One reason given for this game never getting an English language version is the time and cost of translating the game — it has a lot of text. The game is also fairly violent and gruesome. At the time Nintendo was very proactive about maintaining a family friendly image in North America.
The game's title suffers from a bad translation , and should have been Grey Lancer. The game features some impressive parallax scrolling in the backgrounds, numerous ship options to try, colorful graphics, and gameplay that is challenging without being overly difficult — a balance that many developers failed to achieve.
However, the game has an impressive intro that is over four minutes long that was given a great fan translation. Gley Lancer was re-released for the Wii Virtual Console in Do you like the Fire Emblem games?
This game was developed by Shouzou Kaga, who is famous for being the creator of the Fire Emblem franchise. This game looks, and plays, nearly identical to the Fire Emblem games. This would actually cause legal troubles when Nintendo decided it was a little too identical. Translating RPGs is no small job, but there is an additional reason this game was never given a North American release. The N64 console was released in Japan the same month this game was released — so priority was being given to next gen games.
Arabian Nights is a brilliant RPG. The game also tries to set its battle mechanics apart from other RPGs with the use of Barrier Cards, but fights are ultimately played-out much as they are in most RPGs with turn-based combat. While most other games in the genre just had you direct the falling blocks themselves, Wario's Woods innovated in the puzzler category by actually giving you a character to control inside the playing field — Toad from the Mario franchise, who's taking on the oddball Wario and trying to keep him from wreaking havoc in a friendly forest.
It was a great design, and also served as Wario's first title role. Donkey Kong Country is the game that saved the Super Nintendo. When Sony's first PlayStation arrived, people started getting drawn to its modern media format and promise of 3D visuals. Many thought the bit SNES just wouldn't be able to keep up anymore. But a little company called Rare shocked us all by developing such an amazing and eye-catching new graphical style that no one could imagine the Super was actually capable of such graphical feats.
But it was, and CGI graphics burst onto the scene to redefine and redirect the entire industry. Donkey Kong was entirely reinvented in the process too, transforming from a girlfriend-napping arcade villain to a necktie-wearing headlining hero. He's been restored as one of Nintendo's most notable mascots ever since. Two great tastes that taste great together.
Mario at first appeared to be a simple bit repackaging of Nintendo's two most popular 8-bit puzzler — the classic falling block puzzler from Russia, Tetris, and the color-matching capsule-dropper, Dr. But the most unique thing about this joint cartridge wasn't that you could play those games separately — it was that you could play them together.
Mario included a unique multiplayer mode that challenged you to play both games at the same time. You clear some lines in Tetris, jump over to zap some viruses in Dr.
Mario, then head back over to Tetris to wrap things up. It was a great idea and a great way for two puzzler lovers to square off in a head-to-head challenge too. The last of the three installments released in the Super Nintendo's groundbreaking Super Star Wars series, Super Return of the Jedi featured the same tough-as-nails, action-heavy version of its adapted film as the two titles preceded it — but it eclipsed them in gameplay variety.
The roster of playable characters grew to five different heroes here, as in addition to controlling Luke, Chewie, and Han, you also now got to step into the role of the rugged, bow-wielding Ewok Wicket and wear the gold bikini as slave-costumed Leia. Leia wasn't showing that much skin for the entire adventure, of course, as she also wore her bounty hunter disguise and Endor forest survival gear at the appropriate points in the story — which just added more variety to the gameplay, since each wardrobe change gave her all-new moves and abilities.
Mortal Kombat II is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the series. The cast of characters got larger, the moves were expanded, and the fatalities got bloodier.
Seriously, all the best character got introduced in MK II. Kung Lao, Kintaro… not to mention awesome locations like the acid pits and the living forest. Mortal Kombat II is still one of the most fun bit fighters to play, and it looked awesome on the SNES, with huge, colorful characters, and lots of blood unlike the previous censored Mortal Kombat. Konami used every trick up the Super Nintendo's sleeve to make Contra III: The Alien Wars the ultimate SNES shooter: Giant bosses, synthesized hard rock sounds, a crazy, spinning Mode 7 top-down mode and a boss fight where you freaking hang from flying missiles were just some of the things that made Contra III the most "extreme" game available at the time.
