Top 50 Nintendo NES Games [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

theaveng

08-15-2002, 06:49 AM

Let's do this list TOGETHER. You tell me what games to delete and add. Then I'll update the list. This is a cooperative effort! :-)

Archon
Baseball Stars
Battletoads
Bionic Commando
Blaster Master
Bubble Bobble (series)
Burgertime
Castlevania (series)
Chip & Dale's Rescue Rangers
Contra (series)
Crystalis
Double Dragon 2
Dragon Warrior (series)
Duck Tales 2
Dudes with Attitude/Trolls on Treasure Island
Excitebike
Faxanadu
Final Fantasy
Goonies 2
Gradius
Guardian Legend
Guerilla War
Ice Hockey
Kickle Cubical
Kid Niki
Kirby's Adventure
Legacy of the Wizard
Legend of Zelda
Life Force
Little Ninja Brothers
Maniac Mansion
Mega Man (series)
Metal Gear
Metroid
Micro Machines
Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!
Ninja Gaiden (series)
Pac-Mania
Pirates!
River City Ransom
Rygar
Short Order / Egg-Splode
Solar Jetman
Solomon's Key
Star Tropics
Super Mario Brothers (series)
Tecmo Super Bowl
Tetris (Tengen)
Wizards & Warriors
Wrecking Crew

Arrrhalomynn

08-15-2002, 01:40 PM

Why are there 57 games in a 50 games list?

nesman85

08-17-2002, 11:29 AM

add: rad racer, captain skyhawk, t&c surf designs

MankeyMan

08-17-2002, 11:45 AM

Put Zelda at number 1.

TRM

08-17-2002, 12:25 PM

Die Sclumpfe (smurfs) and Little Nemo. Immortal and Robin Hood PoT are good too.

buttasuperb

08-19-2002, 12:18 AM

add chip n dale rescue rangers.

and how you leave kid icarus off the list is beyond me.

theaveng

09-18-2002, 05:36 AM

Since you guys are including "homebrew" Atari carts, I request including the "homebrew translations" of Final Fantasy 2/3 on the Nintendo list. They are far superior to FF1.

digitalpress

09-18-2002, 09:00 AM

Those aren't homebrews, they're either imports or they're hacks. They were never released for the NES, and hacks are never included on our "top" lists (nor are imports unless we create a separate list for them). FFII/III might be good candidates for a TOP 50 FAMICOM list. If we do a top import or top hacks list we can re-consider this.

I'm sure they're great games, but the purpose here is for those who play NES games to look over a list of the best titles. This isn't for people with emulators, it's for those looking for the REAL experience of NES. On an actual NES console, with an actual NES controller.

theaveng

09-18-2002, 12:02 PM

theaveng

09-18-2002, 12:04 PM

This isn't for people with emulators, it's for those looking for the REAL experience of NES. On an actual NES console, with an actual NES controller.

Take the ROM and burn it into a cart.
Troy

digitalpress

09-18-2002, 12:49 PM

So if I take the Famicon version of Final Fantasy 2 and translate it to run on American NES, it can't be listed.
But if I start from scratch and create Final Fantasy Troy, then it CAN be listed.
That makes zero sense.
What if SQUARE translates FF2 for NES and brings it to America? Would you list it then?

I'm going to try to address your issues so that this makes a little more than zero sense to you.

All of our lists = games you can actually buy FOR the US console they represent. Emulators don't count because that's playing on a PC, and not everyone has access to emulators. Burning a ROM to a cart is not only EXCEEDINGLY difficult to do even if you have the burner AND the ROM, but again, it's not for the typical NES player, who this list is aimed at.

Now. If you WERE to create a "Final Fantasy TROY" by coding a new game from scratch, it would in fact qualify as a homebrew. You do understand that hacks and homebrews are different, correct? Example: "Boring Journey" by our forummember Ventrra is a hack of Data Age's "Journey". "Thrust", a completely original game coded from scratch, is a homebrew. Theoretically, homebrew games are simply NEW games for old systems. Not modified old titles.

To address your final question. If Square were to create a US-version of FF II for the NES on cartridge, it would ABSOLUTELY qualify. To me, that would be much like a homebrew, only constructed by a big-time corporation. It's not a hack because they're the original designers. It would, in effect, make that title a "port" just like FF I by Square was. Incidentally, I'd love to see them do this.

