You can only pick 3. Desert Island Nintendo NES

[GrandAmChandler]

Desert Island Nintendo NES! YOU are stranded on a desert island alone, with a console, power adapter, TV Hookups, TV, and one standard controller. There is a crate with EVERY game imaginable inside. However you can only pick 3 cartridges. This includes homebrew games, but there are no multi-carts, compilation carts (Super Mario All-Stars, Mega Man Anthology, etc.) accessories, game enhancers, or anything else out of the ordinary present. You have 3 games to pick from for what may be the rest of your life. Which three do you choose?

Today's Desert Island is Nintendo NES. Pick 3 valid cartridges, and explain your reasoning for each one! Include pictures of cartridges, screenshots, or whatever else you would like to display! If this goes well, I may be doing these weekly. This thread will only be as good as you make it, so lets see some effort!

-GAC-
____________

[thom_m]

Dammit, tough one!! Out of the blue, I guess I'd go with Gradius II (Fami games count?), TMNT 3 and Tengen Tetris.

- Gradius II because I love it to the guts, it's reasonably long, and has nice replay value (eventually, i f I got sick of it, I'd try to beat it without the Konami code and voila!, a new challenge!) ;

- TNMT 3 because I think it's REALLY fun, and always have a blast playing it, even alone. The best one of the series, and one of the best beat'em ups of the system, IMO;

- Tengen Tetris because Tetris would never, ever get old; I chose the Tengen version because it's the only one I know, since it's the one that came in the pirate Fami multicarts we all had here back in the day...but, if it's against the rules, I'd go with the regular NES version.


EDIT: Did you guys notice that, although he does say we have a NES power adapter, GAC never mentions that the Island actually has electricity? Now that would be kinda cruel...

[tom]

Godzilla, Taboo the sixth sense, Friday the 13th, punishment for the rest of your life

[Kuabatake_Sanjuro]

Final Fantasy, Tetris, Ninja Gaiden

[mobiusclimber]

Crystalis - This is game is so much fun I can play it over and over again.
Dragon Warrior 3 - I haven't played this one yet, so hopefully it's as good as I've heard. I guess I can take my chances. LOL
Kirby's Adventure - It's just such a good game and I'm going to need something fun to just pick up and play since I've already got two RPGs.

[dreamcaster]

Super Mario Bros., Adventures of Lolo 3 and let's saaaaay...yeah Gradius. I don't have the NES version anymore but if I had to pick NES titles only, it'd be in there.

[NessFreaK]

aww man thats a tough one... im going to have to say:

metroid (deep and long enough to keep me going)
super mario bros 3 (i could run keep playing that game till the day i die)
ninja gaiden (maybe it i was stranded on a deserted island i would finally be able to beat it!)

[kupomogli]

Final Fantasy. Fairly long game and easily one of my favorite NES titles. I've replayed this game hundreds of times and even though I know every bit of it by heart, I still continue to play it.

Castlevania 3. I like the original Castlevania better, but I'd choose this over it solely because of replayability. CV3 has over double the amount of areas with 15 stages over the original's six. I have also never beaten CV3 in a single life, though a single continue, yes. So since only three games are able to be chosen, and I don't want to bring two games that are almost exactly the same, CV3 is my choice.

The first two choices were easy but the last choice was extremely difficult. The games that came to mind were Mega Man 3, Super Mario Bros 3, Ninja Gaiden 2, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms 2, and after scanning over my game list, then they stayed my best choices. I was actually thinking of which one I'd rather take for quite some time. Mega Man 3 is my favored game, but not so much over Ninja Gaiden 2, and the platforming and difficulty isn't as good as Ninja Gaiden 2(though still good.) Super Mario Bros. 3 has platforming of both the other games beat due to length of the game, but it's extremely easy, even on world 7 which is the hardest world. But then I thought about RotK2 again, which amount of replayability goes over any of the games listed by a ton, not to mention the game itself is already fairly long, and the fact the game as a strategy game is usually never the same game twice. After coming back from getting something to eat I finally decided on a game.

