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Games
Love the SNES Mini? 10 games you need to play next
If the 21 games on your SNES Classic Mini have left you wanting more, check out these 10 additional 16-bit gems.
So you're about to take stock of your shiny new SNES Classic Mini. Within weeks, you'll have played all of the 21 included games to death – so what next? If this amazing micro console is your first taste of Nintendo's 16-bit wonder machine then you may well be pondering what other vintage slices of gaming fun graced its cartridge slot – and that's where we can help out. Below we've picked out 10 amazing games which are well worth a look if you've enjoyed what you've seen so far on the SNES Classic.
Like Star Fox 2? Then try Stunt Race FX
While Stunt Race FX and Star Fox 2 couldn't be less alike in terms of genres – one's a racing game while the other is a space-based shooter – they share a common bond. Both are powered by the Super FX chip, a processor which was cunningly inserted into cartridges to drastically boost the 3D power of the SNES. Stunt Race was also created with the assistance of British programmer Giles Goddard, who, along with fellow Argonaut staffer Dylan Cuthbert, would eventually relocate to Nintendo's HQ and claim the distinction of being two of the Japanese's giants first western-born developers.
Like Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting? Then try Super Street Fighter II
There's actually some debate as to which of these SNES ports is really the best; Street Fighter II Turbo – which is included on the western versions of the SNES Mini – offers faster gameplay, but Super Street Fighter II – included on the Japanese iteration of the console, the Super Famicom Mini – has four extra characters and some additional game modes, yet is slightly slower than its forerunner. All things considered, if you love Turbo then you'll go potty over Super; while it's not quite as swift, the four extra fighters are brilliant and the visuals have been given something of a clean-up as well. It's just a shame that the SNES didn't get a port of Super Street Fighter II Turbo, which sped things up a little and introduced the demonic Akuma, but you can't have everything.
Like F-Zero? Then try F1 Exhaust Heat
F-Zero may have been the first racing game to dazzle SNES owners by making such effective use of the console's Mode 7 rotation and scaling effects, but many others followed suit – including this superb F1 speedfest from Japanese studio Seta. Loosely based on the real Formula One championship (the drivers have names which are intentionally misspelled to avoid litigation), F1 Exhaust Heat grants you a surprising amount of control over your car's inner-workings. You can use race money to upgrade almost every element of the vehicle, while the impressive sense of speed and near CD-quality music add to the experience.
Like Secret of Mana? Then try Terranigma
Released very late in the lifespan of the SNES, Terranigma forms part of a series of games from Japanese company Quintet, each concerned with the creation of life – Soul Blazer and Illusion of Time / Gaia are the others, while the studio's SNES debut –- the part platformer, part God-sim ActRaiser – also touches upon similar themes. Using a similar action RPG set-up to Secret of Mana, Terranigma is focused on a story of resurrection and evolution and is notable for only receiving a western release in Europe – it never came out in North America, despite the territory's affections for RPGs. This has resulted in the game fetching astronomical sums on the secondary market, but trust us, it’s worth tracking down.
Like Contra III? Then try Super Smash TV
While on the surface these two games appear to adopt totally different gameplay styles – Contra III is a side-scrolling platform shooter while Super Smash TV adopts a top-down perspective – they'll both test your reflexes and offer a stern challenge. The original arcade version of Smash TV used two joysticks for control – one for movement, one for the direction of your shots – and thankfully the SNES was one of the few consoles available during the early '90s which could faithfully replicate this approach; the four-button cluster on the pad is used for aiming, with combinations (up and left, right and down, etc) allowing you to shoot diagonally. Like Contra III, Super Smash TV really comes alive when played cooperatively with a second player.
Like Final Fantasy III? Then try Breath of Fire
Billed at the time as Capcom's attempt to muscle in on the JRPG arena, Breath of Fire would go on to inspire a series of titles on other formats, including the PlayStation and PlayStation 2, but it's the original which is perhaps the most fondly remembered today. While it doesn't attempt to rewrite the rulebook on turn-based role-playing adventures, it does feature eye-catching visuals, great characters and an engaging storyline. You can’t play it on the SNES Mini, but an unboxed cartridge isn’t too hard to come by on eBay.
Like Donkey Kong Country? Then try Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose
Based on the famous cartoon series from the early '90s, this Konami-made 2D platformer has been somewhat forgotten over the years, possibly due to the fact that unlike so many of its contemporaries, the Tiny Toons TV series hasn't been rebooted or revived (yet). Still, while the licence might not be familiar to many people under the age of 25, the core game is as tight and enjoyable as they come, with varied levels, fantastic visuals and a series of unique objectives which break up the platforming action neatly.
Like Mega Man X? Then try Cybernator
If you enjoyed Capcom's seminal run-and-gun platformer on your SNES Classic Mini then you owe it to yourself to check out Cybernator at the earliest possible opportunity. It's not as fast-paced as Mega Man, but it does feature hordes of robot enemies to take down – albeit ones which aren't quite so cartoon-like. Your massive, hulking mech is tricky to control initially but once you're used to managing its movements, the sense of power becomes intoxicating; add in some surprisingly varied levels (plunging through the earth's atmosphere after blowing up an orbiting space station is one highlight) and several toe-tapping music tracks and you've got one of the SNES's most appealing action titles.
Like Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts? Then try Demon's Crest
This is an easy recommendation, as Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts and Demon's Crest exist in the same fictional universe, so it's only logical that if you like one you'll like the other. Demon's Crest is unique in that it places you in the role of one of the key bad guys from the Ghosts 'n Goblins series, and adopts an RPG-style approach where it's possible to revisit the same location several times to access areas that were previously off-limits. Demon's Crest has become something of a cult classic but was a commercial flop at the time of release, making it an ideal venture for SNES newcomers and old-hands alike.
Like Super Castlevania IV? Then try Nosferatu
In terms of gothic platform games with vampires as the lead antagonist, Konami's legendary Castlevania has things pretty well sewn up, but Seta's 1994 SNES title Nosferatu is worth a look if you're after an alternative. While it's not quite as action packed as Super Castlevania IV and is more akin to Prince of Persia in terms of gameplay, it really nails the foreboding atmosphere of being stuck in a deadly bloodsucker's castle. The visuals are excellent, while the rotoscoped animation lends some all-important realism. This is another underappreciated SNES gem which is well worth a second look today.
