Last week I started a new vein for these debates to draw blood from as we discussed two highly appreciated, yet entirely different, retro games. The support for both NES games was tremendous, but the votes were often cast with apologies to one side of the fence. The comments show a heated debate that lasted many rounds, but the voting results show a clear TKO winner:
- Punch-Out!! (44 votes) -- Winner!
- Excitebike (18 votes)
This week, the retro debates continue with two more titles that are completely different from each other, yet deserve to be compared and contrasted just as much as any other NES couple of games. Both should be games you know well, so it shouldn't be hard to consider all the pros and cons of each game when making your decision.
The point of these odd debates is not to just vote with your gut -- it forces us to be more analytical and think like a game designer. It's my opinion that you should be able to compare any two games to each other no matter how drastically different they are in their nature.
Which game do you think is better, and why? Give it some serious thought, get some NES friends to share their opinions as well, and check back next week for the winner and an even odder retro debate matchup.
Bonus Question: What non-NES retro games would you like to see fight to the death in a debate?
-icon.gif){kind=icon}
21 comments + 95764 views
I'm gonna have to go with Bubble Bobble.
Bubble Bobble.
I want to see Vectorman versus Earthworm Jim.
Bubble Bobble wins, easily. No contest. Not only a better game, but a fun as hell multi-player game as well.
Bubble bobble
Bubble Bobble, only because I've never really played either, and I'm a lemming.
Also, battle between Kid Chameleon and Zombies Ate My Neighbors.
I vote Bubble Bobble.
Bubble Bobble wins.
Also for the bonus: Atari, Dig Dug vs Bezerk
Chrono Trigger and Earthbound would be a good debate.
Also BUBBLE BOBBLE.
I'm gonna go with Paperboy. Too much random stuff: breakdancers, angry bees, drunks, knocking out burglars, breaking up fights, tornadoes, cats, and that damn street you have to cross.
Handlebar controls FTW. I'm old enough to have played it in the arcade, so I have fond memories of this game.
BUBBLE BOBBLE... 99 stages of pure pandoras box
Paperboy can have some funny moments in it...but Bubble Bobble is just too awesome to pass up.
plus I love the stage theme. It's all cutesy and adorable. Especially when it speeds up.
oh crap...bonus question I forgot.
Contra Hard Corps Vs. Final Fight 2. talk about not matchin.
Not to get all self-promotional, but did Bubble Bobble ever lead to an ill-conceived rap song about bathroom sex? I think not. Paperboy 4 eva!
Paperboy was one of the my favorite NES games, but Bubble Bobble might just be my favorite. While Paperboy's gameplay was addictive and a clever adaption of a seemingly un-fun chore, it just wasn't as fluid as Bubble Bobble.
I love when games challenge you to stay alive for as long as you can, but one life in Paperboy was often a little too short lived, whereas Bubble Bobble's transitions from level to level were even more addicting and fulfilling and down right exciting.
Plus, there's only, what, 7 levels in Paperboy, plus one for that bonus level. So 8. Bubble Bobble had 100s, actual items that effected gameplay, and the art style and characters gave the game SO MUCH personality. It also has one of my favorite (possibly my favorite) boss battles of all time.
MY VOTE: Bubble Bobble.
What to expect next week: Prolly the winner of last week and this week, then a similar 3 week stint for SNES, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PS2, GC, Xbox, PS3, 360, Wii.
What, are you kidding?
Bubble bobble
also bonus question:
Resident Evil vs. Silent Hill. It's not retro but I would still find it interesting.
Bubble Bobble. RESPEK.
@ Bwark-Kupo -- that matchup isn't exactly an "odd" matchup, but it's probably too tempting to pass up :)
bubble bobble, no contest IMO
next up... altered beast vs Bonk !
Bubble Bobble (unless you're using a game genie with infinite papers on while playing Paperboy, in which case you just destroy the shit out of everything)
Bubble Bobble ftw
Bubble Bobble
I even bought it recently for the VC!
Bubble Bobble. You know it and I know it.
@aborto the fetus -- we've done that debate a few times before. I kind of like saving it for the Halloween-ish time of year, to get a new perspective on it annually in case new titles has changed opinions or not.
Paperboy FTW! Anyone who ever rode a bike on a newspaper route knows the sublime experience of the virtual delivery
and WTF is Bubble Bobble anyways
@Crunshii
There were a hell of a lot more than 99 levels. That's why it's awesome.
first vote in any of these debates to the death.
bubble bobble. please don't insult it with such weak competition.
Paper Boy, because it was one of the first games I remember playing on my Dads Commodore 64, along with Jump Man, those 2 games started my gaming obsession.
Street Fighter Vs Final Fight!
bubble bobble.
street fighter vs. mortal kombat
shining force vs. phantasy star
streets of rage vs final fight
Bubble Bobble. That is all
Hands down Bubble Bobble!
How the hell did Excitebike lose. :(
Bubble Bobble.
I've got an interesting fight set:
Actraiser vs. Soul Blazer.
Hell, they even rhyme.
Bubble Bobble. Hands down. It was my first game EVER. I own a shirt with one of the dinosaurs that says "Get out of my bubble." I have Bub and Bob on both of my cellphone's screens.
BUBBLE BOBBLE FTW
I wasn't a big fan of either, so I vote for obama
as for a fight to the death in the debate-
I would say:
KOTOR vs. Fable
monkey island vs. sam and max
psychonauts vs. beyond good and evil
wolfenstien vs. serious sam
age of empires vs. starcraft
- I can think of more but that was off the top of my head
bubble bobble, because seriously, FUCK paperboy. talk about broken controllers...
Bubble Bobble. Some of the best music of any arcade game ever. That crazy calliope song...ta ta ta da da da, da da da da, da dee dee dee dee deeeee....
try to get that out of your head once it starts going.
I liked `em both but Bubble Bobble was far more polished. I also didn't like how you could only move in about a quarter of the screen in Paperboy.
I love all Paperboy's weird details, but I still play Bubble Bobble to this day, so it gets the vote.
Bubble Bobble all the way! I still play that game.
Bubble Bobble, just check everything BubBob related i've got
That game is the best game ever created!
Some of my finest memories are of Paperboy in the arcade, but Bubble Bobble still gets played in my house to this day.
Bubble Bobble gets my final vote.
It feels good inside knowing I wasn't the only person in love with this game in the NES days.
Bub and Bob = iconic . . . Paperboy . . . pifflesticks! BUBBLE BOBBLE FTW!
Bonus Question: The NES Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle games vs. the NES Contra games, or jut TMNT vs. Contra!
Definately Bubble Bobble!
Bubble Bobble all the way. NES Challenges should be
1. Dragon Warrior vs Final Fantasy
2. 10 Yard Fight vs John Elway's QB (tecmo bowl would be too obvious of a winner here)
3. RBI Baseball vs Bases Loaded
Bubble Bobble fools!
Bubble Bobble. Otherwise my wife holds out.
WTF these games aren't even alike so how can you compare them??
Bubble Bobble was what I played more often so thats how I vote
Bubble Bobble FTW. You can show Paperboy the door.
How is this even a question, of course Bubble Bobble. I will probably have that damned Bubble Bobble music stuck in my head all day now. Thanks.
Bub and Bob 4 Life!
Returning Dtoiders: login now to post a comment
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just Create an avatar now - it's fast and free: PLUS you also get your own gaming blog and begin posting stories and uploading videos in our open community area that may also appear on our home page. Sign up and we'll guide you through it, it's easy and 100% anonymous.