Probably at most 10%. But really this is highly subjective and can vary depending on the person. I first grew up playing NES games, but going back to some of them is pretty tough.
Haha. Well saidI turn my nose up at anyone decrying meaningful death systems as "archaic," especially for games that are only an hour long and need it in order to have any semblance of replay value.
Victory means nothing if defeat carries no consequence, and the only two things that a video game can actually threaten to take from you are your money and/or your time. Arcade games do the former by limiting the number of lives per credit and letting you continue in place. Console games do the latter by making you repeat some portion of the game upon failure.
There's always a balance to maintain, some do it better than others, and I'm not going to pretend that I'm above using savestates for a quick play in unfamiliar territory, but the outright dismissal of purposeful reward and punishment is just myopic drivel from content tourists.
I genuinely find the 8-bit iterations of Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and Mega Man to be more interesting than their 16-bit successors. I just played through Metroid for the first time 2 or 3 years ago.As a younger gamer that played most of these games through rereleases, I'd say "some." The classic platformers like Mario and Kirby are still really great, and I don't even think Ninja Gaiden is that bad today. A lot of simplistic games like racers and arcade conversions are also still good.
On the other hand, the more complicated games are outdated as heck. I can't play Zelda 1 and Metroid 1 today, and the RPGs haven't held up that well either.
16-bit was just a raw improvement in every way, and one of my favorite generations.
As a younger gamer that played most of these games through rereleases, I'd say "some." The classic platformers like Mario and Kirby are still really great, and I don't even think Ninja Gaiden is that bad today. A lot of simplistic games like racers and arcade conversions are also still good.
It's best not to look at it in terms of percentages and just focus on the number of good games. Every gen has a ton of mediocre games percentage-wise.Ninja Gaiden is a weird one - great graphics, music, and mechanics, but the level design and enemy placement make it completely frustrating to play, even with save states. I know some people love it but past the first few levels it gets really bad with the checkpoint placement.
Also keep in mind y'all that there were around 1400 games between the NES and famicom. You guys have convinced me that maybe the number of enjoyable games is closer to 10% but I'm not buying 50% lol.
Ninja Gaiden is a weird one - great graphics, music, and mechanics, but the level design and enemy placement make it completely frustrating to play, even with save states. I know some people love it but past the first few levels it gets really bad with the checkpoint placement.
Very few. There probably aren't 50 NES games worth playing today.
50 might be somewhat of a cutoff number, but there are probably 50 games worth playing on the Famicom.
4 Mario and 6 Rockman games, that's 10 already without even getting started.
Metroid, 2 Zeldas, 3 Castlevanias, Kid Icarus, Final Fantasy III, Dragon Quest IV, Metal Gear. That's 20.
Famicom Wars, Shadow of the Ninja, Contra, Super C, Punch Out, Ghost'N Goblins, River City Ransom, Gradius, Salamander, Faxanadu.
That's 30.
Little Nemo, Ninja Gaiden I&II, Mother, GunDec, Double Dragon I&II, TMNT Arcade, Bubble Bobble, Gimmick.
40 already.
Add in great puzzle games like Solomon's Key, Yoshi no Tamago, Dr. Mario, Tetris, Lolo...
Disney Masterpieces such as Duck Tales, Chip'N Dale I&II.
Strategy games like Nobunaga, still very playable. Sim City.
Yeah, actually I'm pretty sure I could get stranded on a desert island and play only Famicom games for the rest of my life without feeling like I'm missing out much.
Good list, thanks! Though I'm judging you for including the Micronics Ghost's n Goblins port..
Very few. There probably aren't 50 NES games worth playing today.
I will take this challenge
Super Mario Bros
Super Mario Bros 2 (USA)
Super Mario Bros 3
Zelda 2
Duck Tales
Duck Tales 2
Kabuki Quantum Fighter
Super Turrican
Boulder Dash
James Bond Jr
Castlevania
Castlevania 3
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 6
Monsters in my Pocket
Little Nemo
Gimmick!
Kabuki Quantum Fighter
Wizards & Warriors 2
Wizards & Warriors 3
Dragon Warrior 3
Dragon Warrior 4
Maniac Mansion
Rainbow Islands (UK version)
Punch Out
Shadowgate
Bubble Bobble
Parasol Stars
Parodius Da!
StarTropics
StarTropics II
Life Force
New Ghostbusters 2
Swords & Serpents
Adventure of Lolo
Adventure of Lolo 2
Adventure of Lolo 3
Blaster Master
Journey to Silius
Kirby's Adventure
Metal Storm
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden 2
Solomon's Key
Batman
Batman: Return of the Joker
Gradius
Tiny Toons Adventures
Contra
Super C
Crystalis
TMNT 2
TMNT 3
TMNT Tournament Fighters
Power Blade
Battle of Olympus
61 games. Now, for some of them it's been a long while since I played them, but 80% of them are good at least (I play classics like Zelda 2 and MM4 almost every year), and I have only played a small segment of the overall NES library. So should be quite a bit more then this.
I will take this challenge
Super Mario Bros
Super Mario Bros 2 (USA)
Super Mario Bros 3
Zelda 2
Duck Tales
Duck Tales 2
Kabuki Quantum Fighter
Super Turrican
Boulder Dash
James Bond Jr
Castlevania
Castlevania 3
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 6
Monsters in my Pocket
Little Nemo
Gimmick!
