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Just beat 2 NES classics on original hardware! Which should I play next?
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Posted on Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by W3sg to r/retrogaming | Discussion | 67 points
Gotta be some of my favorite retro games now. Both of these games are so much fun but ninja gaiden put me on the verge of mental collapse. I’m thinking of getting contra next. What do y’all think?
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@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by ZimaGotchi | 4 points | Reply
I've beat Ninja Gaiden and I can do Mega Man 2 in my sleep (although it's one of my top NEW games to run through for gun) but I never managed to beat Contra without the Konami Code. Something about the patterns I just can't lock down for some reason. Do Duck Tales or something instead. Maybe Ghosts n Goblins (although a lot of people claim its harder than any of the above)
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by TechnicolorViper | 1 point | Reply
Ghosts n Goblins is harder than every game you mentioned combined. I hate that game with every piece of my heart.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by ZimaGotchi | 1 point | Reply
You can't just have skill and memorize patterns you have to react AND be a little bit lucky. Some people really hate that luck part.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by ShinyProteanGreninja | 3 points | Reply
I have the same issue with contra. I’ve just accepted that it’s not a game I’m all that good at. I can beat it with the Konami code but that’s it.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by ContributionHour8644 | 1 point | Reply
I don’t know anyone who can beat it without Konami code or game genie
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by SuperChimpMan | 6 points | Reply
Castlevania 3
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by DecoyBacon | 5 points | Reply
Dracula's Curse is an absolute classic and a must-play imo.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by Bic44 | 14 points | Reply
Metroid is my favorite game, I highly recommend it! I played it as a kid in the 80s and it's still my most unforgettable gaming experience
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by V01t4r3 | 21 points | Reply
If you’re looking for something easier after a stressful game, Kirby’s Adventure.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by normhimself | 3 points | Reply
I just beat Kirby's adventure, it's so good. And like V01t4r3 said, it's relaxing comparatively speaking.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by premeditatedsleepove | 1 point | Reply
I'm partial to Punch Out. Was so glad when I finally beat that and finally avenged my childhood.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by W3sg (OP) | 2 points | Reply
Funnily enough that’s actually another one of my favorites! Beating Mike Tyson is another one of my biggest NES achievements!
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by craniumcanyon | 2 points | Reply
I dare you to beat the OG MegaMan.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by W3sg (OP) | 1 point | Reply
I’ll definitely have to beat that one. I’ve beaten it on virtual console before but playing it on original hardware would be awesome!
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by craniumcanyon | 1 point | Reply
>I’ve beaten it on virtual console
Impressive.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by Penguinunhinged | 3 points | Reply
Looking for another challenge, try Battletoads.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by oliversurpless | 1 point | Reply
If you can beat Gaiden, you can very much beat Battletoads.
Similar to the reality of unlimited continues, there are numerous places you farm lives to give you more chances to practice what you find tough; warps help to practice as well.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by babib652 | 2 points | Reply
>If you can beat Gaiden, you can very much beat Battletoads.
No sir. Ninja Gaiden was never that hard to begin with. As kids we just lacked that disciplined mindset needed to make it through the game, and well as noticing crucial aspects of the enemy design. Example: All enemies do the EXACT. SAME. THING. every time. It's just a matter of learning their patterns. And the birds? You can CONTROL their movements. Etc.
After a while going through the stages feels like a rehearsed dance (jump platform, dodge enemy bullet, hop to the next platform, etc).
Battletoads however, is the REAL deal. Holy hell. I once tried to beat it cheating with savestates. Eventually i just had to give up. It wasn't happening.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by oliversurpless | 1 point | Reply
Yep, exactly.
You know how you fight stuff like the Steelbeaks (rubber ducks in 9)?
You watch what they are doing, wait till they face away then pummel them; same with the fish, sharks, and beyond.
Most of the challenge in the game comes from environmental hazards and memorization; all eminently learnable.
Another similar example to the hawks is the eagles in Battle of Olympus; kill enemies until they drop a collectible but don’t pick it up.
