The Super Nintendo Entertainment System had the honor of competing against the Sega Genesis. Both systems were 16-bit powerhouses but had fundamental hardware differences that affected the quality and production of their games. In the end, the SNES won out over the Genesis, a victory largely attributable to the SNES’s greater number of titles.
When it comes to the SNES, it seemed to have a knack for producing quality titles regardless of how they were developed. However, some of the best SNES games, including The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Donkey Kong Country, have aged better than others.
EarthBound’s Creativity Made It Stand Out Amid the Competition
Contrary to Nintendo Power’s infamous advertising for the game, EarthBound does not stink. Rather, it’s merely offbeat, with an equally odd premise to go along with it. Here, Ness and his friends, along with newfound allies like Poo, work to stop evil alien forces from wreaking havoc.
EarthBound is one of the best retro RPGs due to its unique premise, quirky world and, lest it be forgotten, creative gameplay mechanics. In this case, players can choose which enemies to fight instead of relying on random encounters. This presents opportunities to take on all different kinds of enemies, some of which are so weak that players will find them easy to defeat.
F-Zero Is An Even Faster Racing Game Than Super Mario Kart
The SNES featured a myriad of racing games, including Super Mario Kart. However, it pales in comparison to F-Zero, which is a racing game so fast, so fierce, and so intense that beginners will have trouble keeping up. The single-player campaign features a team of racers, including Captain Falcon, who square off against one another.
F-Zero is full of high-speed thrills, a fact that’s embedded into the game itself. Just how fast a player’s vehicle can go depends on the performance upgrades they have or what equipment, such as land mines, they wield. Whatever the case, players will never stop for anything.
Mega Man X Elevates the Title Character
Mega Man X marks a significant step up from previous Mega Man games as far as premise and gameplay is concerned. The premise in question sees X, Dr. Light’s greatest creation, taking on the Mavericks; they are rogue Reploids who are wreaking havoc on the world.
X may look like a reskinned Mega Man, but the reality is that he is more capable than his 8-bit predecessor. Mainly, in addition to shooting, X can scale walls while firing. Additionally, he is able to harness extra energy for more powerful attacks. All of this helps elevate Mega Man X above its predecessors.
Super Castlevania IV Is Incredibly Hardcore
A point of order with Super Castlevania IV is that it’s technically a remake of the first Castlevania game for the NES. In fact, it has the same premise as that game; Simon Belmont has to take on Dracula and his goons. However, while similar in premise and setting, it’s noticeably different in terms of gameplay.
Most notably, Super Castlevania IV isn’t quite as hard as most other Castlevania games. This is thanks to unique gameplay mechanics, such as the ability to whip in any direction and to control where Simon lands. This accessibility makes Super Castlevania IV the ideal Castlevania game for beginners.
A Link to the Past Is Link’s Greatest 2D Adventure
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is by far Link’s greatest 2D adventure. In addition to avenging his uncle’s death, Link’s mission is to stop Ganon before he gets a chance to rule over Hyrule. Ganon has also taken Zelda hostage, and it’s up to a young Link to prove himself to the princess.
For a thirty-five-year-old action-adventure romp, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past still feels as fresh today as it did back then. It’s immensely enjoyable to uncover the game’s secrets, not to mention the opportunities players have to use special weapons, such as bombs, to defeat enemies.
Donkey Kong Country Gives the Big Ape His Own Game
Donkey Kong Country marks the return of the titular big ape after roughly ten years of dormancy. The game sees the evil King K. Rool invading Donkey Kong Island and annexing the island. More alarmingly, he’s also stolen Donkey Kong’s vast banana collection, forcing Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong to retrieve it.
Apart from the obviously beautiful prerendered graphics, Donkey Kong Country is an immensely enjoyable platformer overall. This is partly thanks to the variety of levels, from standard platforming stages to thrilling mine-cart sections. It has a little something for everyone.
Super Metroid Puts Modern Sci-Fi Games to Shame
Super Metroid is a game that puts modern sci-fi games, including the likes of Dead Space and Halo, to shame. It sees Samus Aran attempting to retrieve a Metroid sample that had been stolen by the nefarious Space Pirates, who are led by Ridley, Samus’s chief adversary.
Super Metroid is an undeniably pretty game to look at, but it’s not the only thing it has going for it. It is an incredibly intense game that will leave players at the edge of their seats. The only consolation is that the upgrades players can collect will allow them to maneuver around the Space Pirates’ base more effectively.
Chrono Trigger Is Time Traveling Fun
Chrono Trigger is a shining example of an RPG that effectively incorporates time traveling mechanics. In this case, Crono and his allies, among them being a cyborg from the far future, are able to traverse backward and forward through time. They will need to do this in order to stop an existential danger that could end the world.
Other than the time traveling mechanics, it’s fun to use each playable character’s abilities, especially given the different time periods they come from. Whether it be Crono’s melee attacks or Robo’s cybernetic abilities, players will find it easy to defeat enemies across time.
Final Fantasy VI Is Peak 2D Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy VI is both the latest mainline 2D installment in the Final Fantasy franchise and its darkest. It doesn’t start out so bleak, with players simply having to bring down a nefarious villain who wants to wipe out all life. Unfortunately, the villain in question ends up accomplishing that goal.
This effectively forces players to start from scratch, which counterintuitively adds to the enjoyment one will get out of playing Final Fantasy VI. It encourages players to manage their party’s skills and abilities more efficiently in order to take on big threats that are harder to take down.
Super Mario World Is Still the Perfect Nintendo Launch Title
Over thirty-five years after its original release for the SNES, Super Mario World remains the perfect launch title for any Nintendo console. It sees Mario, along with his dinosaur companion Yoshi, traversing through Dinosaur Land in order to rescue Peach, who is imprisoned in Bowser’s new headquarters in the prehistoric world.
Few SNES games overall can claim to be better than Super Mario World. The game has everything, from stunning graphics and a fun soundtrack that helps keep players engaged. Aside from the bells and whistles, there are also entertaining gameplay mechanics, including items like the cape and Yoshi himself, who is overpowered and ready to battle alongside Mario.
