Summary

  • Lolo, an unsung NES hero, starred in puzzle platformers and deserves a comeback.
  • Little Mac, from Mike Tyson's Punch-Out, was a brave NES fighter who faded into obscurity.
  • Takamaru, a samurai from The Mysterious Murasame Castle, needs a return for a challenging quest.

Through decades of producing some of the industry's most celebrated and influential games, Nintendo has accumulated a vast roster of original characters. From Mario to Link, all the way to Fox McCloud and Kirby, Nintendo isn't at a loss for iconic characters. But with a roster as large as Nintendo boasts, some characters would inevitably get lost in the shuffle and deluge of classic titles over four decades of development.

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The 8 Best Nintendo Characters, Ranked

Nintendo is well-known for its roster of memorable characters, and the following are practically universal gaming icons.

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Many of these games were critically successful, so it's even more baffling to see many of Nintendo's most interesting characters continue to be forgotten. It's a testament to just how long Nintendo has been at it, as many of these games date back to the NES and SNES console generations. Any number of these characters are prime for a reboot of some sort, as many of them feel like they weren't granted the opportunity to reach their full potential.

1 Lolo

Adorable Little Blue Ball Is One Of Nintendo's Best Forgotten Creations

  • Platform: NES
  • Developer: HAL Laboratory
  • Release Date: April 1989

Ever since its creation in 1980, HAL Laboratory has been closely tied with Nintendo and the two have produced some truly remarkable games over the years. One of the most oft-forgotten characters crafted during their early years was Lolo, who starred in two outstanding puzzle-platformers on the NES in the 1980s.

This adorable little blue ball of charm was an unsung hero of the NES, as players would control Lolo in a quest to solve challenging block puzzles and rescue Princess Lala. Adventures of Lolo was one of the NES' most overlooked games, and it was the debut of this spunky little hero. These days, Lolo is one of Nintendo's most neglected characters of the NES era, aside from a brief reference in Kirby's Dream Land.

2 Little Mac

Boxing Champion That Toppled Mike Tyson Left In The Dust

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
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Fighting
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Released
October 18, 1987
Developer(s)
Nintendo R&D3
Genre(s)
Fighting

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out was one of the most popular games on the NES, and it starred a feisty little fighter named Little Mac. Chronicling his epic rise through the ranks to face off with the legendary Mike Tyson, this surefire NES classic was the debut of Little Mac and saw him become one of Nintendo's bravest heroes from the 1980s.

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The following years wouldn't be kind to Little Mac, however, as he would star in a few sequels and fade into obscurity. He was one of the NES' most fearless fighters, going up against an entire squad of boxers that dwarfed him. Though he has made a few guest appearances over the years, Little Mac as a prime-time superstar is a ship that sailed long ago.

3 Takamaru

Samurai That Conquered Murasame's Castle Needs To Return

  • Platform: Famicom, Game Boy Advance
  • Developers: Nintendo R&D4
  • Release Date: April 16, 1986

In 1986, Nintendo released a Japan exclusive known as The Mysterious Murasame Castle, which stayed in that region until 2014. In it, players control Takamaru, a samurai who must infiltrate and conquer the eponymous Murasame Castle to gain four magical gems. These gems are the only thing that can defeat Murasame, as Takamaru goes on one of the NES' most challenging and dangerous quests.

This brave samurai only starred in a single game, one that didn't make it outside of Japan until 2014 and has sadly been lost to time. His unique and colorful outfit still stands out today, and his quest to destroy Murasame is one of the most underappreciated gems that Nintendo has ever crafted.

4 Mike Jones

Brave Teenager Stars In One Of NES' Best Hidden Gems

StarTropics
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Action-Adventure
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Released
December 1, 1990
Developer(s)
Nintendo IRD
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure

Influenced heavily by The Legend of Zelda, StarTropics was an attempt to expand into the Western market and appeal to a different audience. And one way of doing that was with its protagonist, 15-year-old Mike Jones, who looked like the star of a 1980s adventure film.

Playing a level in Gumshoe and Fighting Donkey Kong in Donkey Kong 3
6 Forgotten NES Games Developed By Nintendo

While there are many timeless titles on the NES, these games didn't have the same staying power.

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Armed with a yo-yo and a selection of outstanding sub-weapons, Mike embarks on a journey to save his uncle. Mike is a fantastic character and one of the NES' most tragically forgotten heroes. He would be a perfect fit for Smash Bros., or better yet, a full-fledged remake for the Switch.

Captain Toad in a city; Celica as an Emblem Ring; Medusa in an animated short
10 Iconic Nintendo Characters Who Haven't Been Made Into Super Smash Bros Fighters Yet

These famous Nintendo characters haven't yet been included as fighters in a Super Smash Bros game.

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