Double Dragon 1 NES was an 8-bit video game released back in 1991, and has since become a cult classic. The NES video game features two characters who fight each other using martial arts moves. In fact, this game shows off some of the coolest moves from the game.
Double Dragon NES is a side-scrolling beat ’em up developed by Technos Japan and published by Capcom. The game was originally released for the NES in 1989. But before then, it was an arcade original released in 1987.
Keep reading to learn more about this game in our double dragon review.
Game Story
The story follows two martial arts masters, Jimmy and Billy Lee, who are tasked with rescuing Billy’s girlfriend Marian from the nefarious Shadow Warriors gang. Along their journey, they will have to face many challenges, as well as numerous enemies on screen, including bosses that must be fought.
Gameplay
Players control both characters simultaneously throughout the entire video game. They can move left or right on the screen while attacking an enemy. Players also have access to special attacks such as fireballs, lightning bolts, and even a flying kick. Both players start out with three lives which deplete.
Main Characters
Jimmy and Billy Lee are two iconic martial artists who first appeared in the cult classic video game Double Dragon more than three decades ago. As members of the Lee brothers’ private investigation team, the pair eventually struggle to rescue a kidnapped girl from an evil gang leader named Willy.
Though their background stories remain somewhat mysterious, what stands out about Jimmy and Billy is their unique fighting styles. While Billy typically prefers to take on adversaries straight-on with standard martial arts moves, Jimmy has a reputation for utilizing creative ambushes and employing his Tommy gun if he needs to. No matter which moves these martial artists choose to pull off, their trademark determination gives them an edge in any fight.
Weapons provide a variety of means to fight your enemies. You may use baseball bats, crackers, knives, dynamites, etc. These weapons can also be used by the enemies as well, sometimes resulting in a race to pick them up in an attempt to gain an advantage. Likewise, the Black Warriors can throw rocks, oil barrels, etc., which can be useful for attacks at long range.
Game Levels
Compared to the original arcade game, the levels are arranged differently, and there are now only 4 of them. The four levels each have a time limit so the player needs to quickly dispatch foes and the bosses at the end of each level to proceed. Technically each level is called a ‘mission’ and the four missions take place on a street, construction site, forest, and finally the Black Warriors base.
Gameplay and Music
There are no simultaneous two-player modes like the arcade version, instead, you have to take turns playing. The characters are large enough for the player to view and the music is solid enough to get the job done. Controls are a bit sluggish which can add another layer of challenge to the game.
Bosses
There are four bosses at the end of each of the stages that the player has to defeat in order to progress. Abobo, Chintai, multiple Lindas, and finally Willy. There is a secret last boss but the player has to finish Willy off to face them.
Defeating Bosses
All four bosses require a different approach to defeat them. Abobo the first boss requires the player to get pretty familiar with jump kicks since fighting him straight up usually will result in the player’s loss.
The second boss Chintai is fast but if the player has enough experience points to earn the hair grab to toss Chintai off the building this fight will end quickly.
Fighting the 8 Linda’s in the third stage boss fight is possible with jump kicking to get close and utilizing your grabs and throws to defeat them.
In the last boss battle against Willy, you cannot allow him to shoot you with his gun, yes the final boss has a gun. The player must move up and down to avoid getting shot which takes off enormous amounts of health.
Beating this boss requires a similar strategy of grabbing and attacking but also using kicks to get in close enough to do so.
Summary
Double Dragon 1 on the NES can be fun for those who enjoy these types of games which are old-school, side-scrolling brawlers of the 80s. The jumping sections can be tough and the fighting is slow pace but this game is challenging.
Retro gamers who enjoy the simplistic challenge this solid game provides might end this title. There were various sequels on pretty much every system which include the Game Boy, Sega Genesis, and PC. This is a classic bar-setting game NES game that does provide a chance to see how the Double Dragon franchise started out and evolved over time by playing the original game.
Kid Icarus for the NES was developed by Nintendo R&D1, the same team that created Super Mario Bros. The original 8-bit game was directed by Gunpei Yokoi, who also directed Metroid and Donkey Kong. Yoshio Sakamoto was the game’s art director, and he also later directed Metroid. The music in the game was composed by Kenichi Matsubara.
Kid Icarus was one of the first games to use graphical scaling to create a 3D effect. This technique was later used in games such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Metroid. Game design and level design are two huge differences between the two games, with Kid Icarus focusing more on platforming while Metroid focused on exploration. While the game design and level design may be different, one thing is for sure: both games are fun to play.
