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The 24 Greatest 8-Bit Games Ever Made

• By McKinley Noble
• June 16, 2009 10:19 AM PST
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#12: Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos

Retro Recap: It's still one of the most story-driven games around, but Ninja Gaiden II was the one NES title that outright told you you couldn't beat it.

8-Bit Background: Stealthily appeared on the NES in 1990.

Seriously, it says right on the box that it's "Hard to Beat!" That takes some serious balls, but Ninja Gaiden II (not to be confused with the next-generation bloodbath) didn't have any trouble living up to its own hype. Although the game was just as tough as the first title, gamers thankfully got a leg up with the added power to climb any wall they could touch, as well as being able to create a shadow clone for evening up the odds during the tougher battles (in your FACE, Naruto).

#11: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Retro Recap: One of the most underrated Star Wars games, the Empire Strike Back on the NES gave you more Jedi powers in one game than most players could handle.

8-Bit Background: Released to the NES in 1992, more than a decade after the epic film.

The Empire Strikes Back was one movie that didn't dick around, and the NES games was no exception to the rule. (Hell, we consider it one of the best movie-based games in history.) While most other Star Wars games had you collecting Republican credits, fighting bats in caves, and running through pointless maze-like levels, The Empire Strikes Back threw your ass into the fire at the start. By Level 2, you were face to face with AT-ATs, only to be hacking your way through Dagobah mere hours later. Of course, the lightsaber combat was the best part of the game. Even in the final fight with Darth Vader, only the right mix of Jedi flight, superhuman dashing, and sword-swinging would net yourself a hard-won victory.

#10: The Legend of Zelda

Retro Recap: The Legend of Zelda solidified its place in history as one of Nintendo's power-selling games, with many more groundbreaking titles to come in the future.

8-Bit Background: Initially released via the Famicom's Disk System in February 1986, the NES version would hit internationally the next year, selling millions.

How many games can you think of that required advanced skill in cartography? The Legend of Zelda was determined by Nintendo to be huge undertaking, which was one of the reasons that the NES title sported a huge, colorful instruction booklet, complete with tales and a full history of the land that would come to be known as Hyrule. From the gold-colored package to the technological marvel of "data-saving", every hot-blooded gamer who saw The Legend of Zelda couldn't help but take up their swords. Years down the road, the basic formula hasn't changed much, which is a testament to the game's core story. Defeat Ganon, rescue Zelda from the forces of Evil, and claim the Triforce as many time as it takes, young one.

#9: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project

Retro Recap: The Manhattan Project was the most over-the-top Ninja Turtles game yet, and that's coming from a series where pizza-munching mutant reptiles fight a dimension-hopping ninja assassin.

8-Bit Background: Shelled out to the NES in 1991-1992, TMNT III was the last of the Turtles' adventures on the original Nintendo System.

The first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game was insanely difficult for its target audience, while the second NES title was the sad little cousin of the awesome arcade title. Thankfully, something new was brought to the table with The Manhattan Project, with the Shedder not only kidnapping April O'Neil (again), but outright stealing away an entire chunk of New York City. With a quest that went from the beaches of the Big Apple to Shedder's giant fortress in the sky, TMNT III was a winner for any shellhead.

#8: Metal Gear

Retro Recap: Sure, it was the game that made stealth the way to survive, but Metal Gear's also responsible for the wackiest storylines in gaming history.

8-Bit Background: While initially launched on the MSX2, the 1987-1988 NES port sealed Metal Gear's place in history despite wild variations from the source material.

"I feel asleep!" This was the start of many hilarious moments in the Metal Gear saga, with the NES version sporting trademark dialogue that would make Hideo Kojima cry. Still, the game was a groundbreaker, if not just for the fact that trying to Rambo your way through it would quickly leave Solid Snake outgunned and outnumbered. While the MSX and NES versions are as different as night and day, no one can deny the importance of Metal Gear's place in the saga, especially since everything came full circle in Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater.

#7: Castlevania

Retro Recap: The franchise that put Konami on the map, Castlevania on the Nintendo was the first of Dracula's many, many returns from his long slumbers.

8-Bit Background: While "Vampire Killer" was the first game to hit outside of Japan on the MSX2 home computer, Castlevania rose in Japan first in 1986 via the Famicon Disk System, which preceded the NES port.

Nintendo's always been excellent at selling the formula games of yesteryear, and Castlevania was just another example of gameplay that never gets old. If the game's chilling soundtrack wasn't enough to unnerve you, fighting waves of bats, armies of undead, and even Dracula was easier said than done. Luckily, a gameplay system that littered the castle with famous weapons like Holy Water, axes, and more gave Belmont the heart power needed to put Big D to sleep.

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