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Down and Dirty Reviews: NES -- # - B |
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Sorry
if it takes a while to load but there is a grand total of 600 games reviewed
here. I love my NES and I bet I'm not the only one, eh? I still own
over 700 games for this old system and I'm still collecting em to this day.
Remember that most Ljn games suck so don't spend too much on their
titles while most Konami and Capcom titles are a safe bet but
beware; there is a exception to every rule. I can only hope my reviews can help
you pick out the right games if you are a collector too? There are 96 reviews
here in total on this page alone: #: 6, A: 34, B: 56! |
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Score / Name
37 10-YARD FIGHT (Nintendo/Irem, October 1985)
This football game looks OK and even sound pretty good on the NES here for a early title at least but the action maybe too slow for some fans of the hard hitting sport. 10 Yard Fight is a first generation football game with no real depth compared to the huge list of options we have today. You can't edit your team's formation for one thing. Still better than what Atari was putting out a few years back but go with the superior Tecmo Bowl instead.
*Available in the 5 screw cart
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Look for 10-YARD FIGHT on eBay here!
40 1942 (Capcom, December 1986)
Capcom must be fans of American history because this simple vertical shooter here is based on the events in World War II. The weird thing is the Japanese here are your evil opponents and you are in control of a lone American firepilot in enemy territory. Isn't Capcom primarily a Japanese company? Anyway, this early shooter comes with over 30 levels which is good I guess but they are just too long and they really don't differ much from one another so most players might get bored quickly especially with these very bland visuals here. 1942 was passable a few decades ago thanks to some decent controls at least but now the game is quite choppy looking today plus the looping beep soundtrack is absolutely hideous here.
*Available in the 5 screw cart
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 0
gameplay: 4
Look for 1942 on eBay here!
66 1943: The Battle of
Midway (Capcom, June 1989)1943 is definitely a huge leap over Capcom's rather overrated 1942 game. So what do you get now? There are new weapons, more ruthless enemies and new ways to level up your plane in this large 24 level fight for survival over the fierce Japanese waters. 1943 is a fun and very demanding shooter with some cool role playing elements but the only thing it lacks is flashier graphics and better sounds to make it a classic.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 4
gameplay: 7
Look for 1943 on eBay here!
55 3D WORLD RUNNER (Acclaim/Square, September 1987)
This strange 3D action game may appear rather silly yet be ready for a tough fight because this game gets very hard especially later in the game. In 3D World Runner you help guide a running man through 8 worlds, each guarded by a dragon-like guardian. The game also originally came with 3D glasses like Square's Rad Racer did but the effects look fine without them and you just won't have too much use for them in general. The game has some above average 3D effects and the action can be fun as well but overly dorky hero (who looks like he is going to take a dump each time he fights a boss) may turn a lot of people away. The game is passable at least but I also understand why Square killed off this franchise and didn't do a sequel.
*Available in the 5 screw cart
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 3......... very corny!
gameplay: 4
Look for 3D WORLD RUNNER on eBay here!
44 720 Degrees (Mindscape/Atari, December 1989)
Here is another poor arcade translation that arrives to the beloved 8-bit Nintendo here. 720 degrees is a unique arcade style skateboarding game that not a very good game to bring to the home market since you are always forced to skate or be killed off by bees so casual gamers should stay away from this. I guess the game can be fun once you try out some of the events but 720 is still ruined by bad graphics and confusing controls.
For 1 player only
graphics: 3
sound: 3
gameplay: 5
Look for 720 on eBay here!
41 8 EYES
(Taxan/Seta/Thinking Rabbit, January 1990)8 Eyes here is an awful Castlevania ripoff that pales in comparison to Konami's real thing. Don't be fooled by the dark graphics and being able to use an eagle here because this is one cheap platformer here with slow controls and highly repetitive game play. I especially hate the poor hit detection and the bland music tracks are not too flattering either. 8 Eyes ended up nothing more than a cheap cash in.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 4
gameplay: 6
Look for 8 EYES on eBay here!
66 A BOY and his BLOB
(Absolute, January 1990)This odd title is a very hard but very innovative adventure game about a kid and his morphing alien creature friend who likes jellybeans. The blob can transform into different items like ladders, bubbles, and even rockets so you can use his unique special abilities to help you get the little guy home. You only have so many of these flavoured beans so you can't throw them at will. I also liked the simple yet detailed graphics which were good for the NES but the overall game just feels too slow.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 8
Look for A BOY and his BLOB on eBay here!
Total Recall Dud of the Month!
46 ABADOX (Milton Bradley,
March 1990)Abadox is a shooting game that looks like a total Life force rip-off. The game is filled with 6 disgusting alien worlds but Abadox fails to be even a fair game because of an overly high difficulty especially in the later stages. Bottomline is Abadox here is a boring and routine shooting game.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 4
gameplay: 6
Look for ABADOX on eBay here!
