SNES | RVGFanatic

How Super Nintendo CRUSHED 1994

The Super Nintendo has enjoyed one hell of a legendary run. From its bubbling infancy in the early ’90s… to its absolute DOMINANCE in the mid 90s… and even to its dying days in the late ’90s, gamers around the globe have enjoyed many wonderful memories with this amazing console, and in the years beyond as well. In all those memorable years during the system’s lifespan, which one was the very best? Opinions may vary, but I think most folks would agree without a shadow of a doubt that the best single year of the SNES was 1994. It’s been 30 years since that amazing run. Let’s take a look back at the games that made 1994 Super Nintendo’s best year.

JANUARY 1994

Capcom made us wait but boy was it worth it. 1994 could not have opened with a better entry than Mega Man X. It was the Blue Bomber’s 16-bit homecoming at long last, and it was freaking fantastic.

As an aside, this is an article I’ve been wanting to write ever since RVGFanatic launched back in January 2007. I’ve always had a fondness for all things 1994. It was just an amazing year and a great time to be a 10, 11 year old boy growing up in suburban America. It blows my mind that it’s been 30 years since that unforgettable year. How time flies by…

While iconic classics such as the previously mentioned Mega Man X are the foundation of the Super Nintendo, one would be sorely remissed if the lesser known “sleeper” hits aren’t highlighted as well. Skyblazer was a solid game that kind of got lost in the large library of the SNES back in the day, but has always had a strong cult following. It’s one of those games that quite a few folks sort of discovered later and wasn’t appreciated as much until then. Fun fact: Kazunori Yamauchi, the man behind Skyblazer, went on to produce the classic PlayStation 1997 racing game Gran Turismo (which also became a movie last year in 2023). Shout out to you, Kaz!

Just check out how uber cool and nifty it all is. You can’t talk about “underrated” Super Nintendo “hidden gems” without mentioning Skyblazer!

FEBRUARY 1994

As a kid who grew up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, I can’t tell you how many times I roamed these grungy and glorious arcade halls. And all the amazing beat ‘em up games that flooded the market during that epic era of arcade gaming. It was almost sort of a rite of passage, if you will. And it’s something many gamers hold near and dear when they think back to those halcyon days of yore. So although February 1994 didn’t produce too many memorable titles (hey it’s all good since we were still busy with Mega Man X), we did get some bliss in the form of NINJA WARRIORS.

It’s a solid beat ‘em up, for sure, but sadly there’s no two-player co-op mode. I liked it but not as much as the critics who absolutely raved about it.

In my review I gave Ninja Warriors a solid 7.5 rating. A two-player mode would have bumped it into the 8.5 range. The scores above are from EGM, a publication which will be highlighted later in this article…

5 years ago, in the summer of 2019, Ninja Warriors was revitalized for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. A proper two-player co-op mode was included to right a previous wrong. Thes results? Pure ninja badassery!

I fondly can recall how excited 10 year old me felt when I first laid eyes on Ardy Lightfoot. EGM ran a short preview on it, and I remember being fascinated by Ardy’s look, his little blue sidekick and that gorgeous yellow column of light energy. It seemed to have all the makings of a classic platformer. The small single screenshot exuded so much ADVENTURE. And that was part of the magic back in the day. Hunkering down with the latest video game magazine, excitedly flipping through to gawk at all the cool games coming out, and using one or two grainy ass screenshots to wonder away at all the possibilites. Your imagination did the rest. I swear, technology’s awesome and all, but gaming kids these days don’t know what they’re missing out on…

After Sonic the Hedgehog hit the scene in 1991, mascot platformers became a big thing. Some were amazing, most were forgettable. 1994 was to mascot platformers as 1990 was to horror movies. There was a significant downtick in the number of “me too” wannabe cash-ins as the well began to dry. Part of me naturally couldn’t help but root for and admire Ardy Lightfoot. He was a dying breed indeed.

Good ol’ EGM at it again. Their five reviewers had slightly differing opinions of Ardy. It’s one of those lesser known SNES games that some really vouch for, in the vain of Ed and Mike above. I rated it 6.5 myself, so I’m closer in line with Dano, Al and good ol’ Sushi-X (big shout out to the EGM legend and myth).

Ardy Lightfoot has its charms. It definitely has an adventurous aura that’s nearly second to none. But it’s hampered by some flaws here and there to bring down the overall experience. Still, it has its moments, and is noteworthy enough to throw on this list, especially during a relatively quiet month in what was a staggering year. And who knows, maybe you’re more in the camp with Ed and Mike who both advocated for Ardy. If so, then this game definitely belongs.

MARCH 1994

Street Fighter 2 Turbo and Mortal Kombat dominated arcades in 1993. In general, fighting games were all the rage back then. As you can see from EGM issue number 50, these titanic titles were duking it out for gaming supremacy.

But at least one game was able to legitimately challenge both Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat for the arcade game throne… NBA JAM! Its much anticipated SNES translation in March of 1994 was a monumental event. All the kids in the neighborhood came flocking over, and we spent countless Saturday nights dunking on one another. It was pure 16-bit bliss.

My friends and I played NBA Jam well into the summer and even through the fall and winter. It was THAT damn good. When I think back to those epic sleepovers from the early-mid ’90s, I can’t help but fondly recollect all the laughter, trash talking and buzzer beating hail mary half court prayers that this game produced. Thanks for the memories, JAM.

Speaking of top tier sports games, Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball is the best baseball game on the SNES, bar none. Griffey is a heavenly blend of detail-oriented simulation and satisfying fast paced arcade-like play. Games are as short as 15 minutes, which wasn’t always the case for baseball games of that era. Griffey got you in and out, and often times you stayed happily for hours on end thanks to “just one more game.”

I’ve logged thousands of hours into Griffey, and that is no hyperbole. I’ve played over ten 162-game full seasons over the past 30 years. Even though the players have all long retired and the gameplay mechanics are 30 years old, the game remains timeless. I’ll go months or even years without playing it, but then I’ll randomly fire it up and enjoy it just as much as I did when I was a kid. A legit 10+ out of 10 level game! One of those rare games I can play for a lifetime.

Speaking of playing for a lifetime, Equinox took home “Best Ad of the Year” for 1994 with this absolute banger of an advertisement. I remember my best friend Nelson and I just laughing at the ridiculousness of it all, and how much it made us want to play it.

But rather than simply playing for laughs, the ad was also packed with intriguing tidbits. F’rinstance, scope the intimidating size of this boss! In addition, you know what special item you’ll win for your troubles of defeating Sung Sung. You’re just not sure what the harp will do. See? Instant intrigue!

There aren’t many isometric action adventure games on the SNES. Equinox represents the best of its kind, and makes one long for more games of this ilk on Nintendo’s 16-bit wonder.

ProTip: Try playing it during November or December. The game’s atmosphere lends itself quite well to the seasons of fall and winter. Equinox is easily one of the Super Nintendo’s most underrated games that doesn’t get nearly the love and recognition it so richly deserves.

WolfMarch

The first time I witnessed Wolfenstein 3D (circa mid 1992), my 8 year old mind nearly melted. Never before had I seen anything like it. Then DOOM launched in December of ’93, making Wolfenstein look more like a Ms. Rachel singalong. So when the Wolfie port hit the SNES some three months later, I didn’t expect too much. I was a Doom guy through and through. But a funny thing happened that March weekend of 1994. It became “one more labyrinth,” “one more key” and “one more Nazi.” It was a joyous weekend that sparked a new sense of appreciation for Wolfie.

The SNES port has many detractors, and I can see why. Blocky visuals, no blood, and various other censors that stripped the game of its full faithfulness. And while the gameplay isn’t the smoothest, it was still more than manageable. To me it still captured enough of the essence that makes Wolfenstein, er, Wolfenstein.

Few games on the SNES can provide the sheer rush of mowing down 20 bad guys in the span of 30 seconds quite like Wolfenstein 3D. And it helped made the first quarter of 1994 a special one for the SNES.

As a kid I was mega hyped for Clay Fighter (which busted), but it was Interplay’s other title, Claymates, that I should have paid more attention to.

Good luck to those athletes in the 2024 Olympics! — Good luck to the athletes competing in the 2024 Olympics!

The box was covered with a lenticular lens — the original faux 3D technology. Claymates proved to contain way more substance and staying power than that silly Clay Fighter could only dream of.

Play as Clayton or one of five different animal friends. The levels were humongous and well designed. It’s just a fun quirky little game that flew under the radar.

APRIL 1994

They say they broke the mold when Super Metroid dropped in April of 1994. THEY WERE DAMN RIGHT.

With an enticing sci-fi alien world atmosphere second to none and some of the best damn gameplay ever crafted, it’s almost impossible not to swoon at the mere thought of Super Metroid. Many often cite this as not only their favorite SNES game ever, but their favorite game of all time, PERIOD.

It’s mind boggling that it’s now been over 30 years since this first came out. Honestly feels like a lifetime ago!

SuperMetroid-Crateria4

Read any top SNES game list and chances are you’ll find Super Metroid somewhere in the top 10 5 3. That says it all, really.

Super NES fans kicked off 1994 with Mega Man X, and then were treated to Super Metroid only 3 months later. What a time to be alive, eh?

In late ’91 my brother and I discovered Fatal Fury at our neighborhood arcade. We were instantly hooked. We spent many a night enjoying the 2 vs. 1 mode where old man Tung Fu Rue would transform like the Hulk and kick our butts. Great times. Unfortunately, the SNES port was terrible.

Thankfully, Takara got it right second time around. My brother and I played Fatal Fury 2 nonstop that weekend we rented it. It was a damn good fighting game. Not counting Super Baseball 2020, this was like the first really strong Neo Geo to SNES translation, paving the way for other solid Neo Geo ports to come.

Blew us away like a hurricane... — Blew us away like a hurricane…

Joe & Mac was one of the earliest platformers released on the SNES, way back in good ol’ January of 1992. It was a fun two-player cavemen against dinosaurs romp, so it was a pleasant surprise when Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics quietly dropped more than two years later. By no means a blockbuster or even anything to write home about in particular, but every gaming library needs its share of fun little games to help solidify and round it out.

Capcom converted two of its medieval 1991 arcade beat ‘em ups to the SNES in April of ’94. While it was awesome getting to play both in the same month, you wonder why Capcom didn’t spread it out so each title could receive the spotlight solely? At any rate, as a kid you were just grateful. Knights of the Round is a solid beat ‘em up with clanging swords and the works!

The other one was King of Dragons. Thanks to its cooler enemy roster and the ability to play from one of FIVE characters (pretty unheard of by SNES standards back then), I much prefer KoD over Knights of the Round. But both arcade conversions are fine examples of the genre and among the best of its kind on the SNES.

