NES Archives

NES Ice Hockey Video

Game On! @WorldOfLongPlay Ice Hockey Video

Full Game, Play-through

Lab Work – Ice Hockey Video – Full Games, fights, goals and all

Dive into it, hit the frozen pond, see the Ice Hockey Video, a 1988 Classic NES Nintendo Entertainment System.

Quick Take

If you can find an NES console for that matter, the game and some free time, all more difficult to find these days. Choose a team, set a speed, select a duration, create a team profile, and hit the ice. Simple, see our NES Ice Hockey Game review!

Next, thanks for the coverage @worldOfLongPlays, love the video and complete game play-through. I can always count on the full game from your channel. Helps to explain the nostalgia, since I’ll never own and/or play the game again. In any case, check out the @worldLongOfLongPlays Playlist on YouTube… You can always see our video playlists, or check the video category on our website.

NES Baseball Video

Play NES Baseball

@worldOfLongplay Nintendo’s Baseball

Lab Work – Baseball Video

It has been sometime since I posted any NES content. Let’s do NES Baseball.

Hot Take

The NES baseball game (baseball video) may have been the first real games I played as a kid outside Mario or Frogger, Alex The Kid, Shinobi (which might have come later), Donkey Kong and RType? Depending on the day, Baseball was my favorite game. Perhaps winning contributed to its likability as well. It was an easy game to pick up and play any time, especially on weekends.

Thanks to @worldoflongplays, the channel has provided us with a play-through of NES Baseball. Bases Loaded, Super Bases Loaded, Griffey Jr (SNES), and MLB The Show. I have spent very little time spent on baseball games. Therefore, it is fair to say that NES Baseball ranks higher on my list of favorite baseball games. Maybe MLB, Baseball, RBI Baseball, Griffey Jr. could be a tight number 2. Regardless of the ranking, if I had the chance to play it again, I would. It would be a “buy” for me if I had a way to play the game, it would be in emulator form. I would usually choose either the A’s or Cubs, as others had the first choice mainly. Eventually those two teams became my favorite teams. New favorite teams discovered on MLB The Show ’23, check out the teams, the up’s and down’s and review; MLB The Show 23 Review.

Watch this video and others like it on YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website.

NES F-1 Race Video

Let’s Race, F-1 Race

@WorldOfLongplays Formula 1 Race

Lab Work – Break Out The Controllers, NES F-1 Race Video

Another great option for you racing fans out there, Race F-1, F-1 Race.

Quick Take

If my memory serves me well, this game was difficult to say the least. Rad Racer was a slightly easier, more palatable back in the 80s. Rad Racer has both a Ferrari and an F-1 car as well. But, F-1 Race was more IndyCar/F-1 car friendly for those of you who enjoy track racing. Also, if you can get your hands on this game, it’s a lot of fun. Turns were out of control, at least for me, probably the more difficult part of the game. Again, this is 40 years ago, so, enjoy if you can get your hands on F-1 Race today. Refresh your memory with @worldOfLongplays play-through.

It has been years since I last played F-1 Race, and it may be many more before I pick it up again! I want to highlight the level of difficulty in this game. Similar to Excitebike, where I struggled with concept of temperature and engine overheating or landing a fighter jet in Top Gun, which in both cases are critical concepts to progress in the game. So, once again, it took me sometime as a child to figure those out. Unfortunately, landing in Top Gun never really panned out nor improved. F-1 Race is different in that the game was difficult so multifaceted, multiple areas for improvement.

F-1 had similar mechanics to Rad Racer, with turns and speed being key components. I believe where I struggled most was in putting together a solid run without being distracted by other race cars. Those cars always wiped me out on the turns. Therefore, for this article it is more cathartic to recall the frustration experienced while playing this racing game. This is probably the main reason why I avoided other racing games like RC Pro Am, Super Off Road, and Excitebike, particularly those with tight, hairpin turns such as F-1 Racer and MotoGP. These were all valid reasons, possibly just due to being too young at the time.

As a young gamer (in hindsight), I’m glad I kept at it because most of the racing games turned into some of my favorites: Rad Racer, Super Off Road, Excitebike, Mario Kart, FZero… taking us down memory lane.

Let’s watch this video and others like it on YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website.

