Nick D's Top 20 SNES Faves!

20)Clay Fighter(1993)-In the 90's video game landscape, fighting games were all the rage, and from lining up to pump quarters in the arcade where Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat franchises reigned supreme, gamers were anxious as they waited for those games to hit the Super Nintendo so they could play the games at home. However, just like now, there were those yuppy parents and even more yuppy government officials that were strongly against violence in video games, especially excessive amounts of blood. So what did this mean? Well eventually Nintendo did allow blood in Mortal Kombat II, but they also toned down a lot of their other fighting games, making them a bit more child friendly. This game is a prime example, though I wonder if the creators and Nintendo made this unusual game out of spite to those who were so against blood in video games, because there is no blood in this game at all, and why would there be, all of the characters are animated with a cartoony, claymation look to them. It's like the creators of Gumby got wasted and hung out with pissed off game developers, and thus this unique addition to the Super Nintendo game collection was born, and what a game it was. While other, more serious fighting games have the goal being to overthrow a bad guy or being a world champion in a fighting circuit, these "warriors" were fighting for a much more prestigious prize..KING OF THE CIRCUS. No, that wasn't yours truly having an acid trip, this is legit people. Gone are the ninjas, sumo wrestlers, and kickboxers, and in their place is a stereotypical fat viking opera singer, The Blob(no not THAT Blob), a yellow Taffy creature, and an old Elvis impersonator called Blue Suede Goo(not a typo). However, the most well known of these "fighters" was Bad Mr, Frosty, a snowman that would rather impale his opponents with snowballs then dance and say "Happy birthday!" This game is very entertaining, even downright hilarious at points, but the end boss leaves a lot to be desired. You'd think a game that has so many unique and bizarre characters wouldn't have a simple giant circle with eyes as the king of the circus, but alas, I guess the Gumby creators sobered up by that point and couldn't think of a decent boss for the end. Sadly(or perhaps not) this game franchise reached its peak after the second Clayfighter, and no terrible Claymates or Clayfighter 63 1/3 for the Nintendo 64 could save it. Could the Wii be the answer to save this seemingly forgotten game?

19)Tecmo Super Bowl III: The Final Edition(1995)-Ah the joys of Tecmo Super Bowl, which if anyone took the annoyingly long time to read my last article knows is a series I feel surpasses the flashier Madden football series in every aspect, but sadly this was our last true installment of what was a fixture in the early days of football games, but thankfully Tecmo went all out with this one to leave us with a great memory of something we all loved as fans of the franchise. This game featured the first year that then expansion teams Carolina and Jacksonville were in play(and boy did they both suck), not to mention the ability to put your friends in the game on their favorite teams(that's at least what I did). The gameplay was superb with the additions of spins and straight arms, and the weather affected the game even more than it would in early editions. There was one notably flaw in this game, and I was shocked to see this, the complete disappearance of music in the game. I guess the noobs that hated the classic tunes were a strong enough group to protest the game to be silent in that area, which is a shame, because Tecmo was amazing in that regard. Still, Tecmo Super Bowl 3 was a proper send off to a football franchise that really needs to make a true comeback.

18)Sim City(1991)-Long before the days when The Sims addicted us to the ideas of being evil and setting innocent computer animated humans to their death by removing the ladder in the pool and drowning them, or making them light themselves on fire while cooking(admit it, you did both) we were given the original pleasure of creating(and destroying) our own city, starting from a little village and then hopefully building into a bustling metropolis in the clever Sim City. Sure, gamers may always prefer the PC versions of this series, but the SNES version was nothing to sneeze at. In some ways it was even easier to play then its computer brother and just as fun and addicting. The game featured a huge library of maps to choose from to build your new city, and you dealt with everything from pollution, to tornados, even a monster attack from everyone's favorite Mario villian Bowser! I feel the best games are those that never lose their charm with age, those that entertained you at age 10, and still do well into your 30's and Sim City definitely earns its stripes as that type of game, and hey, what is cooler than a mayor with green hair? Nope, I can't think of anything either.

