Secret of Mana (SNES)

Pub & Dev: Square Soft | October 1993 | 16 MEGS
Pub & Dev: Square Soft | October 1993 | 16 MEGS

Today is September 29, 2017. It marks the launch date of the wildly popular SNES Classic Edition. One of the 21 classic SNES games on that device is none other than Secret of Mana. Therefore, I can’t think of a better time than now to review this heralded SNES fan favorite. My brother adored Secret of Mana back in 1993 as did an entire generation of gamers. I didn’t care much for it back then as I wasn’t a big fan of the genre. But my tastes changed (I like to think they’ve matured) over the years and I finally played Secret of Mana nearly 20 years later in 2010. Did the game live up to its massive hype? Let’s take a look…

TIMES (AND TASTES) CHANGE

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I went from hating RPGs without cause to loving the genre without abandon. Talk about a major switch. I guess you could say I matured as I grew older, or at least, my gaming tastes did. Right around 2003 was when the shift happened. I came to appreciate the “story telling” aspect of these games, as well as their ability to sweep you away to another land far away. I trekked my way through Terranigma in late 2010 and loved every second of it. There’s nothing like playing an (action) RPG during the cold chilly winter months. There’s just something magical about those early darkening afternoons and bitter cold nights that’s conducive to playing these adventures by a cozy fire. No other genre in my book is more enjoyable to play than the (action) RPG during the winter season. So after finishing Terranigma and being blown away by what a magnificent game it was, I knew my next game had to be the one and only Secret of Mana. Coming back to the Super Nintendo in early 2006 (January 17, 2006) allowed me an opportunity at gaming redemption. There were so many awesome SNES games I missed out on. One of the biggest games I had yet to play was Secret of Mana. The stage was set, then, for one epic adventure…

Glad they went with the name Secret of Mana!
Glad they went with Secret of Mana

THE STORY GOES…

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THE BASICS

The infamous ring menu. Access is quick and easy
The infamous ring menu. Access is quick and easy
Learn magic and power them up as you go
Learn magic and power them up as you go
There are eight weapon types in all
There are eight weapon types in all
Gotta reforge them all...
Gotta reforge them all…
Watts is the man to see to upgrade your weapons
Watts is the man to see to upgrade your weapons
This made Mana stood out back in the day for sure
This made Mana stood out back in the day for sure

THE CAST

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Glorious Mode 7 galore...
Glorious Mode 7 galore…

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

Timothy: Shh! That Steve idiot is coming our way!
“Shh! That Steve idiot is coming our way!”

Timothy: Oh hey Steve. What’s up? Funny, we were just talking about you!

Steve: Oh yeah? What were you guys saying?

Elliot: Good things only, of course.

That clumsy Steve
That clumsy, clumsy Steve
"See ya later, Steve!"
“See ya later, Steve!”

Timothy: WUH OH!

Elliott: I didn’t see that…

Timothy: Neither did I…

Elliott: LET’S GET OUTTA HERE!

"OOF!!"
SPLAT — “OOF!!”

Steve, fortunately enough, lands safely in the water. He yells for help but oddly enough, no sign of either Elliott or Timothy. Imagine that. Dazed and confused, Steve dusts himself off and crawls for land in the life-threatening thigh-high water.

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"Gee, if only I had... like... A LEGENDARY SWORD..."
“Gee, if only I had… like… A LEGENDARY SWORD…”
Like a shining beacon of light in the dark...
Like a shining beacon of light in the dark

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Eat your heart out, King Arthur!

Just another day for our hero, obviously
Just another day for our hero, obviously

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Unlike combat in most other action RPGs, you can’t attack repeatedly without suffering the ill effects. A meter keeps you honest.

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After swinging your weapon, the meter will deplete and then charge back up to 100%. Any blows delivered before the bar is back at 100% results in reduced damage. This is awesome in theory. Unfortunately, it was mishandled a bit in execution. Even attacks at 95% aren’t much different from attacks made at 50%. If only the damage ratio was more accurate. Oh well.

Some helpful items to grab along the way
Some helpful items to grab along the way

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The sword not only cuts down enemies, but overly long grass blades as well. Shame there are no treasures to be found here, though. A slight missed opportunity, if you ask me.

