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A week back, I worked with our friends at GameDaily to put together a list of the top 10 best NES games. The list, as well as the collaboration caused a bit of controversy.
I knew that some of our picks would stir people up, but both parties involved with creating the list felt that we had hand-picked the cream of the crop to best represent the NES as a whole. Of course, we welcome the criticism and arguments from all gamers out there. You have every right to tell us why we're idiots, and yell at us for forgetting your favorite title! That's why we're working together yet again, and this time we're tackling the SNES.
GameDaily is going through a bit of a revamp, and that directly relates to their lists. Long story short, they know you hate clicking through tons of pages just to see a full list. Well those days are over. On GoNintendo, you're going to get numbers 5 through 1 when it comes to top SNES games. On GameDaily, you'll get their picks for 10 through 6...all on the same page. Hopefully this time around, we'll have a few more titles that you guys will agree with!
How could you not include Mario's first Super Nintendo outing on a list like this? Super Mario World was following up Super Mario Bros. 3, which many consider to be the greatest Mario game of all time, if not the best NES title ever. That sure set the standards high for Mario on his first 16-bit outing. Luckily, Super Mario World was set to not only blow us away with the power of the SNES, but we also gained some extremely memorable moments.
If Super Mario World didn't come around, we may have never met Yoshi! The green dino is one of Nintendo's most beloved characters in today's age, but back then he was brand-new! We got to explore a completely fresh game world, all while galloping away on our new pal's back. Throw in another round of awesome power-ups, hidden levels that opened up a new aspect of exploration, and the fantastic soundtrack, and you have one game that's very worthy of a top-10 list.
Square and Nintendo teaming up to fully flesh-out the world of the Mushroom Kingdom. Who would have seen that collaboration coming?! I knew I didn't, and even though I am not an RPG fan, this is one of the few titles in the genre that I just knew I needed to own. Magazine previews not only showed how gorgeous the game was, we also got to see the amount of care Square was taking with the Mario franchise. This title was an absolute dream for Mario fans.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars still stands up to this very day. Before it hit the Virtual Console, it was one of the most-requested VC additions, according to Nintendo Power. Setting out as Mario on an epic journey unlike any other at that point in time, Super Mario RPG showed us that the plumber could do a lot more than just stomping on Goombas. While we loved the game then and love it now, little did we know that this title would mark a 10-year drought for Square's presence on Nintendo platforms. At least they gave us one hell of a parting gift!
I am yet to play another Mario title that is quite like Super Mario World: Yoshi's Island. There's just something about the game that is undeniably charming. You could go on and on about the visuals, which do indeed play a huge part in the vibe that the game creates...but it's the title as a whole that really makes it stand out. One of Nintendo's finest achievements.
Babysitting Mario while taking control of Yoshi sure doesn't sound like a path to success. As a matter of fact, a few magazines didn't really care for the game back in those days. Surprisingly, the title has aged ridiculously well, almost acting as a wine of the video game industry. It has gotten better with age, and even those that used to be against it have now warmed up. It takes one hell of a powerful game to do that to a person.
Chrono Trigger deserves to be on this list for the soundtrack alone. Just thinking of the classic tunes gives me goosebumps. I still manage to hit on the soundtrack at least once during a week. There's really nothing else quite like it, and that goes for today's games. Such a fine audio achievement back in the days of 16-bit sound is an absolutely staggering accomplishment.
The reason Chrono Trigger is so loved isn't just for the soundtrack, but for the gameplay as well. What a revolution RPG for its time. Multiple storylines, well written dialog, characters that you care about, and plenty of reasons to start your quest over again. Square just can't seem to recapture what made Chrono Trigger so special, which is why fans treasure it today more than ever. Thankfully, a brand-new generation of gamers is getting to experience this masterpiece through the DS port, which was one of top quality. A fitting treatment for such a watershed title.
