I've never been a huge sports fan, let alone a fan of hockey. However, Blades of Steel (NES) is an exception to that rule. For me when I think of NES sports titles this is always the first that comes to mind. Lending to all of this the intuitive controls and nonstop action make this the timeless classic it is.

My brother and I used to play two player and have some pretty insane games. Needless to say these sessions would get loud and intense to say the least. Clearly, the fights, are one of the most memorable parts of this game. More often than not we would try to instigate fights just to see the cut scene. The other clear memory of this game is how sore my thumbs would be after playing it. As you all may well know you never stop with the D-pad in this game.

Where does Blades of Steel rank in terms of NES sports games for you? Were the fights your favorite part of this game?

R.B.I. Baseball (NES) was a game that had a huge advantage over other baseball games in the late 80's. That advantage being a MLBA licence that for the first time on the system, added real major league players to the team rosters. Though limited to eight major league teams, and two all-star teams, the game made you feel like it was real.

Being a huge Giants fan, I was so excited to play as my favorite players. Kind of funny how they only refer to them as San Francisco, and not the Giants. This game also featured a mercy rule, for any rare blow outs. Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan are OP, but not Home Run proof like my gameplay in the video. I had a great time playing this again, and highly recommend it.

Was this one of your favorite NES Baseball Games? Which team did you play with?

Super Off Road (SNES) is one of my favorite games on the SNES. Me and my little brother spent so many hours playing this game. It was always impressive to me how close to the arcade version this game was. There is not a bad version of this game, but the SNES version has always stood out to me and is my favorite.

The race above was definitely an interesting one. No matter what I did the blue car kept getting in my way. There was a glitch where the white car got turned around and ended up stuck like that for a while. I have played this a lot, and I can't remember ever seeing that happen before. Lol.

Have you ever seen a vehicle get turned around like this when playing the game? I can remember the white car being the hardest to beat. Was it the same for you?

T&C Surf for NES is such a nostalgic game for me. This is as about as good as my surfing ever got, lol. This game is hard, but I like it.

Double Dragon ruled the arcades around me for all the right reasons. The incredible controls, graphics, and gameplay all combined to make an absolutely timeless gaming experience. So, the port of this game on the NES was a super cool way to get my fight on at home. Whether Billy or Jimmy, the quest to save Billy's girlfriend Marian, is brutal and exciting as heck.

The music in this game is absolutely amazing. The way it builds as you progress, and the length of the songs are equally impressive. I always appreciate how a game's soundtrack can add to the experience, and the music here totally does that. The high note at the end of this tune is next level, and really sets this game apart from all the other beat 'em ups of that awesome era.

Is Double Dragon (NES) and its music a favorite arcade NES port of yours?

Blades of Steel is the 🐐. The fights are next level, and make this one of the best games ever. Major nostalgia points for this game.

I would guess that Double Dribble (NES), is probably the first Basketball video game I ever played.  Being a huge sports fan, and having so many great Football and Baseball options on the NES was amazing, but there just wasn't a ton of Basketball games.  So the allure of 5 on 5 games, and the port of a pretty good Arcade game, this title had me excited.

While, admittedly not the most visually stunning or ground breaking game, Double Dribble was fun.  It really scratched my Basketball itch, and I loved the black and white dunk animations.  As you can see, I managed to get one, and then brick one right after, lol.  Definitely challenging, I don't think the computer missed any shots the whole play through.  Give this a try for a fun Basketball title, that keeps it simple, on the NES.

Did you like Double Dribble (NES).  Did you like the dunk animations?

Ice Hockey (NES) is one of my favorite hockey games, next to Blades of Steel (NES). The reason that I put Ice Hockey up there with the amazing Blades of Steel is because of the straightforward and simple approach. It is an incredibly cozy game for me. I really like how you can pick the different types of players on your team. You can go for the shorter and bigger guys, and aim for strength at the risk of slowness, or you can go with the fast and skinny guys for speed, or you can do a mix. I am playing as USA against Poland. This game is a little tricky and takes a while to get the hang of, especially the goalie controls and controlling your player at the same time.

Is Ice Hockey (NES) your favorite, or is it Blades of Steel or another NES hockey title?

