Article: The 24 Greatest 8-Bit Games Ever Made

[VectorGamer]

http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/21...ames-ever-made/

[carmel_andrews]

I know that peeps might disagree with moi here but there are some GLARING omissions from that list

 

Star Raiders (obviously)

 

Alternate Reality (city or dungeon)...(best ever atari/c64 RPG EVER)

 

Omnitrend's Universe (an 'Elite' type game before elite made it to market)

 

Elite (any 8bit computer version)

 

Rescue on fractulas (a8 and c64/others)

 

ballblazer (as per RoF)

 

Dropzone on a8/c64 etc (best 'defender' clone/rip off by a country mile)

 

R-Type (PC Engine version...which used a variant of 6502 if i recall)

 

Mercenary (c64/A8) and Encounter (c64 and a8)...Encounter was by far the best 'battlezone' variant done on any 8bit computer

 

Any early Scott adams (SAGA series) and early level 9 graphic adventures

 

Breakout (coin op)...what the hell was 'woz' on when he designed that thing (probably even harder to decrypt woz's breakout work then decrypring the codes from the german 'enigma' machine)

 

Any A8/c64/apple 2 INFOCOM game....Infocom ruled the computer adventure gaming world unopposed until a unknown british software house (rainbird/Magnetic scrolls) took adventure gaming to a whole new level with 'the pawn'

Edited June 17, 2009 by carmel_andrews

[VectorGamer]

My thought on the article was that it was a rehash of what was probably already argued in these forums. But, nevertheless I wanted to post it for other's interest.

[roland p]

I'm glad Metal Gear made it to the list. Especially with the MSX2 screenshot. Ofcourse they mention there is a NES version. There is a C64 version too, but that's no NES so they don't mention it. I'm missing SD-Snatcher on the list.

[roland p]

While initially launched on the MSX2, the 1987-1988 NES port sealed Metal Gear's place in history despite wild variations from the source material.

Makes me throw up.

[monzamess]

Another article with holes so big you can drive a semi truck right through. The biggest problem is that the writer seems to only remember (mainly) NES games, and while they are generally the best of the NES, he has no business writing an article like this.

[8th lutz]

Here are my problems with the list.

 

1.)Metal Gear shouldn't be on the list as a nes game.

 

2.) Author claiming Phantasy Star was Sega's answer to Squaresoft's titanic hit Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy 1 and Phantasy Star were released in the same year in Japan. It can't be Sega's answer to Final Fantasy 1. Out of anything, Dragon Warrior success in Japan was responsible for Phantasy Star and Final Fantasy for being released.

 

3.) Author claimed Ninja Gaiden 2 game was just as tough as the first Ninja Gaiden. Anyone that played both titles could see a difference in difficulty.

 

4.) There shouldn't be as many Nes games on the list.

[Ze_ro]

I really hate having to click through all this crap just to see the list, so if you're like me, you'll appreciate this list I transcribed:

 

24. Space Invaders

23. Frogger

22. Tetris

21. Space Harrier 3-D

20. Phantasy Star

19. Donkey Kong

18. Pac-Man

17. ExciteBike

16. Track & Field

15. Kirby's Adventure (NES)

14. Double Dragon II: The Revenge

13. Super Mario Bros.

12. Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos

11. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (NES)

10. The Legend of Zelda

9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project

8. Metal Gear (NES)

7. Castlevania

6. Contra

5. Metroid

4. Final Fantasy

3. Mega Man 3

2. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!

1. Super Mario Bros. 3

 

Space Harrier 3-D? Really??

 

--Zero

[vdub_bobby]

Lack of any 2600 games is the biggest facepalm there.

 

And also, that list sucks in general. TMNT III? Over Asteroids? Space Harrier 3-D over Ballblazer? And WTF is up with SW: TESB for the NES?

[carmel_andrews]

Another omission i seem to notice is anything by Ultimate (play the game) who revolutionised isometric 3d gaming on the 8bit computers (even if the control system was a bit weird to getting used to)

 

Also, Accolade's 'hardball', probably the best 8bit computer baseball sim

Edited June 17, 2009 by carmel_andrews

[CGQuarterly]

I don't really agree with the list, but everyone has their own opinion. I firmly agree with whoever said that it is to centered on the NES. I love the NES a LOT, as I grew up with it, and even I think there is too much of it on that list. The only SMS games on there are Space Harrier and Phantasy Star? Space Harrier shouldn't be on there at all, and neither should Metal Gear or Kirby's Adventure. I also agree that pre-NES systems are not represented enough there.

 

I am going to guess that I am about the same age as those writers, since they are so nostalgic for NES games. It seems like the list should be called "The 24 Games that We Have the Fondest Childhood Memories of..."

 

Chris

[Gregory DG]

Let me guess what the #1 game is... Are the initials SMB?

[JamesD]

Worst list of Greatest 8-bit games I've ever seen.

[VectorGamer]

Let me guess what the #1 game is... Are the initials SMB?

 

version 3

[vdub_bobby]

Worst list of Greatest 8-bit games I've ever seen.

Agreed.

