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The NES Encyclopedia (Hardback)

Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System

Colour Books Hobbies & Lifestyle > Gaming P&S History > Collectables Photographic Books

By Chris Scullion
Imprint: White Owl
Pages: 272
Illustrations: 714
ISBN: 9781526737793
Published: 16th April 2019
Last Released: 30th September 2022

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In the news...

As featured in the Daily Star, December 2019: 'Here’s the ideal present for that pal who just won’t stop banging on about “how good games used to be”. In some cases he’s not wrong, so why not fill his head with everything he needs to know about one of the greatest consoles ever made.'

As seen on Lad Bible: 'Five Fascinating Facts from New Nintendo Book.'

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The NES is one of the most iconic video game systems of all time, and is often credited with saving the American video games industry in the early 80s when it looked likely to collapse.

The NES Encyclopedia is a complete reference guide to every game released on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo’s first industry-defining video game system. As well as covering all 714 officially licensed NES games, the book also includes more than 160 unlicensed games released during the system's lifespan, giving for the first time a definitive history of this important console’s full library.

The NES continues to enjoy a strong cult following among Nintendo fans and gamers in general, with games like Super Mario Bros, The Legend Of Zelda and Metroid remaining well-loved to this day: both for older fans who remember them the first time around, and younger gamers discovering the system for the first time through Nintendo’s regular re-releases of its older games.

Nintendo’s most recent console, the Switch, is the fastest selling video game console of all time in the United States and Japan. With Nintendo recently launching an ever-growing library of classic NES games for download on the Switch, a new audience of gamers is discovering the NES for the first time.

Excellent history of the NES and its influence on subsequent games players such as X-Box and the like. Such a short time ago we were playing these games, and now - well, things move at such a rapid pace in the digital age.

Books Monthly

Here’s the ideal present for that pal who just won’t stop banging on about “how good games used to be”.
In some cases he’s not wrong, so why not fill his head with everything he needs to know about one of the greatest consoles ever made.

Games James, Daily Star

Every game is painstakenly covered in this volume which makes the book an amazing resource for retro game fans.
What comes across by the author is the passion he holds for the game system and this will thrill those of a certain age who spent many a night playing these games....get the book and brace yourself for a fun return to the 80s and your youth.

Amazon Customer, Richard Domoney-Saunders

The NES Encyclopedia is a great way to learn about the roots of gaming.

Read the full review here

Got Game

Donkey Kong. The Legend of Zelda. Metroid. And, of course, Super Mario Brothers. These iconic video

games established Nintendo as a gaming industry leader—and helped sell 35 million Nintendo

Entertainment Systems (NES) in North America alone. This book provides a catalog and description of all

714 licensed Nintendo games available for the NES. Each game entry provides readers with the publisher, developer, year of release, and a short review of how the game is played. There is also a fun fact about the game and a screen shot of the action. Though most game reviews are about one-fourth of a page, major games (like those mentioned above) get reviews of up to one full page. In addition to the licensed games, this book also includes reviews of 162 unlicensed games that were developed for the NES but not approved by Nintendo. As a catalog of all 876 NES games, this work is unique in its breadth of coverage and will be of great interest to old-school video gamers and collectors.

Booklist

Article: 'Games guru Chris is on a whole new level' as featured by

Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser, 22nd May 2019 – words by Ian Bunting

As featured on the Lost Cousins Newsletter

Lost Cousins

"A weighty hardback full of glorious art and throwback facts, it's perfect for rainy day reading."

Evening Standard, 23rd May 2019

The NES was a revolutionary game system and that I would call it eternal. This book is a great tribute to that console!

Read the full Italian review here

Old Barbed Wire Blog

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A must have for any Nintendo fan!

This book is an absolute gem! Any Nintendo fan will drool over this! It's so well presented, organised brilliantly and the facts are great! Well done Scully you've given us all something special! Roll on the SNES Encyclopedia 😁 Also the delivery on this was so fast!

