Downplayed NES games (and NES vs Other Gens)

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

In the realization of the eventual closing of the Downplayed PSX thread, I'm starting the next one, the Downplayed NES thread. Other systems will follow once this one reaches 5-6 pages.

But first, for those who were in the other thred on the topic of NES vs other moreadvanced systems, I'm continuing it here:

Originally Posted by BMHadoken

But Kenryoku, why do we have to give games extra credit just because they didn't have the tools or time? Nobody amazes at how fast (6 weeks is really speedy) E.T. came out, they laugh (maybe for eternity) at how horrible the game is.

No, an old game can be bad, which I have said before. I'm just saying you have to put into consideration the limited graphics, avaliability for seeting, plot devices, realism and character developments. A game doesn't get extra points because its old, but we also shouldn't downplay it because it doesn't meet up to a game from this Gen....

About the only things the NES people could do were limited types of gameplay, sprites and text based things. Kirby's Adventure/Mario 3 were about the cap for Graphics and those games that couldn't obtain that level of graphics had to do something else to make the game well....a game. Many just used standard formulas of scrolling or text based adventure games. Final Fantasy didn't have the resources to create super graphics and a battle system that had the characters move like in FFVIII or something. So they had to do with the limited graphics. To me, it all comes down to really the FF idea has always been, like the creator of it said, to 'make a movie you can play'. I don't really see the NES being able to create something that can even come close to that. The SNES could bring out the characters and plot and the PSX could make the FMVs. And the recent FFX and beyond is finally getting close to I think what the creator was really wanting to do.

Anyway, I'm getting off track. Point is, I say you can't really compare a NES game to a PS2 game when their goals were to make the game about 'being like a movie'. Now adays you can definitly make a game look like a movie (although I think still not 100%). But back on the NES....wow, no way. We can imagine it, but its not looking like a movie at all.

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But onto NES Downplayed great games. Hmm.....let's see.

For starters, I'd probably say Phantom Fighter and Bugs Bunny's Birthday Blowout. Phantom is a game probably most haven't heard off made by a relative unknown company, but it was hecka challenging. Basically, China has been over-run by Zombies and you and your faithful assistant are to go from town to town to defeat them. In each town you have to defeat the three main zombies and you can collect scrolls and have the local teachers teach you new moves. And back then, these moves were just amazing to me. From double kicking to making you jump at super-human lengths, it was a classic upgrading game with challenging but simple objectives. My kind of Action game. However, it was damn near impossible unless you obtained just the RIGHT skills and so I could never get through it!

And Bugs Bunny's Birthday Blowout. Wow, it brings back memories. Your bugs...you have a hammer, and you go through multiple levels fighting all the other looney tunes characters to get to your party. It was a huge game withgood music, tricky bosses and mazes galore. If anyone has an emulator or a NES, definitly try this one. Its definitly worth a 5 bucks perchase. Its better than Mario 2 and even some Mega Man games to me.

[Jagos]

Adventures of Kid Niki - you were a caveman bent on rescuing your girlfriend.

Basically it was a shooter. But you weren't in a ship, you threw axes, and upgraded to different weapons. Just had to be careful. You can drown among other ways of dying (gettin hit three times cost you a life)

[Static Hamster]

E.V.O. The Quest for Eden.


One of the most unique action RPGs I have ever played in my life and one of my favourite games. You play as a sentient being whose ultimate goal is to win the love of Gaea. You start as a fish and through fighting can buy body parts to customize your own body. You get to battle through eras, and eventually, if you know how to do it, evolve into a human.


You even got to save your creations in an evolution record. It rocked.

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

Wasn't EVO on the SNES?

[Sky Warrior Bob]

Crystalis, Crystalis, Crystalis, and Crystalis. It basically was like a mix of SNES Final Fantasy, but in terms of plot & items (multiple armors & useful items). Then, something of NES Zelda thrown in. On top of all that goodness, for weapons there's four swords, each being useful against certain types of enemies, and each having additional powerups.

Plus, magic spells & MP.

Absolutely the best NES game I've ever played, hands down.

Sky Warrior Bob

[Vicious]

Originally Posted by Static Hamster

E.V.O. The Quest for Eden.


One of the most unique action RPGs I have ever played in my life and one of my favourite games. You play as a sentient being whose ultimate goal is to win the love of Gaea. You start as a fish and through fighting can buy body parts to customize your own body. You get to battle through eras, and eventually, if you know how to do it, evolve into a human.


You even got to save your creations in an evolution record. It rocked.

Holy crap, that game rocked! But, uh, yeah. It was for SNES.


As for downplayed NES games.. Friday the 13th. Nobody I know when an NES had played that, except maybe for a brief jount. Pretty fun, but hard as Hell.

And.. The Goonies 2. Just because I like it. Again, I'm the only person I know that has it. It's pretty confusing, because the world is like a giant maze, but fun, nontheless.

Hmm.. Ghosts n' Goblins. You're a knight, and Lucifer kidnaps your love, so you have to go beat his ass. Pretty good, but insane hardness!

[Hamelin]

I have fond memories of Maniac Mansion.

Yes, I know it was also on the PC, but I've played both, and even without a mouse, I believe that the NES version played much more smoothly.

That game was great, it had multiple characters with different strengths, and quite a few different endings.

And come on, you could nuke Weird Ed's hampster in the microwave. Then you could show it to him and he'd kill you.

[Dac]

there was Crash'n the boys..that game was a great multiplayer experience..

and captain skyhawk a game which had better graphics than some snes games..if you get a chance play this game

[Static Hamster]

Wasn't EVO on the SNES?

sorry misread the title....it was technically NES....

ok not.

whoops.

E.V.O. still rulez though!!!

....

NES games...down played NES games.

How about Blaster Master? The one with the tank you could upgrade that reminded me so much of Metroid?

Or Star Tropics? That one where your main weapon is a Yoyo. I was so surpirsed when I ran into a puzzle where the main character had to undergo a sex change in order to solve it.

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

Oh wow, I couldn't stand Star Tropics. I tried so hard to beat it, but it basially just would always have some cheap boss kill me somehow. I just remember playing it over and over again, but always dying in the boss under the graveyeard. I liked the puzzle ideas and they used the Zelda engine well to enhance the graphics and make some interesting effects possible...but the enemies were just cheap and you got like....1/4 the amount of life you do in Zelda. when you're in the forth area and you only have 4 hearts...wow, that's just way too hard. Especially for a 10 year old. But hey, not saying others can't like it.

Captain Skyhawk. I was gonna put that up next. It actually was a pretty well done game and quite challenging. I just ALWAYS died in the second scientist level. That's the second to last level!!! ARG! Game still frustrates me (still have it).

Goonies and Goonies 2 were pretty fun.

Maniac Mansion was much better on the NES, but I could never beat it cuz I'd just get captured anytime I went in the house. When you have to spend hours looking for the next 'trigger' like finding a bottle of terpintine or cheese or something, but all the people keep running around the house to come and catch you, you get paranoid and I couldn't play it anymore....

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Oh yeah, another one I remember is 'Mission: Impossible'. Damn it was a great game...but damn near impossible to beat. If anyone can tell me they've beaten this game without codes, I will be amazed.