Top Ten SNES Games

My favorite console of all time is the Super Nintendo. One of my favorite things to do online is to look at top 10 lists and videos. While I doubt this will break much new ground, here goes (this was really hard).

10. Street Fighter II

I don't care which of the 12 versions of the game is included. It's the most important fighting game of all time, and the SNES version destroys the Genesis'. One of the top multi-player experiences on the system.

9. Donkey Kong Country II

It's super fun, and still looks and sounds gorgeous.

8. Final Fantasy IV (Released in U.S. as Final Fantasy II)

The great leap forward that roleplaying games had been searching for ever since Dragon Quest. It added a layer of cinematics and character development to the genre that was unmatched. All future JRPGs owe an enormous debt to this masterpiece.

7. Final Fantasy VI (Released in U.S. as Final Fantasy III)

While I actually slightly prefer the masterful, but never released in the U.S. Final Fantasy V to this game, it's based purely on battle, job, and leveling systems, because on story, music, and character development, VI is king. I'd include V on this list, but as it wasn't a Super Nintendo game strictly speaking, my hands are tied. VI builds on the titanic leap forward with IV, offering a superior experience in every way, and a remarkably better translation.

6. Super Mario RPG

Man there are a lot of Squaresoft games on this list. And I'm not done yet ;). Mario RPG combines my love of Mario characters, setting, and musical tone with the technical and storytelling genius of the creators of Final Fantasy. Enough said.

5.  Mega Man X

Here's where it started to get hard. Mega Man X is probably a top 20 game of all time for me, and barely breaks the top 5 for the SNES. Wow. Read the linked reviews for more detailed treatments of this gem!

 
4. EarthBound

Brutally hard. My introduction to non-Pokemon RPGs, it's a hilarious and quirky treasure that offers perhaps the most memorable experience on the SNES.

3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Putting this game at number 3 almost physically hurt. It's surpassingly brilliant, remarkably beautiful, and etched in my memory forever.

2. Chrono Trigger

This one didn't hurt as much. It's just right at number 2, although it'd be number one on most consoles! This is the game that got me into JRPGs as a teenager as a part of the fantastic Final Fantasy Chronicles collection on Playstation. Perfect soundtrack, perfect gameplay, perfect story. It's everything you'd expect out of a game designed by Squaresoft and Enix, featuring character designs by Toriyama. But it ultimately can't beat out...

1.  Super Mario World

My beloved Super World, rescuer of bad days. Soundtrack of my youth. It's the one game I recommend to anyone who's never played video games, or is trying to get into them. Fun on the surface, with an enormous amount of depth for those brave enough to explore it. It embodies "fun" more than any other SNES game, and for that reason, it's my number 1. It still amazes me that it was a launch title.

-TRO