Contra

It's hard to find a game that came from the arcade to the NES that was as great as the original. The timelessly popular Contra is a unique case in point. Contra is a run and gun game where you have to move around the levels shooting the enemy. You can play alone or with a buddy (which multiplies the impressions you get from passing by). The action is set in the year 2631. Two soldiers, Bill and Lance, are fighting against the terrorist organisation "Red Falcon". Your heroes can use various weapons (from assault rifles to lasers), but the best weapon is a shotgun that shoots scattered bullets. As well as the usual side-view levels, there are also those where we storm an enemy base from the rear. The Japanese version, Gryzor, is vastly superior to the American version: it has much better sound, more animations and story scenes.