In December, Game Informer named The Legend of Zelda “the greatest game of all time” on their Top 200 list. I disagree, if only for one reason: its controls’namely the inability to move diagonally, which fail to stand the test of time (having seen the light of modern controls).
Make no mistake, playing Zelda in 1986 was a revelation. But playing today feels clunky, unlike Mario. Link’s primitive controls simply don’t hold up, despite Zelda’s other innovations (the birth of console RPGs, superb power-ups, and game saves). Even A Link to the Past, which supported diagonal movement, feels a bit unresponsive, especially when compared to the newer but same formula of Minish Cap.
So in addition to Mario (and I’d argue Kirby as well), what NES games stand the test of time in terms of empowering controls? I’d like to know your picks, as I’m on a big NES kick of late. But I’d prefer to play the best-controlling ones there are.
Check out Solar Jetman – the controls there are spot on and really add to the game
Check out Solar Jetman – the controls there really add to the game.
Solar Jetman was awesome, but the controls do take some getting used to. You will probably curse at it for awhile, before enjoying it. The controls are very responsive though.
I think some people are a little bit obsessed about controls. Just because the game doesn't allow you to move in 8 directions doesn't mean the control is bad. It was designed that way, and I think it plays great how it is. Another example is Star Tropics vs. Star Tropics 2. Star Tropics 2 added diagonal movement, but I don't necessarily think it is better than the first game. They are each simply different and require different strategies to play the game.
NES games, for whatever reason, have inherently BAD controls. Kirby's controls were so well programmed, it didn't even feel like an NES game to me.
If you want an RPG that has diagonal movement, I recommend "Mother." Look it up.
So far I have Super Mario (all), Kirby's Adventure, and Solar Jetman as front-runners. Any others?
@Jake Barber: No, NES games do NOT inherently have bad controls. Simply, a lot of games were not properly designed around the NES controller, especially any that were arcade game ports trying to replace joystick control with the D-pad.
I agree with the listed front-runners (Mario, Kirby, Jetman) thus far, and I agree with Blake about the controls in Legend of Zelda. I'd like to add River City Ransom to the list (beautiful control scheme in its simplicity, yet so well complemented by the game's hidden depth) and Tetris (few other games required the level of responsiveness and accuracy that Tetris had to have).
Startropics 2 and Kirby's Adventure.
Contra!
Also, there is no reason to read Game Informer.
I don't agree. Just because a game only moves in 8 directions does not mean it has bad controls. That is the same type of thinking, in my opinion, that says turn based games are "antiquated." It is a control choice and I think Zelda holds up really well today. (In fact I'd say that the inventory system is way more irritating then the 8 way control…)
Yet you are entitled to your own opinion 🙂
Zelda controls were fine Blake, I can't agree with you on this one. I can't remember ever saying to myself when playing that game within the last 5 years, "Gee, why can't I move diagonally."
I usually ask myself a better question with newer games, "Why is this so much easier than NES games?" Challenge in games has not stood the test of the time. Sure, there are exceptions, almost all made by Capcom, but that's a bigger issue.
I'd have to find time to fire the NES back up and try out a dozen or so games. But I don't remember awful controls on most. Simple yes, but I like simple controls.
I totally agree XCWarrior. I just bought the remake of Final Fantasy I for the iPhone, and while the graphic and music updates are very nice, they destroyed the original gameplay by making it a lot easier. Now there is no challenge left and the game is a lot more boring as a result.