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Now we’re talking! F-Zero is a gnarly fast futuristic racing game that slams your eyes with supersonic mode 7 graphics, pounds your ears with kick ass high tempo music and keeps you coming back for more with great controls that feel perfect when barreling around corners at rapid speeds. Sega loved to talk about its incredible speed advantage over the SNES with its Blast Processing but games like F-Zero proved to debunk that theory by showcasing virtual tempo that had never been achieved before (even by Sonic) in the 16-bit era. Choke on Nintendo’s super-powered dust Sega!

Check out my Retro Review for F-Zero here

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A new spin-off for the Mega Man series after its first jump to a new system, Mega Man X still feels similar to the original in the sense that it has incredible music mixed with a super engaging “run and gun” gameplay style that feels perfectly rythmic from beginning to end. Pushing the Super Nintendo hardware with amazing aesthetics, Mega Man X is without a doubt one of the most satisfying action games on the system and a worthy new leap for the franchise. Mad props to Armored Armadillo for his rad stage of musical bliss and easy item farming. Robot bats- the gift that keeps on giving!

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“We know that we messed up with the first one… but we’ve got blood now!” Even though I owned the first Mortal Kombat on the SNES and loved it despite its lack of splattering gore with every successful hit, I simply could not wait to get my hands on Mortal Kombat II when it arrived and it provided not only all the crimson plasma I could ever dream of but a near arcade-perfect port with outstanding graphics, controls and sound. Despite an early reluctance to allow this game to display its explicit detail, I’m glad that Nintendo saw the error of their ways and cranked up the ‘tude to the max on this one, increasing its authenticity to the source material for the gazillion rabid fatality fans out there (like me). Mortal Kombat II… now with decapitations!

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Featuring the best whip action in any Castlevania game, Super Castlevania IV also includes catchy music, wicked mode 7 visuals and extremely addictive gameplay in a 16-bit upgrade of the original game. The stand out here for me is the mega awesome and fully controllable whip which lets you attack in whatever direction you want Contra style, creating the simplest and most in command combat system in the entire series. The hardest part though is disciplining yourself from flailing the darn thing around like a pom-pom girl in a ridiculous fashion which is equal parts addicting and unproductive (just… can’t… help… myself). No matter though, when the vampire killing action is this good you could give me a pool noodle as a weapon for all I care!

Check out my Retro Review for Super Castlevania IV here

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While the SNES employed a multitude of excellent beat ’em up games, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles In Time still ranks as my personal favorite on the system with its outstanding arcade-quality graphics, extremely memorable sound effects & musical tracks and super fun gameplay that is easy to slam in no matter if your playing alone or with friends. Still to date the best TMNT game released on a home console, Turtles In Time is as high-quality a title that you’ll find on the Super Nintendo and The Shredder and co. have never been so fun to take down from the comfort of your living room. PIZZA TIME!!!

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One of the greatest and most memorable SNES games of all time, The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past returns to the top-down formula of the original and succeeds greatly with a vivid graphical design, simple control scheme and addictive dungeon romping gameplay style that presents players with a perfectly fun and accessible challenge that’s not nearly as cryptic as its predecessors (even going so far to include a “top secret” hint book along with a super thick and informative instruction manual). Link’s first adventure in 16-bits is a welcome one as A Link To The Past remains firmly entrenched within the greatest games of all time discussion let alone the Super Nintendo itself by upgrading the original’s recipe in all the right ways. Also… this is the first Zelda game to introduce my favorite item of all time – the Hook shot… BOING!

Check out my Retro Review for The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past here

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An incredible achievement of complex character design and creative story progression, Final Fantasy III ranks as my personal favorite rpg on a system chalked full of great’s. The closest thing to a cinematic experience that can be found on a 16-bit console in my opinion, Final Fantasy III delivers in every way with a deep battle system, operatic soundtrack, beautiful visual style and engrossing cast of characters all encompassed by a rich and deep story that carries through from start to finish. Setting a new bar of narrative excellence for video games, Final Fantasy III completely rules and still ranks #1 in the entire long-running series for me with its engaging design and aesthetic quality. All right guys this time we’re being serious… this REALLY is the final one (most inappropriately named franchise ever)!

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Man, this game still surprises me how far up it is on this list considering its humble beginnings. I was expecting absolutely nothing when I first heard about it and was more than blown away the first time I laid eyes on it. Donkey Kong Country is a marvelous platform game blending excellent controls, awesome music and fun gameplay with a cool “tagging in” system that works well playing either single or multiplayer. Beautiful in execution and design, Donkey Kong Country succeeds in every way that a platform title should, offering a perfectly accessible challenge into Donkey Kong’s new world of running, jumping and barrel blasting. No matter if your a falling on your face chimp or a savvy rope-swingin’ ape as far as your video game experience goes, Donkey Kong Country is guaranteed to bring the perfectly-balanced kind of fun that your brain just inexplicably craves sometimes regardless of the situation. I don’t care if you crocodiles are walking upright, I’m gonna chuck a barrel directly into your face unless you give me back my NANA’s!!!