This game was well-received by critics and is considered one of the classic games of the NES library. In 2007, IGN ranked it as the 50th-best game ever made for the NES. In 2008, GamesRadar ranked it as the 4th best NES game of all time. In 2012, Complex ranked it as the 8th greatest 8-bit game of all time. The character Pit was one of the main characters in the 80’s cartoon Captain N The Game Master. While Pit hasn’t shown up again in cartoons the Kid Icarus franchise still remains relevant today with Paluntena and Pit both appearing in the fighting game Smash Brothers.
Game Story
The game is set in the Greek mythological world of Angel Land. The protagonist, Pit, is a young angel who must rescue the goddess of light Palutena from the evil god Medusa who kidnaps the goddess and steals the 3 sacred treasures. To do this, he must venture through various levels, fighting Medusa’s minions and collecting weapons and items to help him on his quest. The game’s plot takes a wild ride through Greek mythology, with characters and settings that are as free-spirited as the ancient myths that inspired them!
Unique Weapons
The weapons in Kid Icarus are powerful and varied. Our hero starts with a simple bow he fires to hit enemies at a distance. Upgrades include powerful weapons like fire arrows, which can be used to incinerate enemies from a distance. Other power-ups can be found in the game, such as the powerful power sword. These power-ups can help Pit defeat Medusa and rescue Goddess Palutena.
The player begins the game with a weak bow and arrow, but can find powerful weapons and items throughout the game:
Fire Arrows can be used to illuminate torches and also to damage the shields of the enemy.
Bombs have the capability to destroy walls and enemies.
The Mirror Shield has the ability to reflect incoming enemy shots back at them.
The short range of the initial bow weapon is a factor in raising the difficulty level since you have to be much closer to enemies to harm them.
Players can also find several power-ups that will help Pit on his quest:
The Wings of Icarus enable Pit to achieve flight.
The Boots of Hermes provide a boost in speed.
The Arrow of Light is a formidable weapon that has a limited usage of one per level.
A unique item that breaks the fourth wall is the credit card you use to buy things from a location called the black market whenever Pit doesn’t have enough of the game currency to purchase items.
Game Levels
Kid Icarus is a platform game with action elements so expect to do a lot of jumping especially in the first level. The player controls Pit, who must jump and shoot his way through various levels and in these levels you can find hidden chambers containing weapons and items to help you on your journey.
The game is divided into three main sections: the Overworld, the Underworld, and Skyworld. In each section, Pit must traverse different levels, fighting enemies and collecting items to help him gain the strength necessary to survive the enemies. The final section called the Sky Palace is a flying section where Pit finally uses his wings to fight the final boss.
Gameplay and Music
The music in Kid Icarus is quite catchy and memorable. It was composed by Kenichi Matsubara, who also composed the music for games such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Metroid.
The music helps to create an exciting and adventurous atmosphere and complements the gameplay mechanics well. The sound effects are used in an effective manner that alerts the player and is not at all tiresome due to some repetitiveness.
Bosses
In Kid Icarus, the player must fight various boss battles to progress through the game. These bosses have high health and can be challenging due to having to slowly pick at their health. The most famous of these bosses is the evil Medusa, who is the final boss of the game. Other bosses include Twinbellows, Hewdraw, Pandora, and Tanatos (Thanatos).
Aside from the main bosses, you’ll see a wide variety of enemies that differ depending on which world you are currently in. A few notable ones are the Eggplant Wizard who turns the player into an eggplant and Reaper aka Grim Reaper who patrols around and summons mini-reapers if he sees the player. The vast majority of bad guys aren’t too difficult to deal with the platforming can be challenging at times.
Overall Level Difficulty and Game Length
The gameplay mechanics are simple and easy to understand. The player must jump and shoot their way through various levels, avoiding enemies and traps. The game is challenging but not too difficult, making it enjoyable for players of all skill levels.
Controlling Pit is a pretty simple affair, most of the game is a land battle with plenty of jumping which was mentioned before and despite the presence of wings on Pit, he is a flightless angel. The game takes about 4 hours to complete on average, but if you are new to this guy it can take a bit longer to get used to the enemies and controls.
Summary
Kid Icarus is fun and enjoyable and is sure to please fans of platformer action video games. The simple but challenging gameplay, catchy music, and Greek mythology-inspired setting make for an exciting and unique gaming experience.