MAY 1994

Look, I’ll come right out and say it: May was the shits. You know the old saying: ya can’t win ‘em all. But hey, 11 out of 12 ain’t bad, eh? Probably May’s most noteworthy (notice I never said good) release was Clay Fighter: Tournament Edition because it was an exclusive rental. At the time no store sold it, so the only way to play it (if you were so inclined) was to go to your local rental store. I remember seeing it on the shelf every weekend I went. Never rented it because I was so disappointed by the first one which came out about half a year prior. Fool me once…

JUNE 1994

Summer of ’94 got off to a scorching start when the 32 MEG monster Super Street Fighter II hit rental and game stores nationwide. As impressive as the previous two Street Fighter ports were on the SNES, this one took the cake. 16 fighters and multiple modes made it one of the best fighting games the SNES has to offer. Perhaps even THE very best.

10 years ago, on the OG RVGFanatic website, I wrote an article called THE SUMMER OF IMPORTS. At the time it had been 20 years since that fateful summer. Now it’s 30 years! In a nutshell, it was the best summer of my life. My best friend Nelson and I played SNES games and watched horror movies galore that summer, living it up as 10, 11 year old boys could. But what really made that summer unforgettable were the Super Famicom imports Nelson and I rented.

One of those imports was King of the Monsters 2. The first port was incredibly disappointing due to missing features from the arcade cult classic. But just like with Fatal Fury 2, Takara got it right second time around.

The Vanessa Carlton-inspired pictures I made for the KotM2 review is still one of my personal favorites.

The ending of the game lines up perfectly to those lyrics!

See what I mean?!

But I digress. Ain’t nobody got time for that! Let’s move on

The other import we rented was Capcom’s 24 MEG beast, Muscle Bomber: The Body Explosion, better known here in the states as Saturday Night Slam Masters. It was arcade wrestling 4-player mayhem at its finest. A little shallow, sure, but a whole hell lotta fun!

The Jetsons: Invasion of the Planet Pirates was quietly a fun little underrated game.

One of the most underrated titles of 1994 was The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang. You can’t talk about SNES hidden gems without citing this quirky, delightful caper.

"Can we crank up that ride over there to 88 MPH?" — *“Can we crank up that ride over there to 88 MPH?”*

I remember making those pics for my Spike review. Time consuming, but it was fun to do in my younger more carefree days

Definitely fun for me looking back on all those captions I added. Takes me back! They were a staple of my older SNES reviews, but I digress…

JULY 1994

July was sparse, but June’s offerings kept us plenty busy. July did have one big release though in the form of Stunt Race FX. While it didn’t quite live up to the hype, it was a memorable enough rental that gave us some quality entertainment for a weekend.

AUGUST 1994

There were three imports Nelson and I rented during the summer of 1994 that made that summer one for the ages. King of the Monsters 2, Saturday Night Slam Masters and Fighter’s History. I’ve been a Fighter’s History fan since day one when I first played the arcade original in 1993. Sure it was an overtly blatant Street Fighter 2 clone, but it had its share of unique charms. So when Nelly and I got to play the Japanese version MONTHS before the American release dropped in August of that year, we were over the moon!

Though far from being the greatest fighting game of its time, it was an amazing translation. It felt just like we were playing the arcade game in our living room! I love the simple yet detailed sprites and backgrounds. Look at those bulging muscles on ol’ Marstorius! Love the Thailand stage with the crowd overlooking the action from the bridge. Even down to the design of the energy bars… I absolutely adore the aesthetics of this game. It just screams 1993. It was a simpler time in our lives when it felt like a new fighting game was coming out on a ~~monthly~~ weekly basis.

Plus it’s the only way to play as Karnov on the SNES!

Super Double Dragon is one of my favorite beat ‘em ups on the SNES. So it was quite the shocker when Double Dragon V was revealed to be a fighting game. But given how popular fighters were back then, I guess in hindsight it’s not too shocking. DDV got a lot of flak but I honestly didn’t think it was that bad. Definitely a guilty pleasure for me. At the very least it was a major curiosity that I have fond memories of renting and enjoying for a random weekend during the final weeks of summer before the 6th grade.

Brain Lord was a worthy action RPG that flew under the radar. I enjoyed its more methodical gameplay with enough hack and slash action to keep things lively as you solve puzzles and dispatch of foul creatures such as this malignant mutated cockroach.

But if you were in the mood for a more traditional style RPG, with turn based battles and multiple members joining your party along the way, Capcom’s Breath of Fire was right up your alley. Nothing extraordinary about it, but damn solid.

SEPTEMBER 1994

September 9, 1994. MORTAL FRIDAY. The infamous launch date of Mortal Kombat II across 22 platforms (or so it felt). The first port left something to be desired, including a lack of blood, but the sequel got it oh so right. Blood and justice were both restored. It helped too that part 2 in general is a far superior game to the first one. This was Mortal Kombat at its peak, and SNES MK fans were in heaven.

As much as I was looking forward to Mortal Kombat II though, there was another fighting game I was anticipating even more…

1994 was indeed a banner year thanks to hits like this — 1994 was indeed a *banner year* thanks to hits like this

World Heroes 2 was my tentpole event of 1994. I spent countless quarters and hours on the World Heroes franchise back in the early-mid ’90s. It was my absolute favorite fighting game series.

It was a fantastic port, all things considered, and in some ways more accessible than the arcade in terms of options. Of course many sacrifices had to be made to scale the game down to work on the SNES, but it captured the spirit and essence of the arcade original quite well.

I swear this is not a flex :P [Liar -Ed.] — I swear this is not a flex [Lying ass bitch ass ho ass -Ed.]

In a universe full of cute mascots, fluffy platformers and such, it was a HUGE breath of fresh air to experience something different like Blackthorne. The SNES didn’t have many games like it, putting Blackthorne sort of in a class all its own.

Illusion of Gaia (spiritual sequel to Soul Blazer) really scratched the action RPG itch. Gorgeous graphics, huge bosses and memorable characters made this title simply irresistible.

Super Bomberman 2 kept the good times rolling as friendships were put to the test and egos were bruised. Always a blast (sorry).

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was to 1994 as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was to 1989… pure dominance. It was only a matter of time before a licensed video game adaptation would pop up on the SNES. And while it was simplistic and short, it was very enjoyable nevertheless.

Almost every boy's childhood crush — Almost every boy’s childhood crush…

OCTOBER 1994

Every year I always look forward to seeing the calendar hit October. It starts the best 3-4 month run of the year as I absolutely love the fall and winter seasons for various reasons.

But there was nothing like October 1994. As longtime readers of RVGFanatic may recall from my nostalgic article Memories of Halloween, this was the year that I had the best Halloween a kid could ever have. Meanwhile, in the background we also got to play some amazing SNES games. What a great time to be a kid!

stevecoll199

Final Fantasy III is in the running for not only best SNES RPG but best SNES game, period. Even to this day, people are still playing and talking about it.

Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! on the 8-bit Nintendo gave us so many wonderful memories. It took a hot minute but Super Punch-Out!! finally arrived in October of ’94, and it was well worth the long wait.

Nintendo brought back some classic familiar faces while introducing some tough new hombres to crack. The added power of the 16-bit SNES gave the game a big boost in visuals while the gameplay mechanics remained as smooth as ever. Well done, Big N. Well done indeed.

Earthworm Jim was a quirky action platformer that quickly developed a cult following.

Sparkster was another pretty cool platformer. Konami almost could do no wrong back in those days…

One of many unheralded gems on the SNES was Super Adventure Island II. I enjoyed the first one, clunky though it might be. It had a classic early ’90s simplicity to it. But the sequel is legitmately a very good game. I love the RPG undertones!

Final Fantasy III (rightfully so) got all the RPG love this month, but there was another RPG worth your while that quietly came out the same month. Robotrek had some really cool features, such as building and customizing up to 3 robots to do the dirty work for ya!

Super R-Type was among the earliest wave of SNES games released back in September of 1991. R-Type III over 3 years later turned out to be everything you wanted the first one to be.

NOVEMBER 1994

Who could ever forget the first time you witnessed Donkey Kong Country live in the flesh? The flurry of snow falling, Kong beating his chest and the snow covered trees was an unforgettable sight.

I’ll always remember the jubilant chatter on the school playground… DKC was on everyone’s lips. We all adored it and couldn’t stop yapping about it. The whole 6th grade was bananas for Donkey and friends.

For something a ~~little~~ lot darker, Demon’s Crest was pretty damn spectacular in its own right! The structure is very much Metroidvania. It is, for my money, one of the best damn action games on the SNES.

For 2-player action thrills, Pocky & Rocky 2 was a worthwhile sequel to the SNES cult classic.

ZeroKaz

I feel almost obligated to include Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel. Although I feel it didn’t live up to its potential and is only decent at best, there is a robust contingent of SNES fans who love it. I just never was able to get down the flying/diving mechanics which are paramount to success. Thus playing Zero for me was always a mix of fun and frustration, but I acknowledge that it contributed to a lot of people’s enjoyment of the SNES in late ’94. Maybe one day it’ll click more for me, too.

Speaking of obligations, Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi concluded the SNES trilogy of Star Wars games. I haven’t gotten around to playing Return of the Jedi yet, but I loved Super Star Wars. These are some of the hardest platformers around, but they’re quite fun if you can work around it.

X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse was hyped to the moon. It graced the cover of the December issue of EGM, and my gaming crew and I could not wait to play it. The end results were a little mixed, but I still contend it’s a solid enough game with phenenomenal visuals and some badass special moves. I mean, as a kid pulling off a Ryu-esque Dragon Punch on a Sentinel? You felt like a superhero yourself.

Weighing in at a monstrous 32 MEGS, Samurai Shodown was the last big Neo Geo conversion. Coming at the tail end of 1994, it was a sign of the times. ’94 was a massive year for the Super Nintendo, and a lot of things would change by 1995. It was almost as if Takara (the publisher) and Monolith (the developer) knew this was the end of the line, so the boys took one last big swing. A lot of sacrifice had to be made, including a substantial downsize in sprites and the absence of the infamous screen scaling. It was a bummer to be sure, but it was still a competent translation. And most importantly, it was still quite fun. I have fond memories of defeating the fighting game guru in my gaming crew. He largely went undefeated in most fighting games we played. But the night I dethroned him in Samurai Shodown was pretty damn epic. Everyone in the group was whooping and hollering. An outsider looking in might think we just won the Little League championship. Good times.

Even to this day I can close my eyes and STILL hear that haunting sound effect of Haohmaru’s hurricane projectile…

DECEMBER 1994

Batman Returns gets a lot of love, but many consider The Adventures of Batman & Robin to be the definitive Batman SNES experience. Definitely an added bonus if you loved Batman: The Animated Series as much as I did, as the aesthetics of this title tie in quite well with B:TAS.

Speaking of licensed games, Biker Mice From Mars (what a name!) has something of a small cult following in SNES circles. It’s often cited as one of the system’s plethora of underrated hidden gems, and was clearly inspired by the beloved SNES classic Rock n’ Roll Racing.

