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A Link to the Past needs no introduction, as many still consider it one of the best games in the series. In many ways it set the standard for the Zelda series in terms of story, dungeon design, and structure.
You’d have to be living under a rock in the 90’s to not know what The Lion King was. Millions of kids cried in theaters as Mufasa was killed by his jerk of a brother, and Simba instantly became one of us. This SNES game allows us to join Simba on his entire journey as we help him navigate levels full of enemies and other threats, listen to some sweet Disney game tunes, and become the king of the jungle (as we justly deserve).
Super Mario All-Stars
It’s no secret that the Super Mario Bros. series is Nintendo’s biggest, so when they decided to put all of the NES games, along with The Lost Worlds (the real SMB 2) it was an instant hit. Seriously, this needs to be on an SNES classic.
NBA Jam
NBA Jam took official NBA-licensed teams and the best players of the time (early 90’s) and eschewed realistic gameplay. Instead, you had 2-on-2 high flying b-ball full of flaming jump shots, rim-shaking dunks, and easily the best announcer in video game history.
Earthworm Jim
You wouldn’t think that an earthworm of all things would excel at pushing back alien foes, but Jim is an exception. Using his robotic space suit he runs and guns through vivid levels full of humor at every turn. Tight platforming and fun shooting make this a must have.
Earthworm Jim 2
The sequel to the well-received Earthworm Jim didn’t tamper too much with what was such a great thing. Instead, you get more of the same with more attacks and weapons that up the frenetic action. What was new, were the new stealth levels that required you using a disguise to break up the action and add some variety.
F-Zero
Before Wipeout was a thing, players were already piloting insanely fast vehicles around intergalactic tracks thanks to SNES’ F-Zero. The series that introduced us to Captain Falcon was unique with its simulated 3D levels and tight racing action.
Super Metroid is an absolute gem of a game, and has inspired video games to this day ever since its release. We have this title to thank for helping craft the idea of Metroidvania.
Earthbound was an incredibly overlooked game when it released on the SNES, not gaining huge attention but garnering a dedicated cult following. We’re still waiting for a localization of the sequel, Mother 3, but this title is a sure fit.
Pilotwings is a great game to play if you just want to unwind for a bit. It’s a light pilot simulator that puts you in control of a plane hang glider, flight suit, and even a jetpack. There are tons of different objectives and activities spread across the island you play on, so you can just kick back and fly around for a bit. Pilotwings also had some really impressive graphics for the time it released.
Mario Kart has always been one of the best series to break out for a party and play with friends, and Super Mario Kart helped define it. This was the first title in the incredibly successful series, and gave the world a new type of racing with crazy powerups and colorful characters. Countless other titles would follow suit.
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The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
A Link to the Past needs no introduction, as many still consider it one of the best games in the series. In many ways it set the standard for the Zelda franchise in terms of story, dungeon design, and structure.
Super Metroid
Super Metroid is an absolute gem, inspiring video games to this day ever since its release. It featured a huge world map full of interconnecting tunnels and routes, building a dark atmosphere with its world and story. We have this title to thank for helping craft the idea of Metroidvania.
Earthbound
Earthbound was an incredibly overlooked game when it released on the SNES, not gaining huge attention but garnering a dedicated cult following. We're still waiting for a localization of the sequel, Mother 3, but this title is a sure fit.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
For many years Square was considered the king of JRPGs, and Nintendo brought them on to create a Mario RPG. This title holds all of the quirk and charm you'd expect from Mario, and combines it with a turn based battle system and RPG elements. It's an unforgettable experience.
Super Mario World
Super Mario World is one in the long line of incredible Mario platformers. It was the first title to introduce the iconic Yoshi, and it features some of the tightest gameplay you can find in a 2D platformer, even to this day.
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is easily one of the best JRPGs ever made, with vibrant sprites, an easy but complex battle system, and a sweeping narrative. Square really shone with this one on the SNES.
Final Fantasy IV (released as FF II in U.S.)
Final Fantasy IV was a monumental game for the JRPG genre. It showed a deep, complex story with multiple characters that spanned tens of hours. Not to mention the addition it made with the ATB (active-time battle) system. The entire genre would follow in this game's footsteps.
Final Fantasy VI (Released as III In U.S.)
After the high fantasy of Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI took a decidedly darker turn. The game has a dramatic story that pits your party against the villain Kefka, who really just wants to see the world's destruction. VI is regarded for its incredible story full of unforgettable moments, as well as a strong combat system.
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country brought everyone's favorite ape back into the spotlight with his own platforming game, and it introduced his nephew Diddy Kong. Developed by the masters at Rare, this platformer was as fun as it was challenging.
