20 BEST NES Games of All Time

foreign to the 1980 food crash of the video game Market which particularly impacted North America the Nintendo Entertainment System the Les always didn't make it to us shelves a proven success in its native Japan where the console was known as the famicom the NES would eventually go on to resurrect the video game industry as a whole it became one of the hottest toys of the 1980s and the console is still celebrated and enjoyed by Gamers around the world to this very day so much so that the best NES games ever released for the console is a list that could potentially include dozens of titles between 1985 and 1990 in particular the NES saw a golden age of dominance that allowed them to become the definitive console manufacturer of the era near Nintendo would go on to continue this success with the Super Nintendo in 1991 but for now let's take a look back at 20 of the best NES games released during the iconic consoles lifespan join us at cultured vultures as we start a series reviewing every single Nintendo console ever while also stroking the fires of a civil war that's burned for decades how do you pronounce NES no matter what the answer is somebody thinks you're wrong and stupid we're also going to break our own rules of only having one game per series on a list like this because well you'll see we'll see no about 20 Maniac Mansion even in the heavily censored form NES owners received Maniac Mansion it still feels like a miracle the game made it to Nintendo's Juggernaut console in the first place originally developed for the PC in 1987 the point-and-click adventure tasking you of saving your girlfriend from a mad scientist pretty ordinary stuff stands Out Among the hundreds of titles that were released at the time it's a pretty strange blend of comedic storytelling with sincere tributes to 1950s B-movie schlock the kind of thing that was also making a comeback in the cinema at the time the humor of maniac mansion and its visual charm made the game an early hit for lucasfilm games so unique and memorable all these elements combined with a relatively straightforward gameplay they persevere on the NES to make an all-time classic for the system as well as one of the more expensive games that you can buy for the NES number 19 Final Fantasy the usual dad jokes aside about Final Fantasy being anything with the final entry in the series it's almost surreal to see where the most dominant RPG franchise in history began the appeal of Final Fantasy is apparent even today with final fight 16 just being released at the time of recording borrowing some of the best parts of Dragon Warrior while simultaneously popularizing other RPG elements that would become standard for the genre as the years went on Final Fantasy was successful upon release Final Fantasy is a story of four classical elements three continents and a variety of characters classes and races it was an impressive level of depth in 1990 and it's still an enjoyable turn-based RPG all these years and countless installments later some 120 or so games later this Series has more fantasies than me after I eat a big thing of gouda past 10 pm on a school night number 18. Mega Man 3. by 1990 Capcom had a pretty clear understanding of what was needed to make Mega Man 3 another hit for the company in the prime of Mega Man's NES run we have some of the best graphics stages and robot bosses of the series Mega Man 3 is really just a continuation of the stunning Mega Man 2 Mega Man 3 features our little blue hero waging another war against Dr Wily and his Relentless robot army boss fights will pitch you against the likes of snake man shadow man Gemini man and many others but there's no room for die hard man this time sadly some of the franchise's most memorable foes highlight this classic Sequel and while arguably it doesn't quite reach the highest of heights in the franchise this third entry is nonetheless one of the best NES games ever made number 17 Dragon Warrior Final Fantasy improved on Dragon Warriors otherwise known as the very first Dragon Quest game qualities in a variety of ways however in the battle of nesr RPG Classics nothing hits quite as nice as Dragon Warrior's evidence that games and players alike could enjoy a deeper richer narrative experience that doesn't sacrifice engaging gameplay Dragon Warrior was in fact the first RPG of its kind to make its way onto a Home console even if you don't care about the game's achievement of being the first for both this series and RPGs on home consoles Dragon Warrior is still a fun title with plenty to offer as you're tasked with the annihilation of the evil dragon lord just keep in mind you're in for a pretty stiff challenge which does not include figuring out the chronology of these games sandwich Warrior so many quests you could uh drag on number 16 Mike Tyson's punch out taking on the role of young Underdog boxer Mac Mike Tyson's punch out challenges you to rise up in the rankings challenge Tyson for the championship and walk away as the champion easier said than done as the game features a wide range of difficult and varied opponents the secret to the game of course is to study your opponent figuring out their weak points of the optimal time to unleash those lefts and rights however as you may have already guessed this is also easier said than actually done wow with Mike Tyson's punch out we have one of the most impressive and creative Rhythm puzzle games ever made because that's basically what it is when it's all boiled down you're also probably not going to get this game soundtrack out of your head anytime soon you're probably gonna get pretty familiar with the soundtrack that plays when little Matt goes down of course number 15 DuckTales the relationship between Capcom and Disney yielded some truly great Platformers for the NES and SNES the list includes Aladdin Chippendale rescues Rangers and the all-time classic DuckTales combining the mechanics of their Mega Man games with a bright vivid and above all else challenging World DuckTales has you playing as Scrooge McDuck on a quest to get even richer so basically like the the opposite of Elon Musk what's that is it mate Milan what is it this time self-washing lettuce all right a dog that can bark in nfts cool cool but really the plot doesn't particularly matter in a game like this does it DuckTales features six stages a special ending that