Easy or at least fair Retro Games

[KamakoKamako's icon]

 

[HYEROS]

We’re all familiar with the term “Nintendo Hard,” but “NEC Hard” or “SEGA Hard” would be just as fitting, given how difficult games were in the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. When it came to arcade games, the high difficulty made sense from a business standpoint: players lost very quickly and either put more money in to continue (or restart) a game, or they gave up their spot to another player who, in turn, fed coins into the machine, leading to constant turnover and thus a steady stream of revenue.
It wasn’t good for business for a single player to monopolize a game with a single coin.

But when it came to console and computer games, the sometimes insurmountable difficulty lost some of its purpose. Even in the case of arcade game ports—which were certainly numerous but far from the majority on home machines.

According to some developers and even journalists, this high difficulty was necessary to hook players in the ’80s and ’90s who, in their view, were eager for a challenge. It was also meant to ensure the game had a long lifespan, in the sense that it forced players to replay it frequently in hopes of mastering and finishing it—unlike an easy game that players finished quickly and, supposedly, grew tired of just as fast.

As a gamer with 35 years of experience who lived through the (end of the) 8-bit era and (the full) 16-bit era, I can tell you: that’s total nonsense.
Neither I nor any of the gamers I knew—virtually all my friends, classmates, and cousins—played for the challenge or got excited by games that resisted us and taunted us with “game over” messages.
On the contrary. We rarely finished our games, or the games we lent to each other, and we weren’t the type to grind for hours just to see the ending. If after 30 minutes we couldn’t make any progress in a game, we’d move on to something else and would rather hang out outside than start the same level—designed by sadists—for the 50th time in a row.

This really illustrates the disconnect that sometimes existed between players and designers, but also the video game press.
Some journalists criticized certain games for being too easy (!), considering it a deal-breaker, which seemed completely absurd to me.
I much preferred an easy game that I could finish regularly—and which therefore wasn’t frustrating—to a tough game that didn’t let me have any fun.

Anyway. All this rambling to say: I’M TIRED OF GAMES THAT KICK MY ASS!

It’s also an excuse to share the easiest retro games you’ve ever played.

And don't try to cheat by mentioning visual novels!

 

[Sheepy765]

Just about any RPG is pretty breezy if you don't mind the grind. That said I haven't really needed to grind in some games like Breath of Fire IV (or at least not yet).

 

[kbcinharoxa kbcinharoxa]

I guess the first Kirby its TOO easy, i mean...all the games from this franchise are kinda easy but the first one it's the easiest (I played it.)

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

A Boy & His Blob can be really easy if you know what you are doing.

Nightshade, too.

 

[Not_Red]

Mappy and Milk & Nuts are both really easy. The former was even my sister's favorite even tho she doesn't really play game at all.

 

[ConanTheDestroyer]

I don't know if it counts but Strider 2 would be my pick. It carries over a lot of what the arcade original did but infinite continues ensure that it's on the easier side. Plus its an awesome game.

 

[ArchienineZXAdventArchienineZXAdvent's icon]

Mega Man 6 is the easiest game of the classic era but still a lot of fun.

 

[HYEROS]

I don't know if it counts but Strider 2 would be my pick. It carries over a lot of what the arcade original did but infinite continues ensure that it's on the easier side. Plus its an awesome game.

View attachment 197175

Oh yeah! Strider 2 is absolutely awesome. Now that’s what I call a game that really delivers.

 

[TinRattler]

Super Mario World is pretty easy

 

[HYEROS]

Mega Man 6 is the easiest game of the classic era but still a lot of fun.

That's interesting. The first Mega Man was the second game I got for my NES, and I never managed to beat it. I'll have to take a closer look at the sixth installment.

 

[ArchienineZXAdventArchienineZXAdvent's icon]

Super Mario Land 2 is like the easiest Mario game (but with a somewhat hard final stage as a contrast).

 

[HYEROS]

Super Mario World is pretty easy

Personally, I wouldn't say it's super easy, but it's one of the few Mario games I've actually beaten. But that was the GBA version, almost 25 years ago!

 

[ArchienineZXAdventArchienineZXAdvent's icon]

That's interesting. The first Mega Man was the second game I got for my NES, and I never managed to beat it. I'll have to take a closer look at the sixth installment.

Mega Man 6 have all the additions of previous games (E-Tanks, slide, charge shot, Eddie, Beat and Passwords) along with the new super adaptors that reemplaces Rush Coil & Jet and a Energy Balancer that makes easier recharging weapons.
Isn't a cake walk neither but you will notice the lower difficulty. Also it haves a cool "around the world" settling.

 

[Metroid_Hybrid]

My first video game was on the easier side. It's called "Smart Ball" and the Repo has a copy with the original story that was dummied-out of the US release..

Jerry Boy / Smart Ball (J+English Patched) SNES ROM – The Repo

Jerry Boy / Smart Ball (J+English Patched) SNES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the Super NES.

retrogametalk.com

 

[Jdan-S]

Felix The Cat (NES/GB)

Felix the Cat (USA, Europe) NES ROM – The Repo

Felix the Cat (USA, Europe) NES ROM Languages: English. For the NES.

retrogametalk.com

Felix the Cat (USA, Europe) GB ROM - The Repo

Felix the Cat (USA, Europe) GB ROM Languages: English. For GameBoy.

retrogametalk.com

Tiny Toon Adventures (GB)

Tiny Toon Adventures - Babs' Big Break (USA, Europe) GB ROM - The Repo

Tiny Toon Adventures - Babs' Big Break (USA, Europe) GB ROM Languages: English. For GameBoy.

retrogametalk.com

Mystic Quest (SNES)

Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (USA) SNES ROM – The Repo

Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (USA) SNES ROM Languages: English. For the Super NES.

retrogametalk.com

Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (GBA)

Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (USA) GBA ROM - The Repo

Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (USA) GBA ROM Languages: English. For the GameBoy Advance.

retrogametalk.com

 

[Kovlak]

Euro Football Champ for the SNES

It's a fun game and maybe the easiest game I've ever played. I beat it in a couple of hours.

 

[Lt Cmdr. Data]

Easy colorful platformers.

So easy, that a caveman could beat it.

 

[Ikagura]

Samurai Pizza Cats on the Famicom

 

[MDGeistsfavMC5song]

KILL ME BABY KILL ME BABY DON!.. sorry im drunk

 

[Kovlak]

Limbo it's also pretty good and accessible, if puzzle platformers are your thing.

 

[MDGeistsfavMC5song]

Limbo it's also pretty good and accessible, if puzzle platformers are your thing.

sorry.. watch the Kill Me Baby short anime.. its funny.. I need more smokes.. thanks for being cool

 

[Kovlak]

sorry.. watch the Kill Me Baby short anime.. its funny.. I need more smokes.. thanks for being cool

No prob. Gonna give it a watch. Have fun, man!

 

[shaggi shaggi]

This is probably the easiest retro game i ever played. And still i enjoyed it to the point of beating it for several times.

 

[Bakuma1997]

LifeForce, i kid you not, compared to its parent series Gradius, enemy and boss patters aren't as strict, lives are letient and most importantly, NO CHECKPOINTS, instead you respawn in the spot once you die, to make it easier, once you die, your options fly offscreen, giving you a last chance to pick them and handing you a respite to recover yourself