Mega Man 2. Yeah. Not even one of the ones originally came to my mind. Basically narrowed the games down to Mega Man 3 and Ninja Gaiden 2, but thought that the bosses were much better fighting in Mega Man 3. Stages and platforming were much better in NG2 though, but then Mega Man 3 has the boss abilities. But then that's why I thought of Mega Man 2. All the boss abilities are actually nice to use and it's almost as good as Mega Man 3 where as the boss abilities in Mega Man 3 are mostly, ehhh.

[ShinobiMan]

This will not be hard for me.

- Mega Man 2 because it was the game that sealed my fate as a hardcore gamer. Never before or since has there been a game that I wanted SO badly, and enjoyed SO immensely once received. I still play it to this day, and every time I do, it brings me back to one of the happiest moments of my life.

- Castlevania 3 because it was my first Castlevania game, and still one of my favorites. It introduced me to what is probably my favorite series of video games. Nothing since has been able to replicate the unique atmosphere that the title screen alone provides.

- Super Mario 3 because of the impact it had on me as a child. Honestly, my favorite video games are the one's that are still fun to play today, that also had a lasting effect on my childhood memories. Super Mario 3 is the epitome of nostalgia.

I was very tempted to include Ninja Gaiden... which would definitely be my 4th choice.

[AB Positive]

This will be hard for me, but I think I'd have to go with the following (not the lack of Mario 3... I've literally beat this so many times I'm not sure I want to see it again...)


1) Mega Man III

Yes, many people put II ahead of this, but III's my favorite. It's the first one I beat, a nice challenge to it, and great music.


2) Final Fantasy

Yeah, I'm one of those "LEMME BEAT IT WITH FOUR RED MAGES!" people.


3) Tower of Druaga w/ Honeybee convertor

Famicom only, but isn't much of a hack to get it to work so hey. I want to beat this game legit, and a desert island situation would probably be my best shot. Fun as hell, stupidly hard... my kind of game :D

[bigred5687]

Final Fantasy: Could try and beat it with every combination.
Super Mario Bros. 3: Always need a good Mario game.
Curve ball here i am going to go with
Sweet Home: Man i love this game cant get enough of it.

[fahlim003]

Until the end of my days I have to keep busy so it's an easy pick, at least the first game.

1. Tetris (Nintendo or Tengen, doesn't matter) - this will would keep me occupied for enough hours and surely will return to haunt my dreams in time.

2. Balloon Fight - the normal game and Balloon Trip both offer lots of replay, like many other early Nintendo offerings. No complaints here.

3. Recca - a challenging and interesting shooter with lots of modes and variables. Great graphics and sound.

It's good to be limited but obviously it's a choice that needs good foresight and despite omitting a few games I really like I overlooked that and strived to pick games with longevity. Notable omissions: SMB3, Donkey Kong 3, Wrecking Crew, Excitebike, The Legend of Zelda, Ice Climbers, and perhaps EarthBound.

[Pantechnicon]

1. Flipull - A nice addictive puzzler alternative to Tetris.
2. Super Mario Brothers 3 - I've barely played it, never beaten it, so I imagine it would keep me busy.
3. Battle Chess - Because it's chess.

Note: Any time GAC makes a "Desert Island Console" thread I'm going to include a chess game, if one exists, and regardless of the console's other options available. As we used to say in Nebraska, "Time don't mean nuthin' to a pig".

[Ruudos]

StarTropics
Dr. Mario
Mega Man 3

[kupomogli]

3. Battle Chess - Because it's chess.

Battle Chess takes a ridiculous amount of time for one turn to end, especially whenever another piece is taken. You might be rescued from the desert island before you finish the game.

[thom_m]

metroid (deep and long enough to keep me going)

Damn, I forgot about it..I love Metroid!! But I guess I'll stick to my list...Metroid can get kinda frustrating sometimes.

[buzz_n64]

1. Super Mario Bros. 3
Lots of levels, fun, mini games, and a ton of replay value.

2. Blaster Master
Very fun adventure, and time consumer. Exploration within the levels brings more game play when you slightly stray off the proper path. Catchy music, awesome power ups, and a great challenge.

