Nintendo Entertainment System

This is the classic - the system that started everything. And as Sony, Microsoft (Xbox) and Nintendo work on getting out their 2005-2006 models, the original Nintendo (NES) system is still the classic. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was launched in 1984 and sparked an entire industry and a generation of Nintendo lines: SNES, N64, Gamecube, and the forthcoming Nintendo...

The NES originally came with two basic controllers (a up-down-left-right pad, start, select, and the A & B buttons). In fact, Nintendo was the first system to introduce the directional pad... and another interesting note - Nintendo actually invented it! By today's standards, the controller seems ordinary - but in 1984 it was sensationally different and still more-than-adequate for their games. If you were lucky enough to buy one of the first bundles, you also got the Duck Hunt gun. The gun was used to shoot flying ducks in the original Duck Hunt game.

The lasting appeal of the NES is evident in many ways. First, the NES is still ubiquitous - plenty available and being bought on eBay, all over college campuses, etc. In fact, 15 years after selling my original system in a Washington Post classified ad, I re-purchased on from eBay! Second, the games continue to be brought back to life - in arcades, on PC, on Gameboy and other consoles. While new games are graphically more interesting, the original NES games are lastingly challenging, fun, and interesting.

In my opinion, Nothing will ever beat the gold cartridge that is Zelda. That game was - and continues to be - my favorite video game of all time.

If you are shopping for a Nintendo system on eBay, I recommend pricing both the console and a bundle. Many bundles are available that include the console, controllers, adapters and games. Whether you are looking to add a specific game or pricing a bundle - try to include these games:

# Super Mario Bros
# The legend of Zelda
# Spy vs. Spy
# Duck Hunt
# Ducktales
# Final Fantasy
# Super Mario Bros. 3
# Little Ninja Bros
# Contra
# Tecmo Superbowl
# Double Dragon II
# Ice Hockey
# Mega Man

In 1984 Nintendo made thier first game console the NES Nintendo Entertainment System that revolutionized the game industry. Now everyone has played a Nintendo at some point and had it reset and start blinking or start up with a black screen. After many years of people blowing in thier games and cleaning them with rubbing alcohol thinking this would make the game work. Well it doesn't. Now days you can buy a new 72-pin connector and put it in your system and have every game work perfectly. Also Nintendo redesigned the NES system making it smaller and works better, it's called the NES Top-Loader.

The NES had many games, around 1000 titles, but in my opinion the best are the role playing games like Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior, Legend of Zelda, Crystalis, Faxanadu, Star Tropics and Ultima to name a few. Another cool game that I still play nightly is Monopoly. The graphics are really simple on most games, but who really needs all that 3D analog control stuff, let's go back to the basics.

In my opinion, the NES is still the best system you can buy.

TOP LOADING NINTENDO systems are the remake of the classic. They fix the "blinking" problem that the old 1985 "front loading" systems commonly had. What this means is that the games actually play almost always on the very FIRST try (no need to blow in the games, or jiggle them, or use some other creative method often used to get the old games working). The system sells for about twice the price of the normal vintage NES because of this feature. In addition, it is smaller, more compact, and has a more modern look. However, BUYER BEWARE; there are tons of "FAKE" top loaders on ebay - they sell for about $10-$20, but are low quality and rarely play all the NES games (plus many require an adapter to play US games) - they are easy to spot by their very low price, often have "built-in games" and are usually very colorful (the official one is grey with red buttons). To be sure to find the real thing, type something such as OFFICIAL NES TOP LOADER into ebay.

One other thing to note is that unlike the original NES system, the top loaders were only made to hook up to a TV using the standard RF switch - so there is no outputs for AV Cables on this style unit.

I have put away my PS2, shunned the X-Box, sold all my PC games, and begun collecting old NES games. Why? Simple...they're better games. High resolution graphics and 8 button controllers are not key ingredients to a great game.

