Game & Watch Games (1980-1991)

A decade before Nintendo's Gunpei Yokoi created the hundred-million selling Game Boy, he made a series of little handhelds known as Game & Watch.  They were called so because beside having a game to play, they also functioned as a clock.  They weren't the first handhelds, for instance the Tiger Electronics handheld sports games predate them by at least a couple years, but they did a lot to form Nintendo's identity, as well as lead to the design of the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and even the Nintendo DS.  In total, there were 59 Game & Watch games released, and I will be talking about the most iconic and the best.
The very first G&W was Ball (1980).  The gameplay is simple, juggle the balls and don't let them drop.  You are rewarded one point for each ball successfully juggled.  The game has two difficulty settings, a Game A and B.  Game A has only two balls, while Game B has three.  The game beeps in rhythm with the movement of the balls (something that would become a standard for G&W) which is helpful to keep the player in rhythm.  It also introduced the character Mr. Game & Watch (shown above).  A simple and fun game, and a great first title.
Vermin (1980) has Mr. G&W defending his garden from troublesome moles.  He is armed with a mallet in each hand, and must move left and right as the moles come up to bop them on the noggin and drive them away.  If you miss a mole, you are given one "miss".  Unlike Ball, where if you missed once the game was over, Vermin allows you three misses before it is game over.
In Fire (1980), an apartment building has been caught in flames, and you, controlling two firefighters with a  trampoline, must bounce the people to safety.  Citizens may jump out of two floors of the apartment, and must be bounced three times each to reach the ambulance on the other side.  One of the best remembered titles from the series.
Manhole (1981) is similar to Fire in that you are supposed to protect some oblivious citizens, but with a variation.  Now you are a man in the sewers who must keep people from falling in by holding up his manhole cover to the holes, so the people can walk by.  There are four holes to keep track of, which can become challenging when there is a stampede of people on both levels running at different speeds.  Mr. G&W may need to reconsider this vocation.
In Octopus (1981) Mr. G&W is going diving for underwater treasure, but it is guarded by an (apathetic-looking) octopus.  He must dodge the tentacles and grab as much treasure as he can to bring to the surface.  Grabbing more treasure will award bigger points bonuses, but makes him move slower, so there is an interesting risk/reward system here that adds a good level of strategy.
Oil Panic (1982) takes place at a gas station where the oil is leaking into the building (how that is happening, I have no clue) and MR. G&W must catch the drops in a bucket, which can hold three drops at a time.  He must throw the oil out of the window to his partner, who scurries back and forth on the street below.  If you drop any oil, or dump oil on one of the gas station customers below, you will get a miss.  If you can throw a full pail of oil to your buddy, you will get more points, but also run the risk of missing some oil.  Again, this adds a layer of strategy to the game.
Donkey Kong Jr. (1982) is based off of the arcade title of the same name, the sequel to Donkey Kong.  You play as the ape's son, Jr., who must save his dad from the captivity of Mario (the only time he has ever been the villain).  You climb on vines, jump over traps, and leap to grab a key and break one of the four locks on the cage.  A fairly difficult game, but very much fun nonetheless.
Rainshower (1983) catches Mr. G&W at home, trying to dry out his laundry on clotheslines when a rain storm starts!  He must shift the four lines of clothes back and forth the dodge the drops of rain.  One of the most difficult and busy Game & Watch games, but one of the most fun.
The Game & Watch games would live on in Nintendo's future titles.  There were four Game & Watch Gallery games released on the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance, being compilations of the best titles, as well as offering upgraded versions starring Mario and his gang.  Mr. Game & Watch was a playable character in the second and third Super Smash Bros. fighting games, appearing flat, with stilted animation in the spirit of his old games.  His moves are all based off of games from the series, such as his mallets from Vermin and bucket from Oil Spill.  Nintendo has done well to preserve these games for future generations to enjoy, as they have aged relatively well next to many of their contemporaries.