3. Super Mario World (Hong Kong original) The game is slightly glitchy, but very playable, and feels enough like the snes mario world to me that that I wish this was actually produced by in greater numbers, I want a physical copy! Nintendo could have done a great job if they made this, but it's still really good.

[seductussum]

Kirby's Adventure--At the very least this is one of my favorite platform games of all time.

Tetris--INFINITE replay value. One of those games I could really geek-out on as I got better and better.

1943: The Battle of Midway--Super high sentimental value, great replay value.

[jonebone]

Tecmo Super Bowl - Tons of replay value, would probably beat it with every team.

Final Fantasy - Lots of replay value again, would try lots of combinations.

Mega Man 2 - Just a classic that I could play for hours and hours.

[Lady Jaye]

Here are my 3 picks:

Baseball Stars -- my favorite baseball game on the NES... firing the team manager is fun! And it uses stats in a way that's utterly modern.

http://www.coldhardflash.com/images/strngbd-gm5.jpg

The Adventure of Link -- maybe finally get around to finish that game! Here's the FDS cover. Even though the NES cover is a classic, I just love the anime-style Link!

http://i.neoseeker.com/boxshots/R2FtZXMvTmludGVuZG9fRW50ZXJ0YWlubWVudF9TeXN0ZW0vQW N0aW9uL0FkdmVudHVyZQ==/zelda_ii_the_adventure_of_link_frontcover_large_NO Xyf911sLx1yma.jpg

Bionic Commando -- I never got far in the game either, even though I really like it! At least the cover art is much better than the cover found on some other NES games (thinking of Mega Man, of course).

http://loot-ninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/bioniccommando.jpg

[ScottK]

Mega Man 2 - My Favorite NES Game
Super Mario Bros. 3 - Who Doesn't Like This Game?
Ninja Gaiden II - Probably My Most Played NES Game

[DDCecil]

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/761/picture139m.jpg

*Note - Are hacks acceptable? If not, replace FF with Dragon Warrior III.

Ninja Gaiden II - My favorite game of all-time.

Blaster Master - buzz_n64 said it perfectly in his post.

(DDCecil's) Final Fantasy - I fixed what I thought was wrong with the original version (faster walking speed, buy more items at once, and hidden passages) and would love to play through it with all combinations of classes and maybe some more solo character quests.

[NoahsMyBro]

Call me a heretic, but I never spent much time with the NES, and don't know many games on the system.

That said, from my limited experience with the system I'd pick:

Dr. Mario -- have played, and liked.
Ghosts N' Goblins -- ditto
Pirates! -- Looks interesting. I hope it isn't a dud, if I'm stuck with it for 40 years!

[ryborg]

Tecmo Super Bowl - Tons of replay value, would probably beat it with every team.

Final Fantasy - Lots of replay value again, would try lots of combinations.

Mega Man 2 - Just a classic that I could play for hours and hours.

I came here to post this but found out it had already been posted. :cheers:

[Baloo]

If I had to pick only 3 carts?:

Contra - Endless hours of fun that's super hard, so it won't get boring.
Super Mario Bros. 3 - Same
Defender II - I love Defender II.

[Eyedunno]

Do Famicom games count? If so, my picks are:
SMB3
Super Dodge Ball (or actually, Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball-bu)
Final Fantasy III

Otherwise, um...
SMB3
Super Dodge Ball
Nuts 'n Milk (I just wonder if I could master the weird jump control after years on a desert island with no savestates...)

[Damon Plus]

Let's see: If I were to stay on a desert island, I'd never choose my favourite game. It would probably get old fast since I've been playing it forever. Maybe if the game had inmense replay value (FF is a good example).

Games I WOULD choose:

Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior 3, and other customizable rpgs: Not a favourite of mine, but it's replay value is very good because you have a lot of combinations between characters, as some users have noted. This raises a question: does the batteries in games die?

Tetris, Dr Mario... : Puzzle games are infinitely replayable, not much to explain.

Chessmaster, other Chess games: Just like puzzle.

Maybe, a sidescroller with very good replayability (Super Mario Bros 3, River City Ransom...): Games where every time you play it's different, or where you can use some challenges (small Mario, no P-Wings...)

