Home Gaming Happy 30th Birthday Famicom!

Happy 30th Birthday Famicom!

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fami1

No matter where you started gaming from in life, be it the PlayStation One or the Xbox 360, chances are that you’ve played at least one Famicom game in your life. It’s the console that started a whole new generation for gaming. And today, it turned 30 years old.

Famicom_(Model)

The Famicom launched at a great time in 1983, July 15. While Atari had dominated the gaming landscape with their wood panelled platforms, the Famicom was a real revolution when it hit the Japanese scene. 8 bits of graphics powered the visuals of this console, graphics that were mind-blowing back then as third-party developers flocked to the system.

In the years to come, the Famicom gave birth to such great games such as Castlevania, Metroid and of course, Super Mario. And just two short years later, the console arrived in North America as the Nintendo Entertainment System, setting the stage for a culture revolution.

Heck, we even had our bootlegged version, which was affectionately known as the Golden China. Most of us grew up with it, and heck, still have one today. You all know the kind of console that I’m talking about.

super_mario_bros__3___famicom_cartridge_by_scoobydude51-d61tnz4

Some were blue, some were yellow and they all came with those marvellous 72-in-1 cartridges. But hot damn, did that machine have some great games that only needed four buttons with which to jam. In no particular order, these are my childhood top ten:

  • Rush ‘n Attack
  • Tetris
  • Super Mario Bros 3
  • Galaga
  • Spartan X
  • Donkey Kong
  • Road Fighter
  • Dig Dug
  • Excite Bike
  • Blowing the damn cartridge

For Geoff, who is just as stuck in 1985 as I am, that top ten list included:

  • Smb3
  • Mega Man 2
  • Castlevania 3
  • Kirby’s Adventure
  • Contra
  • River City Ransom
  • Adventure Island 2
  • Punch Out!
  • Link to the Past
  • DuckTales

But there were so, so many great games available. And that’s why the console has stuck around as a fond reminder of the past for so long. We could make a top 100 list, easy. But what were your favourite Famicom memories?

Last Updated: July 15, 2013

67 Comments

  1. O?

    Me love Golden China Long time 😛

    Reply

    • That Dark Twit

      July 15, 2013 at 15:40

      Sweet mother of Hades, I can not stop laughing at that picture!

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief Groot Wors

    July 15, 2013 at 15:33

    SMB3 was the BAWS!

    Reply

  3. That Dark Twit

    July 15, 2013 at 15:34

    I had that very same Mario Bros 3 cartridge.
    Remember the good ol’ times when if it didn’t work, you simply blew into the cartridge, and then it worked great!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

      July 15, 2013 at 15:58

      They actually determined that you damaged it further by doing that….remember reading about in when TEGATO still lived

      Reply

      • That Green Twit

        July 15, 2013 at 15:59

        Yeah, I remember hearing that too.
        Still can’t deny that it still worked. SCIENCE!!!

        Reply

  4. DieJason

    July 15, 2013 at 15:35

    Oh I remember that one Saturday when my dad returned home from work with a surprise for my brother and I, a Golden China with a 42-in-1 cartridge. Blew my mind, everything from Super Mario, Baseball (pitching balls at 0mph, hahah), Excitebike and more.

    Reply

  5. That Dark Twit

    July 15, 2013 at 15:37

    You guys should make a top 100 list, for shits and giggles sake. Would love to see that!

    Reply

  6. Umar Kiiroi Senk?

    July 15, 2013 at 15:37

    Felix the cat , Toxic Crusaders, Battle Toads and Double Dragon, Tiny Toons,1943,Super Mario Bros 3 to name but a few

    Reply

    • That Dark Twit

      July 15, 2013 at 15:44

      Duck Hunt! That damn dog that laughs at you!

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

        July 15, 2013 at 15:45

        Duck hunt you say?
        (this pictawr never gets old)

        Reply

        • That Green Twit

          July 15, 2013 at 15:54

          Bwahahaha!!!!!
          Must be a Facebook game.

          Reply

    • RinceWind

      July 15, 2013 at 15:45

      DON’T EVER MENTION BATTLE TOADS! You have already been warned on this!

      Reply

      • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

        July 15, 2013 at 15:52

        lol feel like co-op’n that game

        Reply

        • RinceWind

          July 15, 2013 at 15:53

          I’d rather remove my lungs and replace them with molten lead 0-O

          Reply

          • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

            July 15, 2013 at 15:54

            Lol no dude, funnest game ever, feel the rage, let it consume you!

          • RinceWind

            July 15, 2013 at 15:56

            Frustration lv over 9000! But bloody fun 😉

    • OVG

      July 15, 2013 at 16:04

      Crystalis, My first RPG… I would spend an hour trying to think up the name input for my antag 🙂

      Reply

      • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

        July 15, 2013 at 16:11

        What would you end up naming him?

        Reply

        • OVG

          July 15, 2013 at 16:15

          AAA 🙂
          As was always the name at the top of the arcade leader boards.
          Na… I think I settled with Odin.
          Kick as game, Then ZELDA became what GTAV is today.

          Reply

          • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

            July 15, 2013 at 19:07

            Oh man…AAA……too lazy to move the joystick up and down. But what name can you possibly give yourself with three letters?lol
            And oh the mighty Odin ! And zelda changed lives and gaming … now I’m just sad about wiiU:(

    • RinceWind

      July 15, 2013 at 16:05

      Secret of Mana!

