If you had it, you still love it, and even if you didn’t, you knew about it.

The Nintendo Entertainment System is still one of the most loved and successful consoles Nintendo has ever come out with. Even after years, it remains a beloved staple in the hearts of many to this day. It is so iconic that no matter if you see the square controller or the rounded one, it will surely take you back to your childhood. Long story short, it has the power to induce infinite nostalgia.

The NES was not only an iconic and revolutionary console for the consumer but also for the industry as a whole. As one of the bestselling consoles of its time, the NES helped revitalize the US video game industry following the video game crash of 1983. Before getting into the nitty-gritty, it is excellent to know that the Nintendo Entertainment System released two years after the crash.

Now that we reiterated some of the essential facts that stand at the core of the Nintendo Entertainment System, let’s take a walk down memory lane and see what the best and worst NES accessories were.

The Best NES Accessories

Below is a list of the best NES Accessories

The NES Controller

Starting with an obvious but essential one: the NES controller. Even though it changed into a rounder shape at the end of its life to keep the console relevant, the controller that comes to mind when thinking about the NES console is the good, old, rectangular-shaped one.

The game controller that is still an icon today is a gray and black block with red accents. It has a simple four-button layout: two round buttons labeled “A” and “B,” a “START” button, and a “SELECT” button. Also, Nintendo opted for a cross-sized joypad on the left side, replacing the bulkier joysticks from other gaming consoles.

The original NES controller has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the console, so much so that to this day, its image is a high-selling piece of merchandise.

The Zapper Light Gun

Also known only as of the NES Zapper or the Light Gun, the Zapper Light Gun is an electronic accessory closely resembling a revolver-style handgun that enjoyed a lot of success. One can assume it to be one of the most successful out of all the NES peripherals ever launched.

One can use the Zapper with compatible NES games, one of the most known being Duck Hunt, but many space-themed games as well. Its internal optical sensor allows the player to point at television and “shoot” at in-game targets. These targets included ducks, clay pigeons, cowboys, and criminals. Some games also used the Zapper on the title screen to select a mode and start the game.

Overall, the Zapper was famous, fun, and functional. Having over 20 games to choose from, the whole concept is a novelty and attracts a lot of buyers. As a nod to this OG accessory, Nintendo came out many years later with a new version called the Wii Zapper.

Game Genie

Even though it is not an official Nintendo licensed product, the Game Genie was a success with many NES owners. It is a line of video game cheat cartridges that allowed you to use cheat codes and unlock hidden levels, adding endless possibilities of gameplay. Nintendo Entertainment System first released it.

All the devices temporarily modify game data, allowing the player to manipulate various aspects of games. It also sometimes allowed to access unused assets and functions. Even though some may argue its morality, people found a great amount of enjoyment using the Game Genie. As a result, the company sold five million units of the original Game Genie products worldwide.

Later, Nintendo sued the creators of Game Genie, claiming that it created derivative works in violation of copyright law. Even though this stopped the distribution in the US for a short period, the consumers’ demand soon overcame this legal hiccup, only adding to the thrill of it, increasing the demand, and making a slow return on the market.

The Miracle Piano Teaching System

Slowly easing into a less commercially successful accessory but well-received by consumers and critics, we have the Miracle Piano. After combining fun and practicality, Nintendo took a risk and decided to incorporate games into learning how to play the piano.

The Miracle Piano Teaching System consists of a keyboard, connecting cables, power supply, soft foot pedals, and software. The software comes either on 3.5″ floppy disks for personal computers or for video game consoles cartridges. After the supplied keyboard is connected to a console or computer and loaded with the included software, a user follows the on-screen notes.

Marketed as a new and innovative tool to teach users to play the piano, it provided hundreds of intuitive and fun lessons. The company advertised as the perfect adjunct to formal lessons. Trying to incorporate singing skills into games, the piano can be used as a controller as players aim at targets to perfect their music skills.

There are multiple games that people can play to learn classical piano, rock piano, or show tunes. One such game is called Robo Man, where the player has to press the correct keys at the right time to create a bridge. If they missed, Robo Man fell, and the player lost.

Even though it was not a commercial success due to its high price, those who had it thoroughly enjoyed it. Critics described the Miracle Piano as “not only entertaining and challenging but also cleverly designed to reinforce the lessons.”

Average NES Accessories

Here is an average NES Accessory that s still worth a try.