Tecmo Super Bowl: 27-28 teams to play, a coach mode, and lots of challenges...

Which games I WOULDN'T CHOOSE:

Sports games with no variety: Blades of Steel, Double Dribble...

Beat'em-ups or side-scrollers with no replayability: Double Dragon, TMNT2-3...

[BetaWolf47]

Adventure Island
Adventure Island 2
Adventure Island 3

Seriously though, Super Mario Bros., Mega Man 4, and Battle of Olympus.

[stonecutter]

Great thread! I like seeing others choices and how there are a few common choices.

First I would have to choose from a selection of this group. Tengen Tetris, QIX, Fire & Ice, Bubble Bobble, Arkanoid II (if a famicom game can be considered) and Thunder and Lightning.

Next would be between Little Samson, Battle of Olympus, The Flintstones: Surprise at Dinosaur Peak, Super Mario World 3.

Sports wise, a no-brainer for me, no choices.

After much deliberation I will say my final answer is:

Baseball Simulator 1.000 - Very deep, lots of custom options, great stats, I have gotten a lot of play out of this title. Tons of replay value to me.

Tengen Tetris - Another game I know I can spend infinate time playing, never getting bored of it.

Little Samson - Love this game, and though I haven't played as much as my first 2 choices, I am confident it deserves a lot more play than I have done already.

[fergojisan]

Legend Of Zelda - Depending on the day, this is my 1st or 2nd favorite video game of all time. Plus you get two games for the price of one. :)

Super Mario Bros. 2 - Yeah, I said it. To this day, this is the only Mario game I have ever beaten. I've played 1 and 3 to death with lots of frustration, so 2 will help me keep my stress levels down.

Monopoly - I love me some Monopoly, and the NES version has spoiled all other video game versions that I have played (I think I have 5 others). Plus I love the music.

[PC-ENGINE HELL]

Cabal, Bionic Commando, and Double Dragon 2.

[Voliko]

Castlevania III - I adore this game. The atmosphere, the music, the style, everything about it does it for me and the gameplay is top notch.

Super Mario Bros 3 - My favorite Mario game, I have played through it so many times, I could not part with it.

Dragon Warrior III - one of the best RPG's on the system to keep me entertained.

Hmm, a lot of 3's.

I would have liked to slip in Tetris in there, either version. Oh well.

[DefaultGen]

.....

[IronBuddha]

I would have to say Ninja Gaiden 1, 2 and 3. Since I'm going to have tons of time on my hands I might as well learn to defeat all three of them without getting touched once. Then after I accomplish that I hang myself from a coconut tree with the controller.

[MachineGex]

Man...got to have a baseball game. Picking one would be difficult.
1. Baseball Stars just barely beats out Baseball Sim. 1.000
- I wonder how many seasons I could play without getting tired of these two baseball games?
2. SM3
3. I would have to say Micro Machines. I love that game and might be able to beat it one day. If a Genesis system was available, one of the micromachines(I think it is Micro Machine '96) megadrive game has a track editor in it, that would be fun also.

[pseudonym]

Tough choices for me,

Super Mario Bros. 3: Some people might disagree but I consider this easily the best game on the NES. It's not too hard, not too easy, and it's a game you can easily pick up and play for awhile, skip worlds with the flute, or play through the entire game if you feel like it.

Adv of Lolo 3: My favorite puzzle game. Has a lot of progressively difficult rooms to clear and replay value. I love trying to find more efficient / quicker ways to clear each room in the game.

Solomon's Key: Much like Adv. of Lolo 3 it's a simple puzzle / platformer that's easy to get into but difficult to master. The final 8 or so rooms in this game are brutal, I've never been able to clear them on the actual hardware without a lot of replays (or copious savestating on an emulator). Tons of replay value in this game.

[Balloon Fight]

1. Little Samson - An AMAZING game thats pretty unknown even still.
2. Mega Man 2 - Its friggin mega man 2. Nuff said.
3. Mr. Gimmick - Another game that collectors know of, but still most haven't played. Just absolutely incredible.

Close Cuts = Gradius/Balloon Fight/Tetris

[jwlowry]

Great thread...