Speaking of racing titles, Uniracers also has somewhat of a cult following. It was super speedy and you could pull off some crazy stunts. Not my personal favorite, but I see why so many loved it.

We got another solid arcade to SNES translation in the form of Power Instinct. It had some unique features such as being able to jump up two screens and stages had breakable barriers that would expand the stage even farther if a fighter goes crashing through. Plus, who didn’t want to play as the evil grandma?

EGM’S CONTRIBUTIONS

My brother subscribed to EGM for a full year, starting in January of 1994. I’ll never forget opening our mailbox and seeing a thick ass issue #54 sitting pretty in our mailbox! EGM and GameFan were some of the awesome gaming publications that ruled 1994. They truly enhanced my SNES experience that year, and I’ll always be thankful everything aligned so perfectly to make that year one for the ages.

The day my brother and I received EGM issue number 65 was bittersweet. The bitter: it the final issue of our subscription. The sweet: it was the largest EGM issue ever, as proudly advertised on the front cover. As much fun as we had with EGM, my brother decided not to renew. I like to think that there was a quiet unspoken understanding that EGM (and SNES) peaked at the tail end of 1994. Sure, we’ll still get some great stuff here and there going forward, but we’d never see the same level of consistency. It’s like a running back in the NFL at age 27 vs. age 28. 27 could be an optimal year but at 28 you see a vast decline. And kid you not, once EGM issue 66 dropped in January of 1995, there was an immediate dropoff in quality. I often joke to myself that EGM sold their souls to crank out issue 65. It was so massive and so beautiful cover to cover… that they never could quite recover from such a draining effort. Thanks for the memories, EGM. You helped play a significant role to make 1994 Super Nintendo’s peak year!

1994 FUN FACTS

My belief of 1994 being Super Nintendo’s most prolific year is subjective. But what is objective is that 1994 saw the biggest number of SNES games released. That is a fact that cannot be disputed. In fact, here’s what each year produced:

1992: 113
1993: 178
1994: 226
1995: 118

I didn’t cite 1991 because the SNES came out late that year. Nor did I cite 1996 as the system was rapidly fading. So 1994 *doubled* the amount of games from 1992 (113 to 226), but as we all know, it’s not about quantity it’s about quality. But as you can see from the countless games highlighted previously, 1994 has quantity and quality in spades. And for the record, here are the number of SNES game releases during every month in ’94:

January: 10
February: 15
March: 11
April: 20
May: 11
June: 19
July: 4
August: 17
September: 16
October: 30
November: 50
December: 20

I was shocked to discover that July, smack dab in the middle of the time when kids are home for the summer, only saw 4 new releases. I was also surprised to see November as the highest month (with 50 releases). My money would have been on December to have the highest number. But yeah, pretty insane that there were 100 new SNES games in the last 3 months alone vying for your holiday cash!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

It’s hard to fathom that 1994 is now well over 30 years ago. Sometimes certain events from ’94 feel like they were only yesterday. Most times though, man they feel like a lifetime ago. ’94 was just a very special year for me. I was 10 and 11 that year, the 5th grade was awesome, I had my best friend Nelson, arcades were still very much a thing and the SNES had reached its optimal stage of evolution. Everything just combined to make 1994 the best year of my childhood. That’s why I look back so fondly on that time period. The Super Nintendo saw so many iconic titles during its lifespan. But 1994 had the highest concentrated number of hits from where I sit. Throw in the fact that gaming magazines at the time also hit their prime so to speak, and you had all the ingredients in place for an epic year. And that it was. I mean, just think of all the Hall of Fame caliber SNES games we got that year… Mega Man X, Super Street Fighter 2, Super Metroid, Donkey Kong Country, Final Fantasy III, NBA Jam, Mortal Kombat II, Demon’s Crest, Super Punch-Out!! and so much more. An embarassment of riches. A veritable who’s who of SNES lore!

Crazy how all those classic games are now 30 years old or about to be later this year in 2024. I recently played a bunch of them in order to get extra inspired to write this article. And wow do they still hold up like the champions they are. They’re simply timeless… games as playable and enjoyable today as they were THREE DECADES ago. It blows my mind how much these games have stood the test of time, and how likely they will even 30 more years from now. And that, my friends, is how Super Nintendo CRUSHED 1994.

Thanks for the memories, 1994. I salute thee! — 1994… here’s to ya!

RVG Turns 15!

Earlier this month, RVGFanatic turned all of 15 years old. Opening its virtual doors on January 7, 2007, it’s crazy to believe that it’s been that long. I celebrated another milestone earlier this month as well — January 17, 2006 marked the fateful day that I decided to embark on my SNES resurrection. And this is what truly blows my mind: since the start of my SNES comeback, I’ve been playing it longer than its existence from 1991-2005 (14 years). My SNES resurgence now spans 16 years (January 2006 to January 2022). RVGFanatic is now older as well (15 years). My goodness. Talk about time flying! Although my SNES fever is nowhere near what it was during 2006-2018, I still play it regularly to this very day. With my Player 2 No matter where life takes me, the SNES will always hold a special place in my heart. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane…

LIFE IN THE EARLY ’90s

As a proud kid of the late ’80s to mid ’90s, I grew up during the golden age of gaming. Arcades were amazing and the technological leap from the 8-bit NES to the 16-bit SNES was mind-blowing. Many weekends consisted of my brother, our friends and I gaming to our hearts’ content. It was a simpler time. Those halcyon days forever burn in my soul. I would never want to be 10 years old again, but I’d love to visit for a few hours and be a fly on the wall.

Don’t get me started on the toys and cartoons of that era! Most everyone likes to claim that their childhood was the best time to grow up, but for me, I feel very fortunate to have grown up when I did. Simple pleasures like raiding an arcade hall with your best buds, or gawking at all the cool toys and games in the long aisles of Toys R Us, or strolling through the local video rental store to rent the latest game or movie… those days, more or less, are forever gone. I’m so thankful that I grew up when such entities were at the height of their powers.

That glorious glow beckons like none other — That glorious glow beckons

The Macys partnership will not even be close — One of the best places a kid could visit in the ’90s

Hitting up the video store was a weekend ritual!

My family moved in early 1996, and life got busy with middle school and high school. But in 1999, I bought a secondhand Sega Saturn for $40 from FuncoLand because my brother wanted to play Fire Pro Wrestling: 6 Man Scramble. I had my own motivation in the form of World Heroes Perfect.

It wasn’t long before I became a Sega Saturn diehard. I was obsessed with it from 2001-2005 and acquired 350 Saturn titles during that time. I was a frequent visitor (and even a contributor) to sega-saturn.com. I loved reading all the user reviews and in many ways, I credit that website (along with Rob Strangman’s OPCFG) as early influences for RVGFanatic.

I attended University in the early to mid 2000’s, and had a great time exploring my interests and figuring out who I was. I dabbled in theater arts, performed in stage plays and got my teaching credential. I learned from all the people I met, the friends I made and the varied experiences I had. One of my favorite things about college though was that sweet fat 6 week break that lasted between mid December to late January. It’s always a nostalgic time of the year for me, as it invariably brings back to mind all those fond college memories of just hanging around at home bumming around and doing much of nothing. Just binge watching (horror) movies and playing video games galore until 3 AM almost every night. It was during the winter break of late 2004/early 2005 that I first had the thought of getting back into the Super Nintendo…

One day in the middle of January 2005, I revisited my childhood Hollywood Video. At the time many Hollywood Video stores had a Game Crazy hub inside the store, which served as a video game center where you could buy current and older games. That day I spotted the SNES and some of the juice started kicking up. Also, my Saturn passion was starting to wane during this time period. It had been a strong 5+ year run with the Saturn but I was starting to run out of steam. Somehow, the SNES seemed awfully inviting but for whatever reason I just could not pull the trigger.

Just one short year later, I decided to pull the trigger. The following winter break, I was completely out of the Saturn scene. The SNES drum began beating loudly in my heart, and this time I decided not to ignore it. The desire to play all the SNES games I loved during my childhood as well as all the countless ones I missed but always wanted to play became way too overwhelming.

During my Sega Saturn run, I had a secret weapon. A sort of Weapon X, if you will. My guy, Mike, from Collector’s Cards and Games. He owns a real life store but you can buy online as well. It’s awesome to see that he’s still living the dream, as his website is still up and running to this day. Even better, he hasn’t changed the graphics from the mid 2000s, almost 20 years ago!

Even still uses that same photo from way back when — Even still uses that same pic from way back when!

I sent my guy Mike an email late Tuesday morning (my God, I was up at 3:42 AM… damn, those 6 week college winter breaks were the freaking best). January 17, 2006 is the fateful day I officially got back into the Super Nintendo. As the email stated, I thought my game buying days were over. Little did I know!

The very next day I enthusiastically shared my news with the good folks over at Digital Press. The stage was set for my greatest gaming adventure yet. I was so ready to revisit what I’ve always considered, and still do as a matter of fact, the best damn gaming era that ever existed.

These were among the first SNES games I bought. As you can see, back in early 2006, most of these games were only $5. Some as cheap as $4 or even $3. 2006 was truly a golden age where for the price it would cost to rent these games back in the ’90s, you could now own it for just as much.

My original display. 90 of these were from Mike! — My collection circa January 2006. 70% came from Mike!

I was Stephanie and Mike was Austin :P — I was Steph, he was Austin

Unfortunately, Art of Fighting was purchased from his store so we removed that from the list. On the bright side, I looked at the list again and added Great Circus Mystery and Joe & Mac. My wife and I actually replayed Joe & Mac earlier this month. Crazy that the SNES port just turned 30 years old. We enjoyed it a lot and I think it holds up pretty well, in spite of the slowdown.

January 26, 2006, was another unforgettable day for me. It was a cold and rainy Thursday night. My SNES package had yet to arrive from Mike, but it was only a short handful of days away. Feeling nostalgic as well as curious as to what SNES gems I might find waiting for me, I decided to drive to my old hometown and revisit my childhood Hollywood Video. Did I also mention that this fateful day was the 10 year anniversary of the day I moved? Yep, the stars were all aligning…

I’ll never forget being at a red light, with the rain dancing down from the heavens, and seeing this glorious lit up sign emblazon the night. This was back in 2006 where, even though the video store was quickly going the way of the dinosaur, you could still find them kicking and clawing to the very bitter end. You knew it just couldn’t last forever, so you cherished the moments you had left. It was a wonderful time in my life where I was getting ready to embark on my teaching journey while revisiting my gaming past. A special time in life where I was existing in multiple planes constantly. Part of me was looking back just as much as I was looking to the future. It’s hard to describe, but I love balancing those two dichotomies.

