Discuss anything and everything about the NES here. IN case you're wondering why I opted to have a NES thread as opposed to Nintendo is because Nintendo's had amny systems which I feel deserve their own thread and attention. Depending on how this thread does, I'll create official discussion threads for other systems. If they were done already though, let me know.

The idea of this thread came from an article on policymic.com titled 8 Greatest 8-Bit Nintendo Games Of All Time. Here's their list as it appears in the article:

1. Donkey Kong, 1981
Donkey Kong is the game that not only gave us the infamous hammer (bane to Super Smash Brothers players everywhere), but also some of the best known Nintendo characters: Pauline (precursor to Princesses Peach and Toadstool), Mario (known then as Jumpman), and of course, Donkey Kong. Making it to the top of the steel maze only to watch Kong take Mario's girl again was the perfect combination of satisfaction and frustration.

2. Spelunker, 1983
Spelunker is definitely one of those classic games that lets you know you are playing the NES. You are a cave explorer with an incredibly low tolerance for pain, and you've got to make it to the treasure while avoiding numerous hazards, including bat poop. Spelunker required gamers to become pros at maneuvering the character, as even falling a little too far or jumping a bit too high would result in death. Highly frustrating, highly entertaining, pure NES.

3. Super Mario Brothers / Duck Hunt, 1984-1985
Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt came packaged together as a dual game-pak, and each provided the perfect escape from the other after one too many fights with the Hammer Brothers or appearances by that snickering dog. SMB in particular introduced gamers to Nintendo's revamped flagship character, Mario, and his universe of plants, pipes, and plumbing.

4. Ghosts 'n Goblins, 1985
Ghosts 'n Goblins introduced gamers to Sir Arthur, the knight with a major crush on Princess Prin Prin and a predilection for losing his clothes in battle. If players were lucky enough to make it past the Red Arremer in the first level, there were still plenty of challenges designed to test their gaming skills.

5. Metroid, 1986
In Metroid, gamers took on the role of Samus Aran, an intergalactic bounty hunter determined to save the galaxy from the Space Pirates. This game combines elements of both Super Mario Brothers and Legend of Zelda, with a darker action-adventure story, and is notable for featuring one of the first female protagonists in gaming. One of its best known myths is the existence of an ending which features a naked Samus. Take a look at Game Center CX's Arino, an old school game challenger, attempting to clear the game in order to test this myth.

6. Legend of Zelda, 1986
Legend of Zelda marked the debut of one of Nintendo's flagship characters, Link, and his never-ending quest to save Princess Zelda. What an altruistic guy! Its gameplay is a mix of role playing, action, and puzzle solving, and was able to appeal to a wide audience of gamers. To this day, the Zelda franchise is one of the most important to Nintendo, and the original is the fourth best-selling NES game of all time.

7. Final Fantasy, 1987
Final Fantasy, created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, has become one of the most well known franchises in gaming, but it all began back on the NES in 1987. It wasn't the first RPG created, but it did popularize the genre and introduced to video games several features still existant in Final Fantasy games today, including the notorious random encounter.

8. Contra, 1987
Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start. Need I say more?

I'm not sure if Mario was first introduced to gamers in DK. But if so, I can see why that game's #1. If that is the case, then SMB/Duck Hunt should be at #2. However, I guess you could say SMB/Duck Hunt should be #1 because it was a better game and came with the NES when you first purchased it (well, it did for me anyway. ) Legend Of Zelda, Metroid, and Final Fantasy are franchises still going today so they should be higher than they are IMO for that reason as these are the first in those respective franchises.

I still play NES when I have the time. Don't have a count down because I love al lthe games I play too much to rate them 1-10, but my list of favorites include but not limited to:
SMB 1-3, obviously
Amagon
ExciteBike
Battletoads - HARDEST GAME I EVER PLAYED IN MY LIFE!!!

I don't like amagon.I played the rom and it kind of sucks.

I played all those ones you listed, but i played ghost and goblins rom.
I own ff1, contra1, zelda1,zelda2, mario 1-3, metroid and more than a couple other really good games.

I think also magic of sheherazade is a cool game too for the nes, and pretty underrated.You get to play as a persian in an rpg, and have that persian myth, which i've never seen in an rpg before.
I like ninja gaiden 1,2 and 3, but i don't own any of them.I played the roms and beat 1 and 2 fairly
I like crystalis still today.Its an action rpg type game, and pretty fun too.I own it
There is willow which i own too, decent rpg.
There is the megaman series which i like quite a bit.I own 2,3 and 5.
Double dragon of course.I own and beat the game.
Castlevania series, of which i only owned the second game, and it was stolen i believe because its disappeared.

I don't personally care about kid icarus.I don't care what people say, but that game was bs in terms of difficulty.Its insanely hard, and little compensation for such a high difficulty.I played kid icarus at my neighbours house when i was like 7 or 8 years old, and i remember the frustration of dying almost immediately because enemies come from everywhere, and especially the grim reapers.
I really don't care for the simpsons games.I played barts nightmare at someone's house when i was a kid, and never realy liked it.

Never stop playing the NES! :) Still can't beat Ghosts 'n Goblins.

We had a NES for about 1 or 2 years when I was very young before it went to poop. My favorite games were Kid Icarus, Bubble Bobble and Duck Tales.

Grew up in that era, played Super Mario Bros in the Arcade right before the NES came out. When I got to play it at home, what a day that was. So exciting. Also had the Gyromite bundle with the Robot. If you're unfamiliar with it, google that shiz.

One of the best and hardest games to beat was Ninja Gaiden, such good cinematics for the 8 bit era, but man were the later stages hard.

Honorable mention, Gumshoe. Such a fun lightgun game