17)Looney Tunes B-Ball(1994)-Picture this. Game developers in the 90's could only seem to grasp putting a franchise of characters in a go kart type game, but somehow, putting them in a sports game seemed like too far fetched an idea for the time. Heck, even Mario and friends were only driving go karts other than their usual gig of stomping things and hitting those blocks with question marks. It would be several years later before Mario and his buddies would get out of the go karts and hit every sport imaginable, and something tells me they took a bit of advice from the folks who created this awesome title. I mean, come on, basketball, which is a fun game even if you suck at it(look no further then yours truly), and add the most legendary cast of cartoons in history. It's a total win win situation for game creators and gamers. I used to play this game for hours, and it was truly a very unique game. Sure, you could shoot 3 pointers with Marvin The Martian or slam dunk it with Bugs himself, but there was something so amazing about using tricks against your opponents, from putting a bomb in the ball, to pulling out a classic cartoon staple like dropping an anvil on your poor unsuspecting victim's head. The voice acting was spot on and this game is a rare find for most collectors, and as one, I'd say its definitely worth hitting up a video game store or a flea market.

16)Saturday Night Slam Masters(1994)-For some reason that has yet to be truly explained, wrestling games on the early Nintendo systems were hit and miss. Some of them provided all the action you can pack into an SNES cartridge, while others were just moneymakers trying to cash in on the rising popularity of wrestling games. Then there was Saturday Night Slam Masters, a combination of like a beat em' up and a wrestling game all mashed into one exciting game that really offered something for everyone. There were two modes in this game, one where you go after the title, and the second which was like a tag team tournament. The characters were diverse in that they didn't sport any WWF or WCW wrestlers, but wrestlers and fighters with names like The Great Oni(my personal fave) and the final opponent Black Scorpion, who could execute moves that would make Ric Flair and Bret Hart shake in their respective boots. Sure, the "theme music" for each wrestler was kind of generic, and the moves definitely suspended logic(and physics in some instances) but I think the fact this was wrestling "out of the box" so to speak, really brought gamers back time and time again. Another nice touch of this game is after you defeated someone, they'd show them all bloody and beat up with a little quote from them, shameful and downtrodden. Everyone who played this game also had that one opponent they truly hated to face. Mine was Haggar(who was also in Final Fight, more on that in a second) who used every powerslam and powerbomb he could on you and with his long burly arms was a pain in the butt to avoid. He also was the king of cheap wins. You'd be beating him up all match, only for him to grab you, slam you, then repeat the process until your health and his were both low, then he'd pin you in some cheesy roll up or something. Yeah, I don't miss that guy, but I do miss this game.

15)Final Fight(1991)-Three years prior and in another game, Haggar wasn't as annoying. In fact, he was a bad ass mayor who chose to fight a gang of thugs that were polluting his city with crime. Seriously, would an American mayor ever really do that? I know Doherty never would, the weird head shaped bastard. Anywho, Haggar and the not as big of a badass Cody are faced with the challenge of cleaning up Metro City(original name), in order to save Haggar's daughter Jessica from the evil clutches of the Mad Gear crimelords. So what if it sounds like a Van Dam movie from hell, its much more entertaining. I think this is one of the first beat em' up games where the enemies were actually more entertaining then the actual characters you got to choose from. Sure, Cody threw some mean punches and kicks, and Haggar would powerbomb and clothesline his way through poor victims, but to me, the enemies were more colorful, especially the seemingly 7'5" 70's edition Andre The Giant look alikes that would choke you and slam you into the ground for making fun of their accents(well not really, but I had to give them a reason and if I was a French giant, I'd hate people dissing my accent). There's also bosses with nightsticks that look like relatives of the late Big Boss Man, a wrestler who stole Vega's claw from Street Fighter II, and a generic greaseball boss. Final Fight had two sequels, along with a special edition of the original that allowed you to use the martial arts expert Guy, but still nothing beats the original as it was first presented. I wouldn't put this game on par with the greatness of the Double Dragon series, but it still does a pretty good job of making you mash buttons as you kick and punch your way to victory.

14)NBA Jam(1993)-The first time my brother informed me about this game in the arcades, I really didn't understand what he was getting at. Basketball in just a two on two format? I really didn't see the appeal in it, but like all games that change the course of video games, you had to experience the game itself to truly understand it. While the arcade version was certainly better, the SNES version was probably the best home console version of it. The pushing, the steals, the blocks, and of course, the legendary "He's on fire!" commentary, this game took all the fun of traditional basketball video games and totally obliterated the little box most developers put it in. It was a delight in its nonsensical slam dunks and fiery shots, and it holds a special place in my heart because it was at Blockbuster's Video Game Championships that I placed first in the area's highest score in a period(32 points!) and it was so cool to see my name at the store for everyone to see. I was so proud of that honor, even though in the end it didn't earn me anything but a pin and bragging rights. NBA Jam, sadly, isn't what it used to be, and even though it has tried so hard to reinvent itself, it can never capture the hearts of gamers everywhere like it did in the 90's.