A Game Boy sequel was released in 1991 that follows the events of this game. Fans of Metroid and Legend of Zelda will feel right at home with this classic NES game.
Super Mario Bros NES was first released in North America on October 18, 1985. It was one of the first 8-bit games to be released on the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was developed by Nintendo and published by Nintendo of America. Super Mario Bros is a platform game in which the player controls Mario, or his brother Luigi, as they travel through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser.
This Mario Bros NES game is considered one of the best games of all time and has been praised for simple gameplay, solid graphics, and recognizable music and is one of the most popular video games of all time and has sold over 40 million copies worldwide. This classic game is worth playing just to see how the Mario franchise gained popularity.
Keep reading our Super Mario Bros NES review to learn more.
Game Story
In this version, the game begins with Mario or Luigi dropping into an 8-bit setting with a blue background and a Goomba sidestepping over to one of the brothers.
Gamers know from subsequent Mario games that the story is about Mario or Luigi receiving a letter from Princess Toadstool asking for help. Bowser has kidnapped her and takes her to his castle in the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario and Luigi set out to rescue her.
Unique weapons
The player can collect power-ups that will help them in their quest. Power-ups include mushrooms that make the player bigger, allowing for an extra hit, or touching a fire flower that gives the player the ability to shoot fireballs and stars that make the player invulnerable.
These powerups become commonplace throughout subsequent Mario games, like Super Mario Bros 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3. Another popular powerup used frequently is star power, though that has undergone plenty of changes and upgrades over the years.
Game Levels
Super Mario Bros NES has colorful graphics that are faithful to the original Nintendo Entertainment System. The game’s sprites are large and well-detailed and the level design is simple but effective; it provides a good sense of the location. Because of this simplistic yet fun design, it’s considered one of the classics, and favorite games to play on NES.
In this game, the areas are divided into eight worlds, each with four levels. The first seven worlds are based on different locations, such as forests, a desert world, deep ocean, and in later levels the eighth world is Bowser’s castle. The player can access warp zones (via warp pipes) to skip levels and find hidden coins for points or go down the various green pipes to find items.
In the original game, the player had only one screen and background to work with, but in this Super Mario game, however, we have horizontal scrolling and level progression.
Music and General Gameplay Mechanics
Super Mario Bros NES is a platform game in which the player plays one of two playable characters Mario or Luigi as they travel through the Mushroom Kingdom.
The player must overcome obstacles such as enemies, spikes, and pits. Players can earn extra lives by collecting green mushrooms which are hidden in the levels or gathering enough gold coins. Stomping on enemies gives the player points to add to their score, which is visible on the screen.
In this game, the high score serves no major purpose but gaining points comes from pretty much any activity, even high you can jump on the flagpole at the end of each stage.
Despite the age of the game, the controls were pretty solid when compared to modern games. Speaking of controls, they’re very simple with the “A” button used for jumping and the “B” button used for running or shooting fireballs if the player has the power up. On every level, you can find a hidden block that contains assorted items like a green mushroom or invincibility star.
The music is catchy and iconic, which is recognizable even to those who have never played the game. The game’s soundtrack has been praised for its quality despite the limitations of the NES chipset. The sound effects are simple much like the music but effective and the mushroom power-up sounds are still a favorite of mine.
Bosses and Enemies
Super Mario Bros goombahs and koopas are some of the most iconic enemies in video game history. The majority of these bad guys move in simple patterns and will not actually track you once you move past them.
Goombas are one of the most common enemies in the Super Mario Bros series. They are small brown mushrooms with eyes. Goombahs first appeared in Super Mario Bros and have appeared in every main Mario game since then. These foes can be defeated by being stomped on or by being hit with a projectile.
Koopas are turtle-like enemies that come in different colors and have different abilities. The most common type of Koopa is the red Koopa, which can be found on various levels throughout the Super Mario Bros series. Koopas can be defeated by being stomped on or by being hit with a projectile. Rare koopas such as the Hammer Bros can shoot projectiles, but can be defeated in the usual manner although it is difficult to avoid damage unless you have the fire flower.
There are a few other enemies that are seen on specific stages such as lakitu who flies around and buzzy beetle who is armored so he cannot be killed by stomps. Bullet Bill is fired from cannons which you’ll see a lot of in later stages.
The only mega boss you’ll face in the game is King Bowser (AKA King Koopa), who appears at the end of the world after the four levels are completed. This means you’ll face Bowser several times throughout the game, and you’ll end up rescuing the princess only after saving a mushroom person at the end of each castle.
