DOOM
I really wanted to put this on the list due to it being an incredible port. Just the fact this is Doom running on a console that was never intended for this style of game is amazing. Granted it’s not running that fast, the resolution is extremely limited and there’s a lot of missing textures on the ceiling and floor due to the console’s limitations. But the music sounds awesome, it has all the levels from the original PC game and is running on a 16 bit console that shouldn’t be able to run it. So this port is more notable for its technical achievements than the game itself as it is a seriously inferior version of Doom and thus why I didn’t want to list it. But it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re curious.
TMNT – TOURNAMENT FIGHTERS
The 16-bit era was the golden age of fighting games. With the release of the seminal Street Fighter II (and its ton of re-releases) by Capcom, a slew of imitators popped up. One of these that I definitely recommend checking out is TMNT Tournament Fighters by Konami. Much like TMNT IV – Turtles In Time, a lot of attention and care was given this game to make it a fun competitive brawler and in my opinion it works perfectly as a companion game to TMNT IV.
You have a roster of characters from the TMNT franchise to choose from and it’s to this day one of the few games where you can play as the badguys. Much like other fighting games of the era, it’s even more fun with friends, so if you’re looking for a Street Fighter II alternative for your next multiplayer session, this might be a good pick.
BLACKTHORNE
Blizzard are known for a few titles, such as World of Warcraft and Diablo. But before those franchises became their bread and butter they delved into some other genres. Their cinematic platformer Blackthorne is definitely worth checking out if you are into games like Prince of Persia, Another World and Flashback. It’s a sci-fi fantasy game where you play as a shotgun-wielding badass named Kyle Blackthorne who has to save his people from the clutches of an evil satanic figure known as Sarlac. I grew up with the PC version and to this day I still play it regurarily.
ALADDIN
The main reason I kept this game off the list and several other Disney games like Lion King was that I wanted to highlight Magical Quest. But of course, this one is also worth checking out and it came out during the era when multiplatform titles could actually be vastly different from each other. The Sega Genesis version of this game was developed by an entirely different team and Capcom was behind the SNES version, giving it a unique character. It has some solid gameplay, stellar music and some great visuals, so as far as Disney games go, Aladdin is up there among the best on both systems.
MEGA MAN X
Of course it’s hard to talk about the SNES without mentioning Mega Man X. While I personally don’t have much attachment to this game and have never completed it, I can totally see why so many people hold it in high regard. It definitely feels more “evolved” compared to the earlier NES titles and helped Mega Man stay fresh for a new generation. I think personally it adds a bit too much for my taste and while it isn’t a bad game, I just can’t really get into it as easily as the NES titles. Which is why I didn’t include it.
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA – A LINK TO THE PAST
I’m only including this game as a mention because I feel someone’s going to kill me if I don’t. So, full disclosure, I have played this game. I just didn’t find myself very engaged in the story, sorry to say. I have the same problem with Ocarina of Time. Look, both of these games are good games, there’s nothing wrong with loving them and I totally respect that people do. I just… don’t connect with them. I don’t click with them in the same way others do. I just find myself just not really caring much for them. And that’s why you won’t see ALTTP on my list.
ARKANOID – DOH IT AGAIN
If you’re looking for something to use that SNES mouse for beyond playing Doom and Mario Paint, this game is a perfect choice. I didn’t include this game because I don’t really see it as necessarily a SNES exclusive experience, and it’s not really THAT playable on the system without a mouse or paddle controller. But if you have a mouse, then it’s still an excellent version of Arkanoid, which is still one of my favourite games to play.
FINAL FANTASY VI
Amazing music, a great story and a really cool combat system are common descriptors for Final Fantasy VI which many regard as one of the best games in the franchise. And yeah I’ve played a bit and what I’ve played, I enjoyed. Do I enjoy it enough to put it among my personal favourites? Probably not. I don’t really have much nostalgia for the game nor has it really been fun enough for me to really love it. But I like it. Enough to mention it.
F-ZERO
I’ll be honest, if I could, I would put both F-Zero and Super Mario Kart on my list as recommended racing games because I love both of them almost equally. I just happen to have more nostalgia for SMK and I personally consider it the superior game due to being more playable and having more variety. But F-Zero is a very different experience so comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges. It’s up to you what you prefer. F-Zero definitely has some great music and gameplay and utilizes mode 7 amazingly to create some sweet pseudo-3D graphics for the time.
EARTHBOUND/MOTHER 2
So… why wasn’t this on the list? Well, honestly? I haven’t played it. I have played plenty of Mother 1 because I was intent on finishing that game before tackling its sequel. And I have played little bit of Earthbound and yeah, it’s great and I’ll probably love it once I have played it and will consider it worthy of being in my list but until then I can’t really speak much about it.
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