Today is the last Friday before Halloween, so I thought it would be fun to highlight some of the games on the NES that have a horror or monster theme.
Eventually I'll get around to doing full reviews of all these titles, but if you've got any of these games in your collection, this is a perfect time to break them out!
Castlevania 1-3
Of course, Castlevania has to be on this list. Inspired by the gothic horror of the Universal monster movies, this trilogy of games puts you in an adventure to destroy Dracula and his minions.
Friday the 13th
This love-it-or-hate-it game drops you into the role of a group of Camp Crystal Lake counsellors, where the object of the game is to protect the children from the murderous Jason Voorhees while trying to find a way to destroy him. This is the first of two hard R-rated horror movies turned into games aimed at children by publisher LJN.
A Nightmare on Elm St.
In this second horror movie-themed game from LJN, the game pits you against the infamous Freddy Krueger. The game uses an interesting real world/dream world dynamic that adds a risk and reward system to the game. Its also one of the few games that supports the 4-player NES Four Score adapter.
Uninvited
The third entry in Kemco's point and click series that remade older ICOM computer titles for the NES, Uninvited puts you into a creepy haunted house and expects you to solve its many puzzles and avoid monsters, ghosts and traps. Its still an unsettling game even today. Also check out Shadowgate for a similar experience, though not as creepy as Uninvited.
Sweet Home (Famicom)
This haunted house RPG was never released in the US, most likely because of the mature content. The game is based on a Japanese film of the same name, where you explore a creepy house where a tragedy has trapped spirits within. Its said that elements from this game went on to inspire the Resident Evil series.
Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti (Famicom)
Taking a lighthearted approach to the demonic and disgusting Splatterhouse games, this silly chibi interpretation of the series makes it a fun title suitable for younger audiences than the main games in the series.
Honorable mentions:
- Maniac Mansion
- Monster in my Pocket
- Frankenstein: The Monster Returns
- Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde
- Dr. Chaos
- Festers Quest
- Beetlejuice
So if you're looking for something fun and retro to play in the days leading up to Halloween, these games should fit the bill.