Neomega.net Article Archive Pt. 3

Neomega’s Favorite NES Games – Staff Picks

Reflection - This feature was the last one we pulled off before the site closed.  I used the same vote tallying method I used for the greatest games feature we did earlier.  Before we dive into the overall list, though, here’s what each staffer picked as their faves.  As for me, my own NES list has shifted around quite a bit since making this feature.  For one, Bionic Commando isn’t even on it!  For shame!  I also have Kirby’s Adventure over Legend of Zelda, which I’ve flip-flopped around since then.  Mega Man 3 and Mario 3 are still accurate in their placement, though.  And Contra down in the bottom 3?  Yikes!

DacaZ

1. Super Mario Bros.

Looking back after all these years, I thought it would be hard to characterize the magic that makes Super Mario Bros. the best game I played on the NES. But it really isn’t. SMB revels in its own simplistic and maddeningly addictive gameplay. You run, you jump, you squash enemies, only to get told the damn Princess was in another castle over and over again. And yet each and every time I died, I was always just a second away from hitting the reset button and having another go. It was mesmerizing, hypnotic, and oh so fun. I suppose it’s ironic that with all the games released on the NES, the very first cartridge, the cart that was bundled with the system, turned out to be the best game available for it, but that doesn’t take away from the amazing library that followed. As for the sequels, I never cared for Super Mario Bros. 2, and while the third was a great game, it never managed to capture the magic connection I shared with the first one.

2. Bionic Commando

While never as popular as Contra in most people’s eyes, for me Capcom’s Bionic Commando surpassed it as a run-n-gun title. True, it was a slower paced game, but it was surprisingly deep. Infiltrating enemy bases, decrypting their codes, getting secret messages back to your own HQ; this was all some incredibly cool stuff back in the day. But, of course, the real star of this game was the hook claw. With this clever little gadget, you could grapple and swing your way from level to level and across gaping chasms. The novelty of that alone went a long way for me. Of course, I would fall in love with Bionic Commando all over again once it hit the Gameboy Color, but that never blotted out the fond memories I had playing this game on the NES back when it was first released.

3. Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse

The original Castlevania, which you’ll find further on down this list, was an amazing achievement. It blended the arcade qualities of the running, jumping and climbing games of the coin-op realm, while at the same time offering a satisfying and lengthy adventure perfectly fit for a home console game. But it wasn’t until Castlevania 3 came along that I really fell in love with the series. Sadly, I didn’t play this one immediately after its release, for a while Simon’s Quest had soured me on the Castlevania series, but when I did finally pick it up, I was thrilled that it eschewed the extra baggage that weighed down its predecessor and returned to the series’ original roots. It looks outstanding for an NES game and plays wonderfully. I still come back to it over and over again.

4. Contra

Contra was one of those games that really pissed me off in a good way. I wasn’t new to that sensation, as I experienced it many times on the Atari 2600, but it’s still always refreshing when it happens. It’s one of those games that enjoys killing you with extreme prejudice and yet manages to do it in a way that makes you want to jump right back in the saddle again. It was a very, very long time before I finally finished this game, mainly because I refused to use the Konami code. Not only did it offer some intense arcade-quality gameplay, but it really pulled some cool punches with the perspective changes. It was stuff that really blew me away back in the day and kept me coming back for more. It’s been a while since I’ve played the original Contra, but I may just have to dust if off again to see how rusty I’ve become.

5. Ultima Exodus

My favorite RPG series of all time didn’t fare very well when developers tried to port it from the PC to the consoles. Actually, that’s putting it mildly, as pretty much every console version of this revered series sucked long and hard. But Ultima Exodus on the NES actually managed to pull it off, and it did it in a very strange way. Actually, the third in the series, Exodus on the NES passed itself off pretty well as a stand-alone product, and while the core elements of the game remained intact, the game underwent an interesting, if not bizarre, transformation in terms of presentation. Gone were the very American-like tiles and in their place, super-deformed characters that made Exodus look like a cross breed of Ultima and Final Fantasy. I hated it at first, but after spending a few days with it, it really grew on me. It’ll never replace the original PC version in terms of greatness, but just the fact that it survived the port so well makes it one of my top five favorite NES games of all time.

6. Metroid

Twitch gameplay mixed with a satisfying adventure. What’s not to like?

7. Ghosts & Goblins

There was a time when I wanted to own a G&G coin-op more than anything. NES G&G wasn’t quite the same, but it was a damn good substitute until something better came along.

8. Ninja Gaiden

There was never a shortage of Ninja games, but when I was a kid, the controls in this baby really made it feel like I was donning the black robes of a lethal killer!

9. Megaman

There are definitely Megaman games that I’ve enjoyed more than the original, but I still have the strongest attachment to the Blue Bomber’s first title. And hey, how about that boxart!

10. Excitebike

This game was maddeningly addictive. Must get those jumps… just… right!

11. Blaster Master

An amazing game that almost defies pigeon holing. There was really nothing quite like it availble anywhere else.

12. Castlevania

The third game in the series got the nudge for better graphics and music, but I would be remiss to exclude the classic original on this list.

13. Legend of Zelda

This game consumed a large portion of my youth, even after I beat it the first time. Simply marvelous!