What makes the NES and its classic games so appealing is their simple nature: they take a series of basic operating functions and challenge you to improve your timing and accuracy and decision-making in order to advance. Most of these games do not have save features and, given their limited memory, are not of a great length. Having said that, how many people out there can beat "Ghosts and Goblins" without continuing? How many people can make it through "Metroid" or "Zelda" without looking on the internet for maps and secrets?

Gameplay aside, the NES also offers a great selection of two-player games--a feature that seems to have fallen out of fashion with more modern game systems (with the exception of sports games). How many people want to sit around and watch someone else play a game? Why not team up and use your abilities and communication skills to conquer "Life Force", "Double Dragon", "Contra", or "Ikari Warriors"?

Interested in tapping into a little old school gaming? Look into buying a system with 2 controllers and a few games. Look for a system selling with the "Super Mario Bros." series. Pony up and buy the more expensive games like "Mike Tyson's Punch-Out," "The Legend Of Zelda," "Metroid," "Paperboy," "Tecmo Super Bowl," or any of the "Mega Man" series. They are pricey relative to other games, but only because they are in such high demand, and they are soooo worth the few extra dollars.

My personal favorites:
- Metroid
- Trojan
- Life Force
- Super Mario Bros.
- Tecmo Super Bowl
- Mike Tyson's Punch Out
- The Legend of Zelda
- Rygar
- Tetris
- Mega Man
- Ghosts & Goblins
- Baseball Stars
- Rush 'N Attack

I bought one of these systems for my son when he was about 7 years old. It's less expensive than the other game systems, easier to operate, the games are easier and g rated. They can get a lot of pleasure out of this system, and as they get older, move up to another system. It also comes with 2 controllers so they can play against siblings or friends, and learn to get along, even if they don't win all the time it's okay.

When I got this system I was sooooo excited. It was/is still very fun to play and brings back lots of memories. I loved playing PaperBoy for this system (very addictive). You won't want to stop playing this system it so much fun. In conclusion this system is great if if you want to take a trip back in time where gaming began. A++++

My parents bought me the original NES system when I was little, I played it everyday with my dad, and to this very day, I still have it! If I didn't have it, I would buy it all over again. I want to buy the Top Loader version so my children have an easier time getting it to start, but I will always keep my original one, I've tried playing games on the PS2 and the Other systems, some games being fun, others having not enough challenge, and too much other stuff to do. My favorite game, which I beat and still play, Is Mario Bros. 3, The NES system has almost all of its games still in circulation, and very easy to find at a very low price, instead of the other systems games being $50. Also all of the games are G rated, and intriguing to the younger children, This way my son has his game, and he doesn't want to play his dad's San Andreas! All in All this is the best game system of all times!!!
Games You Should Have:
Mario Bros 3
Zelda
Paper Boy
Mario Bros 1/Duck Hunt
Thunder and Lightning (If you like bricks)

This one is were it all really started. Yeah there were a few others before it, but this is were the gaming industry started to take off. The graphics were cartoonish at best, however for 1985 that was quite a feat! The ability to save information to the cartrige seperates this one from its predecessors. The Mario Bros. games were what made this system an instant success!
These systems have had problems with the games blinking initially, using the old blow in the game and system trick works most of the time. They have started replacing the 72-pin cartrige reader which almost always solves this problem.
Today they have made newer top loading machines that will play the nintendo games but have gotten rid of the blinking problems that occurred with the original systems, however these systems seem to have shorter lives and tend to fail more quickly. In gaming collector circles and as you will see searching Ebay and other sites the original systems are more valuable than the new top loading systems created today.
If you are looking for a vintage gaming system you should start here!

