It's a shame this game is so rare and expensive these days, because it genuinely deserves to be played by everyone. This is classic Compile shooting at its finest. Tons of personality and charm in the graphics, great memorable soundtrack, lots of weapons and bombs to choose from, and gameplay that's tough but forgiving. This game also has plenty of different options to mess around with, along with a shop to purchase items from in between levels. In short, this is an excellent shooter and probably the best shooter on NES.

Like many people, I grew up watching and loving Spongebob Squarepants. And thankfully, this isn't some cheap licensed game like so many titles end up becoming. Not only is there a ton of references for fans to get a kick out of, but the environments, music, and characters are also spot on and really make you feel like you're exploring Bikini Bottom. This is all packed into a pretty great 3D platform, with super responsive controls and creative level designs. This is a must play for any Spongebob fan or just anyone looking for a good 3D platformer.

Classic arcade action at its finest, and the genesis of the twinstick genre. The graphics are flashy, but there's still enough distinction between the enemies and the humans for the player to quickly identify them. The sounds are basic, but memorable and have that iconic Williams sci-fi phaser sound to them. However, what really makes this game stand out is its brutal difficulty. This is quite possibly the hardest old school arcade game of all time. However, not a single death is cheap because of how incredibly quick and responsive the controls are. You are in total control the entire time and the only person you can blame for your failures is yourself. This is the twinstick genre stripped down to its bare essentials. And in this case, less is truly more.

Arguably the first great pinball game on consoles, even though I like Video Pinball as well. While this game is mostly known now for its cameo appearances of Mario and Pauline, it really is an excellent representation of pinball. It features two different sections to make one giant table, giving the game some nice variety. There's lots of charming characters on display, including penguins, seals, and chicks who hatch out of eggs. There's also quite a few objectives to fulfill to get more points, such as collecting a row of Pac-Man like dots, a set of five cards, and even a little slot machine where you have to hit a paddle to stop it. The sound effects can be a little grating at times, but serve their purpose well. And the game has a nice little jingle on the title screen, like a lot of early NES games do. While not the most perfect pinball game ever, Nintendo's own Pinball is still a great way to get your pinball fix at home.

This is definitely my favorite of the Pac-Man World games, even though it's not a platformer. While some of my love for this game is nostalgia talking, I do believe that it is a genuinely solid racing game. Tight controls, some memorable track layouts, a fun battle mode, and a great soundtrack make this game highly recommended. My only gripe with this game is that I really wish it had more to do with Pac-Man. While the environments do the job and have some nice set pieces, like the underwater glass tunnel in the desert level, I wish they had more to do with Pac-Man and Namco in general. Some more characters also would have been nice, as I don't think that all four ghosts needed to be their own separate characters. The PSP version included Mappy and Mr. Driller, but I think they could have done more to make this a full on Namco kart racer. Still, this is an excellent game and ended the World series on a high note.

Easily the best of Nintendo's arcade games. While Donkey Kong felt more like a game that should have been a console game originally, Mario Bros. and its more streamlined gameplay feels much more suited for the arcades. The game features a nice colorful cast of characters, including the introduction of Mario's green brother, Luigi. Turtles, crabs, flies, and icicles are found throughout the various sewers and all have different attritubes to make them stand out. While the movement is slippery, the game controls great and makes skillful play all the more satisfying after mastering the momentum. And the best part of all is that this can even be played with two players simultaneously. Fantastic game all around. However, I would suggest skipping the 2600 version.

A great little puzzle game from the early NES era. This game features two game modes. Game A involves having to collect all the dynamite before time runs out, and game B involves guiding the professor to the end of each level while he's sleepwalking. The use of the different colored pillars gives this game its puzzle element, and it can pretty tricky to determine which ones to lower and which ones to raise. There are also bird like enemies throughout each level that can only be distracted with radishes, for some reason. It's definitely a strange game, but that's what gives it character. Hirokazu Tanaka also provides some catchy tunes for the game, much like his compositions for Balloon Fight and Wrecking Crew. While game mode B relies on trial and error and is ultimately disappointing, game mode A still provides a great puzzle game experience.

This is definitely a personal favorite of mine, as it's a game that I grew up with and played all the time on PS1. But nostalgia aside, I still think this is a really solid game. Similar to Robotron, the action takes place throughout multiple waves and involves blasting all of the evil toys. However, what you really want to go for are the hearts, as getting enough opens the door to let you exit the level. The power up system is one of the most unique things about this game. Each enemy is weak to a specific power up, and will not be affected by any other power ups. For example, a balloon can be destroyed with a thumbtack, but not with bombs. So, part of the challenge is to make sure that you have the right power ups for the right occasions. Certain power ups also have their own unique attributes. For example, bombs can clear multiple spaces at once, much like in Bomberman. And lightning bolts can stun any enemy, but can only destroy the robots. The graphics are extremely charming, with a nice fairy tale aesthetic and tons of cute characters. You can't help but love all the toys, even though they're the enemies. The music is also one of Namco's finest and most catchy tunes ever, right up there with the Mappy theme for me. The game also provides a pretty lengthy main quest, with 44 levels to finish. Bonus stages where you have to jump and catch apples help to spice up the game as well. The biggest shortcoming of this game is its difficulty. Trying to get the right power up can be a bit annoying, as you can only rely on the randomized present boxes to give you what you need. Enemies can also get pretty nasty later on, as their movement patterns can be somewhat unpredictable. The final boss is also pretty stupid, as it constantly fires projectiles with very little opportunity to use cover. Even with its issue, Toypop remains one of my all time favorite arcade games. And best of all, you can have a buddy join in for simultaneous two player action. If you can find a way to play it, I would highly recommend giving it a shot.

One of the few console ports of an arcade game that actually improves on the original. Not only is this NES conversion much easier than the arcade game, it also adds a few extra features not present in the original game. For starters, you actually get to choose your difficulty, in the form of an introductory stage. This takes place at the end of the Dragon Spirit arcade, and the difficulty is chosen based on if you finish the stage or not. At the end of each stage, you will be greeted by a fairy who will help you out if you fulfill certain requirements. Fairies mainly just give you health refills and extra lifes, but it's still a nice addition that adds a little more depth to the game. Despite being much less powerful than the original arcade hardware, the graphics and music are faithfully represented on the humble NES. The stage layouts are also pretty faithful, with some even containing new sections. Level six has a section where your dragon moves much faster than normal, and you have to zip around the oncoming hazards. Details like this really show the amount of care that was put into making this game as good as it could be on the NES. There are some minor flaws, such as the occasionly garish colors and enemies that are nearly impossible to avoid first time playing. However, this is still an excellent game and one of the best shooters the NES has to offer.

I'm being completely serious when I say that I prefer The Great Quest over this game. At least with The Great Quest, it's bad in a way that makes you laugh. This is just bad in a way that makes you depressed. Yes, the gameplay of classic Frogger is here, but everything else about it feels so uninspired. Instead of being bright and colorful like the arcade game, this takes place in a gloomy city environment. Frogger himself looks like he's constantly wishing for the sweet embrace of death. And the rest of the objects have absolutely zero style to them. Most of the sound effects here seem to be basic stock sound effects, and the same goes for the painfully generic background music. This almost feels like it's unofficial, even though Konami approved of it. I would say that it feels like a Game Maker game, but that would be insulting to Game Maker. I've believed for so long that The Great Quest was the worst Frogger, but now I can see that I was completely incorrect. And for that, I apologize to The Great Quest. You are not the worst Frogger game, because this one is.