"Hey, why do you always assume the worst of me?" "Your track record speaks for itself, fool!"
“Hey, why do you always assume the worst of me?”
“Your track record speaks for itself, fool!”

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“Hey Steve!”

“Sup Pradeep. Got anything new for me?”

“Nevermind that Steve, I heard the Elder is looking for you! Better see him ASAP!”

“Oh, that’s no biggie. The old man isn’t upset or anything. Relax.”

“That’s not what I heard… you better go see him.”

“Fine… by the way, why do you keep dancing? I always get motion sickness when I’m around you.”

“Sorry, not my fault. It’s the DAMN tourettes, man!”

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“Ooooh Steve, I heard you in BIG trouble!”

“Silly Prudence! Uh, where did you hear that from?”

“Some old lady walking these parts. She’s probably still wandering around here somewhere…”

“You shouldn’t listen to strangers. And I’m not in trouble, you little pop-fart.”

“LIAR, LIAR! PANTS ON FIRE!”

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Elliott: Well, if it isn’t our lovely town hero himself!

Steve: Hey guys, what was the deal back there?

Timothy: What are you talking about? The bridge thing? We don’t know what you’re talking about.

Steve: Elder, what’s going on here?

Elder: My apologies, Steve. There’s nothing I can do…

Steve: Hey, watch where you be sticking that thing!
Steve: Hey, watch where you be sticking that thing!

Steve: Whadaya mean?

Elliott: He means, your goose is cooked! Done, finito!

Timothy: Yeah! Hit the bricks, pal!

Elliott: Go on, get outta here!

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Elliott: Yeah and don’t ever come back, ya hear!?

Steve: So much for our Thanksgiving plans…

Prudence: Haha, I knew it Steve! I told ‘cha you were in big trouble…

Steve: SHADDUP PRUDENCE!

A huge quake shakes the land
A huge quake shakes the land

Jema: Whoa!

Prudence: Duck, cover and roll! No wait…

Steve: AHHHH!!!

Jema: Hey, who is that kid?! I saw him earlier…

*Steve falls down the hole*

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Our hero quickly discovers he isn’t alone down there. Meet the first boss, the Mantis Ant!

Hey, you gave it the old college try
Hey, you gave it the old college try

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This is the first of over 40 bosses. Some say it’s overkill. And perhaps that’s so when considering that many of them are just palette swaps. Shame we didn’t get 40+ unique bosses, but hey, what cha gonna do?

Nice try, bub
Nice try, bub
The infamous pixie dust fist pump celebration!
The infamous pixie dust fist pump celebration!
"Can't get rid of me that easily!"
“Can’t get rid of me that easily!”

Jema: What happened down there?!

Steve: Well –

Elliott: Man, it was awesome! See, this towering mantis monster was about to eat Steve, but then I came swooping in to the rescue. The monster had to be 200, maybe 250 feet tall. But he was no match for the great Elliot!

Jema: Uh-huh…

Elliott: Yeah, I surprise myself sometimes.

Jema: Right…

There goes one delusional lad
There goes one delusional lad

Elliott: Well, I gotta get back now and tell the others what happened. Bye!

Steve: What a joke…

Jema: What’s your name, kid?

Steve: Uh, it’s Steve.

Jema: My apologies, Steve, for the way I treated you back in the bar earlier.

Steve: ‘Scuse me?

Jema: I know you were the one who pulled the sword out, and I also know you were the one who defeated the great beast down below. Come see me and Luka in the Water Palace later. But first, take care of your business here. We’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.

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"Alright alright, take a chill pill, Ned Flanders"
“Sure, whatever you say, Ned Flanders”
The infamous means of transportation
Who could ever forget this?
More Mode 7 madness
More Mode 7 madness

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Jema: Here he is, Luka, THE ONE.

Luka: That’s it?

Steve: Whadaya mean, “that’s it?”

Luka: I mean as in, where’s the rest of ya?!

Steve: Very funny.

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Luka: Only one way to find out. If the Mana Seed reacts to him…

*Steve steps up to the shrine and a blue glow suddenly bursts forth*

All: WHOA!

Jema: You see?! Steve is the chosen one!

Luka: We’re all f*cked.