This was just and incredibly system. I still have mine from way back when i was like too young to laugh!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are some great games which I believe that everyone needs to play!!!
1) Super Mario Bros. & Duck Hunt
2) Super Mario 2
3) Super Mario 3
4) Super Mario World

HOURS OF FUN I LOVE THE NES SYSTEM BUT THERE IS ONE OUT THERE THAT I THINK THAT THE NES.. COULD NOT TOUCH AND THAT SYSTEM IS THE (TURBO GRAFX 16) BUT SOME HOW THE NES IS STILL GOING SO I JUST TELL YOU JUST BUY A NES SYSTEM OR A TURBO GRAFX 16 AND RELIVE THE FUN DAY THAT YOU HAD WHEN YOU WAS A KID

I love this system! After all of the systems that have come out this is still a favorite! My parents still own this system after years. They love it...and their grandkids love it.
This brings back wonderful memories. The greatest system for kids to learn to play video games.
It may not have all of the modern graphics, but amazingly the graphics don't matter because of the quality of the games and this wonderful system.

PUSHED GAMING TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL AND HAD AN IMPACT THAT NO OTHER CONSOLE HAS COME CLOSE TO IN TERMS OF LONGEVITY AND REPLAY VALUE TO IT'S GAMES!

I love this system! I still have mine and love to play Mario Brothers! I would recommend that everyone own this system. The only bad thing on this system is sometimes having to blow the game cartridges.

Take it from someone who has owned the system; I give the NES an average rating, because it was the best of its era, I simply loved it when I received it as a Christmas present in 1985, and it is the origin of modern gaming; however, it has been obsolete for a long time now. There's no reason to buy one now, except as for very young children(learning to play video games for the first time), for MikeTP(best NES game and is not found on any other gaming console) megafans, for target practice megafans(most systems never had guns, let alone come with one and you'll never find a cheaper target gaming console), or as a collector's item. With that being said, there were some games that I recommend if you decide to purchase one. Mike Tyson Punchout gets a ten, as far as NES games go; the look and feel of this game rivals SNES. Next, I would say the Super Mario Bros. Series(a part of the SNES game "Super Mario Allstars"); I seem to like playing Super Mario 3 better on the old NES; Note: NES doesn't allow saving, as the SNES does; this is a benefit for games like Mario. Last, I would say that the games Yoshi, Bomberman 2, Duck Hunt, and Super C make up my only remaining lasting games really worth playing. Megaman, Zelda, and Tetris, which I never played on NES, are updated and available on SNES. Many games that were megahits at their onset have now sadly become obsolete on NES and/or much better on SNES; for instances, Double Dragon, 99.9% of sports games, and Ninja Gaiden.

Benefits of Getting a NES: A. Easy: By this I mean, the controllers are the easiest of any system to play with ever and the games start off very, very easy for beginners or for the game-challenged. B. Cheap: Now you can probably find the system for 30 dollars or less and most games for 10 dollars or less. C. Gun: Most systems, including SNES, do not have a gun and target practice makes these games fun.

Downsides: You will have to take excellent care of the console and games or you will definitely experience problems, such as blinking screens, games stopping before completion, etc. Blinking screens may be a problem that may be unavoidable. Like the SNES, these are simply common annoyances and not permanent as with some systems. Game can't be saved, as with some future SNES games and most other future systems.

received system it did not work after email back the problem was told to ship back for replacement that over a month ago try to email a few time now, all i get is a automac e-mail saying that they are have a lot of traffic will responed shortly. i believe that they are rip off and will try to stop other from fallinig into this trap . please think about this before you buy.

GREAT SYSTEM. GREAT WAY TO RELIVE YOUR CHILDHOOD!!!!! FOR COLLECTORS HERE IS A LINK TO A GREAT RARITY LIST AND PRICE GUIDE! THIS IS A MUST HAVE IF YOU PLAN ON ADDING TO YOUR COLLECTION!!!!

http://www.neshq.com/lists/updatedrare60.txt

READ THIS ARTICLE
With the variety of games from all genres and age levels the Nintendo NES is an amazing vintage cartridge system...Although many of the 72 pin connectors in the systems have deteriorated they can be easily fixed...Frequent problems occur such as blinking and game disorders if you do not have a good 72 pin connector