 

It should be titled: Greatest NES Games (Plus A Few Old Coin-Op Titles Thrown In For Old Skool Cred) Of All Time

 

I mentioned earlier the lack of 2600 games, but the complete lack of any computer games is also pretty glaring.

 

EDIT: And even taken as a list of the greatest NES games, it still is a pretty bad list.

Edited June 18, 2009 by vdub_bobby

[Reaperman]

I'm also a bit saddened by the focus on NES common carts.

 

the way I see it, "greatests" according to this list is made up of several factors:

'greatest' as the most polished/evolved 8-bit version of it's idea (gets most sequels on that list)

'greatest' as in touched the most gamers by being very popular (tetris, donkey kong, metroid)

'greatest' as in the most relevant 8-bit games to modern times (mario, zelda, castlevania, final fantasy)

 

this doesn't appear to be a list 'greatest' as in being the most fun to play, most revolutionary games, or most ambitious games.

but by any scale, 'greatest' should place tetris a lot higher.

 

across the range of 8-bit systems, there have been some incredible games. Heck, the damn 8-bit line ran up through GBC's lifespan ending after 2001. ...and SMB3 was the best? Just like that? No computers, no handhelds--mostly nes games? I get the feeling they didn't even consider any titles on over half the 8-bit systems.

 

we're naturally going to pick up on the systems older than nes here, but they also left off a lot of *newer* 8-bits too. systems with a lot of power, and large programs like on GBC and GameGear.

Edited June 18, 2009 by Reaperman

[Gabriel]

Before I even visited the article or read any replies I said to myself:

 

1. This will be an article focused on fellating Nintendo.

 

2. There will probably be some token non-NES entries in the 20-24 slots.

 

3. SMB3 will get the top spot because this is a NES fanboy article.

 

4. Zelda will be swapped out of the top 5 in order to put Punch Out in it's place, because any article like this is nothing more than a paid advertisement for whatever franchise Nintendo is currently pushing.

 

Every one of those predictions was basically true. What was interesting was how they tried to push off Donkey Kong and Pac-Man as NES-first games by the presentation of boxart.

 

The only surprise was the presence of the NES Empire Strikes Back on the list. That game is total garbage. I'm surprised even a brainwashed Nintendo cultist would defend it.

[Ross PK]

I know that peeps might disagree with moi here but there are some GLARING omissions from that list

 

Star Raiders (obviously)

 

Alternate Reality (city or dungeon)...(best ever atari/c64 RPG EVER)

 

Omnitrend's Universe (an 'Elite' type game before elite made it to market)

 

Elite (any 8bit computer version)

 

Rescue on fractulas (a8 and c64/others)

 

ballblazer (as per RoF)

 

Dropzone on a8/c64 etc (best 'defender' clone/rip off by a country mile)

 

R-Type (PC Engine version...which used a variant of 6502 if i recall)

 

Mercenary (c64/A8) and Encounter (c64 and a8)...Encounter was by far the best 'battlezone' variant done on any 8bit computer

 

Any early Scott adams (SAGA series) and early level 9 graphic adventures

 

Breakout (coin op)...what the hell was 'woz' on when he designed that thing (probably even harder to decrypt woz's breakout work then decrypring the codes from the german 'enigma' machine)

 

Any A8/c64/apple 2 INFOCOM game....Infocom ruled the computer adventure gaming world unopposed until a unknown british software house (rainbird/Magnetic scrolls) took adventure gaming to a whole new level with 'the pawn'

 

Never had you down as a 2D shooter fan, Carmel. Have you ever thought of getting a Dreamcast or PS2? You can get loads of great 2D shooters for them.

[Tr3vor]

WHERE IS BLASTER MASTER?!?!?!

I think thats a load of crud. I think smb should have been at least #5.

I think people didnt put atari on it is because i hear some people think the atari 2600 is 4-BIT!!!

they arnt thinking straight!

[16-bit]

While I can see the argument for a lot of really good 8-bit games being missed and the list being Nintendo biased, I can firmly agree with SMB3 getting the top spot. I mean, 17 million copies sold, and 19 years later it's still the #1 selling game. It's hard to argue with that.

 

What it all comes down to though, is age/generation + the opinion of the list makers. If you were to have people from this forum spend a few days working out a top 24. $100 says it would lean HEAVILY toward Atari games and most anything pre NES. Likely not even having more than 4 or 5 NES games I'd say.

 

It's just one of those things you'll never be able to get an agreement on when the list makers are from different gaming backgrounds.

Edited August 24, 2009 by 16-bit

[Reaperman]

I can firmly agree with SMB3 getting the top spot. I mean, 17 million copies sold, and 19 years later it's still the #1 selling game. It's hard to argue with that.

17 million isn't nearly as many as other 8-bit titles sold and I'm not sure how it's still the number 1 selling game when there really aren't too many 8-bit systems around anymore.

 

I guess I'm really just arguing to argue though. SMB3 belongs somewhere in a top 24 list.

I think tetris or SMB1 probably belonged at the top and I'm really surprised none of the pokemon games made the cut. I think the folks who put the list together were too old to even consider the impact of the pokemon series on children in the mid-late 90's, but it was big.

Edited August 24, 2009 by Reaperman