Poll: Nostalgia: Best NES game?

[EzraPound]

The original NES had a lot of games--about 750. However, in hindsight, its library has been reduced to a pretty small canon, since--while a lot of NES games were undoubtedly more innovative than the major releases of today--there wasn't a whole lot of quality control, even if its library was still vastly more consistent than the Atari 2600's.

In any case, what's your favourite old NES game, and why? I would have to go with the original Super Mario Bros.--it was such a pivotal title; one I sunk so many hours into, and is better than 3 I think on account of being more perfect--the difficulty curve is ideal, it can be completed comfortably in one sitting, and there was a sort of simplicity to it that was winning. 3 is, of course, still brilliant.

Also, here's a list of the games users have said compelled them to choose the "Other" category:

Bubble Bobble - 1
Sweet Home (JP) - 1
Balloon Fight - 1
Crystalis - 1

 

[Jojo1378]

The Legend of Zelda because it kickstarted the series on to the console and went on to become one of the best series to date.

 

[Chibz]

Sweet Home. Utterly fanastic game. If you didn't play it, you missed out.

 

[EzraPound]

Sweet Home. Utterly fanastic game. If you didn't play it, you missed out.

I've been meaning to try that out. I guess it was the first survival horror title, sort of?

 

[MrLumber]

While I never owned a NES, I did own several re-releases, such as LoZ, FF, and the original Super Mario. When I got Animal Crossing back for the GCN I found a Balloon Fight console in-game, and boy did I sink a lot of time in that game...

Undoubtedly my favorite NES game goes to Balloon Fight.

 

[Chibz]

I've been meaning to try that out. I guess it was the first survival horror title, sort of?

Sort of. I cannot possibly recommend it enough, Ezra.

Another game that deserves mention is Startropics.

 

[Realitycrash]

Surprised that the poll actually had my personal pick. Megaman 2 ftw!

 

[Syphous]

Crystalis. Seriously amazing game. I still play through it every now and again. It played like Zelda but you earned XP, leveled up, bought/sold items and gear, gained new abilities, rode dolphins, and it was the best game for the NES I ever played.

Though the story was... confusing.

 

[DustyDrB]

I've gotta go with Super Mario Brothers 3. It's still the perfect 2D platformer in my mind.

And it had this...

 

[s0m3th1ng]

BUBBLE BOBBLE.
And SMB3 is far superior to the original.
Crysalis is another of my favorites.

 

[marginal]

I find it hard to believe that anyone could pick something other than Super Mario Brothers 3.

 

[jpoon]

Definitely Super Mario Bros 3, no other game really holds fonder memories. I would put Zelda at a close second though!

 

[sylekage]

Zelda, just, Zelda. It's always been my favorite Nintendo series.

 

[EzraPound]

I find it hard to believe that anyone could pick something other than Super Mario Brothers 3.

Given that the original NES sported Pirates!, Tetris, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., etc. is it that hard to believe? There's twenty or thirty games for the console that someone could reasonably prefer to SMB3, even if the excellence of said is unimpeachable.

 

[Harlemura]

I've only played Mega Man 2 and Super Mario Bros. 1.
I found Mega Man 2 fun. Unlike Super Mario Bros.

I choose Mega Man 2.

What an interesting post I just made.

 

[Sticky Squid]

Tie between DQ3 and FF2 for me, I'm one of the few people who prefers FF2 to most of the others.

 

[Veylon]

Gotta go with Mario 3. I'm surprised to see someone else who remembers Crystalis, though. That's one game that always seems to fall through the cracks.

 

[Beelzebozo]

Castlevania 3: Draculas Curse, Ninja Gaiden 1/2 and River City Ramson.
3 masterpieces...

 

[nohorsetown]

Wow, that's a tough one. I gotta jog my memory a bit before I respond.

(commence jogging)

zelda is really damn good.. and I liked the sequel.. until you sailed to the other continent and the spells basically became keys.
magic of scheherezade? No, I think I just have a soft spot for it.
yeah, crystalis and river city ransom were excellent..
what was that one puzzle game called?.. not Lolo, but there was something else.. damn.
weren't there a few different versions of tetris?.. one had 2 player, one didn't..
ooh! Bubble Bath Babes!
Batman on NES was pretty cool.
Mega Man 2 was prolly my favorite in the series..
Dragon Quest 3?
Metroid and Blaster Master..
Ducktales was actually a great game.
Kirby's Adventure! That game was sweet!
Monster Party? Heh.

(OK, that's all I got for now)

I'm gonna have to go with Dragon Quest 3, or Dragon Warrior 3, as I knew it in the states. I got a hell of a lot of fun out of that game. I think it may have been the first RPG with a sort of "job system" (you could change class and keep some of your old abilities). It was huge. The last parts of the game came as an awesome surprise to me, as it finally tied in to the first game. The main character's sprite looked really awful, though. That's my only complaint.