Double Dribble Video

Let’s Play Some Hoops, Double Dribble Basketball

Jump Into An Instant NES Classic

Lab Work – Double Dribble Video

Starting with Double Dribble, watch the Double Dribble video which might be one of my favorite basketball games on the NES console.

Quick Take

Let’s start with the greatest games: NBA Jam, Jordan vs Bird, Bulls vs Blazers, and Double Dribble… While all of these titles are great games, Double Dribble to me is where it all began for me. It was the undercover Jordan vs Bird basketball game.

Game play, now some 40 years later, I will assume the Chicago Ox, New York Eagles, Los Angeles Breakers and Boston Frogs were meant to represent the Bulls, Knicks, Lakers and Celtics, respectively. But you know how copyright and naming rights work, licensing was clearly an issue, it wasn’t until the 2000s with NCAA and NIL that it came to a head. Assumption yes, some unknown console company wants to use professionally licensed team names ‘Name In Likeness’ with the dough? Assumption is probably spot on.

My go-to teams were Boston and Chicago for obvious reasons, as they represented the classic Bird vs Jordan era. So, for those of in your 40s and older, you should know the lore behind a Bulls Celtic game. That’s Double Dribble in a nutshell.

Perhaps I should include Double Dribble on the All-Time Greats list for basketball. Watch this video and others like it on YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website. You decide!

NES Rad Racer Video

Onto Rad Racer

Rad Racer, NES Classics

Lab Work – Rad Racer Video – The Classics With @NintendoComplete

Adding to the list of old Nintendo and Sony console games, we tossed in Rad Racer for good measure.

Quick Take

As far as racing games, Rad Racer sticks out as one of those top tier games ever. Great music, relatively easy game play and great sunsets. All qualities and design elements going into the making of a great game. For an early 80s racing game, this game is one of few per console, that hits all the elements for legendary game status.

I can’t do much without the video from @NintendoComplete. Let’s assume you remember Rad Racer, or perhaps you read another one of our game articles or watched a video. Welcome! Let’s get into it!

Rad Racer, is on my Top 10 list, probably as the number 2 racing game, behind Mario Kart. Although from different era’s of gaming and presenting different challenges etc. Rad Racer was one of the first games I was able to conquer, learning the puzzles and strategies to beat the game. I think Zelda and Rad Racer… were my first two overall game wins.

Music selection, snow scenes and a Ferrari 328 looking car (the closest I’ve been to an F-1 race car) are all features of this game. The F-1 Lotus race car also reminds me of another video game, F-1 Race. It’s a different game, but very similar in graphics, color palette, sound, and SFX (sound effects). I loved this game as a kid, and it’s still the same after all these years. Nowadays, it’s all about YouTube content creators doing races and speed runs until we purchase that Nintendo Switch. The ending is cool, funny, and simple, just like many early NES games.

Watch this video and others like it on YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website. Enjoy!

NES Excitebike Video

Dirt Bike Racing and More

Find @nintendoComplete Online, Starting With Excitebike

Lab Work – Excitebike Video

I am a huge Excitebike fan. For those who don’t know what Excitebike is, check out the Excitebike video! I love creating custom tracks and stages with max jumps and bumps; it is definitely a great game ahead of its time.

Hot Take

This is a legendary status motocross game, might have been one of my first games owned… I can’t remember if this title was packaged with the NES console as a console add on. I’m thinking Mario, Duck Hunt and Excitebike, not sure the order. But there were two or three console packages available at the time, one featured Excitebike as the game featured in the package.

Next, it feels like I start each review with, I’m a huge fan, well, Excitebike is no different… I could be just era I grow up in, these games took RGPs and board games to a new level. Mario, Excitebike, and Duck Hunt – if I recall correctly, these three games were the first games we owned. Not in that order, I can’t remember which games might have come with the console. I don’t know that the order matters, but Excitebike was epic. The hurdles, the big jumps, the step-ups and customizer…

The Excitebike track customizer might have been the most epic part, having the ability to create my own mega ramp racecourse. That was truly a game changer for me. I especially liked the ‘bluish’ and ‘neon green’ courses. The only real hang up I had with this game was the engine temperature or overheating… Like Top Gun, and the landing bit, the game is awesome, also my Achilles heal. Overheating and landing, not so much. I was not the ‘landing’ type, never really got the hang of it. Where temperature was much easier to control in Excitebike. So, the customizer and temperature awareness… takeaways. Jumps were fantastic, courses were worth the ride and game play was worth the hours upon hours of play.

