It's 1986..Which would you choose?

[armonigann]

O.K. another senseless thread.

Imagine: It's 1986, and you know then what you know now (only about video games. Anything else would be a whole different story).

You are in the toy/electronics store and in front of you on the shelf are brand new Consoles and behind the counter are all the games.

For some odd reason you can only purchase a complete console and 4 games.

Remember it's '86 so your choices are:

Atari 2600 jr.
Atari 7800
NES
Sega Master

What console would you purchase and what 4 games do you choose?

[Xtincthed]

NES with the 4 rarest black box games.. leave them all sealed :p

[buzz_n64]

1986 huh?

NES

Super Mario Bros.
Mario Bros.
Gradius
Balloon Fight

[Oldskool]

The NES of course, knowing what I know now, and even not knowing what I know now.

[Atarileaf]

I'd go with the 7800 but I'm not sure which games were available in 1986. Many games have 1987 copyright dates but I don't know if they're accurate or not.

With that in mind I'd go with the NES since I'm not sure if I can choose the 7800 according to the rules of the question:

Balloon Fight
Pinball
Kung Fu
Popeye

HOWEVER, assuming some of those 1987 release dates must be wrong unless there were no 7800 games when the system was released (would seem stupid, even Pole Position II, the pack in game has a 1987 copyright date) I'd go with the 7800 and

Food Fight
Ms Pacman
Galaga
Centipede

[j_factor]

If it were 1986, I'd be a computer gamer. I don't think either NES or SMS would have 4 games that I'd find compelling (yet). And 7800 is just dreck.

[Graham Mitchell]

NES with Super Mario Bros., Gumshoe, Balloon Fight and Mario Bros.

[mrmark0673]

An NES with:

Ghosts 'n Goblins
Commando
1942
Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt

GnG is a no brainer, still gets more play than 99% of the NES library at my place. The others would just be a cool bonus :)

[armonigann]

The NES of course, knowing what I know now, and even not knowing what I know now.

Hahaha..Gotta strong felling NES will be king of this thread.

[Nescollector]

Well this is just what I did (in 1987) Bought a 7800, galaga, asteroids, choplifter, xevious, not all the games at once :)

[NerdXCrewWill]

I'd go with the 7800 but I'm not sure which games were available in 1986. Many games have 1987 copyright dates but I don't know if they're accurate or not.

This is what I had to say too. I guess I will proceed by answering with 7800 games that say they're from '87 since it's uncertain was to which games (other than Pole Position 2) were released in 86.

For the games, I'd go with:
Food Fight (The best game available for play at home at the time in question.)
Robotron 2084
Warlords for the 2600
Kaboom for the 2600

The NES proved to a better system, but the library available to the 7800 in 1986 was just plain better.

EDIT: This anecdote (http://www.8bitrocket.com/2008/12/24/atari-7800-christmas-why-the-7800-was-for-5-weeks-anyway-the-best-system-ever/) about Christmas 1986 seems to suggest that at least Food Fight and Robotron were available in 1986 too.

[Baloo]

NES with:

Super Mario Bros.
Donkey Kong
Mario Bros.
Kung Fu

[Steve W]

I did buy a bunch of systems in 1986. The NES had come out, but instead I bought an Atari 2600 Jr. to replace my original six-switch VCS that didn't work anymore. I later bought an NES close to Christmas that year. It wasn't until 1987 that I bought an Atari 7800, and slowly transferred my gaming time over to it. I bought my first Sega Master System at a big street sale around 1998. Wasn't impressed. Played the dozen games that came with it for all of half an hour, then put it in a storage box. I've rarely played it since, even though I've bought several games for it over the years and even the 3D glasses.

[NE146]

Well heck, in 1986 I was a high school senior with a new bootleg Famicom so I remember it pretty well.

I guess I wouldn't change too much but if I knew then what I knew now, I probably would've grabbed up a bunch more Jap Famicom games on the cheap (which were plentiful around me), and never thrown out any boxes. But really that's about it.

I also would have mentally prepped myself to pick up and preserve all those "Stadium Events" I would see every day at Woolworths when I graduated and went to college in the Bay Area during my freshman year. LOL

[armonigann]

EDIT: This anecdote (http://www.8bitrocket.com/2008/12/24/atari-7800-christmas-why-the-7800-was-for-5-weeks-anyway-the-best-system-ever/) about Christmas 1986 seems to suggest that at least Food Fight and Robotron were available in 1986 too.[/QUOTE]


Check out GATO, Star Fox, and Demolition Depot for 14.99. :mad: would've been cool for those to actually been released, along with Night of the Ninja.

