The 30 games preloaded inside the tiny NES Classic Edition from Nintendo make up for some franchises both popular and familiar. At $59.99, you get three iterations of Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Balloon Fight, arcade hit Bubble Bobble and a hefty roster of retro favorites, with some lesser known than others.
While the included games aren't enough for a full-fledged '80s flashback, the list does make for a diverse backlog that pleases more than it disappoints. Nintendo's packing this one up with a tremendous nostalgia factor, even setting up an 80's-themed launch party and a timely Power Line revival to celebrate the moment.
Ahead of the console's launch, let's take a look at some of the best games that you can play with the NES Classic Edition.
Castlevania
•Original release date: 1986
•One player
Konami's ghoulish vampire-hunting sidescroller Castlevania first came into being in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is regarded as one of all-time classics in widespread gaming vocabulary, and deservedly so. It features a thrillingly creative art direction that doesn't feel as if the levels were clobbered together masking as minimally modified areas; they feel replete with core elements that really makes the haunted experience authentic.
Dr. Mario
•Original release date: 1990
•Two player mode available
Mario is mainly a plumber but he has been a tennis player, a galaxy explorer and in the future, an endless runner. Out of the many shoes Mario's been in, his sideline as a doctor is one of the most beloved Mario spinoffs, attributed mainly to its relaxing pace and simple mechanics that are strikingly similar to Tetris. The rules are easy: line up colored capsules and eliminate viruses, but masterfully conquering the game as it progressively inches upward in difficulty is an art in and of itself.
The Legend of Zelda
•Original release date: 1986
•One player
The first game that started it all.
Many things can be said about Zelda and "expansive," "innovative" and "immersive" are some of them. There's just no stopping with the superlatives earned by one of Shigeru Miyamoto's masterstrokes. Even to offer a reason why you should play the game is already doing it a disservice so it's best to just go ahead and play this immediately when you get the console.
Final Fantasy
•Original release date: 1987
•One player
The RPG genre has sure evolved a lot as more complex technology came along, but the core principles are still very visible even in modern iterations, and the original Final Fantasy is a fine evidence of that. In its heyday, the game was not flawless but its soaring popularity saved Square, its developer, from an imminent bankruptcy back in the day.
Final Fantasy features a complex and epic story, outre creatures and various armor. If you missed out on what started the popular franchise, then give this one a try for old time's sake.
Super Mario Bros.
Original release date: 1990
Two player mode available
Much Like Zelda, there really is no need to convince anyone to play Super Mario Bros. To even introduce it to you would probably be a gaming sin. Who doesn't know Mario, really? For the younger ones who weren't there to play early Mario titles, you can do so now and experience the game's masterful level design and game mechanics.
The NES Classic Edition is out Nov. 11 on Amazon, Best Buy, Target and other retail stores.
Are you getting the NES Classic Edition? Which game are you most excited to play? Sound off in the comments section below!