Thanks, @nintendoComplete. Watch this video and others like it on YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website.

Pro Wrestling Video

It’s Time!

@nintendoComplete Pro Wrestling

Lab Work – Pro Wrestling Video, Who Are You Choosing? I’m Going With The Amazonian

Pro Wrestling is a fantastic game! Watch NES Pro Wrestling video now…

Quick Take

Check out @nintendoComplete’s play-through of this great two-player game. Familiarize yourself with perhaps one of the first wrestling games. You got to love NES Pro Wrestling, this game was great. If I remember correctly, it was early on in my gaming career some 30 years ago. By gaming career, I simply mean the time to play a game at an early age (tongue in cheek reference to having all the time in the world as a child).

I recall how cool the Amazon was… King Slender and Starman were. For some reason, I’m not sure why, but I essentially wanted to play this game nonstop. It’s probably been since middle school that I last played it.

It’s definitely on my “to buy” list if I ever get around to purchasing that Nintendo Switch I’ve been talking about. Not that this game was any more special or difficult than other NES console games. I think its simplicity was its feature, along with characters and famous wrestling moves.

Future self, remember to get back in the ring… That is one takeaway from this article that I do want to share… Ring time was essential; early on, it was an easy win if I made my way out of the ring through force or on my own accord.

Watch this video and others like it on YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website.

Play NES Ice Climber Online

An Epic Climb To The Top

Climb’n Ice

Lab Work – Play Ice Climber Now

NES – Ice Climber, Famous Titles and more. Let’s cover NES titles, walk-throughs, walk-throughs and even a little 80s NES Lore

Quick Take

Do you remember Kong Fan? Rampage? Gyromite? How about Ice Climber? (https://www.retrogames.cz/play_041-NES.php?language=EN) Play Ice Climber online now! I remember the pain of never being good at the game. The games were epic for ’85/’86; and I recall it like it was yesterday. My childhood friend owned the game console with a few games, including Ice Climber. We had the NES console, which it was epic. I think we had the following game cartridges, Super Mario, Baseball, Excitebike, and Duck Hunt. The Legend of Zelda was a secondary purchase that I remember vividly, the golden cartridge was top-notch marketing.

NES Titles and Walk-throughs

If you want to watch more NES content, walk-throughs and/or walk-throughs, my favorite content creators for archived video content are @worldoflongplay, @lordkayoss, and @nintendoComplete. The point here is that content, video ‘gaming’ in my childhood was “not there”. Most of the neighborhoods kids had very few games, which means time on the console/game was limited. This meant the main focus was single player or limited two player games, most of the time with extremely lopsided outcomes when it came to head-to-head competition or gaming.

Imagine passing controllers passed back-and-forth for another try. I don’t think it would have made a difference anyway. The key was to rent, borrow, or purchase the game of choice and earn your stripes. I was terrible at the game, but it was awesome, reminiscent of those games above, the Donkey Kong or Rampage, with bottom-up racing games. Races included ice, stone obstacles, bears, birds, and other creatures. Awesome!

Other NES Titles

Let’s continue with more NES titles, including both favorites and rarities. Ice Climber and Gyromite were part of the original series of around 17 games released on the US Nintendo Entertainment System. Don’t quote me on the total number of games released in the original US lineup, but here is what I’ve gathered – Duck Hunt*, Gyromite, 10-Yard Fight(a football, game I’ve never played), Baseball**, Clu Clu Land, Donkey Kong Jr., Excitebike**, Golf*, Hogan’s Alley, Ice Climber**, Kung Fu**, Mach Rider, Pinball, Stack Up, Tennis, Wild Gunman and Wrecking Crew. Some of my favorites are marked with an (*) or double asterisk (**) based on my total playtime, enjoyment, and overall player experience.

