The SNES Classic contains an impressive lineup for nostalgic and curious gamers alike to enjoy for hours. Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Earthbound, and Street Fighter II are just a few of the 21 titles packed into the miniature system. However, there are some games that were popular and beloved on the SNES that didn’t make the cut. These nine games would have contributed to an even better lineup.
Killer Instinct
Killer Instinct is a genre-defining fighting game that fulfilled players’s desires for endless combo chains. This game has amazing graphics compared to other games on the SNES and is still a cult favorite among fans of the console. Instead of having best two-out-of-three rounds, Rare implemented a two health bar system for determining fights. That system is still seen in many modern games like Mortal Kombat X and Injustice 2. Killer Instict sold almost 3.2 million copies on the SNES. Even though it wasn’t a perfect arcade port, this classic SNES game was addicting and fun to play, not to mention that the original cartridge was solid black instead of the usual grey. The SNES version included brand new game modes that weren’t available in arcades, like training mode and tournament mode.
Donkey Kong Country 2
Donkey Kong Country 2 significantly improved upon its predecessor. In this entry in the series, it is up to Diddy and Dixie Kong to save Donkey Kong from King K. Rool. Donkey Kong Country 2 is a vastly superior version to the first in several ways, including level design and graphics. Several moves have new animations added for a smoother experience, and the game uses a wider variety in its color palette. In this iteration, players were able to play as Dixie, a newcomer to the series that could use her hair to whip enemies and float during jumps. Rare’s improvements in Donkey Kong Country 2 are akin to Mega Man X2. Without an original there can’t be a sequel, but often times the sequel ends up being the better game.
Tecmo Super Bowl
Tecmo Super Bowl is another fan favorite game hailing from the SNES. Tecmo Bowl on the NES was a popular game, but Super Bowl brought that fandom to another level. Tecmo Super Bowl was one of the first American football games that lead the charge for popular franchises today. Players could choose from a huge roster of teams, substitute players, and even develop their own playbook. The game was a perfect balance between a simulator and an arcade game. It had features that football fans loved but could be grasped by a novice. Tecmo Super Bowl offered several game modes and allowed players to play several seasons. The game also offered three weather effects that hadn’t been seen in games before, vastly changing the game’s dynamics.
Chrono Trigger
This amazing JRPG was an instant classic. Character designs were made by the infamous Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball fame, and the story of Chrono Trigger is absolutely amazing. It is one of the very few games that could tell a time traveling story that is also deep and meaningful. Players’s actions and decisions affect the past, present or future in unique ways that were unheard of at the time of release. Time traveling played a huge role when acquiring new allies and affecting changes across each era. Chrono Trigger offers several interesting side quests, multiple endings and a great battle system. The soundtrack in Chrono Trigger is still hailed as a top contender with several iconic themes. It’s a shame that this game wasn’t added to the SNES Classic; it’s more fun, and a higher caliber game when compared to other RPGs on the system.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
Forget about that awful Ninja Turtle game on the NES and consider Turtles in Time. First off, even though this is the fourth game in the ‘series’ it is not connected to the previous three games in any way, other than the IP. This game is one of the most challenging games on the system, but it also offers a great multiplayer romp. Again, the arcade port was in many ways better, but the SNES versions allow players to choose their turtle and offers the medley from the the show. TMNT is as popular now as it was back then, with cartoon shows still running in the US. The game has a diverse array of boss battles and beautiful environments. Though enemies are just different-colored versions of foot clan ninjas, each ninja increases in difficulty and has one signature attack. Turtles in Time came during a perfect time in the 90’s that popularized this specific game, along side the television show.
Mortal Kombat
The arcade scene exploded when Mortal Kombat became an overnight sensation and spread across the US. The SNES versions of the Mortal Kombat games are some of the best ports. The SNES versions did censor blood and certain fatalities, but there are also several moves that weren’t censored. This game series is popular among SNES fans who enjoyed Street Fighter II and Killer Instinct. Even though all Mortal Kombat games are great in their own right, the definitive one to play on the SNES is Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. The SNES version is special because it made fan favorite characters Rain and Noob playable for the first time. The game also allowed cheat codes that drastically changed how the game played and gave access to hidden content.
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy IV is among some of the best JRPGs that Square ever made. Final Fantasy VI (Final Fantasy III for US players) is hailed as the best game in the series. FFIV, however, is still a great title with a deep story and several likable characters. You can explore several locations and the game contains some of the best character moments in Final Fantasy history. Several innovations that became staples to later games started with FFIV. Square made several great RPGs for the SNES and almost every one of them should be on the SNES Classic. FFIV is a great game with amazing sprite art, beautiful music, Intriguing characters, and a deep story.
Super Mario All-Stars
Super Mario All-Stars was the swan song of the SNES library, and a game not many people owned. This is a collection of Super Mario Bros. 1-3 and Lost Levels. It’s understandable why Nintendo chose to add these games to the NES Classic, but the SNES should also have included this game compilation. Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of the best platforming games that still holds up surprisingly well, a testimony to its design. Playing all these games shows Nintendo’s great attention to detail and the evolution of the series as a whole. All these games were improved upon by taking advantage of the SNES’s power, thus making them superior to their NES counterparts.
Super Star Wars
Super Star Wars are a great collection of games that span across the original Star Wars trilogy. There were three games in total that allowed players to play as different characters in scenes from the movie. The Super Star Wars series allowed players to relive their favorite sci-fi movies as action-adventure games. These games are notably tough, but well worth it for the art style and commitment to Star Wars cannon.
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