14. Donkey Kong Classics

When all is said and done, I probably liked the ColecoVision version better, but this one had Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. on one cart!

15. Joust

The ultimate multiplayer arcade classic, and a damn fine home port to boot!

andyrose

1. Megaman 2

The original Megaman games on the NES are widely celebrated as some of the most challenging titles of the time. The first one was fun, the third one was excellent, but the second was my favorite. It had my favorite cast of bosses (Metalman, Airman, Heatman, Flashman, etc.), my favorite Capcom synth music, and one of the most memorable endings of all time.

2. Super Mario Bros.

When this game came out, I was a very young lad of 5. I still find it to be one of the most challenging games I’ve ever played, especially near the later levels. I was so obsessed with this game as a kid, I’d draw Mario kicking Bowser’s ass during school. Good times.

3. Bubble Bobble

Contra was a little more fun 2 players compared to Bubble Bobble, but I played Bubble Bobble a lot more. I loved the way the levels were laid out, the gameplay was pretty unique, and it had some of the trippiest music on the NES. I’d like to play it again someday with some of those friends from my childhood.  We had a lot of fun with it.

4. Super Mario Bros. 3

The first time I saw this game was in the movie “The Wizard” (Fred Savage? Remember?).  It was featured as the championship game at the end. All I can remember thinking when I saw it was “Whoa…….that is the coolest game I have ever seen.”. It had a ton of improvements over the first 2 Mario games, some awesome airship battles, and a lot of cool secrets to boot. I remember the night a friend and I beat it, that was one of the coolest moments ever.

5. Bionic Commando

I have my older cousins to thank for turning me on to this game, around 12 years ago. Again, Capcom music on the NES couldn’t be beat, it was just catchy as hell. The main character couldn’t jump, but he sure as heckfire knew how to get around with that crazy metal arm of his. The only way I could beat this game was to spend a few hours leveling up my lifebar at the beginning, as it’s pretty damned tough.

6. Rygar

This is one of the weirdest games of all time, but the cool world and music make it a lot of fun.

7. Megaman 3

My favorite Megaman after 2, this game is worth playing for Gemini Man’s stage alone.

8. Ninja Gaiden

When you were young, you wanted to be a ninja. Admit it.

9. Double Dragon 2

The twirling roundhouse kick was kinda difficult to pull off, but the sound it made kicked ass. The helicopter fight rocked as well.

10. Double Dribble

The announcer sounded like he was saying “RUBBLE RIBBAL”, but it didn’t matter. This was a playable basketball game, and at the time, it was the only one out there.

11. Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest

Believe it or not, this was my favorite Castlevania.

12. Contra

I probably should have ranked this higher, but I didn’t own it as a youngster, I had to wait until a few years ago. This is my favorite 2 player NES game.

13. Castlevania

Man, that Dracula fight at the end was great.

14. Super Mario Bros. 2

The weirdest Mario game on the NES, but in a good way.

15. Snake, Rattle, and Roll

Something about this game made me keep playing it. It was hard as hell.

16. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Speaking of difficulty, TMNT was one of those games that made you throw your controller. But it was a fun game, and it did have THE TURTLES IN IT.

17. Star Voyager

The first game I remember giving me “Nintendo fingers”. Back in the day, it was a cool, immersive space game.

18. Darkman

I can’t say I was a big fan of the movies, but the game was really fun.

19. Battletoads

Everyone should have this one on their list, I’m still waiting for the next gen version. I guess huge toads have dropped off the popular mainstream radar.

20. Double Dragon

The 2 player mode was pretty fun when this first came out, and the arcade goodness of the single player has been well documented.

Nash

1. Ninja Gaiden 2: The Dark Sword of Chaos

This game took a near-flawless game and made it better. Everything that made the first Ninja Gaiden such an awesome game has been left intact and/or improved upon — longer and better designed levels, upgraded graphics, cooler powerups (ninja mirage!), smooth responsive gameplay…and everything that kept the first game from perfection was changed for the better. Action platforming doesn’t get better than Ninja Gaiden 2, even by today’s standards.

2. Megaman 2

All I gotta say is “Megaman with hair!” Seriously though, everything about Megaman 2 just screams classic. Who could forget the battle with the huge dragon, freezing lasers in Quickman’s level, and that music — anyone who’s ever played this game probably still has that title screen music in their head. Plus, if you ask any gamer to name off some Megaman bosses, I’m willing to bet the majority of them will be from Megaman 2. Yes, this game is that great.

3. Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse

If I had to choose a favorite video game series, it would have to be Castlevania. There’s just something great about navigating a castle, battling the undead (with classic monsters such as Frankenstein’s monster, Medusa, mummies, etc.), and facing the Count himself in the final showdown. Of the three games for the system, Castlevania 3 pulls it off best with huge levels, branching paths, excellent graphics, and multiple characters (first appearance of Alucard!).

4. Ninja Gaiden

Ninja Gaiden was one of those games that was just executed perfectly. From the feel of Ryu’s jumps to the level design to the intergration of the cutscenes (first game ever to have cutscenes, too!), everything about it just felt right. In fact, it feels so right that it can take you to the zone, bringing you to that level of gaming where you and the game are one, where the game flows so well that it’s almost mesmerizing.