23 ACTION 52 (Active
Enterprises)"It may be called Action 52 but it should have been called Pure Garbage 52 instead!" All the games here are not only quite generic but they are all very poorly made and are way below average. You'll find tons of programming errors, bad controls, and very repetitive game play. Action 52 is for serious video game collectors only and nobody else.
*Unlicensed NES game
*Rare NES game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 1
sound: 3
gameplay: 2
Look for ACTION 52 on eBay here!
46 The ADDAMS FAMILY
(Ocean/Rare, January 1992)The Addams Family for the NES starts off well enough. In the game based on the old TV show from the 1960's you play the strange but well dressed Gomez Addams as he explores his own creepy mansion to find his missing family members after it was invaded by ghosts and other creatures. The game begins has a simple to play action platformer where you can just jump on enemies to get rid of them and even the graphics here are impressive with huge and detailed characters plus I even saw some multiple scrolling in the background. The game even has good rendition of the famous Addams Family theme music here too. All this is great so far but the game quickly becomes more and more frustrating deeper into the adventure because Gomez is a total wimp! Whenever you get hit you don't have any time to recover so if you are still under attack there is a good chance you're going to be dead soon. It doesn't help matters when the game is loaded with a lot of indestructible enemies like flying pots and even touching some platforms like a bone can damage you here. The Addams Family had potential but it is just way too hard and cheap to be any real fun.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 3
Look for ADDAMS FAMILY on eBay here!
63 The ADDAMS FAMILY Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt (Ocean, 1993)
Trying to complete my NES collection wasn't easy and this game here was nearly impossible to find. Because of its unpopularity and after the lame first Addams Family game I wasn't expecting much from this game but too my surprise this one didn't turn out so bad. In this action platformer you play as the young Pugsley Addams and you get to search for the other family members in the huge Addams estate. The graphics are fairly basic and there is no actual music during game play but the controls work great and there are plenty of rooms and long levels to explore so there is always something to do. The game even has a password option so you don't have to finish it all at once. Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt may be harder to find then sex in a G rated movie but yeah, at least it doesn't totally suck.
*Rare NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 2
gameplay: 6
Look for ADDAMS FAMILY Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt on eBay here!
03 Advance Dungeons and
Dragons: HEROES of the LANCE (FCI, February 1991)Dungeons and Dragons was one of the most successful dice games every made and the series even did well when it first made the jump to the computers in the 1980's. So what the hell happened here? In this action platforming game you slowly control one of eight characters that range from warrior, mages, healers, and all that junk in deadly dungeons filled cheap monsters. Now before you get too excited you better have the instructions because the game itself gives you no hint what to do here and the controls are no help at all either. Even doing the simplest task like using weapons or jumping require a multiple series of commands while your enemies are killing members in your party one by one. Not only is the game play annoying but the nearly colourless backgrounds are highly repetitive, undetailed, and super bland plus the music constantly loops over and over driving me nuts. Heroes of the Lance is just a constant flow of suck.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
graphics: 1
sound: 1
gameplay: 3
Look for HEROES of the LANCE on eBay here!
08 Advance Dungeons and Dragons: HILLSFAR (FCI, 1992)
Have you ever eaten something you should've and it came out looking really bad when you got sick? This game reminds me of that disgusting mess. In the game you play a wimpy character on different quests to save your kingdom in this fantasy adventure. These missions range from finding treasures in dungeons to fighting monsters in arenas which sound cool until you have to put up with all the bullS%^& like annoying lock picking, time limits, basic button mashing, muddy graphics, poor controls, and almost no music. There is nothing advance here, it's just boring.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
graphics: 2
sound: 1
gameplay: 2
Look for HILLSFAR on eBay here!
37
ADVENTURES in the MAGIC KINGDOM (Capcom, 1989)I kind of like the idea of this game. Why go to an over priced amusement park when you can play special mini games based on famous areas from Walt Disney World itself? It's a weird license tie in that's for sure but it could work. In it you get to compete in five different events here like platform stages, overhead races, ride mine carts and more but they become stale and repetitive in only a few minutes. The game is also way too hard since the controls are not that responsive as well and this really surprises me since these Disney rides are usually targeted for a younger audience. Don't wait in line for this bland Capcom title.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 3
Look for MAGIC KINGDOM on eBay here!
48 ADVENTURES of DINO
RIKI (Hudson Soft, 1988)Dino Riki is basically another forced scrolling shoot em up like Star Soldier or Twin Cobra but here you are controlling a stupid little cave man instead of something cool like a ship. Not only does it sound stupid but the shoot and jump game play here is highly frustrating because it only takes one hit to lose your important power ups and this Dino Riki character is a complete wuss since he can die instantly from only a small puddle of water. Dying from water is not cool and it should not be in a video game! The Adventures of Dino Riki is just another one of those forgettable NES game that deserves to be forgotten.
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 5
Look for DINO RIKI on eBay here!