[jcalder8]

If I know then what I know now?

Then I'd go with:
Air Raid
Video Life
Gauntlet
Eli's Ladder

Then I guess I'd buy an NES and sell it to buy more copies of those games.

[ShinobiMan]

In 1986? Definitely the Sega Master System. IMHO the NES hadn't completely hit it's stride... yet.

Action Fighter
Alex Kidd In Miracle World
Fantasy Zone
Space Harrier

And of course the system came with Hang On / Safari Hunt. :-)

But this IS a tough one for me. This is what I would pick had I chose the NES:

Metroid
Castlevania
The Legend Of Zelda
Super Mario Bros

ALL GREAT GAMES! CLASSICS!

[NerdXCrewWill]

Check out GATO, Star Fox, and Demolition Depot for 14.99. :mad: would've been cool for those to actually been released, along with Night of the Ninja.

Yeah, tell me about it. That was a fun little list of games. A fun read, too. I like the idea of a magical Christmas where the 7800 was the best thing ever to a little kid for 5 weeks. He ended up picking up Galaga, Food Fight, Dig Dug, Asteroids, Joust, and Robotron. He also mentions Ms. Pacman. That's a really great first year lineup if you ask me.

[skaar]

NES.

Super Mario Bros.
Clu Clu Land
Balloon Fight
Kung Fu

[Tommittaja]

Well NES ofcourse... tho games are abit harder :DD

shiet! super mario bros 3 was in 88! and megaman 2....
well:
super mario bros. 2
The legend of zelda
gauntlet

this blows, all the good games hadn't been invented yet!
megaman, 3d worldrunner, super mario bros 3, panic restaurant (lol), startropics...

[Greg2600]

Given I'd probably only know as much as I saw on the back of the boxes, or maybe an in-store display.....Maybe Sega Master System. It had the 3D and arcade games I liked at the time like Outrun. However, by 1986 Metroid and Zelda were out on the NES. It would be a toss-up, without significant knowledge.

One thing's for sure, no chance I'd pick the 7800, the graphics alone being an easy reason.

[Gameguy]

However, by 1986 Metroid and Zelda were out on the NES.
Both those games came out in North America in 1987. Same with Castlevania. All of the great games I can think of only came out in 1987 or later, this question really is tough for me as all the games that really appeal to me wouldn't have been available at the time.

[tom]

Well, being in Europe, has to be a SMS, better games, more games, better game play, better graphics than any of the also-runs (NES, 7800), except VCS which is, of course, god, but I would have purchased a VCS already in 82/83.
But also, in 86 the C64 was rockin, that would be the best choice allround.

[Drixxel]

My most favourite-est of favourite NES games wouldn't have come out yet ('87 being the magic year), whereas the getting was very good indeed for the 2600. My family bought a 2600 Jr. around this time and I really loved the thing, so my choice of 2600 over NES in 1986 may not be totally insane and ungrounded in reality.

Crystal Castles
Gravitar
Pheonix
Pressure Cooker

[diskoboy]

I did buy an NES in '86 - and knowing what I know now, I'd still stick with the NES.
I got an SMS the following Christmas. I don't regret either purchase.

As a matter of fact, my SMS got more attention than my NES, after the good arcade ports started coming out. You have to remember - Sega literally owned the arcades from 1986 until SF2 came out.

I had a VCS since 1980. I never considered the 7800 a viable option - I was one of those people who believed Atari was dead and buried before the 5200 was even released.

[retroman]

NES...Super Mario Bros...Excitebike....Commando...Hogan's Alley..

[moocolon]

SMS all the way.

Fantasy Zone
The Ninja
Choplifter
Alex Kidd in Miracle World

[Pantechnicon]

Being as I was there and all, I choose (chose, actually) the Atari 2600. Or rather, I was still contentedly playing the 4-switch woodgrain I first got back in 1981.

I remember seeing the NES and Sega Master System available at the time and I just didn't find the available games all that interesting. Admittedly I was basing this opinion on what appeared to me to be a glut of side-scrolling platformers which I just didn't find all that compelling. Had I known in 1986 about RPG's like the Legend of Zelda or Phantasy Star, I might have felt differently, but I don't remember seeing these advertised anywhere, believe it or not.

Somehow the 7800 was off my radar screen as well :?.

If there was any one system circa 1986 other than the 2600 I wish I would have investigated further at the time, I'll say it was probably the Sega Master System.