1. Final Fantasy - never completed it without Game Genie assistance

2. Tecmo Super Bowl - somehow this one never gets old for me

3. Dr. Mario - unmatched replay value, just above Tetris IMO

[drwily008]

1. Dragon Warrior IV - This game is an all time favorite of mine. It takes FOREVER to level up towards the end.

2. Super Mario Bros. 3 - It has been stated before that it is just something you could play forever.

3. Tetris - Nintendo version was more polished. And with the lack of a second player I would pick that version.

The sadistic man handing the games out made me an offer: Cut of your right ring finger with a dull butter knife for one more game and I chose Metroid. Maybe I will finally beat it without a Game Genie HAHA.

[Roganjohn]

zelda, tetris, international cricket

[ReTrO-pLaYeR]

Super Mario Bros. 3- It's a timeless classic- I still probably haven't found every bonus room in the game. Even after beating it, I'll still want to come back to play it as the level design never gets old.

Battletoads- I've never played this on an actual console, but I hear it's very difficult- something I'd always like to play. Considering I'll have thousands of hours to kill, this doesn't seem like a bad choice even on impulse.

Ninja Gaiden- Also a very tough one- it'll be fun to tackle after BattleToads.

[NerdXCrewWill]

1.) Super Mario Bros. 3 - I don't think there's a whole lot to add about this one. Possibly the best level design in a video game ever. It's absolutely amazing. Best NES game ever.

2.) Wario's Woods - While Tetris is fun, it's not Wario's Woods fun. This is the ultimate puzzler, and my second favorite NES game. It is addictive and challenging to the brain and reflexes. This will keep me occupied until the end of time.

3.) Final Fantasy III - Fan translation of course. I admit this is the easiest of the three Final Fantasy games for the NES (all of which I find to be more enjoyable than other RPGs on the system). I am tempted to put Final Fantasy II on here for the increased difficulty level and the much longer length. I think, however, Final Fantasy III is a much better production, with superior graphics and soundtrack, and features a more immersive fantasy world. The job system probably adds some replay value, as well.

[Asuraka]

Tecmo Super Bowl - Yeah.

1942 - Mindless fun.

Pinball Quest - Because insanity will surely ensue.

[The 1 2 P]

Since the Nes is one of my three favorite systems of all time, breaking this down into only three games was very challenging. But without further ado...

Gunsmoke: Because the music and gameplay is second to none. So simple even a caveman can enjoy it. Plus I've beaten it a gazillion times and still never get tired of it.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Known for being quite the challenging adventure, I've enjoyed this game ever since my first play thru. I now have to go back and beat the Japanese famicom version I acquired some time ago.

Mike Tyson's Punchout: As much as I've beaten this game I've never once KO'd Iron Mike so this would give me the perfect chance to get enough practice in to do so. Plus, the list of characters with their special moves is nothing but classic.

[ConsoleAddict]

Dragon Warrior III and IV

I have not played these two games; I pretty much stopped gaming on the NES once the next generation of consoles arrived. These two games would be perfect if I were stuck on a Desert Island.

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out

The perfect game to take my frustrations out on. Slapping around Glass Joe, Piston Honda and Soda Popinski never gets old.

[shadows]

Dr Mario : Endless fun. Well only if I am able to train a monkey to play against me. Otherwise, Contra.
Ninja Gaiden III : I'll probably end up throwing the console in the ocean. But it still makes the list as it would keep me busy for a long time before I can I finally the end screen.
Mario Bros 3 : The best one in the series, even after 20+ years of playing it. I still enjoy playing it.

[Johnny_Boy]

I do enjoy these topics, but I can't help but feel annoyed at the desert island criteria. I believe it puts too much emphasis on long-term playability, to the potential detriment of the quality of said gameplay. Things like grinding (RPGs,) and fetch quests (action-adventure games) tend to rear their ugly heads. So, in my case, I prefer to imagine a scenario similar to this:

"I go on living my daily life, but am stuck for two months (more if heavy gamer) with only one console, an NES, and three games of my choosing."