Donkey Kong Country 2
For everything that Donkey Kong Country did well, this sequel basically did it better. Diddy's Kong Quest really did just up the ante, giving you tighter platforming, more gameplay options, and a brand new character with Dixie Kong. Donkey Kong Country 2 is an unmissable Nintendo title.
Breath of Fire
The SNES was packed full of great JRPGs, but that meant some equally great titles got overlooked. Breath of Fire had a strong turn-based combat system and focused on a boy named Ryu, who could transform into different types of dragons. Many might not know that the character designs in the game were done by Keiji Inafune, the creator of Mega Man.
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
Street Fighter II was probably the most important fighting game on the SNES, defining how the genre developed from there on. It also saw multiple iterations on the system, including Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting. This entry introduced a faster playing speed, new special moves, and some tweaks to character balance.
Super Mario Kart
Mario Kart has always been one of the best series to break out for a party and play with friends, and Super Mario Kart helped define it. This was the first title in the incredibly successful series, and gave the world a new type of racing filled with crazy powerups and colorful characters. Countless other games would follow suit.
Secret of Mana
The Mana series splintered off from the Final Fantasy series, and Secret of Mana is actually a sequel to the game we knew as Final Fantasy Adventure. The title follows three heroes as they seek to prevent an evil empire from conquering the world, and its story has quite a few twists. The real time combat system was engaging and fun, also letting a second or third player jump into the game at any time.
Mega Man X
Mega Man's main series is successful enough, but there's also the wildly popular spinoff series Mega Man X. This title does a great job of teaching you its rules, and really making you feel like you're becoming more powerful by the end of the game. Mega Man X also featured a more mature storyline than its counterpart, and the platforming gameplay felt tighter than ever.
Super Star Wars
There are plenty of Star Wars games out there, but Super Star Wars can easily be counted among the best. The game is made up of run-and-gun sequences similar to Contra, with a few exceptions like piloting the landspeeder. For the most part it followed the story of the Star Wars films, but did splinter off occasionally. Super Star Wars is definitely one of the better movie to video game adaptions around.
Earthworm Jim
You wouldn’t think that an earthworm of all things would excel at pushing back alien foes, but Jim is an exception. Using his robotic space suit, he runs and guns through vivid levels full of humor at every turn. Tight platforming and fun shooting make this a must have.
Earthworm Jim II
The sequel to the well-received Earthworm Jim didn’t tamper too much with the already successful formula. Instead, you get more of the same, with additional attacks and weapons that up the frenetic action. What was new, however, were stealth levels that broke up the action and added some variety.
SimCity
SimCity is basically one of its kind on the SNES, bringing the city building gameplay the series is known for to the home console. The complex title had players creating and maintaining their own cities, and the PC title transferred surprisingly well onto a SNES controller. It also introduced some new features from the original version like changing seasons, and the green-haired city adviser known as Dr. Wright.
Pilotwings
Pilotwings is a great game to play if you just want to unwind for a bit. It's a light pilot simulator that puts you in control of a plane hang glider, flight suit, and even a jetpack. There are tons of different objectives and activities spread across the island you play on, so you can just kick back and fly around for a bit. Pilotwings also had some really impressive graphics for the time it released.
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat is one of the titles that started it all, a revolution with fighting game titles. There may have been a limited roster of fighters in the first game, but its extreme violence was well known. It was one of the most infamous titles on the SNES.
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat II took everything that enticed young arcade-goers with the first entry and upped the ante. Thanks to a tighter combat system, combos became much more viable than just spamming a single attack. Midway (which was succeeded by NetherRealm Studios) also doubled down on fatalities with more, and better, options for each character. We also owe this second entry for introducing stage Fatalities to the series. Now we can’t help looking for walls to throw our friends through.
F-Zero
Before Wipeout was a thing, players were already piloting insanely fast vehicles around intergalactic tracks thanks to SNES’ F-Zero. The series that introduced us to Captain Falcon was unique with its simulated 3D levels and tight racing action.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
Turtles in Time is easily the best TMNT game ever made, and one of the best beat 'em ups on the SNES. You and your friends could play the four turtles as they traveled through time and battled Shredder's army along the way. Everything about the game matched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles exactly - the wacky story, colorful cartoon visuals, and rocking soundtrack.
Super Castlevania IV
This entry to the long-running Castlevania series took a lot of the best elements of its predecessors and became what is considered by many to be one of the absolute best in the franchise. You still have your gothic platforming levels along with your quest to slay Dracula (just like in the first game), but improved controls and much better level design help to refine the formula still being used in many action platform titles today.
Yoshi's Island
Yoshi's Island was the first game to feature the cute green dragon as a protagonist, and it also had a refreshingly beautiful art style. The game actually functions as a prequel for Super Mario World, and has Yoshi carrying Baby Mario away from danger the entire time. So many of Yoshi's signature abilities, like the flutter jump and egg throw, were introduced here, and it remains one of the best platformers of all time.
