# NES games **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2006, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114 "2006-06-17T22:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![H3Knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@H3Knuckles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H3Knuckles)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/41 "2006-06-19T05:40:55Z")
> [@H3Knuckles](#): > > \ > However, If it doesn’t meet those criterion, then go ahead and emulate. The people who made the game won’t get any money for it, nor will marketing people ever see the data on used-copy sales, which are often used to determine which games get a re-release, IIRC.\ > > 3.) -tie- Ninja Gaiden 1 & 2 > \ > 9.) GI Joe (Fear my fully-upgraded firepower Snake Eyes and Rock & Roll!) > 10.) Super Mario Bros. 3 (“Screw the 3rd Whistle trick, I’m gonna teach those Koopaling brats a lesson!”) I need to take more time to proofread my posts when posting late at night. :smack: edits in order: What I mean is, the people who made it won’t get any money, nor are they likely to see how many are being resold, so there’s no reason **not** to emulate it if you can’t buy the game, a re-release, or at least get a used copy from an electronics-only retailer. Ninja Gaiden quote was supposed to be “Behold my Invincible Fire Wheel!” As for GI Joe: levels are broken into triplets; a standard side-scroller with a boss fight, a free-form exploration action-platformer where you find 3 locations and fight a boss with a time limit, and another side-scroller with a boss fight. Every “mission” you pick 2 Joe’s (from a list of 5) to accompany that mission’s specialist. At any time you can pause and switch Joe’s, all of whom have different abilities. You can upgrade each Joe’s life meter’s length, and their firepower, and this is persistent through the game as long as you don’t Continue from a Game Over. Snake Eyes isn’t tough, but he’s got high jumps and infinite ammo, making him great for clearing levels. Rock and Roll can’t jump, has a short life-meter, but he fires a wide spread-shot that does a ton of damage; he’s a boss-killer. Super Mario Bros 3: meant to say “…each and every one of those Koopaling brats a lesson!” ---
**Author:** ![H3Knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@H3Knuckles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H3Knuckles)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/42 "2006-06-19T05:46:39Z")
> [@H3Knuckles](#): > > I need to take more time to proofread my posts when posting late at night. :smack: > > edits in order: > \ Snake Eyes isn’t tough, but he’s got high jumps and infinite ammo, making him great for clearing levels. Rock and Roll can’t jump, has a short life-meter, but he fires a wide spread-shot that does a ton of damage; he’s a boss-killer.\ Jesus H. Christ! :smack: :o See what I mean? Snake Eyes does little damage unless it’s melee, and his shot is tiny so it’s easy to miss until you upgrade it. He has a medium life meter. Rock & Roll **can just barely** jump at all. PS. everyone but Snake Eyes shares ammo, hence each character has a unique melee, oh and unlimited grenades, but they’re only usefull in a rare few circumstances. Yes, I had an 8-Bit/16-Bit Childhood. 🆒 Okay I’ll shut up now! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![H3Knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@H3Knuckles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H3Knuckles)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/43 "2006-06-19T05:53:41Z")
> [@Taran](#): > > \Faxanadu is interesting in that it’s probably the first console RPG ever made (depending on how you define the term), but the game itself is only so-so. [Pedantic Nitpick]Dragon Quest, aka Dragon Warrior, is widely regarded as the first Console RPG. DQ came out in 1986 in Japan, Faxanadu came out in 1987[/Pedantic Nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/44 "2006-06-19T06:08:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And am I really the first to nominate Dr. Mario? Tetris is, of course, the all-time classic of the genre, but man, Dr. Mario was fun. To this day, I’ve never yet met my match in multiplayer mode. The ad for Dr. Mario with the witch doctor got stuck in my head: [http://www.gamerevolution.com/goodie/commercials/dr\_mario\_witchdoctor](http://www.gamerevolution.com/goodie/commercials/dr_mario_witchdoctor) Good times, good times. ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/45 "2006-06-19T14:14:24Z")
What everyone else said… the only one that I didn’t see mentioned that I really loved was _Balloon Fight_. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/46 "2006-06-19T15:01:45Z")
Did I miss the mention of Metal Gear? Metal Gear was an awesome game that took months for me and a friend to finally beat. I loved that game. The Lone Ranger game was pretty sweet too, if memory serves. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/47 "2006-06-19T17:45:57Z")