As long as it remains on the ground (they don’t despawn) neither will the enemies respawn. When it comes to things like this, sometimes a retro fan just has to “get out of their own way” and it’s remarkable what you can accomplish with the added patience of being an adult.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by BrockHard253 | 1 point | Reply
Battletoads is much harder than Ninja Gaiden. Dont underestimate the convienience of unlimited continues. Battletoads will psychologically burn you out buy having to start from the beginning after you burn through your lives.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by GarminTamzarian | 14 points | Reply
Whatever NES game you choose to play next, I would suggest you consider adjusting the aspect ratio to 4:3 rather than leaving it as is, stretched out to an unnatural 16:9.
Just a suggestion.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by ses267 | 13 points | Reply
Zelda 2. A very underrated game.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by Active-Drive-7749 | 4 points | Reply
And a very difficult one
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by ContributionHour8644 | 2 points | Reply
If you grew up with games like this it isn’t too bad. Picked it up a month ago for first time in 20years and beat it a week ago. The combat is perfect, you just need some patience and time to learn new enemies when they appear.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by Active-Drive-7749 | 1 point | Reply
Well being patient is indeed very difficult as 8-year old kid :-D
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by ContributionHour8644 | 1 point | Reply
I got my NES Christmas of 88. I got super Mario brothers, Zelda 2 and marble madness. My mom said I couldn’t get new games till I beat them so I did lol.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by ses267 | 1 point | Reply
Same except it was 89. Luckily my dad was also into games so he would help us beat them when it got real difficult.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by thebigmanhastherock | 1 point | Reply
I beat it when I was a kid somehow. Then as an adult parts of it were just too tedious.
I did really enjoy elements of it, I like the RPG elements and the combat. The first Zelda to me is just so much better. I beat that game + the second quest all the time, endlessly enjoyable.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by HarvesterOfBarrows | 5 points | Reply
You'd probably like Blaster Master a lot.
And if you enjoy space shooters Star Soldier is a personal favorite of mine as well, it's fairly short but quite challenging.
@ Wednesday, September 20th 2023 by thebigmanhastherock | 2 points | Reply
This one is great. Never played it as a kid and it really holds up to me even as a new player as an adult. No nostalgia factor necessary.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by N8THGR852 | 4 points | Reply
Try some other NES gems like Bomberman II, River City Ransom and Felix the Cat.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by adamroadmusic | 5 points | Reply
Ninja Gaiden 2
Mega Man 3
River City Ransom
Strider
Rygar
Kirby's Adventure
Battle of Olympus
Crystalis
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by MithandirsGhost | 3 points | Reply
Rygar is one of the hidden gems of the NES library.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by ContributionHour8644 | 2 points | Reply
Good list all great games. I like mega man 2 more than 3 but both are top 10 games on NES
@ Wednesday, September 20th 2023 by thebigmanhastherock | 1 point | Reply
All the NES Mega Man games are good. When I was a kid I liked 3 the best, but as an adult I have come around to Mega Man 2 being the best of the NES series. I actually think 9 might be the best in the whole series.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by NinjaTank707 | 2 points | Reply
Shatterhand.
Awesome soundtrack.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by ManoftheHour777 | 0 points | Reply
Silver Surfer.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by CowboysDallas | 1 point | Reply
This is a very hard game at first because of the one shot kill aspect, but I watched a video of a guy rolling through it without issues. All you have to do it get and keep the power up for your weapon so it hits enemies harder and keep shooting constantly, while just avoiding enemies by knowing their pattern. Tried it myself after never coming close to getting out of the first level, and I got to level 2 pretty quickly, I just don’t know the patterns past that since I didn’t play it that long. With a little time I don’t think it’s be that bad.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by jukeboxhero10 | -1 points | Reply
What ever game interests you the most. Do your own research stop relying on us to do that for you.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by Riablo01 | 1 point | Reply
Double Dragon 2. Try beating the game on the hardest difficulty to unlock the true final boss and true ending.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by 16v_cordero | 1 point | Reply
How about finishing now Ghost and Goblins. It should be close to Ninja Gaiden.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by slikk50 | 2 points | Reply
If you can handle those 2, than you're ready for Ghosts and Goblins.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by Tryken | 2 points | Reply
First, congratulations!!! I've never managed to complete Ninja Gaiden. Those final couple of stages were just too much for me the last time I tried. I still go back to the game just to replay the earlier levels and enjoy the music.