Arcade Antics

09-18-2002, 01:13 PM

ADD: Rampart, Krazy Kreatures, Rollerball, Rolling Thunder

DROP: Goonies2, Faxanadu, Archon, Solar Jetman

I'd also pare down all the "series" listings you have, eg: pick ONE of the SMB games that should be there to best represent the series, like SMB3 perhaps. Castlevania - list the first one, drop the other two. Like that.

ubersaurus

09-18-2002, 09:09 PM

I think castlevania 3 owns 1. but thats me. I also agree with SMB3 representing the mario series, but thats only if the series listing is dropped (all those series games are damn good). I agree with dropping goonies two, it never did anything for me, I thought it was boring and confusing. Solar Jetman is sweet, I'd keep that...I think Deja Vu should be added. Of Uninvited, Shadowgat, and Deja Vu, it's the besto ne, and probably one of the most fun games I've ever played on any system. I mean, shoot...what other games for the NES can you beat up a mugger?

Felixthegamer

09-20-2002, 06:37 AM

I am not sure I could personally make a list of 50, but I know of some which would make it. Ghosts 'N Goblins. Yes it is very difficult, but I have spent many hours enjoying it. Castlevania has always been a favourite, super mario brother too. Zelda is good. I know Final Fantasy is widely held as an amazing game, but role playing is not my cup of tea. Ninja Gaiden is good. The first megaman was good, but some of the others were not. I think it is difficult to put a whole series on the list. Usually, there is at least one weak link in a series.

ashbourn

09-20-2002, 11:48 AM

top 50 is too damn big of a list i know there are 600 games but this is 1/12 of the games and that is about all the good games so drop this down to top 20

theaveng

09-20-2002, 07:34 PM

That's the point... to list all the good games worth having/playing. Actually, narrowing down to only 50 was extremely difficult. A top 20 would be impossible.

ratmankey

09-23-2002, 04:35 AM

I agree, the "series" ones really should be pared down to one game. IMHO, here's the best of each series:

Bubble Bobble 2
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1 would be good too, I never really got the appeal of Simon's Quest)
Contra (the first one)
Dragon Warrior IV (one of the best RPGs EVER for ANY system)
Megaman 2, maybe 3 (they're both great, but the series kinda took a dive after that)
Ninja Gaiden 2 (though you could also make a case for 1)
Super Mario Bros. 3

Also where the heck is...

Tecmo Super Bowl (STILL one of the best football games ever)
Kid Icarus (Classic! Way overdue for a comeback)
Kung Fu (another early classic)
Blades of Steel (wayyyy better than Ice Hockey)
Super Dodge Ball (sorry, but I love that game)
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (the worst of the series, but still better than some of the others on the list)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: The Manhattan Project (best beat-em-up on the system)

And come on...Goonies 2??? And yes, I have played the Tengen Tetris and I still think Nintendo's is better.

Still, I gotta give you a lot of credit for including Maniac Mansion, Duck Tales and Kirby's Adventure. Those games just don't get any respect.

ratmankey

09-23-2002, 06:03 AM

Ack! How could I forget?

Battletoads/Double Dragon is the best beat-em-up on the system, not TMNT 3 as I said above. It beats the stuffing out of any other Battletoads or Double Dragon game released before it, not to mention the 16 bit versions of itself. Why it never gets any recognition, I don't understand, but it's a classic in my eyes.

noneed41

10-12-2002, 06:14 PM

kid icarus should be on there...

mattpfeil

10-13-2002, 01:21 AM

North & South is a must as far as im concerned...
Didnt anyone else spend hours upon hours with freinds playing this sweet sweet game?

cspixelmonkey

10-13-2002, 10:51 AM

Goonies 2 needs to stay. That game was a classic action andventure (even though in retrospect some of the translation was a little weird. Ouch! What do you do?=bad translation of "Ouch why did you do that?"
Maniac Mansion is a great choice.
Shadowgate should be in the list. It had atmosphere and depth.
Maybe RC ProAm? I remember playing that quite a bit.
I'm not sure about the choice of Bubble Bobble2 over the first one. I think the original is more of a classic.

Cmtz

10-13-2002, 11:01 AM

What no earthbound!

Cmtz

10-13-2002, 11:03 AM

i second shadowgate I love it.

Tick

10-13-2002, 01:02 PM

Remove Goonies 2 and Short Order/Eggsplode and add Karnov and Shadowgate.

ratmankey

10-13-2002, 03:50 PM

I'll second Karnov and RC Pro-Am (GREAT racing game, even if the lack of a 2-player mode hurt it), and I'll third Shadowgate. Awesome game, no matter how impossible the puzzles were (I didn't beat it till years later.)

Oh, and Cmtz, Earthbound was a Super NES game. And Earthbound 0 doesn't count because it was never officially released in America.