Tales of Phantasia
Tales of Phantasia was a bit of an offshoot from most JRPGs of the era. Whereas turn-based battle was the popular thing, Phantasia featured a real-time combat system where characters responded immediately to your button inputs. This was the first game in the Tales series, which would go on to become a huge franchise well known for its combat systems.
Contra III: The Alien Wars
Contra III is another sidescroller in the series, but that doesn’t mean it can’t hold a candle to any of the top-down adventures. New features such as chase scenes, missile rides (we’re not kidding), and the ability to carry two weapons made this one of the best additions to the Contra franchise. Plus, top-down wasn’t fully overlooked, thanks to a couple of levels that utilized Nintendo’s Mode 7 (the same tech that made F-Zero possible).
ActRaiser
There's nothing else quite like ActRaiser on the SNES. It combined two different types of gameplay, side-scrolling platforming and an urban planning god game. Yeah, that's right. You have to help guide a civilization from two people to prosperity. The simulation segments feature gameplay and city planning you'd see in a Sim kind of game, while the side-scrolling segments had some pretty good combat and platforming.
Super Mario All-Stars
It’s no secret that the Super Mario Bros. series is Nintendo’s biggest, so when they decided to put together all of the NES games, along with The Lost Worlds (the real SMB 2), it was an instant hit. Seriously, this needs to be on an SNES classic.
Kirby Super Star
While the DS remake improved much of the game, the original release is no slouch and is often regarded as the very best in the franchise. Its mini-games, Samurai Kirby and Megaton Punch, add some variety to the classic gameplay, and several different “modes” provided stages that essentially feel like different games. It allows players to enjoy all the versatility offered by this lovable pink fluff.
Kirby's Dreamland 3
Kirby’s Dreamland 3 is a direct follow up to the Game Boy games, so it may come across as overly easy to a lot of players. However, it has some of the best design in the franchise, full of color, interesting levels, and friends with varied abilities you can utilize while adventuring. Rick the Hamster on a classic edition of the SNES? Why thank you.
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Punch-Out!!, like its predecessor, isn’t a realistic boxing game, nor is it your typical arcade fighter. You take control of an upcoming boxer and control him from behind, looking through his translucent sprite to read your opponent and connect hits. It sounds relatively simple on paper, but in action it's surprisingly engaging and very fun. Learning the ins and outs of fighting and working your way to the top never gets old.
Sunset Riders
Before the days of the Red Dead games, Sunset Riders was basically the best western game we'd seen. It was a run-and-gun sidescroller that, of course, featured a western theme, and even had two different versions released. One version allowed up to two players to play, while another allowed up to four. Sunset Riders was a challenging game that kept you on your toes with how fast it played, and also carried a pretty good sense of humor.
NBA Jam
NBA Jam took official NBA-licensed teams and the best players of the time (early 90’s) and eschewed realistic gameplay. Instead, you had 2-on-2 high flying b-ball full of flaming jump shots, rim-shaking dunks, and easily the best announcer in video game history.
Aladdin
Licensed video games get a bad rap, and for good reason. But back in the 90’s, Disney games were the games to get. Teaming up with Capcom, they presented Aladdin for the SNES (Virgin Games worked on the Genesis version). Moving through the city, riding through the Cave of Wonders on the Magic Carpet, and just being an awesome vagabond placed us right in the heart of one of Disney’s best animated films.
Lion King
You’d have to be living under a rock in the 90’s to not know The Lion King. Millions of kids cried in theaters as Mufasa was killed by his jerk of a brother, and Simba instantly became one of us. This SNES game allows us to join Simba, helping him navigate levels full of threats, listening to some sweet Disney game tunes, and becoming the king of the jungle (as we justly deserve).
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts is everything that made the first game great on the NES, only more… super. New upgrades, such as more abilities in Golden Armor and a double jump, give you a bit more mobility and variety in the action, but the game still maintains the same intense challenge that fans expect.
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
This game is what every kid in the 90’s wished would happen. Zombies and monsters are everywhere, and the world needs you to save your neighbors and other adults in the vicinity. You get to use awesome weapons that only a child could imagine as you take out demon babies, worms, vampires, werewolves, and, of course, zombies. Co-op only adds to the fun, making this a perfect addition for an SNES classic console.
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Ogre Battle was the first entry in the prolific tactical RPG series that you may also know as Tactics Ogre. The title basically combines the gameplay of isometric tactics games with the party building of a traditional RPG. It also had a dramatic and complex storyline filled with politics and deception. Ogre Battle would also go on to inspire the likes of Final Fantasy Tactics.
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Published: Nov 9, 2016 04:01 pm