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Older Consoles

Before the Gameboy Advance was released, Nintendo obviously did release other consoles, many of which then were very successful, such as the original NES console. Of course, there were failures (Virtual Boy), as with any company line... but that was to be expected. Read on for more information about the many consoles and ideas Nintendo had before the modern era.

The Really Retro; Cards and Colour TV Games

Nintendo's first products were not video games. Instead they produced and marketed Hanafuda playing cards just before 1890. They were originally successful, but later not so. The next products were some of the first video game consoles, and their first game system which was the Color TV Game 6. It wasn't exactly advanced; the games were basic stuff like Pong.

Arcade Games

There were also various Nintendo arcade games at a later date, with Donkey Kong (the original game) created when Miyamoto joined the company. The arcade games Nintendo made included:

Donkey Kong, Donky Kong Junior, Donkey Kong 3, Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros and Balloon Fight. These kinds of games were ported to the NES later on, and also have been sold in many forms over the years.

Quick Information about Donkey Kong Games

The original Donkey Kong game had Mario rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong by trying to reach the top of the level (in many levels) while avoiding obstacles such as barrels. This has been heavily remade and parodied in later games, media and online, including games such as Donkey Kong 64.

Donkey Kong Junior has Donkey Kong Junior rescue his father from Mario who is locked Donkey Kong in a cage. He must avoid enemies and complete the levels to save his father. It is believed by many that Donkey Kong Junior is now the modern Donkey Kong and the original Donkey Kong is Cranky Kong, even if Nintendo seem to be downplaying this idea at the present time.

Donkey Kong 3 has Stanley trying to destroy the bugs and chase away Donkey Kong from his greenhouse. It's an odd game never the less.

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Released in 1983 in Japan and 85 in many parts of the world, this is Nintendo's first main console, the one that was known from games such as Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros 3, The Legend of Zelda and Metroid, the games which started many famous Nintendo series. It also had games such as Excitebike.

Of course, the most known game for this console has to be Super Mario Bros, the best selling video game of all time and the game which started the traditional Mario series of games.

Storyline wise, it was pretty simple (as many games in that time were). The player plays as Mario or Luigi while trying to save Princess Peach from Bowser, who has cast a spell on the inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom (note that the magic type story idea was re featured in New Super Mario Bros, but is generally now ignored).

It's the exact normal type of Mario game, with the 8 four level worlds and the different types of levels including normal, cave, underwater and castle level. Many of the classic Mario enemies first appeared in this game, as did many other popular story and game techniques used in the Mario series.

Other games that were major around this time included Super Mario Bros 3, a contender for best platform game ever which had 8 new worlds, a huge array of new enemies, a vast amount of new suits and power ups and was the first appearance of the Koopalings. There was also the original Metroid game, and the original Legend of Zelda game. As well as the usual more minor games such as both versions of Super Mario Bros 2, Kid Icarus and more.

Reviews of NES Games

SNES

A classic games console next in Nintendo's line up, this brought with it a whole load of classic games. Super Mario World was released which introduced Yoshi for the first time and was about Bowser stealing the Yoshi eggs and kidnapping Princess Peach while Mario and Luigi were on holiday in Dinosaur Land. Super Mario Kart started off the classic Mario Kart series we all know and love, with false 3D tracks and the good old items (and the feather!) It also had DK Jr and Koopa Troopa as playable characters, and gave computer characters annoying unique items. Yoshi's Island came at this time and had Baby Mario and Yoshi attempt to rescue Baby Luigi and the stork from the evil Kamek. This had egg throwing, transformations and watermelons which allowed the said dinosaur to breathe fire, ice or spit bullet seeds. There was the first StarFox game, F Zero and Super Metroid at this time, as well as The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past. A good era overall, and probably Nintendo's most successful time.

Reviews of SNES Games

F-Zero Review by Phoenix

Nintendo 64

The first foray in 3D for Nintendo, this was when Super Mario 64 was first released! With full 3D worlds such as Bob-omb Battlefield and Jolly Roger Bay, this was one of Mario's classic 3D adventures which was remade as Super Mario 64 DS on the DS. Mario Kart 64 was released around now, and had all kinds of fun tracks and racing. But one of the best releases of said period was The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time. The 3D game regarded as the best of all time (debatably), this had the usual adventuring which the Legend of Zelda series was so famed for. And Majora's Mask was also released a bit later, which was another unique and seen as classic Legend of Zelda games.

Notable Games List

There are others, but some of those above are more notable.

Reviews of Nintendo 64 Games

Super Smash Bros 64 Review by Symerwizkid22

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