Game Crazy did a Buy 2 Get 1 Free deal on retro games back in those days. That night I picked up Art of Fighting (the game I wanted from Mike but someone beat me to the punch — how quickly that was set straight), Clay Fighter, Mortal Kombat II and Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 (which I got for free). All 4 games for just $16 or so. Like I alluded to many times in the past, 2006 was a gold mine for SNES fans as most of the games were dirt cheap to acquire.

Right afterward, I revisited my childhood home. My parents rented the place out to some tenants. I wasn’t close to them, but they knew I was the son. I share all this because in the summer of 2020, after my wife and I got married in July that same year, we took over the house. That’s right. I currently live in my childhood home with my wife, and we have our first kid due in June of 2022. It’s a boy! Super excited to start that adventure of parenting alongside my wife. And in my childhood home no less. We remodeled it so it doesn’t look too much like the home I remember living in 25+ years ago, but that’s even better because we’ve upgraded and modernized it to a fair degree!

Speaking of boys, Mike’s SNES deluxe package arrived only 4 short days later. It arrived on a Monday. January 30, 2006. Another super nostalgic day for me. Unfortunately, it was my first day back at University, so I had to wait until class was over to dive in. But man, I waited this long so what’s a few more hours?

Backtracking a bit, one of my biggest regrets with my Sega Saturn fandom was that I never really documented my Saturn journey. With the SNES it was a chance at redemption. So I started a journey to do just that! My wife chuckled when she read it…

Shout out once again to my man, Mike! He was my guy and helped fed my Saturn and SNES passion in the early-mid 2000’s. Crazy that his website today looks the same as it did 20 years ago…

And here’s the beautiful day that my SNES baby arrived. And I still get that lovely feeling these days seeing the mailman stroll up to my door. Except instead of video games, it’s now books

Oops, that should say January 30, not the 31st

Damn, less than 3 weeks in and I already amassed 85 SNES games. I was a beast in those days! Hunting and buying games left and right. Like I said, most were $5 or less back in those days, so it was hard to pass up!

I remember gamers and collectors lamenting the price of SNES games around 2011 or so. I was super lucky in that I beat much of the crowd and was bit by the SNES bug years before the scene got super crazy. But as you can see from Mike’s email above, the SNES was “real hot” in early 2006. But luckily for me, prices had yet to skyrocket through the roof like they would in the years to come. As always, life is always about timing!

As an aside, years and years later, I hit up Mike again to buy a few more SNES items to round out my collection. This was his reply:

It’s always nice to be remembered. As Mike shared here, a lot changed between 2006 and 2014. SNES was in ultra high demand and the nostalgia bug was hotter than ever, with many 30 something year olds longing for the past and having a larger disposable income. Mike used to sell me SNES boxes and manuals by the boatload for $1 each. Not no more! And you can’t blame him. Sellers change their prices as items change in terms of supply and demand. I’ll always look back fondly on those early years. In particular, 2006. That’s where it all started (again) for me.

In the fall of 2006, after being back in the SNES scene for 9 months, I started a topic on various gaming forums entitled Steve’s Obscure Super Famicom Impressions Thread. Every 2-3 days, I updated the topic with my thoughts on the more obscure Japanese only Super Famicom games. It ran through December and was a major hit, stirring much retro gaming discourse. Eventually the topic became such a monster that loading a page became very cumbersome as I often posted hundreds of photos and the thread was starting to grow too big for its own good. I never considered a website, not because I didn’t want one but because I don’t have a lot of technical know-how. That’s when a Digital Press member by the name of Pete Whitley gave me the ultimate encouragement to push forward.

And that’s when the wheels started churning. And sure enough, guess what. it was winter break of University again. And as such, big moves happen during those glorious 6 weeks off. With many friends and colleagues cheering me on, I tinkered with a website during those late December nights in 2006. I kept tinkering and tinkering, realizing that a website IS possible…

Opening on January 7, 2007, the first day had a little note welcoming readers. The next day I posted my first review in the form of Godzilla: Kaijuu Daikessen. It was only fitting since that was the first game I highlighted in my obscure Super Famicom topic. After clicking on PUBLISH, my dad called to ask if I could drive him down to the auto repair shop to pick up his car. There was a light rain that Monday night as I recall the vigor of knowing that someone somewhere was viewing my content and among the first visitors to do so. I was floating on cloud 9 as I drove my dad on that wet drizzling freeway. It’s a moment in time that I remember fondly to this day, even 15 years later.

WHAT THE FUTURE BRINGS…

MarioQ

Since 2020 or so, my SNES updates have been fairly sparse. Most of my work these days revolve around book reviews and remembrances. I’d like to get back to writing more SNES reviews and articles. But with a boy due in June (our first baby!), I’m not sure how often I’ll be able to update. I’m going to push forward however and keep RVGFanatic alive one way or another. Here’s to another 15 years, right? But in all seriousness, there is something I’ve been wanting to do for over 16 years now. And it’s a promise I fully intend to see through…

Some of my long time readers may recall that over the years I’ve stated that my ultimate goal with RVGFanatic has always been to publish a personal top favorite SNES list. It’s something I’ve been working on and tinkered with since January 2006. In fact, a few of you may even remember that I teased the launch way back in the summer of 2017, saying that it would come online October 2017…

Damn, couldn't quite make that deadline :P — Damn, couldn’t quite make that deadline

Better 5 years late than never, right? I was hoping maybe last August for the Super Nintendo’s 30th anniversary in North America, but that didn’t work out. So maybe third time’s the charm. Also, I’m putting it out there in the universe. It’s going to finally happen at some point in 2022. I even have a teaser promotional ad ready for your viewing. Drum roll, please…

It's coming! Keep your eyes peeled in 2022! — It’s coming! Keep your eyes peeled in 2022!

Being an ambitious nut and wanting to show off as many viable titles as possible, I’m not aiming for a top 100 list. Not even top 150. But 200. TWO HUNDRED. Are there even 200 SNES games worth playing? In my book, obviously yes. Maybe the backend selections are merely for the diehard SNES fans out there, but I have a list of 200 SNES games I consider to be my top favorite on the system. And I shall reveal those entries as 2022 progresses. I’m excited to finally share my SNES list with you all. And I appreciate the support and love you’ve given me over the past 15 years!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I can’t believe RVGFanatic is now 15 years old and counting. I’ve had the gaming time of my life collecting and playing the Super Nintendo for nearly 2 decades now. Although my passion for it burns differently today than how it did from 2006-2018, I’ll always fondly remember all the good times I’ve had with the SNES over the years. I’m excited to eventually introduce it to my son. It’s also been an absolute blast having a platform where I can share as well as document my random nostalgic thoughts on books and gaming. I very much see RVGFanatic as that local mom and pop store still standing on the corner chugging along year after year. And I hope to update it over the next 15 years! Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and prosperous 2022. Until next time, take good care!

My son and I playing the SNES 10 years from now... — My son and I playing the SNES 10 years from now!

Top 20 Most Wanted Arcade SNES Ports

This past November the Super Famicom (SNES as it’s known over in Japan) turned 30 years old. But on the North American side, it was on this day 30 years ago (August 23, 1991) that the Super Nintendo made its debut. Naturally, you’re going to see a lot of tribute pieces and articles praising the system’s amazing library of games, as well as plenty of retrospectives sure to bring a virtual nostalgic tear to your eye. Heck, you might even see some Top 30 or Top 100 lists floating around in celebration of the big 3-0. But I’m going to do something a little different. As great as the SNES has been these past 30 years, I can think of more than a few games that never made it to the SNES that would have made the console even stronger had they been. Specifically, I’m talking about 20 arcade ports the SNES should have received but, for one reason or another, never did.

Arcade gaming in the ’90s was a magical thing to experience as a young kid. There was something intoxicating about being in the thick of an arcade hall, with the flickering lights and glowing screens all vying for your quarters, iconic gaming sound effects galore blasting your ears, the alluring aroma of a cheese pizza wafting through the air. It was a social playground and THE place to be on Friday nights and weekends. All you needed were a few friends and a few quarters and you had a one way ticket to gaming nirvana.

MWAG11-1

But it was impossible for all my favorite arcade games of my youth to make the home leap. For many, it was like two ships passing in the night. Never meant to be, never saw the light of day. However you want to put it, these ill-fated arcade greats never made their way home to a Super Nintendo. But first, let’s examine the thrill of arcade to home ports back in the early-mid ’90s…

THE MAGIC OF 16-BIT ARCADE PORTS

Super Street Fighter II was an amazing port — *Super Street Fighter II* was an amazing port

One of the best aspects about growing up as a gamer during the early-mid ’90s was hyping yourself up about all the arcade ports that companies would develop for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. Playing the arcade game, loving it, dreaming about a Genesis or SNES port, then reading a few pages (sometimes less) about said port in EGM or GameFan Magazine (or both), and letting your imagination run wild as you studied the small grainy screenshots 20 times over. Rinse and repeat. It was a tried and true formula of that era! You knew both systems lacked the horsepower to replicate an arcade-perfect translation, but you were ecstatic if the home port captured the essence and spirit of its arcade counterpart. And sometimes, there was just enough magic out there in the moonlight for that to ring true.

Nic, most of us are right there with ya... — Nic, most of us are right there with ya!

The gaming world changed when Capcom unleashed Street Fighter II on the SNES in the summer of 1992. Capcom blew everyone’s minds by how well the home port looked, sounded and played. Sure it wasn’t arcade perfect, but it was more than good enough. It was, for its time, phenomenal. It truly felt like a piece of the arcade game was right there in your very own living room.

You didnt need quarters at home ;) — No quarters at home needed

As a kid I remember telling my best friend Nelson, “Man, a quarter per play? If we play the home port of so and so at least 240 times, we’ll match the value of what my mom paid, and eventually get more than her money’s worth!” Because SNES games cost around $60 and 240 multiplied by 25 cents is $60. Ah, the innocence of youth…

Arcade ports on the SNES, especially those of arcade fighting games during that Golden Age of 2D fighters, became all the rage in the early-mid ’90s. Gamers couldn’t get enough and wanted more and more. If you played a game in the arcade circa 1992 or ’93, chances were that a 16-bit home port was inevitable the following year.

But that wasn’t always the case. There were many awesome arcade games that never saw a Super Nintendo conversion, for one reason or another. Here are my top 20 arcade games that sadly never saw the light of day on the Super Nintendo.

HONORABLE MENTION: TIME KILLERS

What would a list be without an honorable mention? I’ll keep it to just one this time, however. Time Killers, admittedly, wasn’t a good game even in its original arcade form. I’m not citing it for its quality of play. This is based upon pure curiosity and nostalgia.

Released in November of 1992, Time Killers is a weapons-based fighting game with buckets of blood for days. Players can aim specific body parts and cut them off. It didn’t play very well but it was like a 9 year old boy’s perverse dream come to life.

