Changing roms

NES
This 8-bit box was Nintendo’s opening salvo in the console wars, though they had been troubling the arcades with Donkey Kong and Popeye for a few years previous. Those early platformers were ported to the NES and helped establish it, but barely hinted at what was to come. Almost all of Nintendo’s biggest brands were born on the NES, with titles like Metroid and the Legend of Zelda having a complexity almost undreamt of previously.

Get it working

1) Nestopia is one of the best emulators doing the rounds at the moment, though there’s still active development on the scene.

2) Head to Options > Video and pick a resolution you want to play at in full-screen. There are various filters available to make NES games’ teeny pixel count look better at high resolutions, but many actually make them look worse.

3) Sound and input settings are self-explanatory, while F5 and F7 will quicksave and load respectively. And you’ll need ’em - mostly, NES games were designed to be completed in single sittings or with irritating level passwords.

NES
This 8-bit box was Nintendo’s opening salvo in the console wars, though they had been troubling the arcades with Donkey Kong and Popeye for a few years previous. Those early platformers were ported to the NES and helped establish it, but barely hinted at what was to come. Almost all of Nintendo’s biggest brands were born on the NES, with titles like Metroid and the Legend of Zelda having a complexity almost undreamt of previously.

Get it working

1) Nestopia is one of the best emulators doing the rounds at the moment, though there’s still active development on the scene.

2) Head to Options > Video and pick a resolution you want to play at in full-screen. There are various filters available to make NES games’ teeny pixel count look better at high resolutions, but many actually make them look worse.

3) Sound and input settings are self-explanatory, while F5 and F7 will quicksave and load respectively. And you’ll need ’em - mostly, NES games were designed to be completed in single sittings or with irritating level passwords.

Above: For nostaliga purposes, feel free to blow into your mouse

Essential games

Metroid
A bold step in freeing action games from a linear path, this blended platforming, shooting and puzzle-solving. Also: OMG - it’s a woman.

Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out
A game that features both Mario and boxing’s rapiest, ear-chewingest star. An admirably tough challenge.

Metal Gear
The core concepts of stealth and violence were in this first, straight-to-the-point offering. Plus, you got to beat dogs to death.