32
ADVENTURES of TOM SAWYER (Seta, June 1989)Hey, maybe some of you already know the deal behind this Tom Sawyer guy, eh? The stories told the tale how he was this poor but brave kid from early American history that hated school and was always looking for adventure. It sounds like a good idea for a video game to me! I have a question though; when did Tom Sawyer become such a wussy? It only takes one hit to kill off this rebellious kid and it really sucks dying from lame stuff like seagulls and fish here. The game tries to mix up some of the standard platforming action with some forced scrolling river rafting levels but you have to jump in these stages to progress and that's very hard to do from an overhead perspective. I liked the rock and sling shot weapons here but the graphics are just boring (why aren't those fish moving in the background?), the strange new age music feels out of place, and the game play is too hard for younger players. Tom Sawyer is just as bland as a plain yogurt........ that's expired.... and being served to you in an old shoe.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 3
sound: 3
gameplay: 3
Look for TOM SAWYER on eBay here!
63 Hudson's ADVENTURE
ISLAND (Hudson Soft, September 1988)It's Sega's Wonder Boy on the NES! Adventure Island is a fun game about a red cap wearing caveman trying to rescue a princess from generic evil monsters. Your hero starts out pretty weak and he needs constant fruit to stay alive but you can give him throwing axes and even a skateboard for extra power. There are tons of levels, lots of secrets, and plenty of challenges to overcome too but I wish the control were better while jumping and grabbing the skateboard forces you to go in one direction only. If you like action games and your sick of Super Mario Bros. then try this out.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 4
gameplay: 6
Look for ADVENTURE ISLAND on eBay here!
73 ADVENTURE ISLAND II (Hudson Soft, February 1991)
This sequel to the original hit is packed with the same old run and jump game play but now there is more stuff and much better graphics. One of the biggest improvements is the new dinosaur friends that not only take a hit for you but a few of them also have some cool attacks too. The game also has more bonus stages so you have more chances to power up your hero but it still lacks a save feature or even a password system that would really help with the replay value. Action fans will still love it though.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 6
gameplay: 7
Look for ADVENTURE ISLAND II on eBay here!
66 ADVENTURE ISLAND III
(Hudson Soft, July 1992)I guess Hudson Soft was making a lot of money off these Adventure Island games because here is the third game in the series. There isn't much difference between this action game here and the last ones because you still have to deal with draining health and more linear arcade game play here but now you can select the weapons and friends you want before a stage. Sadly, there is still no password or save feature so you have to complete the entire game in one sitting. Adventure Island III looks good and it is still fun to play but it just isn't a big leap from part II.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 7
Look for ADVENTURE ISLAND III on eBay here!
39 The Adventures of
BAYOU BILLY (Konami, May 1989)This Crocodile Dundee-like action game tries a lot of things here but it just fails at everything. The game has a good story and it doesn't look half bad either but the fighting system is just awful because of the poor hit detection and highly repetitive enemies. The other side quests like the first person shooting missions are either too slow or the driving scenes are just too fast. The game is also way too hard since there are only three continues here so you better play the game perfectly. Bayou Billy is far from a classic even though Konami made it.
*Light Gun compatible
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 3
Look for BAYOU BILLY on eBay here!
62 Adventures of RAD GRAVITY (Activision, 1990)
Now here's a game you're either going to love or you're going to smash into a bits. In this game you play a cartoonish and cocky mercenary with a giant head and Jay Leno-like chin in space and you get to hunt down crooks. The graphics are no too colourful but they are detailed at least and the plays great at first. Unfortunately, the controls are fairly slippery so it can be hard to make certain jumps later in the game and a lot of music here can get very annoying especially in your own spaceship. Despite some problems Rad Gravity is still not too bad and just might be worth a look if you want to play a decent action game.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 6
Look for RAD GRAVITY on eBay here!
30 The Adventures of
ROCKY & BULLWINKLE & FRIENDS (Thq, 1993)The cartoon maybe an old favourite to some people but that doesn't mean it will make a good video game here. In it you help old Rocky (a flying squirrel) & Bullwinkle (a goofy moose) work their way through some really basic but highly annoying levels in order to collect Bullwinkle's inheritance. This game could have been an average platformer if the controls were more polished and the game was designed better for casual players.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 2
gameplay: 2
Look for ROCKY & BULLWINKLE on eBay here!
65 AFTER BURNER (Tengen/Sega, 1989)
The popular Sega arcade legend makes a surprise appearance on the Nintendo Entertainment System and it actually isn't too bad either. If you are new to the series this is a fast paced 3D flight simulation where you shoot down enemy planes with either your standard unlimited machine gun rounds or more precise lock on missiles. This After Burner game even plays better than its very choppy Sega Master System counterpart thanks to the quicker game play and better music here which doesn't look too good for Sega, eh? Tengen did a nice job here but even the best programmers in the world can not successfully translate the awesome fully 3D arcade game to the limited NES so don't expect it to be arcade perfect. The game may get repetitious after a few stages but After Burner for the NES is a fairly solid shooting game so you may be surprised by this one.
*Unlicensed NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 5
Look for AFTER BURNER on eBay here!