Steve: Um, this has been one hell of a day….

Jema: I guess it has, eh?

Steve: If you don’t mind, I’m going to Neko’s Inn.

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Steve always takes the time to hear people's needs
Steve always takes the time to lend a listening ear
"One time they experimented with my brain..."
“One time they experimented with my brain…”
"And then the time they all played NEKO JAM..."
“And then the time they all played NEKO JAM…”
The Super Play-Neko gimmick was good stuff
The Super Play-Neko gimmick was good stuff

“But probably the cruelest, most heinous act of all was when they gave me Ms. Neko. It took me a whole two weeks before I figured out she was just a blown up farce!”

"Good night, Steve..."
“Good night, Steve…”

As Steve prepares to retire for the night, a thick cloud lingers over our hero’s head. Thoughts of saving the world, his lost mom, his “family” banishing him from Potos, and for some reason Steve keeps daydreaming about a girl he’s never met before. As the waning light gives way to dusk, an inexplicable burden has befallen the land. The innocence of childhood has passed, like sand slipping through the hourglass…

Steve had a crazy dream that fateful night
Steve had a crazy dream that fateful night…

Each night Steve is haunted by the same visions. He couldn’t make sense of it but he knew something big was bound to go down. These harrowing images were only the precursor of great and horrifying events to come…

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The dreams always started with a vision of a fair young lady. She sported huge ring earrings, red parachute pants and long flowing golden locks. Steve had never seen this girl in real life before but every night she infiltrated his dreams and thoughts. Although he had no clue who she was or even if she was real, he had a sneaky suspicion that if they ever met they would form a powerful team to save the world from calamity and terror.

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In his dreams Steve would always see the two of them gazing up high at something truly breathtaking…

The Tree of Mana was a source of great hope to all
The Tree of Mana was a source of great hope to all

It was no ordinary tree. It was the sacred Tree of Mana, a majestic sight and one of the eight wonders of the world. It never failed to leave Steve breathless, even in his dreams. A strange robotic creature stood alongside Steve, but it was a simple mix-up and he would later appear in Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger is one of the best 16-bit games ever
Chrono Trigger is one of the best 16-bit games ever

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Then the dream suddenly shifts. In the robot’s place stands a strange dwarf. Flamingos fly overhead. You can feel a palpable sense of wonder lingering in the air.

Why am I so drawn to the Tree of Mana??
Why am I so drawn to the Tree of Mana??

The dream shifts yet again. Only this time, there seems to be an element of grave danger looming over the horizon…

Somehow, the three always ended up at Neko's Inn...
Somehow the three always ended up at Neko’s Inn…

Steve: Huh?! NEKO!??! What are you doing in my dream?

Neko: Hey, you’re in MY dream, buddy!

Girl: Stop bickering like two little girls!

Sprite: Steve and Neko sitting in a tree…

Steve: *gasp* THE TREE!

Could the legend of the Mana Dragons be real?!
Could the legend of the Mana Dragons be real?!

And as just as quickly the dream switches to the sprite befriending a cuddly white dragon. Steve heard about the legend growing up… but surely dragons were just a myth?

The dream then turns into a nightmare by the end
The dream then turns into a nightmare by the end
Steve's no longer dreaming. This is real!
Steve’s no longer dreaming. This is real!

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Goblin 1: Let’s kill him!

Goblin 2: Let’s eat him!

Steve: Let’s free him!

Goblin 1: Yeah, let’s free him!

Goblin 2: Errr, wait a second…

Steve: Tee-hee… can’t blame a guy for trying.

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Goblin 1: Let’s go check on the Rabite burgers.

Goblin 2: Sure. He ain’t goin’ nowhere! HAHAHA!!

Steve: God, it’s been a while but…

Girl: Hey! You!

Steve: Eh??

Girl: Over here, ya git!

Steve: Wow. That was fast. Thanks, God!

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Steve: Who are you?

Girl: Does that really matter right now?! I’m here to save your scrawny little ass! Now c’mon, let’s get the hell outta dodge.

Steve: Thanks! Hey wait, you look familiar… *gasps* You’re the woman of my dreams! I mean, the woman IN my dreams…

Girl: *nodding* Yeah, I have to admit. I do get that a lot.

