PixlBit

Hi everyone! This weekend I want reintroduce you to one of the best consoles of all time: the Super Nintendo. With E3 looming upon us in a couple weeks, I thought that now would be a good time to revisit this system and maybe explain why it was so great.

At least for me, I have a lot of nostalgia for it. It was a big part of my teenage years. I really want to put into writing something that I can look back on and think fondly. Now, I know that a lot of people are looking forward to the new consoles, but take a few moments and remember a time when games were more simple and fun. Maybe it's just those rose tinted glasses, but I really liked those old games. There are some series these days that got their start on the SNES, and I think that to remember the older titles is good for all gamers. Even if you never experienced this console, I think you would do yourself a favor by checking out some of those games of the past.

The SNES was released in North America in August of 1991. It was Nintendo's second console after the NES, and was designed to compete with the Sega Genesis. It eventually won the "console war" of that generation by having a great selection of games. In 1994, it began to lose steam commercially. Although, with the release of Donkey Kong Country, it did see a resurgence in popularity which lasted for a couple more years. Also of note was the Super Game Boy, which allowed people to play their favorite Game Boy games on the TV. The system lasted in popularity until around 1997. While games were still made for it until 1998, Sony's Playstation console stole a lot of thunder with just one game: Final Fantasy VII. Not only that, but Nintendo was putting their support behind the Nintendo 64, which was released in 1996. In 1997, Nintendo released a redesign of the console. I consider it the last gasp of an aging system and the end of an era.

Picture of the original SNES, with first party controller.

The Games

Of course, a video game console is only as good as the games it has. And in my opinion, it had some great ones. I made a list of what I consider the noteworthy titles. I believe that most of these games stand the test of time and should be played. I listed them by year, with my favorite from that year highlighted. Sorry if I omitted someone's favorite game, but this is my list, dang it. heh

1991

Final Fantasy II (FFIV)

F-Zero

Sim City

Super Castlevania IV

Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts

Super Mario World

 

1992

Zelda: LttP

Super Mario Kart

 

1993

E.V.O. Search for Eden

Lost Vikings

Lufia

Mega Man X

Pocky & Rocky

Rock n’ Roll Racing

Secret of Mana

Star Fox

Street Fighter II Turbo

Super Mario All-Stars

Tiny Toon Adventures

Zombies Ate My Neighbors

 

1994

Breath of Fire

Demon’s Crest

Donkey Kong Country

Earthworm Jim

Final Fantasy III

Illusion of Gaia

Mega Man X2

Super Mario All-Stars + World

Super Metroid

 

1995

Breath of Fire II

Castlevania Dracula X

Chrono Trigger

Donkey Kong Country 2

EarthBound

Earthworm Jim 2

Killer Instinct

Looney Tunes B-Ball

Mega Man 7

Mega Man X3

Ninja Gaiden Trilogy

Ogre Batle

Secret of Evermore

Super Mario World 2

 

1996

Donkey Kong Country 3

Kirby Super Star

Lufia II

Street Fighter Alpha 2

Super Mario RPG

Tetris Attack

Even though the SNES wasn't my favorite console of all time, I think that it should always be remembered for how much fun it gave not only me, but plenty of other people as well. 'Til next time, long live the Pixel.

btw, can someone help me fix this line spacing on my list? I can't figure it out, and it doesn't really look good like that.