While previous Contra games drew inspiration from action movies like Rambo and Aliens, Contra III features some suspiciously Terminator-like cyborgs, an evil Boba Fett wannabe and whole host of other blockbuster movie references that add to its distinct early s charm.
In fact, the company was so good that many of its licensed titles would rival even the efforts of Nintendo itself. DuckTales, anyone? The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse was seemingly yet another title starring the iconic cartoon character, but it mixed spectacular platforming with costume-based action to great effect. While the SNES Mouse peripheral never really took off in the grand scheme of things, it did give us Mario Paint, a Nintendo themed creativity studio complete with drawing, animation, music composition modes Dozens of familiar Mario shapes appeared in the forms of stamps and brushes and players could even recreate the tunes from popular Nintendo games using the sound effects from the games themselves, leading to hundreds of 1UP sound cover versions of popular songs that are still a blast to listen to today.
The Castlevania series has a long and distinguished legacy, and Super Castlevania IV is among the best it has to offer. A perfected and greatly expanded on reimagining of the first Castlevania for the NES, IV follows the trials of Simon Belmont as he and his legendary whip, The Vampire Killer, attempt to defeat Dracula and restore order to the world. Castlevania IV took the original premise and added five new levels including ones that take place outside the castle , as well as tighter controls and a few additional gameplay mechanics like enhanced whip functionality.
All of these reasons make it one of the best the SNES has to offer. Crazy, right? Still, when you're talking about the first three Super Mario Bros. Before remakes and upgrades were common, Nintendo pulled together some of Mario's grandest adventures, included the original Super Mario Bros.
In some ways these games are so good that it was hard not to make this compilation 1 on our list. How do you sell the usually PC-centric building simulation genre to a generation of console gamers? Easy, you just sandwich those parts inside of an awesome action game. Half sidescrolling platformer, half godly action game, ActRaiser manages to juggle both genres brilliantly and with excellent pacing to boot. Way back when the racing genre was still finding its bearings, F-Zero came along and set the standard.
This futuristic racer was hard and fast, with mind-bending Mode 7 graphics and an impressive variety of tracks to challenge even the most seasoned racing fan. The game also introduced Captain Falcon, a talented driver and mysterious bounty hunter who came to be the poster boy for the series, and we'll never forget when he first showed us his moves 20 years ago. As awesome as it was fighting Mike Tyson, the more surreal and exaggerated characters of Super Punch-Out!!
The gameplay of Super Punch-Out!! It's the same hooks, uppercuts and super punches as always. However the precision-based action of each match is truly spectacular, boiling down to studying each outlandish opponent for weaknesses. Best of all was finding a boxer's instant KO point. While it was certainly possible to wear an enemy down, even taking advantage of low defenses, most of your foes featured openings that would instantly take them down. Bigger, badder, and more barrel-filled than the original, Donkey Kong Country 2 took the DKC recipe and pumped it up with gorilla steroids.
Along the way they enlist a wacky cast of ride-able animal buddies like a spider and a rattlesnake to kollect koins, kill kreatures, kartwheel over kanyons and… do other things that inexplicably start with the letter K.
Tetris Attack is an early entry in a series of puzzle games that began with the Japan-only Panel de Pon. This game was localized by adding the cast and settings of Yoshi's Island in the US, and then remade again as Pokemon Puzzle League for the Nintendo If you've played any of these games, you know how addicting and clever the dual panel-switching mechanic is.
What really makes Tetris Attack stand out is its competitive mode in which you can send evil blocks raining down on your opponent's game. Back in , the term "rage-quit" hadn't been coined yet, but many SNES controllers suffered, nonetheless.
Final Fantasy IV is all about character development, with copious amounts of dialogue and back stories for each of the wildly different fighters on your team: the young wizard twins, a kung-fu master, a girl who can summon crazy gods to kick butt. Characters like Cecil, Rydia, and Kain are memorable not only for their varying ability to beat up dragons, but as tiny, pixelated actors on a digital stage.
However, its hilarious commentary on American culture, psychedelic premise, and unique take on the RPG genre instantly cemented it as a cult classic. The story follows Ness, a character who grew to know greater popularity than his game thanks to his inclusion in the Super Smash Bros.