can be unlocked by collecting a certain amount of wealth and other treasures and gameplay that has you hopping across the world it's pure fun and a tale always worth telling don't duck this one guys number 14 Castlevania 3 Dracula's curse although Super Castlevania 4 would be released just one year later for the SNES cone Army and their Flagship Dracula smacking series had one more classic to release for the Nintendo Entertainment System playing as the ancestor of Simon Belmont or hero from the first game Konami returned the series to the formula of the first game giving it as a fantastic conclusion to The Saga on the NES Castlevania 3 remains an impressive achievement all these years later offering multiple packs and some of the stiffest challenges in this series The Game retains that potent replay value combined with visuals and controls that are still as engaging as ever so much so that it still makes the top 5 best Castlevania games ever for most fans despite its age it's older than me and I feel like I am literally decomposing number 13 Super Mario Bros 2 regardless of why the West received a considerably different Super Mario Bros 2 than what Japan got the game we're talking about here remains one of Mario's most memorable Adventures offering considerably different gameplay such as the ability to pick up and throw items and certain enemies Super Mario Bros 2 was also the first time players could choose characters other than Mario or Luigi told him Princess Peach each brought different abilities and qualities to a story that also curiously does not involve Bowser in any way in other words Super Mario Bros 2 remains a bizarre outlier in the NES run of everyone's favorite Mustachio plumber hero but it's also an absolute Classic on the console bit of an underrated Indy hit this one plumbers jumping on things I'm Gonna Catch on I'm never gonna catch on number 12 Tetris well Lads it's Tetris not sure what you're really expecting us to say here in terms of deep Insight or anything block goes Burr coming to the NES in 1989 and getting immersed in some controversy when the company tengen released their own version of the game Tetris brought to play as the opportunity to play the iconic puzzle game on their home consoles diversion released by Nintendo is still one of the most addictive and engaging game experiences in video game history it's still remarkably easy to pick up your controller start playing and wonder just what happened to the last four hours of your life tetrisists like that sometimes even decades after its conception is this NES version the best edition of Tetris ever released you can decide that for yourself we have a pretty soft spot for effect for instance but there's no question that this is one of the nes's best ever games dude and so on number 11 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 the arcade game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 the arcade game is one of the best arcade to console ports of the era no one imagined that the Aging Nintendo Entertainment System the console had been out Stateside for approximately five years already we'll be able to emulate the 1989 arcade smash Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Perfection nonetheless what we do have in this game in which you and a friend play as any of the four turtles in a battle against Shredder and cry is pretty dang impressive not only is the court appeal of this size scrolling beat em up largely intact but the game also featured an entire extra stage you can't do much better for straightforward brawling on the NES Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 the arcade game is the best kind of button masher and perhaps Konami at their arcade Peak number 10 Batman the video game there aren't a ton of great movie licensed games for the NES thanks lgn so that makes Batman the video game all the more remarkable you also can't mention Batman the video game without touching on the soundtrack which remains a banger to this day an immensely difficult action platformer that actually does feel like something associated with Tim Burton's 1989 film Batman the video game was quite possibly the best Batman game ever made until the 2000s you're Batman what and it's up to you to stop the Joker in a surprisingly immersive version of Burton's Gotham City that's the premise but the game provides a degree of challenge that made a Hit Upon release with Batman fans and even those looking for something fresh to play on the NES the game's fun only amps up further from the title track and start screen is this still your favorite Batman game let us know Down Below in the comments number 9. Castlevania it's incredible to look back and see how many of the best video game franchises of all time got their start on the NES Castlevania begat dozens of sequels and prequels and this first entry is a great reminder of why this Series has been such a juggernaut influence on Platformers horror games and much more taking control of Simon Belmont you're treated to Undead enemies large 2D worlds to conquer and were the best soundtracks on the NES Castlevania isn't just fun to play it's also infuriatingly difficult at times while still being absolutely compelling the series would emphasize that part with future titles but this game sets a high bar for challenge that can still make you question your Sani and also what exactly is a man number eight Ninja Gaiden Ninja Gaiden would quite possibly be the best NES game ever if degree of challenge was the most important metric it's not thankfully but Ninja Gaiden combines that extreme difficulty with other perks like great graphics and deceptively simple gameplay to create a masterpiece with a little diligence your journey as the Ninja Warrior Ryu will at least get you through the tough but not impossible first stage you may even get through stage 2 impressed by The Game's relatively deep story and impressive cinematics for the time but when it comes to actually finishing Ninja Gaiden which even some of the most seasoned NES players simply cannot manage you're in for the fight of your bloody life Ninja Gaiden is an absolute blast but check your blood pressure sporadically while playing or consult a medical professional number seven Metroid Metroid on the NES represents yet another franchise that got its thought on this remarkable little machine the game was a decidedly unique