Cmtz

10-13-2002, 04:42 PM

earthbound zero has to count. I love it.

ratmankey

10-13-2002, 04:52 PM

I agree, it's a great game. But personal feelings are beside the point...the rules of the list are no imports, no homebrews, and no prototypes. It has to be a game officially released in the US.

oesiii

10-22-2002, 02:26 PM

I don't like this list at all without 2 of the best sports games for the NES on it:

Blades of Steel
Tecmo Super Bowl

I know they have already been mentioned but they need to be added, I think both of them advanced the sports game genre on consoles with their fast multiplayer action.

Oobgarm

11-06-2002, 08:57 AM

I support the inclusion of Shadowgate.

I reccommend Cobra Triangle. It's often overlooked, but very fun. And, it's by Rare! Also, I think Gun.Smoke needs to be on here too.

ROBOTRON

11-07-2002, 09:19 PM

add:

Zanac
Lifeforce
Mega Man 2
The Guardian Legend
I liked M.U.L.E. too....

Ruudos

11-11-2002, 08:32 AM

These should be in the top 50:
Adventures of Rad Gravity
Adventures of Lolo (series)
Battle of Olympus
Faxanadu
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Solstice
StarTropics
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Ruudos

11-11-2002, 08:35 AM

More:

Batman
Little Samson
Ufouria (I don't care if it isn't released in the US, it was in Europe and so it's on an official NES cart)

klimatron8

12-13-2002, 05:02 PM

Tecmo Bowl or SUPERBOWL has gotta be there. I'd also nominate Kings of the Beach,Shadowgate, Felix the Cat, Ultima-Quest of the Avatar.

nesuser2

02-16-2003, 06:37 PM

balloon fight!!!! and crash and the boys(that might already be up tho...i dont recall) and super dodgeball......balloon fight is one of my all time favorites though

dreamcaster

02-18-2003, 04:46 AM

Bionic Commando should be removed, and Tennis should be added (this game is so damn addictive, especially with two players!)

le geek

02-21-2003, 01:24 AM

I'd Add Dr. Mario, Duck Hunt, Excitebike, Bomberman 2, Super Spy Hunter, High Speed, Arkanoid, Megaman 2 (if it's not on there already) and R.C. Pro Am

I'd lose nine from below (no preference)

Archon
Chip & Dale's Rescue Rangers
Crystalis
Duck Tales 2
Dudes with Attitude/Trolls on Treasure Island
Faxanadu
Guardian Legend
Guerilla War
Journey to Silius
Kickle Cubical
Legacy of the Wizard
Little Ninja Brothers
Solomon's Key
Star Tropics
Wizards & Warriors

Cheers,
le geek

Kid Fenris

02-21-2003, 06:50 PM

I hesitate to suggest this, but perhaps we should start up a new version of the list to include more suggestions from forum members, seeing as how "theaveng" is no longer among us under any screen name, and his treatment of the list may have not have been the best.

I'd like to see Vice: Project Doom up there, myself.

vampyr643

04-03-2003, 11:25 AM

Faxanadu is definatley one of the best games out there same with mike tyson's punch out and the originals of dragon warrior and final fanasy.

chadtower

04-03-2003, 12:47 PM

It should basically be Baseball Stars 49 times and Super Mario Bros as #50.

MonsterSquad

06-21-2003, 02:32 AM

Why are there 57 games in a 50 games list?

lol!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

captain nintendo

06-21-2003, 03:23 AM

baseball stars
super tecmo bowl
metroid
castlevania
zelda
super dodge ball

yes there are alot of great rpgs as well but this is my short list.

by the way, i still enjoy baseball stars so much, i think it is better than most baseball games produced today.

jose.yoshitake

07-04-2003, 06:13 PM

PUT:

Gyruss
PinBot (or High Speed)
Rad Racer
Dr. Mario
Golgo 13
TMNT 2
Isolated Warrior
Burai Fighter
Blades of Steel
Super Spike Volleyball

DROP:

Archon
Chip'n'Dale
Goonies 2
Ice Hockey
Little Ninja Brothers
Pac-Mania
Pirates!
Wizards & Warriors

irata

08-11-2003, 11:13 AM

Just wanted to second (sometimes third) the recommendations of
RC Pro AM
Gyruss
Super Dodge Ball
Tecmo Bowl or Superbowl - Either one

To this day though I would much rather play plain ol' Ice Hockey over Blades of Steel any day of the week.

And leave Kickle Cubicle on there. Same with Goonies 2 but keep Karnov far away from this list. Like back in Russia.

