Games You Have to Play: SNES

Best Use of Hardware - Starfox

Known in the UK and Europe as Starwing, this was the game which started off the Starfox series, including games as varied as Lylat Wars and Starfox Adventures (which was more Zelda than anything else). Starfox for SNES however is interesting, in that it was Nintendo's first title to use 3D polygons as the main game engine. Using the SuperFX chip, they were able to really push the console and create a proper 3D world. Sure, there weren't any textures, but just think, this is 3D three years before the N64, and proper 3D too. There were no sprite-tricks here ala Mario Kart. The game was a relatively straightforward space-shooter in which you control Fox McCloud as he attempts to take down renegade scientist Andross, but no-one plays these games for their story.

Honorable Mentions

• Terranigma - An often-ignored Squaresoft title of the era in favour of the Final Fantasies, Terranigma uses Mode 7 (the ability to scale and rotate sprites) for complicated overworld effects and charmingly-made cutscenes. The most beautiful SNES game.

Trendsetter - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The Zelda series has produced some of the most critically acclaimed games in the world, most notably Ocarina of Time, but the game which can arguably be called the first "modern" Zelda is Link to the Past. While there were two before it, these were strange affairs, different to what we are used to (Zelda II being particularly odd and mostly side-scrolling). LTTP however set the scene for all subsequent Zeldas. Here we have the colourful overworld, the tricky dungeons, the side-quests, towns, expansive boss battles. Such was the polish on the game that they were able to re-release it 12 years later for the GBA with no enhancements and it still got rave reviews. I've always been one to prefer the 2D Zelda titles over the 3D ones, and this was the first, and many would argue, still the best.

Honourable Mentions

• Super Mario World - It was the first Mario game on the SNES, and is widely regarded as one of the best out there. This was the game which introduced us to Yoshi as well! While not particularly special, the title was the first Mario game designed from the ground-up for the new title.

Marvel of Game Design: EarthBound

For a Nintendo series, the Mother games saw very little global exposure. Only Mother 2 was released in the US as Earthbound; and none of the games made it to the UK. It's a real shame we never got official access to it, as the work put into it is something really special.

Taking a heavy departure from most RPGs at the time that focused on Tolkien-esque swords 'n' sorcery, Earthbound is set in a far more contemporary America pastiche. It's even called Eagleland! Even though when it comes to the number-crunching it's not especially different from the Dragon Quest series, it sticks like glue to its urban-surrealist theme. You fight stop signs and hippies instead of dragons and warlocks, you chow down hamburgers to restore your health, and what starts off as quirky oddness spirals right down towards insanity and horror with the incredible final boss.

Even the music keeps with the theme, featuring an eclectic mix of genres; certain tracks using samples from actual music (which is a good reason for why Earthbound never got localised for the UK), with more than a few references to the Beatles. While Earthbound isn't a particularly difficult game (unless it was pirated - a good example of humorous anti-piracy techniques. If you got to the final boss, it then erased your game. Harsh), the unique way it blends the domestic with the fantastic is what makes it so compelling.

Honorable Mentions

• Megaman X: Built upon the classic NES games, and improved them even more; the level design is intensely clever.
• Super Mario RPG: No one thought that Mario could work in the genre, until Squaresoft showed us all about Timed Hits. Now the RPGs are some of the best games to feature the red plumber!

Best Multiplayer Experience: Kirby Super Star ('Kirby's Fun Pak' in the UK)

While games with a 2-Player Mode are nothing unusual, it takes a lot more care to develop a game that works well with the players co-operating with each other, rather than competing. The game needs to be balanced with 2-payers in mind, but avoid the game being too difficult is played alone.

Kirby Super Star avoids that by having the game be rather easy, no matter who's playing! Instead, closer attention is paid to making each short game in the collection suitably different, while still playing the same. At any point, Kirby may take an ability he's copied, and turn it into a Helper - controlled by the A.I. if your friend isn't present. Every ability will generate a different partner, so even though Player 2 isn't in the driving seat, their experience still has a lot of variety. It's one of the few games where it's arguably more interesting to be Player 2!

Honorable Mentions

• Tetris Attack: Nathan's favourite puzzle game. You don't need to be a master to play it competently, but when both players are skilled... thrilling.
• Super Street Fighter II: The definitive Street Fighter title of the era, and is still a favourite among gaming pros.
• Super Mario Kart: While it definitely shows its age, it was the seed for some of the best and most accessible racing games.

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