411 Top 5 Games Edition 12.02.06: Week 18
Posted by Steve McHugh on 12.02.2006
Top 5 SNES games
Welcome to this weeks edition of Top5 where we'll be looking at a console many consider to be one of the best with Top 5 SNES games.
We'll start up with the guys over at the forum.
Mike Ray
5. Super Mario World
It's a classic. There's nothing I can say about it that hasn't been said a million times.
4. Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
An incredible upgrade of the NES classic. A back-to-basics overhead view Zelda game with amazing music, a ton of dungeons, memorable boss fights, two huge worlds, and a great story.
3. Demon's Crest
The best-kept secret on the SNES. Capcom's 16-bit upgrade to its awesome "Gargoyle's Quest" games. With Metroid-style (Castleroid?) power-ups and levels, great graphics and animation, original and fun bosses, and killer atmospheric music, Demon's Crest is the best SNES game that gets no love. Find it on an emulator. You won't be disappointed.
2. Super Mario RPG
Just plain fun. This is the first real turn-based RPG that I ever played, and the same probably goes for a lot of people. Great graphics, fun combat, hilarity.
1. Super Metroid
Not just best SNES game, but best game ever made. Gorgeous graphics and animation. A huge, seamless map. Hidden passages and secrets all over the place. Epic boss battles. Killer power-ups. On top of all that, you have the best, most atmospheric music ever in a video game. At least once a month, I still sit down and play through Super Metroid.
Captain Kermit the Frog
5. Super Mario World
New system, new Mario game. I think that written in the Nintendo Code. Super Mario World was a great addition to the Mario line-up. And it showed what the Super Nintendo was capable of. Bigger than previous games, sharper graphics, it really set the bar for future SNES games. Plus, it introduced us to Yoshi. Can't beat that.
4. Actraiser
This is a game that I fondly remember from the SNES, and rightfully so. A nice combination of side scrolling adventure and a light version of SIM games, Actraiser never really got boring. The adventure levels, where you side scrolling a beat up monsters right and left is still a challenge at times today. And SIM mode kept you busy more than other games of the era. Between guiding your people on expansion of the land, you had to also defend them from monsters, which came over and over until your people sealed their portal. And add in the amazing graphics. All in all, a great game.
3. Super Mario RPG
What do you get when you combine the Super Mario Bros games, with Squaresoft, and the hardware power of the SNES? Perhaps the greatest RPG the system ever saw. And yes, I am including the Final Fantasy games on the system. Between the graphics, the humour (such as Mario never speaking), and the game play itself, this game did it all. Great storyline held it all together and it had some very interesting boss fights (I'm looking at you Bowyer) to keep you challenged. Wonderful game.
2. Legend of Zelda
A Link to the Past: Just a fantastic game all around. Not only did it return Link to the top down view (which is soooo much better than side scrolling), but set the stage for all future Zelda games. Two different worlds, multiple fun boss fights, engrossing storyline. I still remember the excitement I felt as a kid when I beat this game.
1. Super Metroid
Who doesn't still own a copy of this game? This is the best example of what a sidescroller should be (outside Castlevania: Symphony of the Night). Challenging, easy on the eyes, so many hidden passages and secrets. And the best part of all was the fact that the game was basically non-linear. Explore what you want when you can. Can't get past a certain area? Go back and find something you missed. This gave the game a very open feel which added to its overall enjoyment factor. The defining game of the SNES.
Yay Grr !!1
5. F-Zero
The most telling thing about this game is that it still feels pretty fast even now, FIFTEEN years later. The great graphics and sense of speed were completely revolutionary for its time, and strictly speaking on a sense of design and style, this may still be the best F-Zero game. I don't think F-Zero is a very "accessible" game to a casual crowd as there's no cute characters or catchphrases, but any serious SNES fan knows what F-Zero is about. I slightly prefer the GCN version just because it's so polished, but F-Zero started here, and like the albums of many great music artists, the first may really be the best.