In my eyes, Super Metroid is the finest game ever created. Everything from soundtrack to gameplay seems like the pinnacle of gaming. I don't think there's any other game developer out there that has matched the quality of Super Metroid, and that goes for the Big N themselves. This is a title that almost all game developers look up to, and have pulled numerous bits of inspiration from. Everyone may have known Samus from Metroid, but they began their love obsession with Super Metroid.
Not only did this game push the boundaries of gaming in general, it maxed out what the SNES could do. A massive map was once again left open for gamers to explore, but the action/adventure aspect of Super Metroid is so well planned out that it's nothing but sheer enjoyment from start to finish. Of course, you have to mention the soundtrack, as it finalizes the incredible atmosphere that the game presents you with. There's no other title out there that really immerses me like Super Metroid does. This title is the crowning achievement of the game industry. Super Metroid showed us what games could be, and now we know that it doesn't take sophisticated graphics to make an unparalleled adventure.
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I also think Super Metroid deserves number 1. It is teh awesome. ^_^
Oh and yeah I think ALTTP should be somewhere in the top 5 >.<
I tried playing Super Metroid again a few days ago.. Every year or so I pop it in thinking 'no maybe I was wrong about this game and the internet is right'. Not yet, not this time. In all my years on this good earth I will never understand why anyone even LIKES Super Metroid, let alone consider it to be the best game ever made. Now, I like the idea of open world platforming and I love Zero Mission and Metroid Prime, as well as the newer Castlevania games, but Super Metroid is so borderline terrible that, in my eyes, it's almost criminal that it even makes it onto so many Top #x Games of All Time lists, let alone so close to the top.
The level design is the biggest offender here in that it's so counter intuitive and far removed from what the game's actually about. Something like this with so many powerups spread out and given to you in short intervals should have much better pacing of exploration. You unlock a new powerup, new areas in the immediate vicinity as well as obvious spots earlier in the game become accessible. This is true for most other games of this sort, but not Super Metroid. In SM it's more along the lines of 'Get powerup, continue to roll around and Morph Ball Bomb every nook and cranny of every room to see if it happens to lead to another room, possibly cross said other room with a new power, rinse, repeat". The gunplay is slow and not nearly as fun as it is in the newer installments, the boss battles were underwhelming, and the jumping physics are an absolute travesty. I'm not gonna lie, I hate this game..
Where's A Link to the Past??? you guys are kidding right?
Joking aside, it's a nice list overall. Maybe it should be a top 20 or 30 though so people aren't always asking "where's _______?"
yoshi's island was a fun platformer but I would never hold it even higher than the donkey kong country series. It just doesn't click with me.
"Thankfully, a brand-new generation of gamers is getting to experience this masterpiece through the DS port, which was one of top quality."
What? The port was quality? I thought people boycotted the port because it was nothing more than a direct port (with a few worthless extras) overpriced because Square hates standard pricing.
Super Mario RPG is decent, but I kinda felt it was a bit on the shallow end, and not top 5 material for any list. Unless its a list of RPGs starring Mario. Just the fact that Super Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger are the only two RPGs on the list makes me wonder if those are the only you you've played?
As for the rest of list... Star Fox is good, but to say its a top ten on the SNES is overrating the game a bit. Super Street Fighter II doesn't even belong on just being an arcade port that is obsolete today because of so many better ports of it existing today.
They both play similiar to each other, but I don't know if a game should take a spot over Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
I see that in both NES and SNES lists, a top-down action adventure like Zelda is absent. Do you guys not like that type of game?
Well, narrowing down the 10 best games for SNES is pretty tough when nearly every SNES game was awesome.
>They both play similar to each other
Yoshi's Island and SMW are so different from each other than I can hardly think of two platformers that are more different. You either didn't play very much in one of them or you didn't play one of them at all.
Oh, they do, do they?
Also, Super Metroid is the b**** of every nostalgia idiot.
...at least this list is a bit better than the last one. I still prefer less GameDaily in my GoNintendo, thanks.
I feel the same way. Donkey Kong Country just wasn't all that fun to me.
