Hidden NES Gems

[Baloo]

Mighty Final Fight is an EXCELLENT beat-em-up that seems to get no attention when it comes to great NES games.

[variable114]

glad to see someone mentioned Adventures of Lolo. absolutely loved those growing up.

Bugs Bunny's Crazy Castle was another puzzle game I remember, not one I ever really hear about (although I'm brand new here) but I'm a big fan.

and finally who framed roger rabbit. great game from that era that I spent more time with than probably any other game.

[chrisballer]

Kid nikki radical ninja
Galaxy 5000
Lunar pool
Nes open

[Collector_Gaming]

Wow i must be the only one who absolutely loved the game "Thundercade"



its basically a top down view arcade shooter where your riding a motor cycle shooting up bad guys and you can get upgrades and other assorted stuff. With some pretty cool vehicle bosses! Very fun game if this is your kinda thing

[NostalgiaHunter]

Has anybody played "Swordmaster"?

That game rocks. Try it if you haven't. You won't regret it.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Wow i must be the only one who absolutely loved the game "Thundercade"



its basically a top down view arcade shooter where your riding a motor cycle shooting up bad guys and you can get upgrades and other assorted stuff. With some pretty cool vehicle bosses! Very fun game if this is your kinda thing

The arcade version? maybe. The NES version? Yeesh..... posting a picture of the arcade version is really false advertising as it looks nothing like that.

Has anybody played "Swordmaster"?

That game rocks. Try it if you haven't. You won't regret it.

Sword Master looks great, but damn is it near-impossible. I think the clause of "if you have a GameGenie, check out Sword Master" should be added to your statement.

[NostalgiaHunter]

You have a point there. Yes, Swordmaster was a ass to play but it was so fun. I love challenging games because it makes you want to play more and more.

[Ackman]

Shatterhand (awesome game)
Shadow of the Ninja
Little Nemo
Mr Gimmick
Code Name Viper
Vice Project Doom
Batman Return of the Joker (it's not as good as the first but it is quite a cool shooter.)
Daiku no Gen San 2 and 1 aka Hammering Harry
Saiyuuki World 2
Little Samson
Kaiketsu Yanchamaru 2/3 aka Kid Niki 2/3
Saiyuuki World 2
Demon Sword
Don Doko Don 1 and 2
Tiny Toon Adventures 2
Contra Force(depspite what people say I think is pretty good of course it isn't as good as Contra 2 but what games are?)
Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa aka Baby Mario Bootleg

[Techno-Hat]

Maniac Mansion - Best game on the NES in my opinion. Lots of fun and lots of replay value.

Crystalis - A really fun zelda type game.

Startropics 1 & 2 - More zelda type games. I wish Nintendo would make more games in this series.

A Boy and His Blob - A fun game but it requires a bit of patience to get through.

Tombs and Treasure - This is a really fun game hampered by a crappy password system. Oh and don't combine the small rod with the bowl until after you've used the small rod to get another item otherwise you will be stuck and won't be able to continue. Once you combine them you can't un-combine them.

[Graham Mitchell]

Tombs and Treasure - This is a really fun game hampered by a crappy password system. Oh and don't combine the small rod with the bowl until after you've used the small rod to get another item otherwise you will be stuck and won't be able to continue. Once you combine them you can't un-combine them.

I totally agree. For all it's problems, it's a pretty solid game. Playing it on an emulator with save states makes it more enjoyable.

One thing I think people don't realize is that the Famicom/NES version was developed by Compile, and has many of their trademark elements that made their NES games great. The moody visuals and music really give the game a melancholy and tense atmosphere, not unlike the Guardian Legend. It's worth trying for that alone, even if the interface is cumbersome.

[Tony Lama]

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but Arkista's Ring is a great little action maze type game. There's something about the music that makes it so charming!! Definitely a hidden gem in the NES library!

And Mendel Palace needs a sequel!!! Come on Game Freak! Enough with the Pokemon and revive the classic that put you on the map!!!!

[Parodius Duh!]

Milan's Secret Castle's a good game, also Super Pitfall.

uhhhhhh.....what?????????

[Drixxel]

GI Joe was an excellent sidescroller you should check out. (The one made by Taxan not Capcom). Isolated warrior is a very good isometric shooter thats worth a purchase.

Low G Man has always been one of my favorites that doesn't get much attention.

Kickmaster

Burai Fighter. Acutally I kinda hate this game because I suck in it. I guess it's a hidden gem though.

All cool games deserving of love and all developed by KID. I didn't realize the connection between them at first, as the developer info is nowhere to be found during the titles of any of them, but there's a shared art style and other similarities that turned out to be more that coincidence. Awesome unsung NES developer.

Lots of great mentions in this thread, it's always nice to see games that popularly get bagged on being spoken of in a brighter light. I, for one, really dig 8 Eyes but I understand the disdain for it. There's something about that ultra-clunky oldschool Castlevania formula which holds appeal and I've always been a sucker for selectable stage order.

[savageone]

New Ghostbusters 2
Holy Diver
Splatterhouse Wanpaku Graffiti
Summer Carnival '92 Recca
Sweet Home
Getsu Fuuma Den
Wai Wai World

Just a few great NES games that never made it to the US that come to mind. These days you can easily get them in US form via repros.

[Ackman]

uhhhhhh.....what?????????

Milon's Secret Castle, awesome game.

[Matt-El]

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but Arkista's Ring is a great little action maze type game. There's something about the music that makes it so charming!! Definitely a hidden gem in the NES library!

I agree wholeheartedly with this.

[kainemaxwell]

Maniac Mansion - Best game on the NES in my opinion. Lots of fun and lots of replay value.

Crystalis - A really fun zelda type game.

Startropics 1 & 2 - More zelda type games. I wish Nintendo would make more games in this series.

Seconding all 3 of these, Maniac Mansion especially. Kinda want to play the pc deluxe version now...

[kafa111]

i never hear about it much, but super mario bros was a pretty good game that i enjoy

[Parodius Duh!]

Milon's Secret Castle, awesome game.

not if you have never played it. Someone new to this game will be repeating WTF over and over..

Batman Return of the Joker (it's not as good as the first but it is quite a cool shooter.)

Its an Action/Platformer...def not a shooter.

Saiyuuki World 2

This was released in the US with edited main character graphics as Whomp 'Em

[dap9984]

Even though the controls are a little stiff at times, I always thought Solstice was a lot of fun. Basically just one big giant maze. And the music is phenomenal.