I'd try to go with multi-depth titles that I haven't played to death, and pick three distinct genres so they don't step on each other's toes. They could be:

Gimmick!
This video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYcf2yUgblc) explains it all, with style. The game is like a shy girl with seemingly unremarkable looks that ends up being dynamite in the bedroom.

Solar Jetman
Devil of a game, because of its control scheme and environments, but gives a great feeling of accomplishment when moving forward. Based on Thrust, which was based on Gravitar. Gravitron 2 for PC carries the torch, and so does one or two others on the PSN network.

Love Warrior Nichol
Could be described as Zelda with guns, with Konami's usual flair. Has a definite MSX2 feeling to it, in a good way. Unjustly underrated, or unknown.

if no FDS (Famicom Disk System,) then... a pure action game for stress relief. Let's say... Iron Tank.

[Arcade_Ness]

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!-I never got far in that game and now I have the perfect opportunity to finally beat it.

Blaster Master-Great music and tough but rewarding gameplay. Also never finished it.

Gun Smoke-I find that game so damn addicting. Too much fun.

[guitargary75]

SMB3
Contra
The Legend of Zelda

[Damaramu]

Metal Storm - My favorite NES game!

Final Fantasy - As mentioned before, tons of party combinations to try out; plus I love level grinding.

River City Ransom - BARF! It's this or Mighty Final Fight.

[nensondubois]

Tough call...

Stadium Events
Poed
I Qube

[SOL BADGUY]

AHAHAHAHA!

I was looking for "favorite hacks" in search, saw this thread, thought Id bump it, and this guy had this avatar before me. I think this is really deserving of a bump then.

Mine would be

Super Mario 3
Gun Nac, cause Id want a shooter game
and this!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gXLx8x0ZQe8

EDIT, changed it darn it. :S

[Atarileaf]

Balloon Fight
Defender II
Blades of Steel

Easy choices for me.

[genesisguy]

Contra
Super Mario Bros 2
Ducktales

[Mattiekrome]

NES Open Golf
R.B.I. Baseball
Super Mario Bros. 3

I went for those with replay value

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

River City Ransom
Super Mario 3
Castlevania 3

[treismac]

Tetris- This is a simple choice. The game is to be mastered, not played, so it would work well on a deserted island.

Super Mario Bros.- I just really love this game and probably play it more than any other NES game. It is just platforming at its finest and I already play it quasi-ritualistically, so this was an easy choice.

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out- Over the years I find myself coming back to this game over and over again. The sense of triumph and elation I get from playing this game is unrivaled.

I didn't pick Contra because the game is at its best with two players, so having it to play would be a reminder of my loneliness.

[FrankSerpico]

Crystalis-my favorite setting of any NES game
Super Mario Bros. 3-Because come on, how could I not?
Tecmo Super Bowl-Because best football game EVER

[SpaceHarrier]

Super Mario Bros. 3 - Great diversity, and pixel art I've admired since I was a kid.
Mega Man 2 - Ok, it's great and all, but I'm really thinking here I could just jam out to the music. I'm assuming I didn't get to sneak an ipod onto this island.

This is the hard one now.. so many I could choose. I already have two platformers... so... um..

Super Mario Bros. 2 - Eff it, I was going to pick something else, maybe a game with higher 'replay value' or a different genre, like racing... but naww.

[MachineGex]

I wonder if anyone's answer would change if you had a second controller and a second person to play against?

2 Players:
Micro Machines
RBI Baseball
S. Tecmo Bowl

[Crystalian]

FrankSerpico, I'm flattered and obviously I agree! FrankieSaysRelax, you're killing me because SMB3 and Castlevania 3 are both on my "short list", games I just can't leave behind. However, the rules are for three and as epic as some games are, someone has to get cut. So my three are:

1. Crystalis= Serpico nailed it. No other NES game is like this. I feel this game would have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with ANY 16-bit RPG had it been given the opportunity. As it is, it just has to settle for looking nearly as good as (to the point of being nearly indestinguishable from) it's younger siblings while only having "half the bits". Also, is there any other game on the planet that has "Psycho Armor" in it?

