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Gaming Pathology

Gaming Pathology

Piles Of Games, Copious Free Time, No Standards

NES Achievements

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Multimedia Mike

It’s amazing that game consoles track your achievements automatically in this day and age. Why, back in my day, I had to document every one of my achievements by hand. And you’d better believe I liked it that way!

I was really proud when I won my first NES game (though I probably shouldn’t have been — it was Konami’s Life Force while using the notorious Konami code). No matter, I still remember it as the first game I ever won. When I had gone on to win my first 10 games, I had no trouble recalling their titles and the order in which I completed them. After about 10, it got harder to keep the list straight in my head, so I started to record the titles on these little yellow pieces of paper and hang them on the wall near my NES.

I recently came across the list neatly rolled up in a box. It’s time to photograph it, post it, and then let the physical item go.


Click for larger image

Here are a few achievements that stand out now, especially since I have spent the last decade or so reading internet reviews about how ridiculously difficult certain games were (a.k.a. games that were Nintendo Hard):

  • The Adventures of Bayou Billy
  • Battletoads
  • Ninja Gaiden
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I have read no shortage of retro-reviews indicating that anyone who claims to have won these games is a filthy liar. Well, I did win each one fair and square, back in the day. Never used a Game Genie, although I did often have Nintendo Power advising me. I’m not saying the games weren’t difficult. In fact, Battletoads had me downright stressed one summer as I was determined to win it and rented it 3 times in a row to achieve that goal. Afterwards, I wrote a letter to Nintendo Power with some tips and strategies I discovered along the way and they actually wrote a letter back, congratulating me for finishing Battletoads!

Another achievement I must mention is that I once made it to level 63 in Duck Hunt. Trust me, that’s the kind of accomplishment that comes from a hot summer afternoon of total boredom and nothing else to play. I wouldn’t recommend trying to beat that record.

On the flip side, I thought Mike Tyson was remarkably difficult to beat in Punch-Out!! Here’s a situation where most people I knew claimed they beat him on their very first try. Not me; I worked for weeks to beat him and I was briefed on all his tells and strategies well in advance.

Anyway, here are my achievements: 100+ games completed, mostly during a period of 3 years. Note that I counted the second quest of The Legend of Zelda as a separate game (#4 in this list). That’s controversial. It was certainly different enough to be a separate title.

  1. Life Force
  2. The Legend of Zelda
  3. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
  4. The Legend of Zelda: Second Quest
  5. Super Mario Bros.
  6. Mega Man II
  7. Super Mario Bros. 2
  8. Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
  9. Blaster Master
  10. Metroid
  11. Faxanadu
  12. Bionic Commando
  13. Clash at Demonhead
  14. Castlevania
  15. Ducktales
  16. Strider
  17. Ultima: Exodus
  18. River City Ransom
  19. Willow
  20. Double Dragon
  21. A Boy and his Blob
  22. Legacy of the Wizard
  23. Dynowarz
  24. Mega Man
  25. XEXYZ
  26. The Guardian Legend
  27. Ninja Gaiden
  28. Astyanax
  29. Abadox
  30. Super Mario Bros. 3
  31. Ninja Gaiden II
  32. Shadowgate
  33. Dragon Warrior
  34. Super C
  35. Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers
  36. Contra
  37. Double Dragon II
  38. Code Name: Viper
  39. Wrath of the Black Manta
  40. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
  41. Batman
  42. Fester’s Quest
  43. Final Fantasy
  44. The Mafat Conspiracy
  45. Crystalis
  46. Milon’s Secret Castle
  47. Tombs & Treasure
  48. Maniac Mansion
  49. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
  50. Mega Man III
  51. Gremlins II: The New Batch
  52. Little Nemo: The Dream Master
  1. Wizards & Warriors
  2. Metal Gear
  3. Metal Storm
  4. Double Dragon III
  5. Ultima: Quest of the Avatar
  6. Solstice
  7. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
  8. Wizards & Warriors II: Ironsword
  9. 8 Eyes
  10. Journey to Silius
  11. Bad Dudes
  12. Solar Jetman
  13. The Magic of Scheherezade
  14. The Adventures of Bayou Billy
  15. Star Tropics
  16. The Adventures of Lolo
  17. The Adventures of Lolo 2
  18. Kabuki: Quantum Fighter
  19. Dragon Spirit
  20. Jackal
  21. Destiny of an Emperor
  22. Battletoads
  23. Uninvited
  24. Hydlide
  25. Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom
  26. Wall Street Kid
  27. Laser Invasion
  28. Section Z
  29. Trojan
  30. Rad Racer II
  31. Legendary Wings
  32. Ninja Gaiden III
  33. Commando
  34. Adventures in the Magic Kingdom
  35. Gun-Nac
  36. Totally Rad
  37. Captain Skyhawk
  38. The Little Mermaid
  39. The Snow Bros.
  40. Batman: Return of the Joker
  41. Vice: Project Doom
  42. Mega Man IV
  43. Eliminator Boat Duel
  44. Tale Spin
  45. Kickle Cubicle
  46. Kick Master
  47. Tiny Toon Adventures
  48. Swords and Serpents
  49. Monster in my Pocket
  50. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game
  51. The Battle of Olympus
  52. Deja Vu

Goodbye, little yellow list.

Posted in Gaming Memories | 1 Comment

1 thoughts on “<span>NES Achievements</span>”

  1. Anonymous

    5/24/14
    11:26 pm
    May 24, 2014
    11:26 pm

    Anonymous says:

    Really cool list here!

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