13)Killer Instinct(1995)-The voice that simply says "Killer Instinct" really brings us into the game in an amazing way. Its an ominous feeling you get, but also one that really pumps you up and gets you ready for the game. Killer Instinct does have the blood and gore of Mortal Kombat, but it has a combo system that puts other fighting games of the time to shame. While there are "fatalities" of sorts in the game, they're rather difficult to perform(or at least they were for me). I really liked the backstory around the game of a crooked corporation investing in scientific research that goes wrong. My favorite character was always Cinder, the glowing orange flame fighter, but most young men around this time probably preferred the only woman in the game, Orchid, who was famous for both the cheesiest level music, and also the biggest boobs not on a woman named Dolly or Pamela(if ya catch my drift). Killer Instinct never got the props it deserved. Its sad that it pretty much met its doom in the Nintendo 64 Killer Instinct Gold. The original had great graphics, decent music, and characters that could have been fleshed out.

12)Street Fighter II(1992)-Most of the time, a video game's original debut gets all the hype, all the praise, and all of the glory, but in this case the opposite is true. A lot of people forget there even was an original Street Fighter, and for good reason, the game was terrible. Still, the makers of this franchise at Capcom weren't about to give up and go quietly in the night. In Street Fighter II, characters that became staples in the series really took center stage, from the karate fighting Ryu and Ken, to the arrogant and stylish fighter Vega, this game really brought fighting games into dominance in the 90's. Sure Mortal Kombat had the blood and all the crazy finishers, but Street Fighter was there first, and they continue to carry the banner here in 2010 and beyond. I definitely remember pumping quarters into this arcade game, and when it came home to the SNES I couldn't stop playing it.

11)Mortal Kombat II(1994)-When the original Mortal Kombat hit the SNES, hardcore fans of the arcade phenom were appauled. Not because the game was terrible, it was a great port from the arcade, but there was one glaring problem, the complete lack of blood that was a huge part of the original. Nintendo, catering to those yuppy parents of the 1990's(There's even more now) they were forced to remove the blood in the original Mortal Kombat, and while initial sales were superb, the original Mortal Kombat began to wane in popularity. Making a smart decision, the second Mortal Kombat for the SNES was even better then the original in making the transition from arcade to home console. It also had blood in it, which was an answered request from gamers of the time. Mortal Kombat II had more characters, including the addition of Shang Tsung as a playable character, and even hidden characters like Smoke and Noob Saiboot, and who can forget the random "Toasty!" from Mr. Boon, one of the game's creators? Need I get into the Friendships and Babalities that also made the game one of the most memorable in the series. Sadly, the series is looking for a return to greatness and is banking a lot of it on the next release scheduled for 2011. Can it capture lightning in a bottle for the second time?

10)Super Street Fighter II(1994)-Yes, the original Street Fighter II was epic, and later, when you could play as some of the final characters, Vega, Balrog, Sagat, and of course, the evil M. Bison, players rejoiced, but this next step in the series was one that truly established Street Fighter as one of the biggest and most successful fighting games in the genre. Whether it was at the arcades or in front of their televisions at home, fans of Street Fighter waited in anticipation to see the new characters that was the selling point of this game. There was the Bruce Lee styling of Fei Long, the headbutting and splashes of the Native American T. Hawk, the reggae beat of Dee Jay, and of course, the lovely Brit Cammy, who made you wonder, among many things, isn't it cold wearing that outfit that clung to her body in the cold winters of England? This Street Fighter really brought new fans to the franchise, with colorful backgrounds in the fighting levels, as well as music that was either enhanced from the original, or something totally new. Definitely a fighting game to remember.

9)Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past(1992)-Fans of the series that were disappointed in The Adventures Of Link for the NES were once again rejoicing in their newfound appreciation for this game. This game was colorful, followed a more appropriate viewpoint then the sidescrolling Zelda 2 and was a challenge for all gamers, Zelda fans or not, from the vast dungeons that made the series famous, to all the sidequests and items you needed to find, there was enough to keep you busy for hours. The Light World and Dark World combination harked back to the first Zelda's second quest. Once again, the creators of Zelda busted through the original borders set by their initial games, as they continue to do to this day. From the always epic music and tone set in this game, to the excellent story and colorful graphics, this is a SNES game you don't want to pass up.

