Super Memories - Retro Revolution

Posted on Thursday, September 8 @ 15:56:46 Eastern by KevinS

Back in 1991, Nintendo's Super NES was released in the States. I obtained one while still in production around 1993, and have since amassed a small collection of SNES favorites that made me cry, made me sleep, even gave me wet dreams… more from thinking about playing them again than anything actually moving about them. Just hatred and jealousy over someone other than me having the money spent on such games.

Twenty years ago, I had just turned 7 years old. That's… well, it's not a big year, but it was a moment of my life. I was still addicted to my NES and, specifically, Super Mario Brothers 3. Everybody has that game that sticks with them for a lifetime, good or bad, right? I had visions of Tanooki suits and Kuribo's Shoe in my head and didn't give one - let alone two - shits about upgrading. I was busy, after all; I had a princess to save. But it was my dad who didn't really enjoy the same games that wanted to upgrade. So, at some point soon after (never) completing SMB3, I was greeted with a new system with which to play games on. And with it, of course, came a new Mario game. I hadn't even beaten the other one yet, but there it was with Mario in caped and fire-spitting glory.

Except for Mario, I had phased a bit out of playing games. I was starting to get into some sports, like kempo karate and swimming (like every kid my age… waaaaiiiitaminit, you lied to me, Mom!), so I didn't have as much time to sit down and play. Practicing positions and kicks and strokes had me away from the TV, though I still dreamed about it. It wasn't until the PSOne game out that I even realized what SNES games I should be caring about!

I did find a few though. At that point I started to find RPGs; first the RPG-arguable Legend of Zelda, then Dragon Warrior. Somehow I found out that there was one I wanted - nay, needed - to discover and care about; the RPG game with Mario in it. Super Mario RPG was introduced to me, and like a Major League Eating champion with a stick of butter, I started wolfing it down… but even then, not many other role-playing masterpieces. At least, not until I realized I didn't like FFVII and starting looking for something better, and found FFII/IV and III/VI in the process.

The NES started my life in gaming, but the SNES solidified my place as a game collector. I had to go back into the vault of places like Funcoland and eBay to find the games I had heard so much about - Link to the Past, Donkey Kong Country, Uniracers (yup, Uniracers) - and I didn't realize how much of an impact it had on popular gaming. It was the first to have prominent console RPGs in the US, to have honest-to-goodness 3D on a home platform, even the first to use the diamond-button formation on a controller that had been mimicked and re-used in nearly every major home system since (except for, sadly, the Casio Loopy). Combine the hardware innovations with some exceptional games, and the SNES is deserving of a big friggin' birthday party in the gaming world.

Me, I'll be plugging back in Super Mario RPG, if for no other reason than to play that damn Beetle Mania mini-game. Why do you addict me soooooo!!!

Tags: Retro Revolution, retro, SNES

Comments

tinymhg
Joined: Jun 2011

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario All Stars, and Final Fantasy III (the best JRPG I ever played). God I loved my SNES. It was the only console (non-handheld) I ever owned and probably will ever own. It was worth every penny I spent on it and then some.

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De-Ting
Joined: Nov 2006

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Tanookis for the win.

I didn't get into the RPG scene on the SNES. Might have to emulate some of those.

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cyberjim2000
Joined: Feb 2010

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
You might have to go with Mario RPG first. That's like a gateway drug then you go for the more hardcore stuff.

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hanz007
Joined: Dec 2005

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
I liked that I could throw the controllers, yet they never seemed to break.

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Guernica
Joined: Mar 2009

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
I don't have my snes anymore :( But I'm looking forward to the 10 free I'll be getting with the 3ds. Turtles in Time was probably my favorite one though... I played the **** out of that game with my friends. And that's what made it fun. Playing it with my friends all smashed together watching the same small screen on my dresser in my room. Memories I'll hopefully never forget. Oh and NBA Jam... That game was (simply put) awesome!

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danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 12:48 am
Dammit didn't mean to thumbs down. Fuck, nominated for people speak instead.

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tinymhg
Joined: Jun 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 4:10 am
So you’re the thumbs down Nazi!

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Bras
Joined: Jul 2008

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
What's wrong with the Casio Loopy? :(

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KevinS
Joined: Dec 2008

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
It ain't down with the diamond. :-(

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Commiebot
Joined: Mar 2007

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
I was always a Sega kid until I got my PSX, and so I never got to experience the panoply of SNES games until emulation hit it's stride. However, even at the slightly more jaded age of 15, playing through Super Metroid, Ogre Battle, and Earthbound were fantastic experiences that I still carry with me to this day.

That said, I feel bad because on the other side of the coin were people that never got to experience Gunstar Heroes, or suffer through Kid Chameleon. At least we would all feel superior to the poor kids who only had a 3DO for some reason.

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drathbone
Joined: May 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 2:51 am
Breath of Fire? Secret of Mana? Chrono Trigger? How could nobody have mentioned these? Srsly....

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drathbone
Joined: May 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 2:53 am
Lufia even

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Falx
Joined: Jul 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 5:37 am
Let's not forget Zombies ate my Neighbors, the precursor to all the zombie gaming goodness that we enjoy today!

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danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 7:21 am
Let's not forget Cool Spot... the precursor to.... nothing.

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Hatecrew
Joined: Sep 2010

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 7:44 am
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs, Top Gear (the game that got me into racing), TNMT: Tournament Fighters, Maximum Carnage, Mega Man X Series and so many more that I could name.

One thing I loved about the SNES was that all the games I played on this system...seemed to have the best MUSIC ever! Something that most games now-a-days lack! SNES will forever hold a special place in my gaming heart.

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cheesegod99
Joined: Jun 2007

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 10:25 am
I noticed that you left off Chrono Trigger... *In my best Will Ferrel as James Lipton voice* if you have not played this game, you need to stop whatever you are doing, drive to a place where videogames are rented or sold, and then RENT IT OR BUY IT, AND PLAY IT!

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