From NES Failures to Favorites
The illustrious NES—the console that pretty much started it all—has seen its fair share of hits and misses. But what makes a game truly unforgettable? Well, it's one of two things: it's either great or it sucks! So let's look at the worst NES games that left players groaning and the best ones that still win over hearts and minds almost 40 years later. Ready to play?
1. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Although this 1988 game attempts a dual-character mechanic, it fails miserably. Dr. Jekyll moves at a painfully slow pace, constantly attacked by random townspeople with little explanation. If he takes too much damage, he transforms into Mr. Hyde in a completely different side-scrolling nightmare.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Chapters 1-3 - Schooling Online by Schooling Online
2. Deadly Towers
Confusion and frustration define this game. Players are thrown into a maze-like world with no guidance, making it easy to get lost. Enemies swarm constantly, and the controls feel stiff and unresponsive. Even worse, the hit detection is inconsistent. However, the soundtrack is surprisingly good for such a poorly-designed game.
[TAS] NES Deadly Towers (USA) by Luke in 15:20.27 by TASVideosChannel
3. Back to the Future
This adaptation of the beloved movie is a disaster. Rather than experiencing an adventure through time, players are stuck in dull, repetitive mini-games that barely relate to the film. The difficulty is unfair, with swarms of enemies making progress nearly impossible. Worse, the game never truly captures the excitement of the source material.
Back to the Future (NES) Playthrough by NintendoComplete
4. Friday the 13th
Fans probably had big hopes for this game, as the eerie atmosphere does a decent job of reflecting the movie's tension. Nevertheless, the cryptic design makes it nearly impossible to figure out what to do. Players switch between camp counselors while trying to stop Jason, but the confusing map and vague objectives make it frustrating.
Friday the 13th (1989) [NES] Complete Playthrough by Danger Meat
5. Ghostbusters
This adaptation of the classic film is a letdown. The game forces players through repetitive, clunky sections that are more annoying than fun. Driving around the city feels stiff, ghost-catching lacks excitement, and the final level is brutally unfair.
6. Where's Waldo?
For a game released in 1991, the pixel art is decent for its time, and the scenes do have a certain charm. But despite being based on the popular book series, the game was painfully slow and uninteresting. The player's goal is to find Waldo in cluttered, chaotic scenes, but the gameplay quickly becomes repetitive.
10 Minute Gameplay: Where's Waldo? (1991) NES by J&L Game Inc. (J&L Game)
7. Taboo: The Sixth Sense
Taboo attempts to bring a fortune-telling experience to the NES, but the slow pace and lack of gameplay make it feel more like a novelty than an actual game. The repetitive nature of reading tarot cards and asking questions is dull, and it doesn't offer much depth.
10 Minute Gameplay: Taboo: The Sixth Sense (1989) NES by J&L Game Inc. (J&L Game)
8. Action 52
You'd think that a compilation of 52 different games would be interesting. Sadly, Action 52 is a disappointment. Most of the games are badly designed, with buggy controls and laughable graphics. The lack of polish is evident, and the experience often feels like a chore.
[TAS] NES Action 52: Fuzz Power by LoganTheTASer in 01:25.46 by TASVideosChannel
9. Superman
Superman for the NES is one of the worst superhero games ever made. The controls are stiff, and the gameplay is repetitive, with Superman flying around doing little more than rescuing people and fighting random enemies. While the concept of playing Superman on the NES is a good idea, it's poorly executed in practice.
10. The Uncanny X-Men
X-Men fans would be thrilled to meet a decent range of these iconic characters. However, this NES game doesn't do justice to the beloved Marvel superheroes. It's plagued by confusing level design, awkward controls, and frustrating difficulty. Players switch between X-Men characters, but the gameplay feels repetitive and lacks the excitement fans expect.
Now, it's time to take a look at some of the best games we'd never get tired of.
1. Super Mario Bros. 3
Released in 1988, Super Mario Bros. 3 became an instant classic with its wide array of power-ups and inventive level design. Players explored vibrant worlds, used new abilities like the Tanooki Suit, and faced varied challenges. The creativity and balance made it a timeless favorite among gamers.
2. The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda introduced players to the vast, open world of Hyrule, where they guided Link to rescue Princess Zelda. Its nonlinear gameplay and hidden items were groundbreaking at the time and provided players with a sense of exploration that made it unforgettable.
3. Mega Man 2
When Mega Man 2 hit the shelves, it raised the bar for platformers. Players took on eight Robot Masters, each with unique powers to steal. The tight controls and innovative gameplay, alongside the iconic music, secured its place as a definitive title in the Mega Man franchise.
4. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Gothic fans fell in love with Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, thanks to its branching paths and multiple playable characters, each offering different abilities. This added variety and replay value to the gameplay and proved that it’s one of the series' most celebrated installments.
Dracula's Curse - Game trailer by Karar2k's Why Play This
5. Metroid
Metroid dazzled players with its exploration-focused gameplay and atmospheric design. As Samus Aran, players explored the planet Zebes, uncovering secrets and acquiring upgrades. Its nonlinear world and surprising plot twist made it a revolutionary title that laid the groundwork for future action-adventure games.
6. Contra
Players took on waves of enemies as elite soldiers in Contra, which became a legend due to its intense, fast-paced action and cooperative gameplay. Its infamous difficulty and the Konami Code provided an exhilarating challenge that turned it into a top run-and-gun genre.
Contra Operation Galuga! Review and Full Game Overview by Go Galactic!
7. Punch-Out!!
Punch-Out!! Brought players into the ring as Little Mac, aiming to become world champion. The game's caricatured, memorable opponents, each with their own distinct fighting patterns, made it unique. With its timing-based combat, it rewarded skill and provided a deep sense of accomplishment.
Punch Out!! REMASTERED?? On Scratch by ScratchTac
8. DuckTales
Exploration fans immediately fell in love with DuckTales, released in 1989. As Scrooge McDuck, players traveled the globe to gather riches while avoiding traps and enemies. The inventive level designs and catchy music made it a fun, memorable experience for all ages.
DuckTales Remastered - Full Game Walkthrough by packattack04082
9. River City Ransom
Released in 1989, River City Ransom blended beat-em-up action with RPG elements, allowing players to level up and purchase new moves. Players took control of Alex and Ryan as they fought their way through a gang-ridden city to rescue their girlfriends. The cooperative play made the game even more enjoyable.
[TAS] NES River City Ransom "playaround" by adelikat & JXQ in 12:55.38 by TASVideosChannel
10. Blaster Master
Blaster Master combined side-scrolling with top-down exploration, which made it an innovative action game. As Jason, players navigated an underground world to rescue his pet frog, Fred. The ability to switch between a tank and a character added variety and created a captivating gameplay experience.