8)Super Mario Kart(1992)-Yeah, yeah, we've all seen Mario jump, run, and smash his way to victory over the evil Bowser and family, but in 1992, Nintendo asked us a somewhat pleasantly absurd question, "Can Mario beat Bowser in a race?" Not just any race mind you, but in go karts(or is it carts?) This was the first time Mario and friends, along with some enemies of the famous plumber, took to the raceways, and it was very well done. Charming music accompanies all the tracks as well as the intro to the game and it didn't take long for fans of the franchise to select their favorite racers that they would religiously choose no matter what. You had the lightning speed of racers like Yoshi, Toad, and Koopa Troopa, the handling of Mario and Luigi, and the brute strength to bump other racers off the track from Bowser and Donkey Kong respectfully. You had all sorts of items that would flash on top of your screen when you rode over a question block, from red and green Koopa shells, a Star Man, and the ever useless feather(seriously, they couldn't have put a fire flower in there instead?) Every circuit ended with the top three racers celebrating as a giant blowfish spits out a trophy, the winner doing something clever with a bottle of champagne(Yes kids, proof Nintendo endorsed drinking back in the day..well maybe.) This game is truly addicting, because even when you have completed all circuits, there's time trial and battle mode options that keep the game going. I can remember playing the battle mode section with so many different friends and family members, and it was always nail biting, teeth grinding fun.

7)Final Fantasy III(1994)-Or Final Fantasy VI, for you Japanese gamers out there(Tell Mr. Miyagi I said hi!), this game truly ended all doubts from critics as to whether Final Fantasy was THE RPG series of the era. So many subplots and side missions to choose from, you never knew what twist or turn in the game would take you. Then there's the music, what more can be said but if you're a fan of the series this game had some of the most legendary tunes in an RPG at the time, with graphics that greatly improved on the initial two NES versions of this beloved franchise. The game challenged you to remember little bits of information, like secret passages, passwords, and items you would need later on in the game. There were treasure hunters, ninjas, and of course, Moggles, who could forget them? Did I mention this game also had A FLYING CASTLE in it? I don't care how many super guns or boomerangs you claim to have, unless you have a flying castle, you're pretty much talking out your ass.

6)Super Punch Out!!(1994)-While certainly not as critically acclaimed or loved as its predecessor, Super Punch Out combined elements from both the NES and arcade versions of the original, along with some new names that added to the greatness of this sequel. I will admit that my first tour of this game was less than stellar, and there are still moments in this game when I get so frustrated that I want to stomp on my SNES controller, but thankfully good sense prevails. This game was really out there in some of the attacks that your opponents used on you, which while creative, kind of took away from the basic premise of boxing, making me loathe the old man with the staff(or as I called him, the old man with the huge stale bread stick!) and the evil clown throwing circus balls at you(Yep, I just said circus balls, laugh you pre teens, laugh!) It was nice to take on old favorites like Bald Bull and Super Macho Man, but I was saddened that there was no King Hippo.(That's racism against fat dudes with tape on their bellies from Hippo Island!) Super Punch Out is super addicting(yeah I know, I'm a lamewad) and I think that's why I rate it so highly.

5)Donkey Kong Country(1994)-Even though they had been around years either, no one really knew who RARE was until they blew every gamers' mind with this masterpiece of a game, and it was fitting because if one guy needed his own game without that pesky plumber around to hog all the glory, it was Donkey Kong. Not only that, but Diddy Kong came along for the ride as well, with each of them having their own personalities and skills that were both needed to complete the game. Diddy Kong would cartwheel his way through enemies, while ol' DK uses a more direct approach of rolling them over or slamming his hands on the ground. The graphics gave you this illusion like they were 3D, and it became a staple of RARE games of the era. As much as it was a blast going through jungles, jumping on those gator guys and laughing with Cranky Kong went all apeshit(yeah I said it) on you, it was the music that really put this game so far above anything of the time. I can relax no matter what is wrong with me when the ocean level music comes on. Its one of my favorite tunes of all time in video games. Donkey Kong Country is so good, its making a comeback today, and if history is any indication, look for the franchise to once again revolutionize gaming.

