Addams Family, The (USA)

In The Addams Family for the NES, players step into the shoes of Gomez Addams, the eccentric patriarch of the Addams household. Gomez's primary mission is to rescue his beloved family members – including Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, Lurch, Uncle Fester, and Granny – who have been kidnapped by a mysterious villain named Tully. Simultaneously, Gomez must also recover the family's vast, missing fortune.

The game is an action-adventure platformer. Players will explore the sprawling Addams mansion, filled with eerie rooms, secret passages, and surrounding areas like the graveyard and swamp. Each area is uniquely designed with its own set of enemies and obstacles. Gomez wields his trusty fencing foil (or a golf club later on) to combat various ghoulish foes such as ghosts, bats, spiders, and many other bizarre creatures.

Gameplay requires a mix of platforming skills, light puzzle-solving, and combat. Players need to collect important items like keys to unlock new areas, and money to purchase upgrades and helpful items from Fester's shop (if Fester is rescued). Upgrades can include increased attack power, health replenishment, or temporary invincibility. Gomez's health is represented by an energy bar, and players must carefully avoid traps and enemy attacks.

Each rescued family member unlocks new areas or provides crucial clues. The game features a somewhat non-linear structure, encouraging exploration and backtracking to previously visited areas. The ultimate goal is to confront Tully and restore peace to the Addams Family, along with their lost treasure.