When buying on eBay you may want to check if the system is
1) Complete- (has all necessary cords in order for you to just plug it into the TV and play the minute you get it
2) Tested/72 pin- Make sure the system is tested and realize if you do not see New 72 pin connector installed you are basically playing lotto as the system might not work at 100%
3) Smoke-free/Pet-Free- Some of the items video games i bought on eBay reeked of smoke so be sure to check that they are smoke-free because that stench is gross
4) Pen/Ink Damage- Check if there is Pen damage on the cartridges or system you may want to check because although they may play perfectly the damage does affect the value of the game and is at times an eye sore.
5) ASK Questions- whenever anything is unclear from any seller protect yourself and ask questions

You should note that almost every Nintendo NES system that is sold on eBay w/o a 72 pin connector does not play correctly and either blinks or has trouble working games...The 72 pin connector connects the games to the system perfectly...So if you properly take care of your system and the games the new 72 pin connector should last a long while... Even if you don’t buy from me check and see that you are getting a system with a new 72 pin to prevent a struggle...you may want to have the seller add the old 72 pin connector in so you are 100% assured that you have a new 72 pin connector installed unlike some dishonest sellers who just claim to have installed them and your system doesn’t play the games like it should.

If you are looking for a nostalgic piece of history that is fun and old school The Nintendo Entertainment System is it as it is like a time machine and will take you back to your childhood as you can play all your favorite games of the incredible 660 game library…Almost every game is available separately on eBay, but some do get a little pricey

To make your system and games last for another 20 years I recommend never cleaning your games by blowing in them (this blowing into the games is a common misconception to fix an unclean game), The spit gets into the game and causes an electric charge within the system and makes the game play, but your system or game won’t last and will deteriorate over time if you continue to use this quick fix rather than to use the proper way and thoroughly clean your games with a Q tip and solution.

Another thing to note is that AV cables work great and hook up to your newer model TV so you don't have to futs with the co-axial all you need is the red, yellow and white cord (which you probably have lying around the house) and your set

-Mike Burd (eBay seller ID: MikeBurdbaseball25)

THE NES IS STILL UNMATCHED SINCE OCTOBER 18/1985 AFTER ALMOST 22 YEARS HERE IN THE USA THERE ARE GAMES THAT WILL FOREVER BE CLASSICS LIKE.
1:SUPER MARIO BROS.
2:DUCK HUNT
3:CASTLEVAINA
4:CONTRA
5:THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
6:MEGA MAN
7:FINAL FANTASY
8:GRADIUS
9:METROID
10:METAL GEAR
AND MUCH MORE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE VERY BEST AND IF YOU HAVE NOT PLAYED THEM I SUGGEST YOU DO.UNLIKE THE COMPETITOR THE SEGA MASTER IT LACKED THE AMOUNT OF GAMES HERE IN THE USA THERE WERE SOME GREAT TITLES.IN EUORPE IT DID THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF GAMES IT DID HERE.HERE IS THE SYSTEM COMPARISON SPECS.
1:NES CPU:8-BIT RUNS AT 1.79 MHz RAM:16 KB.EXPANDED RAM IF PRESENT ON THE GAME VIDEO RAM:32 KB.5.37MHz (NTSC)
2:ONSCREEN COLORS:25 TO 64 COLORS MOST GAMES.DISPLAY RESOLUTION:256×240 PIXELS
3:AUDIO 5 SOUND CHANNELS
1:SEGA MASTER CPU:8-BIT RUNS AT 2.5 MHz.DISPLAY RESOLUTIONS 256×192 AND 256×224
2:RAM:8 KB.VIDEO RAM:16 KB 3.57 MHz NTSC.ONSCREEN COLORS 25-50
3:4 CHANNEL MONO SOUND.AS YOU SEE THE NES HAD THE SEGA MASTER BEAT 2 TO 1 ON MOST OF THE SPECIFICATIONS.THERE WERE SOME OF GAMES FOR THE SEGA THAT I LIKED BY THE TIME THE 8-BIT YEARS WHERE DONE THE NES SOLD OVER 60 MILLION SYSTEMS TOP SELLING GAME SUPER MARIO BROS. AND THE SEGA ONLY 13 MILLION SYSTEMS TOP SELLING GAME ALEX KIDD IN MIRACLE WORLD.SO FOR THE NES NOW YOUR PLAYING WITH POWER.