I think Super Mario RPG is a bit overrated too. Square just took Final Fantasy and slapped Mario on it. It makes for a good RPG I guess, but it doesn't hold a candle to what Alphadreams did with the Mario & Luigi RPGs. They made something incredibly unique.
I'd have to say Yoshi's Island is my favorite SNES game.
Felt boring. The gameplay concepts work soooo much better in 3D.
Thank goodness.
@AdolRed
you call it a crime for people to put Super Metroid on top 10 lists? you clearly never understood what made Super Metroid, not only the best game on the SNES, but one of the greatest games ever made. the level design is absolutely spectacular and the music fits more with super metroid than any other game's music fit in with their game. the bosses are certainly not underwhelming, you must not have gotten to Ridley, because that is one of the most intense and difficult boss battles ever in video games. oh and you dont go morph ball and bombing every nook in crany to get powerups, maybe thats why you thought the game was bad cuz you played it incorrectly.
again Super Metroid is the best game of its time and in my eyes, its a crime to dislike this game. you dislike this game, you are not a gamer.
I don't know what game you played, but it was definately not Super Metroid.
Not having Final Fantasy VI on this list at all is ridiculous. Super Punch Out? No.
No Final Fantasy VI...
No Earthbound....
No F-Zero....
-JJBro1
I know it's personal preference, but, WAH???
It set the atmosphere perfectly for the story. They were mind blowing then, and today, you can still readily see the attention to detail and care put into them. As far as I'm concerned, they still remain "sophisticated graphics", and look better than most current Wii games.
But yeah, lack of:
Super Star Wars
Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2
Final Fantasy IV and VI
Super Castlevania IV
Batman Returns
Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
Alien 3
There's quite a few more to add here.
I'd say "too many Mario games", but each of those titles really WERE good games.
"Top 10" is too short for the types of selections made. You guys really should do a "Top 20".
Anyway, I just beat Metroid Fusion for the first time last night, I'm going to have to play Super Metroid tonight.
You need to do one of these top 10 lists for N64 and GBA!
Please, keep your fallacies in your pocket.
What the heck are you talking about?
Are you sure you're not mistaking this to another game? If you are sure... I don't know what to say. I respect your opinion, but it's the first time I've seen someone strongly complaining the game, yet alone hating it. There wasn't yet any hype train that I was aware of when I got to play this game early on in some expo and and I hadn't played a Metroid game before and it was a very amazing experience.
When I got to fully experience it, it was a blast from the beginning to the end. And oh the end! I haven't played a game with such an epic final part.
Anyways, I think the level design and overall mood of the game are among the very best in video game history. The gameplay may be a little unforgiving and awkward at times.
I too am baffled by the lack of Zelda in this list. It's like making a list of top 10 activities that humans can do and leave out sex. I haven't been this baffled since some guy made a top list of mega man tunes and left out Dr. Wily's stage from MM2 (Okkusenman), I really felt it was a troll list, you can't leave such an epic and incredibly catchy tune out, no way.
On personal note, I never had more fun with a SNES game than Super Mario Kart and I am surprised not to see it in this list also, but I can understand it.
Or that's journalism en generale. Might be worse with lists, though. ALttP is one of the best Zelda games, it easily beats out every other SNES game for me.
Yes, Super Metroid is awesome.
Yes, but the level design is my strongest complaint. All the atmosphere in the world means nothing when 'exploration' is just 'bomb everything, wait until you get lucky, rinse, repeat'
Same situation for me. Although I thought it was unworthy for some different reasons.
I agree more with the GoNintendo list, but the 1st place winner just angers me. It's just me, but Chrono Tigger should've aced this list, fair and square.
I can't even begin to imagine what kind of mindset or perspective you hold to this game but it still seems like we're talking about completely different games. I can understand complains about the gameplay as it would need some polish.
Maybe back in the day, it was immense and amazing, but to me... just.. no.
Also... ALTTP?
And Super Mario World should be top! 110% 96 levels of pure colourful fun!
Super Metroid is that amazing and then some, though.
