T-Pac

I really enjoy the US Rainbow Islands release (though admittedly I've never been able to make much progress in it) - would you say the Ocean port is different enough to seek out as well? A version with unique levels sounds interesting, but not if it's just a bunch of small discrepancies between the Taito and Ocean versions... -CasualCart

I distinctly remember being annoyed by the swamp/fish-monster enemies in Astyanax (NES). They weren't so bad in small doses, but there were certain stages where it felt like there were a million of them. They would leap out of the water up to 3 at a time , respawning as the screen scrolled, slowly depleting my life-bar whenever my attack-timing was just a bit off. Frustrating. -CasualCart

In general, I'd say the most replayable game is Tetris. But personally, I've spent the most time replaying Skate-It for the Nintendo DS. Playing that game is like going skateboarding (my other favorite hobby alongside retro gaming), but the limits are in the trick selection instead of real-life skill level. Plus the stylus controls seem like the most intuitive way to play a skateboarding game - even moreso than games like Tony Hawk ride with an actual board peripheral. -CasualCart

Haha solid. -CasualCart

That's so sick! But the real question is - are they your size? Can't have Nintendo Power Rocket-Shoes without taking them out for a stroll in the supermarket or something haha. -CasualCart

@Sumez Those write-ups are excellent! I got so excited to look into some of those famicom games, but seeing the prices on ebay is devastating. With all those Taito releases, I should've known... -CasualCart

I can't believe I forgot about MagMax! Nothing beats fighting a 3-headed robot dragon by firing lasers from your toes. -CasualCart

This is so sick! It'd be neat to see it abbreviated as just 'VGS' as well. -CasualCart

I'm laughably inept at shoot-em-ups, but spaceship shooters are my all-time favorite genre of games. I've only played a handful considering how many are out there, but here's some of my favorites: Abadox (NES) - my favorite NES game. I love the graphics and the emphasis on planning the most strategic route through each level. Turbo fire and unlimited continues are a must for the fun-factor on this one, though. Star Soldier / Star Force (NES) - these two go hand-in-hand. They are really bare-bones shooters, but that's what makes them so enjoyable. It's like the halfway point between classic arcade shooters (Galaga) and level-based, progressive shooters (Gradius). These also benefit from auto-fire, and they're great to play in short bursts. Burai Fighter (NES) - a really diverse take on space-shooters. It scrolls in multiple directions, changes to Bosconian-style gameplay every third level or so, and has an interesting upgrade system where you have to grab powerups at just the right time to get the one you want. Blazing Star (Neo Geo) - I love the super-detailed, pre-rendered look of this one. The amount of stuff going on in this game is overwhelming in the best way, and the boss battles are just too cool. Arrow Flash (Genesis) - the only Genesis space-shooter I've ever played, but I enjoy it so much that I really want to dive into the rest of the system's library. The option to play in mech-form is the best part, and I've always thought the level where you're free-falling is neat. Super R-Type (SNES) - a solid shooter that focuses on strategy over reflexes. I like the slow-pacing and effects in this one, and I appreciate the 'amateur' option that makes it possible for me to play through the whole game despite my sup-par shooter skills. -CasualCart

Suppose you have to introduce someone to any given genre of game on the NES, and you can only use one game as your standard. For example, I think Solomon's Key is the best example of an action-puzzle game because it is a solid representation of the key elements of all other NES action-puzzlers, like Lolo or Kickle Cubicle. -CasualCart

The gem of my collection is definitely my NES Advantage arcade stick. It isn't rare and it has no sentimental value, but I just think it's the coolest controller ever. Plus, I love playing NES games with turbo-fire. I can only imagine how great the Advantage would be with a microswitch joystick and arcade-style A and B buttons...