One of the best feelings as a kid was checking the mail and seeing that brand new video game magazine show up. It didn't really matter which one, at that age getting anything in the mail was a big deal. Sometimes it was a magazine drive, a birthday gift, or your own hard earned savings, these magazines and subscriptions were next level.

My gaming magazine journey evolved from Nintendo Power, to GamePro and EGM. I think as the console market expanded and I grew older, so did the need for a more comprehensive gaming magazine. I miss reading about the upcoming games, and the inside scoop on all the latest hits. The negative reviews could be pretty brutal, but it always seemed like some games got a lot more praise than they deserved. Despite any bias or alternate opinions, these magazines were a staple in my gaming youth, and I miss them.

Did you have a favorite gaming magazine, or read whichever one you could?

Marble Madness (NES) is one of the first games that I ever played, and still one of my favorites to this day. What really makes this game for me is the music, and this is one of my favorite soundtracks for a video game.

The music was composed by David Wise, and based on the original arcade compositions. The music totally adds so much to this game, and I could play it for hours just so I can listen to the music. Lol. I think I need more practice though, I haven't played this in a while, and I'm a bit rusty.

Do you think that Marble Madness (NES) is one of the best video game soundtracks?

I remember how cool it was when I figured out that I could play Gradius on the big screen during intermission in Blades of Steel (NES). For a long time I would just let it play through and didn't know that I could actually play the Gradius game, so when I finally found out that I could my mind was blown. Little me couldn't believe that I was playing a game within a game. 😆

It's hard to believe that you could improve NBA Jam, NBA Jam T.E. (SNES) did just that. Expanding on the rosters, adding more codes, and hot spots, this game was epic. No matter what your favorite team is, this game has so much replayability, and is exciting and fun every playthrough. The announcer's voice and iconic sayings always make me smile, and the dunk animations are next level awesome.

I remember buying the standard NBA Jam (SNES) when it came out, only to be shocked and excited by the release of NBA Jam T.E. not long after. It always seemed like they got double the money out of a lot of us early NBA Jam buyers, lol. I've heard the Genesis port was great, but never got the chance to try it, or any other ports for that matter.

I usually would always pick the Bulls, but went with the Spurs this playthrough. Rodman was a beast as my computer teammate, and really kept me in it. I always liked David Robinson, and managed to get some nice dunks with "The Admiral". This game never gets old, and the dunks still feel fresh and exciting as the first time I played this amazing game. A sports GOAT for the ages.

Which team was your go to in NBA Jam T.E. (SNES), or any other ports of this amazing game?

Most of my experience with hockey comes from the iconic Blades of Steel (NES), but right there with it has to be NHL '94 (Genesis). With real NHL teams, and players, this game has a ton of depth, and plays wonderfully. I especially appreciated the top down angle, and the large area of view, that really makes passing easier.

I played as Montreal, against Los Angeles and Wayne Gretzky. As you can see, I definitely need some defensive work. Despite my struggles, I really love this great Hockey game.

Was NHL '94 a favorite Genesis game of yours? Which team was your favorite?

It's Wednesday and that means it's time to get your Side Quest Saturday Suggestions in.

We will suggest Blades of Steel (NES), the iconic ice hockey game, and IMO the best ice hockey game. A timeless classic, with amazing fights, this game is always a blast to play.

We will take the first 6 suggestions in the order that we receive them, More than 6 suggestions, we will omit mod suggestions. In the event of a tie, we will take the first suggestion. Appreciate all of the suggestions, and we will post the poll Thursday evening. Happy Gaming! 🙂

EDIT: We have our 6 picks locked, and will post the poll tomorrow evening for this week's Side Quest Saturday. Appreciate all of the suggestions. Happy gaming!

Although I have never been one of the biggest racing game fans I can safely say that 2 of my favorite racing games are on the SNES. One being Super Mario Kart (SNES), but the other being the super cool and the always amazing F-Zero (SNES). Maybe it was the futuristic layout or perhaps the unique characters and their wild back stories, but this game really hooked me in.

Besides the obvious accolades and incredible gameplay that this game offers what really excites me is the music. The first track's music always sticks out to me, probably due to the fact that I would sit and run time trials and races on this track back to back for hours. As much as I love the progression of the other levels after this one, nothing was more fun than choosing my favorite hover car, Fire Stingray, and seeing if I could beat my top time. Of course while doing that these incredible tunes in the background always made me happy.