Kabuki Quantum Fighter
Wizards & Warriors 2
Wizards & Warriors 3
Dragon Warrior 3
Dragon Warrior 4
Maniac Mansion
Rainbow Islands (UK version)
Punch Out
Shadowgate
Bubble Bobble
Parasol Stars
Parodius Da!
StarTropics
StarTropics II
Life Force
New Ghostbusters 2
Swords & Serpents
Adventure of Lolo
Adventure of Lolo 2
Adventure of Lolo 3
Blaster Master
Journey to Silius
Kirby's Adventure
Metal Storm
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden 2
Solomon's Key
Batman
Batman: Return of the Joker
Gradius
Tiny Toons Adventures
Contra
Super C
Crystalis
TMNT 2
TMNT 3
TMNT Tournament Fighters
Power Blade
Battle of Olympus
61 games. Now, for some of them it's been a long while since I played them, but 80% of them are good at least (I play classics like Zelda 2 and MM4 almost every year), and I have only played a small segment of the overall NES library. So should be quite a bit more then this.
Bonus for the OP - since I already did it for another thread, here are my top 30 GB games:
30. Harvest Moon GB
29. The Sword Of Hope
28. The Sword Of Hope 2
27. Final Fantasy Legend III
26. Kirby's Pinball Land
25. Kid Dracula
24. Trip World
23. Final Fantasy Legend II
22. Kirby's Dream Land
21. Final Fantasy Adventure
20. Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
19. Avenging Spirit
18. Mercenary Force
17. Ikari no Yousai 2
16. Balloon Kid
15. Duck Tales 2
14. Pokémon Yellow
13. Bionic Commando
12. Gargoyle's Quest
11. Super Mario Land 2
10. Kirby's Dream Land 2
9. Mole Mania
8. Wario Land 2
7. For Frog the Bell Tolls (Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru - never released west, Link's Awakening used this engine [Prince Richard in LA is a reference to this game] - translation available here - https://www.romhacking.net/translations/1623/)
6. Tetris
5. Mega Man V
4. Donkey Kong '94
3. Dragon Warrior Monsters
2. Super Mario Land 3 : Wario Land
1. The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening
That top five is some of my fave games ever.
Just wanted to add that for the most part, these lists aren't even very deep cuts - these are fairly well known games of the era that are generally held in high regard. If you go deeper, you can find a lot more games worth playing.
Can't do anything about games I haven't played! Both look good though, will try to make time to play them.
I will take this challenge
Super Mario Bros
Super Mario Bros 2 (USA)
Super Mario Bros 3
Zelda 2
Duck Tales
Duck Tales 2
Kabuki Quantum Fighter
Super Turrican
Boulder Dash
James Bond Jr
Castlevania
Castlevania 3
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 6
Monsters in my Pocket
Little Nemo
Gimmick!
Kabuki Quantum Fighter
Wizards & Warriors 2
Wizards & Warriors 3
Dragon Warrior 3
Dragon Warrior 4
Maniac Mansion
Rainbow Islands (UK version)
Punch Out
Shadowgate
Bubble Bobble
Parasol Stars
Parodius Da!
StarTropics
StarTropics II
Life Force
New Ghostbusters 2
Swords & Serpents
Adventure of Lolo
Adventure of Lolo 2
Adventure of Lolo 3
Blaster Master
Journey to Silius
Kirby's Adventure
Metal Storm
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden 2
Solomon's Key
Batman
Batman: Return of the Joker
Gradius
Tiny Toons Adventures
Contra
Super C
Crystalis
TMNT 2
TMNT 3
TMNT Tournament Fighters
Power Blade
Battle of Olympus
61 games. Now, for some of them it's been a long while since I played them, but 80% of them are good at least (I play classics like Zelda 2 and MM4 almost every year), and I have only played a small segment of the overall NES library. So should be quite a bit more then this.
Bonus for the OP - since I already did it for another thread, here are my top 30 GB games:
30. Harvest Moon GB
29. The Sword Of Hope
28. The Sword Of Hope 2
27. Final Fantasy Legend III
26. Kirby's Pinball Land
25. Kid Dracula
24. Trip World
23. Final Fantasy Legend II
22. Kirby's Dream Land
21. Final Fantasy Adventure
20. Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
19. Avenging Spirit
18. Mercenary Force
17. Ikari no Yousai 2
16. Balloon Kid
15. Duck Tales 2
14. Pokémon Yellow
13. Bionic Commando
12. Gargoyle's Quest
11. Super Mario Land 2
10. Kirby's Dream Land 2
9. Mole Mania
8. Wario Land 2
7. For Frog the Bell Tolls (Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru - never released west, Link's Awakening used this engine [Prince Richard in LA is a reference to this game] - translation available here - https://www.romhacking.net/translations/1623/)
6. Tetris
5. Mega Man V
4. Donkey Kong '94
3. Dragon Warrior Monsters
2. Super Mario Land 3 : Wario Land
1. The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Mega Man V is NOT Mega Man 5. Also that GB top five is some of my fave games ever.