Check out my Retro Review for Donkey Kong Country here

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With an outstanding combination of atmospheric level design, beautifully layered graphics, engagingly immersive gameplay, pinpoint-precise controls and an ominously appropriate soundtrack, Super Metroid ranks as a true masterpiece in the action genre and is without question one of the greatest SNES games of all time let alone one of the greatest single games PERIOD! Evolving the original I.P.’s formula of non-linear progression through item acquisition to previously unimaginative heights, Super Metroid ups every possible ante in every possible category over its predecessors as it whisks players on an amazing alien adventure that will leave you hooked all the way through from the “calm before the storm” early on in the Brinstar caverns to each epic showdown with the space pirate quartet Kraid, Phantoon, Draygon, Ridley and beyond! Tasked with guiding the bounty hunter Samus Aran through the infested innards of the planet Zebes utilizing a combination of customizable projectile attacks, innovative platforming maneuvers, unique item usage and a proportionally balanced save system previously unseen in titles of this magnitude, Super Metroid blends all the best 2-D components a gamer could ever ask for into one single rewardingly contemporary design showcasing top marks across all boards amidst an expertly balanced difficulty curve that never feels completely out of your reach. Standing apart as the top console exclusive of the powerful SNES, Super Metroid revs its consoles’ RPM’s to their redline peak giving players an insanely fun experience and Nintendo a new drawing partner to pair with their already established franchises – Super Mario Bros. & The Legend of Zelda respectively. 

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The world’s best arcade fighting game made a near-perfect transition to the SNES with every one of its entries on the system and there’s simply no way that I could pick just one so it is what it is. My level of excitement was tough to contain during the good ole 2-D fighting game days and no series satisfied the arcade fighter at home necessity better than Street Fighter II. Whether battling against the computer or a room full of friends, no game franchise was more valuable to me on the SNES than this one and it remains fondly remembered for helping cure an overwhelming fever of Street Fighter withdrawals after leaving the arcades as a kid. I can still remember with individual appreciation how happy I was to receive each one of these at different times during my young SNES ownership which finally allowed me to practice at home and train myself better for arcade encounters where I had fallen prey to more prepared opponents. Luckily, these 3 titles truly felt like somehow the corresponding giant cabinet had been “smushed” into the tiny confines of each grey cartridge which was beyond amazing for my little mind to try and comprehend at the time and it only got better with each new release. Before long, I was the pro and those same opponents that felt like predators before fell to my might as I strutted through the arcades like a quick-draw cowboy with a reputation. …Ahhhh, the good ole’ days! TIGER!!!

One of the greatest launch titles in the history of video games, Super Mario World provided gamers with boatloads of instant fun and a good showcase of the brand new mode 7 graphical style that would become prevalent throughout the console’s lifespan.

An excellent arcade port and instant cowboy classic, Sunset Riders will have you tingin’ spittoons with gun blasting beat em’ up gameplay combined with bright graphics and an awesome soundtrack.

Still ranking as my personal favorite Madden entry in the 16-bit era, Madden NFL ’94 has just the right blend of arcade simplicity mixed with in-depth simulation and provides gamers with an addictive and engaging gameplay style that will have you wearing a guzzler-hat and cheering out loud whenever you cross that end zone!

The best top-down walk and smack adventure on the system this side of A Link To The Past, Secret Of Evermore is a (typical for the SNES) super-deep rpg offering from Squaresoft where you battle monsters, use alchemy and travel to exotic locations all with the help of your trustee dog at your side.

Going back to the wireframe “view through your character” look of the original arcade version, Super Punch-Out!! knocks out the competition with memorable characters, good graphics and immersive rhythm/timing gameplay that furthers the tradition of Nintendo’s beloved boxing series.

Chrono Trigger, Final Fight series, Contra III: The Alien Wars, Street Fighter Alpha 2, The Lion King, Madden NFL series, Breath of Fire 1 & 2, Space Megaforce, Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Super Bomberman 1 & 2, NBA Jam & NBA Jam T.E., Beavis and Butt-Head, Secret of Mana, Mickey Mania, Tetris Attack, Biker Mice From Mars, The Legend of the Mystical Ninja, Killer Instinct, Super Star Wars series, Pilotwings, ActRaiser 1 & 2, Star Fox, Castlevania: Dracula X, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Total Carnage, R-Type III: The Third Lightning, FIFA Soccer series, Maximum Carnage, Saturday Night Slam Masters, Demon’s Crest, Mortal Kombat series, NHL series, Knights of the Round, E.V.O.: Search For Eden, Bust-A-Move, Captain Commando, Top Gear 1 & 2, Sparkster, Wild Guns, Dirt Trax FX, Earthworm Jim 1 & 2, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Pebble Beach Golf Links, EarthBound, Firepower 2000, ESPN Baseball Tonight, Donkey Kong Country 2 & 3, Super Smash TV, Joe & Mac 1 & 2, NBA Give N’ Go, Prince of Persia, Axelay, Fatal Fury Special, SimCity, Rock n’ Roll Racing, Super Double Dragon, Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball & Ken Griffey Jr’s Winning Run, Magic Sword, Shadowrun, Mega Man X2 and X3, Kirby’s Dream Land 3 & Kirby Super Star, Tetris & Dr. Mario, NHL Stanley Cup, Pocky and Rocky 1 & 2, The Lost Vikings, Tecmo Super NBA Basketball, The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse, The Combatribes, Out of this World, UN Squadron, Disney’s Aladdin, Wing Commander, NBA Live series, Super Off Road, The Adventures of Batman & Robin & Batman Returns, Mario Paint, Super Mario All-Stars, Mario Kart, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island and the generically named but awesomely executed Metal Warriors .