Tasha's Top 20 Best NES Games of All Time
By: Tasha
Published: 10 April 2021, 8:57 am
Welcome back to another installment of "Tasha's Top 20." As before, this is mainly opinion-based, so try not to get your knickers in a twist if I miss one of your favorites. Just let us know below and show them your love. This time I'm going to flip the list and run from bottom to top. So let's get started.
5. Kirby's Adventure
Kirby's Adventure is a classic of the platform genre and features that cute round pink guy who eats his enemies to gain their powers. What I always liked about Kirby games is that Kirby can really do just about anything. All he has to do is eat certain enemies, and boom, new powers! Every enemy's abilities can be helpful in different ways, and it's just fun to discover them all.
In this particular Kirby adventure, an evil Penguin (King Dedede) has broken the star rod that helps good vibes and hope run through Kirby's home of Dream Land. King Dedede has scattered the rod pieces all around Dream Land, and Kirby must get them back to restore his home. Kirby can attack by spitting air, spitting water, spitting enemies, or utilizing enemy powers. Kirby is one of those games that just never really gets old.
4. Mega Man (aka Megaman)
This next one is special because Megaman and I both came into this world in the same year. I even have a Megaman shirt that says "Running and Gunning since 1987" for both of us. I've always liked this series and have pretty much religiously played every installment.
Megaman is an action platformer where you control a little cyborg man with a gun arm. He's on a mission to stop the six evil robots that have been reprogrammed to help Dr. Wily take over the world. Megaman does not have a specific order in which you have to play the game. You can take on the enemies in whatever order you wish, but the weapons they drop can help fight with other enemies. Once the initial six evil robots are out of the way, your next target is Dr. Wily himself. Megaman is one of those games that's always fun. Whether it's the 1987 version or the newest one out there. They are all worth a play and very high up on this list for me.
3. Castlevania
Getting closer to the top, we have the original Castlevania. Taking control of the whip-cracking Simon Belmont, you must travel through Dracula's castle and defeat him in the heart of his lair. There are plenty of enemies to be found, like bats, sea monsters, and ghosts. You can also engage in some light property damage to find hearts, roasted turkey, money, and other items. Simon can also find secondary weapons but can only carry one of these at a time. There are also plenty of power-ups to be found for Simon's whip. Dracula's castle also houses many hidden areas and secrets, so exploration can be quite rewarding.
I have always enjoyed this series, with Symphony of the Night being my absolute most favorite. However, the original is definitely still one I like to mess around with from time to time.
2. Super Mario Bros. 2
Taking the silver medal in this list is Super Mario Bros. 2. Why 2, you ask? Well, it's because I actually ended up playing the Mario games out of order and played 2 first. Now, if you ask me, you really can't go wrong with any Mario game out there; they are all pretty awesome. However, this one holds a special place in my life and reminds me of my childhood. Fun fact about how Mario got his name: he was named after Nintendo US's landlord, who, out of his heart's kindness, did not kick them out when they were late on rent. Mario is one of those universal games where even if someone says they are not a gamer, they have probably played a Mario game at some point in time.
In this particular installment, you actually have your choice of characters, rather than just playing Mario. You can be Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or the adorable Toad. This installment is also enjoyable because Peach is not a damsel in distress you need to rescue; instead, she is a playable character who can kick butt with the boys. Whomever you choose, you can jump and climb your way through levels and defeat enemies. You can pick up and throw multiple projectiles, including turnips pulled from the ground, enemies, and certain things enemies spit at you. This is one of my favorite games, and I still love to play it and pretty much any other Mario game out there. As I said, you can't go wrong with this plucky little plumber duo.
1. The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda is my shit! I have played just about every LoZ game there is on offer. From console to handheld, this series has an extraordinary place in my heart. I even got my mother hooked on the series. I'm sure everyone is familiar with that little golden-haired elf who sets out to save Princess Zelda (and the rest of Hyrule) from evil. In this original installment, Link is sent on a quest to gather the pieces of the Triforce to stop the evil Ganon. Equipped with a sword and shield, Link must trudge his way through dungeons and dangers to find the hidden pieces and defeat Ganon. There are enemies and traps galore, but you can upgrade your health and weapons to make Link a much more formidable hero.
One of the things I've always enjoyed about the Legend of Zelda games is the hidden things to discover. There are secrets abound, so keep a sharp eye to spot them! LoZ is a classic dungeon crawler that stands the test of time. Just as fun to play now as it was then.