My Compact Super Nintendo

Ah yes, my Super NES. I would venture to say that this is up there as one of my favorite systems. It’s actually tied for first with my PS2. It’s really hard to decide which is better since they both are so different yet they both have brought so much to the gaming table.

The Super NES introduced the shoulder buttons to me. I was simply amazed that you could have so many buttons on a controller but then again, look at the current generation. It’s surprising that I can handle what the current controllers have on them.

I guess what truly makes the SNES one of my favorite systems is the games. Where many systems have only a few gems that make the system worth buying, the SNES had many.

First and foremost, the SNES has Super Metroid. This is one of my favorite games of all time and to this day I still think it holds up quite well. It expanded on what the original Metroid had as well as what Metroid II: Return of Samus had to offer. Exploration was key and the weapon/armor upgrades were a blast to use as well as find. To this day, I don’t think any other Metroid game has reached the caliber of this game.

Next on the list would be Super Castlevania IV. I’ve always been a fan of Castlevania and I was simply awestruck when I watched this game in action. It was probably the most visually impressive game of the system at the time it was released. Not only that but it took advantage of what the SNES had to offer by creating stages that would rotate or some stages that the background would spin. I actually was upset that Dracula X did away with all of the advances that Castlevania IV implemented. I guess a good thing can’t last forever.

Of course a discussion of the SNES would have to include the Legend of Zelda: a Link to the Past. I don’t think I could really say enough about this game. I love exploration and this does not fail to deliver. There are secrets aplenty scattered throughout. The world is massive and the weapon selection has been expanded from the original Zelda. This is pretty much a must have for any SNES owner.

Super R-Type was the first R-Type to come to this system and it’s a good one at that. I’ve always loved the R-Type series as well as the Gradius series and I was quite happy with this one on the SNES. The unfortunate problem with Super R-Type was the horrendous slow down in the game. It helped in certain instances since it made it easer to dodge enemies and bullets. Once enemies were destroyed though, it would suddenly speed up and create a potential crash situation . Slow down has pretty much plagued all of the R-Types that I have ever played, even R-Type Final on the PS2.

A lesser known game for the SNES that is actually one of my faves is Firepower 2000. This game is a pretty typical shmup but what truly makes this game shine is the Co-op mode. One player pilots a helicopter while the other controls a jeep. Both are able to use the same types of weaponry and able to max out all of the weapons equally. The difference between the two is that the helicopter is able to fly over everything but is only limited by the direction he can shoot (bottom to top of screen). The jeep on the other hand is able to shoot in 8 directions but is hindered by terrain. I have never seen this system of co-op used in any other game ever. It’s genius in my opinion and I think other games should look at this and follow suit.

Another game to mention is Super Mario World. What would a Nintendo system be without Mario? This is the first game that I remember Yoshi being in and it added a whole new level of depth to the typical Mario games. The colors are bright, and the controls tight. This is another game that has a reverse world (similar to a Link to the Past). I recall getting 100% in this game. Probably my first time in ever actually.

Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts also makes this list even though the difficulty level is almost so extreme, it borderlines too frustrating to play. I still can’t believe that I have actually gone through the game and then again with the fairy weapon to legitimately beat this game. That’s just crazy. Weapon selection was pretty diverse and creative even though I essentially went through the entire game with the dagger. Of course at the end I switched to the fairy weapon since you couldn’t open the door without it.

Last but not least by any means is Super Mario Kart. This is the Kart that started it all and by far one of the best of the series in my opinion. Whenever anyone talks about Mario Kart, this is the first one I think of. I unfortunately let my copy go to a good friend of mine as a Christmas gift. I guess I shall have to track it down if I am ever to have it in my collection again. Oh well.

You know, looking at this list again, it seems that as long as “super” is in the title, it’s a pretty good bet that it will be a good game. Ok, that’s probably not true. I think it’s just coincidental that many of the games I love on the system start with “Super” in the title. There are many many more great games that this system has to offer but for now I’ll have to call it quits. I’ve gone on long enough. I better get back to my gaming 😀

PS if you are wondering, yes I do have the original model SNES as well 🙂