Video Game Consoles of the 80's: NES, or Nintendo Entertainment System

Photo by Tomasz Filipek

The Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, holds a special place in my heart. I remember one Christmas when my older sister Melissa got one and jumped for joy, and my younger sister Vanessa made an announcement moments later that she had peed herself right after! It was a joyous occasion, and we were all hooked from the very beginning. Even begging our sister Melissa to let us play, and she would cheat.

One memory that sticks out in my mind is when my Uncle Joe gave me his old NES, and my Auntie Piera tried to help me set it up, even though she had no clue how. I don't recall the details of how or why it happened, but that was the moment that set me on a path towards falling in love with the system. Over the years, I grew more and more attached to it, and I now have a collection of some still in boxes in protective cases. I even had the Super Mario Bros. theme as my ringtone for the longest time!

But the NES is more than just a sentimental favorite. It was a console that revolutionized the gaming industry. Before the NES, video games were seen as a niche hobby for a small group of enthusiasts. But the NES brought gaming to the masses and quickly became a cultural phenomenon.

One of the things that made the NES so successful was its simplicity. The system was easy to use, and the games were easy to understand. The graphics and sound were basic, but they were also charming and memorable. Even today, I can hum the theme song to Super Mario Bros. without even thinking about it.

Recently, I've been playing the NES Classic with my two teenage boys, and it's been a blast. We'll spend hours trying to beat our high scores and even cheat by skipping levels. It's a great way to bond with my kids and introduce them to the games that I grew up with.

The NES was also home to some of the most iconic games in history. Titles like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid are still considered classics and have inspired countless imitators over the years. These games had a level of depth and storytelling that was unheard of in previous generations of gaming and set a high bar for future games to aspire to.

Of course, the NES wasn't perfect. The graphics and sound quality can't compare to modern systems, and the controllers are clunky by today's standards. But those limitations only add to the charm of the system and make me appreciate it even more.

Even though the NES was released over three decades ago, it still holds up today. Its simple yet addictive gameplay and iconic titles have made it a timeless classic. The console has been responsible for bringing video games into the mainstream and paved the way for the modern gaming industry. It's amazing to think that a little grey box with a handful of buttons could have such a huge impact on so many people's lives.

In conclusion, the NES will always have a special place in my heart. It was the console that introduced me to the world of video games, and I'm grateful to have grown up during a time when it was at the forefront of popular culture. If you haven't experienced the NES for yourself, I highly recommend it. It's a piece of gaming history that is well worth exploring