| Best Overall
Game
Super
Mario Bros. 3
By 1990, the
dynasty of NES was beginning to be threatened by 16-Bit systems like the
Genesis and TurboGrafx 16, machines that could produce far prettier games
than Nintendo's aging hardware. However, no game that year could begin
to compete with Super Mario Bros. 3, Miyamoto's crowning triumph for the
NES. Excitement for this sequel reached massive proportions. The game was
playable on Nintendo's Play Choice 10 arcade units for months before its
release, and its revelation also provided the thrilling climax to Universal
Studios' film The Wizard. SMB3 simply does everything right. The graphics
are colorful and fun, reworking the distinctive Super Mario Bros. style
into something more cartoon-like. The memorable soundtrack features exceptional
sound quality, bringing life to tunes like the foreboding airship dirge
and calypso-themed ending tune. However, in classic Miyamoto fashion, the
superb audiovisual trappings are merely a bonus; the true reason to play
SMB3 is the gameplay. Perfect control, incredible level design, several
mini-games, myriad secrets, and loads of wacky power-ups make the game
unbelievably deep. From the awe-inducing splendor of Giant Land to the
rare Hammer Bros. Suit, this game contains examples of everything that
was great about classic platform gaming. SMB3 is the winner here by a longshot.
Runners up:
The
Legend of Zelda
 Miyamoto's
action/RPG title forever changed the world of home videogames. Nintendo's
strength had previously been high quality arcade ports like Donkey
Kong and Super
Mario Bros., but Zelda was an entirely new type of game. Like
a fantasy novel, this game places you in the role of a young adventurer
pledged to save the land from an evil tyrant. While action and puzzle solving
are part of the equation, the true enjoyment is in the act of exploration.
Unlike most games of the time, Zelda keeps no score, so your ultimate goal
is a narrative one in which you must complete your quest and rescue Zelda.
Few gamers will forget the incredible feeling of accomplishment they felt
when they finally completed this monumental quest, only to realize that
another one awaited them.
Metroid
 Lurking
in the shadows of third place is Gumpei Yokoi's moody Metroid, a title
that holds a special place in many NES gamers' hearts. Most Nintendo-produced
titles are colorful, whimsical romps aimed squarely at the younger set.
Metroid is none of those things as it deposits the player in a desolate
underground world filled with biomechanical terror. Alone, you explore
the seemingly endless catacombs in an attempt to thwart the diabolical
Mother Brain's plans for celestial annihilation. The graphics are dark,
nearly minimalist in approach. An unforgettable soundtrack (which snagged
our sound award) is truly avant-garde in approach, combining spooky synths
and ambient noise to create a chilling soundscape. Plus, who can forget
the gender-equalizing revelation of Samus Aran's decidedly female persuasion?
Mega
Man III
 Choosing
these games started out as a friendly exchange of ideas, but soon lines
were drawn and sides were chosen. It was painfully obvious that one of
the many NES Mega Man games belonged on this list, but a fiery battle erupted
between supporters of Mega
Man II and Mega Man III. Proponents of MMII pointed out that
it has more memorable music, a cooler last boss, the series' coolest weapon
(the Metal Blade), and most importantly, the super-cool Guts-Dozer and
Dragon bosses. However, the MM3 fans stood their ground claiming that their
game is considerably longer, has a much more involved plot, and has cooler
boss robots. Another nifty feature is the ability to fight all of the Mega
Man II robots (in spirit form at least) after you defeat the eight new
ones. Mega Man III is also viewed as the 8-Bit peak of the series quality,
as it was all downhill from there for the Blue Bomber on NES.
Castlevania
II: Simon's Quest
 Simon's
Quest is yet another hotly debated choice, as many of us felt that a more
traditional Castlevania should have made the list. No one dares to claim
that this installment is a bad game, but its deviance from the classic
platform standard and nonexistent difficulty render it questionable. Supporters
insist that the spectacular graphics, haunting music, and creepy mood make
it a true classic. A game does not have to be ridiculously hard (cough,
Castlevania,
cough) to be enjoyable, and the slight challenge of Simon's Quest means
that anyone can behold its stylish splendor through to one of its various
cool endings.
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