Almost every fighting game back then had your prototypical Ryu clone, but Rancid was in a class of his own. A punk rocker type wielding a chainsaw. Yeah, he was my guy whenever I plopped a quarter into this vile game.

A Sega Genesis port was planned but scrapped. Then in 1996, for some inexplicable reason when the Genesis was on life support, Time Killers finally came out. It received overwhelmingly negative reviews (EGM gave it scores of 5, 3, 3 and 3). As bad as the Genesis home port was, part of me still wanted to see a Super Nintendo conversion.

James Severin from Michigan City did as well!

According to this response, it appears as though there MIGHT have been plans for a Super Nintendo release but alas, it was never meant to be.

I suppose the world shall never know — The world shall never know… *[Thank God -Ed.]*

#20: THREE WONDERS

Released in May of 1991, Three Wonders features, not shockingly, 3 games in 1. The winner of the lot is easily Midnight Wanderers. It’s so good that it could have been a standalone game.

Midnight Wanderers is one of Capcom’s best lesser known games for my money! There was a Sega Saturn version of Three Wonders released, but only in Japan. Still, I would totally have loved this on the SNES!

The same protagonists return for a shooting game in the vein of Gradius. Chariot is fine but nothing special.

The third and final game in the package is a puzzle game by the name of Don’t Pull. It’s definitely NOT Don’t Play as it is perfectly playable and entertaining, but much like Chariot it’s nothing particularly memorable. Three Wonders didn’t make this list for the last two games. Consider those two as the appetizers and the main course being Midnight Wanderers (which has got to be one of the most underrated badass video game titles of all time).

Speaking of never seeing the light of day, Nightmare Busters was clearly inspired by Midnight Wanderers. Sadly, its planned SNES release was canned and even sadder, it’s an incredibly disappointing game. Although never officially released, there are ways to experience this game. You can if you want out of wild curiosity, but I was crushed by the broken mechanics of this game.

#19: SHOGUN WARRIORS

One of the earliest arcade games I can recall playing, Shogun Warriors is a massively nostalgic game for me. It features 8 generic characters who don’t even have proper names! They simply go by Geisha, Samurai, Ninja, Sumo and so on. I love the game’s exotic Japanese atmosphere. I was obsessed with Kappa, the green turtle-like creature who could stretch his limbs like Dhalsim and hurtle himself into a rolling attack like Blanka.

Developed by Kaneko and released in April of 1992, Shogun Warriors was one of the earlier Street Fighter II clones to hit the market. And it plays exactly like how you would expect a fighting game from early 1992 to play. 8 characters, all with 2-3 special moves each, bonus rounds and 4 bosses to battle. There’s a certain charm to how simple this game was. It certainly was inferior to Street Fighter II but I always appreciated the underdogs and had a good time whenever Shogun Warriors and I linked up.

I remember hoping that I would be able to play this game on my SNES either by Christmas of ’92 or spring of ’93 by the latest. Sadly, as is the case for every game on this list, that wasn’t meant to be. And unlike some of the other games on this list, there’s absolutely no question the SNES could have handled a very spot-on port of this arcade game.

Instead, Kaneko gave us Power Moves on the SNES in early 1993. It was bleh. Should have given us Shogun Warriors! But I digress…

#18: MARTIAL CHAMPION

For years Capcom and Konami battled it out for supremacy. Both companies were wildly beloved, produced seemingly an equal amount of fan favorites and were often cited as the top two developers in the industry. Konami dipped its fingers in the fight game with the release of Martial Champion in early 1993.

That US artwork... wow. Lets move on — That US artwork… wow. Let’s move on

The year was 1993. Every week it seemed as though a new fighting game came out. It was the very height of the 2D fighting game boom. Martial Champion was one of my guilty pleasure favorites that year. I say guilty pleasure because deep down I knew it wasn’t the best. It was decent, but nothing special. I really dug how huge the fighters were, though. And the bright vibrant visuals were always catchy whenever I walked by the arcade cab. I just think it would have made for a fun SNES home conversion. But Konami clearly had other plans.

I was all about Titi — I know that sounded funny but how can you NOT love a Chinese hopping vampire?! Honestly, I wanted a home port just so I can play as him.

Never seen a hopping vampire movie before? You’re missing out! I highly recommend Mr. Vampire (1985). It’s essentially the one that started it all, and has never been outclassed. To me it’s the Halloween (1978) of hopping vampire films.

A home port of Martial Champion was released, but only for the PC Engine. It looked drastically different from the arcade game. I like to believe a Super Nintendo port would have been more faithful.

Instead of working on a port of Martial Champion, Konami gave SNES fans Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters. That game rocked, but I still wish we got Martial Champion as well. But if I had to pick one, Konami made the right call for sure.

Made the loss of Martial Champion more palatable — Made the loss of *Martial Champion* more palatable

#17: WORLD HEROES 2 JET

For a long time, if you’d asked me for my all-time favorite gaming franchise, my answer would have been World Heroes. Both SNES ports of World Heroes and World Heroes 2 were top-notch. So when World Heroes 2 Jet hit the arcade scene in April of 1994, I figured I would be playing it on SNES at some point in ’95. Nope!

Yes, I’d argue it was the sleeper hit of 1994. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, as seen above. But despite the positive reviews and desire for a Super Nintendo translation, it never materialized. Possibly it was because it would have been released a little too late in the system’s life span — the 32-bit “next gen” consoles were fast on the move by 1995. The other reason could be perhaps sales of World Heroes 2 on the SNES indicated diminishing returns.

It’s a shame it never came out because Jet introduced faster gameplay (hence the name), 2 new playable characters (Jack and Ryofu) and brand new special moves for certain fighters. Janne for example now has a stunning phoenix attack. Jack, by the way, was based off the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper.

For fans of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Ryofu was based off legendary warlord, Lu Bu.

Fuumas new explosive attack fits his personality — Fuuma’s new explosive attack fits his personality

Brokens electric attack now can extend — Brocken’s electric attack can now extend

Who doesnt want to play as Hulk Hogan? — Who doesn’t want to play as Hulk Hogan?

World Heroes will forever hold a special place in my gaming heart. Oh, and oddly enough, there WAS a port of World Heroes 2 Jet… on the Game Boy of all systems!

Its actually pretty damn impressive — It’s actually pretty damn impressive

The fighters have adopted a cute chibi look. Surprisingly, all 16 characters remain intact. For a Game Boy port, it plays amazingly well. It makes me only wonder even more how great a Super Nintendo port would have been. But hey… technically… you can hook this game up to a Super Game Boy and play World Heroes 2 Jet on a Super Nintendo. Fact: I have done that before and it is quite a damn good fighting game. I just wish it received the full 16-bit SNES treatment!

#16: TOP HUNTER

A delightful 2 player romp, Top Hunter is unique among its peers for a few reasons. The first being that you can execute special moves with Street Fighter II-esque commands. There are also super special moves because it was 1994 and why not? Another cool feature is the ability to switch between the foreground and background. These aspects added some depth to what would have otherwise been another side-scrolling co-op action platformer. Oh, and some of those bosses are crazy!

The SNES has its fair share of fun co-op games; Top Hunter would have fit in beautifully. The graphics are quite detailed so there definitely would have been a dip there. But I like to think the SNES could have handled some version of this game in a satisfying manner.

It did come out in the summer of 1994 though, and that period seems to be a cut-off point for the SNES. By virtue of the fact that by the time a port of a mid ’94 arcade game is ready for release on the SNES, it’d be spring or even summer of 1995. By then the 32-bit monsters were already gnawing at the door. Perhaps developers and publishers alike knew it did not make sense from a cost-effective perspective.

Whatever the reason may be, I think we can all agree Top Hunter would have been a welcome addition to the Super Nintendo’s amazing library!

#15: BUCKY O’HARE

As a kid growing up during the peak of Saturday morning cartoons, I was lucky to witness many fantastic shows. From Transformers to ThunderCats, I gobbled them all up like a sugary bowl of frosted cereal. There were many lesser known and underrated cartoons that flew under the radar, however. In late 1991, I was introduced to Bucky O’Hare. Based off a comic series in the mid ’80s, I fell in love with the quirky characters and space-based battles. Not surprisingly, like many cartoons during that time, someone snatched the right to make a video game out of it.

Even better, that company was Konami. In such reliable hands, Bucky O’Hare was a terrific 4 player shoot ‘em up that would have been great on the SNES, even as a 2 player game. But, we all know how that turned out…

Curiously, Konami did release a Bucky O’Hare game on the 8-bit NES in early 1992. It’s often cited as one of the system’s best “hidden gems.” While I’m happy Konami gave us that stellar game, I’m also a bit saddened that they never made a Super Nintendo version of any kind. Bummer indeed!

#14: WILD WEST C.O.W.-BOYS OF MOO MESA

They say the only things certain in life are death and taxes. Add to that Konami making badass games out of cartoon IPs during the early ’90s. The cartoon series made its debut in September of 1992; the arcade game came out only 2 months later. I remember watching the cartoon. It was one of those shows I always wanted to like more than what I actually did. The arcade game, on the other hand, did not disappoint whatsoever.

With up to 4 player simultaneous mayhem, Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa was a rollicking good time. It plays similarly to Konami’s other run and gun, Sunset Riders. Some people even see this as sort of a spiritual successor. Alls I know is it’s yet another stellar Konami game from the early 1990s. What else is new?

The fact that Sunset Riders (September ’91) received a SNES port (October ’93) and a DAMN GOOD one at that… makes this omission a harder pill to swallow. But it makes sense when you factor in that the show went off the air in late ’93, and a port would have been released no earlier than ’94. Unless it’s a super popular IP, such things can have a short shelf life with only a small window to capitalize.

“This town ain’t big enough for both of us,” the old saying goes. That rang true as only Sunset Riders saw a SNES home port. Forced to pick one, I can’t argue with Konami. I just wish there was room for both.

#13: BASEBALL STARS II

One of the most beloved baseball games of all time, Baseball Stars II is loads of fun. Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball is my favorite baseball game of all time, but Baseball Stars II gives Griffey a run for its money.

We loved the 8-bit NES version as kids — My brother and I loved the 8-bit NES version

We could only imagine how awesome a 16-bit port would have been. Sadly, that was a swing and miss… [I see what you did there -Ed.]

#12: CADILLACS AND DINOSAURS

In the early ’90s Capcom could seemingly do no wrong. That continued with Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, a wild beat ‘em up that, much like the name suggests, affords you the opportunity to drive fancy Cadillacs and beat up agitated dinosaurs. It was simple and so, SO ’90s. It was perfect.

Capcom converted many of their early ’90s beat ‘em ups to the SNES. Games such as Final Fight, Knights of the Round, The King of Dragons and Captain Commando all received ports that ranged from pretty good to very good. Major bummer that this wasn’t one of them!