4. Super Mario World
If this was the first Mario game I would almost certainly rate it #1, and even with this list I feel pretty harsh delegating it to #4, but that only speaks to the unbelievable quality of the top 3 games on this list. Anyway, this was "the" game in just about every sense possible. I can't even imagine how many times I've been over someone's house who has an SNES, and the one game they certainly have is SMW. With reason -- the Mario series in its glory days was the perfect mix of accessible gameplay with hardcore difficulty and mind-bending secrets. The design is so absolutely lovable and I really think it's impossible to hate this game. This game also introduced Yoshi, and I think there's still a sense of complete joy when you hatch him from the egg for the first time early in the game. Miyamoto simply knows how to make classic games.
3. Donkey Kong Country
Again, much like the last game, this would be #1 on just about any other list I'd make, but the SNES is just that damn good. DKC's graphics were out-of-this-world at its release, and the first time that I started to get a sense of the real 3D "future" of graphics. This game is every bit as lovable as Mario World, and if you ask me, carries a lot more replay value with its innovative levels and side quests. DKC does a better job at "mixing up" what you do, so you'll be swimming in one level, then getting shot out of cannons in another, then going along a rollercoaster in the next, and so forth. The quality of the gameplay and design does not slip even in the slightest; this is certainly one of the most polished games I've ever played. They just really don't make games like this anymore that are so blissfully FUN to play.
2. Super Mario Kart
Again, it's a travesty this is #2. Super Mario Kart is the best racer ever made, period. Racing games were still very young at the time of its release, and this game was such a trendsetter that it's unbelievable. It pretty much started the whole idea of having a racer as a party game, having a racer branded with not just different cars, but different characters, and combining cars and weapons. The first time I played this game, at the tender age of six, and shot out a green shell to knock someone off their track, I knew what was up. Again, gaming in this era was full of simple joys that you rarely get anymore. The gameplay fabric of this game is really unmatched. Again, this is THE best racer of all-time, period.
1. Super Metroid
Pushes the sense of atmosphere in a game to its absolute limits. It was hard to summarize what made the previous games so great, but it's almost impossible to do so with Super Metroid. You just simply FEEL everything in this game, and that's a testament to the design of every facet of the game. The graphics, levels, music, bosses, your weapons, and so forth, this is just such a perfect game. And for such a simple game, this one does not get old at all, the entire quest through. As good as Mario and Donkey Kong are, you have to admit that at certain points throughout those games, you get a little bored of just running across the screen. It gets a little tedious. This doesn't happen in Super Metroid, as you are too sucked into the world and the sense of exploration to really care. This is a far better "adventure" game than Zelda and a far better "action" game than Castlevania. Like most of the other games on this list, it's going to be hard to match this level of quality in gaming ever again.
Honourable mentions:
Where do you start?
Street Fighter 2 - The fact that this game didn't make the list really tells you something about the quality of the SNES. The game that more or less created the fighting genre as we know it.
NBA Jam: Tournament Edition - a complete and utter blast to play. Easily one of the best multiplayer games of all time. You'll never forget getting the "D" power-up and dunking from all the way across the court.
Mortal Kombat II - a very different take on the Street Fighter world, and while this is a lesser game, it's straight-up more fun. Extremely, extremely good presentation, with very cool character design and levels. The only big qualm here is that the computer AI difficulty is completely out of whack, but it's so much fun to do your unbelievably gruesome special moves, that you don't really care. This is one of the first games to show us how fun cartoonish violence can be in games.
Super Castlevania IV - A great, atmospheric action game. The only problem here is its competition; on a lesser system, this would have been the killer app it deserved to be.
YAK MAN
5. Mega Man X2
You could put any of the SNES Mega Man X games on here, but 2 is my personal favourite. Collecting the pieces of armour was a blast in this game.
4. Super Mario RPG
Mario + Squaresoft = AWESOME.