I have fond memories of playing _Chip ‘N’ Dale_’s 2-player mode. If you have a friend to play with I highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/48 "2006-06-19T20:24:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t think anyone ever actually finished it, before emulators. I did actually beat it on an emulator, and it took me about 20 hours of gameplay time. Man, that game would have been perfect, if it had included a save/load feature of some sort (or at least passwords). I have beaten _Blaster Master_ on an actual NES. Once. I’ve also gotten to the last guy and died on him about half a dozen times, and gotten to the last car stage and died on the damn spiky plant things when the car decided to drive upside down into them (if you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about) many times. And don’t even get me started on that damn crab. FWIW, I’ve never played it on an emulator. I did use [GameFAQs.com](http://GameFAQs.com) to figure out where to go a few times, and for tips on beating the bosses. It should also be noted that I got the game when I was 8 years old and beat it when I was about 20. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/49 "2006-06-19T20:40:27Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > You may not download a ROM unless you already own the cartridge for the game That’s the rule I personally follow. If I have the cartridge, I will download a ROM. If not, I won’t. I much prefer the emulated versions to the originals, though- I can play on my computer, instead of in front of the TV, and I can save the game wherever I want to, instead of where the programmers have arbitrarily decided I should be able to. I loved Destiny of an Emperor for NES. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/50 "2006-06-19T20:58:26Z")
If you’re going to play any console games on an emulator, I’d suggest getting a control pad of some sort (if you have a console you can buy an adapter, or buy a controller specifically for the computer). I find it much more comfortable than playing with the keyboard. One game I picked up not long before my NES died was Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll, which I wish I could’ve played more. I also enjoyed Bump ‘n’ Jump (which I got when I got the system), though I never managed to get more than five levels into it…it’s harder than you’d think. And don’t forget Tetris! ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/51 "2006-06-19T21:24:23Z")
> [@BraheSilver](#): > > Should the owner of the rights to the game decide to rerelease it (such as the Classic NES series on the GBA, or the upcoming Virtual Console on the Wii), then you’re potentially taking away the money they would have gotten if you’d purchased it from them. They’d likely release them with “updated” graphics or sound, which isn’t what I want at all. I want the game I played back when, not an updated version of it. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/52 "2006-06-19T21:30:38Z")
> [@BraheSilver](#): > > Should the owner of the rights to the game decide to rerelease it (such as the Classic NES series on the GBA, or the upcoming Virtual Console on the Wii), then you’re potentially taking away the money they would have gotten if you’d purchased it from them. They’d likely release them with “updated” graphics or sound, which isn’t what I want at all. I want the game I played back when, not an updated version of it. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/53 "2006-06-19T22:16:03Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > You may not download a ROM unless you already own the cartridge for the game, and/or have been given explicit permission to do so by the publisher. Failure to abide by these rules may result in a fine or imprisonment. Imprisonment?! That’s news to me. Within reasonable bounds, copyright infringement is a civil matter, isn’t it? Regardless, the odds of going to jail for downloading twenty-year old games is pretty much nil unless you’re profitting from them. I’ve never heard of anyone getting arrested for it. My, uh, friend has every Atari, NES, SNES, N64, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, and TG-16 game ever made and has never received even an email about it, let alone a knock on his door. Those emulators have also been ported to the Xbox, so he can play all of those games from the comfort of his own couch with enhancements (i.e. save states at any point in any game) that we never could have imagined back in the '80s). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/54 "2006-06-19T22:54:31Z")
