NINTENDO - Confessions of a 8-bit Believer.
Written: Dec 20 '00 (Updated Dec 23 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: essential!
Cons: I don't have one... POUT!
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| jennifernorth's Full Review: Nintendo NES |
Many decent gaming systems came out before and after NES (the 8 bit version, kid, don't give me any of that "super" Nintendo attitude!) such as Atari, Intellivision, Sega Genesis, and even N64 had its moments. But none have been able to replicate the absolute proliferation of the 16-bit Nintendo Entertainment System. Now my friends let me impart upon you some of the fabulous lore that is NES.
The Controls:
A simple yet brilliant design. One directional pad, two buttons (B & A), Select and Start for administration purposes. You could upgrade to the controller with the slidey directional guidance called the NES "MAX", the NES "Advantage" which was a arcade-style joystick and gave you the option to manipulate the pulse of good old B & A. There was also an absurd headset that you could yell "FIRE" into for certain games. For my money the coolest NES accessory was the Family Fitness Fun pad which was 8 giant NES buttons on a pad that laid on your floor and you could play Olympic-style games with. This accessory also spawned a great dance craze where you run in place and move your feet like half an inch off the ground with each step. And then there was the creme de le creme: the Power Glove! This contraption reminded me of Freddie Krueger. It supposedly sensed how you were moving your arms and would move your action figure in accordance, it seemed to add an unruly and violent element to NES that I did not appreciate.
Sometimes I feel like that person on Earth who will understand the Playstation controls, I am constantly going back a screen instead of clicking forward. "What does the Circle do?" "what does the Square do?" What am I, on Hollywood Squares? I just want to shoot things! Bite me, Sony!
The Games:
While I enjoy the occasional fighting/shoot'em up game I have an immense respect for the gaming system that never seemed to have any bloody or violent games. In games like Metroid of Bayou Billy you fight against futuristic animals or even alligators and instead of ripping out their spine and flossing with it they would just fall over, blink and fade away.
But the best games in my opinion were the goofy, cartoonish ones that made no sense. Bubble Bobble, Back to the Future, and Super Mario Brothers (all 3 releases are brilliant). Where your enemies were bees, owls, and phantom ice skaters. And your weapons were bubbles, plants, and bowling balls.
The games varied from fantasy, movie/tv/comic book spin-off's, cartoons, strategy, role-playing, sports, game shows, Biblical, action/adventure, etc. And being able to conquer games was a magnificent feat. I lived in Texas when NES was at its heyday and I remembering wishing it wouldn't be so weird for me to join the Tetris tournament my video store was hosting (11 & under, be damned!)
cover your eyes children:
I have heard rumors of Adult NES games and while I have yet to see any evidence I would be very interested in seeing 16-bit porno games! I played Strip Blackjack on an Apple IIc once but it just made me feel weird.
ok! you can read now!
The Culture:
NES launched such powerful careers of the Mario Brothers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (making household names of Italian renaissance painters) and gave a shot in the arm to the likes of Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Back to the Future, the Simpsons, . And came out at such a time that all those wonderful movies and tv shows from the early 90's (a paramount in American culture) have been immortalized forever in 16-bit NES vision. There were also cereal, books, clothing, fan clubs, etc. devoted to the cult of NES. And does anyone remember a little Fred Savage in a movie called LITTLE WIZARDS? Essentially a 90-minute commercial for NES that came out in the late 80's.
The Stability:
Unfortunately, due to the rather shabby workmanship of the Nintendo it is rather a chore finding a working gaming system with good controllers and properly functioning games. it's kind of funny they have not really changed in value despite the fact they are not manufactured anymore but not a very pervasive collectors item. I recall the whole system was about $100 and each game was about $15-20 and this is still about how much it costs if you go by e-bay standards. But if you happen to see an old NES with Duckhunt still inside at your local thrift shop for a few bucks, take it from me and press your luck. It's well worth it. And this is Jennifer North, signing off.
Recommended:
Yes
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jennifernorth
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