5. Super Mario Bros. 3

Remember that commercial where the whole world was united, chanting Mario’s name?  They probably just got through playing Mario 3 for the first time.

6. Metroid

A game so great that Castlevania had to borrow from it.

7. Legend of Zelda

The first of its kind and still one of the best. Zelda introduced us to the world of Hyrule and to this day, we’re still lost in it.

8. Contra

One of gaming’s best two-player games ever.

9. Batman

The best comic book video game ever. Awesome graphics, great gameplay, very challenging, and crazy boss fights. It kept the feel of both the comic book and the movie.

10. Double Dragon 2

It’s one of the best beat ‘em ups of all time, and certainly one of the most enjoyable two-player experience. The last boss fight was awesome and very cinematic, especially if you have both brothers layin’ the smackdown.

11. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game

Turtles 2 was probably the most wanted game for its time. It was sold out and rented out everywhere. I remember having to wait 3 weeks before I saw it in stores again. The wait was worth it, though, since it’s one of the most impressive arcade-to-home translations, and an awesome two-player game.

12. River City Ransom

Who doesn’t like this game? Crazy people, that’s who. Memorable characters (and character design) and great gameplay make RCR an instant NES classic.

13. Bubble Bobble

I never understood the characters or the game’s universe. No matter, it was tons of fun, especially with a buddy.

14. Mike Tyson’s Punchout

Kicking Mike Tyson’s ass! What could be more fun? How many of you can take Iron Mike out without getting hit?

15. Guardian Legend

Overhead action shooting + vertical-scrolling shmup? I’m definitely there. The game’s mood was also great — playing the game gave me a very lonely feel.

16. Jackal

Y’know, I still wanna see a sequel to Jackal. Rescuing hostages and blowing things up with a jeep is such a cool idea. It’s like the jeep version of Choplifter.

17. Kid Icarus

Great game. Another first-of-its-kind, too (vertical-scrolling).

18. Blaster Master

I loved the blend of on-foot and in-vehicle gameplay of this game. The boss fights were great. Anyone remember the pause-unpause trick during the boss fights?

19. Ducktales

This was the first game that made me believe I was playing a cartoon. The graphics were excellent and the gameplay was spot on. It may be a little easy, but it’s still awesome.

20. Guerilla War

The way some of those levels played, this game should have been called “Blitzkrieg.” Another great two-player game on the NES.

bbobb

1. Mega Man 2

The Mega Man series is easily the longest running game series of all time. Spanning almost every console ever released since the NES, it holds a special place in most gamer’s hearts. And while the games are still great, MM2 still stands as the triumph of the series, with a perfect gameplay balance and memorable bosses and stages.

2. Legend of Zelda

To this day this game remains Shigeru Miyamoto’s greatest triumph. This game basically invented the console adventure game format. It’s a brilliant game that to this day is still fun to sit down and play. And who can forget the first time they beat the game, and found out there was a whole other quest waiting for them?

3. Contra

Everybody say it with me… up up down down left right left right b a start. The classic Konami code originated with this game. It was an addictively fun side scroller with amazingly cool bosses and really cool pseudo 3d stages (why doesn’t Konami do those again?). A great game to sit down and play with your buddies.

4. Super Mario Bros. 3

After a long wait between Mario 2 and Mario 3, Nintendo gave all its fans the Super Mario game that they had been waiting for. Introducing many new things to the series, including non linear stage progression, all new suits for Mario (gotta love the frog suits), and the return of Bowser (and children this time). In the late years of the NES, this was the must own game.

5. Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse

After a very different second game, Konami brought the Castlevania series back to its side scrolling roots, but not without a few changes. Castlevania III featured some of the best graphics to ever grace the NES, and introduced two new things to the series: branching paths and helper characters (including the introduction of a certain fan favorite blood sucker known as Alucard). This game is easily one of the best of the Castlevania series.

6. Ninja Gaiden 2

This game suceeded in striking the perfect balance between fun gameplay and challenge, by toning down the difficulty a bit from the last game. And who can forget the incredibly cool cinematic cut scenes?

7. Double Dragon II 

Double Dragon was an incredible series back in the day, and DDII is still the best of the bunch. With much less glitchy graphics then the first, and without the disgustingly hard challenge of the third, DDII was the best of the best.

8. River City Ransom 

The other great beat em up of the NES.

9. Lifeforce

The best shooter on the NES, bar none. Thought by many in the day as a sequel to Gradius, it was actually the second game in Konami’s other series, Salamander. To this day, Lifeforce is still one of Konami’s greatest shooters ever.

10. Bionic Commando

In concept it doesn’t work… how much fun does it sound like it would be to play a game where the main character can’t jump at all?  He can only hook on to things and swing!  But in execution, it was amazing. A truly addictive game (that still stands as the first game I ever actually beat).

11. Mike Tyson’s Punchout!!

Super Punchout was fun and all, but the original still stands as the best. In all these years since, there has yet to be a boxing game released that is as fine as this game.

12. Little Nemo the Dream Master

Capcom consistently created gems back in the NES days, and Little Nemo was one of the best. Guiding Nemo through the Dream World in an attempt to save the Princess brings a smile to my face to this day.

