One of the rarest and most accomplished games on NES. Breathtaking visuals, varied mechanics, top-flight soundtrack. Released right at end of console life. A discreet and precious masterpiece.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player7+
Description
Action platformer featuring Little Samson battling the Black Knight demon's forces with his magical bell. Published by Taito, released in Europe in 1992. Little Samson in side-scrolling view with bell, bow, kunai and mace depending on context, impressive bosses and very high quality NES visuals. A late-hardware NES masterpiece.
Little Samson review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
A hidden NES treasure, the music deploys melodic themes of rare beauty and variety, cut for the four heroes with distinct powers. Each level breathes a heroic adventure carried by polished, rousing compositions. This sonic triumph, long confidential, delights collectors.
The European PAL NES edition of the Taito Takeru platformer released in 1992 at the very tail of the cycle, regarded as one of the most expensive NES PAL CIBs in the world. The European print was tiny, and the exceptional technical and artistic quality (by ex-Capcom developers) made it an absolute Holy Grail. Intact boxed CIB in clean condition regularly hits top public-auction marks, independent of any speculation.
An underrated gem
Four interchangeable heroes — a boy, a dragon, a bird, and a stone mouse — for an adventure whose fluidity and beauty rival the very best of the genre. Released too late and too quietly, it reached only a handful of players. A high point of NES platforming that enthusiasts simply must rediscover.
Is Little Samson still worth playing in 2026?
Little Samson is one of the rarest and most accomplished NES games. Four characters with radically different abilities, stunning graphics for the console, varied mechanics and a high-grade soundtrack from Takeda Productions make for a platformer of almost unreal polish. Released right at the end of the console's life and now insanely priced, Taito's title remains a discreet and precious masterpiece. A peak to discover by any means today.