3. Earthbound
My favourite RPG on the SNES. It was close between this and Super Mario RPG, but it's hard to go wrong when you have enemies like hippies, dinosaurs and street signs.
2. Super Mario World
THE 2D platformer.
1. Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The best Zelda game until Ocarina of Time. Some still think it is superior.
Honourable mentions
Harvest Moon, Super Adventure Island, Mario Paint, Super Mario Kart, Sim City
And now it's the Staffs turn
Steve McHugh
5. Super Metroid
As awesome as this game is, it's the boss battles that really stand out. This game was one of the few that made me wish I had a SNES as a kid.
4. Mario Kart
Never has a game meant more to multi-player gaming. And never have beating your friends felt so good when you throw a red shell at them just as they're about to cross the finish line before you. Gaming genius.
3. Final Fantasy 3 (6)
One of the best RPG's ever and a wonderful game to this day. Forget FF7 this is the game that should be getting spin offs and the possible remake.
2. Yoshi's Island
The best 2D platformer ever. Better then Mario or Sonic or anything else. It's not just the wonderful graphics and the genuinely challenging gameplay but the absolute joy the game will give you every single time you play it.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
The best Zelda after Ocarina of Time and a game that literally took me months to finish. This was one of THE reasons to get a SNES as very few games every got close to the greatness that this game managed.
Honourable mentions
Super Mario World – I love it and it's wonderful to play but it's not as good as my top 5. Hard to keep out though.
Earthworm Jim – This is here because it's awesome. No explanation needed it just is.
StarWing – The first SNES game I saw that literally made me go wow. And it played as well as it looked too.
D.W.
5. Actraiser
One of the most unique games ever made. It was soured somewhat by a mediocre sequel, but if any game was in need of a modern day remake, this is it.
4. Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
The last console 2D Zelda also happened to be the last one I gave a damn about. Everything was executed just right, and the light/dark worlds added a lot to the experience.
3. Tetris Attack
My personal pick for best puzzle game of all time. I'd argue that it's actually better than the original Tetris, and the replay value is without equal.
2. Super Mario World
It's amazing that this was actually a pack in game, and considering the sheer length of the adventure, most SNES owners didn't need to buy new games for quite a while.
1. Chrono Trigger
My favourite game of all time. No other RPG comes close in my mind. Graphics? Some of the best of the generation. Music? Legendary. Gameplay? A great mix of simplicity and depth that isn't seen very often these days. It should be required playing for every gamer.
Sean McCabe
5. Illusion of Gaia
Second in the Soul Blazer Trilogy, Great action RPG, well told story, well conceived puzzles, just a really fun game to play. I can't think of a whole lot more to say about it.
4. Super Metroid
This game took me 5 years to beat. Never before has a game about exploration been made quite like this. You were given no hints, the linearity of the game was based purely on the order of upgrades you go after (an order that can be circumvented fairly easy). And of course the game had some sick boss battles. Awesome game.
3. Streetfighter 2
The Daddy of fighters. Nuff said.
2. Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
The third Zelda game is still one of the high points of the series. It had one of the biggest world maps for it's time, could also be not that linear at points, and it's still challenging. Plus you get to rescue 7 hot maidens, never understood why Link didn't do any of them...
1.Secret of Mana
Ah, this eternal classic. Beats the hell out of FF1-6, and just about any other 16bit and pre 16bit RPG you can name, and hell, most post 16bit RPGs as well. This game was fun, addictive and had a well told story and varied combat, complete with an awesome co-op mode. There was nothing more that could be asked of this game, it gave it all, every single thing it could give.
Honourable mentions
Megaman X, Joe and Mac: Cavemen Ninjas, Terranigma, Super Mario RPG
Vincent Chiucchi
5. Earthbound
This was one of the many, MANY great RPG's that was on this console. Between this, Final Fantasy 4 & 6, Chrono Trigger, and Super Mario RPG, it's hard to choose just one, but I'd go with Earthbound because of its modern-like setting and humorous enemies.
