Here it is.  Super Nintendo’s top game.  Guess what.  It had “super” in the title.

1.  Super Mario World

That’s right.  How could Super Mario World not be number one on the top SNES games list.  Super Mario World was release in August of 1991 and has become the best selling SNES game at 30 million copies.  Mario is, once again, out to save Princess Toadstool from Bowser.  This game is basically an update of Super Mario 3.  It a side-scrolling platformer.  There are a few upgrades to the Mario formula in this game that include: being able to hold an extra item at the top of the screen that will drop to help you when you get hit; mid level continue points; a few different power-ups (most notably the cape or feather that replaces the racoon suit from Mario 3); and the addition of Yoshi.  Yoshi was your dinosaur friend that you found along the way in some levels.  The player rode Yoshi and then had the ability to eat some enemies and spit their shells back out (fire if it was a red shell).  While riding Yoshi, Mario was invincible but when hit riding Yoshi he would be knocked off and the player would have to scramble  to get back on Yoshi so they were invincible again.

This was probaby the SNES game I played the most.  Although I did not finish it until a few years back when I beat it on an enumlator on my computer.  This game was so awesome.  It is my third favorite Mario game and that is saying alot with Mario 3 and Mario Galaxy just ahead of it.  How many game series have that many great games in it.  Nintendo just knows how to make a first party game and no one does platforming better.

So congrats Mario.  You have done it again.

Here we are again.  Top ten time.  This time it is the Super Nintendo (SNES).  Brings back memories.  Defeating Bowser yet again.  All your favorite NES games updated with the word “super” in front of them.

2.  Killer Instinct

Killer Instinct was first released in the arcade in 1994.  It was released on the SNES in August of 1995.  Killer Instinct was a 2D fighting game like most other fighting games with one big difference.  This game had combos.  You may say that wasn’t unique but you could keep the combo going and have one long combo that would never allow your opponent to get a shot in.  The opponent could break the combo by entering a combo breaker into the keypad.

There is not else to say about this game other than it was super fast.  Animations were fluid and it used the 3D rendering system from Donkey Kong Country.

This game was awesome.  My friends and I would play this game for the longest stretches.  We would see how long of combos we could produce.

Here we are again.  Top ten time.  This time it is the Super Nintendo (SNES).  Brings back memories.  Defeating Bowser yet again.  All your favorite NES games updated with the word “super” in front of them.

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

Link to the Past was released in April of 1992.  It shared the top-down perspective that the original Zelda had but added things like multi-layer dungeons and new equipment.  Link was given more control as he could move diagonally.  Many things that are the rule in Zelda games today were introduced in Link to the Past.  Some of these items include; the master sword, ocarina, Hookshot, and Pegasus Boots.  Heart containers were split into 4 sections.  This game also introduced to the series the dual worlds that Link must navigate.

Game Trailers has a really great retrospective on the Zelda series.  Also this game can be bought on the DS or Virtual Console for the Wii.  If you at all are interested in the Zelda series, I suggest you check out this game.

Here we are again.  Top ten time.  This time it is the Super Nintendo (SNES).  Brings back memories.  Defeating Bowser yet again.  All your favorite NES games updated with the word “super” in front of them.

4.  Donkey Kong Country

Released in November of 1994, Donkey Kong Country has eventually sold 9.3 Million copies (which made it the second best selling game on the SNES).

Donkey Kong Country was a side-scrolling platformer, like Mario, with one small difference in that you had two characters on the screen that the player could switch back and forth controlling.  Each had their strengths.  Donkey Kong was stronger but Diddy Kong was faster.  This game was also one of the first to use pre-rendered 3D graphics (also used in Killer Instinct).

For those of you who love this game and do have a Wii, you can pick Donkey Kong Country up on the Virtual Console for that nostalgic feeling.

Here we are again.  Top ten time.  This time it is the Super Nintendo (SNES).  Brings back memories.  Defeating Bowser yet again.  All your favorite NES games updated with the word “super” in front of them.

6.  Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger was a RPG that was released for the Super Nintendo in August of 1995.  This game deviated from the normal RPG in that it didn’t have any random battles.  Enemies were clearly visible on the map or would be hiding for an ambush.  Touching the enemies resulted the player being taken to the normal RPG fight screen.  The player’s character’s turn in the battle was depended on their own timer.  This was called “Active Time Battle” or ATB for short.

Chrono Trigger was popular enough that it was ported over to the Playstation and Nintendo DS.

This is yet another game I never played.  Hopefully they bring it to the Virtual Console on the Wii so I can try it out.

As always, comments are appreciated.