#11: CYBER-LIP

There are few things I enjoy more than some classic run and gun action. Contra was always one of my favorite NES games. And Contra III: The Alien Wars was perhaps even better! Cyber-Lip is definitely no Contra, but man would I have loved to play this in the comfort of my living room back in the early ’90s.

Released in November of 1990, this is the oldest game on my list. The Super Famicom just made its debut over in Japan during that time. Imagine Cyber-Lip as an early launch title to go along with the Super Nintendo in North America circa September 1991! The units it would have sold… what a missed opportunity.

Featuring some of the most memorable and craziest looking bosses I’ve ever seen, Cyber-Lip left a definite impression on me. More than 30 years later, some of those unforgettable visuals are still vividly seared in my mind. Seriously, whoever created that boss design above is one sick and twisted individual. There are better examples of this type of game out there, but to me few are as nostalgic!

#10: SPINMASTER

Ever since playing NES games such as Rygar and Yo-Noid, I’ve always been a fan of games where your main weapon is either a yo-yo or a boomerang-like weapon. Data East’s Spinmaster satisfied that itch and more!

I couldn’t help but stop and gawk at this game anytime I came across it in the arcades back in late 1993. The graphics were so rich and colorful. It looked like a Saturday morning cartoon come to life. There’s something about the aesthetics of Spinmaster that really speak to me. And it just looks like the kind of game that would have fit perfectly on the SNES! Toned down of course, as was always the case with arcade conversions, but still capturing the essence of the arcade original.

Data East was a solid company back in the ’90s. They weren’t on that magical Capcom or Konami tier, but you could almost always count on them to deliver something worth your precious quarters.

While Spinmaster may not top many people’s minds when talking about favorite arcade games from the ’90s, it’s one of those games that I always had to plop a quarter (or two) into whenever I spotted it in the wild. Be it some random pizza joint or even a laundromat, it was always fun to play especially with a friend fighting the good fight right beside you.

#9: NIGHT SLASHERS

Speaking of ~~the devil~~ Data East, in early 1993 they combined two of my most favorite things: horror and beat ‘em ups. And it was, as you can surmise, glorious. Who didn’t want to dispose of rotting zombies and various monsters of all sorts? It was bloody, brutal and simply splendid.

Unfortunately, like all games on this list, Night Slashers and the SNES were like two ships passing in the night. This was before Nintendo loosened up on their family friendly image circa mid-1994, allowing SNES games to take on more of a violent nature if need be. What a shame too, as this would have been a hell of a fun game to play at home with a friend.

Thankfully, the selection of excellent beat ‘em ups already on the system softens the blow of missing out on this port. Games such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time, Return of Double Dragon and Final Fight 3 are all great examples of the genre. Still, none of those games stand up to Night Slashers in the way of offering gruesome and visceral satisfaction. A shame we never saw a SNES port, indeed.

#8: VENDETTA

One of my favorite arcade games in 1991, Vendetta by Konami is often times the game I have in mind whenever I think about beat ‘em ups. To me there’s just something quintessential about Vendetta that warms my beat ‘em up loving heart. For one, I love being able to play as either the clone of Mr. T or Hulk Hogan. Right off the top, you simply can’t beat that.

Another huge win for Vendetta were all the cool weapons littered throughout that you can use to even the odds. Knives, guns, spiked baseball bats, wooden crates, garbage cans, whips, beer bottles, chains, barrels, hell even bags of flour! As a kid it blew my mind the insane number of weapons available at your disposal. Vendetta was all about having a good time.

Up to 3 friends can join you for the mayhem and destruction. A Super Nintendo port would surely have been reduced to just 2 players, but it still would have been a blast. I loved all the locales too, with my favorite being a goddamn grocery store of all places. That’s the kind of ingenuity I want in my beat ‘em ups!

#7: SUPER PUZZLE FIGHTER II TURBO

Arriving in arcades in May of 1996, the SNES was already nearing life support in North America at that time. So one might think a conversion of Puzzle Fighter to be highly unlikely. I would agree had it NOT been for Capcom releasing an amazingly competent port of Street Fighter Alpha 2 on the SNES in late ’96. I could easily envision Capcom doing the old 1-2 punch combo releasing BOTH titles that holiday season as one last hurrah, but perhaps they decided instead to put all their SNES eggs into one basket. Puzzle Fighter pits Street Fighter and Darkstalkers characters against one another, all in the name of gem smashing supremacy.

Each of the 8 characters have their own gem patterns, which added to the game’s strategy and replay value. Chibi renditions of the fighters stand center stage and perform their special moves on one another when players execute big combos. It all added to the fun and charm of Puzzle Fighter. It’s one of those simple games that is easy to pick up but hard to put down.

And not being a particularly demanding game in terms of graphics and specs, I’m sure Capcom could have easily converted this for a quick buck for those still clinging to their SNES that holiday season of 1996 (surprisingly more people than you think because some were not ready, for one reason or another, to move on to the 32-bit systems just yet). I sure wish that were the case, because Puzzle Fighter would have given Tetris Attack a good run for its money as best puzzle game on the SNES!

#6: SAMURAI SHODOWN II

Samurai Shodown (known as Samurai Spirits in the Land of the Rising Sun) made waves when it landed on the arcade scene back in the glorious summer of 1993. Similar to Shogun Warriors (featured earlier on this list at #19), Samurai Shodown is set in feudal Japan with a focus on weapon-based combat. It caught many an eye with its unique aesthetics and atmosphere. The sound effects of swords clanging and slicing flesh were haunting! Even the smallest details, such as the whipping wind sound effect of Haohmaru’s tornado projectile, is seared in my memory bank nearly 30 (!) years on. A scaling effect had the camera zoom in when combatants were in proximity of each other, and would pull back to show the scope of the battlefield when the fighters were farther apart. Either view was awe-inspiring and further helped to separate Samurai Shodown from the rest of the fighting game pack.

With a fantastic foundation already in place, the sequel blew the door off the hinges with 4 new fighters, more special moves (including super special attacks with the RAGE meter), advanced techniques such as ducking and rolling, and easter eggs just to name a few. Samurai Shodown II was the pinnacle of fighting game nirvana in late 1994. That was around the same time the SNES received a decent (but not spectacular) port of the first Samurai Shodown. Gone was the scaling and humongous fighters. The fighters were sadly reduced to a pint size, and some censorship issues marred the SNES port. Still playable, but definitely missing some of the key aspects that made the arcade original so fun and special.

But as we saw with the SNES ports of Fatal Fury 2 and King of the Monsters 2, there are some examples of mediocre (or even awful) first ports in a series that received a far superior sequel port. I am of the mindset that Samurai Shodown II would have been one of the best fighting games on the SNES. Alas, the world shall never know.

#5: ELEVATOR ACTION RETURNS

Most of us who grew up gaming in the late ’80s are likely to remember Elevator Action on the 8-bit NES (although it began its life in the arcades in 1983). An interesting game in theory, I never quite liked it as much as I was hoping to. More than 10 years later (1994), Elevator Action Returns rectified all of the previous game’s shortcomings. The game I always pictured in my mind wanting the NES version to be finally came to fruition, and it was nothing short of amazing.

Taking on a grittier atmosphere, as one of 3 agents you navigate the various stages shifting elevators, blasting bad guys and blowing shit up. The game tickles the imagination in a way that most games can only dream of doing. Among the many things I love about this game are all the little touches, such as graffiti sprawled on the walls. My favorite being CRUSH THE OLD ORDER!! It really transports you to a far-flung dystopian world that’s corrupt beyond repair, dripping with evil and decay at every nook and cranny.

Few things are as satisfying as blowing up a box of explosives in a hallway and seeing a bad guy come out of the door right on cue, thereby setting himself aflame. Even better? Seeing his friends follow suit one after another, lighting each other up like a trail of birthday candles! Elevator Action Returns has a subtle sense of dark humor that adds to the overall enjoyment and really elevates it (sorry) above the rest. Who knew crushing enemies underneath an elevator could be so much damn fun?!

Best of all, you can save the world with a friend in tow. Each of the agents have their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as a special attack, to increase replay value. The game is short and sweet, and one I often revisit. Sega Saturn owners were lucky enough to receive a flawless port. It’s one of my top 10 Saturn favorites — I replayed it so much in the early-mid 2000’s and still play it once in a while to this very day.

Still, I would have loved to play Elevator Action Returns on the SNES back in the ’90s with my gaming pals. There aren’t enough quality 2 player run ‘n gun experiences on the SNES, and EAR would have been a much welcome addition.

#4: WWF WRESTLEFEST

I grew up watching the WWF religiously with my uncle, brother and best friend. I loved the larger than life characters and the zany circus world of professional wrestling. In the summer of 1991, we were graced with the presence of WWF WrestleFest at our local arcade. The huge sprites, the insanely colorful visuals and the ability to play as the heroes of my childhood (such as Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior) made WrestleFest a damn near religious experience.

WrestleFest quickly took on sort of a mythical status within my gaming crew in the early ’90s. As ardent wrestling geeks, we poured countless quarters into the machine as we punched, kicked, scratched and clawed our way to the top. It’s one of those special games that’s definitely in my Mount Rushmore of “Oh man, how I wish this came out on the SNES!”

It has some of the greatest aesthetics I’ve ever seen in any game, ever. The wrestlers were big and beefy just like they were in real life. The blue mats with the classic old school WWF logo really popped, and the short yellow energy bars (with red indicating the damage inflicted) made it visually very satisfying to look at. It’s exactly how I picture a WWF arcade game to look like (don’t get me started on the crappy aesthetics of WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game…)

MWAG5-9

Sadly our hopes and dreams were crushed when a home translation never materialized. Instead, SNES owners were “treated” to the very forgettable WWF Super WrestleMania. Some small form of redemption appeared in 1993 with WWF Royal Rumble and WWF Raw the following year, but neither could hold the jock strap of WrestleFest.

A Super Nintendo port would come with much (graphical) sacrifice, but I bet it would have been a competent effort easily worth one of our birthday or Christmas bullets. Alas, CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE…

#3: THE SIMPSONS ARCADE GAME

In 1991, both The Simpsons and Konami were on fire. Neither could seemingly do any wrong. So when the two mega brands joined forces, you knew the end results would be nothing short of phenomenal. And that’s exactly what eager arcade goers got with (un)arguably one of the most memorable arcade games of all time.

Playing as one of either Homer, Marge, Bart or Lisa, The Simpsons Arcade Game perfectly captured the zaniness and wacky appeal of the popular cartoon show. Few things could rival corralling 3 buddies and bashing your way through Springfield.

I can’t tell you how many quarters my friends and I ~~wasted~~ lovingly spent on this game. It was just one of those games that whenever you saw the arcade cab, you JUST had to play it. There’s an instant pick up and play factor to it that reminds you of why you love video games so much. At their core, video games should be fun distractions that help to take your mind off the real world and transport you to a magical land where clogged six lane highways and bills don’t exist. Few did that better than The Simpsons Arcade Game.