2. Kirby's Adventure= Can't get enough of the pink guy, and this one holds up well even today. I would pick plenty of games to give you an huge open-world feel, but Kirby's levels packet up a bunch of different themes without ever feeling restricting, so I give it the edge. That also brings me to...

3. Super Mario Bros. 3= This freakin' kills me. I WANT to put Metroid, or Final Fantasy, or Castlevania 3, or Bubble Bobble, or Mega Man 3, or so many others it hurts. I'm obligated to put this here however because it's a masterpiece! You can't comprehend just how awesome this game is if you weren't there in the middle of growing up when it came out. It was the centerpiece of the movie "The Wizard". It was the biggest Mario with the most secrets and most precise controls, and is honestly more impressive to me than Super Mario World. It was the best-selling title in history for YEARS (I believe it was finally unthroned by HALO of all things)! McDonalds hooked me up with cool back-flipping Goombas for my entertainment system. And the memories... Kuribo's Shoe, NEEDING to save a cloud gem to get past the mini-fortress in World 8, trying to beat the Koopa Kids in a frog suit so the mushroom retainer would give me an alternate thank you message, hidden ships full of coins and an Anchor item, Giant World, de-flaming Bowser with a P-Wing... You can't put this much EPICNESS aside. Metroid would be in this spot if it weren't for all the Tanooki-wearing, Troopa-stomping, Pipe Maze-navigating, Big Boss Bass-avoiding, Sledge-hammer tossing, Warp Whistle-blowing fun that I had and continue to have with this game of games. A top ten would be easier, but if it has to be three then it has to be three, Super Mario Bros. 3!

[MeTmKnice]

Too much thought involved..
But if I had to pick..

Bubble Bobble
Metal Gear
Gyromite with ROB!

[Tron 2.0]

Castlvania 3 Dracula Curse
Contra
Super Mario Bros 3

Far contra and CV3 go's it has to be the famicom version of course.

[Xander]

Very tough choices.

Final Fantasy
Super Mario Bros 3
Contra

[The Clonus Horror]

Jackal
Balloon Fight
Rolling Thunder

[Parodius Duh!]

Ducktales - its awesome.

Panic Restaurant - its awesome.

Castlevania - its awesome.

[o.pwuaioc]

Adventure Island - not sure which one, yet, but I'd pick the longest and hardest while still be of the best (I think 3, right?).

Final Fantasy III or Dragon Warrior IV - gotta have a nice story in here.

Bubble Bobble, Dr. Mario, or Balloon Fight - all three pick up with great replayability, but I'm leaning toward the third.

[RichardNES]

3 games huh? Hmmm...well DuckTales would have to be one, it's one of the biggest nostalgia factories for me and is just so damn fun.
Super Mario 3 is another, same reasoning as above lol
The third is a tough choice..but I go with Shadow of the Ninja, as it is so very hard for me I never beat it. It would most likely keep me busy for a long time.

[PreZZ]

Peek a boo poker, hot slots and bubble bath babes. Remember, you are ALONE on the island!!

[fairyland]

Crystalis - Love the music, the game is so unique, I've played and finished it at least a dozen times, even on GBC. It's my favorite NES game.

Super Mario 2 - It is long and easy enough to beat than SMB 1 or 3. The art is cartoonish and fun, but best of all you can play as the Princess! Hover and float!

Battle of Olympus - Great music as well. The game is challenging and so much fun. Another one I've played and beat many times over.

Honorable Mention = Milon's Secret Castle - I'd probably want this instead of SMB2 as I'll get so bored on the island and this game would take me months to beat without a game genie. I love the game but I always needed a GG for it.

[gunswordfist]

Sweet Home - The precursor to the Resident Evil series and the true greatest NES game. There's no annoying shops and grinding in this game, you can switch between and separate characters at any time, anywhere in the massive castle and the creepy atmosphere, monster encounters, puzzles and traps keep things interesting. Simply put, I'd love to replay this game. I'd try to get the other endings.

Little Samson - Great platformer that let's you switch between 4 different characters at any time after their intro levels. I believe I could get some good hours out of this game.

TMNT 3 - I want to try out an underrated beat em up and beat em ups help kill time.