> [@](#): > > 2.) Legend of Zelda (“Geez, I used to have the Lost Woods pattern memorized!”) > … > 4.) Final Fantasy (“can I beat the game witha party of 4 Thieves?”) Lost Woods is North, West, South, West. No, I didn’t look that up. And I don’t think I’ve ever done 4 thieves, but 4 fighters is surprisingly easy (if you can get past Astos and the Eye of Ice Cave, at least… I spent many, many reloads on those two). > [@](#): > > And don’t even get me started on that damn crab. The crab? The crab was _easy_, if you had your gun maxed when you fought him (and if I ever got to a boss without my gun maxed, I wouldn’t even try, just go back and max it). Everything he shoots at you, you can shoot down. So just stand in the bottom middle of the screen, and shoot straight up. I _think_ he might have also been vulnerable to the grenade-pause trick, like the two frogs and the two claw-monsters, but that trick was so hard to pull off, it was generally easier to just fight them honestly. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/55 "2006-06-20T00:56:07Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > They’d likely release them with “updated” graphics or sound, which isn’t what I want at all. I want the game I played back when, not an updated version of it. Actually, the “Nintendo Classics” series for the GBA are EXACTLY the same as the originals. Same graphics, same sound, same everything. And from what I hear, the emulation on the Wii that will let you play classic games will be the same way. ---
**Author:** ![H3Knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@H3Knuckles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H3Knuckles)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/56 "2006-06-25T09:39:57Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > They’d likely release them with “updated” graphics or sound, which isn’t what I want at all. I want the game I played back when, not an updated version of it. Not only were the NES Classics for GBA “pure” But I’m almost 100% **positive** there is **no way in hell** Nintendo is going to go to the trouble of recoding the graphics for what will be almost 40% of the 800+ NES games for the Virtual Console feature on the Wii. They’re trying to help sales and maybe make a cheap buck, they ain’t retouching the graphics. If they were re-releasing them all on a cartridge or disc set, I could see it, but not for a cheap, built in download-service. It’s basically going to be NES On-Demand (if you’re familiar with Comcast Digital Cable). Even though I still have an NES, I can’t wait! > [@Chronos](#): > > Lost Woods is North, West, South, West. No, I didn’t look that up. And I don’t think I’ve ever done 4 thieves, but 4 fighters is surprisingly easy (if you can get past Astos and the Eye of Ice Cave, at least… I spent many, many reloads on those two). Thanks. Now I don’t have to sift through GameFAQ’s or anything the next time I play. I figured someone would come back with it. Yeah, Four fighters can just clobber their way through they’ve got so much damage, and when you hit class change and get healing and anti-undead? Four thieves is almost impossible until class change, but it can be done. The worst though is actually trying to take on Chaos with 4 Ninja. Doesn’t work very well. The surprising 4-man team? 4 Black Belts. You’re gonna need all the money you save on equipment and no spells to cover your item costs. It’s brutal… Until you hit like lv.35. From there on in you **destroy** everything in your path. A level 40+ Master (the class-change Black Belt) can do more damage with his fists than anything in the game except a Black Wizard’s top spells. No weapon can give a Knight or Ninja the same output. 4 Master’s at lv.50 against Chaos? literally a 3-round fight at **worst**! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/57 "2006-06-26T18:11:36Z")
> [@](#): > > A level 40+ Master (the class-change Black Belt) can do more damage with his fists than anything in the game except a Black Wizard’s top spells. No weapon can give a Knight or Ninja the same output. 4 Master’s at lv.50 against Chaos? literally a 3-round fight at worst! Nuke and Fade (the white equivalent) max out at around 300 damage. I’ve seen Masters do over 800 per attack. Admittedly, Nuke and Fade affect all enemies at once, but if you’ve got a large enough group of enemies to make that worthwhile, you’re probably better off just using the (unlimited use) spellcasting items. Toss in the White Robe, the two Heal Helmets, and the Heal Staff, and it was the rare battle indeed that I couldn’t finish with more hitpoints than I started. By the time you get, say, the Zeus Gauntlet and the Heal Staff (just after the Earth Fiend, and before the Ice Cave or Volcano), it hardly matters any more what classes you’re using. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/58 "2006-06-26T23:35:50Z")
I second Track and Field. But only play it if you have a controller that you don’t mind beating the holy livin’ crap out of. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/59 "2006-06-27T04:39:37Z")
Most underrated game ever: Princess Tomato and the Salad Kingdom. Best game ever: Legend of Zelda Best game ever you’ve never heard of: Fire N’ Ice Man, that one was FUN. Fun and addictive. Great for a good week or two. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114/60 "2006-06-27T15:07:30Z")
> [@H3Knuckles](#): > > 7.) Life Force (“Damn you Floating Easter Island Heads!”) Dit-freaking-to. Man, I loved that game. When you got the two focuses, both missile upgrades and the laser power up, you were rocking hardcore… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nes-games/361114.md?page=2)