After 5 years of existence, PlayTheNES will be closing down. "Thank you" to all of our followers, affiliates, and those who kept the site alive and strong these past few years. Read more about it *HERE* and give your feedback. Farewell freaks.

FEBRUARY-5-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Tecmo Bowl
Our favorite NES Punk reviews one of the better football games for the NES. See what makes Tecmo Bowl a great 2-player experience as Pat challenges R.O.B. to some gridiron action. Just in time for the S%^?& B@!{... err.. the "Big Game" this weekend.

JANUARY-29-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Flea Market Madness volume 8
Pat is off on another venture to the flea market for some big bargains on games, accessories, and other various collectibles. See what he got this time and how much $$$ he saved in comparison to inflated eBay prices. Featuring another special guest appearance by internet's Frank.

JANUARY-20-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom
The final entry to our stereo sound NES music archive goes to the final game in Tecmo's awesome Ninja Gaiden series. Listen to fast-paced action themes that perfectly match the game play.
Hope you all enjoyed 6.5.0.Tunes!

JANUARY-10-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - Contra Force
The latest music download comes from the lesser known "unofficial" entry in the Contra franchise. Though the in-game action plays a bit slow, the pulsating sounds of Contra Force rank among the best in the series. Give a listen and shake your Beans!

JANUARY-1-2011     1Life2Live - The Guardian Legend: Special Edition
Happy New Year! Here is a rather lengthy no-death-run video from user Ratix. It's a special ROM hack of The Guardian Legend which features only the vertical scrolling shooter levels. Very intense with some of the fastest action ever seen for the NES' limitations.

DECEMBER-22-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - Santa Claus's Toybox
Back in 1987, a company called Musical Plan LTD developed a variety game with a Christmas theme for the Famicom Disk System titled Santa Claus no Takarabako (Santa Claus's Toybox). It included some rather well arranged versions of a few holiday classics.

DECEMBER-13-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Anticipation NES review
In this episode, Pat revisits the Luna Video Games store to make amends with the store clerk. Pat then invites Ian over to his place for some co-op NES playing. The game of choice? Why none other than the quirky board game/ guessing game Anticipation!

DECEMBER-6-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Flea Market Madness: volume 7
Pat's last venture to the flea market has him making a surprise discovery in the form of a surprise video game console. Also a guest appearance by internet's Frank. It's all here in this brand new, month old episode!

NOVEMBER-22-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - The Mafat Conspiracy
The second NES game to feature the popular manga assassin-for-hire "Golgo 13" also features this thing called "music" that plays in the background. Guess what? You can also listen to it too! We have it right here, courtesy of 6.5.0.Tunes!

NOVEMBER-4-2011     NES Tournament 2011 FINAL!
The final round of the annual NES Tournament of Games is here. After months long of voting through the early rounds, the two games contending for 2011's championship are inarguably the top games of their respective series. View the full bracket for this year's contest.

OCTOBER-20-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - Uninvited
New NES music added just in time for the Halloween season! Hear the eerie tunes and haunting melodies from the horror-themed graphic/text adventure game Uninvited.

OCTOBER-7-2011     NES Virus Cleaner Article in Retro Gamer Magazine
For the second time, a Sly Dog Studios game gets reviewed in the European publication Retro Gamer (the first being Pegs). It's featured in the homebrew section. A mostly positive review as well!
If you want to purchase a copy of the magazine, it is issue #93 and can be found here.

SEPTEMBER-24-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Mr. Gimmick NES Review
Pat the NES Punk takes a look at one of the best but nearly forgotten NES titles. Sunsoft's Mr. Gimmick was a highly polished platformer that never saw an American release. What makes this game so special? See the video review!

SEPTEMBER-15-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Flea Market Madness volume 5
Pat is off to the flea market once again in pursuit of some buried treasures. This time he covers two different places. Listen for more helpful tips on how to find the right bargains.

SEPTEMBER-6-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode
Get the music from Golgo 13's first NES game. It's all the songs right here in one convenient archive. It's available so why not get it. That's what it's here for! So like... download and listen and stuff.

AUGUST-23-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Pat Returns to the Jersey Shore
Pat revisits his childhood arcade hotspot once again. Witness many classic coin-ops in action, with wild bouts of Street Fighter II, electronic arm wrestling, air hockey, and the soul-destroying crane grab machine.

AUGUST-16-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Family Game Funness
It's time for some family fun, NES style! Pat visits James Rolfe (cinemassacre.com) for some friendly competition in four variety games. Who is the better player? Watch and see!

AUGUST-2-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - Super Dodge Ball
Now available from the 6.5.0.Tunes library is the music of Super Dodge Ball. Featuring some upbeat rock & roll along with a few cultural melodies that round out a well-made soundtrack. This music will surely get you in the mood to bean someone in the face with some balls (provided you're not already doing that anyway).

JULY-23-2011     2011 NES Tournament - Round 1 has Begun
The 13th annual NES Tournament of Games kicks off here at PlayTheNES with the first round matchups. Check here to view the full tourney bracket featuring the 64 nominated NES games, and get information on how to play along.