44 AIR FORTRESS (Hal,
September 1988)Air Fortress sounds like a cool game! Too bad it's a very standard shooter and platformer game that lacks some serious action or any innovation for that matter. The graphics are bland, the music is nothing noteworthy, and the game has no cool power ups either. The game plays better games like Cybernoid but it lacks the excitement of something like a Section Z. Needless to say, I bet there will not be an Air Fortress 2 in the future.
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Look for AIR FORTRESS on eBay here!
37 AIRWOLF (Acclaim June 1989)
Yes, this 3D shooter based on the hit helicopter TV show from the 80's. So how is the game? All I can say is: Bah! Airwolf is a very ugly looking game with tons of levels but the action is so slow plus it's very difficult to even see what's going on here thanks to the bland visuals. Air Wolf does have some solid cinemas and the theme music was cool but the actually game itself was still pretty bad.
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 4
Look for AIRWOLF on eBay here!
54 Al Unser Jr. TURBO RACING (Data East, 1990)
Yeah, I don't know who this Al Unser Jr. guy is but he looks like such a dork in this game with his constant thumbs up in the intermissions. Anyway this racing game is pretty much Namco's Pole Position with it's out dated ugly horizontal stripes in the flat tracks. There are a few added features like Pits, Turbos, and a Career mode but they are nothing special. It's cool that this game actually saves your data but a lot of the content isn't worth saving since it's so boring and routine.
*battery back up game
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 6
Look for Al Unser Jr. TURBO RACING on eBay here!
67 ALFRED CHICKEN
(Mindscape/Twilight, 1993)Now I love a good cock fight as much as the next guy and they can be very delicious as well so maybe this Alfred Chicken video game could bring something different to the NES line up here. Unfortunately, this is just another cute action platformer where you control a small little cock (who likes a small cock, eh?) that is looking for gems, power ups, and balloons to complete various candy coated stages. To be fair though the game still plays OK because this cock is easy to get control of and it can even do some cool special moves like glides and spinning attacks. The graphics in Alfred Chicken are very colourful and the well defined characters like giant flowers and rat toys look pretty good but the game's loud country/cherry pop music here is just flat out terrible. Although the thought of playing a game about a cock doesn't sound very exciting (or maybe it does excite you I don't know), at least Alfred Chicken doesn't play too bad.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 3
gameplay: 6
Look for ALFRED CHICKEN on eBay here!
45 ALIEN 3 (Ljn/Probe,
1992)Now I know Ljn has done a lot of damage to the video game industry but I really liked the Super Nintendo version of their Alien 3 so this NES edition has to rock too, eh? Alien 3 the game here is based on the big Hollywood flop of the same name and you have to survive a planet of criminals and killer aliens in this 2D action title. OK, the game starts out good with fast game play but the graphics and music are repetitive are very bland in general plus the game is needlessly tedious since you have to rescue all the prisoners in a limited amount of time. So unless you memorize every stage perfectly here you won't make it very far. Yeah, in the end the game just sucks just like the movie.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 4
gameplay: 5
Look for ALIEN 3 on eBay here!
56 ALIEN SYNDROME (Tengen/Sega 1989)
Alien Syndrome is a very slow overhead shooter originally done by Sega in the arcades. The game asks the question: can your team survive an alien infestation on a space station? That question was already asked on the movie Aliens but whatever. The game is nothing too original and the graphics are pretty average as well but it's still solid action for 2 players at least.
*Unlicensed NES game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 6
Look for ALIEN SYNDROME on eBay here!
56 ALL PRO BASKETBALL (Vic Tokai, 1989)
Here is an early Basketball game on the Nintendo and it really doesn't add too much to the table. Although the game doesn't have a NBA license, it's cool how they the teams here sound almost like the real thing with name's like LA Breakers (instead of LA Lakers of course). The game actually has some nice graphics for the NES too with impressive animation and cinemas but playing this game against the computer is annoying since they can steal from you all the time but good luck stealing from them. The game play isn't as fast paced as Double Dribble either because they are plenty of penalty calls, there is an awkward half view of the court only, and there are not a lot of modes in the menu either so you don't get a lot to do. You can put in other players if some are making trouble but that's about it. Playing against a second player is a bit better but not by much so the game is at least passable.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 8
sound: 6
gameplay: 5
Look for ALL PRO BASKETBALL on eBay here!
63
ALPHA MISSION (SNK, October 1987)This is a fairly tough but slightly above average vertical shooter with 8 brutal levels here. The game may be harder then guys looking at hot girl on girl action but at least your space craft can pack tons of cool weaponry like a powerful Thunder shockwave and a Fire Shield that may use up your energy but are very useful. All that is great but what really kills Alpha Mission (besides the stupid name) is the game's repetitive graphics and sounds that hardly change from level to level. This series can be found on the Neo Geo as well but the games just never really took off on either system.
*Available in the 5 screw cart
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 7
Look for ALPHA MISSION on eBay here!