Obviously, a SNES port would require some scaling back. No 4 player mode. Less animations. Lower quality of sound and visuals. All perfectly acceptable. My buddies and I were ready for the “inevitable” home port. Therefore, a small part of us collectively died when it sadly never did.

As much as never being able to play this on our SNES crushed us, there was another Konami brawler based off another highly popular IP that cut us even deeper…

#2: X-MEN

In 1991 my friends and I were absolutely obsessed with Marvel’s 1991 trading cards. We bought packs like crazy at a local card shop by the name of Triple Play. Each pack, costing only $1, contained 12 cards. It was awesome because $1 was easy enough to wrangle from your parents on any given day. Then you’d head to Triple Play, buy a pack or 2, check out your new goodies and negotiate to trade away your doubles for that elusive card still missing in your ever growing collection. This, mind you, was all conducted while waiting excitedly for the Street Fighter II line off in the corner to die down. It was a foolproof recipe for a perfect lazy Sunday.

In early 1992 Konami dropped yet another gem, this time featuring the incomparable X-Men. To say that my friends and I were over the moon would be the understatement of the year. Up to 6 players can team up and take out Magneto and his vile lackeys. My ride or die character? Colossus. Always Colossus!

Confession time: There was a time in 1992 when I was being an outright prick. My friend and I used to cruise the arcade hall, and whenever we saw a little kid playing X-Men, I would walk right up to his control panel and spam the special attack button. This unleashes a powerful attack BUT at the expense of a little health. So I would basically drain the poor guy’s health bar to zilch and then he’d die in quick fashion. I remember doing this maybe 2 or 3 times, and laughing with my friend as we ran off. I don’t know why I did that — I’m certainly not proud of it and usually was a goody two shoes by all accounts. I guess it was a phase I went through and I just had to get it out of my system. To this day I can still see Colossus spamming his special attack. Poor kid. If you’re reading this, I apologize for being an asshole. I know it’s an apology 30 years too late, but yeah.

So I’ll take ownership and full responsibility. My terrible actions led to some bad karma, which then nixed any chance of a Super Nintendo port. At least Capcom gave us X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse in late 1994. It’s nowhere the same as the X-Men arcade game in terms of quality, but it was at least pretty solid in its own right. Hey, sometimes you gotta take what you can get, right?

#1: DARKSTALKERS

The year was 1994. I was in the 5th grade and at the height of my childhood prime. Fighting games were still on top and my love for monsters and all things macabre were at an all-time high. So it was a match made in heaven (er, hell?) when Capcom released Darkstalkers in the summer of 1994. Featuring 10 monstrous characters, ranging from clones of Dracula to Frankenstein to a werewolf and more, it was a true monster mash of epic proportions.

To simply label Darkstalkers as “Street Fighter II but with monsters” would be doing it a gross disservice. It has its own distinct feel that made it so fun and unique to play. The visuals and aesthetics were all top-notch as we came to expect from Capcom in the ’90s. Hell, I can still hear the memorable music and sound effects loud and clear in my head to this very day.

Like many of the other games on this list, a SNES port would have been scaled down by a great degree. Fewer frames of animation, less vibrant colors and other sacrifices would have been necessary to fit it all on one tiny 16-bit cartridge. But I believe it could have been done successfully. The monsters would be smaller and the speech samples would have less impact but man would I have loved to play this on my SNES in 1995!

Some of the more gruesome parts, like Bishamon slicing his opponent in two, would need to be cut (sorry, no bad pun intended). But especially knowing what Capcom managed to pull out of the SNES with their stellar port of Street Fighter Alpha 2, Darkstalkers would have been a cinch for the Big C.

Capcom didn’t do much wrong in the ’90s or on the Super Nintendo, but never releasing a Darkstalkers port tops my very short list of things they misfired on. But given all the great SNES titles they bestowed upon us, this glaring omission is a forgivable sin. Still, a competent Darkstalkers port would probably have been one of the top 5 fighting games on the SNES.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Thankfully, many of the games on this list has been made playable on the Nintendo Switch. And there are few, if any, imperfections. Still, there’s no accounting for how priceless it would have been if all these games came out on the SNES when we were kids in the ’90s. Because even though all Super Nintendo ports of arcade games had some degree of flaws and warts, a good number of them managed to capture the feel and essence of what made their arcade counterpart so much damn fun to play. And it was that special feeling of bringing them home from the rental store (or Toys R Us) for the first time and being blown away that you were playing a variation of the arcade game you loved so much in the comfort of your very own living room. There was something pure and magical about that. It’s a time capsule to what is a very nostalgic period of our lives for many of us reading this. So long as the home port represented the arcade game moderately well, we were as ecstatic as vampires crashing a bloodmobile. So here’s to 30 years of the Super Nintendo kicking ass and taking names. What a damn fun journey it has been. But as great as it was, it would have been even better had these 20 games come out. Yet for all the great home ports we missed out on, let’s remember how lucky we have been over the past 30 years. To this day, the SNES for my money still boasts one of the best gaming libraries ever assembled. Happy 30 years, SNES!

We shall never forget those halcyon days... — We shall never forget those halcyon days…

Gekitou Burning Pro Wrestling (SFC)

Happy 30th anniversary, Super Famicom and Undertaker!

This past week, within a 24 hour period, two massive icons — especially to those who grew up in the early to mid ’90s — celebrated their 30th anniversary. On November 21, 1990, the Super Famicom made its debut in Japan. The following day, November 22, 1990, the Undertaker made his debut at the 1990 Survivor Series. A whopping 30 years later, both the Super Nintendo and the Undertaker live on in the hearts and living rooms across the globe. What an amazing 30 years it has been, and I can’t think of a better way to toast these two icons than to review a wrestling game featuring the Undertaker that came out exclusively for the Super Famicom. But before we get to that…

THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND

It’s hard to fathom that 30 years ago, the Super Famicom made its splashy debut in Japan. Damn, are we getting old or what? I remember when the 8-bit NES turned 30. I felt old enough then, but the Super Nintendo now being 30? Dang. Where does the time go? Thank you for 3 decades of terrific memories.

The Super Famicom launched with Super Mario World and F-Zero. Where were you when you first played those 2 games?

The following day, November 22, 1990, the 4th Annual Survivor Series took place in Hartford, Connecticut. The Million Dollar Team had a mysterious fourth member. Who was it going to be? I remember my brother and friends talking all about it for weeks on end. It was an exciting mystery.

I’ll never forget when The Undertaker first came out. He was a towering titan. He looked scary and sinister. And Roddy “Rowdy” Piper punctuated the moment perfectly by screaming, “LOOK AT THE SIZE OF DAT HAMHOCK!” (You just don’t hear cool shit like that anymore these days).

Man, look at the legends in the ring there. The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, Koko B. Ware, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, Bret “The Hitman” Hart… geez, how cool was wrestling back in 1990?

The Undertaker quickly established his dominance as he took out the opposition one opponent at a time. What a badass. You knew right away he was the real deal.

Back in 2007, one of my earliest articles I wrote was about the connection the Super Nintendo and the Undertaker share. It’s wild knowing that both entities are now celebrating 3 decades. The fans have never forgotten either one of them over the past 30 years.

Cheers to the Dead Man and the SNES! — Cheers to both!

BURNING PRO

There is an English fan translation available to make it much more accessible.

There are a lot of different options. My personal favorite is the Battle mode, which lets 6 wrestlers duke it out for total supremacy.

I had to choose the dead man — I had to choose the Dead Man

Jushin "Thunder" Liger! — Jushin “Thunder” Liger!

We're off to the races! — We’re off to the races!

One of the cool aspects of Burning Pro Wrestling is the ability to run diagonally. This gives a wrinkle to how you can dismantle your opposition, and is not featured in any other SNES wrestling game that I know of. Here, we see the Undertaker’s signature flying clothesline, just like we’ve seen throughout the past 3 decades!

Unfortunately, Hulk Hogan broke up the 3 count. I’ll get you your receipt later, Hulkster. Meanwhile, Hayabusa has “hulked up” and is temporarily impervious to pain. This special feature can happen to any character. Even Taker’s flying clothesline bounces off Hayabusa harmlessly. It’s a pretty neat feature that other SNES wrestling games did not have.

The Nature Boy Ric Flair is the first to be eliminated. The Dead Man delivers a picture perfect DDT on Hayabusa. That looks absolutely painful.

My revenge tour on Hogan begins! Take a flying clothesline, sucka!

Taker too slow for the save on Sting. I guess that’s one dream match that will have to remain in our wrestling dreams. Damn you, Vince! Should have done it at WrestleMania 31 in 2015! Alas, I digress.

Hayabusa reenters the ring as I’m about to take off the Hulkster’s head.

Wait for it... wait for it... — Wait for it… wait for it…

Somewhere JBL is wincing and green with envy. Those 24 inch pythons have knocked Hayabusa out of the match… leaving it to the Hulkster and the Dead Man. Of course, right? It had to end with these two titans.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Happy 30th anniversary to two GOATs! — Undertaker playing SNES? **“OHHHH YESSSS!”** ;)

Gekitou Burning Pro Wrestling is a fun addition to the SNES wrestling catalog. I played it with my wife earlier this week, and she said she enjoyed it more than Zen Nippon Pro Wrestling 2: 3-4 Bodoukan, which I consider to be a very fine and accessible wrestling game. Somehow, Burning Pro flows a little better for her. It’s definitely simpler. It’s just a fun game that’s based on timing rather than who can mash the buttons faster. I definitely appreciate that. If you’re looking for a fun alternative to Fire Pro and Zen Nippon, give this game a shot! It’s a shame we didn’t get Burning Pro Wrestling in America circa, say, 1993. It would be lionized to this day if that were the case.

Happy 30th Anniversary once again to the Super Famicom and the Undertaker! Two GOATs in their respective industries, indeed. Thanks for all the memories!

Craigslist Memoirs

Wow, it’s hard to believe we’re now in the year 2020, and even harder for me to fathom that RVGFanatic turned 13 years old earlier this month on January 7, 2020. My baby is now a teenager! But in all seriousness, with well over 200 SNES reviews and a slew of random articles written over the past 13 years, it’s been quite the ride. Usually, I would probably roll out some kind of retrospective, but there’s been plenty enough of those over the years! Instead, I’m going to repost (and slightly retweak) one of my earliest articles from my original site: Craigslist Memoirs. There will be a small update at the very end, because just earlier today, January 30, 2020… I had my first Craigslist transaction for the first time in over 12 years! Enjoy this trip down memory lane…

1. OLD FRIENDS AND OLD GAMES
Saturday, March 25, 2006 @ 12:27 PM

Timing is everything... — Timing is everything…

In January 2006 I was struck hard by an overwhelming desire to revisit my childhood in the form of one, the Super Nintendo. There were so many great games from my youth I wanted to play again and even more that I always wanted to play back in the ’90s but never did. Early 2006 was a special time. Most SNES games sold for a measly $5. There was a paucity of nostalgic collectors back then; the market had yet to explode. It was a classic case of right place, right time. I acquired most of my SNES games on the internet, but I also bought more than my fair share in real life. And there’s something special about that. It’s kind of like playing a video game with your buddies in the same room rather than online play. There’s a purity to the real life exchange that simply can’t be beat. I’ve had some great deals and met some interesting cats in those early days of 2006. One of my favorite memories was the day I ran into an old college acquaintance while out hunting.