Overall Level of Difficulty and Game Length
Super Mario Bros is not a particularly difficult game, so there isn’t a hard mode selection. Most of the game can be completed by simply jumping and running. However, there are a few challenging sections, such as the castle levels and the last world. The game can be completed in a few hours if you are familiar with the level layout.
One particularly challenging section in the game is with the Hammer Bros who constantly toss hammers non-stop, this part is pretty hard without a few power-ups. There isn’t much replay value once the game is completed unless you enjoy speedrunning the game to quickly beat it.
Summary
Super Mario Bros NES is a classic platformer that is still enjoyable to play today. It’s a must-play for any fan of retro video games. It is also a good game for those who are new to the platformer genre. This game is easy to learn and provides a moderate challenge that scales as in the later levels.
The classic graphics, music, and solid gameplay were rather good for its time and make for a great retro gaming experience.
The later Mario games on the Nintendo console carried over some of this series’ mechanics and added new and now familiar powers like warp whistles, the tanooki suit, and the frog suit.
Kirby’s Adventure was made by HAL Laboratory, who also created Kirby’s Dream Land and Kirby Super Star. This 8-bit game was released as an NES title in 1993, and later re-released on the Wii’s Virtual Console in 2009. This is the second retro game in a series of video games that stars Kirby. The first game Kirby appeared in was the original Game Boy titled Kirby’s Dream Land. We’ll break down this pink puff’s story in our Kirby’s Adventure review.
Game Story
Kirby’s Adventure takes place in Dream Land, a peaceful kingdom that is ruled by King Dedede. One day, a meteorite crashes into Dream Land, causing the Star Rod to break into seven pieces. Without the Star Rod, Dream Land will lose all of its stars. Kirby sets out on a journey to find the pieces of the Star Rod and restore Dream Land back to its former glory.
Weapons
Kirby’s Adventure features a variety of weapons that Kirby can use to defeat enemies. These weapons range from swords to fireballs to axes. To obtain these weapons, Kirby must swallow enemies who are wielding them.
As mentioned before, Kirby has the ability to inhale and swallow enemies to make use of his copy ability. For example, if Kirby swallowed a fire-breathing enemy, he would gain the ability to breathe fire himself. There are over 20 different abilities in Kirby’s Adventure, each with its own unique function.
Game Levels
Kirby’s Adventure is a 2D platformer where players control Kirby, a small pink puffball who can inhale and swallow enemies to gain their copy abilities. The game is split into seven worlds, each with multiple stages. The goal of each stage is to reach the end, while avoiding enemies and obstacles. Kirby can defeat enemies by either swallowing them or using his special abilities against them.
Kirby’s Adventure graphics are not particularly impressive by today’s standards. However, they are colorful and well-animated, and fit the game’s light-hearted tone. The levels themselves have names such as Vegetable Valley, Fountain Of Dreams, or my favorite: Butter Building, just to give a sample of the tone of the game. There are bonus areas that can be unlocked through progression and mini-games that can net the player some extra lives that are reached at the end of each stage.
Gameplay and Music
Kirby’s Adventure is a fairly easy game and can be completed in a few hours. However, there are some optional stages that are much more difficult, and will take longer to complete.
There are some challenging gameplay sections, particularly in the later worlds but nothing too difficult. The graphics are colorful and pleasing, and the music is catchy and memorable. The sound effects are simple but well done without being annoying.
Kirby’s Adventure is a 2D platformer, and as such, the controls are relatively simple. Players use the directional pad to move Kirby around, and the A button to make him jump. Kirby can also inhale enemies with the B button, and use his abilities with the X and Y buttons.
Kirby’s Adventure is a short game, but it does have some replay value. There are optional stages that can be unlocked, and players can try to beat the game as quickly as possible. Additionally, players can collect all of the game’s secrets, which include bonus games such as the crane game.
Bosses and Enemies
Enemies in Kirby’s Adventure are colorful and well-animated, and fit the game’s light-hearted tone. There are a variety of enemies in the game, including basic foes like Shotzos and Gordos, as well as more unique enemies like Meta Knight and King Dedede. Some enemies can be defeated by simply swallowing them, while others require Kirby to use his abilities.
A boss battle in Kirby’s Adventure is significantly more difficult than regular enemies, and usually requires Kirby to use specific strategies to defeat them. However, the bosses are not overly difficult, and can be defeated with a little practice. During a boss fight, Kirby will often have to use projectiles fired from a boss to defeat them.