41 AMAGON (American
Sammy, April 1989)You would think playing an action platformer game about a machine gun wielding teenager with the ability turn into giant muscle man would be a lot more fun. One of Amagon's biggest problems is how repetitive it is. Shooting at the same old bats and snakes in the boring island setting gets old quick. Your so called hero here isn't very tough either because only one hit will kill you unless you are in the limited muscle mode. The game has solid controls and it was colourful as well but Amagon suffers from goofy animation, bad music, and overly frustrating game play.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 3
gameplay: 4
Look for AMAGON on eBay here!
31 AMERICAN GLADIATORS (Gametek, October 1991)Remember that cheesy TV show about a bunch of contestants competing in some weird events while some muscle heads try to stop them? Well somebody made a game about it and like the show itself it should have been canceled. In it you get to play in several button mashing events like joust, wall climbing, Powerball and more so you can get points. The graphics are on the dull side but the detail is OK and the sound effects are decent too but the game's controls are very hard to use thanks to spotty hit detection (I'm hitting the guy, why isn't he moving!) and having to use the A and B buttons to move characters around jagged wall is highly frustrating to say the least. Unless you are a fan of the show (yeah right!) and study the game religiously it just isn't worth playing.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Look for AMERICAN GLADIATORS on eBay here!
45 ANTICIPATION (Nintendo/Rare, 1989)
Anticipation is just like a Mario Party style game board for the NES ..... if it really sucked! In this so called title the game slowly draws a picture for you and the first one to successfully guess it is the winner and that's pretty much it for game play here. If that player completes all the different multi-coloured levels by getting enough cards they get to see a really crappy ending. If your family likes playing these stupid guessing games then maybe they will like this cart? Chances are though if you force your siblings to play this repetitive junk with bland graphics and weak music you're not going to be the favourite anymore.
For 1 to 4 players
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 4
Look for ANTICIPATION on eBay here!
61 ARCH RIVALS (Acclaim, 1990)
It's weird that you can find NBA Jam on almost every video game system on the planet but there wasn't one on the NES for some reason. Before that game though there was this title that had cool 2 on 2 basketball action. The game is Arch Rivals and in this arcade-like game (in fact this is based on the arcade game of the same name) where you get simple controls and even the ability to punch other players and not receive a foul. The game is a bit on the shallow side and there are not a lot of modes but the option to play against a friend or computer. Arch Rivals can be fun for a bit but don't expect to be coming back to it again and again.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 4
gameplay: 6
Look for ARCH RIVALS on eBay here!
71 ARCHON (Activision, 1989)
Archon may look like your typical chess game on the surface but see why this unique title could be one of the most underrated games for the NES. Like Chess you move around little pieces across a checkered board but once you come in contact with the enemy you get to fight it out in real time so the game mixes strategy with action as well. Some of the characters are great at close range combat with swords and clubs while other have magic spell so they can attack from a distance. Archon isn't very good looking with its tiny characters but both the music and game play are still very impressive.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 7
gameplay: 7
Look for ARCHON on eBay here!
73 ARKANOID
(Taito, August 1987)This Break Out style game may appear simple in design since you are just hitting a little ball back and forth all the time but now there are power ups waiting for players if they break certain bricks which add a lot of depth to what other wise would be a average video game from the Atari era. This NES game even came with a special dial controller if you can find one complete but you can still play without it too so don't worry if you get it loose. Arkanoid is a very simple but very entertaining arcade game that anybody can pick up and play.
*Uncommon NES game
*Works with the Arkanoid Roller controller
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 4
gameplay: 6
Look for ARKANOID on eBay here!
59 ASTYANSK
(Jaleco, March 1990)What is Astyansk? Who the heck cares! This hard to pronounce game is a slow and generic action/adventure game that nobody remembers from the arcades either. The game does have some exceptional large graphics and a good range of weapons though but the story was too cute for its own good and the controls were a bit too loose as well so get ready to die a lot.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 4
gameplay: 6
Look for ASTYANSK on eBay here!
52
ATHENA (SNK, August 1987)In this game you guide a pretty and young princess through 7 nearly impossible levels here. Certainly not nearly as smooth as the action based arcade game thanks all the game's flickers but it's still OK once you play it a few times. I like the ability to find a bunch of new items and weapons here but one huge problem with the game play is that it was too easy to lose lots of life fast and all the choppiness doesn't help either. Because of that Athena is for experts only.
*Available in the 5 screw cart
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 7
Look for ATHENA on eBay here!
38 ATTACK of the KILLER TOMATOES (Thq/Imagineer, 1991)
With a name like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes I thought this would really be a unique game, eh? No such luck because this is your typical 2D Super Mario-like platformer where you play as a young boy that jumps on boring enemies with very stiff and slow controls. It's a short game but it's by no means a easy one since it doesn't take long for the screen to fill up with stupid baby murdering tomatoes and chances are you won't care to play much further anyway since each stages feels the same. The game deserves to have tomatoes chucked at it.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 3
gameplay: 4
Look for ATTACK of the KILLER TOMATOES on eBay here!