I don't mean any disrespect but Skate or Die is far superior to T&C. Always has been, always will. It was truly the predecessor to the Tony Hawk series.

King_Collector

08-13-2003, 06:51 PM

:o wheres mario brothers 3?!

-J-

10-20-2003, 09:30 AM

i only have teenage mutant ninja turtles and total recall they are great games one of them should be on the list.

digitalpress

10-20-2003, 11:15 AM

i only have teenage mutant ninja turtles and total recall they are great games one of them should be on the list.

You're kidding, right? First of all if those are the only two games you have, you really need to EXPLORE this system. Second, Total Recall belongs on a "worst of" list. You'd probably really dig the NES if you tried a few of the games on the current top 50 list! Go forth and conquer. But please leave Total Recall out of it.

Zubiac666

10-20-2003, 01:05 PM

digitalpress

10-20-2003, 01:47 PM

:o wheres mario brothers 3?!

It's "Super Mario Brothers 3"... and it's on the list already!

jgenotte

10-22-2003, 02:06 PM

I am new to the forum, so forgive me if I am overstepping my bounds. NES is far and away my favorite system: Tons o Fun! I suggest a new list be made from the suggestions of the people. I have complied a list using a formula: plus 1 for agreements and minus 1 for disagreements. There were 25 clear winners and i personally chose the last 25 rom the "+1" ties. Listed below are the top 50 games and their scores.

6 Shadowgate
6 Tecmo Super Bowl
5 RC Pro Am
4 Castlevania 1
4 Super Dodge Ball
4 Super Mario Brothers 3
3 Baseball Stars
3 Kid Icarus
3 Legend of Zelda
3 Mega Man 2
3 Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!
3 Ninja Gaiden 1
2 Blades of Steel
2 Dr. Mario
2 Excitebike
2 Final Fantasy
2 Galaga
2 Ghosts and Gobblins
2 Gyrus
2 Karnov
2 Legend of Zelda 2
2 Life Force
2 Mega Man 3
2 Metroid
2 Rad Racer
1 Base Wars
1 Battletoads
1 Contra 1
1 Contra 2
1 Double Dragon 2
1 Dragon Warrior 1
1 Dragon Warrior 4
1 Duck Hunt
1 Jackal
1 Kid Niki
1 Kings of the Beach
1 Kung Fu
1 Metal Gear
1 Micro Machines
1 River City Ransom
1 Skate or Die 2
1 Spy Hunter
1 Star Tropics
1 Super Off Road
1 Super Spike Volleyball
1 Tetris (Tengen)
1 Tigel Helli
1 Castlevania 3
1 Ninja Gaiden 2
1 Super Mario Brothers 1

there you have it. PS: below are my approvals and addition suggestions (and yes they were counted in the above list).

Karnov
Tecmo Super Bowl
Tiger Helli
Jackal
Contra
Tetris (either one)
Super Mario 1
Super Mario 3
Mega Man 2
RC Pro Am
Final Fantasy
Exctite Bike
Super Dodge Ball
Base Wars
Dragon Warrior 4
Metriod

I hope most people agree with most of the my top 50.

Dr. Morbis

10-22-2003, 03:20 PM

You're list looks good. Thanks for taking the initiative. Somebody had to do this because theaveng won't be updating the list anytime soon. The problem with the nes is that there are SO MANY good games. You will never ever get a list that everyone will even remotely agree to. This system is the king of closet classics. One person might have a game at #5 that most others haven't even played.

My only complaint is that it's not alphabetical. It makes it really tough to look for individual games.

Good job with the compilation though :D

Rev. Link

10-24-2003, 10:21 PM

Whoa, no Zelda II? Blasphemy! I know it wasn't the greatest game in the series, but it's still Zelda! Drop Archon or Ice Hockey or Burgertime for Zelda II, please!

whoisKeel

10-25-2003, 01:48 AM

#1 Star Voyager lol, joking, i still don't get this game

i vote shadowgate again, i didn't think it was too hard as i beat it as a kid
drop freaking wizards and warriors, i played the hell out of it as a kid, but the game is just weak now (look at this for laugh and nostalga of the game http://www.seanbaby.com/nes/useless.htm )

spy hunter ( true, not a good port, but i actually prefer this over the arcade)
dr. mario

studmixer

11-23-2003, 02:54 PM

Hello everyone, just joined your awesome site!!

Although my favorite games are kinda easy, I still think they should make the llist. 8-)

Klax
Elevator Action
Burgertime

I dunno, I have liked burgertime since Intellivision!