Here we are again.  Top ten time.  This time it is the Super Nintendo (SNES).  Brings back memories.  Defeating Bowser yet again.  All your favorite NES games updated with the word “super” in front of them.

6.  Super Mario Kart

Released in September of 1992, Super Mario Kart was a go-kart type game that the player was able to play as their favorite Nintendo character.  The player was able to use items to help them win the race.  Some items were used to hinder other players.  Others were used for self defense.  There were also items that made you go faster for short periods of time.  The single player game consisted of three classes (50cc, 100cc, and 150cc).  There were 4 cups (race series) that had 5 races in each.  The player had to get 4th or better in each race to advance to the next race.

This game was awesome.  It was the first of a great series of Mario Kart games.  My friends and I would play  for hours to win every race and collect every hidden character.

We would love to hear your comments on Super Mario Kart.

Here we are again.  Top ten time.  This time it is the Super Nintendo (SNES).  Brings back memories.  Defeating Bowser yet again.  All your favorite NES games updated with the word “super” in front of them.

7.  Super Metroid

Super Metroid was released on April 18, 1994.  This game is a side scrolling platformer/shooter.  Game play was the same as it’s predecessors with a few upgrades.  The player was able to enable or disable Samus’ weapons with an inventory screen.  Also, the player could also walk backwards (”moonwalk”) while shooting.

With 1.4 Million units sold, Super Metroid is one of the most popular games in the Super Nintendo’s history.  Super Metroid can also be bought for the Virtual Console on the Wii.

If you have a Wii and want to play a 16 bit platformer that stars a blond heroine, I would recommend you go and buy this game.  Also, if you enjoy this series, I would suggest watching this retrospective by GameTrailers.

As always, we apprieciate your comments.

Here we are again.  Top ten time.  This time it is the Super Nintendo (SNES).  Brings back memories.  Defeating Bowser yet again.  All your favorite NES games updated with the word “super” in front of them.

8.  Secret of Mana

Secret of Mana was released on October 3, 1993.  The game had a unique aspect in that the controllers functions could be flipped so that left handed players could play comfortably.  This game is another RPG and had all the RPG elements (character customization, weapon selection).  Weapons could be upgraded using orbs.  Bosses had the traditional elemental weaknesses and the player would be rewarded with weapon upgrade orbs after defeating each one.  The game could also be played by two or three players at a time.  On an interesting side note, the English translation was done in a mere 30 days.

I have never played this game and to be honest, I have never heard of this game before it was suggested to be on this list.  Form all accounts, this game should have been a game I would have played.  Amazing that I have never heard about it before.

For those of you who voted for this game, please write in and tell me what you loved about this game.  Maybe I will purchase it on the virtual console for the Wii to see for myself.

Please tell us what you think of this game.

Here we are again.  Top ten time.  This time it is the Super Nintendo (SNES).  Brings back memories.  Defeating Bowser yet again.  All your favorite NES games updated with the word “super” in front of them.

9.  Final Fantasy 3

Released in North America in October 1995, we thought it was the next installment in the Final Fantasy series.  We here in North America were oblivious to the fact that there were three games we were missing.  This game is actually Final Fantasy 6.

If you have not played a Final Fantasy game, they are RPGs.  The older Final Fantasy games had random battles and active time battle systems (your attack time/turn is based on your character’s speed attribute).  The game play is basically the same as all final fantasy games that came before it with a few upgrades including battle upgrades.  The story remains one of the most engaging in the Final Fantasy series.

I have not played this game but am very interested in trying it because of it having one of the best Final Fantasy story lines.  Now I just need to find it for the PlayStation and find time amongst the other games I am playing.

As always, we would love to hear what you think of this game.

Here we are again.  Top ten time.  This time it is the Super Nintendo (SNES).  Brings back memories.  Defeating Bowser yet again.  All your favorite NES games updated with the word “super” in front of them.

10.  Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest

Released in December of 1995, Donkey Kong Country 2 leaves off where Donkey Kong Country ends.  This game is a fast paced side-scrolling platformer.  The player must get to the end of the level without losing both characters.  This game has 75 new hidden stages, more diverse levels than Donkey Kong Country and the ability to befriend many animal companions.  As a promotion of this game’s release Nintendo Power created a contest in which the players would submit the time it took them to beat the game with 102% completion in which the winner had an official time of 2 hours and 9 minutes.

I really enjoyed the pacing of this game.  That being said I never owned a SNES and didn’t get much time to play this game.

If you are a fan of this game and have a Wii, you can pick this game up on the Wii’s Virtual Console.

As always, we would love to hear what you think of this game.