17 BACK to the FUTURE (LJN,
September 1989)Back to the Future the video game may be based on the mega hit 1985 movie starring Michael J. Fox but you wouldn't know it after playing through a few seconds of this piece of crap here. This so called game is a very annoying forced scrolling semi-action title about a young man named Marty McFly that accidentally travels back in time to the 1950's. Before you get too excited about the story though the game comes with some overly confusing and boring game play. For example I have to collect clocks, avoid bees and throw drinks at the local tough guys to survive here? This sucks! The game also comes with very plain graphics, bad power ups (the skateboard makes you too fast and does more harm then good) and you even get a terrible and highly repetitive sound track to go with it. This may not be as bad as Atari E.T. but its still another lousy movie video game that should have never been released.
For 1 player only
graphics: 2
sound: 1
gameplay: 2
Look for BACK to the FUTURE on eBay here!
31 BACK to the FUTURE II & III (LJN, September 1990)
This series of sequels tries to improve on the awful original but what we get now is this very weak platforming action game that's tries to be like a Mario game (some the enemies even look like they were lifted from the Super Mario Bros). The problem is the slow action, bad graphics, and poor character detection ruins what could have been a mere average game. Love is not saying LJN, eh?
For 1 player only
graphics: 3
sound: 2
gameplay: 3
Look for BACK to the FUTURE II & III on eBay here!
25 BAD
DUDES (Data East, July 1989)Bad dudes, no bad game! In this bland side scroller you help one of two generic muscle heads on a mission to rescue the president of the United States from a group calling themselves the Dragon Ninjas. Unfortunately, this is a very cheesy Double Dragon clone with 7 levels filled with the same old bunch of boring ninjas and goofy bosses (why the hell am I fighting the Russian dude from Karnov here?). If you think that sounds bad then wait till you see the cheesy ending here. Just past on this choppy and very dated beat em up, dude!
For 1 or 2 players (alternate)
graphics: 3
sound: 4
gameplay: 3
Look for BAD DUDES on eBay here!
76 BAD NEWS BASEBALL (Tecmo, 1990)
Tecmo is pretty famous for their football games but they also made some other good sports games too like this exciting Baseball game here. The first you'll notice about the game is it doesn't take itself too serious because all the players look very cartoonish and the umpires look like Nestle Quik bunny for some reason but it still has a lot of style. There are even some cinematics here like when a player is running for a base and the other team is about to get the ball and you're biting your nails to see what the call actually is. The second thing you'll notice is how good the controls are; it's easy to bat and move around the out fielders so don't expect a huge learning curve. Bad News Baseball is just simple arcade-like fun.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 7
Look for BAD NEWS BASEBALL on eBay here!
22
BAD STREET BRAWLER (Mattel/Beam Software, August 1989)Yikes! Now you would think a game called Bad Street Brawler wouldn't be this terrible but oh man, it sure is. The game doesn't start off good because your hero looks like a complete knob in lamest yellow tights and short shorts fight gear you can imagine. The rest of the game isn't much better because I'm fighting dumb stuff like bulldogs, gorillas, and little people with a limited set of moves per level. Jesus Christ is this ever stupid! The controls are usable but the game is just asinine and a complete waste of my time.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 2
sound: 2
gameplay: 4
Look for BAD STREET BRAWLER on eBay here!
61 BALLOON FIGHT (Nintendo, October 1985)
Balloon Fight is a super cute looking Joust-like game where players try to pop the other person's balloons to kill them. The player or opponent at the highest plane during a strike gets to destroy their enemy's balloon. The game is fun and very challenging but the game play isn't too compelling and the Game C is way too hard since it only takes one hit to end the adventure completely. Balloon Fight isn't a must have since it doesn't have a lot of depth but it can be a fun two player game. This is also an E-reader game as well if you're interested plus this is also hidden away in Nintendo's Animal Crossing for the GameCube if you can't find an old NES.
*Available in the 5 screw cart
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Look for BALLOON FIGHT on eBay here!
42 BANDAI GOLF CHALLENGE Peddle Beach (Bandai, February 1989)
It's pretty hard to screw up a golf game but that's what happened here. Not only are the graphics bland and boring but why do the icons constantly blink in the option menu? The standard 3 button meter that is common in most games is in this one too but it can be a bit too quick especially if you want to lightly tap the ball making the game more frustrating then it needs to be. Bandai is still playable but there are too many other, better golf games out there on the NES.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 3
sound: 4
gameplay: 5
Look for BANDAI GOLF on eBay here!
25 BARBIE (Hi-Tech, December 1991)
There are a lot of great NES games that have females as the main characters (like the Game of the Month winners Legend of Zelda, Guardian Legend and Metroid) and this sure is hell not one of them. In this lame action title that slutty Barbie doll has fallen asleep and in this dream state you have to guide her in several dull stages where toys, sprays of water, and other lame objects are trying to kill you. The story is not only bad but Barbie here is so big that it's hard not to get hit. Despite that the game is still super easy with the only challenge coming from throwing stupid diamonds at animals at the right angle. The problem is she throws these things at a sails pace so action seekers should look elsewhere. Don't fall for this one girls.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 3
gameplay: 2
Look for BARBIE on eBay here!