Amazon Customer, May 2019

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A fantastic nostalgia trip even for those who didn't grow up with a NES

First off I'd like to say I never grew up with a NES and have never owned one.
My experience was slim to non as a young child, some Mario 3 here and Mega Man 2 there when round at more 'fortunate' friends houses.

I've since become more accustomed with the system, be it via emulation, official Nintendo re-releases, the Switch's virtual console and also owning a NES Classic. I can see how people who grew up with this system would absolutely love it and this certainly comes across in Chris' writing as both critic and die hard gamer.

There are other NES books out there and I feel they all do things differently and all are worth a purchase, but I would say you need to give this one a go first and have a few laughs along the way with the information.

Amazon Customer, May 2019

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A big old tome of your childhood.
As a huge NES fan I was therefore clearly the target audience for this book, yet it has exceeded my expectations and beyond.

Firstly, the production quality is of a very high standard. Nice thick hard cover and glossy pages has meant this has already survived several encounters with my 2 and a half year old daughter and her inquisitive hands! Who has been enamoured with those glossy screenshots contained within. It also means that when not in use it looks great on the shelf, and isn't going to end up looking like your actual NES game boxes no doubt do these days.

The book has a lovely clear layout. Each title in the collection (remember this is an encyclopedia, not a selective list of the author) is accompanied by a blurb, a fact and a nice clear image. Some games have a larger amount of copy than others, but every game is covered.

Well and truly given this my own official seal of quality.

Amazon Customer, May 2019

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you grew up a Nintendo fan in the 80's this is a must buy.
It's a fantastic read, Chris has a way with making some decidedly rather dull NES games into an interesting read. Also, some of the facts (one for every single game) are fascinating.

Amazon Customer, May 2019

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NES. All of it.
An insightful and thorough archive of not only EVERY game released on the NES but also full of history, facts and a fun personal account of life with the Nintendo Entertainment System that many of us 30+ gamers can whole heartedly relate to. Love it.

Amazon Customer, May 2019

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The one true Encyclopedia.
I remember Smash Bros. Melee’s trophies got me fascinated with retro games. The NES Encyclopedia by Chris Scullion is the sort of book I wish I had back then, when the internet was in it’s infancy. He talks about literally every officially and unofficially released title for the NES.
He talks about the games mechanics, history, production, and there’s always a fun fact about the game.
I’ve been reading Chris Scullion’s work since his days at Official Nintendo Magazine, and it’s great to see him getting his own book published! It’s well earned and deserved.
If you like “Did you know gaming?” or any other facts based video game shows then you should definitely pick up this book.
It’s already selling well enough that it looks like a follow up, presumably an “SNES Encyclopedia” is on the way.
I hope he get’s to make one for the N64, the Gamecube, Wii, Game boy.. and on and on and on.
Stellar book.

Amazon Customer, May 2019

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Totally ace!
A wonderful exploration of an iconic games console. Here’s hoping for a SNES follow up too!

Amazon Customer, May 2019

As featured on Lad Bible

Lad Bible

Even for games I already know a lot about, Chris has unearthed some fascinating facts. And every entry is a joy to parse, each written in Chris’s characteristic humorous style.

Read the full review here

A Most Agreeable Pastime

This is a fascinating read, giving a thoroughly comprehensive look into a system with a back catalogue filled with just as many oddities as classics (give or take). Even if you consider yourself a NES know-it-all, it’s likely you’ll learn something new here.

Read the full review here

Games Asylum

As featured in

The Bookseller Buyers Guide

About Chris Scullion

Chris Scullion is a Scottish video game journalist with more than 15 years of experience writing about games professionally. He’s been playing games since the early ‘80s and is the author of the NESSNES and Mega Drive Encyclopedias for Pen and Sword Books / White Owl Books. Although he’s best known for his six years at the UK’s Official Nintendo Magazine, he’s also written for the likes of Computer & Video GamesOfficial Xbox MagazineOfficial PlayStation MagazineNintendo Life and Retro Gamer. Chris is currently the Features Editor for Video Games Chronicle (VGC).

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