While every generation of gaming will put an understandable amount of emphasis into pushing visual fidelity to its absolute limits, this pursuit can often result in “realistic” games for their era aging remarkably poorly (visually, at least.) That said, this is a problem mainly for 3D games.Specifically because of the limitations imposed by 8-bit and 2D, many developers for theNEShad to get creative with their art direction to make their visuals pop.
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While theSuper Nintendoremains the bastion for high quality 2D sprite work (in large part due to the jump towards 16-bit,) there are plenty of 8-bit classics that hold up surprisingly well. Art direction will always be more important than graphics when it comes down to it, and there are a few NES games that still look amazing today.
10Super Mario Bros. 3
Every singleSuper Mario Bros.game on the NES has aged terrifically. The originalSuper Mario Bros.has a simple aesthetic that’ll never go out of style;Super Mario Bros. 2 USAhas a vibrant color palette with greater emphasis on detail; andSuper Mario Bros. 3on NES actually looks better than its Super Nintendo counterpart.
Super Mario Bros. 3opts for atmosphere at every turn, creating truly mesmerizing set pieces that feel more at home inMetroidthan they do in aSuper Mario Bros. game. But there’s still thatMariocharm, offering a level of presentation few other 8-bit games could boast.
9Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link
Zelda II: The Adventure of Linkis its franchise’s black sheep, and not without good reason, but it’s not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, it’s a title that only becomes easier to appreciate the more it’s played. Beyond how well designed the game actually is (outside its difficulty curve,)Zelda II’s visuals hold up quite well.
Hyrule is far more colorful than it was in the originalLegend of Zelda, and the added detail given to the sprites help in giving the world a considerable amount of character. Backgrounds and set pieces are also fairly well put together even if screens can blend together. Some of the later Palaces manage to create some real ambience with their color palettes.
8Mega Man 6
It’s very much up to debate which of the NESMega Mangames are best, but few fans of the Classic series will likely argue againstMega Man 6’s status as the best lookingRockmantitle on the NES. The last of the originalMega Mangames,MM6goes out with a bang, featuring some of the best graphics on the NES.
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Background are well detailed, colors blend together beautifully, and the spritework is as great as ever. Capcom masteredMega Man’s simple aesthetic by the sixth entry, and while playing all the games back to back can be an exhausting experience, it’s hard not to appreciate just how incredibleMega Man 6looks.
7Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
All three NESCastlevaniagames hold up well when it comes to their visuals, butSimon’s QuestandDracula’s Curseare in a league of their own. WhileSimon’s Questisn’t that great a game, its presentation is admirable & the color direction is very unique for the NES.
Dracula’s Curse, on the other hand, is just an amazing game outright. Beyond playing fantastically with some of the best level design in the series, the art direction is simply out of this world. Some of the later stages inCastlevania IIIare downright jaw dropping.
6Dragon Quest IV
Early JRPGs are something of an acquired taste, but anyone who stops themselves from playing the earlyDragon Questgames because of their age is missing out. Not only do they all feature fantastic modernized remakes, their original versions hold up fairly well– especially in the case ofDragon Quest IV.
ReleasedDragon Warrior IVin the United States,DQIVwas the lastDragon Questgame on the NES, but it’s also a visual marvel. Strong colors, tight art direction, and well put together world design lends to a level of depth even some SNES RPGs lacked.
5Punch-Out!!
No discussion of the NES’ graphical fidelity is complete without mention ofPunch-Out!!Originally branded asMike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!, the boxing game quickly solidified its legacy as one of the hardest titles on the NES. Ostensibly a boss rush from start to finish, each boxer was a puzzle that had to be solved– one that actively challenged your reflexes.
Mike Tyson himself is still considered one of the most challenging final bosses in gaming. Part of why the game works so well is precisely its art direction. Without the game’s clear, animated, and expressive visuals, players would never be able to react accordingly. It’s easy to take for granted all the shuffling, stepping, punching, and winking. These are some of the most detailed sprites on the console.
4Metroid
The originalMetroidis an extremely difficult game to go back to. The game’s core design simply won’t resonate with modern audiences, requiring a need for notetaking, mapping, and trial & error that many gamers tend to decry. It’s a pity thatMetroidis so inaccessible because it’s one of the most unique games on the NES.
Imagine if the originalLegend of Zeldawere actually as obtuse as fans often say it is. That’sMetroid. The game requires all your attention, but it’s well worth any tedium.Metroid’s visuals hold up remarkably well, actually resembling the alien world it’s meant to. If nothing else,Metroidis a master class in atmosphere.
3Kirby’s Adventure
So isKirby’s Adventurefor that matter, but on a completely different scale. Where the originalMetroiddoes an excellent job at creating a lonely, almost oppressive atmosphere in 8-bit,Kirby’s Adventurewelcomes audiences into its game world with vibrant colors, amazing sprite work, and detailed backgrounds.
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Kirby’s Adventurewas a very late of life NES game (1993,) and it shows. This isn’t a fault, though, andKirby’s Adventurewas simply given an opportunity to make better use of the NES’ hardware.
2Contra
Contrais pure style from start to finish and there’s something amazing about the first game’s art direction. Konami was on their game during the NES era, pumping out classic after classic, andContra’s style is a perfect match forCastlevania’s. WhereCVgoes for gothic horror,Contrais an action movie in 8-bit.
The visuals are chaotic, but sprites are clear, colors pop, and the backgrounds offerContra’s world a sense of scale that only bolsters the combat. The classics stay classic for a reason.
1Batman: Return Of The Joker
As hard as it may be to believe,Batman: Return of the Jokermight very well be the best looking game on the NES. Beyond being a great game in its own right,Return of the Jokeris a sight to behold. An adaptation of the comics and not Tim Burton’s film of the same name,Return of the Jokercaptures the late 80s/early 90sBatmanaesthetic perfectly.
Sprites are fluid, the game’s color palette is moody & atmospheric, and the backgrounds are as fleshed out as can be for an NES game.
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