1990

Miracle Piano Teaching System

FROM: The Software Toolworks

BEHIND THE MUSIC: While actual owners were rare due to its wallet-crushing $500 price, this keyboard-touting piano trainer enjoyed high visibility as a standout catalog and marketing piece for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

WHY IT ROCKS: One of few titles that aimed to expand the mega-popular console (and its wide-eyed grade school audience)'s musical ambitions, and further served to illustrate set-top systems' viability for use with more than just mindless platform-hoppers. Plus, if you could convince your parents to purchase it, any other essential cartridge — Final Fantasy, Ninja Gaiden or Bionic Commando — looked like a steal by comparison.

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