[Steve W]

Around 1987 I bought my first Intellivision, a model 2, from a co-worker. The games he had were okay, but the best part was he gave me the INTV mail-order catalog they sent him. I really got into the Intellivision the next three years, and along with the 7800, was one of the reasons I lost interest in the NES (also having to do with Nintendo screwing over the American public with price gouging and anti-competitive practices). And that INTV catalog was ordered from pretty heavily. That's how I got my Super Pro Wrestling cart and my Stadium Mud Buggies. :)

[Baloo]

But this IS a tough one for me. This is what I would pick had I chose the NES:

Metroid
Castlevania
The Legend Of Zelda
Super Mario Bros

ALL GREAT GAMES! CLASSICS!

Classics yes, but Metroid, Castlevania, and Zelda didn't come out until '87.

NES had slim pickings in 1986, but Excitebike, Mario Bros., Popeye, Super Mario Bros., Duck Hunt, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Hogan's Alley and Kung Fu, the system still maintains to be pretty entertaining. Even if all the games are light-gun games and arcade ports.

And then 1987 rolls around and you see how fantastic you're purchase has become...

[fahlim003]

Classics yes, but Metroid, Castlevania, and Zelda didn't come out until '87.

NES had slim pickings in 1986, but Excitebike, Mario Bros., Popeye, Super Mario Bros., Duck Hunt, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Hogan's Alley and Kung Fu, the system still maintains to be pretty entertaining. Even if all the games are light-gun games and arcade ports.

And then 1987 rolls around and you see how fantastic you're purchase has become...Yeah, the potential forth coming of NES (software and hardware[if you would consider an Top Loader NES]) is hard to pass up. Don't forget Donkey Kong 3, at least I wouldn't despite the name I don't care if it's Donkey Kong in name only, it's a good one.

So for NES;

Super Mario Bros.
Balloon Fight
Excitebike
Donkey Kong 3

I wouldn't mind the original Donkey Kong either, but I'd be content with a list like that.

[ShinobiMan]

Classics yes, but Metroid, Castlevania, and Zelda didn't come out until '87.

Are you sure? I know Wikipedia is not THE be all end all for knowledge, but it lists all three of those games as 1986 releases...EDIT [OH WAIT.... those were the Japanese release dates.] My mistake.

[jammajup]

I never owned 7800 so that may be an option although i think it would likely be the Master system and this time i would aim for `Card` games and hold onto them,I used to own Ghost House on card and i just like the novelty of it

[Atarileaf]

If I know then what I know now?

Then I'd go with:
Air Raid
Video Life
Gauntlet
Eli's Ladder


LOL, best answer yet :D

[Damaramu]

Would've gone with

NES

1942
Super Mario Bros.
Gradius
Commando

[theoakwoody]

Here are the NES games available 85-86.

1985

10 Yard Fight
Baseball
Clu Clu Land
Donkey Kong Jr. Math
Duck Hunt
Excitebike
Golf
Gyromite
Hogan's Alley
Ice Climber
Kung Fu
Mach Rider
Pinball
Stack-Up
Super Mario Bros.
Tennis
Wild Gunman
Wrecking Crew

1986

Balloon Fight
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong 3
Donkey Kong Jr.
Gumshoe
Mario Bros.
Popeye
Urban Champion
Chubby Cherub
M.U.S.C.L.E.
Ninja Kid
Tag Team Wrestling
1942
Commando
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Karate Champ
Gradius

I'd have to go with the games from Capcom and Konami - 1942, Commando, Ghosts 'n Goblins and Gradius and of course Duck Hunt and Super Mario come with the system.

I didn't get my Nes until I was in 2nd grade and I got the package that came with the Strategy Guide. First games were Castlevania and Mighty Bomb Jack but I was so close to getting Solomon's Key. I didn't even own Super Mario Bros until we bought a conversion van that came with a Nes installed in like '92.

[kedawa]

Since the SMS is the only one that can output a respectable video signal, I'd get that along with some RGB cables to connect it to my shiny new 1084S monitor.

[Greg2600]

Are you sure? I know Wikipedia is not THE be all end all for knowledge, but it lists all three of those games as 1986 releases...EDIT [OH WAIT.... those were the Japanese release dates.] My mistake.
Yeah that's why I was mistaken. I don't remember when the games were released but I never forget their copyright dates that show on boot up. After looking at that list, I don't think I'd be very enamored with anything the NES had other than Super Mario Bros. SMS had Alex Kidd, Space Harrier, Hang on, Rambo. Hmm, maybe I would have gone with a 7800, because I had heard of most of its early games!

[armonigann]

LOL, best answer yet :D

...not necessarily, im sure few those where hard to find, even in '86.