Overall decent list. It could have been better and I would have picked some different choices, but it's pretty fair.
That may be, until you learn to master the controls (which shouldn't take too long, save walljumping), then it's a real joy to play.
What do you mean with "no real direction to the game"? It's not linear enough or..? Unless you're a really bad gamer, shooting enemies in 8 directions should quickly become automatic.
Also Super Mario World had far less than 96 levels. There were 96 exits in far smaller number of levels.
"he level design is absolutely spectacular."
It's crap. It's a mesh up of identical, forgettable rooms.
"the bosses are certainly not underwhelming, you must not have gotten to Ridley, because that is one of the most intense and difficult boss battles ever in video games."
You must be pretty bad to think Ridley is a difficult fight.
"oh and you dont go morph ball and bombing every nook in crany to get powerups, maybe thats why you thought the game was bad cuz you played it incorrectly."
If anyone ever had the need to bomb every nook and cranny, that means the game wasn't clear on what to do. And that's artificially extending gameplay time. Super Metroid might deserve being on the list, but most definitively not as #1.
Also, No ALTTP? FFVI?
No Earthbound?
And, Super Punch-Out? Really?
"It's crap. It's a mesh up of identical, forgettable rooms."
"You must be pretty bad to think Ridley is a difficult fight."
"If anyone ever had the need to bomb every nook and cranny, that means the game wasn't clear on what to do. And that's artificially extending gameplay time. Super Metroid might deserve being on the list, but most definitively not as #1."
Were you playing the original Metroid and not Super Metroid?
It's already being labeled one of the best games of its time, OF ITS TIME. Get it? That means that if you grew up with the NES and SNES you'd understand what it meant.
You didn't like it? fine. You would play it again and again and wouldn't get it anyways, but it's done.
But seriously. A Link to the Past should always, always ALWAYS be in at LEAST the Top 3.
no kidding. A Link to the Past didn't even make the list. It's at least better than SFII and Super Punch Out! I'd put it at #2, behind SMW.
Positive.
@NeroSuferoth
Half of the SNES games are labeled as the best games of all time. What's your point?
@Lord Bubsy
Kirby Super Star's chances on this list were probably doomed from the beginning, with half of it being from Chris Buffa. He had put KSS at #3 in GameDaily's top ten Kirby games list, then turned around in and trashed the game in his Kirby Super Star Ultra review, with numerous complaints that all but confirmed he never played it the first time.
Anyway, I'd probably replace Yoshi's Island with DK Country 1 or 2 (or both somehow lol). Zelda needs love too.
Exactly that.. what else is there to be explained?
Needs more Earthbound
Needs less Super Mario RPG
Needs less Super Metroid
EarthBound >>>>> Chrono Trigger
Personally DKC2 is one of my favorite games of all time. Great graphics, great soundtrack, great game play. It's just a fun experience and definitely should have been on this list.
I don't see why street fighter II is in here at all either. It's a wasted slot truthfully. Anyways heres my top 10.
10.Pilotwings
9.F-Zero
8.Super Mario RPG
7.Super Mario World
6.Donkey Kong Country 2
5.Super Mario World 2
4.Super Metriod
3.Earth Bound
2.Chrono Trigger
1.The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past
something like that.
I agree, I would have thrown on EarthBound. Probably DKC2 as well (it's better than DKC1, that doesn't need to be on here).
Overall it's a good list. Better than the NES one, that's for sure. I mean, Zelda 2? Really?
I actually like the lack of Zelda because it's nice to see a list that it doesn't claim the top spot of for once.
"All the atmosphere in the world means nothing when 'exploration' is just 'bomb everything, wait until you get lucky, rinse, repeat'"
You didn't even play far enough to get the x-ray vision thing?
Those are all A-grade games... so stop whining people. If you DON'T like them, you should probably start viewing your hatred as a dislike for that GENRE. GET OVER IT.
You must have terrible perception because Super Metroid does a very good job of pointing out fake blocks and such. Don't blame the game just because you can't notice just because you can't follow patterns.
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