4)Mega Man X(1993)-Just when Mega Man fanatics thought they had seen the premature death of the franchise with Mega Man 7, along to answer our prayers was Mega Man X, a new Mega Man with flashier moves, a charging X Buster that put the little yellow pellet shooting arm pistol of the past to shame, and with a soundtrack that sticks with you as you play, from the opening scene to the Iron Eagle stage(If you don't think that song is awesome you have serious issues) we are treated to music that really sets the tone for the game. Capsules give X new weapons, and oh yeah, YOU CAN USE RYU'S FIREBALL! I'm not joking, look it up slick. This game also features the debut of the ultra bad ass Zero, who may I add makes Proto Man like a total bag o' douche in comparison. While other Mega Man X sequels came in file after this, nothing compares to the original, and this is a highly prized possession for most SNES collectors and gamers alike.

3)Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles In Time(1992)-It's no secret to readers of my NES Top 20 that I was a huge TMNT fan during my youth(and I'm not about to stop now!) and this game was one I used to spend so many hours playing I actually got blisters on my thumbs. The arcade version is better, but the SNES port is no slouch. Each Turtle has unique moves with their weapons, but also attacks that are universal in all four, and boy do they kick some shell! You can grab a Foot Soldier and slam him back and forth by an arm, not to mention, THROW THEM INTO A 3D TOSS! It looks like they're coming right through your tv set in all their glitchy pixelated glory. This game features some classic Turtle enemies, from Shredder and Krang, to even Metalhead and Leatherface! It was cool to travel back in time with our heroes, and then into the future, finally taking out Shredhead in the end, saving the world, and once again proving that there's nothing that can stop 4 famous Italian named ninja turtles. This game has tremendous replay value, even if you're not a fan of the Lean Mean Green Machines(ok enough of these lame jokes).

2)Earthbound(1995)-Some gamers know what I'm talking about when ranking this game so high. Others have no clue what this game is, and for those of you who fall into the latter category I must warn you, this game is somewhat of an enigma, a Rubex Cube that cannot easily be solved. Yes, Earthbound is an RPG, but its certainly not your standard fare. Gone are elves, warriors, archers, and goblins, and in its place are a kid with a baseball bat and backpack, a girl with psychic powers, a brainiac who can fix practically anything, and a mystical ninja warrior that uses star magic. Gone are the deep, complex dialogues, and we get cheesy, campy, and downright hilarious humor sprinkled throughout. In the story, Giygas, an evil creature destroys the future, as it is prophecized. Your job is to stop him in the present before his plan can truly come to pass. Animals and humans alike are corrupted by Giygas mind powers and its up to you and your friends to set them all free. This game features memorable music for each town and event, and colorful graphics and characters that stay with you. You don't save your game at just inns(or in this game, hotels) but also wherever there is a phone. You get money from an ATM, which gets deposits from your unseen dad. You fight all over Eagleland, from Onett, even inside your dreams, and lastly in the future, against Pokey, your former best friend, now enemy, and Giygas. This game is long, challenging, and charming in its simplicity, but don't let its childish looks fool you, this is still RPG that packs quite a punch, and the way developers went against the grain to present a new dimension to a basic premise begs the question..when will Earthbound make its way onto the Wii?

1)Chrono Trigger(1995)-Epic. Timeless. Breathtaking. These are just three of the words I use to describe my favorite game for the SNES. No other classic game could convince me to play $50 for it 15 years after its debut. Now before you lock me up in a padded cell for doing such a bizarre thing, allow me to defend my actions. This was a non Final Fantasy production by Squaresoft and in every way it trumped the big guy in the company by encompassing so many things into one game-enthralling characters, memorable music, killer weapons and skills used during battles, and a storyline that travels through time where everything you do affects things later on in the game. What other RPG could do that in 1995? Go ahead, name one. That's right, this is the only one, and for that alone it really captured my interest. While I have never defeated the evil Lavos, I did get pretty close once or twice. This game lures you into a false sense of security, making you feel like you've got a good handle on things, only to blow you off the map with an exciting moment or a challenge that really makes you wonder if you can hack it in this masterpiece of a game. This game features a talking frog knight who speaks with a medieval tongue, a dancing robot, and even an Amazon woman to choose for your party. If you're looking for an RPG that has it all and doesn't have a single boring moment, look no further. This game is ranked high among a lot of gamers, and with good reason, as its never been properly duplicated in a sequel. Rumors are it may emerge in the next year or so, but for now, we must appreciate this classic. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Ah ha! I finally did it! For my next edition, I'm going way back in time to the Atari years, where graphics didn't matter and it was all about having fun. Until next time, keep on playing!