a game to work (who can forget the constant blinking if a game didn't work, eh!?).
A lot of now famous game series like the Metal Gear, Zelda and Final Fantasy started right here on the good ol' NES and then moved on to next generation machines. Games like the Contra series, some say, are actually better on the NES than the newer game machines (yes, the NES game is still better than the PSone and PS2 Contras). There are also games on the NES you won't find anywhere else like The Guardian Legend, Bubble Bath Babes, and Life Force (The Life Force series is popular in Japan though, but sadly we never saw a sequel).
My personal Top 30 NES games
(man, this was a tough decision and many great games cannot make it in the top 30, but here are the ones that did anyway)
#1. GUARDIAN LEGEND (Borderbond/Irem/Compile, April 1989)
The Guardian Legend holds the top spot because it's a hybrid of a vertical shooting and Zelda-like adventure, all rolled up into one and that's a perfect mix in my opinion. From the makers of R Type and Blazing Lazers comes one of the most over looked games for the NES. You are a cool transforming Aerobot women who has to destroy an giant planet like hurling asteroid before it hits the earth. Build up your character's strength with tons of weapons and items to overpower your alien enemies. Very intense and very original!
2. SUPER MARIO BROS. 3 (Nintendo, 1990)
Everything possible is improved. Rescue all the kingdoms from a powerful spell caused by those rotten Koppa kids of Bowser. It's even a great two player game with a original Mario Bros.-like Battle game included. If you own a NES then you have to own the challenging Super Mario Bros. 3!
3. ZELDA (Nintendo 1985-1988)
This original Zelda game will challenge you for hours on end in either Adventure or Action RPG!
4. WARIO'S WOODS (Nintendo, 1994)
Nintendo saved one of the best for last. This is a awesome platform/puzzle game starring the unlikey hero Toad. Lots of modes with additive gameplay. Kinda plays like Tetris Attack, but better!
5. METROID (Nintendo, 1987)
http://www.epinions.com/content_82650041988
This is a awesome action gaming experience that stars Samus Aran, an lone bounty hunter on a mission to destroy the life sucking Metroids of planet Zebeth! One cool thing about Metroid is the ability to see slightly different endings depending on your performance.
6. CASTLEVANIA III (Komami, 1990)
Plays a lot like the original Castlevania, but features 4different playable characters (including Alucard, Dracula's own son from CastleVania Symphony of the Night) and 17 levels to explore. You are Trevor Belmont, the only person with enough power to kill the new terror over a once peaceful land but what price is he willing to pay to free Europe from Dracula's hold? C3 is a great 3 meg game with a lot of choices in the gameplay department.
7. BIONIC COMMANDO (Capcom, November 1989)
http://www.epinions.com/content_83106303620
Kill Hilter and use a cool, new bionic arm behind enemy lines. Very unique because you can't jump in this action/shooter platformer, as Rad Spencer you HAVE to use the bionic arm to get where your going in the game. This game has a awesome ending. A must play for any NES fan!
8. MEGA MAN II (Capcom, 1989)
This heavily delayed 2meg sequel to the original Mega Man game, features the only major chances to the original series by taking out the point system and adding different difficulties. It's was so good that Capcom decided that all Mega Man games would emulate the 8robot rule from there on. My favourite of the six games because it improved on the original so greatly.
9. KIRBY'S ADVENTURE (Nintendo/Hal, 1992)
The first and last 6 meg game for the Nintendo is this awesome looking Kirby title. This is the first time we actually see the Kirby series in colour and it plays well too. It's a little too easy but it's still fairly huge and fun to play with tons of mini games to master. Another must for the NES.
10. LIFE FORCE (Konami, 1988)
This plays kind a like Konami's other hit shooter, Gradius, but this version has better graphics and more gameplay. Journey though 6 different levels has you try to destroy the Salamander end boss in both vertical and side scrolling stages. This is not the real Gradius II as some people may think because we never saw the true sequel released over here. If you like shooters than Life Force is a must!
(10-30 here, I had to do it!)
11. TETRIS (TENGEN)
Some of the older black Tengen Tetris games are still around but not too many I'm afraid, try and get it anyways (try Ebay or something) because the Tengen Tetris is far better than the Nintendo Tetris on NES thanks to its excellent two player games and awesome background music.
12. SUPER MARIO BROS.
We've all played this awesome platform game to death back in the 80's. Still a really fun game though that changed how we play video games today. Help Mario or Luigi rescue the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom from the King of the Koopas: Bowser.
13. DRAGON WARRIOR IV
Play several different stories in one huge 4meg RPGgame like a wanna be shop owner to a tomboy Princess. There is even a Casino in the game believe it or not? That graphics still look the same as Dragon Warrior one and that awful music will drive you nuts but you're still looking at the ultimate true RPG for the NES. This RPG is very unique.
