The 10 Best Games for the Original Nintendo Entertainment System

The original Nintendo Entertainment System holds a special place in my heart. I didn't have my own NES until I was a teenager, but playing those classic Nintendo games at my friends' house was by far one of my favorite pastimes. It was with a profound sense of elation that I received one of my own for a large part of my teenage years. Even as new consoles were introduced, I stuck with the original NES for a long time, playing it even into my early adulthood. The quality of games for that now vintage system was uncommonly high, and many of those games are now considered some of the best video games ever produced. I now humbly submit 10 of my very favorite games for the the one, the only, the original Nintendo Entertainment System.

1. Contra
This science-fiction action adventure game was known for its difficulty, co-op two player gameplay, and innovative character/villain design. Taking cues from movies like Rambo and Alien, Contra casts the player as a gun-wielding tough guy, fighting off hordes of human-like creatures, robots, and aliens. I'm not sure I ever got past the first few levels, but I sure had a lot of fun trying! The graphics, music, and unique gameplay cements this title as a milestone in video game history and one of the best action titles for the NES.

2. Sky Shark
Also known as Fire Shark, Sky Shark was a top-down shoot 'em up game that was extremely addictive. As a bi-plane pilot, the gamer battled his or her way from destination to destination. I remember the frantic pace of the action and the elation I felt each time I "landed" safely at the end of a level. The best things about this original Nintendo game were the various power-ups and weapons available as rewards for defeating waves of enemy aircraft and vehicles.

3. Metroid
Metroid is a true classic for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The gamer plays as one of the few female video game heroes, Samus Aran. As your character hunted Space Pirates, you were able to explore vast, open-ended environments. Power-ups granted you new abilities that would make it possible to access new areas of the map and conquer more powerful enemies. I loved the action/exploration combo of this game! Metroid was so popular that versions have also been released for the Gameboy Advance and Wii video game systems.

4. Tetris
What list of best original Nintendo games would be complete without Tetris? From that super repetitive, yet catchy tune, to every mind-bending puzzle, pretty much everyone who's touched a Nintendo at least recognizes Tetris. Heck, I still play Tetris from time to time on my computer, cell-phone, PDA, netbook...and it's all thanks to that original game on Nintendo. There have been many copies, but few true challengers to this undisputed king of puzzle games.

5. Castlevania
This game practically invented the horror genre for video games. As vampire hunter Simon Belmont, the player battled their way though the very depths of Dracula's own castle in order to (hopefully) defeat the villain in a final showdown. This action platformer had memorable weapons such as a vampire-slaying whip and holy water. Its host of sequels has created a very successful franchise that has spanned multiple Nintendo gaming systems and greatly improved on the graphics and gameplay. That being said, the original Castlevania is still pretty fun to revisit, and just might send a couple chills down your spine as well!

6. Final Fantasy
I have to admit, I haven't played Final Fantasy much at all. Still, I can't take it off my list of favorite games because not only did I enjoy it when I did play it (many years ago) but I can't deny its influence over the evolution of gaming (the RPG genre, especially). Final Fantasy was lauded for its graphics, exploratory gameplay, and deep storylines. It was one of the first games to really emphasize experience levels and character growth. It's possible we wouldn't even have World of Warcraft today with out the original Final Fantasty game and its sequels.

7. The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda is another role playing for the original Nintendo Entertainment System, although it was much more puzzle-based than other games. I've literally spent entire days of my life playing Zelda, becoming totally engrossed in the engaging story and unique challenges. Unlike most other games for the NES, The Legend of Zelda was also non-linear, meaning there were multiple paths to success. This new gameplay element made Zelda more emersive that any game I had played before. Memorable music, free-roaming maps, and unique bosses made this game one of my all-time favorites.

8. Super Mario Bros.
Who can forget the original Super Mario Bros.? It had everything...fun music, fantastic level design, fast-paced platforming, and you rescue a princess at the end. Super Mario Bros. was perhaps my first real video game experience, and for that it will always be special to me.

9. Super Mario Bros. 3
This game took everything we loved about the original Super Mario Bros, and took it the next level. Better graphics and even richer gameplay caused me to sink days into this game...and I've no regrets! I loved being able in fly via powerups and explore even more of the Super Mario world through balanced and complex new levels.

10. Duck Hunt
My final entry in my list of the 10 Best Games for the Original Nintendo Entertainment System...that wonderfully frustrating shooter, Duck Hunt. I loved being able to use the light gun to point and shoot ducks and clay pigeons. Of course, I was always frustrated by the dog that would always appear and laugh when I missed a shot. Sometimes as a kid, I would get so frustrated at the dog that I would have to take a break cool down! I hear that there is a way to shoot the dog under special circumstances in the arcade version...boy would I like to do that!

That's it...10 of the very best games for the original Nintendo Entertainment System: a console that changed video games forever and remains classic, classy, and fun.