      Reply

      • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

        July 15, 2013 at 16:12

        Been meaning to start a playthrough of that on ma phone. Classic game!hopefully it will return one day

        Reply

  7. DarthofZA

    July 15, 2013 at 15:38

    All I can say is that Geoff has a much better taste in great games than you do. 😛

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      July 15, 2013 at 15:42

      This is the truth.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

        July 15, 2013 at 15:43

        Seconded

        Reply

    • Major Commodore 64 Darryn B

      July 15, 2013 at 15:45

      Hey, I had a 72-in-1 cartridge on that list with ALL those games included, but that was cheating.

      Reply

  8. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    July 15, 2013 at 15:43

    Oh the nostalgia! What awesome gaming fun was had back then!

    Reply

  9. RinceWind

    July 15, 2013 at 15:43

    I believe it was also Mario’s 30th yesterday?

    Reply

  10. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    July 15, 2013 at 15:44

    Mappy, SuperMario Bros2, Contra, Excite Bike, Paper Boy, Milk and Nuts, Ice Climber, Twin B

    Reply

    • Tbone187

      July 15, 2013 at 16:52

      Can’t believe you said Mappy…hehehe…For me it was one of those annoying titles that took up loads of space on various compilations…Good call with Ice Climber and paperboy tho…

      Reply

    • Hesperus Phosphorus

      July 15, 2013 at 17:07

      Twin B… god, now there’s a game that ate up most of my Golden China time. It was awesome. Elevator Action was also pretty cool. Damn, getting all misty-eyed nostalgia.

      Reply

  11. RinceWind

    July 15, 2013 at 15:45

    Tiny Toons! FTW!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

      July 15, 2013 at 15:45

      hehehehe indeed

      Reply

  12. RinceWind

    July 15, 2013 at 15:46

    This was when they made games with LOVE in their hearts 🙂

    Reply

    • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

      July 15, 2013 at 15:50

      and you could feel the the love

      Reply

      • RinceWind

        July 15, 2013 at 15:52

        What do you mean man, what about CoD? They have dogs now! http://www.arwrath.com/content/9/98377.gif

        Reply

        • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

          July 15, 2013 at 15:55

          Lol I love COD as much as I love gaga….and before trolls start acting up, no I don’t like gaga….. that much

          Reply

    • OVG

      July 15, 2013 at 16:01

      What is battletoad’s excuse ? 😛

      Reply

      • RinceWind

        July 15, 2013 at 16:05

        A special kindda love?

        Reply

        • OVG

          July 15, 2013 at 16:06

          Character building like National Service.

          Reply

  13. OVG

    July 15, 2013 at 16:00

    MEGA MAN 2 BABY!!!

    Reply

    • RinceWind

      July 15, 2013 at 16:07

      Exactly. Why the hell hasn’t there been a Megaman for that last thousand years?! (That’s what it feels like)

      Reply

      • OVG

        July 15, 2013 at 16:09

        Timeless classic. 2 Buttons with some of the best honed hand eye coordination and you have yourself and addictive crack hobby.

        Reply

  14. Ricardo Harvey

    July 15, 2013 at 16:05

    I know this is weird…but i can smell the golden china right now…it had a distinct plastic aroma to it.

    Reply

  15. Ricardo Harvey

    July 15, 2013 at 16:07

    Can someone please explain to me how the tech worked with those duckhunt games

    Reply

    • OVG

      July 15, 2013 at 16:11

      LIKE A BOSS 🙂

      Reply

    • RinceWind

      July 15, 2013 at 16:12

      Something to do with squares of light around the ducks and the gun picking it up…

      Reply

  16. Gareth L

    July 15, 2013 at 16:30

    Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers, Battle City and Double Dragon!! Why are there no current-gen versions of these?

    Reply

  17. Nathan Horne

    July 15, 2013 at 16:35

    I really loved Gremlins 2, SMB 3 and the first Ninja Turtles game (the side scroller with the top down view when you are outside of the sewer).

    Ducktales was also really good – can’t wait for the HD remake.

    Reply

  18. Tbone187

    July 15, 2013 at 16:50

    Contra Hardcorps, Battletoads& Double dragon, Rockman2, Darkwing Duck and Robocop1 to name a few…

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      July 15, 2013 at 17:50

      Hardcorps was the Megadrive version. Also a great game but not as good as the NES Contra.

      Reply

      • Tbone187

        July 16, 2013 at 08:46

        Oops…good call…

        Reply

  19. Skyblue

    July 15, 2013 at 17:53

    Played Blades of Steel one night until my fingers locked up, great era.
    Some fav’s included Tetris, G.I. Joe, SMB2, Castlevania, Zelda, Metroid, Bubble Bobble, Megaman, Ninja Gaiden, Bionic Commando, Salamander, Duck Tales, etc, etc etc

    Damn those were awesome days!

    Reply

  20. Jonah Cash

    July 15, 2013 at 18:06

    My older brother stole mine and sold if for booze money while at varsity!! Son of a b….. hey wait she’s my mother too!!

    Reply

  21. Johann

    July 16, 2013 at 09:11

    Ah good times.
    Some of my favourites in no specific order…
    – Megaman 1-3
    – Castlevania 2 (Simon’s Quest)
    – Chip ‘n Dales
    – Mach Rider
    – Top Gun
    – Gargoyle’s Quest
    – Elevator action

    Reply

  22. Helldriver Phoenix

    August 1, 2013 at 23:48

    Sjoe genade,moenie vergeet van:
    Castlevania 2:Simon’s Quest
    Super Wonderfull Mario 5
    TMNT 1,2 en 3
    Miracle Stone
    Contra
    Friday the 13th
    Goonies
    ….ek kan heel dag aangaan

    Reply

  23. Leechie

    August 12, 2013 at 16:38

    Brings back such good memories

    Reply

  24. Dooshe Nozzle

    August 18, 2013 at 17:22

    Link to the Past was Super Famicom/NES.

    Reply

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