Steve: Oh wow, the destiny and legend is coming true! We’re the ones who will rescue the land and bring peace back to all!

Girl: Uhhh, yeah. Well, I’m off to see my dad. Nice savin’ ya! Maybe we’ll run into each other again some day…

Steve: I hope so! I mean, yeah, you know, whatever, heh.

Girl: Boy, are you weird…

As you can see, Steve is a natural hit with the ladies
As you can see, Steve is a natural hit with the ladies

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[What a realistic video game... -Ed.]
[What a realistic video game… -Ed.]
Multiplayer Mana with friends is where it's at
Multiplayer Mana is where it’s at

MORE SCENES

Remember leveling up here early on? You know you do
Remember leveling up here early on? Yeah, you do
Things begin to get a little tougher later on
Things begin to get a little tougher later on

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Neko: Stevie! Welcome back. Oh, and you’ve brought some new friends!

Steve: Sup Neko. Yes I have.

Girl: Hey Neko, nice little place you got here.

Sprite: Yeah, I dig it too.

Steve: I’ve seen this before somewhere…

Neko: Mi casa su casa!

Girl: Sweet!

Sprite: Bitchin’!

Steve: *gasp* This is my dream come true — it is!

Neko: Oh come on Steve, it’s a nice inn and all but not THAT nice.

Steve: Oh my bad, Neko. I was just going on about something else… nevermind. Hey color me shocked to see you here! I thought this is the time of the year where your cousin takes over so you can head over to the Super Play offices for your monthly “assignments.”

Neko: Yeah, about that. I been doing some meditation exercises, you know, on top of my therapy… and my therapist and I agreed that it just wasn’t a healthy working environment for me over there. So I QUIT!

Girl: Hey good for you!

Sprite: Hi-five with the guy with nine lives!

Steve: About time! Have some respect for yourself.

Neko: Yeah, I even left them a note and all. Those bastards. That’s the last time they beat up Neko!

Stand up for yourself. Never let others walk over you
Stand up for yourself. Never let folks walk over ya
It's all around the world. La La La La La
It’s all around the world. La La La La La!
Which one is your favorite season?
Which one is your favorite season?

Not only will you travel all over the world but you will also travel through the four seasons as well. How many SNES games can claim that? I mean, this isn’t SHENMUE but it’s still very cool especially for its time. By the way, I just love playing (action) RPGs during the fall and winter seasons. No better time to be playing these adventure games! Something about those early darkening afternoons and frosty nights that provide a perfect backdrop to playing these games. Speaking of which, check out my Christmas Memoirs if you want to read more about my Christmas-SNES memories. And speaking of Christmas…

Santa of Mana: yup, even St. Nick makes a cameo!
Santa of Mana: yup, even St. Nick makes a cameo!
Yeah, what is the secret anyway? Play it to find out!
Yeah, what is the secret anyway? Play it to find out!

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There’s much more but I’ll let you discover the rest on your own!

Happy adventuring!
Happy adventuring!

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Super Play adored Secret of Mana = understatement
Super Play adored Secret of Mana to the moon

Secret of Mana graced several magazine covers and earned the accolades of mostly everyone who played it. Combining elements from both the RPG and action genre as well as providing a huge world to explore, Secret of Mana won the hearts of many. To top it all off, throw in a unique three player option and its fate as one of the most beloved Super Nintendo games of all time was sealed. This is evident by all the favorite lists the game has made over the years (and decades). EGM awarded it Game of the Month honors with scores of 8, 9, 9 and 9. GameFan gave it ratings of 86, 90, 91 and 96%. Super Play rated 94%. They ranked Secret of Mana as the 8th best SNES game on their top 100 Super Nintendo games list (February 1996).

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EGM was king and ruler back in the day. My brother was a subscriber in ’94 and I always looked forward to that glorious day each month where the latest EGM issue would be sitting pretty in our mailbox. If there was one thing that my brother loved more than EGM it was definitely Secret of Mana. I remember watching him play it for hours on end. Even though there was a chance for me to jump in, I never did. As I said before, growing up I didn’t care for the genre. Looking back on it now, I wish that I had joined my brother on one of his binge Secret of Mana sessions.