56 BARKER BILL'S Trick Shooting (Nintendo, August 1990)
*Light Gun required
In this rather unknown game you get to shoot at various targets that appear in the four different mini games starring an Magician, his half naked female assistance, and that stupid dog from Duck Hunt (and yes you can shoot him this time). The games range from plates being toss in the air to hitting various carnival-like targets you seen before in way more better gun games. The variety is good and the score system helps the replay value so if you like light gun games then you may want to look this one up................ all four of you!
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 2
Look for BARKER BILL'S Trick Shooting on eBay here!
51 BARTMAN Meets Radioactiveman (Acclaim, 1993)
The third and final Bart Simpson game for the NES lets you play as Bartman (Bart Simpson in a black cape) on a mission to rescue his comic book hero, Radioactiveman. Unfortunately, there is nothing super about this basic walk and jump action game but the only different now you can power up Bart with laser beam eyes and fly in certain scenes. It's not as cool as it sounds since the levels are very repetitive and uninspired. If you didn't like other Simpson’s games then just forget this.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 4
Look for BARTMAN Meets RADIOACTIVEMAN on eBay here!
59 BART Vs. The SPACE
MUTANTS (Acclaim, 1990)Although this is a pretty short game about those Simpsons characters, it's also a very challenging action title too with 5 huge levels filled with tough puzzles and evasive purple aliens. In the game you may want to get a guide for this one because some of these objectives are not always so clear but overall Bart vs. Space Mutants is still passable.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 6
gameplay: 7
Look for BART vs. SPACE MUTANTS on eBay here!
53 BART Vs. The WORLD (Acclaim, 1991)
In this game Bart wins a trip around the world but the evil Mr. Burns is not so happy about giving away a grand prize like that and he wants to get even with the Simpson's boy. Although this game has some nice graphics and some cool locations, it’s too bad how limited this title is in the game play department and these levels can get really boring as well.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Look for BART Vs. The WORLD on eBay here!
25 BASEBALL (Nintendo,
October 1985)Nintendo Baseball is a decent two player game if you like the famous sport but the one player action gets duller then watching the Disney channel. The simple game play mechanics are certainly limited to what we today as well especially when it comes to the complete lack of control of those out fielders. This is also hidden away in Nintendo's Animal Crossing for the Game Cube if you can't find an old NES but it would be a pretty lame reason to buy AC just for this game.
*Available in the 5 screw cart
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 3
sound: 3
gameplay: 6
Look for BASEBALL on eBay here!
73 BASEBALL SIMULATOR 1.000 (Culture Brain, 1990)
It's strange that a Baseball game with the name Simulator in title has a lot weird stuff in it like fire pitches, zig zag throws, super jumps, and many more. Fortunately, the game is fairly fun to play too with great controls, solid graphics, and lots of modes where you play the game with either the freaky lists of crazy stuff mentioned above or not. Sometimes the game moves slowly when the computer is processing stats and the music can out right bad but if you like video Baseball and you want something slightly different then try this out.
*Battery back up game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 4
gameplay: 8
Look for BASEBALL SIMULATOR 1.000 on eBay here!
81 BASEBALL STARS (SNK,
1989)Usually most Nintendo Baseball games are fairly simple arcade-like titles but Baseball Stars introduced a new level of complexity and depth to fans of the sport. In this game you can edit teams, trade or fire players, create your own names, and unlike most of these high profile Major League titles out there you can play as or against female players. Fly balls can be hard to track sometimes and the music is pretty loud and annoying but the action is always consistent and very fast. Baseball Stars is not only easy to get into but there is a good reason why this is one of the most sought after sports game for the NES.
*Battery back up game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 9
Look for BASEBALL STARS on eBay here!
71 BASEBALL STARS II (Romstar/SNK, 1991)
A lot of gamers loved the first Baseball Stars but have mixed feelings about the sequel here. The game is still the same arcade-like baseball game just like before but now it improves some of the fielding game play because now you can see the shadow of the ball in play. The graphics and sounds are not too bad either but the game also feels slower a bit slower now too. The game still lets you edit and create your own teams but you can't make your own name for some reason. OK, there are a few issues but the game is still very fun to play.
*Battery back up game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 8
Look for BASEBALL STARS II on eBay here!
57 BASE WARS Cyber Stadium (Ultra Games, 1990)
Ultra Games here tries to give players something different then the typical Baseball game out there but with mixed results. In Base Wars instead of humans pumped up with steroids you control a bunch of weird looking robots. The arcade-like controls are fine when you're the hitter but it’s really hard to catch any fly balls on the field especially when you can't even see the hit half the time. Another complaint I have here is the overly difficult computer here so this isn't a great Baseball for the casual player. The graphics and sounds are pretty good but the game doesn't have a lot of lasting appeal.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 5
Look for BASE WARS on eBay here!