Again, take this as it is. It’s been a long time (30 years or more) since this article was written and the original gameplay. Many of the games I don’t remember or only played for a few hours. The games are simply included in the original Nintendo US offering. To answer your question, Ice Climber was awesome, Excitebike and Kung Fu were also great.

Gyromite and ROB (Robot Operating Buddy)

Moreover, Gyromite was a fun but incredibly challenging for an adolescent. Gyromite is a side-view puzzle game, featuring a quirky old professor/scientist who jumps around while avoiding pipes and critters. It’s worth noting that Gyromite also involved the R.O.B., a unique accessory for the NES. The US NES Console was released with Gyromite and R.O.B., an automated player accessory for cooperative play. This was an innovative move by Nintendo, although R.O.B. was short-lived as an accessory.

For context, there was the NES Blaster/Zapper, Powerpad, Powerglove, and game-specific controllers like the laser scope and Max pad. For more information on those accessories, Gaming History101 does a much better job covering them. Kudos to them, as I was only familiar with about 60% of the items listed – U-Force, Laser-Scope and R.O.B. being the most notable. Returning to Gyromite/R.O.B., the game was linear, morning right-to-left and up-and-down, with a cool robot accessory called R.O.B. that could help open pipes in the case of Gyromite.

The Wrap Up

Duck Hunt was unique. It came with a blaster, officially called the Zapper (I remember it being gray), which was a cool idea. Clu Clu Land was tough from what I remember, similar to Alex The Kidd (a Sega Console game, if I recall correctly. If not, please look it up for context).

Anyhow, getting back on track, let’s conclude the article with Ice Climber. Ice Climber was a fantastic game, one of the original titles on the NES console. Players control characters who jump, climb, and use a mallet to make their way to the top of vertical boards. They must fight off bears, bee-like bugs, Yeti (Bigfoot-like creatures), birds, and more. In my opinion, out of the 17 original games on the NES console, Ice Climber was one of the best, offering 2-player fun and a challenging difficulty level, especially for young players in 1985-86. In future posts, I will discuss Nintendo controllers and accessories such as the Power Glove, Power Mat, Game Genie, R.O.B, NES Light Gun and more. Cheers.

NES Tecmo Bowl Video

A NES Football Classic

NES Tecmo Bowl

Lab Work – Tecmo Bowl Video

Tecmo Bowl – Epic Cut Scenes, Great Football-like Plays, Easy-to-Play, Play As The Most Famous Players of the Time.

Quick Take

Touch Down High Fives… Players like, Mike Singletary, Lawerence Taylor, Carl Banks, Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Jerry Rice, Jim McMahon and Walter Payton… Who can forget this legendary football game?

First, let’s catch up on the Tecmo Bowl video. A classic NES football game… in my opinion, the first and best. Like racing games, there are only a few football games that stand out to me: Tecmo Bowl, the Madden Football Series, NFL Quarterback Club, John Elway’s Quarterback Football, College Football and NCAA College Football.

Maybe be there are more than I originally counted, but that’s okay. The point is still relevant. Elway’s, Tecmo and Madden 2024… are on the Top 5, not necessarily in that order, but they represent over 38 plus years of football gaming. My only complaint is “the number of controllable ‘things’, from quarterback angle, running, speed etc.”, I prefer the simplicity of the earlier games, excluding Madden 2024. Sometimes that cut scenes and watered-down story lines get old quickly. Therefore, I find Tecmo Bowl and Elway’s more enjoyable these days again, in my opinion you all might like to prefer generational games like NCAA Football 2024, or Madden 2024, 2025.

Check out @nintendoComplete for Tecmo Bowl coverage, it’s peak coverage. Watch this video and others like it on YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website.

NES Commando Video

NES Commando

Take The Flag – Commando

Lab Work – Commando Video

@worldoflongplays presents “Take That Flag”, a full play-through of NES Commando!

Quick Take

One of the more difficult games back in the day was trying to ‘take the flag’ in the vertical scroll game, reminiscent of the Contra horizontal scroll or ‘metroid-vania’ style games. Not for the faint of heart, this game dates back to 1985 and features a difficult run and scroll format to Contra and other horizontal and vertical scroll games.

