The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) is, in my opinion the greatest video game system ever made. It has the perfect amount of old schoolfeel and style, while still having good enough graphics and sound to produce beautiful looking games. The addition of two extra face buttons and the L and R button on the top expanded the possibilities for gameplay in ways the original NESjust couldn’t.
Throughout the history of the SNES, over 700 games were released, so it’s quite likely that you never got around to playing a good portion of them. We’ve all played classics like Super Mario World,Chrono Trigger, and Donkey Kong Country, but there are some games out there that equal any of those in quality, and just never received the attention they deserved.
Today, I am going to take you on a magical journey through some Super Nintendo classics that you may have never played. Transport yourself back to the 90s, and enter Dave’s Virtual Game Store, where the games of yesteryear become new and exciting journeys for us all.
Robotrek
One genre the Super Nintendo is best known for is RPGs. There were tons of classics on the system such as Earthbound, Chrono Cross, some of the best entries into the Final Fantasy series, and the list goes on and on. An RPG many gamers have never been exposed to because of its apparent “kid friendly” nature is Robotrek. Assuming the game is just for kids is a perilous error, because it’s a truly wonderful game that should be enjoyed by players of all ages.
This game is like the godfather to Pokemon. The little robots you create will fight for you, just like Pokemon. I’m not saying the idea for Pokemon came from this game, but Enix, Quintet and Ancient certainly created a gameplay experience that is very similar to Pokemon, two years before Pokemon existed. It’s not the best RPG ever, but it’s one that most gamers have never played, and it’s definitely worth checking out.
Uniracers
In a lot of ways Uniraces looks like Nintendo’s attempt to make a game that plays like Sega’s Sonic. Instead of a speedy hedgehog, players in Uniracers are run through the course as an unmanned unicycle. It’s an odd promise, but a bloody fantastic game. While it might lack the story hooks of Sonic, simply flipping and racing at high speeds on a unicycle is good enough for me.
If you’ve never played this game, you really should. It was made in limited numbers due to some legal issues on its initial release, but it’s still a reasonably cheap pick up for any game collector. If you like Sonic’s style of gameplay, and you want to enjoy something similar on a Nintendo platform, Uniracers is the game for you!
Demon’s Crest
This game has a very dark feel, which is something that is rather uncommon in older Nintendo games. You play as one of the bad guys named Firebrand from the classic NES game known as Ghosts’n Goblins. It’s a really interesting game, and quite unlike most of the games you see on the SNES.
Demon’s Crest features gameplay similar to that of Metroid and Castlevania. It has some minor RPG elements sprinkled in, and the gameplay is plenty difficult for even the most adept gamers. If you like side-scrolling games, Demon’s Crest is one that many gamers missed, and it’s a tragedy that more gamers have not sunk their teeth into this gem.
Shadowrun
When most people think of a Shadowrun video game, the first thing that pops to mind is the dreadful FPS that hit consoles a few years ago. That game has soiled the name Shadowrun, but back in the day, there was an incredible RPG that followed much more closely to the pen and paper game on which its name is based.
Shadowrun, like many classics on the SNES, is an action role playing game. It features isometric camera angles, and some awesome dynamic gameplay where players slip into cyberspace to hack important information. Because there were so many incredible RPGs on the SNES, Shadowrun was overlooked, and it’s downright tragic. It’s a game that is more than worth going back to (along with the Sega Genesis game, which is different, but still awesome).
Conclusion
So there you have it, four of the best SNES games that far too many gamers let fly under their radar. If you love classic games, each of these should scratch that retro itch while exposing you to some games that not enough gamers have enjoyed. Go play these games, and come back and thank me later in the comments section below!
Is there a hidden SNES gem you want think deserves more attention? Hit the comments section below and let us know!
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