NES game suggestions

[Dechipher]

Ah you guys make me miss my NES (it's in Florida while I am in OKC, heading back after this week.)

[Chris Miller]

Castlevania 1 & 3
A few good ones:
Life Force
TMNT 2
Xexyz
Yoshi's Cookie
Ninja Gaiden trilogy

[King Aquamentus]

common games you should check out

Gradius
Megaman 2 3 and 6
Batman (oh yes)
Bionic Commando
The Goonies II
Rad Racer
Metroid (the rerelease is probably more common than the original; look for a yellow label with dark blue text.)
Clash at Demonhead
TMNT 2: The Arcade Game
TMNT 3: The Manhattan Project

uncommon games you should be aware of

Contra
Bubble Bobble
Megaman 4 and 5
Dragon Spirit: the new legend
Maniac Mansion
Faxanadu
The Guardian Legend
S.C.A.T/Action in New York (I have no idea which is the North American name)
Power Blade
Shatter Hand
Kickmaster
Metal Storm
CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE
Batman: Return of the Joker
Final Fantasy
Dragon Warrior II and III

Games you should avoid

Fox's Peter Pan and the Pirates (especially on a 3rd party NES.)
The Adventures of Bayou Billy (Konami title, but offset by deliberate difficulty. They can't all be good, Konami)
Ghostbusters (Ghostbusters II is... alright. don't get the first one though.)
Metal Gear. Kojima had little to do with the NES adaptation and generally does not acknowledge it. Like Bayou Billy there are parts that just completely stack against you.
Ikari Warriors II. 1 is alright... 3 is awesome if you can find it.
Sadly far more than this

[Matteo]

Tecmo Super Bowl.
best football game ever made

[Tim]

I'm glad someone else likes Chip N' Dale... I've been known to fly through that game in about 15~20 minutes.

[rock_nog]

Chip N' Dale's pretty good... not my favorite game ever, but it's pretty fun. I have to confess, though, I actually like the original Ghostbusters game. Not so much Ghostbusters 2, though I wouldn't pass it up... As bad as those games are, they're too much a part of my childhood.

[King Aquamentus]

I couldn't understand all the hype around that game. I mean it isn't a bad game at all, quite excellent, but it isn't like ERMAGHERD CHIPANDDALE RESCHUE RANGHERSSHH!!! or anything.

I also picked up Strider several months back. While I can understand some of the cool factor behind it (your base is an orbiting space station SHAPED LIKE A DRAGON), the game itself has really wonky jump physics and many of the graphics seem kinda flat. It's almost like a Sci-fi version of Bionic Commando.

[MasterSwordUltima]

I second Star Tropics and it's sequel. For some reason I have three copies of the original, so if you want I'll totally sell you one for peanuts (or perhaps trade NES carts).

Dragon Warrior series is splendid. Final Fantasy (1) is also great.

If you ever find yourself getting into reproduction carts (which is turning out to be a really cool niche market) - I suggest a copy of Radia Senki (The Chronicles of Radia War), it's an amazing little action RPG that was never officially translated into english (hence the need for a repro cart).

[edit]Oh gosh, how could I forget one of my favorites; Adventure Island II. Shit is so cash with the dinosaurs, and the music.[/edit]

[King Aquamentus]

[edit]Oh gosh, how could I forget one of my favorites; Adventure Island II. Shit is so cash with the dinosaurs, and the music.[/edit]

I thought about including that one, but then I thought about Super Adventure Island II... Yeah the dinosaurs are cool till you get them wet.

[SUCCESSOR]

Anyone say RC Pro Am? I spent many hours of enjoyment on that game when I was a young'n. I don't know how it's held up as i haven't played it since but I still have fond fond memories.