Guide to Retro Gaming: SNES

In the early 1990's, video games experienced what is regarded by many to be the swan song of 2D gaming. The NES built up a lot of steam in the late 1980's with its 8 bits of processing power, but their competitor Sega wasn't going to just sit back and watch Nintendo cash in on all the console sales. Instead, they began a new generation of video gaming known as the 16-bit era by releasing a console known as the Genesis. It was inevitable then that in order to maintain their foothold in the home video game industry, Nintendo would have to release new hardware as well. In 1991, Nintendo launches the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES.

What is the SNES?

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, known as the Super Famicom in Japan, is Nintendo's successor to the NES. It's a gray console that loads games from the top, much like the new model NES systems. There were also two versions of the SNES that were introduced, the more recent one being much more difficult to find. Aside from appearance, there isn't much difference in reliability, so no matter which model you run across, it should work just as well. The SNES doesn't have the "blinking light syndrome" that its predecessor had, so your lungs will thank you for going 16-bit!

What do I need to play a SNES?

Aside from the console itself, the hookups for the SNES that you need to find are going to be similar in appearance than those required for the NES. You need a large, black AC adapter in which to power the console, as well as either an RF adapter or AV cables to plug it into your television. The controller has rounded edges, and should have start, select, A, B, X, and Y on the front as well as the control pad. On the top should be your L and R buttons. If you plan to play two players, you will need to get a second one of these as well. There is also a peripheral released by Hudson that allows you to play five players on one SNES console, but there are very few games that use it and they are very hard to find. You might also run across a gigantic plastic bazooka known as the Super Scope 6 that was used in a few early titles.

What games can I play?

Much like the titles found on the NES, most of the games featured are going to be in 2D. However, the SNES does have a graphical effect known as "Mode 7" that gave some titles a 3D appearance. Also, there are many genres that haven't changed throughout the years, but there are a few new ones that have cropped up this generation that are worth taking a look:

Platformer - These games are designed around the premise of jumping, and sometimes defeating enemies along your way.

Action - A very broad genre that usually relies on quick reflexes.

Sports - Any type of sports simulation falls into this category.

RPG - Stands for role-playing game. Usually heavy on stat building and storylines.

Adventure - Many titles of significant length will fall into this category.

Puzzle - A lot of games involving shape manipulation will belong here. Think Tetris.

Arcade - Any kind of arcade port or translation.

FPS - Stands for first-person shooter. Typically all you can see is your gun, and then later, your fallen enemies.

There are a ton of video game genres that I can't possibly list in one section. Surely you can find one that suits the gamer in you!

What games do you recommend?

The SNES is a gold mine of great games, and although it was a difficult decision, I narrowed down a list of the ten best games you can find for the system:

1) Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past - This version of Zelda returns to the top-down style of the original and implements the use of a parallel universe. The land of Hyrule consists of both the light and dark worlds, and changes that occur in one will affect the other when you travel over. It was a ground-breaking mechanic during its time and it still holds up well today.

2) Final Fantasy III - Known as Final Fantasy VI in Japan, this is probably the greatest 2D RPG of all time. It had a diverse cast of characters, an in-depth storyline, and probably one of the most memorable villains in FF history, Kefka. The graphics were a large improvements over its predecessors due to the more fluid sprites and the use of Mode 7 in the overworld. Numerous side quests that extend the game for many hours more round out this neat package of RPG goodness.

3) Super Mario World - Mario for the new generation. Even though the power ups for Mario aren't as numerous or as diverse as the ones featured in Super Mario Bros. 3, the addition of Yoshi more than makes up for that. Since the game allows you to save your progress at any time, it's more worthwhile to explore the game's map and try to unlock hidden stages.

4) Mega Man X - This game marks the beginning of the "X" series in the Mega Man franchise, and it's a damn good one. Mega Man, or X as he's referred to in this title, now has the ability to wall jump, drive vehicles, and dash at high speed. It doesn't seem like much, but it goes a long way in making the series feel fresh in the 16-bit generation of gaming.

5) Super Metroid - Marked as one of the best entries in the franchise, this one blows the original Metroid out of the water. With diverse worlds to explore, cool new power ups, and intense boss battles, it's hard to not fall in love with this adventure title.

6) Star Fox - This game was touted as being the introduction to the "Super FX" chip equipped on the cartridge. To this day, I still have no idea what the hell that means, but I think it has something to do with the use of polygons in the game. That, combined with the Mode 7 graphical effect, gave the game a 3D appearance that looked way cool back in the day. And yes, even during the SNES era, Slippy was an idiot...

7) Secret of Mana - Think of Zelda, but only with multi-player and a kick ass storyline. If you are fortunate enough to apprehend a five player adapter, you can play with up to three players in this game. And it's well worth it, because the teamwork involved in this title is so much more enjoyable if you have human comrades as opposed to the dummy computer ones.

8) Donkey Kong Country - DK gets his own platformer, and it's both pretty and incorporates two players! Your teammate Diddy Kong follows you around during the course of your banana rescue mission. If you get hit by an enemy, you can tag him in to take over, allowing a second player to take control if you wish. In fact, you can tag in and out at any time, so if a particular course seems daunting for you, allow your friend to do all the work!

9) Super Mario Kart - Probably the single most successful spin-off of the Mario franchise, this game combines kart racing with vehicular combat. You must not only outwit your opponents with superior driving skills, but you also have to make wise use of the various stars, turtle shells, and banana peels that are at your disposal. Great fun for one or two players.

10) Super Mario RPG - If video game companies could make babies, then this game would have been the spawn of Squaresoft and Nintendo. Combining turn-based RPG combat with Mario characters and themes, this game proved there isn't a genre that Mario can't be successful in. Being able to play as Bowser and Peach was a bonus as well.

Other ways to enjoy SNES games

If you can't find the SNES hardware, or just don't want to drop the money on it and all its accessories, you're not alone. Many of the best games are rarities, and so it's a daunting task to track them all down at an affordable price. Nintendo's Wii system offers many of the games on its Virtual Console download service. You can also find some SNES emulators for use on your computer if you do a little research, but this practice is illegal if you do not own the original games that you download. However you decide to get your game on, you'll find that these titles are arguably the best quality of any Nintendo system to date.