destination on the 1987 video game landscape it presented a true non-linear experience for NES players we're also offering a singular visual punch a sci-fi horror story evocative of movies like alien and one of the most intriguing protagonists of this time and all time Metroid for all its uniqueness doesn't forget to be enjoyable with the challenging action platformer gameplay keeping new enthralled from start to finish you can get into Metroid quickly compelled by a strange game that all with curiosity and fast reflexes while its sequel pretty much perfected the formula the original still has a lot to hook you despite it arguably being a little bit too opaque these days number six Kirby's Adventure Kirby's Adventure was released in the Twilight of the nes's stunning lifespan the game brought the little pink hero to assist them at least stronger than the Game Boy where the series originated the year prior in 1992. Kobe's adventure takes the basic side scoring premise of guiding Kirby in his quest to defeat the highness King DDD and restore the Star Rod and take advantage of everything the NES can do that means a richer and deeper platforming experience that never ceases to be a good time much of what makes the Kirby games work can be found in Kirby's Adventure the first Kerber game to show the pink hero in glorious color however the most noble addition to this series would be Kirby's copy ability it's essential to the games and Kirby is an icon now but this was the first time it was ever included long live the king number five Contra there aren't a lot of NES games that feel more Relentless in their attack on our reflexes than Contra based on an arcade hit for Konami this run and Gun title pits you and maybe a friend if you have any against Alien Invaders in the Congo simple enemies become increasingly alien and elaborate as you go on and so find yourself dealing with a seemingly endless horde of truly bizarre and destructive creatures Contra doesn't let up for even a second well unless it comes to releasing a new game that is the timing and reflex is required to be exceptional at even this first century in the long running but currently dormant Contra series is something that must be experienced first hand few NES games push you like Contra and few modern games match its difficulty and subsequent sense of reward bit of a shame that Konomi completely forgot about this series though we must be punished once more number four Super Mario Bros you guys you guys ever heard of this one the game that put Nintendo on the map in the west Super Mario Bros wasn't the first appearance of Mario by a long shot but it was the game that proved that when it came to the Nintendo Entertainment System a new era had truly and definitively arrived it's difficult almost 40 years later to stress just how massively successful this game was creating not only a mascot who continues to be in brilliant games to display but also proving Nintendo was something quite different from past giants like Atari Super Mario Bros was the game that introduced many to the NES in the first place it's notable for that but don't forget this is still a really simple engaging and enjoyable classic to pick up and play even today no matter matter how archaic it might look compared to its more recent peers I mean can you tell me that you'd look at Mario in this game and say hey Andy Dunn should play that guy in 40 years time I don't think so number three Mega Man 2 with Mega Man 2 Capcom proved you could make a good thing even better doing away with the most unforgiving elements of the first game which when no continues imagine that for a minute the company did not skimp on ensuring players but still gets a tremendously challenging experience game brings back Dr Wily with a new robot army and designs on taking over the world and that's up to you as Mega Man to defeat the robots gain their weaponry and take down Wiley for good until the next time Mega Man 2 has some of the best robot bosses in this series including Metal Man crash man and quick man but there's sadly no room for ice cold man this time it provides the best thing of all things in an NES Mega Man release including the ability to give you a mega migraine number two The Legend of Zelda Nintendo continued their dominance the 80s with the Legend of Zelda this is the title that started it all for one of the most beloved Series in the Nintendo Canon The Legend of Zelda tells the story of a young hero named link and his quest to restore the Triforce rescue Princess Zelda and destroy the Monstrous Ganon the game drops you in the vast world of Hyrule and expects you to adapt and survive to everything your enemies are going to throw at you combining puzzle elements with strategy and action and then putting all of that into a lush dangerous World The Legend of Zelda was a winning formula in 1986 and still pretty dang good today very little has changed in that regard with a series since even if you can now make a giant cow in tears of the Kingdom that shoots lasers out of its others and tells you that it's proud of you number one Super Mario Bros 3 the NES arguably reached its Center in 1990 with the release of Super Mario Bros 3 for this third entry director's Shigeru Miyamoto the man responsible or partially respond responsible for many of the best NES games we've covered here and to Kashi tezuka expanded on Mario and his Universe in a way that could only be described as profound everything was literally bigger with varied worlds distinctive World bosses and game mechanics that covered a lot of potential but never became overly complicated everything in Super Mario Bros 3 was also literally just better as well the game solidified Mario as a global brand but above all else it was also at that point quite possibly the best video game ever made and even all these decades later it's still in with a shout of being exactly that howdy it's me Shigeru Miyamoto what's up guys I'm here to tell you to subscribe to culted vultures if you subscribe then I will tell you how to pronounce NES the actual true scientific method of pronouncing NES if this video gets 16 quintillion likes I might make a new f-zero again it's me Shigeru don't come Miyamoto goodbye foreign

Channel: Cultured Vultures

Views: 176,053

Keywords: nes, best nes games, mario, zelda

Id: NPBf4Q-dm3Q

Length: 19min 3sec (1143 seconds)

Published: Fri Aug 04 2023