Who doesn't look back at fond memories of mario jumping up and down under a floating box banging his head and probably causing irreversible brain damage all for the sake of a few measly coins... Who doesn't remember blowing into the system and the video cartridges in an attempt to ride the screen of scrambled images or worse the blue screen of death... GOD HOW I LOVED MY NES, I still have it to this day, over 124 games in my personal collection and not a day goes by when I don't give duck hunt a "blowjob" to get it's juices Flowing and by aim going. I love every aspect of this system, with it's many innovations from the nintendo Gun (how many systems today have a gun - 0) to the power pad (the only exercise I got as a kid) and the ever lov'in Power glove!!! Look the graphics by far are not what your getting on say the Xbox 360 or the upcoming PS3 but for there time they kicked some real @$$.... This is the must own, flash back to the 80's, relive your childhood, fight block shaped enemies after a long hard day of 5th grade social studies must have must own GOD of the video game world... Buy back the one you sold to scrape up money for the super nintendo and remember what it was like to have fun for a change!!

This system may not have the graphics your looking for but the games from this system are hard to resist playing! This is the oldest Nintendo system ou there and yet one of the best!! You can get the classical Mario Bros game and Duck Hunt!!! In Duck Hunt you plug in a gun controller and off you are having the time of your life hunting ducks!!! You also can purchase the original Zelda game which will keep you busy for hours:) In others words... The graphics aren't the best but who care because the games are awesome!!! Thanks for viewing my review!!!

The games were fun, lasted a long while, and when the game genie came out, they could last almost forever. All kidding aside, the NES was/is one of the best systems around if you like playing older games. Cleaners work super on making the games work again when they get dirty. I don't recommend blowing into the games, though many have and still do, as there is a danger of spittle landing on one of the connections, then when you stick the game in, it can blow the game. There are still cleaners around, which are much cheaper and easier to use than trying to find your favorite game again, if you can.
My son grew up on the nintendo and though he now has the new XBox360, he still ocassionally fires up the old nintendo and plays it. Of all the systems he has had, including the Segas (cd console to go with it), Super Nintendo, even back in the days of the old Atari, the NES is still around and being played.

So don't be afraid of this little 8 bit system. It is flat out fun!

One thing I have to say about this is that it is old. But that doesn't mean it isn't a great system This is up there on one of my all time favorite video game systems. It is great whenever people come over my house they want to play it because it brings back memories from when they were kids. Playing such classics as Duck Hunt, ninja turtle, mario ..ect. If I were thinking of buying one I would it is totaly worth it geetting a great system in history.

The NES was the first system I played dispite having an Intellivision too.

It's the decision that made the video game industry boom. People a long time ago thought video games were just a fad that would last for a short period of time. Oh how wrong they were.

Nintendo made many great games from this. It started a series of video games that still are going today! (FF, DQ, Mario)

It's sort of hard to explain how good the NES actually is.

There's even some games that have really good music to them. Like.. so good I have them on CD.

The graphics are a lot better than intellivision..

So yeah.. Nintendo Rox!



Some games that I have had a particularly good experience with are:

*Kirby's Adventure
Milon's Secret Castle
*Super Mario Bros. 1 2 3
StarTropics 2: Zoda's Revenge
*Zelda I + II: The Adventure of Link
Excite Bike
Adventures of Lolo 1,2,3
Anticipation
Yoshi
*Crystalis
*Dragon Warrior/Quest 1,2,3,4
*Final Fantasy 1,2,3
*Mother (Earthbound 0, Not released in US. ='((((((((()


* = More than others

-Cait-