13. Metal Gear

The original game kicked off a series that is now back in force. Still a fun game to play today, how can you not love a game where guards announce to the world when they fall asleep?

14. Strider

Leave it to Capcom to take an already succesful arcade game… and create a home port that is nothing like the arcade game itself, but in fact was even better. Questing around the world in an attempt to stop an evil menace was never so much fun.

15. Blaster Master

Traveling through the underground, trying to save your radioactive pet frog…Definitely a bizarre concept for a game, but the incredibly cool combination of sidescrolling and isometric gameplay made this game one of the greats.

16. Metroid

While it has since been overshadowed by its sequels, the original Metroid still stands as an incredbily fun and innovative game for its time. Never before had there been an action game with such open exploration.

17. Milon’s Secret Castle

One of my fondest memories of childhood is faking being sick for three days so I could stay home and play Milon. A very fun, albeit incredibly hard, game.

18. Kid Icarus

Who can forget the quest to stop the evil Medusa?  Another gem from Nintendo… now, how about a sequel already?

19. Rygar

Another game that took a popular arcade game and created a home game that was nothing like it. It was a hard game, but well worth the effort.

20. Shadowgate 

This game was many NES gamer’s first taste of the PC style adventure game. A very cool dark story, and some mindbending puzzles made this a game to remember.

Wildcat

1. Mega Man 3

I knew this game inside out, backwards and upside down. Still do. With incredible music, control, graphics, boss design and level design, this title really pushed the NES to its limits. Other than a few other titles, I spent the most time on my NES with this game, and I had just that for 10 years, so that says a lot. One of my most treasured games ever.

2. Super Mario Bros. 3

This is one game I played so much of I got tired of it. I knew it too well. But I still must give it the props it deserves – It took the original Super Mario Bros. precise and improved upon it tenfold.  Better powers, more enemies, fantastic stage design…nothing really wrong here. And Hammer Bros. suits are godly.

3. Kirby’s Adventure

I had played Kirby’s Dream Land, but it didn’t really click with me. But I decided to give the pink blob another chance, and I am glad I did. This game is really fun, with fantastic graphics, power use, controls and music. The game is pretty easy, but finding all the hidden switches to unlock everything was a pretty good challenge. I’ll always remember the last stage’s entrance to the switch…probably one of the best hidden rooms ever.

4. Legend of Zelda

I’ve owned this game twice. Both times I’ve lost it somehow. And it sucks that I’ve lost it twice, because this pioneered a new genre all on its own. Link’s first quest is engraved in my mind, and I have only forgot the Lost Woods sequence. There is so many hidden caves in the game, let me tell you. Fantastic title.

5. Mega Man 2

I just got this a few months ago, but I was really impressed with it. I love the boss design, and the challenge was very high. The graphics are amazing for its age as well, and it controls like a dream. I must also say that the last stage in Wily’s castle is one of the best setups to a boss fight ever.

6. Super Mario Bros.

The game that really sunk me into gaming.

7. Power Blade

I wish I had this – the boomerangs were really awesome.

8. Star Tropics

I like this game a lot, mainly for its music and use of yoyos.

9. Final Fantasy

I ALMOST BEAT THIS GAME UNTIL THE CARTRIDGE WAS ERASED!!!! Still a great game though.

10. Monopoly

Yes, I really like this version of Monopoly.

11. Mega Man 5

Not as good as 2 or 3, but pretty solid. Gyro Man owns.

12. Excitebike

Don’t overdo your turbo! Plus the track editor was before its time.

13. Balloon Fight

Thank you Nintendo for putting this in Animal Crossing. Excellent arcade action.

14. Metroid

Although I can’t really get into it now, I have fond memories of exploring Zebes as a kid.

15. Super Mario Bros. 2

Go Luigi go! Pull those turnips!

16. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game

Arguably the best example of 2 player action on the NES.

17. California Games

I love the Flying Disc music and the Skateboard stage. Footbag is fun too.

18. Contra

The other great 2 player experience on NES, one challenging game.

19. RC Pro AM

Collect those missiles! Spell out Nintendo! Watch out for mini storms!

20. Super Dodgeball

I only played it once, but I played it for 6 hours. If I owned it, it’d probably be higher.

Regus

11. Super Mario Bros.

One of the most revolutionary games ever made.

2. Mike Tyson’s Punch Out

Seriously, have they made a better boxing game yet?

3. Metal Gear

Stealth over brute force, what a novel concept.

4. Guerrilla War

How can you possibly not like a game that lets you play as Fidel Castro?

5. Maniac Mansion

This is one hell of a great game. Multiple endings, likable characters, great storyline, and one of the best opening theme songs ever.

6. Shadowgate

Think you have what it takes to make it out of castle Shadowgate alive? Well, I don’t think you do because this game is pretty tough.

7. Ducktales

This game is most definitely worthy to bear the name of great animated series. There’s something about Scrooge McDuck using his cane as a pogo stick to kill gorillas that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

8. Little Nemo: The Dream Master

This game thought me a valuable life lesson: never accept candy from strangers, or else they might skin you alive and wear your skin as a suit.