[k8track]

I was around back then and I actually did buy the Atari 2600 Jr. that summer when I stayed with my dad in Arkansas, and bought Millipede, Stargate, and Boing!. Later that fall (Nov or Dec), I bought Jr. Pac-Man. All good, solid, fun choices. The only thing I would have done differently is to snap up a new, boxed Glib when I saw a stack of them the very same day I saw Jr. Pac-Man.

Also, that October, my friend Lance got an NES with five games: Super Mario Bros., Mario Bros., Donkey Kong 3, Ice Climber, and Wrecking Crew. Boy, did we have fun. And he subsequently sold me 60 Atari games for $100, and I was very, very happy indeed. I bought them in four installments, each month paying $25 for 15 games, to make it more affordable on my high school wallet.

So yeah, except for picking up Glib, I wouldn't have changed anything.

[Atarileaf]

Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Jr.


Were these games originally released seperately? I have Donkey Kong Classics which is both of these together.

[Emperor Megas]

I'd probably go with the SEGA Master System, with:

Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Black Belt (or Action Fighter)
Ghost House
Space Harrier

I'm assuming Safari Hunt and Hang-On are included and don't count towards the 4 since they were pack-ins.

It would have been a tougher call if it were '87, though. When games like Castlevania, Kid Icarus and The Legend of Zelda were out. The NES may have been my choice then.

[fahlim003]

Were these games originally released seperately? I have Donkey Kong Classics which is both of these together.
Donkey Kong Classics came out in 1988, whereas the two games seperately were US titles stand-alone in 1986.

[Atarileaf]

...not necessarily, im sure few those where hard to find, even in '86.

Yea but if you know which stores carry them, its worth it. I'd drive a few hundred miles for a $32000 Air Raid :D

[Atarileaf]

Donkey Kong Classics came out in 1988, whereas the two games seperately were US titles stand-alone in 1986.

Thanks I didn't know that. I've never seen the stand alone versions of either.

[Insaneclown]

Well in 1986 I found out about Sega Master System first and what I know of today which games I like till this day...these 4 games would be my SMS choices.

Wonder Boy in Monsterland
Kung Fu Kid
Action Fighter
Great Football

[jcalder8]

...not necessarily, im sure few those where hard to find, even in '86.
Well the OP said that the store had "all the games" so I figured that he meant they would have everything.

[fairyland]

Too bad there are no computer systems on this list. The mid-80s was when I was enjoying Commodore 64 games until I got the NES in 87 or 88. Think I would still choose the NES as I know I'd have Zelda, Metriod and loads of others to look forward to soon.

Would SMB really count as a pick? I recall it being a pack-in for all the systems. If it were not for that, I probably would not have bought the NES. Best gimmick ever to sell a game system.

[buzz_n64]

Just so everyone knows. Super Mario Bros. was NOT the original pack in for the NES. I know one was Duck Hunt/Gyromite, and I think the other was without a game. But not SMB/Duck Hunt or SMB, they came later as pick-ins.

[armonigann]

Yea but if you know which stores carry them, its worth it. I'd drive a few hundred miles for a $32000 Air Raid :D




LOL..I heard that!

[Gameguy]

Just so everyone knows. Super Mario Bros. was NOT the original pack in for the NES. I know one was Duck Hunt/Gyromite, and I think the other was without a game. But not SMB/Duck Hunt or SMB, they came later as pick-ins.
At North American launch there were two bundles, one with Duck Hunt and Gyromite, the other set came with Super Mario Bros.

[NayusDante]

So it's 1986, I know about gaming up to 2010, and I have the money to buy a console and four games? I was born in 88, so am I a time traveler?

If I already know about gaming, why would I put that much money into it? I'd rather do something worthwhile, like go see Depeche Mode on the Black Celebration tour, or visit a real record store and talk to people about music when I actually had a chance of fitting in. Heck, I could buy a nice TV and pay for cable so I can see MTV when it was still good. Maybe I'd buy an ASM book and actually get into the game development business when it was still interesting.

If I had to buy a console, though, I'd have to go with the NES. As for games, Gradius, 1942, Donkey Kong, and I don't know, maybe Ninja Kid or SMB. SMB is great and all, but it's not something I enjoy playing over and over. I'd rather save that money for Mega Man and Final Fantasy, if I'm going to be stuck in the 80s and have to spend all my money on games for some reason.

[kupomogli]

Can we pick NES games from any year? Because there are NES games that people are listing in this thread that were released after 1986.

I'd pick the NES with Final Fantasy, Castlevania, Castlevania 2, and Ninja Gaiden 2.