60 BASES LOADED (Jaleco, 1988)
One of the biggest Baseball series on the NES is definitely Bases Loaded and there are four different games on the system alone here. Does it mean BL is any good though? The first BL is simple arcade style ball game with a cool behind the pitcher perspective so you can a good view of the action. It's even possible to start a brawl in the game and you gotta love that, eh? Sadly, the games can drag on a bit so get ready to play for awhile. Bases Loaded is still usually dirt cheap and worth checking out.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 7
Look for BASES LOADED on eBay here!
35 BASES LOADED 2: Second Season (Jaleco, 1989)
On the surface Bases Loaded 2 looks exactly like the first game with the familiar soundtrack in the intro and the behind the pitcher view that made the original famous. Jaleco did make a few changes though to try and help speed up the game play a bit like a new dive move and different view of the outfield but in the end it make it less fun now. Trying to catch a ball with this awkward side perspective isn't easy and the background music really gets annoying after awhile too. Worse yet the games can still last way too long so the sequel barely improves on the first one at all and it even feels worse.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 3
gameplay: 5
Look for BASES LOADED 2 on eBay here!
30 BASES LOADED 3 (Jaleco, 1990)
Yikes! I'm up to the third one now and they are only getting crappier. BL3 still has the same great game play when you are at bat or pitching but since this is another sequel Jaleco wants to change things up again in the fielding again. Now it is your mission here to try and play the perfect game but that's very hard to do with the new backwards perspective of field after a hit. It's really hard to see where the outfielders are since the action is zoomed in closer then before. The new graphics look great since there is more detail on the players and the grass plus there are lots of modes too but I hate these controls. Also playing a perfect game is just too much pressure especially in a crappy sequel like this.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 5
gameplay: 3
Look for BASES LOADED 3 on eBay here!
74 BATMAN (Sunsoft, February 1990)What's this! It's a licensed video game on the NES with a good score believe it or not. In this action game the mysterious crime fighter Batman must protect Gotham City from roaming gangs and the evil mastermind known as the Joker. I really love the eerie and very dark graphics plus the tight game play was great too. Sadly, there are only 5 levels but this action platform game is still very challenging; it's a Sunsoft game after all. Even though this is a licensed video game here, Batman still comes recommend.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 7
Look for BATMAN on eBay here!
70
BATMAN: Return of the Joker (Sunsoft, December 1991)Return of the Joker is easily one of the best looking games for the NES system thanks to the large characters, dark but detailed graphics, and great animation here. The game even sounds pretty good too but the game itself is way too short with only 7 very short stages and the game is also very linear as well. Return of the Joker also plays more like a shooter this time since Batman is using multiple guns and no up close melee attacks. This Batman is definitely worth picking up for action fans but be prepared for another hard game.
For 1 player only
graphics: 9
sound: 7
gameplay: 5
Look for BATMAN Return of the Joker on eBay here!
28
BATMAN RETURNS (Konami, January 1993)Now that Batman is returning (for about the 50th time) he's now in a Final Fight clone from Konami. It's a shame it's really boring though. In this game you play as the mysterious crime fighter who likes to dress up and it’s his duty to clean up the city by beating up the local gangs of clowns and other weirdoes. Unfortunately, the game feels really unbalanced with tons of weak to downright cheap opponents and all the constant fighting just gets duller then your average marriage. The worse part of the final NES Batman is that the Sunsoft games had cool weaponry, fairly impressive graphics, and eerie music but all we get here is another unoriginal wanna be. Konami really disappointed me here and I'll never be the same again.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 3
gameplay: 2
Look for BATMAN RETURNS on eBay here!
53 BATTLE CHESS (Data East/Interplay, August 1989)
Battle Chess may have some juiced up the graphics over the competition (Chessmaster is really the only game out there), it's still only a chess game and those grainy visuals are still not that great. It's cool that you get some wacky medieval fight scenes in between moves here but they really slows down the game play since they seem to go on forever. If you are dying for some video gaming chess here Battle Chess is not a bad choice I guess.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Look for BATTLE CHESS on eBay here!
60 BATTLESHIP (Mindscape/Milton Bradley, September 1993)
Remember that cool board game where you and a friend would shout out spots at one another in hopes that it would hit their toy battleships on their side? It was kind of fun and there is even a NES game based on that very game believe it or not. In it you try to hunt down the computer's hidden ships before it tracks down yours. Now the game may sound pretty lame but surprisingly there are a lot of levels here and another cool thing about this game is the different vessels come with some fun power ups like giant missiles or even sonar to help you track down the ships. The game starts out easy but it can get fairly challenging in the later levels and thankfully there is a password feature too. Battleship the video game may not have a lot of meat on the bones compared to other NES titles but if you liked the classic board game you'll like this too.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 5
Look for BATTLESHIP on eBay here!
22 Garry Kitchen's BATTLETANK (Absolute, 1990)
Here's a little word of advice for Garry Kitchen; don't shamelessly put your name on a game like this especially when it's boring as hell. The game sounds simple enough: find rival tanks and blow them up for points but it's definitely not that easy. What is easy though is gett