9. Kirby’s Adventure

You’d never except a game about a pink marshmellow would be so good, but here we are.

10. Balloon Fight

If it wasn’t for Animal Crossing I would’ve never of played this game, but I’ll be damned, this is one hell of a great game. The main game is fun, but I’m more of a balloon trip kind of guy.

11. Skate of Die

Before Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, this was the best skateboarding game ever made.

12. Blaster Master

If it wasn’t for the weak indoor missions, this game would be so much higher on my list, but the tank portions of the game are fantastic.

13. Rescue: The Embassy Mission

Chances are you’ve never even heard of this, but I suggest you go out and find this little gem. It’s all about terrorists taking over an embassy, and you storming the joint and blowing away some commies….or whatever they are. Did I mention they bleed when you shoot them?

14. Solstice

My god this game is difficult. Seriously. I love this game and all, but it owns me for free.

15. Goonies II

One of the only movie based games on the system that doesn’t completely suck ass.

16. River City Ransom

“BARF!”

17. Mega Man 2

This game has one of the coolest title screens of all time.

18. Jackal

Grenades + Jeeps = Fun!

19. Gremlins 2

Guess what? Despite what you might think, this game doesn’t suck! Yeah, I know, it’s a difficult concept to grasp, but it’s true.

20. NARC

Sure the NES port is nowhere near as good as the arcade original, but arresting drug dealing scum bags is a good time, no matter how you slice it.

Yoshi

1. Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest took the same great action found in its predecessor and added non-linear adventuring as well. Collecting Dracula’s body parts in order to bring him back only to have to fight him never seemed like the best plan in the world, althouh it did open the door for Simon’s Quest’s multiple endings. All of these elements paved the way for Symphony of the Night and the Game Boy Advance trilogy.

2. Life Force is my favorite shmup of them all. Though I feel it is not as technically sound as something like Pulstar or R-Type Delta, Konami’s pseudo-sequel to Gradius brought some unique ideas to the table. For instance, name another shooter that involves flying through the body of a dragon-esque enemy for the entire length of the game. Life Force also introduced the concept of cooperative play in the genre with the Lord British joining the Vic Viper for side-by-side blasting.

3. Contra is one of those rare games that defines a new genre. “Action” just didn’t cut it for the intense combat found in Konami’s classic. The only apt way to describe Contra’s gameplay was and is “Run ‘N’ Gun.” Having since lost its place at the top of this sub-genre to SNK’s Metal Slug series, Contra will always hold a special place in anyone’s collection and in the minds of 1980′s gamers.

4. Blaster Master is the lone game to make my top 5 that was developed and published by someone other than Konami. Sunsoft’s effort took us on a quest to find a boy’s frog, which happened to jump down a sewer. Combing on-foot and vehicle action, Blaster Master featured some of the most memorable boss encounters on the NES, including the infuriating crab that has me waking up in a cold sweat to this day.

5. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse is the pinnacle of action games on the NES. Taking Castlevania’s formula and adding to it multiple paths and characters created a combination that no other 8-bit game could touch. Trevor Belmont was joined by Sypha Belnades and Grant D’Nasty to traverse Dracula’s castle and to finally lay down the Count for good…or until the next sequel.

6. Castlevania started the single greatest series in all of gaming.

7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles held a much greater challenge than any of its sequels.

8. Ninja Gaiden II took Tecmo’s successes in its predecessor to all new levels.

9. Strider failed to live up to its arcade roots but still finds a place among the greatest NES games of them all with an action/adventure format.

10. Blades of Steel ruled the roost of hockey games until 1992, when Electronic Arts finally topped it with NHL Hockey.

11. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II is the best beat ‘em up on the NES, bar none.

12. Batman joins Blaster Master and Fester’s Quest as Sunsoft NES games that will lead to untimely baldness and/or heart attack.

13. Gradius is the game that revitalized the horizontal shmup after the Defender series was lost to the video crash of the early 1980s.

14. Double Dribble is still the only basketball game that can hold my attention for any length of time. Perhaps it is because there are no drug smoking, wife beating, raping NBA players in it.

15. Final Fantasy introduced me to the RPG genre way back in 1990. Unfortunately, the series has since lost its way.

16. Super C somehow lost its O-N-T-R-A from its arcade roots, but it still has the intense action.

17. Ninja Gaiden was the first great ninja game, beating out Sega’s original Shinobi by more than a little.

18. Duck Tales proved that licensed games didn’t have to be complete wastes of silicon and that greed is good.

19. Bomberman was the first version of the now hugely popular series to hit these shores.

20. Bionic Commando is now often forgotten when Capcom’s best are mentioned. It should not be. Forget Street Fighter Alpha and EX instead.

Seik

1. Contra

Let’s take away the lawns I had to mow to scrape together enough cash for this game. Let’s take away the fond memories of playing this game cooperatively with my brother. Let’s take away the amazing feeling of satisfaction I experienced after beating it for the first time. Let’s take away the months of just pure bliss this game brought me. What do you have left? The best shooter ever made. Even without the nostalgia and feelings this game generates, it would still top my list.

