Reader Discussion: What's Your Favorite NES Memory?

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the U.S. This is the console that gave many gamers -- myself included -- our start down a path of lifelong devotion to this new medium. While we didn't all start with this system, most people have at least played a few NES games here and there. What are your favorite memories of the NES and its games?

For me, my top memory isn't related to any one game, but how I used to let my sister get some time in with the NES. If I had a great game that I wanted to spend as much time as possible playing, it was inevitable that my sister -- who is only a year-and--a-half younger than me -- would jump in and demand some time with the controller. So I would hand it over...except I always gave her controller 2. This allowed me to stay in control while she got to think she was playing the game and doing far better than normal. Win-win, right? And whenever she asked me why I was still hitting buttons, I would simply respond, "I'm practicing."

To this day, I still look back on those Saturday mornings when I supposedly let my sister play the NES with nostalgia. I feel a little bad about it, but mostly I just feel clever and pleased that I got to spend so much extra time gaming. Share your fond (and hopefully less evil) NES memories in the comments.