Konami/Distinctive

April 1991

Racing

1 Player

Konami takes all the excitement of driving around in circles and brings it to your NES.  Actually, this game is a little more appealing than that description would suggest, although the system's humble 3D hardware can't really capture the speed and impact of NASCAR racing.  However, customization options do lend some authenticity to the experience.

Capcom

December 1988

Action

1 Player

Yes, it's another loose NES conversion of a popular arcade game.  However, this is one of those times where you'll be thankful for the redesign.  Bionic Commando is a much deeper game than its coin-op counterpart, with longer rounds and specific objectives to complete.  However, it's still got all the action of the arcade game, along with the fun and innovative grappling hook.

Hot-B

September 1989

Sports

1 Player

Everyone knows that fishing takes patience... but not even a saint will have enough of it to tolerate the grating music and dull graphics in Black Bass.  The wait for a fish to bite will seem interminably long after listening to the game's painfully primitive soundtrack and staring numbly at a blue screen littered with white blobs.  Throw this one in the lake and pretend it never existed.

Konami

December 1988

Sports

1-2 Players

Before Electronic Arts, Konami was the undisputed champion of video game sports.  Games like this exceptional hockey title were the reason why.  Blades of Steel offers the best of both worlds, with both intense, lightning fast arcade action and some of the most authentic gameplay and visuals you'll find in a sports title on the NES.  Like hockey?  Don't miss this one.

Sunsoft

November 1988

Action

1 Player

There's never been anything quite like this fun and satisfying action game, which offers all the depth of a full-fledged adventure along with two different styles of gameplay.  When you're tired of cruising in your pimped out ride, a slim tank on wheels, you can jump out and explore your surroundings from an overhead view.  Great graphics, great bosses... great everything!

Hot-B

July 1992

Sports

1 Player

If you think fishing is hard work, just wait until you try reeling in a really big catch, like the majestic marlin.  These beasts weigh in at over a half ton, and most of that is muscle!  Hot-B's The Blue Marlin accurately captures the sheer hopelessness of trying to catch one of these burly sea monsters, thanks to its ludicrous difficulty.

Titus

September 1992

Action

1-2 Players

I got the blues... the deep down, nasty blues... 'cuz my baby done left me... yeah, my baby done left me this game!  Er, sorry.  This extremely generic platformer put me in a severe depression, and I had to sing about it.  You'd get the blues too, if you were stuck with this pointless and downright crummy action game based on the old Saturday Night Live sketches.

Data East (Beam)

October 1991

Sports

1-2 Players

Bo knows baseball... Bo knows football... but does he know video games?  It sure looks that way, judging from this great sports title from Data East and Beam Software.  There have been a lot of baseball games on the NES, but few have been this user-friendly and fun to play.  The batting and fielding are nearly flawless, and the graphics and sound will amaze you.