2. Double Dragon

First and foremost, great game. One of the best beat ‘em up’s released. For its time, it was pretty damn innovative, and if you ask me, pretty damn addicting. I’m still waiting for Billy and Jimmy Lee to get a next-gen update. But again, it’s the nostalgia and fond memories that surface when I think about this game that makes it my number 2 pick. Some kids spent their summers playing baseball, but not me, I spent it playing great games like this one.

3. Super Mario Bros. 3

On the box of the NES they show a nice, well dressed family all pressed up aside the television playing Mario Bros. The box doesn’t show how gamers really were. Sitting pale and wide eyed in their darkened basement, leaving the TV on overnight just so they could finish Mario 3. That was me. Mario 3 is the best Mario game ever made.  Only Super Mario World comes close to decrowning Mario’s 3rd (really his 2nd) adventure. Multiple worlds, new powers, and more platforming make this the NES’s best platformer.

4. Legend Of Zelda

Another classic. This game basically wrote the book for any adventure games that followed it. Even today, games are using the basic format (or at least a variation) that this game created. It introduced a deeper gameplay experience than what was common at the time. You had an emotional link (no pun intended) to the Princess. With great puzzles and dungeons, the game still holds up well today; as do most of these games.

5. Galaga

I don’t know if Galaga is a very good shooter. I can play it today, even after having played countless other shooters, and still have fun with it. But maybe I’m not the best person to judge the worth of a shooter. This game introduced me to the shoot ‘em up genre and started a love affair. I wasted countless quarters on this game at the local poorly lit pizza place when I was younger. When I finally got my hands on the NES version, I still played the hell out of it. Then I went down to the local pizza parlor and earned the High Score for myself. One of the prouder moments of my young life.

6. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse

The third is the best of the bunch on NES.

7. Battletoads

One of Rare’s first games; still waiting for a next-gen version.

8. Super Mario Bros.

A deep gameplay experience that wrote the book on platformers. Mario 3 improved upon this formula.

9. Duck Hunt

Best sidekick in a videogame. Ever.

10. Metroid

Broke new ground in the platforming genre.

11. Castlevania

The first in the long running series. Not quite as playable today, but I may be used to the more recent installments. I could go for a next-gen update of an old-school Castlevania.

12. Excitebike

Another one I played at the pizza parlor. Gotta love the sound effects.

13. Metal Gear

Great story. Showed the potential of games as a story telling device.

14. Ninja Gaiden 1-3

Can’t wait for the next-gen update of this classic. It was incredibly difficult, and I’m no better at it today than I was back then.

15. Tetris

Still addicted.

Neomega’s Overall Top 15 NES Games

1. Super Mario Bros. 3
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 1990
Memories by Wildcat

This is the game that I probably know more than nearly any other game made (only a few others spring to mind as contenders - Mega Man 3, Mario 64, Zelda: OoT…). I played this so much that I had etched where every little secret was buried inside my head. I still know all three whistle locations, most of the White Mushroom House locations, where most the hidden suits are, how to best utilize the infinite 1-Up tricks (1-2 Goombas, Lv. 2 fortress on the Dry Bones, 1-9 Bullet Bills with a shell…), and conquer the trickiest stages. And at the time, when I was about 9 or 10 years old, I was going “Wow, so this is what gaming can be.”

The rock solid gameplay, along with fairly good NES graphics and sound, made this title become one of the favorites on several gamer’s lists. The uniqueness of the Raccoon tail’s flying abilities, the Frog Suit’s swimming, the Hammer Bros. suit letting you become one of the enemies for a while (and being able to deflect fireballs!), being able to pick up shells, and so much more than what the original Super Mario Bros. had to offer, plus enough levels and sidequests (Go for the Star on the slots!) to leave just about anyone happy…you can see why Super Mario Bros. 3 is our choice for greatest NES game of all time. One of Nintendo’s finest hours, and one of gaming’s greats.

2. Legend of Zelda
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 1987
Memories by bbobb

It’s amazing that one of the NES’s first games is one of its best. The epic quest of Link to defeat Gannon and save the princess remains as one of the true classics of videogaming. Even in this day of 128-bit systems and 3D graphics, the original Legend of Zelda is still a game that one can sit down and play for hours on end.

It’s amazing to consider how many memorable moments there were with in LoZ. Who can forget the first time they pushed into a grave to suddenly have it give away? Or how about playing the flute near a lake, and instead of having the whirlwind appear as expected, the lake suddenly drains? And the boss fights were as unforgettable as the puzzles themselves, be it the Dodongos who you had to have eat a bomb, the Gohma who you had to shoot in the eye with an arrow, or even Gannon himself. A brainchild of one of the greats of gaming, Shigeru Miyamoto, Legend of Zelda is one of videogaming’s finest hours.

3. Contra
Publisher: Konami
Year: 1987
Memories by Seik

If you were to ask me what my favorite game of all time was, I would invariably say Contra. For me, this game holds a fair share of nostalgia and pleasant memories. That’s silly, you say. Well, that may be, but it’s the truth. I have many fond memories of playing this game, mostly cooperatively with my brother. For me, this game is linked to a pleasant time in my childhood; A time I’m reminded of whenever I think of the game.