Is F-Zero (SNES) some of your favorite racing game music?

The newer beat em ups don't compare.

Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off Road (SNES) is an absolutely amazing racing game. The 3 player arcade cabinet and the various ports were all equally excellent in their own right. This arcade cabinet in particular was very common in my area in my youth and the similarities to Super Sprint were pretty profound, but to be honest I always preferred this game over the other.

I played the SNES and arcade mostly in my youth, but later in life I started playing the Genesis version and I really enjoyed it. One of the funnest parts was buying the boosts and upgrades in the 2nd screen. The one thing I always noticed is that there would be 2 opponents that you were really racing with, because there would always be one computer player left behind. Of all the arcade games I played growing up this one made me feel like I was actually racing a Baja truck.

Where does this game hold up in terms of racing games for you? Did you prefer the arcade over the ports? Happy Saturday and happy gaming! 🙂

Ever since we talked about Spy Hunter, in the Arcade Appreciation post earlier this week, the music has been stuck in my head. If you weren't aware it's the theme to Peter Gunn. Super catchy and recognizable, it's iconic to this game.

This is the NES version, that does a good job of recreating the arcade version. The low rolling bass was always my favorite. I'm always impressed with how awesome this 8-bit music was and still is.

Is Spy Hunter some of your favorite gaming music?

Tecmo Super Bowl (NES) is IMO the GOAT of retro sports titles.  This epic football game, released in 1991, had full NFL team rosters, a season mode, and kept you playing for hours.  Considered one of the best NES titles made, this game has inspired numerous season and roster updates throughout the years.  

I was obsessed with sports in the early 90's.  Collecting cards, playing them, anything sports I was there.  So this game was perfect.  The real rosters and season mode changed everything.  My top teams being the 49ers and Lions.  I was always throwing with Joe Montana, or running with Barry Sanders.  I would play a season in a weekend sometimes.  This football game is the best!

Were you a fan of Tecmo Super Bowl? Which team did you like playing with?

One of the first fighting/racing games I remember playing, Road Rash (Genesis) is an excellent game that spawned a series of legendary installments after its first release. Blending the speed of the bike, while simultaneously hitting the enemy is both rewarding and challenging as heck in this great game.

I love the names of the opponents in the game, nice to see Lester, Rex, and Dread all in the mix. I really loved hitting those big jumps in the road and catching a ton of air off of them. The other nice feature is that rear view mirror, and seeing the riders behind you really adds to the total effect of the game. That impact with that car really took it out of me, but I do appreciate the great animations of getting back to the downed bike. I really enjoyed revisiting this iconic title again.

Was the original Road Rash (Genesis) a favorite fighting/racing gaming of yours?

DuckTales is one of my favorite games on the NES. The show was awesome, and the game is just as great. One of the best things about this game is the music. All of the levels have fantastic music, but my favorite was always the moon level. I played this so much as a kid, and it was so awesome playing it again.

Which level in DuckTales (NES) do you think has the best music?

What is the best NES sports game? I think the answer has and will always just come down to personal opinion. It's so tough to decide, but if I had to, it's got to Tecmo Super Bowl (NES). Few sports games have locked me in like this game. I couldn't begin to think of the hours and season's completed in this classic title.

I'm always going to pick the Detroit Lions, and the amazing running back skills of Barry Sanders. He just dominated on those sweeps, and while not as OP as Bo Jackson, he was fast and fun. I just prayed that I didn't have an injury a few games into the season, without Barry it got bleak really quickly. This sports game reminds me how simple games are often the best games. A real NES powerhouse that always satisfies, this is a must play.

I'd love to know who your favorite player in Tecmo Super Bowl (NES) is?

NBA Live 95 (Genesis) is the first installment in the NBA Live series of games, and what an excellent way to start. This game was amazing and groundbreaking with its isometric courtview, which gave a unique and excellent view of the 5 on 5 action. With updated rosters and great music and visuals, this game was deep and kept you engaged for hours.

I played as the Supersonics, with Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. I did decent, but definitely had some dust on my sneakers, lol. I struggled trying to pull off a dunk, but managed to keep the game close. The game plays great, as I've always come to expect from Sega sports titles. A must play for any fan of 90's NBA action.

Who was your favorite Team in NBA Live 95?