20 Best NES Games Of All Time
11. Castlevania
A lot has aged poorly with the original Castlevania. The knockback is a nightmare, you're sometimes swarmed by enemies before you get a chance to react, and the game isn't fun whenever you have to do any platforming as the stiff controls clearly weren't built with precise jumping in mind.
Despite these problems though Castlevania is one of the better-aged games on the system, and it is a really enjoyable title that if you take your time will be completely manageable most of the time.
As mentioned earlier the controls feel stiff. This is deliberate and works really well in combat. Usually, the stiff controls force you to make every button press count which makes the combat great.
You can't just button mash, you need to plan out everything, take your time, and observe your enemy closely if you want to succeed. It makes the game feel somewhat like a 2D Dark Souls.
Also, the music is some of the best you'll hear on the NES, the spooky aesthetic is great, and the boss fights are especially fun.
It's a great start to a great series, and if you haven't played Castlevania yet I highly recommend picking up the Castlevania Anniversary Collection which is available on most modern consoles.