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Well, it’s funny how life works. When I finally played Secret of Mana 17+ years later in December of 2010, my brother and I ended up having a little playthrough. We were no longer kids now but we sure felt like it (for two hours at least). Afterward I introduced him to BS Out of Bounds Golf, one of my perennial favorites. He loved it, too. He and I had a cutthroat battle that came down to the last stroke. It was a glorious gaming afternoon. Super Nintendo — bringing brothers together and reminding us of the innocence of childhood :)

EGM's classic The Good, The Bad and The Ugly box
EGM’s classic The Good, The Bad and The Ugly box
Nobody worshiped Secret of Mana like Super Play did
Nobody worshiped Secret of Mana like Super Play did

CLOSING THOUGHTS

It's as majestic and sweeping as the game itself
It’s as majestic and sweeping as the game itself

After hearing all the hype about this game for years on end, it was nice to finally sit down and quell a 17 year folly. Everything about Secret of Mana, from the visuals to the music to the gameplay, screams quality. Sure, the CPU-controlled allies are not too smart but the game is easy enough so their lack of AI never does become a glaring issue. It’s a treat playing this with a friend (or two). It’s not everyday that an action RPG affords you that chance. Secret of Mana is no doubt a Super Nintendo classic but one question remains…

Whoa, slow your role, Super Play. Three, not four
Whoa, slow your role, Super Play. Three, not four

Did the game live up to the massive hype for me? Not quite, actually. While I do like Secret of Mana a lot, I was expecting to wholeheartedly love it. Super Play was obsessed with this game and they made it seem like it was the Holy Grail. The combat system didn’t totally work for me. As I stated earlier in this review, the damage ratio is not to par, which took me out of the game at times as a semi-glaring oversight. Attacking at 90% didn’t produce much damage difference from say, 11%. Also, there wasn’t enough NPC interaction for my liking. The game had interesting dialogue early on but it seemed to go away completely in the middle of the game. There weren’t as many plot developments as I’d like, either. For a long while there I felt like I was just hacking and slashing, leveling up but with no big story advancement. It’s long been confirmed that the game is incomplete; it was originally intended to be released with the ill-fated SNES CD add-on. English translator Ted Woolsey admitted that’s why some areas, in addition to the lack of dialogue, appear to be missing. It’s such a shame because as great as I found Secret of Mana to still be, another part of me felt like it was missing that little something that would have taken it to the next level. Don’t get me wrong, Secret of Mana is certainly worthy of the title “SNES classic” but is it the greatest 16-bit Action RPG ever? Try the sequel Seiken Densetsu 3 (AKA Secret of Mana 2) first before you answer that question!

Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 9
Longevity: 9

Award4Overall: 9.0
Gold Award

 

We certainly are... and to be continued indeed...
We certainly are… and to be continued indeed…

SNES Classic Edition

It's happening
It’s happening

Yesterday news broke that Nintendo would indeed be releasing their SNES Classic Edition starting on September 29, 2017. Last year they released their NES Classic Edition for $60 and it was a smash hit. Rumors began swirling immediately that the SNES Classic Edition wouldn’t be far behind and sure enough, it’s almost here. For the low price of $80 here’s what you get:

  • HDMI support
  • SNES (super) mini
  • Two classic SNES controllers
  • 21 classic SNES games preloaded into the system

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Let’s take a closer look at all 21 games, in alphabetical order.

1. CONTRA III: THE ALIEN WARS

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One of the most intense action-packed 2 player SNES games ever made. Contra III is classic run and gun mayhem. Best experienced with a friend in tow, there’s nothing like blasting alien scum to Kingdom Come as you navigate your way through some of the most memorable moments in 16-bit gaming.

2. DONKEY KONG COUNTRY

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There were three DKC games released on the SNES, with many citing the second (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest) as their favorite. I actually prefer the first one. Call it nostalgia but it was fresh, mind blowing for its time and the difficulty was just right. A little on the easy side at times, but it cranked it up when it needed to. Mainly, I enjoyed using Donkey Kong in all his glory. Don’t forget those amazing tunes, either!