14. BLASTER MASTER
Here's a original and action packed game with good graphics, great music and challenging gameplay. Jason unwittingly discovers an underground universe of monsters and dangers after chasing his frog down a deep hole, fortunately for you, Jason also finds a killer doom buggy called Sopia. Warning! This game is very hard!
15. MEGA MAN
http://www.epinions.com/content_70312431236
Here is another must own game, the original Mega Man. This game has features only 6 selectable enemy stages and a actual point system too. Defeat the 6 enemy guardians and steal there weapons to confront the evil Dr. Wily in the final showdown. Easily the toughest Mega Man game with no passwords or Energy Tanks either to help you out. A great challenging action game with nice cartoony graphics.
16. FINAL FANTASY
This is a very addictive RPG if you can get into it. In the you help 4 warriors save the land from the evil known as Chaos. The graphics just suck period and the characters you pick at the beginning have no story but it would be foolish to pass this huge game up despite some minor problems. I know I'm gonna get in trouble for this but I think this is better than Final Fantasy II on SNES.
17. RYGAR
This great action/RPG comes loaded with good graphics and a challenging quest. Help a brave warrior with powerful spiked shield defeat a mysterious shadow enemy. Rygar is a very underrated game overall.
18. SUPER MARIO BROS. 2 Mario Madness!
This is a impressive looking and sounding sequel with 4 different characters to choose from. The game is a little on the short side with only 7 worlds and limited secrets but it's still a lot of fun and has a fairly cool looking ending.
19. MIKE TYSON'S PUNCH OUT!!
A very fun and challenging boxing game with 15 stages including a fight with the near impossible Mike Tyson. The graphics look absolutely horrible when compared to the original arcade or the Super Nintendo game mainly because Little Mac looks just too small.
20. BONK'S ADVENTURE
Almost like the acclaimed Turbografx-16 version even in terms of graphics! The game is still too easy with only 5worlds but it was a lot of fun nonetheless. Good luck finding this game around in any of the ol' discount bins. This is a must own for any die hard NES fan.
21. RIVER CITY RANSOM
The cult and very underrated Final Fight/Double Dragon-like game with the option to buy items and food in shops to build your character stats. In the game you help Alex and Ryan save their girlfriend from a rival school gang in this exciting fighting title.
22. SUPER C
This is the long awaited Contra sequel by Konami features all new levels and new weapons as well the old favorites like the Spread weapon and the Laser guns. Always a excellent two player game as well!
23. MEGA MAN III
Dr. Wily and Dr. Light manage to patch things up but there are still 8 new robots that are rampaging the city. Plus Mega Man's brother Pnoto Man seems to be on the side of the evil new robots. Mega Man now has a new Dog friend named Rush to help him on his new mission plus Mega Man can even do a quick slide to avoid or escape enemies easier. Quite challenging and fairly long for an Mega Man game.
24. SIMON'S QUEST
This is a short but a pretty addictive mission for Dracula's 5 missing body parts to end Simon Belmont's curse. The game is very non linear and has three different endings too.
25. DRAGON WARRIOR III
The prequel to the original Dragon Warriors that was recently released on the Gameboy Color. This story is about the legendary Erdrick and the three warriors of his choosing. Although it's hardly unique it's still a cool game because of all the different classes of characters.
26. CRYSTAILS
This is a fast and fairly difficult Action/RPG with some really nice graphics and music. You better get this game either complete or with a strategy guide.
27. CONTRA
The original Contra is still a good and challenging shoot em up with 8 action packed levels of robots, snipers, and aliens. Remember the Komani code?
28. GOONIES II
The original Goonies for NES was only released in Japan and the arcades but good thing for us is that we got the sequel. This game is a huge adventure with a lot of action and some puzzle to solve for the 6 missing goonies and an captive mermaid.
29. CASTLEVANIA
Just lik ta arcade! With all 6 challenging levels included. Simon Belmont uses his father's legendary whip to rid the world of the evil Count Dracula. The later levels are especially difficult but not too impossible.
30. MILON'S SECRET CASTLE
This is a tough action platformer starring a young wizard, but its also very addictive too. MSC is for experts only!
Bottomline: The NES may be dead but it's not buried quite yet. Many still love the NES and the revolution in gaming that changed the way we look and play at video games, plus those games are now getting harder to find now of days and some of them may be worth a pretty penny in the future. I still like this system because most of the games are under 5 bucks and they still mostly play great. It is great for beginners or experts alike. Let's face it, the NES has it all! It's harder to find one in mint shape than it was a few years ago so if you find one in good shape you better pick it before it is too late.
Nes overall rating: 90/100
Years it was available: October 1985 - 1994
http://www.videogames101.com
StarSoldier1 2003
(Ryan Genno)
Recommended:
Yes
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StarSoldier1
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Member: Ryan Genno
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