A prophetic alien bee named Buzz Buzz changes the course of the young boy's life, setting him on an adventure that those of us who have experienced it would never forget. The evolution of the original series, Mega Man X changed the game by introducing new mechanics, new characters, and a new take on the Blue Bomber. The addition of wall jumping and dashing propelled X into a class of its own, allowing the player to interact with practically every square inch of the entire game.
Rousing rock tunes offset the frantic, fast-paced gameplay. Killer bosses like Chill Penguin and Sting Chameleon give you ample motivation to perfect your skills. X was the first — though certainly not the last — reinvention of Mega Man.
It somehow managed to build upon the brilliant foundation of the original, and for that alone it more than deserves a spot on this list. This delightful action RPG shook up the genre with its fun and deep battle system, incorporating real-time action with a brilliant use of timed attacks.
Players are required to know just when to evade and when to go in for the kill, and the depth only increases as the story progresses. There are also plentiful characters and weapons to equip, making for a highly strategic, and highly satisfying, RPG experience. Secret of Mana, which is actually the sequel to Final Fantasy Adventure for the Game Boy, also allows for co-op gameplay, which was highly unique for an RPG at the time. Throw in beautiful music and a timeless story and you have a delightful mash between Final Fantasy and The Legend of Zelda that shouldn't be missed.
With just one entry, Square and Nintendo created a game that is not only noteworthy for its crisp gameplay and clever JRPG innovations, but also for its ability to let Mario work side-by-side with his nemesis Bowser. That might seem fairly standard today, but back then Nintendo fans across the globe were blown away. Adding Mario or not, Nintendo and Square pulled out all the stops, creating an RPG that stands alongside some of the best products from either company.
Now if only we could get a true sequel…. Long before Fox McCloud barrel rolled into our lives, his father, James, was already facing off against Andross with his fellow furry flyers. In addition to fast-paced, frenetic gameplay, this action-packed flight simulation game was also distinguished as being the first Nintendo title to feature three-dimensional graphics, back when this was still incredibly rare.
Throw in some beyond memorable characters Falco, Slippy, and Peppy, for instance , and you have a title that is worthy of being remembered. Mario has visited many established genres and franchises, but with Super Mario Kart he started something new. Prior to Kart, racing games were fairly straightforward, leaning towards simulation or arcade, but rarely deviating too much from either path. Kart took racing through the jungle and off a cliff, imbuing players with power-ups and all sorts of crazy antics, including a highly addictive multiplayer mode.
It's impossible to calculate how many hours we spent chasing each other around maze-like battlegrounds or avoiding ricocheting shells in an effort to pop balloons. Regardless, Super Mario Kart quickly became one of the most addicting SNES experiences ever, long after all of the races had been won and the shortcuts had been discovered. The game defined Yoshi as a character, giving him some of his most iconic moves like the flutter kick and egg throw.
Another genre-defining masterpiece that is arguably still one of the best in its class. Super Street Fighter II Turbo was, for its time, the best fighting game available for a home console, and the pinnacle of evolution for this particular title.
While it couldn't quite match what was available in the arcades, if you wanted to pit Ryu against Ken in the comfort of your own home, you couldn't do much better than this. Street Fighter had a certain elegance and simplicity back in the early '90s, something that no doubt contributed to its lasting appeal. To this day, it's hard to forget the first time we pulled off a Hadouken or when we fought M. Bison for the first time. Street Fighter was truly the beginning of a huge boom for the fighting game genre, and a trailblazer for dozens of other franchises.
How do you follow up a masterpiece like Super Mario Bros. That question no doubt lingered in the minds of many as the launch of the SNES approached. Super Mario World was given the impossible task of attempting to perfect platforming perfection -- finding power-ups, level designs, graphics, and music that would outdo or stand alongside what most consider to be the best NES game ever.
Somehow, Nintendo managed to do just that. Mario World doesn't reinvent platform gaming, but it does find a way to make it seem fresh again, introducing ideas like Yoshi, expanding the Mushroom Kingdom's zany cast of characters and blowing our minds with some truly excellent visuals and audio.