3. EARTHBOUND

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Take The Wonder Years, Peanuts, Doug, The Goonies, Dragon Quest and put them all in a blender. You’d probably get something like EarthBound. Whimsical, unique and different, EarthBound is charming and captivating as hell. But there also lies some sneaky mature themes throughout, such as the loss of innocence in a corrupt world. A classic RPG any SNES fan should play through before all is said and done.

4. FINAL FANTASY III

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Arguably the greatest 16-bit RPG ever made, Final Fantasy III is an epic adventure. It took me nearly 50 hours to beat back in 2008 when I experienced it for the first time, and I loved every second of it. Memorable characters, plot twists, haunting music… it has it all. It’s too bad the almost-just-as-good Final Fantasy II isn’t also included, though. But if you had to pick just one, they made the right choice here.

5. F-ZERO

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It may seem a little outdated today, especially to F-Zero virgins, but this blew our minds back in 1991. It still holds up well, although it is a bit bare bones. Still a good choice. The music is awesome. You could say that for most of these games, quite frankly.

6. KIRBY’S DREAM COURSE

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Of all the games featured on the SNES Classic Edition, this is the most surprising. I don’t say that disparagingly! Kirby’s Dream Course combines the best of Kirby and golf. It’s a blast to play and addicting as hell. Glad this made the cut. It doesn’t get the props it deserves. Now a larger audience will get to experience this for the first time. As well as SNES fans from the ’90s who somehow missed out on this back in the day. A definite dark horse candidate for “Game I Didn’t Expect To Sink So Many Hours On.”

7. KIRBY SUPER STAR

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Rather than one grand adventure, Kirby Super Star is a compendium of nine standalone games. It’s vintage Kirby, and it’s loads of fun.

8. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST

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A no-brainer. One of the best SNES games ever, nay, one of the best video games of all time. A masterpiece in every sense, this adventure will forever remain timeless and quintessential. Who could ever forget the first time they saw that rain come whipping down?

9. MEGA MAN X

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The best Mega Man game on the SNES. Never before could the Blue Bomber move around like he does here. The ability to scale walls, ride armored machines and even throw a Hadoken made Mega Man X one unforgettable journey.

10. SECRET OF MANA

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The first ever 3-player action RPG, Secret of Mana was a marvel for its time. It’s a great game but one that I do feel is slightly overrated. Still, the ability to play it with two friends made it something special. It’ll be interesting to see if Nintendo releases a multitap for the SNES Classic Edition. 2-player Secret of Mana is still awesome but it’d be a shame not to be able to experience it as a 3-player affair. On a side note, I much prefer the Super Famicom-only sequel, Secret of Mana 2 AKA Seiken Densetsu 3.

11. STAR FOX

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Star Fox was pretty amazing back in 1993. It’s a little rough around the edges today in 2017, but hopefully people will be able to overlook the dated visuals which were considered fairly groundbreaking for its time.

12. STAR FOX 2

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The biggest news of this SNES Classic Edition is the inclusion of never before officially released Star Fox 2. This game was programmed back in the mid ’90s but never saw the light of day as the N64 was looming over the horizon. Of course the repro of this game has been available for many years now, but it’ll be nice to have an official release (especially HDMI-supported).

13. STREET FIGHTER II TURBO

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Some people argue Super Street Fighter II is better, but I’ll take Street Fighter II Turbo. Street Fighter II created a revolution, but it was Turbo that refined it. For my money this is hands down the best fighting game on the SNES. So many sore thumbs and even more sore egos courtesy of this game back in 1993. Good times.

14. SUPER CASTLEVANIA IV

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It’s a little slow and the visuals are a bit outdated by today’s standards, but this was the definitive Castlevania game for many folks prior to Symphony of the Night. Being able to swing Simon’s whip in all directions made controlling him a breeze and loads of fun. There’s a beautiful simplicity to this game. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy taking down Count Dracula?

15. SUPER GHOULS ‘N GHOSTS

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Probably the hardest game of this list, Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts suffers from some slowdown but still provides one hell, pardon the pun, of a romp through some ghastly levels. I’m glad this game made the list. It’s a classic but often slightly overlooked in lieu of some bigger names such as Super Metroid and Contra III. Well deserved, Sir Arthur. Well deserved. You’ll terrorize a whole new generation of gamers. Congrats, good sir.