But, take all that away, and what do you have? A damn fine shooter. Again, ask me, and I’ll tell you it’s the finest shooter ever made. And one that still holds up well today. Everything that matters holds up – control, response, level design, and fun factor. The graphics and sound obviously don’t, but I still think these 2D games hold up better than those ugly, muddy early 3D PSX games. It sure as hell didn’t get any easier as time went by. I was thrilled when I first beat this game – and without cheats I’d like to point out. If you haven’t played this game yet, for shame. You owe it to yourself to play it, and its sequels (exluding the PSX ones of course).

4. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
Publisher: Konami
Year: 1989
Memories by Seik

Castlevania, time has been very kind to you. Why, look, brand new Castlevania titles are still coming out today – and excellent ones at that. And it all started on the NES. Castlevania is a series that gets better with each installment; that’s why the third Castlevania is the best one on the NES.

Castlevania III, while not the best in the series, holds up admirably over time. Going back and playing it, I’m reminded that the game is 15 years old (has it been that long?). At the time, I remember being impressed by the game’s dark setting and atmosphere, wonderful music, superb control, detailed enemies and environments, animation, and level design. Playing it now, most of those things still ring true. It’s what you can’t do (and what the new Castlevania titles do) that remind me how far this series has come. Still, today, a hearty recomendation is in order. Check this one out (and the other two on NES) for a history lesson.

5. Metroid
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 1986
Memories by Nash

Metroid is one of those games that just makes you say “who could forget…” Who could forget the first time you got lost and couldn’t wait until the next day so you could talk about it with your friends at school? Who could forget the first time you were face to face with a metroid? Scared the crap out of you, didn’t it? Who could forget the first time you discovered the bomb jump trick to get to that ledge you thought was impossible to get to? And who could forget the first time you found out Samus was a chick?

All that aside, though, what made Metroid such a great game was that it was the first game to really set a mood and atmosphere to what you were experiencing. From the moment you dropped down on planet Zebes, reality began to fade and you were completely immersed in its universe, traversing every nook and cranny the game had to offer. Every power-up found gave you the strength and ability to push deeper, but every new area discovered gave a feeling of the unknown, making you hesitant for a bit before you shook it off and braved on. Its vast, intricate, interconnecting levels had players lost for weeks, and its freedom had everyone playing differently and trading hints. So who could forget? Konami certainly didn’t.

6. Super Mario Bros.
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 1985
Memories by DacaZ

Today, when we shell out our hard earned money for a new game console, that’s exactly what we get… just a game console. If you only brought $200 to the store to buy a new Gamecube when it launched, all you were going to do when you got home was stare at it. But, of course that wasn’t the case back in the day. When we put down our money for an NES we didn’t just get the console and a controller, we also got one of the best games to grace the system, if not one of the best 8-bit games of all time. Yep, Super Mario Bros. was in that box, and I’ll tell you what, it was a long time before I felt the need to go buy my first stand-alone NES cart.

There’s still something completely magical about picking up Super Mario Bros. and taking it for a spin. It’s pure unadulterated platform-hopping goodness. You could argue the games that followed were better, and maybe they were, but to me the orginal represents the appeal of Mario synthesized down to the purest of forms. The game is so simple, and yet it still has the feel of an epic-style adventure. It had a bubbly soundtrack that would be stuck in my head all through school, and I’d still be humming it as I dashed home to play it. It was also one of those games that made me want to get right back on the saddle again, after it sucked away my last life. There was rarely a moment of, “do I really want to start a new game?” Instead I was back to square one only seconds after having spent my last life. Super Mario Bros. was just maddeningly addictive and without a doubt one of the best times I played on the old NES.

7. River City Ransom
Publisher: Technos
Year: 1989
Memories by Regus

In an age plagued with lackluster “me too” style beat em ups, River City Ransom came out of absolutely nowhere and delivered a punishing left hook to the collective chins of gamers everywhere. River City has been taken hostage by a madman, and to make matters worse, he also kidnapped your high school sweetheart, while she was shopping no less! Now it’s personal.

What separates RCR from every other cookie cutter beat em up was its fantastic gameplay and quirky personality. The game was set up in a way that you could travel through River City’s many districts, rather than restrict you to levels, and you had the freedom to wander at your leisure. River City also housed a fine assortment of shops which sold everything from burgers to books, all of which were used to alter your stats or give you a new fighting technique. This gave the game a unique RPG feel, which was unheard of at the time. New skills in hand, you could now pummel your opposition into submission. And after murdering your foes, you could hear the utter their last breath, which was usually a Shakespearian lament on their wasted lives, such as the ubiquitous “BARF!”.

8. Castlevania
Publisher: Konami
Year: 1987
Memories by andyrose

This was the game that introduced me to the wonderful world of vampires. I remember being pretty scared of this title when I first played it (back when I was….oh, about 5 years old). But after getting into it, I was immersed. I still remember that last battle with Dracula, as it’s one of my most vivid gaming moments.

9. Mike Tyson’s Punchout!!
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 1986
Memories by Regus

Boxing games come and go, but there has yet to be one that even comes close to matching the sheer level of fun that Nintendo managed to reach after all this time. In Punchout!!, you step into the trunks of Little Mac, a no talent, panty-waist with dreams of super stardom. With the tutelage of his all knowing trainer, Little Mac punches his way up the ranks to battle Tyson himself for a chance at the title, but before you can battle the man, you have to go through his colorful cadre of curmudgeons.

