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Here are six Nintendo games from the ’80s that still hold up today.
6) Mother
Ape Inc.’s Mother came out just before the end of the decade, dropping in July 1989. Like its sequels, it’s a silly parody of the usual RPG tropes, taking players on a journey through a wacky tale set in America. It’s director Shigesato Itoi’s first game, but you wouldn’t know it from the excellent RPG gameplay and entralling story.
Sure, Earthbound built on this original adventure to become an all-time classic, but the first game is still worth checking out. Thankfully, Nintendo has made that relatively easy thanks to the Earthbound Beginnings re-release on digital platforms. Now, if only we could get Nintendo to drop Mother 3 outside of Japan.
5) Metroid
The original Metroid is a tough platforming adventure, introducing the world to Samus Aran. Its fast-paced gameplay could be a little much for some players, but it was an excellent first entry in what’s become a long-running series. And the password save system meant that players could easily jump back in where they left off.
Like Mother, Metroid is hampered in public perception a bit because of how beloved its sequel is. Super Metroid is the game most players think about when they’re talking about early Metroid games, but that doesn’t make the original any less playable.
4) Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
Putting Iron Mike on the cover of your boxing game was always going to sell copies in 1987, but it doesn’t hurt that Punch-Out has some of the best boxing gameplay of all time. Sure, it lacks the creativity and fluidness of games like Fight Night and Undisputed, but that simplicity is what makes it all work.
Punch-Out‘s colorful cast of characters is a bit problematic in spots. Still, if you’re looking for a diverse mix of fighters who will give you a worthy challenge, it doesn’t get much better than Punch-Out‘s lineup. Tyson himself is nearly impossible to take down, but when the gameplay is this fun, not many players complained.