4. TMNT Tournament Fighters
Yes I am a classic Ninja Turtles mark. But instead of being licensed crap, this was actually pretty good for a fighting game back in the day. Between this and TMNT 4, I'd likely pick this to play instead since a beat-em-up like TMNT 4 can get really old at times.
3. Pilotwings
This unique game can really get addictive at times when you're aiming for a perfect score and trying to unlock the secret bonus rounds (especially with that damn Parachute). Trying to beat it at the end can also get really hard and sometimes felt impossible. The N64 version was great as well, and I'm surprised nothing has been announced for the Wii with that remote controller. C'mon Nintendo!
2. The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
Because it's Zelda. Well okay, besides that I see this game as the best Zelda game to come out next to Ocarina of Time (and no I haven't played Twilight Princess yet).
1. Tetris Attack
One of my favourite games of all time; I love this game with a passion mainly because I can really kick ass in it. Playing this against a friend is one of the best times you can have when you form a huge chain, only to have your opponent form a huge chain back, the screen starts slowing down, and it goes back and forth until you form a chain so big it's impossible to match three blocks. I would still play this game for hours today.
Very Honourable Mentions:
Super Mario World, F-Zero, Super Metroid, FF4 & 6, Chrono Trigger, Donkey Kong Country, TMNT 4, Street Fighter 2
David Redkey
5. Super Mario World
This game was easily the best Mario game I've ever played. EVER.
4. Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
Triforce (check!), Ganon (check!), Zelda (double Check!). This is truly one of the great games in the Zelda line. The game starts out with 3 superbly designed dungeons and then opens up to 8 more. The Zelda stories are rarely original but damn this game is just plain fun.
3. Final Fantasy III
The best 2D Final Fantasy period. An epic story that has never really been challenged by any other FF. An awesome villain and a great cast of characters keep this game trucking along at such a high level of quality. I won't even go into the load of side quests and the games length. This is Square's love letter to gamers and the pinnacle of Final Fantasy story telling.
2. Super Metroid
Its Samus Aran...nuff said!
1. Chrono Trigger
This was easily my favourite game of the system and one of my favourite games of all time (it's a close second to Metal Gear Solid for the PS1). Each character is a fully fleshed out individual (well, you're character is a little on the mute side). I can write pages on how cool Magus/Janus is...I mean just hearing his music the first time sent chills down my spine. I would actually sit there and not progress in a battle just to listen to his music. The special effects were some of the best ever on the console and the battle system was awesome with its tech attacks (heck you could unlock attacks where all three players laid the smack down)... Just a great great game
Very Honourable Mention
Earthbound, F-Zero, Secret of Mana, ActRaiser, Donkey Kong Country, Final Fantasy 4, Super Castlevania.
Theo Fraser
5. Super Mario Kart
Maybe I should despise this game for inspiring countless rip-offs like Crash Kart Racing (urgh...), but you just can't help but love the original Mazza Kart. Arguably better than any of its successors, Mario Kart spent a hell of a long time in my SNES. It was just so damn addictive. And I could trash all my friends at it, so naturally it was my number one choice for multiplayer. On paper, the idea sounds like a recipe for disaster; put Nintendo's mascot in a go kart, and race him against 7 other characters from the Mario universe. But it worked, and it worked magnificently. MK64 was great, Double Dash was fun for a while, and MKDS is one of the best portable games out there...but they just can't match the original for sheer awesomeness! Woo, made up words rock!
4. Yoshi's Island
I just featured this last week in Nintendophiles. Yoshi's Island is an oft-forgotten classic Nintendo platformer. I say oft-forgotten, but I guess I mean oft-overlooked. It really deserves a ton of praise, as it's a tremendous little adventure. Level design was top notch; the art style was fantastic, pushing the SNES and its Mode 7 graphics chip to its maximum capabilities. The sections where Yoshi was transformed into a helicopter, tank and submarine were ingenious segments that I still go back and play today. And the bosses were unbelievably huge. Seriously, these guys literally filled the screen. Never been scared of Petey the Piranha before? You will after playing this on a 32" screen.
