| Best Platformer
Super
Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario
Bros. 3 represented a culmination of all things Mario--that is to say,
largely, all things great about the NES. The game came as the console was
achieving its pinnacle of success. SMB3 was as polished and as enjoyable
as we could imagine, and full of innovation, too. To this day, it is among
the favorite games of many an NES fan. SMB3 blends strong graphics and
music with very innovative gameplay, a lengthy quest, and a variety of
techniques. It also marked the hallmark return to the original gameplay
(stomping, mushrooms) that had made Super
Mario Bros. an instant classic but was conspicuously absent
from Super
Mario Bros. 2.
Runners up:
Metroid
 Claustrophobic
corridors and strange alien beasts crawling on ceilings and walls--Metroid's
ambience and innovative, non-linear gameplay set it apart from the pack.
The game brought us down on the alien world Zebes and its malevolent eeriness
immediately filled the room. An evil force has infected the planet with
its dark power. As Samus Aran, bounty hunter in a combat suit, you must
blast your way through bleak corridors and pathways, destroying the evil
bosses lurking within to liberate the planet and eventually terminate the
Mother Brain herself. In the case of the editors at Gamers.com, we may
have beaten the Mother Brain and left Zebes, but Zebes has not left our
hearts.
Mega
Man II
 Mega
Man II brought the clever ideas of its predecessor
to an enchanting fruition; the first game had the concept of non-linear
level progression and weapons culled from fallen bosses, but Mega Man II
added stunning graphics, more power-ups, and otherworldly music to the
mix. Our hero must destroy the evil robots of Dr. Wily, a maniacal mad
scientist bent on world domination. This game teaches us important lessons--first
and foremost, that the antagonist can't die (so there's room for a sequel).
With its variety of weaponry, special items, and tight gameplay, Mega Man
II became an instant classic.
Ninja
Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
 If
there was one constant love for children of the '80s, it was ninjas. These
black-clad, mysterious and violent characters represented the ultimate
in cool. In 1990, Tecmo released its sequel to the groundbreaking Ninja
Gaiden and brought us deeper into the tale of a Japanese ninja
forced to scour the world for clues to his father's death and the dark
sword that haunts his dreams. Tailed by his C.I.A. love interest Irene,
the ultimately skillful Ryu Hayabusa slashed his way through cities, speeding
trains and into mysterious castles and compounds. Aided by a variety of
secret ninja magic and ghost-like helpers, this wall-jumping classic reaffirmed
the ultimate cool of the secret assassin.
Castlevania
III: Dracula's Curse
 Having
already wormed its way into the hearts of many NES owners with both the
first outing and the amazing RPG-tinged sequel,
Konami's Castlevania series had gamers drooling in anticipation for whatever
the company had to offer. Castlevania III traces the series back to its
roots with the story of a new Belmont hero, Trevor. Three cohorts--Alucard,
the rebellious son of Dracula, Grant DaNasty, a wandering pirate who can
cling to walls and ceilings, and Sypha Belnades, a powerful wizard, join
him on his quest. With each character having unique abilities, you had
the chance to play through the game in all sorts of different variations.
The title also made use of some late, great NES graphics technology to
bring us the ultimate in vampire-slaying action.
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