Millions of people around the world owe significant chunks of their childhood memories to the Nintendo Entertainment System. Countless hours of time were spent playing video games on the NES, and when asked most people would recall playing entries in classic franchises such as Mario, Mega Man, Castlevania, and the like. Among these long-running and beloved games are others that don’t get quite as much attention, and the following five are some that deserve it the most.
5. StarTropics
What kind of game is it?
StarTropics is an Action-Adventure game in the vein of Legend of Zelda. The story is about Mike, a young man who traveled to C-Island to visit his uncle and locally renowned scientist Dr. Steve Jones, AKA “Dr. J.” Upon arriving, Mike discovers that his uncle has gone missing, and sets forth on an adventure to find him across various islands with the help of Dr. J’s assistant Baboo and… a yo-yo? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b7x30_E0Ko
Why’s it underrated?
This largely has to do with two things, the first being StarTropics wasn’t as well marketed as Nintendo’s other mainstays like Mario or Zelda at the time, which got breakfast cereals and cartoons at the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The game also had no further sequels beyond StarTropics II: Zoda’s Revenge, which itself was released incredibly late during the NES’s run in 1994. With no more games in the series and not even limited references in Nintendo’s other games like Super Smash Bros. as an assist trophy, StarTropics as a franchise has withered on the vine. This also isn’t helped by the fact that the game wasn’t released in Japan in any way, even on the Virtual Consoles of the Wii and Wii U.
How can I play it?
The game is currently available on the Wii’s Virtual Console store on both the Nintendo Wii and Wii U, if you don’t feel up to seeking out a physical copy. 
4. Mighty Final Fight
What kind of game is it?
Might Final Fight is a side-scrolling beat ’em up taking place in Metro City, where Jessica, the daughter of the city’s mayor has been kidnapped by the notorious gang Mad Gear. Aiding in her rescue are Cody, her boyfriend, Cody’s friend Guy, a skilled ninja, and the mayor himself, ex-wrestler Haggar. Players kick, punch, and toss enemies from stage to stage as they make their way through the city, taking out Mad Gear’s chief enforcers and eventually it’s leader, Belger. Experience points are earned that allow the characters to gain new fighting techniques during their struggle to retrieve Jessica from the clutches of Belger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNj5uI4RdXk
Why’s it underrated?
Same reason as StarTropics— Mighty Final Fight came out in 1993, close to the end of the NES’s run. By that point the Super Nintendo had been available for nearly two years and was fighting a console war against the Sega Genesis. The NES was greatly overshadowed as a result due to its inferior graphics, and a lot of the games released on that console got little to no exposure as a result. This is especially unfortunate because Mighty Final Fight is superior to the SNES releases of the original arcade game, which had to be split into Final Fight and Final Fight Guy (which was a Blockbuster Video exclusive) in order to play as all 3 characters.
How can I play it?
Your best bet is to seek out a Capcom Classics Mini-Mix for the Game Boy Advance or one of the cartridges for the NES.
3. Rygar
What kind of game is it?
Rygar is a side-scrolling action RPG with slight, non-linear exploration elements, potentially placing it into the Metroidvania sub-genre. You control a nameless warrior that wanders the land of Argool in his quest to kill the evil King Ligar (the name of whom was romanized as Rygar for the game’s title). During this journey, you guide the warrior to the five Indora gods who will present the items necessary to complete the game.
Why’s it underrated?
Rygar had the misfortune of being released in 1987, which is when a bunch of the system’s most iconic franchises were born, including mainstays like Mega Man, Castlevania, and Metroid, naming only a few. With so many acclaimed games taking the country by storm, Rygar was likely overshadowed by its competition at the time.
How can I play it?
Find a physical copy for the NES or play it via the Wii’s Virtual Console.
2. Ufouria: The Saga
What kind of game is it?
Ufouria: The Saga is a side-scrolling platformer with non-linear exploration elements that also cause it to be categorized as a Metroidvania game. You control Bop-Louie, a strange thing that fell into a crater with his friends that lead into another world. Finding himself alone, Bob-Louie must find his friends so that they can use their unique abilities to escape the quirky and strange land. The game has excellent variety in its characters’ gameplay, and is probably one of the best examples of the Metroidvania sub-genre on the NES outside of Metroid itself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oSBRRK8Bbo
Why’s it underrated?
It’s underrated in America almost entirely because it wasn’t released here in the first place– it was released only in Europe and Australia in 1992, and in Japan under its original name, Hebereke, in 1991. The game wouldn’t see release in the United States until 2010 on the Wii’s Virtual Console, nearly two decades later.
How can I play it?
The game can be bought on the Wii’s Virtual Console, and let’s face it– going through the trouble of finding a physical copy and a PAL compatible television and console simply isn’t worth it when comparing the effort involved between the two.
1. Little Samson
What kind of game is it?
Little Samson is a platforming game with 4 playable characters. Each is a hero summoned via carrier pigeon by a king who is seeking their help in defeating a newly resurrected evil from the past. Each character is alone until the player completes their individual stages, at which point they can be switched between freely to overcome the obstacles in their quest using their unique abilities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JEL6Za2zzo
Why’s it underrated?
Released after the debut of the SNES? Check. Little to no advertising compared to other games at the time? Check. This is especially tragic because the game has everything going for it– great gameplay, good music, and some of the best graphics that the NES had to offer. It wasn’t until the internet’s game emulation scene got a hold of it that its true worth was recognized by most gamers.
How can I play it?
Without finding a physical copy, which can go in excess of $200 for the cartridge alone? Good luck, if you’re not willing to resort to emulation. This game hasn’t even gotten a release on the Wii or Wii U’s Virtual Console for some inexplicable reason. These are merely 5 of the unsung games on the NES that defied Sturgeon’s Law– what games do you remember playing that not many others recall? Tell us below in the comments!
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