As a child, I struggled with the difficulty of navigating those huts and towers, which seemed to always trip me up. Speaking of Commando another game worth mentioning is Contra, a hybrid of the two styles with more of a horizontal scroll but sprinkled with vertical elements. I always thought Commando video could benefit from this hybrid-scroll gameplay, which would have been my only complaint about the game.

In hindsight, I learned to take down the towers, bunkers and huts in Commando, which is why I appreciate the game even more now. Despite its difficulty, the game is fast-paced and becomes easier as you learn the strategies and puzzles of each level. Anyhow, the game is hard, fast-paced and ‘easier’ as you learn the game strategy and board puzzles. Unlike most games, the ending is interesting, (SPOILER) with a simple message thanking the player for completing the mission. It may seem underwhelming, but as an adult, it resonates with those who have serve in some capacity. It’s fascinating how art can reflect real life in unexpected ways. I recommend watching a video of this game on YouTube or playing it online if you have access to a platform like Nintendo Switch.

Watch this video and others like it on YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website.

Watch NES Top Gun Video

Take Flight, Fight Mission Critical Dogfights

NES – Top Gun Walk-throughs @nintendoComplete

Lab Work – Top Gun Video, NES Games And Walk-throughs

@nintendoComplete is coming through for us with a little bit of 80s movie and video game nostalgia, watch the Top Gun Video now.

Quick Take

This movie was epic, the game was epic… NES Top Gun was my first exposure to dog fighting… This game was so difficult. I can’t count how many hundreds of times I completed the first mission and failed to land on the aircraft carrier, which is key to game progression. Top Gun for NES, came out in ’86 or ’87, just after Top Gun the Movie ’86? Somewhere around that time. Honestly, this has nostalgia written all of it, both sides of the coin (referencing both the movie and the game).

It’s only fair to share a few pain points: landing and fuel… It’s a must, you have to get better; play Top Gun more. Maybe watch some Top Gun Video’s while you’re at it! Or other NES, SNES, WII, PS5, or N64 games while you’re on it. More Top Gun play results in better game experience. The flight was fairly easy, not much to do. Guns and missiles – use missiles wisely… Avoid enemy danger at all costs, including SAM’s (surface-to-air missiles), fighters, mobile missile launchers, attack helicopters and the stray missile… Shoot those down if you can.

Ending is pretty epic… and I leave it at that!

Check out the NES Top Gun play-through by @nintendocomplete. Like and subscribe. Cheers

Watch NES Contra Video

Team Play – 30 Lives To Conquer Contra

NES Contra

Lab Work – NES Contra Video play-through

Shout out to @Peg, for quickly completing this Contra (*see Contra Video) play-through!

Quick Take

Up, Up, Down, Down, B, A, and start was the first combination of pad inputs to unlock a game. Using a second play, same combination of game pad inputs, input select after A, before start. 30 lives enabled.

No #GameGenie needed for Contra, just the input “Up, Up, Down, Down, B, A (select for two players), start”… 30 years later, I can still recall the ultimate game saver code made. Yes, that’s the Contra extra lives code. Select/start or Start, once the code is input on the home screen. This game, in parallel is a side-scrolling, run-and-gun game, like Commando (check that out). Contra one-ups Commando, hence the code recalled and shared above. The likelihood of success was higher extra lives code. Not because of skill! Sometimes you have to chuckle… man, I had no clue then.

Although the game was difficult, the extra lives helped me and my fellow players along. The Base 1 puzzle, Energy Zone and Alien Lair were some of the best boards I recall. My Contra play, study.. Ultimately, the process helped me figure out boss patterns, the ‘thought’ outside the game, or puzzle solving and strategy. Like Mega Man, for those who have played, having the right weapon, in most cases the opposite of the boss. Fire/Water, Earth/Wind… same problem-solving is used today – Elden Ring, The Last Faith, and Black Myth Wukong, etc.

Watch this video and others like it on YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website.

Track N Field 2 Video

Olympic Mode Video

@NintendoComplete does TNF II

Lab Work – Track N Field 2 Video play-through by @nintendoComplete

Track N Field 2 Video is considered one of the best games ever on the NES console.

Quick Take

Swimming, shooting, diving, triple jump and hammer throw are all part of a day’s work in Olympic Mode – Track N Field 2. There are more events, like canoeing, pole-vaulting, fencing, taekwondo, hang gliding, archery, hurdles and the horizontal bar.

