Well… here we go again.
After weeks of being on the fence about it, I finally pulled the trigger on an NES console. I was, honestly, still on the fence about it when I stopped by Retro World Games… but then I saw this top-loading NES. I’ve wanted one of these for a very long time, including when I was collecting NES games from 2012-2021. This opportunity was too good to pass up, so I jumped on it.
The top-loading model has its drawbacks, such as not having RCA jacks and the transparent “prison bars” effect when displaying games… but it’s also much less wonky when it comes to reading games, and that means a lot to me when sitting down to play. The “dogbone” controller revamp, with a feel similar to the SNES controller, is also a personal favorite. In testing it to make sure the coaxial/RF input worked, it was pretty sweet.
So being back in the NES game means building a library of games. Here’s the start:
There’s nothing crazy here in my first 64 games. No real high-ticket items, though Contra and Danny Sullivan’s Indy Heat were pricier than the other games I picked up. There’s a lot of sports games, which isn’t surprising for those who know me. Having games like Bad News Baseball, Super Spike V’Ball, Blades of Steel, and others once again is great. Game show games are decently represented (Double Dare FTW!), and there’s a smattering of action games. There’s plenty of holes to fill; no Mario games yet, no TMNT, some notable sports omissions… but those holes will close over time. This collecting adventure will be a gradual one, adding games here and there and watching the library grow.
I’m not dismissing the idea of getting CIB games down the line, similar to what I’ve been doing with my Nintendo 64 library, but having the games to play is more important to me than boxes or manuals– at least at this point.
This adventure, for me, is about two things. For starters, it’s about having the games to play. I’ve been emulating for a few years, playing on Retro Achievements. It’s been fine, but I always noticed little, subtle differences. Controllers were never as precise (especially D-pads)., either, in my experience– and I never figured out how to get things just right. Playing the games they way I always used to, real carts on real hardware using real controllers, is definitely a preferential thing. The other thing that drew me back to the NES is having a new collecting journey. My other libraries are pretty much where I want them to be, and trips to video game stores or perusing online sellers has been resulting in finding fewer and fewer games that I don’t already have. For me, at least, being able to swing by my local video game store after a long day at work or spur of the moment on a day off to peek at games that I don’t yet have and grab 2 or 3 is fun for me.
I feel invigorated. And, as I approach my 54th birthday next week, I feel a bit younger. Going back to the past often has that effect on me.
Pete's Perspective 
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