JULY-8-2011     NES Wallpapers - Castlevania
More new desktop wallpaper! This time it's for the vampire hunting classic platformer Castlevania. Featuring the actual in-game background graphics and Simon Belmont's original box cover image converted to an 8-bit color palette. This picture is perfect for fans of the game and/or purple fog.

JUNE-22-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - Shadow of the Ninja
The rockin' tunes of Natsume's highly underplayed Shadow of the Ninja (a.k.a. Blue Shadow) is now ready for your listening approval. From the same composers that brought you Shatterhand. This music is perfect for those who like shadows and ninjas.

JUNE-9-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - Kid Icarus
The latest 6.5.0.Tunes upload features the classic music of Nintendo's early platformer Kid Icarus.
Composed by Hirokazu Tanaka, who is also known for the music of Metroid.

MAY-27-2011     NES Wallpaper - Clik!
It's Clik! The playable hero of NES Virus Cleaner is ready to dominate your computer screen! Let viruses know you mean business when they see this intimidating reminder.
This high-quality image is guaranteed to make your desktop smile. Literally!

MAY-23-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Pat sings NES DuckTales theme
Pat sings the lyrics to the DuckTales theme song from the original T.V. cartoon series to the music of the NES version.
NOTE: Quality of singing may vary.

MAY-11-2011     NES Atlas Videos - Star Wars (full game)
The latest work from NES Atlas Videos features the full playthrough of Star Wars. Taken from a tool-assisted speedrun. The usual zooming out on the scrolling map when necessary. See the interior of the Death Star in way you've never seen before!

APRIL-27-2011     NES Virus Cleaner now available!
It's a brand new game from Sly Dog Studios! NES Virus Cleaner is a fast-action game of timing and skill. Take control of the mini-comp "Clik" and rid the stage of viral threats before time expires. Conquer all 17 sectors to free your NES of all viruses!
Read more about it in the forum and in EOR Power.

APRIL-20-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Flea Market Madness volume 4
Pat's adventures at the swap meet continue! Witness the epic haggle for a Commodore 64 system! See him courageously reject offers of overpriced GameBoy and Atari carts! Listen to him say things while working a camera! It's all here in this next episode!

APRIL-16-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Flea Market Madness volume 3
Pat is on another journey through the marketplace. Some more helpful tips like "always bring a list of what you already have" and "never pay more than $20 for an XBOX". Cameos by Yoda and an animatronic dinosaur.

APRIL-9-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Casino Calamity
Pat takes a trip to Las Vegas, the home of gambling, fear, and loathing. He also conveniently reviews a handful of casino-themed NES games, and may or may not make several references to "black jack" in achronymic form.

APRIL-2-2011     6.5.0.Tune - M82 Demo Unit song
The elusive M82 Demo Unit from Nintendo was a device that was used in retail store displays to allow customers to sample the games before buying. It could load up to 12 NES carts. It also had an eye-catching intro screen which just happened to also have a catchy tune. Listen to it now!

APRIL-1-2011     NES Tips - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [redux]
Roth is back with an improved version of his original NES Tips video for Konami/Ultra's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Witness all the new secrets and bonus scenes that we missed out on the first time around!
Check it out! The best NES Tips episode yet!

MARCH-23-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - M.C. Kids
New NES game music available in the form of the M.C. Kids soundtrack. This highly underrated platformer carries some extremely catchy tunes that will get you in the mood for a super-sized snack of high calorie proporions!
Or maybe not. Well, hopefully not. But it is pretty good music.

MARCH-9-2011     NES Wallpaper - Final Fantasy
Brand new wallpaper for your desktop features the magazine ad artwork from the original Final Fantasy and a scanlined backdrop with the character sprites. Should appeal to fans of 8-bit Final Fantasy and desktop wallpaper.

FEBRUARY-15-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - Skate or Die 2
The newest entry to the NES music archives comes from Rob Hubbard's thrashing BGM from Skate or Die 2: The Search For Double Trouble. Listen for the excellent use of voice and percussion samples. Title song is one of the best!

FEBRUARY-5-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Nintendo World Championships 1990
Pat takes a look back at the Nintendo World Championships of 1990, the competition, the challenges, the prizes, and most importantly the rare NWC cartridge that became of the classic gaming event. Will he find this Holy Grail of NES collectors? Watch and see!

JANUARY-31-2011     1Life2Live - Almana no Kiseki / Miracle of Kiseki
This No-Death-Run from Ratix features the Famicom Disk System game titled Miracle of Almana (Almana no Kiseki). It's a spelunking action/platformer that was no doubt inspired by Indiana Jones. Most of the game play involves careful use of a grappling hook.

JANUARY-19-2011     Pat the NES Punk - Caltron 6 in 1
Pat's review of the very rare and very expensive Caltron 6 in 1 multicart. Featuring a guest appearance by Ian (from the Classic NES Marathon) at the Luna Video Games store.

JANUARY-13-2011     6.5.0.Tunes - Shatterhand
The latest entry in our archive of stereo-sound NES music comes from Natsume/Jaleco's overlooked title Shatterhand. The 2010 NES Tournament runner-up has some fast-paced tunes to go with its hot 2D action. These songs pack a real punch!

