It was nice in the NES days because so many games were a brand-new experience, oftentimes like the OP said nothing like anything else you'd played previously. Games could take risks and be successful; games could be many "genres" at once (Zelda, Zelda II, Guardian Legend, North vs. South, etc.)
Games today are really fucking boring.
Also games were better in the old days because reality went out the window and let you do wacky stuff and get involved in some weird worlds. Today games are purposely based in "reality" so much that's it removes the adventure and immersion (nevermind that standing still heals you in every game today, either -- that's totally real)
edit: Phantasy Star is definitely one of the most important games of all time, in terms of its contribution to JRPGs and how big that genre became.