I'd agree with @Andy_Bogomil and @BortLicensePlate. Paring down each library to 50 best games would be solid, but incomplete; whereas 100 would start to include games that aren't particularly definitive for the systems. It also varies depending on whether you're thinking of personal favorites or a more general, all-encompassing list. For example, I've been collecting NES for 6 years and I only have around 100 games because my tastes are so specific (although I've yet to finish off my "must-have" list, which is around 180 games total), and my SNES collection is significantly smaller because I'm just not into it as much. But there are a ton of defining games for the NES and SNES that I would consider staples of the library even if I don't personally care to collect or play them (like RPGs and sports games). -CasualCart

That's neat - I've never heard of the Miya 2000 before. Care to give some background info? -CasualCart

Wow - these are so cool! I especially like that each pencil is for a specific game. -CasualCart

Wow - that's impressive. I attempted the Guardian Legend last year and had to throw in the towel at Area 10. What are your thoughts on that obnoxious password system haha? -CasualCart

@doner24 @RH @Darth Vader I'm stoked to see so many fans of Robin Hood. People are usually surprised when I tell them it's my favorite Disney movie (Pixar films seem to be dominant favorites for most). I love the look of that whole era of Disney films, mostly because they started using Xerox machines to copy the animators' pencil drawings directly onto cels for coloring (rather than hand-inking). It was a cost-saving measure that wasn't well-received at the time, but I love how it preserves the life of the animator's drawings - and you can even catch some of the loose construction-lines and stuff if you watch closely. It definitely has a sketchier look, but I think it has much more appeal than clean-inked cels since the tracing process can kill the vitality of the animators' work sometimes. -CasualCart

I collect for 8 and 16 bit systems. I love the pixel graphics, the physical cartridges, and the pick-up-and-play nature of most games from that era. I mainly collect cart-only NES games, and my goal is to have every game on the system that peaks my interest in one way or another. 99% of the time, that means games that I want to play, but there are some other games that I collect because they are 'staples' of the library (like Dragon Warrior) or because they are especially quirky (like Hatris). My NES collection is mostly NTSC, but I like to substitute PAL games if they are cheaper or more interesting than the North American counterparts. (My rarer games like Panic Restaurant and DuckTales 2 are PAL versions because they're more affordable, and I want to get a copy of Probotector instead of Contra because I love robots). I don't substitute Famicom games, though, because it's essentially a different system. For other consoles, like SNES and Genesis, I just pick up games that I think would be fun to play. Unlike with the NES, I'm not interested in scouring these libraries for every game that interests me. I collect completely region-free for these systems, like Super Famicom games for exclusives or as a more affordable alternative to North American releases. In terms of hardware, I go for authentic controllers (especially arcade sticks like the NES Advantage), and clone hardware. Call me crazy, but I really like the HDMI console lineup from Hyperkin - they're so nice and uniform, and I'm not a stickler for perfect emulation anyway. I think that sums up my current retro-game collecting. I'm excited to move into Atari 2600 carts once I've finished up with the NES, but for now I'm taking it one console at a time. -CasualCart

Great call on the Astrocade - I've wanted one of these ever since I learned about them. The controllers are especially cool since the joystick also twists like a paddle if I recall correctly. Isn't this one of those early systems where the sound comes directly from the console rather than channeling through the TV speakers? -CasualCart

Historical significance aside, that console looks really slick. I like the design even more than the original SNES and SFC - especially if you picture it without all the yellowing from age. If I ever got my hands on something like that, though, I'd probably be the scoundrel who just uses it to play SNES carts instead of making any effort at preservation haha. -CasualCart

I've never beaten a Pokemon game... but that's just the tip of the iceberg for 'easy' games that I can't beat. No shame here, though - I've never had a knack for playing video games no matter how much I like them. -CasualCart

I only have a "go-to" game when I'm short on time but want to play something, and that's Star Soldier for the NES. The only problem is when I'm actually doing well, I might end up running late for something... -CasualCart

@Gloves Yeah, Abadox is awesome. I hear people say it's just a ripoff of Life Force/ Salamander, but I enjoy it so much more for some reason (blasphemous, I know). -CasualCart

Keep us updated on that ColecoVision collection - that console always seemed interesting, and I'd love to learn more about it. -CasualCart

What are some general opinions of using turbo controllers like the NES Advantage or the Beeshu zipper? Or a modern equivalent? Is a playthrough legit if you use auto-fire? -CasualCart

This reminds me of the first time I beat Abadox (my favorite NES game): I used save states so that I could tackle the game over several days, but I only suspended the game on the (unlimited) continue screens, so it was essentially the same as "leaving the NES on overnight". I also used a turbo-fire arcade stick, but that isn't any different than using a NES Advantage aside from some tactile differences with the buttons/joystick. Essentially, I used modern versions of "cheats" that were always available in an authentic NES playthrough. I always have a nagging feeling that beating a game like this isn't quite legit, though. It's logically sound, but lacks authenticity, I guess. -CasualCart