JANUARY-3-2011     NES Atlas Video - Blaster Master (Area 3)
Watch this tool-assisted speedrun of Area 3 from Blaster Master, edited NES Atlas style! Observe just how large the stage is when expanded beyond the normal 8-bit resolution.

DECEMBER-19-2010     Pat the NES Punk - Flea Market Madness volume 2
Pat returns to the chaos of flea market vending, dealing with dealers and looking for some collecter's gems! But this time he has a partner. Can you guess who it is?

DECEMBER-9-2010     6.5.0.Tunes - Kabuki Quantum Fighter
The newest NES soundtrack available from 6.5.0.Tunes features the acrobatic action/platformer Kabuki Quantum Fighter. Download, listen, and bang your head! Just like how he does in the game.

NOVEMBER-7-2010     NES Tips - Felix the Cat
Roth is back with his first NES Tips video in nearly 2 years! Check out quick tips for the colorful platformer Felix the Cat. Learn to master the not-too-difficult game in this stylish video tribute to the era of silent films.

OCTOBER-25-2010     749 NES Games in Under 15 Minutes!
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Nintendo Entertainment System, NESguide.com has released this video showcasing a brief glimpse of the game play of 749 officially released NES games! Also featuring remixed music of classic NES tunes. Enjoy.

OCTOBER-18-2010     NES Atlas - Adventures of Lolo
Want to know what every single level in Adventures of Lolo looks and sounds like all at once?
Now you can find out with this newest NES Atlas video!
WARNING: Prolonged exposure may cause dementia.

OCTOBER-12-2010     2010 NES Tournament Final!
The annual NES Tournament of Games is now down to the final match! 64 games were chosen to compete in the single elimination tournament, voted upon by forum members. Now only 2 remain.
The showdown between Batman and Shatterhand begins now! Vote here.

OCTOBER-3-2010     Pat the NES Punk - Super Dodge Ball
Pat returns to his NES reviews with one his favorite games in Super Dodge Ball. It's a dodge ball game of death! But will mastering the electronic version of the sport help him win a real-life game of dodge ball? Watch and see!

SEPTEMBER-25-2010     Introducing "NES Atlas Videos"
PlayTheNES is now featuring another new series! NES Atlas combines NES game footage with full-sized maps for a unique visual experience. As seen in the Legend of Zelda video below, you will no longer see just one room at a time, but the entire dungeon within the dimensions of one viewing screen.
Cool stuff!

SEPTEMBER-18-2010     Pat the NES Punk at the Jersey Shore
Take a trip with Pat as he visits the Jersey Shore for a little food, fun, and foolishness! See the arcades filled with coin-op games, pinball, skee-ball, and the infamous "claw machines". Just a few of the things that made the Shore what it is.

SEPTEMBER-13-2010     Introducing "Super Game Challenge"
PlayTheNES now proudly plays host to this game play /comedy video series. Two guys named Keith and Blake, through the wonder of modern computing technology, revisit and rediscover the obscure NES gems. Some good. Some not so much. Watch them play and give a first-impression insight on what they think about the games!

SEPTEMBER-8-2010     Pat the NES Punk - Comic Con 2010: part 3
Pat wraps up his visit to this year's annual Comic Con with a look at some more upcoming gaming stuff, plus the surprise return of an overlooked platformer series from the 8/16-bit days.

SEPTEMBER-4-2010     Pat the NES Punk - Comic Con 2010: part 2
The second part of Pat's visit to Comic Con 2010 takes a look at some upcoming games for various consoles. Also witness the joy of waiting in long lines, and Pat successfully manages to actually talk to a booth babe!

AUGUST-24-2010     Pat the NES Punk - Comic Con 2010: part 1
Pat returns to Comic Con for the annual parade of pop-culture fantasy media, and he's bringing us along for the ride. Featuring the return of everyone's favorite hustler "Frank", and hoards of toys, games, babes, and of course COMICS!

AUGUST-10-2010     6.5.0.Tunes - Wizards & Warriors
Now you can listen to the magical music of Wizards & Warriors. This newest album from 6.5.0.Tunes features the very early work of legendary Rare Ltd. composer David Wise. Programmed in the year 1987.

JULY-24-2010     6.5.0.Tunes - Dragon Warrior
The NES soundtrack from the original Dragon Warrior is now here! It's the perfect music for dragon-slaying, princess-rescueing, grind until you fall asleep action! Composed by Kouichi Sugiyama.

JULY-7-2010     Pat the NES Punk - M82 ftw
Pat is off to California in search of his prized M82 Demo Unit which was wrongfully sold by his evil ex-girlfriend. Unfortunately, the unit's new owner will only give it back... for a severe price. Will Pat be able to handle this rather uncomfortable situation? Watch!

JULY-1-2010     6.5.0.Tunes - Joe & Mac
The rhythmic prehistoric sounds of Data East's arcade port of Joe & Mac / Caveman Ninja is here! Listen to some of the best drum and percussion sound sampling on the NES. If this music doesn't make you want to stomp on dinosaurs' heads, nothing will!