For most gamers, it's hard to look back at the Nintendo Entertainment System and not smile. It was the birthplace of a veritable litany of franchises, but the surprising thing is how many of these games still hold up. Others, not so much.
There were a lot of games for the NES, and a good portion of them aren't worth playing again. Even worse, some of the most classic games released on the system simply don't feel the same today. The unfortunate reality is that time and technology move forward, and people's expectations from video games have changed dramatically.
Excitebike
First released for the Famicom in Japan in 1984, Excitebike came out for the NES in America the following year. It was an early hit for Nintendo that helped bolster sales of their new console.
The essential premise of the game was riding a dirt bike down various tracks. It's a simple concept that has actually been done better since then in various mobile games for smartphones and tablets.
Dr. Mario
Nintendo's biggest character by far is Mario. He has been in dozens upon dozens of games for the company. More impressive than the number of games that he's been part of is the incredible variety of games.
One of those games was Dr. Mario. It was like Tetris except that it featured Mario as a doctor dispensing pills. While it was certainly a popular game at the time, and still has fans, the strange premise doesn't really make sense.
Kid Icarus
There are certain games that were big hits when they came out but never really spawned a reliable franchise. Kid Icarus was one such game. Released for the NES in 1987, it focused on a character named Pit who was searching for three sacred treasures.
While it was successful at the time, it didn't spawn the fanbase of a character like Mario. The now cult classic game certainly has a following, but attempts to follow up on the original release have never really panned out.
Double Dragon II
The sequel to the original Double Dragon game saw the return of Billy and Jimmy Lee. After the leader of the Black Warriors killed Billy's girlfriend, the duo hit the streets to kick everyone's butts, perpetuating the never-ending cycle of violence.
Aspects of the game hold up, but the story definitely comes across as anachronistic. The biggest issue is the main female character being used as a sacrifice to the narrative. Still, it was one of the better side-scrolling beat 'em ups from the era.
Metroid
One of Nintendo's biggest franchises to come out of the 1980s was Metroid. That first game dropped in 1986. It was unique in that it had a female protagonist, something that was hugely influenced by the Alien movie franchise.
Metroid was one of the best games the NES had, without question. But Super Metroid for the SNES a few years later absolutely put it to shame. While it can still be nostalgic fun to go back and play the original, there have been better entries in the franchise since then.
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Like a lot of games, this classic started out as an arcade called Punch-Out!! The premise was quite simple. Players controlled Little Mac, a diminutive boxer taking on opponents much bigger than himself. Once players figured out the patterns, winning the fights got a bit easier.
Released for NES, the title was changed to Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! The game is widely considered one of the best for the console, and Mike Tyson is also regarded as one of the toughest bosses ever. While Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! is historically important, gaming has kind of moved past it.
Battletoads
To anyone paying attention to pop culture in the late 1980s and 90s, it would come as no surprise that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles inspired the creation of Battletoads. Another popular beat 'em up, Battletoads was a big hit on the NES, as well as on other platforms.
While the game spawned an ongoing franchise, including a crossover with Double Dragon, the original game just doesn't hold up. It's one of those games that was a lot of fun but it just doesn't play the same 30 years later.
Duck Hunt
This is definitely a matter of personal opinion. Duck Hunt was a game that came out with some NES packages which also included the NES Zapper. Players shot at ducks that were flushed out of the grass by a dog. A surprising number of people didn't know the second player-controlled the duck.
It's a pretty straightforward game, and in some ways, it's a great nostalgic trip to play. But it's also a pretty boring premise that gets tiresome quite quickly. Plus, many people still don't miss hearing that dog laughing at missed shots. For many, there's no need to relive that nightmare.
Dragon Quest
Initially known as Dragon Warrior, Dragon Quest was the beginning of a huge multimedia franchise that includes many games., but the original game came out for the NES in 1986.
The game did much better in Japan than it did other markets, but it was still largely viewed as a success. Keeping in mind that this is the game that started the franchise, the original just isn't as fun as it used to be.
Tecmo Bowl
Credit where credit is due, Tecmo Bowl was one of the first truly great sports games for any console. It was also the first NES game to feature actual NFL players and it is regarded as one of the best and most influential sports games of all time.
But it's a weird experience going back to play the game, now. Hardcore fans will never stop playing Tecmo Bowl when the opportunity presents itself. More casual fans, on the other hand, would probably much rather play a game with more options.