Top 10 Nintendo NES Games
The NES has a ton of classic games, and this list only covers my top 10 favorites, and in no particular order.
Whether or not you agree with this list is a different story! If there is a game you think should have made this list, let me know in the comments.
Megaman II
The second game in the popular series from Capcom, Megaman II had the coolest robots (Airman, Metalman and Quickman… later games had stranger robots like Pharoahman, Dustman and Topman) and the best music in the series (Bubbleman, Woodman and Dr. Wily stages). Megaman didn’t have Rush or the chargeable buster, but the simple gameplay made it worth it.
Contra
Contra’s fast-paced shoot-em-up gameplay makes it addictive. While Konami can have some hit and miss NES games, Contra was one of their better attempts. Best played with a friend, and of course don’t forget the code for 30 lives (which you can also use in Life Force)!
Final Fantasy
The one that started it all, Final Fantasy for the NES is the most popular RPG on the console. The elaborate story, fantastic turn-based fighting and the massive world to explore makes this game a timeless classic.
Castlevania
What I love about Castlevania is it takes a classic story and creates an entire world and drops you right in the middle. It took gaming on the NES into the gothic horror genre, and it did it well. Spawned two NES sequels along with a ton of other games for other consoles.
Startropics
One of the more original ideas for an RPG to come along on the NES. The main character is just a modern day kid, and the weapon of choice is a yo-yo. You’re out to rescue your uncle who has been abducted from his research lab on C-Island. The game is quite elaborate and the story well thought out, and will keep you busy for quite a long time.
Legend of Zelda
This game, along with Super Mario Bros., made the NES the gaming powerhouse it was in the 80s. The idea of exploring a land, finding hidden secrets and slashing through underground labyrinths captured the imagination of almost everyone, even if they weren’t into gaming.
Tecmo Super Bowl
There weren’t a lot of top-notch sports games for the NES, but thesequel to Tecmo Bowl has everything a great sports game has: simple controls, team licenses (to use real team and player names), and a full season mode with stats. Playing this game is fun by yourself but playing against your friend would keep you in the basement for hours huddled around the NES.
Battletoads
Kind of a more bad-ass TMNT (and with better graphics and gameplay), Battletoads busted onto the NES late in it’s run, and breathed a bit more life into it. Games like this proved that, despite its age and the fact that it couldn’t produce the fancy graphics and sounds of the new 16-bit consoles, when it came to gameplay, the ol’ NES could still more than hold its own.
Ninja Gaiden II
The Ninja Gaiden series for the NES was really unique. While it’s fast-paced hack and slash gameplay made it really fun and challenging to play, the cinema cut-scenes between levels that moved the story along really made it special. Ninja Gaiden II had the best story and controls out of the three.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Nintendo proved yet again the only thing that makes a game successful is making it easy to pick up and hard to put down, and this time they really pulled out all the stops. With 8 worlds, tons of levels, lots of secrets to find, awesome new power-up items that allowed you to fly or even throw hammers, you could play this game over and over without getting tired of it.