Since you just finished Ninja Gaiden, maybe consider playing through a more relaxed experience (by comparison). Kirby's Adventure is lighthearted and fairly easy. That's probably what I would play next if I managed to beat Ninja Gaiden.
If you're up for more Mega Man, Mega Man 4, 5, or 6 could be a nice change of pace from the style of 1-3. I really like MM6 in particular because of the different kinds of Rush power ups.
If you want to keep the challenge a little higher with some NES gems, then The Guardian Legend and Zelda 2 are both outstanding games.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by the_rius27 | 1 point | Reply
try metroid its kinda cool but i would recommend beating the og super mario bros.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by S_Rodney | 2 points | Reply
congrats on beating Ninja Gaiden... I'm always stuck in 6-2 or 6-3...
I've got 3 suggestions for ya:
- Mike Tyson's Punch-Out !!
- The Legend of Zelda
- Super Mario Bros. 3
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by GammaBoost | 2 points | Reply
Next you should fix your aspect ratio so it's the proper 4:3 instead of 16:9
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by GreatGreenGobbo | 2 points | Reply
Battletoads or Yo Noid
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by W3sg (OP) | 1 point | Reply
Battletoads is another one I’ve been interested in but that sequence with the surf board seems terrible lol. That yo noid game seems fun too
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by GreatGreenGobbo | 2 points | Reply
Surfboard is short, its the jetbikes thats hard. It's just a pattern/ rythem you get used to. Kinda like Excitebike.
It's bannanas hard.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by S0_Crates | 2 points | Reply
Zelda 2.
Star Tropics
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by Funandgeeky | 2 points | Reply
If you play Star Tropics, OP, the code is 747. You'll know it when you get there.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by S0_Crates | 1 point | Reply
Good call.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by B-R-A-I-N-S-T-O-R-M | 1 point | Reply
Both Contra and Super C (Contra 2) are good
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by brackmastah | 2 points | Reply
Caveman games
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by W3sg (OP) | 1 point | Reply
Oh I’ve never heard of these I don’t think. I’ll have to check them out!
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by brackmastah | 1 point | Reply
It’s like track and field but with cavemen lol
@ Wednesday, September 20th 2023 by elbows2nose | 2 points | Reply
YEAAAAHHHHH! I was king at mate toss!
@ Wednesday, September 20th 2023 by brackmastah | 1 point | Reply
Someone argued with me that it even existed one time and a dude at the table next to me at the bar was like naaaah that was definitely a game and mate toss was the best event lol
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by CowboysDallas | 1 point | Reply
Metal Storm is great and a unique platformer.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by EquivalentNarwhal8 | 2 points | Reply
If you want to really break your brain, try to beat Castlevania II without using a strategy guide or FAQ, just using the “hints” from the townsfolk.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by Responsible_Ad_654 | 1 point | Reply
Battletoads
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by BrushAffectionate166 | 1 point | Reply
Astyanax
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by TarantulaKeeperSwe | 1 point | Reply
Contra is indeed a good one, I'd also rec Gunsmoke, wonderful game.
@ Tuesday, September 19th 2023 by CoreDreamStudiosLLC | 1 point | Reply
Castlevania II :P
@ Wednesday, September 20th 2023 by thebigmanhastherock | 1 point | Reply
Guardian Legend is a game I enjoyed. Never played it as a kid, but played it recently and liked it. It's Zelda mixed with a shooter. The shooting stages might be the best shooting stages on the NES and the music is incredible.
The overworld elements are not diverse enough, everything looks the same, not a lot of enemy variety. The game could have been better, but overall it's a really good hidden gem type game.
@ Wednesday, September 20th 2023 by elbows2nose | 1 point | Reply
Get a Sega Master System and play Alex Kidd in Miracle World, you don’t even need the cartridge, it’s built in. Good luck, dude. It’s tough.
Edit: spelling
@ Wednesday, September 20th 2023 by MetapodChannel | 1 point | Reply
Bionic Commando
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