3. Donkey Kong Country 2
As I've said many a time before, I'm a Rare fanatic, and this is the game that started it all for me. A lot of people hate Diddy Kong, but I thought he was pretty cool in this. I mean, c'mon, he wore a HAT! What a dude! Anyway, DKC2 had awesome level design, and the addition of Dixie Kong with her helicopter-tailspin move provided some new gameplay experiences. I was a huge fan of platformers back in the SNES days, and this was definitely one of the best.
2. Super Mario World
Wow, what a game. The pinnacle of the Mario series in my opinion. The only reason this isn't #1 on my list is because I'm more of a Zelda fan that Mario fan, but this could easily be classed as one of the greatest games of all time. An INSANE number of levels and huge replayability factor due to the tons and tons of little secrets hidden in each world. Oh, and this was the game that introduced a little somebody called Yoshi. For that, I love it dearly.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
This definitely ranks right up there with Ocarina of Time as one of the best Zelda games in the series. For starters, it's effing huge. You do all of the stuff in Hyrule...and THEN you go to the Dark World, and there are even more dungeons. I really loved the old Zelda bosses in the 2D games, and LttP is no exception. There isn't much to be said, really. It's Zelda; you know the deal. And it's a fantastic Zelda at that (and the GBA conversion is pretty darn good too!)
Ramon Aranda
5. Super Mario RPG
This game had it all, great RPG elements, memorable characters, excellent and funny dialogue and most of all...a great storyline.
4. Super Mario Kart
nuff said.
3. Street Fighter II
This game alone sold Super Nintendo systems. At the arcades, it ate up so many damn quarters that many people included me wanted to buy the damn thing. Once Capcom announced it was going to the SNES, I bought a system.
2. Super Mario World
Best platformer EVAR. The game was also pretty huge. I loved that it wasn't as linear as previous Mario games as you could take alternate routes, find hidden levels and had sweet power ups. The Star World was a sweet addition as was the alternate Mario World when you beat it.
1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
C'mon...this game was awesome. I thought the game was over when I beat Aghanim and then...WHAT?? A Dark Work? OMG!
A Huge game and included memorable items and dungeons. This was perfect. Highest replay value of any SNES game.
Honourable mention
Starfox, Mega Man X, Super Punch Out!!!, Super Mario All-Stars
Sean Garmer
5. Zombies Ate My Neighbours
I think I've put this game on some other lists and the people should know by now that to me, this game was oodles of fun and had great old school action. You run around trying to find people before the Zombies get them and the levels get harder as you progress through the game. Not to mention it had two player co-op that made the game even better.
4. Street Fighter II
I always had lots of fun playing this with other people just because the great feeling you got after you decimated your friend. It's one of those all-time classics and it was a great game.
3. Final Fantasy VI (III in the US)
Without a doubt the best SNES FF. It had so many different characters, each with their own unique story, and a great battle system to go along with it. The main story kept me playing and I just recently beat the game for the first time. If you haven't played this one, I think you should get it as soon as the GBA version comes out.
2. Super Mario World
I got this game with my SNES system and I loved it. Mario at its platforming finest right here.
1. Chrono Trigger
This is my favourite game of all-time and of course it's gonna be #1 here too. I can't say it enough how much I love this game it has everything, great story, terrific characters, one of the best music scores ever, and awesome ways to get techniques and magic too. Chrono Trigger is still remembered to this day for a reason, and that's because it's flat out magnificent.
And that brings us to the end of this weeks column. As per usual agree or disagree let me know and indeed send me your own top 5 and i'll put it in next weeks column.
Speaking of next week we'll be looking at Top 5 Gameboy/GBA games so come back and join us then.