Summary
Kirby’s Adventure is a charming and fun game that is perfect for Kirby fans of all ages. The controls are simple and easy to learn, and the game is not overly difficult. Kirby’s Adventure is a short game, but it does have some replay value. There are optional stages that can be unlocked, and players can try to beat the game as quickly as possible. Additionally, players can collect all of the game’s secrets, which include bonus stages and extra lives.
Kirby’s Adventure came out for the NES eons ago, but it can be played using an emulator on your computer. However, you can play Kirby™ and the Forgotten Land on Nintendo Switch. It’s not retro style, but it is still a Kirby game.
The Ghosts n Goblins NES game was developed by Capcom and released in 1985 for the arcade. The original 8-bit game on the NES version was released one year later in 1986. The game is a side-scrolling platformer where the player controls Arthur, a knight who has to rescue his kidnapped princess from the Demon King Astaroth.
This great retro game does not have difficulty settings and the game’s difficulty level makes this title one of the hardest to complete. The game’s title is a pun on the phrase “ghosts and goblins”, which refers to the creatures that Arthur has to fight in the game. This game is one in a series of video games that was released for multiple platforms over the years, such as the Commodore, Amiga, and modern consoles like the Nintendo Switch.
Ghosts ‘n Goblins is considered one of the most difficult games ever made, due to its high level of difficulty. However, this is also one of the things that make the game so enjoyable. The feeling of accomplishment when you finally beat a level is immense.
Game Story
In Ghosts ‘n Goblins, the player takes control of Arthur, a knight who has to rescue his kidnapped Princess Prin Prin from the Demon King Astaroth. To rescue the Princess, the knight Arthur must pass 6 gates to reach Hades and defeat the demon army in his path.
Weapons
The gameplay is fast-paced and action-packed. Arthur has a variety of weapons at his disposal, including swords, lances, and fireballs. He can also use magic spells to help him in his quest. Weapons can drop from enemies or be found in treasure chests, these useful items can also contain armor for Arthur allowing him to be hit by an enemy a second time before dying instead of once.
The armor you start off with won’t last for long since it takes only one hit to remove it leaving the player in their skivvies. Any further damage will kill the player. It is a good thing you can recover the armor from treasure chests if you’re lucky.
Game Levels
The Ghosts ‘n Goblins NES game has some of the best graphics for an 8-bit game. The colors are vibrant, and the sprites are well-animated. The backgrounds are also well-drawn and detailed. The game is set in a medieval world full of castles, dragons, and ghosts. Arthur’s quest takes him through numerous stages, each with its own unique challenges. Arthur must overcome these challenges and defeat the Demon King Astaroth. The game is fairly linear, but there are some branching paths that the player can take. The first level is in the graveyard and sets the tone for the game. At the end of the level at certain points, you may have a boss fight.
Gameplay and Music
The game is challenging, but it is also very rewarding. The feeling of accomplishment when you beat a level for the first time is immense since you often find yourself dying and crumbling into a pile of bones. The challenge is akin to Dark Souls if the game was made in the NES era, with no option to select difficulty levels it means you just have to get good.
The music in Ghosts ‘n Goblins is excellent. Each stage has its own unique theme, and the music perfectly fits the game’s atmosphere. The sound effects are also well-done and add to the game’s overall audio experience.
Bosses and Enemies
Ghosts ‘n Goblins features a variety of enemies, including goblins, ghosts, and red demons. The enemies are well-animated and very colorful. They can be quite challenging to defeat, but they add to the game’s overall atmosphere. The game also features a number of boss fights. These bosses are much larger and more difficult to defeat than the regular enemies.
Boss battle encounters require quick reflexes and good strategic planning to defeat. There are four bosses total in the game with the final boss requiring a second playthrough to reach. The majority of enemies are pretty easy enough to deal with if the player is careful with the except of the red devil or red arremer who dive bombs the player and shoots fireballs.
Final Thoughts
Ghosts ‘n Goblins is an excellent NES game. It has great graphics, music, and gameplay. The entire game is also very challenging, but this only adds to its appeal. The modern take on the game is called Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection which has punishing difficulty even more so than the original game. The direct sequel Ghouls ‘n Ghosts feature familiar gameplay and superior graphics, but is a tad easier. However, if you’re looking to play the original for old time’s sake or just a retro game fan wanting to test your skills then the original Ghosts ‘n Goblins is definitely worth checking out.