Take care!!

pango

11-23-2003, 10:12 PM

In my opinion the Kunio Nekketsu series were the greatest to ever hit the greatest 8-bit system of all time.

bensenvill

11-25-2003, 03:23 AM

Perhaps it would be easier to appease people if the list was rephrased to something like "Top 50 games that made NES great". While I am a die hard Maniac Mansion fan, it pales in the comparision to the pc version (and there are others like Pirates! and especially tetris, every system had tetris).

Games that need to be listed are
Paperboy
Tecmo bowl
Dr Mario
Spy Hunter
TMNT2
punch out
excite bike

if it was up to me I'd also have
Pipe Dream but thats me

adaml

11-28-2003, 06:52 PM

Predator.

eze

12-07-2003, 08:38 PM

I think spy hunter should defenantly be in there. Also, menace beach/sunday funday is a really fun game if anyones played it. The simpsons series was a lot of fun as well.

charitycasegreg

12-07-2003, 10:43 PM

Gotta have Super Mario 3 at #1. It was the highest selling game ever made right? And its one of the most fun games ever. Ducktales is fun. That should be high. The megaman games are awesome too. They should be 20 or better.

originalnesmaster

01-25-2004, 01:58 AM

i think you can eliminate like 15 off your list and come up with some much better replacements. get rid of archon, journey to silus and some others. one of the best games to ever come out for nintendo is R.C. Pro-Am 2 it's too bad it's kind of rare but 4 players with this game is the best game on nintendo or even one player. the lolo series are fun, and dr. mario is great. tecmo bowl should be in there, mike tyson punch-out, star tropics is highly underrated and a few others.

NintendoMan

01-25-2004, 08:53 AM

Definatley Rad Racer and Zelda 2 Adventure of Link. Maybe even Bionic Commando!

Balloon Fight

01-25-2004, 07:35 PM

Balloon Fight has got to be up there, and the same with Kirby's Adventure. :)

Also, i saw that someone mentioned Ufouria, and if we are adding Euro titles to the list, add Mr. Gimmick.

Ninja Blacksox

05-01-2004, 12:06 AM

It should basically be Baseball Stars 49 times and Super Mario Bros as #50.

My kind of guy... Although, I would make it "Baseball Stars" 49 times and "Kid Icarus" as #50... Two franchises that have to be brought back from the dead...

-Dave

einbebop

05-01-2004, 04:54 PM

Out of a TOP 50 LIST, there was no room for Kid Icarus? I reject this list completely.

SirDrexl

05-03-2004, 02:52 PM

Although Pirates! is my favorite NES game ever, I would not object to removing it from the list to make room for something else, since Pirates! Gold on Genesis or PC is pretty much the same game with better graphics.

FlufflePuff

05-06-2004, 12:48 AM

Wild Gunman.

I mean who hasn't stood in front of your tv, Zapper at your hip, trying to outdraw the game? So much fun. Not sure if this should be on a 50 greatest list, but certainly on a "50 games that made the NES great" list.

-hellvin-

05-06-2004, 02:55 AM

I wouldn't mind seeing Pirates and Solomon's Key go to get Zelda 2 back up and Kid Icarus in.

rscaramelo

06-14-2004, 02:57 PM

1. Tecmo Bowl!!!!!!! This game may be responsible for at least a dozen of my dormmates at Northeastern U dropping out. Fall of 90 was the Fall of Tecmo Bowl tournaments. I can't believe how many days we spent getting bleepfaced with my buddies playing this. My 1.75 GPA that first semester can be directly blamed on Tecmo.
2. Blades of Steel. I'm showing my inclinations towards sports games here. There hasn't been a single hockey game since that has given me more enjoyment. Look at my sig.

Roger

Lemmy Kilmister

06-14-2004, 03:13 PM

My picks would have to be

clash at demonhead
master blaster
contra
castlevania 3
mario 1 and 3
metroid
duck tales
TMNT 2
iron tank
crystalis
zelda

classicb

06-25-2004, 01:47 AM

NESaholic

07-28-2004, 04:43 AM

Gun Smoke,Dizzy,Bonk. Well and some more. :D

digitalpress

08-03-2004, 05:05 PM

Tecmo Super Bowl !!!!!

what will it take? I counted 7 entries prior to mine asking for this game. I don't know get rid of Journey to Silius its not that fun. This is the game that started it all. In fact the newer games still can't touch this legend.

It's very difficult to change this list, which has been meticulously crafted and refined over several years... but the time for change is now.

Very good cases had been made for Journey to Silius in the past (on our previous version of this forum, if memory serves) but there are better arguments for getting this Tecmo classic on the list where it belongs.