16. SUPER MARIO KART

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The Mario Kart franchise is one of the most beloved of all time. It’s so good that it attracts even the most casual of gamers. There’s something very likable about the characters from the Mario universe, the various weapons and imaginative course designs that constantly bring people back for more and more. This is where it all started — it’s the granddaddy of all Mario Kart games. Still playable after all these years!

17. SUPER MARIO RPG: LEGEND OF THE SEVEN STARS

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Mario in an RPG? Nuts. Bowser as a playable good guy? Even more nuts. Yet it all works, to no one’s surprise. Super Mario RPG brings timing to the RPG party as well as some wacky, lovable characters. A good time for sure.

18. SUPER MARIO WORLD

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Released on the Super Famicom’s Launch Day of November 21, 1990, Super Mario World is still as playable today as it was nearly 30 years ago. Shigeru Miyamoto knows how to make a damn good video game, and his fingerprints are all over this one. Great visuals, amazing music and smooth gameplay. Can’t ask for much more.

19. SUPER METROID

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If there were a Super Nintendo Mount Rushmore, anyone who doesn’t include Super Metroid automatically has their list disqualified. You just can’t talk about the very best SNES games without mentioning this 24 MEG GEM. Adventure, atmosphere, gun slinging, exploration, Super Metroid has it all. And that is all.

20. SUPER PUNCH-OUT!!

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Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! was one of the best NES games ever made. Its sequel, Super Punch-Out!!, is also an excellent arcade-like take on the sport of boxing. It’s all about patterns, timing, memorization and execution. While the new boxers here may lack the personality of the NES game, it’s still one of my favorites and I’m happy to see it made the list.

21. YOSHI’S ISLAND

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Aside from baby Mario’s incredibly annoying crying whenever he’s dismounted, Yoshi’s Island is a daring and brilliant deviation from the standard Mario game formula. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I find it equally as splendid as Super Mario World — just in slightly different ways.

TOP NINE SNUBS

The NES Classic Edition had 30 games, but the SNES Classic Edition only carries 21. However, the 21 games here are obviously much lengthier than the ones found on the NES edition. While the 21 games represented are great choices, there are a few glaring omissions. Whether due to licensing or whatever, here are nine great SNES games (in alphabetical order) that are conspicuous by their absence.

Oh, and before we begin, I will refrain from including the following two titles due to the simple fact that it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting any sort of multitap with the SNES Classic Edition. While both these games are still great as 2-player games, the real magic comes with a room of 4.

NBA Jam T.E.
NBA Jam T.E.
Super Bomberman
Super Bomberman

1. ACTRAISER

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An early first generation title and a classic one at that. ActRaiser switches seamlessly between side-scrolling levels of good old hack and slash platforming and a simulation mode where you must help build the land and protect the people. It’s a little simplistic but it didn’t need to be complex.

2. CHRONO TRIGGER

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Perhaps the most glaring omission of all, some believe Chrono Trigger to be the best SNES game ever created. Quite a loss, then, not to have one of the very best titles ever made in 16-bit history. Although I do understand at least a little bit since Nintendo already packed in three RPGs. Still, it’s tough losing out on this one.

3. DONKEY KONG COUNTRY 2: DIDDY’S KONG QUEST

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Although I prefer the original Donkey Kong Country, I’ll concede that this does play slightly better. If you had Yoshi’s Island to go along with Super Mario World, you probably should have added this as well. Alas, poor Diddy and newcomer Dixie Kong are left hanging… [HAR HAR -Ed.]

4. THE LEGEND OF THE MYSTICAL NINJA

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Another classic 2-player SNES game from the system’s early days. Perhaps this was a little too offbeat for Nintendo to include for the mainstream, however. If that is the case, that’s a shame because the gameplay shines through and speaks for itself. Note: This game is included in the Super Famicom Classic Edition as Ganbare Goemon.

5. POCKY & ROCKY

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Hard as nails, but also super fun with a friend right alongside ya! It’s too bad this got snuffed… it would have exposed Pocky & Rocky to a brand new generation of gamers.

6. SUNSET RIDERS

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Vintage glorious 2-player gun slinging action. ‘Nuff said.

7. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES IV: TURTLES IN TIME

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Next to Chrono Trigger, this is the biggest glaring omission. Not to mention it would have been the only beat ‘em up on the SNES Classic Edition. That makes its absence all the more egregious. No beat ‘em ups represented?! That’s a crime! But I totally understand it might have been a licensing issue and Nintendo simply not wanting to pay the extra cost for the Ninja Turtles brand. Whatever the case may be, it’s a shame. This defined many of our 16-bit childhoods and is arguably the finest beat ‘em up on the SNES.

8. TETRIS ATTACK

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No puzzle games are represented either, and Tetris Attack is the best as far as I’m concerned. This inclusion would have provided endless hours of cutthroat competitive play, and it saddens me that it didn’t make the cut. Well, at least for the American release. The Super Famicom Classic Edition does include this game but under its Japanese title of Panel de Pon.

9. ZOMBIES ATE MY NEIGHBORS

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Come on, Nintendo. This is another classic childhood game for many of us who grew up in the early ’90s. Every kid played this game to death that holiday season of 1993. Sure, it may be a little overrated but it’s freaking ZOMBIES ATE MY NEIGHBORS! Nintendo, you could have even tweaked it to make it better. Think about an easier difficulty setting, a strafe button, etc. A missed opportunity any way you slice it.

10. KEN GRIFFEY JR. PRESENTS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

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This is my honorable mention. I love this game and it was also published by Nintendo. I see why it wasn’t included, though. Fake player names, outdated rosters and so forth. But damn is this game fun. Many people, even non baseball fans, still play it to this very day. It would also have been the only sports title featured in the package.

SUPER FAMICOM CLASSIC EDITION

I THINK I AM TURNING JAPANESE...
“I THINK I AM TURNING JAPANESE…”

In Japan, the system will include Panel de Pon (Tetris Attack)Fire Emblem: Mystery of the EmblemGanbare Goemon: The Legend of the Mystical NinjaSuper Soccer, and Super Street Fighter II. These titles replace EarthBoundKirby’s Dream CourseStreet Fighter II Turbo, Super Castlevania IV, and Super Punch-Out!! from the US model.

Super Punch-Out!! was never released in Japan. Strange but true. I guess they’re keeping true to form 20+ years later…

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Welcome back, dear old friend
Welcome back, dear old friend

For $80 this is an insane bargain. Having 21 classic SNES titles, with HDMI support, in one tiny system is greatly appealing particularly to those who don’t already own these classics. You’re talking less than $4 a game, and that’s not including the system. Sadly, the NES Classic Edition suffered from lack of production and over demand, causing scalpers to swoop in and take advantage. Preorders for the SNES Classic Edition are going fast and resellers are everywhere posed to capitalize. $300 markups would be a safe bet. Of course, when you consider some of these games sell TODAY for close to $300 individually, $300 might still seem like a good deal for 21 games. And it is, at less than $15 a game. But it would be a shame to pay $300 for something that is retailing for just $80. As always, it’s a call only the individual can make. I already own all these games so I’d pass if the asking price is $300, but at $80 I would probably bite. But what are the odds I’ll be able to find one for $80? Probably not high.

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But on a more happy note, I’m just ecstatic that my favorite console, the Super Nintendo, is back in the mainstream spotlight. I expect a ton of nostalgia to overcome young adults in their 30s who see this package and go “Oh wow, I haven’t played these games in 20, 25 years!” It just makes me happy knowing the SNES will once again bask in the glow of the spotlight. Nintendo plans to stop production of these Classic Editions at the end of 2017, so the spotlight will be short-lived, but it’s nice knowing come September a lot of casual people will be buying a Super Nintendo in 20-freaking-17. And who knows, it may lead to something bigger. At the very least, exposure never hurts and it thrills me that younger generations of gamers will have a chance to play and appreciate these classics. That’s a definite win in my book!

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EXTRA EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Speaking of SNES comebacks...
Speaking of SNES comebacks…

By the way, it recently came to my attention that BS Shockman is getting an official Super Famicom release June of 2017! Wow! The SNES scene is booming right now in a way we haven’t seen in a long time. BS Shockman is also known as BS Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman Zero. Check out my review for more info.

Fun 2-player game worth checking out
Fun 2-player game worth checking out

Rock on, SNES. Rock the f*ck on.