The beauty of this game was its simplistic controls and strategic game play. Matches were won not by brute force, but with cunning and guile. If you attempted to simply pummel your opponent with an endless assortment of right hooks, your defeat was inevitable, but if you took the time to study your opponent and learn to exploit his weaknesses, victory was assured (a valuable life lesson if you ask me).

10. Super Mario Bros. 2
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 1988
Memories by andyrose

The only NES Mario that let you stand on your enemies heads without killing them. You could then raise them above your head and throw them as projectiles. You could also pick up various other things, like plants and rocks. This was also the only NES Mario to let you play as Toad and Princess Toadstool, too.

11. Ninja Gaiden
Publisher: Tecmo
Year: 1989
Memories by Yoshi

The true measure of a game’s longevity and importance is the mark that it leaves on the industry. Ninja Gaiden’s cut scenes paved the way for the CG movies used today. In addition to the sweet eye candy, these cinematics advanced a rare concept — a story in a pure action game.

Wrapped around the story of Ryu Hayabusa were some of the best action sequences the hobby has seen. Special weapons, weather effects, and huge bosses are components that many games fail to weave together in 2003. Tecmo’s mask-wearing masterpiece tied them together with a bow nearly fifteen years earlier.

12. Mega Man 2
Publisher: Capcom
Year: 1988
Memories by bbobb

To this day Mega Man is one of the biggest franchises in gaming history. With a total of 8 games in the original series, 3 spinoff series, and cameos in various other games, the little blue bomber has starred in more then 25 different games. To this day though, Mega Man 2 still ranks near the top of all his games so far.

After an incredibly fun, but overly hard first game, the second game was a breath of fresh air. Capcom seemed to understand gamer’s frustration with the challenge of the first game and Mega Man came back with an almost perfect balance. It was a challenging game, that never frustrated one too much. There were 8 different memorable bosses including Metal Man, Air Man, Flash Man and Heat Man, and one of the best Dr. Wily castle stages ever in the series (who can forget that amazing first mini boss fight with the giant robotic dragon?). Add in an incredibly cool end boss fight, with a neat twist ending, and Mega Man 2 easily deserves its place among the best of the NES.

13. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game
Publisher: Konami (under the Ultra label)
Year: 1990
Memories by Nash

We can talk about how incredible a port TMNT2: The Arcade Game is, and we can talk about how it threw in some levels not seen in the arcade original, but let’s not talk about those things. Instead, let’s talk about how great a two-player game TMNT2: The Arcade Game is.

The thing with this game is that it’s just tons of fun. Going solo is already a blast, but when you double team the Foot Clan with a buddy, it’s hard to find another game more enjoyable. Sure, Contra unofficially set the precedent for two-player co-op, but does it allow you to fight against a friend to see who can rack up the most foot soldiers killed? Or how about pissing off your partner by grabbing that slice of pizza when he/she really needed it? It’s these dynamics that makes the game that much more worth it with a friend.

14. Bionic Commando
Publisher: Capcom
Year: 1987
Memories by DacaZ

Things look bleak! Super Joe has been captured and the enemy has never been stronger! It was all up to you, the Bionic Commando, to infiltrate enemy territory, rescue Super Joe, and blow all those bad guys back into the gaping maw of hell. Yep, if there was ever an old Capcom franchise that needs to be re-introduced to gamers, it’s Bionic Commando.

While on the surface, Bionic Commando looked like your normal run-n-gun style game, in reality it stood apart from the crowd by introducing some really unique play elements. While infiltrating enemy bases, you had to make use of communications relays, not only to listen in on enemy radio chatter, but also to contact your comrades on the outside for helpful advice and to get them to unlock doors for you. Of course, you needed the right equipment to do it or else you’d just be eating static! The other super-cool gimmick in Bionic Commando was the signature grapple arm, which can be extended to grab hold of ledges and swing you across chasms. All this was pretty damn cool back in the day, and when you factor in the buckets of bad guys to shoot and the challenging boss fights, is it any wonder this classic Capcom cart ranks so high on the list? Bionic Commando got a top-notch re-release on the Gameboy Color, but this franchise is long past due for a full-fledged console revival.

15. Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
Publisher: Konami
Year: 1988
Memories by Yoshi

Symphony of the Night is often credited with launching the “Metroidvania” subseries of Castlevania.  However, a decade earlier Simon’s Quest became the true progenitor of Castlevania as an adventure game.

Sporting usable items, weapons upgrades, and a password system, the original Belmont hero fought the forces of Dracula at night and during the day. This unique time changing concept effected the difficulty of his enemies as Simon crossed graveyards, villages, and castles in his pursuit of Dracula’s body parts.

Conclusion

These are all the staff articles I have from Neomega.  As I edited these for LVLs., I felt the strong emotional ties to these gamers, ones I wouldn’t want to forget.  This site was probably the finest time the Internet gave me, honestly.  I’m pleased to be able to resurrect these for today.  To all of the Neomega staffers scattered out there, I hope life is treating you well.  Drop me a line if you’d like!

- Wildcat