8 Casual Classics: NES for the Mainstream

[racketboy]

I want to pose a little scenario for you all and see what you come up with.

No matter how large your collection for the NES, assume your game collection is in a room separate from your TV/entertainment setup.
But you have room for only 8 NES cartridges to be in a little rack next to your NES and display.

The goal of this 8-cartridge rack is to have games that are inviting for random people that you might have over to your place for entertaining.
Some people might be gamers, but the majority of people may simply have played games when they were kids and the NES might have been their favorite console.

What 8 cartridges would you have in this rack?
* Perhaps you want some to have good two-player support, but don't shy away from single-player experiences as well.
* Think about stocking a healthy dose of "oh I used to LOVE this game".
* Maybe focus mostly on ones that can be good for pick-up-and-play.
* Of course, nothing's stopping you from choosing games that may need longer sessions, but keep this casual entertaining aspect in mind.
* What games would be good conversation starters?
* Maybe toss in a game or two to expand people's horizons?

(before someone asks, yes Mario+Duck Hunt counts as a single cartridge)

I'm curious to see the results and maybe I'll tally the top recommendations and see where we land

(I'll chime in with my personal choices eventually )

[Limewater]

1. Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril
Interesting conversation piece and a great example of a high-quality game made long after the last official game was released. I wouldn't expect a visitor to actually play more than a few minutes because it's really long and really difficult.

2. Aladdin Deck Enhancer with Dizzy the Adventurer
Another interesting conversation piece. The Aladding Deck Enhancer is apparently not quite as rare as was once thought in the nineties, but I have only ever seen one in my life, and it's the one I own. Also, Dizzy the Adventurer is a very good-looking game, with bright, attractive cartoon graphics. It's a fun little adventure game that isn't too frustrating. The music is also really good, and I think they try to fake chords by quickly sequencing arpeggios in the title theme, which is not something I hear frequently.
It's one-player only, but I wouldn't mind sitting beside someone else playing.

3. Guerrilla War
Fun two-player overhead run-and-gun with good graphics. Unlimited continues makes it really approachable, the mayhem makes it fun, and the fact that it's about the Cuban Revolution makes it fun to talk about.

4. Ice Hockey
Fun two-player game that is simple and chaotic enough to not be too intimidating to players who don't know much about hockey.

5. Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt / World Class Track Meet
This feels mandatory. World Class Track Meet at least allows simultaneous two-player action.

6. Super Mario Bros. 3
I feel like the Mario Bros. mini-game included controls better than the original Mario Bros. This makes the game feel like a two-for-one deal.

7. Ice Climber
Another game that allows two-player simultaneous action. Since it's an arcade port, a visitor should be able to have a satisfying experience without having the opportunity to play through the full game. Also, in the Japanese version you club seals.

8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II
One of the few games I have had visitors specifically ask about. Actually, the visitor was my brother-in-law, and the game he asked for was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This is the game he actually wanted to play.


Note: I wish I could list Bomberman II, as it's a great multiplayer pick-up-and-play game, but I don't own a copy, and it's pretty expensive.

If I thought it was permissible, I would also consider subbing in my pirate famicom multicart for one of the above games. Probably Ice Climber, since it has it.

[racketboy]

I love this reply!
I greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness!
There's a few I'm not familiar with, so I will investigate them. You also have two carts that I'm likely to have in my lineup
I too love Bomberman 2 (only emulated though).
I should do a bit of a compare and contrast between the original and 2 and see how it stacks up.

[Anapan]

I like this "Not a top 10" question. No RPGs, just casual pick-up for 2, but a few 1-player allowed.

Contra - yeah, two-player co-op and with the code you can beat it. If not, git-gud.
Tengen Tetris - 2 player so it's better. Romhacks have made much better, but assuming this list isn't including romhacks and flashed new games.
Battle City - This is really fun co-op simplified. The enemy keeps getting stronger (not better) and you have to improve your strategy to match.
BattleToads - So good, but hard. It's rewarding when you get past the insane parts but Get-gud. A rhack removed the crazy so my bro could win.
River City Ransom - Such good co-op beat-em-up. Tecmo has been riding this for 36 years!
Kirby's Adventure - Probably the most ambitious NES platformer. Even watching someone play it is enjoyable for everyone.
Snake Rattle'n Roll - the only good isometric game. Co-op is really fun and it was designed to make it enjoyable in solo as well.
Super Mario Bros. 3 - Well, can't leave this one out - it is controller pass 2 player. Still king.


Nothing unexpected, but when I turn my NES on, I only hope the response is "cool!" and not "I've never seen anything like this". I want to enjoy it together. Honorable mention: Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers - Well my list of 8 had 9, so this was deleted.

edit2: reading responses - I wanted to include BomberMan 2 as well, but, same; I've never been in the presence of a real cart so I can't verify it existed...? I also wanted to include TMNT, but stuck to "anyone would enjoy" so puzzle game took that place. I also wanted to include the 100-in-1 Contra function 16 I grew up with - I played all the classic Konami early games and they were all two-player co-op. Not appropriate for this list, but KRZY of FamicomWorld figured out the copy protection a few years ago, and *only* he can hook you up - they aren't for sale anymore. He can also make the 2 Megabyte pirate carts with translation - FF7 & Pokemon - for the price of a burger. (I know Americans avoid units of measurement that aren't food).