I believe those are all the events in Olympic Mode, and each one can progressively get harder as the games progress. Don’t worry, there are passwords and ways to save your progress if you need to take a break. These games are not to0 difficult; as a child, maybe, but nowadays, with a few hours of practice and some internet research, you should be able to compete and complete events with better times or scores. It may vary, depending on your accuracy and knowledge of the puzzle or strategy required for the selected event. Hang Gliding is an example for this.

No matter what you’re favorite events are, there are plenty to choose from, which means there are enough events that could act as a spoiler or stumbling block when playing with others. Just keep at it, and you’ll get the hang of it!

Watch along as @NintendoComplete completes the 100% play-through. Thank you, @nintendoComplete, watch this video and others like it on YouTube. Or find our other videos under the video category on our website.

The Legend of Zelda Video

Link Saves Hyrule And more, The Legend Of Zelda

@gamegrumbs Zelda – Grumble, Grumble

Lab Work – The Legend Of Zelda Video

“Grumble, Grumble” (reference noted above) Everyone needs a little 80s gamer nostalgia; The Legend Of Zelda Video – @gamegrumps.

Quick Take

What’s there to say about The Legend of Zelda? It’s the original Golden Cartridge, the original combat, action RPG (don’t shoot the messenger). It should be considered the first action RPG type game… creating the genre of games we mostly see today or classify as action RPGs. I think that is where the genre was defined, moving away from the sword and boomerang attacks. There is plenty of strategy, role playing and action… just saying for those who care that others classify this game as a “hack’n slash”, “beat’em” up…. It’s all of those, but, more so an action RPG, hence the strategies around “speed running” Zelda. You have got to give it to game designers Miyamoto and Tezuka… as it was one of the first games and what I consider one of the best action RPG adventures.

Let’s move on from here. The game is awesome and gets better the more you play. Learning the puzzles and strategies is key to this Action RPG genre, The Legend of Zelda being a defining game. But I digress!

Find the whistle, beat up the ‘Grumble Grumble’ guys and save the Hyrule once and for all securing the Triforce… therefore saving Princess Zelda. There is far more to the story, but do your due diligence where applicable.(watching the play-through again as I rewrite this story).

The last Zelda game I played was Zelda: Ocarina of Time… in ’98. What a jump from ’86 to ’98. Anyhow, I’d like to play both games again, at some point. Fast-forward to Zelda, Breath of the Wild. Thanks to @GameGrumps for the play-through, game content, and more!

Kung Fu NES Video

“Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting”, Kung Fu Video

Kick & Punch, Beat-Em-Up

Video – Kung Fu NES Video

Shout out to @NintendoComplete, for the great NES Kung Fu Video play-through.

Quick Take

Best Beat-em-up… games include Kung Fu, TMNT Arcade, Final Fight, and the Double Dragon Series… I don’t know about this one. Kung Fu was the first karate or martial arts game I played, so, maybe a broader category like beat’em up, action RPG, combat, fighting, boxing etc. would be a better pitch. In that case, the game tiles broaden to include the Street Fighter series, Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out! Batman, Castlevania (while I’m writing this, watching Rondo Of Blood for Turbo Grafx), Shinobi, Ninja Gaiden, God of War, Black Myth Wukong (a buy, so, a soon-to-buy) current the Elden Ring Samurai build, and Rise of Ronin (purchased, but not yet played).

Should I also include Rise, Rampage, Golden Axe, and Altered Beast on this list as well? I didn’t get into the UFC or WWF games as much, but Pro Wrestling yes. When considering all martial arts games, there are only a few: Kung Fu, Street Fighter, Virtual Fighter, Soul Caliber and now Elden Ring.

Returning to Beat’em Ups, martial arts, or whatever it may be and NES Kung Fu. I think Kung Fu is still one of the best games out there, even for a late 1985 release. Horizontal scrolling, punch, kick, and jump kick… a definitive “buy” today if I had a way to play the game. Nintendo Switch* I never understood the bee enemies or the fireball, bee throwing, dragon appearing enemy seems unfair or the final battle, guessing Mr. X. Silva saved. *Is there a Nintendo Switch in my future? We will find out!