Upon its debut, the SNES managed to make the impossible somehow possible. That's mighty impressive. Visually, acoustically, and mechanically, FFVI was leaps and bounds ahead of the competitors. The item customization and battle mechanics are tight and intuitive, and the game is one of the most well balanced RPGs to date. What makes the game stand out to this day are the characters and storyline.
FFVI touches on issues few games had the guts to, and presents a large casts of characters, all of whom are fleshed out and relatable. The opera scene is one of the most memorable moments in Final Fantasy history.
With flawless action, impeccable level design, out-of-this-world atmosphere, a totally badass heroine, and an enormous overworld to explore, few games can hope to reach its rung on the ladder of pure gaming bliss. From the moment you set foot on Zebes to the moment you leave it exploding in your wake, every moment of this game is unadulterated fun, and it only gets better the further you get. It certainly won't be the last.
But it's arguable that Square's masterpiece is the best. Remarkably, the action-packed story of a boy's quest through history stands the test of time, with almost flawless pacing and gameplay. Square's epic saga might have come towards the end of the SNES's life, but some things are best saved for last. The original Legend of Zelda for NES set the basic structure the series would continue to follow for the next quarter century.
A Link to the Past made that series a legend. From the very outset of the game the player is thrown in the middle of the action. From the first swing of your sword to the final confrontation with Ganondorf, the game embodies pure SNES perfection.
Perhaps it's the well-balanced enemies, the memorable bosses, or the brilliant light and dark world system that sets the game apart. Or maybe it's the tight controls, perfected item system, or the glorious soundtrack. Whatever the reason, A Link to the Past remains our choice for the greatest game of possibly the greatest system of all time. Start at Let's-a Go! Final Fight. Developer Capcom. Released Developer Konami. Developer DMA Design. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.
Developer Midway. Street Fighter Alpha 2. Top Gear 2. Developer Gremlin Interactive. Super Turrican 2. Developer Factor 5. Super Double Dragon. Developer Technos. Developer LucasArts. Developer Blizzard. Super Bomberman 2. Developer Hudson. Sunset Riders. Stunt Race FX. Developer Nintendo EAD. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage.
Developer Software Creations. Super Tennis. Developer Tokyo Shoseki. Super Star Wars. Killer Instinct. Developer Rare. The Death and Return of Superman. Flashback: The Quest for Identity. Developer Tiertix. X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse. Developer Beam Software. Soul Blazer. Developer Quintet. Madden NFL ' Developer Tiburon.
Illusion of Gaia. Developer Natsume. Rock n' Roll Racing. Jungle Strike. Developer Electronic Arts. Developer Bullfrog. Out of this World. Developer Eric Chahi. Kirby's Avalanche.
Mega Man X3. The Lion King. Developer Virgin Interactive. Developer Irem. International Superstar Soccer. Fatal Fury 2. Kirby's Dream Land 3. Developer HAL Laboratory. Developer Data East. NHL ' Earthworm Jim. Developer Shiny Entertainment. Alien 3. Developer Probe. It has a fantastic single-player campaign with two distinct endings depending on your completion percentage.
Arguably one of the more fun Bomberman games in the entire franchise. Based on MS Gundam Wing , Endless Duel is a gorgeous fighter with fantastic gameplay that would have been a total hit had it been released outside of Japan. It features plenty of bad-ass Gundams with large highly-detailed sprites duking it out in fast-paced battles in the style of Marvel vs.
It mixes the classic appeal of the American Wild West with futuristic technology and a sci-fi plot involving aliens from outer space.
With eight dungeons to explore and plenty of cool guns to try out, this title is easy to pick up, but near-impossible to put down. Yet for some reason, they decided to bring down the co-op player count from three to just two in this title.
This would go on to inspire the Dragon Quest Monsters series. And if you wanna try your hand at Dragon Quest 5 without learning Japanese, you can find an English patch here. This unusual JRPG lets you experience seven unique storylines , each starring a new character in a different era — including prehistory, the Japanese Warring States period, the American Wild West, and the far future. These protagonists have contrasting skills and trials to overcome, leading to gameplay and combat that varies quite a bit between these campaigns.
Nelson Chitty is a Venezuelan expat living in Argentina.
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