ROB the Robot

Even though ROB discontinued pretty quickly, it was a massive success at its launch. The polarizing yet lovable ROB or Robotic Operating Buddy came along with NES’s first launch on the American market during the video game crash of 1983.

It had such an appeal that a survey says that the most popular reason for buying an NES was that children wanted the robot. Besides, it was also famous due to its good graphics, multiple games, and the uniqueness of the NES package.

Regarded as a Trojan Horse of marketing and one of the smartest moves in gaming history, the launch of ROB alongside the NES revitalized the market. It represented for many the opportunity to have a piece of the future in their hands.

Presented as the” world’s only interactive robot,” ROB was supposed to be a functional companion used for playing select video games within a custom playset. It acted as a bridge between the player and the game.

His whole appeal was that he was able to be connected to your NES and help you progress in games, making him seem like a dear friend. However, some excitement died down as people started complaining about him being too slow.

Even though he was not the best gaming robot possible, his lovable stature made sure he was famous among many. He is an iconic part of the Nintendo Universe as he can be seen as a cameo in many Nintendo games, especially the Super Smash Bros.

The Worst NES Accessories

Below are some worst-rated NES Accessories.

Roll & Rocker

Being regarded as one of the weirdest and most pointless NES accessories ever to exist, the Roll & Rocker was a flop. This could be partly because even though it was compatible with the console, it was not an official accessory produced by Nintendo.

Roll & Rocker had to be plugged into the NES and used as a d-pad. By moving your hand back and forth on the board, the characters in your game moved. This navigated the game in a way that was intended to be similar to motion control but ended up being nothing of the sort.

People’s main complaint was that it did not make the gameplay more intricate but rather complicated the movement. You were able to navigate with the help of the Roll & Rocker. However, you still had to have a classic controller plugged in to press the buttons, defeating the whole purpose. So, even though the intention was good, the execution made this accessory absolutely obsolete.

The Power Pad

Also known as Family Fun Fitness, the Power Pad is a floor mat game controller made for the NES. It consists of a mat with pressure sensors embedded between two layers of flexible plastic. The purpose was to register the pressure applied and transpose it into a game.

It was meant to be connected into the second NES controller port and laid out on the floor, in front of the screen. The Power Pad had two sides; Side A with 8 round spheres, which one rarely played, and Side B, with 12, which was more popular.

The purpose of this accessory was to test players on their timing, coordination, memory, running speed, or allow them to play music with their steps. Even though its idea was great, the mat was not a hit with the consumers. Many people found it hard to be precise, given the number of buttons crammed into a small square.

Also, given the lack of accuracy, many players became frustrated and found shortcuts. These included pressing the buttons with their hands instead of their feet or even quitting altogether. This in turn defeats the whole purpose of having a fun and active gaming experience.

The Power Glove

Similar to the futuristic feeling of ROB, the Power Glove stirred a lot of curiosity among gaming enthusiasts. This was because it looked like something straight out of the future. Manufactured by Mattel in the US, the Power Glove stole the show with its galactic looks and attached controller.

The Power Glove has traditional NES controller buttons on the forearm, and a program button and buttons labeled 0-9. The user presses the program button and a numbered button to input commands. One of these commands includes changing the firing rate of the A and B buttons. The player can also perform various hand motions to control a character on-screen with the controller.

However, it came only with two games that did not sell well criticized for their imprecise and difficult-to-use controls. Even though it sold nearly one million units, it quickly became regarded as a pretty bad accessory to have and use.

The LaserScope

One of the worst NES accessories was the LaserScope since even though it sounded amazing, the reality could not be farther from the truth.

This head-mounted light gun used with and licensed for the NES video game console is a voice-activated headset. The headset included an eyepiece with a crosshair that sat in front of the wearer’s right eye, used as headphones for the NES console.

Whenever the wearer said” fire,” it had to shoot, making this a kid’s dream and a parent’s nightmare. Despite the loud noises one had to make, many people argued that it sometimes failed to do its job.

Even though it sounded like a unique, futuristic piece of technology, in reality, users regarded it as a glorified set of headphones for the NES.

Conclusion — The Best & Worst NES Accessories

Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder, as you may love some of the NES accessories reviewed as the worst or hate the ones reviewed as best. That is part of the beauty of gaming! The experience you have is the one that matters the most. No list or outside opinion should stop you from trying out new things and enjoying yourself. If you are on the lookout for NES accessories, why not check out our selection?