The Nintendo Entertainment System is a seminal system. When it was launched, the console market was in shambles. Atari had a big hand in that situation, but they were not alone. Nintendo knew things had to be different when their console launched. Whether you agree with the business practices used or not, the impact of the NES is unquestionable. Gamers were ready to play with power and Nintendo was ready to supply it.

Nintendo ruled with an iron fist

One thing Nintendo did differently than what American companies did prior was hold total control. Want to make a game for the NES? Get a license. Want to release peripherals? Better work with Nintendo to ensure compatibility. Want to sell Nintendo cartridges in your store? Better get ready to rearrange to accommodate Nintendo’s requirements.

Nintendo knew early on that games were key, even over the console being powerful itself. This is something Nintendo has always done. They have never been in the forefront of technology with their handhelds or console releases. This is because Nintendo has a near laser focus on the games themselves.

Nintendo Entertainment System had protections built-in

We all know now that the Nintendo NES featured lock-out technology. Legal or not, it was there and only got more intrusive with later improvements. Companies such as Color Dreams and Wisdom Tree were able to work around this lock-out. Then there is Tengen who flat out lied about their position to get access to protected information on the lock-out chip, creating a work around later.

Nintendo would face legal action years later over their contract wording and treatment of retailers. Almost all steps of Nintendo’s handling of the NES was eventually called in question by one plaintiff or another.

Launch titles were plentiful

There were 16 launch titles available for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Depending on which console set you got, you could have gotten no game up to three. R.O.B. the robot, light gun, exercise power pad, and up to two controllers were mixed and matched depending on set purchased as well.

The Nintendo Entertainment System saw many different variations in its first few years. This was something Nintendo would later get away from. You could have conceivably received a NES without Super Mario Bros as the pack-in title. Wild to think now considering most of us remember the NES always having Super Mario Bros included with the console.

The launch titles were:

10-Yard Fight
Baseball
Clu Clu Land
Duck Hunt
Excitebike
Golf
Gyromite (together with the Robotic Operating Buddy)
Hogan’s Alley
Ice Climber
Kung Fu
Mach Rider
Pinball
Stack-Up
Super Mario Bros.
Tennis
Wild Gunman
Wrecking Crew

Interestingly, some of these games were simply their Japanese releases in a North American cart. They were able to play on the hardware via a converter being included inside the cartridge.

It is clear that without the Nintendo Entertainment System that gaming would be different today. Whether we agree, or not, with how Nintendo did it, they brought gaming back from the dark void.

What Nintendo games were your favorites? When did you discover gaming? Let me know in the comments below.

Carl Williams

It is time gaming journalism takes its rightful place as proper sources and not fanboys giving free advertising. If you wish to support writers like Carl please use the links below. https://www.paypal.me/WCW https://www.patreon.com/CarlWilliams