March 25, 2006. 12:27 PM. Two months into my SNES resurrection, I left my house that Saturday afternoon full of hope and optimism. Burnt out on Saturn gaming, it was during a long University winter break that the urge to play my childhood favorites, and discover the gems that I missed back in the day, hit me like a ton of bricks. But I digress. Back to March 25. The night before I made my local rounds on Craigslist and found an ad of some guy liquidating all his old 16-bit games. I emailed him and he promptly replied, asking me to come visit his store (a good 45 minute drive both ways) on Saturday to browse his selection. He promised to give me a good deal.

And so the next morning I was off on yet another trek. I fondly recall those early hunting days. There was sort of a magic to it all… like the possibility that anything could happen and any game on my want list was lying out in the open. Having a want list of literally hundreds meant a good chance I was always going to find something. It was a peaceful spring Saturday morning. Listening to my blaring music, windows rolled down, driving all over town to reclaim bits and pieces of my childhood… there was something very ‘romantic’ about those early days.

Upon my arrival I met Aaron, the guy whom I had been in contact with. He looked oddly familiar… I couldn’t escape the feeling that I’d seen this fool somewhere before. As I browsed his SNES offerings it suddenly hit me. I had a college class with him back in the spring of 2002! In fact, we were groupmates for the final! How’s that for a weird little story? It had to be destiny.

He was looking at me sort of funny too. It had been four years since we seen each other. As we looked at each other my memory started flowing back to me. For our Final we had to share with the class something we were passionate about (it was a rec class). I talked about my love for playing basketball. At that time my love with the game was at its peak (thanks largely to Coach Butler and 9/11). Meanwhile, Aaron shared with the class his passion for video games, which included Nintendo, Sega and even the Atari Jaguar.

As I stood there recalling to myself exactly who this guy was, as if on cue, he came over to break my train of introspective thought.

“Finding everything good?”

I answered his question with a question of my own. “Hey man, didn’t we take a rec class together in college like four years back?”

“Man, I knew you looked familiar! … Steve, right? Yeah I totally remember that class… easiest A+ of my life! How the hell ya been?”

We chewed the fat for a while. So random and crazy! Turns out Aaron’s dream has always been to own his very own game store. And at just 22 years young, he was the manager of this little gaming store. I was happy for him. We were never best buddies in college but we were cool, and just seeing him randomly on this day and finding out that he achieved his dream at just 22 years old, that was sweet. It’s always nice to run into an old face and find them doing well in the game of life.

Found my shining knight... — Found my shining knight…

I eventually brought these four games to the counter. I was so excited to dig up Knights of the Round; it was my first time in two months spotting a copy in the wild. Such good childhood memories spent playing it and Super Baseball 2020, which I also bought and ironically it’s now actually the year 2020 — hey where are my robot baseball players?! Never got to play the SNES port of Power Instinct but I always wanted to. Aaron gave me a good deal. Knights of the Round was priced at $8 but he sold it for $6. Power Instinct was $8 but he took $4. Super Baseball 2020 went for just a measly $1 (!) and Super Soccer Champ ran $2.

What a wild trip, all courtesy of my checking Craigslist the night before. Little did I know I would run into an old face from my early college days, see that he was doing well and that life had been good to him, and get a nice little deal in the process. Driving home that Saturday afternoon, I rolled down the windows with the radio blaring. There was such a feeling of excitement in the air back in those early days of retro game hunting. It was a fascinating time in my life; I was getting ready to wrap up college and look to the future, yet at the same time I was also looking to the past. Glancing over at the four games sitting on my passenger seat, a big fat smile crossed my face as old fond memories of playing them began surfacing. It was the perfect drive home. Those early hunting days… man, I’ll never forget those exuberant days. The feeling of excitement in the air… reclaiming my childhood… running into old faces… crossing want after want off the list. Good times indeed they were.

2. MY NEXT (SHADOW)RUN
Sunday, March 26, 2006 @ 4:45 PM

No rest for the nostalgic! The very next day I drove out 45 minutes to meet a guy for Shadowrun. At the time it was going for about $15-$20 and the guy was offering it for $10. It wasn’t the greatest deal factoring in gas, so why did I do it? It was a lazy Sunday late afternoon and I felt like going for a drive, hitting up the local Game Crazy stores in that region and looking for more SNES games to add to the ever growing library. At that time, I was just a couple months into my Super Nintendo resurrection. There were two Game Crazy locations near his place, and I knew even if I found nothing, I still had Shadowrun to come home with. Good stuff, I figured. At the second Game Crazy I bought Inspector Gadget for $5.39, which was a harder to find game and a decent deal at the time. It wasn’t mint but that was alright by me. I was just happy to cross off yet another want.

Then I drove to his place to pick up Shadowrun. His house was on this lone stretch of road, kind of isolated and in the middle of nowhere. I was a bit paranoid at first naturally, but at no point did my “alarm in my gut” go off. Thus, I kept proceeding… of course, maybe I was just young and (game) crazy. Just normal slight paranoia, I told myself. But it was getting dark…

As I pulled up this long stretch of road, I saw him walking out of the driveway. He looked nothing like what I imagined, based on our phone calls. Scruffy looking fella in his mid 20s. I handed him a $10 bill, he handed me Shadowrun (which was in great condition), we thanked each other and I drove away, happy to be heading home at long last. It was a scenic drive and I had no idea that first weekend of Craigslist dealings would lead to a spring and summer full of them…

3. RAINING GHOULS ‘N GHOSTS
Friday March 31, 2006 @ 3 PM

Less than one week removed from my first Craigslist dealing, I was back at it again. This time it was a 20 minute drive. I was going to meet Kevin to buy some Genesis games for $20. Based on the titles he had, it was a hell of a deal. In February 2006, I bought a Genesis to complete my 16-bit journey. I felt it was only natural. However, no sooner than 7 months later, I sold my Genesis and all 130 games. I just couldn’t get back into it like I hoped — not like how I did with the SNES. The last Genesis game I sold? Ghouls ‘N Ghosts — one of the games Kevin sold me. I suppose it was only fitting. But I digress.

Kevin and I met up at a local grocery store. I remember it well. It was 3 PM on a Friday afternoon, and it was raining cats and dogs (or ghouls and ghosts, if you will). I met Kevin in the parking lot. He waved over to me as he sat in his red Toyota pick-up. I suppose he could tell who I was based on my nostalgic (and searching) eyes. Standing outside his truck, umbrella in hand, I watched as he spoke fondly of the games he was selling to me, mentioning how they had been sitting up in his attic for years and years now, and how they were all purchased brand new back in the day. A small cute beagle stood on the passenger seat, its head tilted as it looked at me quizzically. I bought all five games for $20.

Kevin told me these games were bought back when they first came out. He told me how much he loved them but alas it was time to move on. He picked up Ghouls ‘N Ghosts specifically and said, “This is one of the best games I’ve ever played.”

It was this experience that really tuned me into what Craigslist was all about. There are a ton of older guys out there, who still have their old games lying around in the attic somewhere. They just don’t have the time or energy to list them on eBay, so instead dump them on Craigslist in hopes of selling them off quick and easy. Usually looking for the first suitor. And not really looking for equal value either.

So there I was, holding an umbrella as the rain was cascading like crazy. As I handed him a twenty, he told me how happy he felt knowing that no longer would these games collect dust and someone was finally going to play these masterpieces once again.

I’ll always remember this because it was a great deal, sure, but it was nice to meet the people behind the games as well. It’s the human element — something you can’t get through eBay.

Two days later… I had my fourth Craigslist experience, and boy… was that one something else…

4. THE PAUL GIAMATTI EXPERIENCE
Sunday, April 2, 2006 @ 2:25 PM

Around this time I was going through the final stages of getting rid of some excess Saturn games. 23 American games in their bulky cases to be precise. Saturn fans KNOW what a big pain in the butt such an ordeal would be. 1). These largely common and unwanted games have a value of very little 2). Their bulky fragile cases make it a bitch to ship and not break.

So after my three successful Craigslist romps, on Saturday April the first I posted an ad of said undesirable games. Chris called me Sunday morning around 10. He and I agreed on the price of $125. I was pretty shocked, because that was WAY better than I was hoping for! That meant I would get about $5.43 per title. Factoring in 1). he’s coming here 2). I don’t have to spend time packaging the games 3). or spend money on shipping — I was over the moon with his offer. I don’t know why he wanted such bad games, but he was clearly a Saturn fanatic who wanted to round out his collection with the more fringe titles of its library. AKA exactly who I was back in the early to mid 2000’s.

I was waiting outside my house talking to a friend on the phone. At 2:25 he pulled up with his girlfriend. She stayed in the car while he walked up to my porch to greet me. Wow. He looked EXACTLY like the actor Paul Giamatti. In fact, I was almost expecting Thomas Haden Church to come popping out of the backseat going, “C’MON MILES! LET’S GO FIND SOME CHICKS!”

I had the box of 23 Saturn titles lined out for him. As he sat down to further examine the box, he and I chatted about the Sega Saturn. He asked if I had Panzer Dragoon Saga — assuming I might be one of those ex-gamers with “gold in the attic.” I told him I had it but it wasn’t for sale At the time it was going for around $150 for a complete mint copy. I just did a quick eBay check and in 2020 it goes for around $850!

Halfway through the process he told me, “Wow you’ve kept these in great shape.” He looked like a kid in a candy store as he was opening each case, removing the disc and examining them up to the light.

I just love when everything fits perfectly, like those games did in that box. I threw in some extras for him. He asked if I had any blank cases for sale with no cracks. I had five, sold him each for a buck. So in all, I walked away with $130, a lot less clutter off my mind and another memorable experience courtesy of Craigslist.

Before he left, I asked him if the lady waiting in his car was his wife. He looked at me and said with a smile “I’m hoping so.” I wished him the very best and watched as he carried the box to his trunk. His girlfriend waved at me and I waved back. What nice people.

Another awesome Craigslist deal in the books. It’s more than simply exchanging goods, although that is the main goal. The rest is a mere bonus if you meet a guy as nice as Paul, er, Chris!

"What can I say Conan, I just love the Sega Saturn!" — *“What can I say Conan, I just love the Sega Saturn!”*

5. THE TEXAS CHAINSAW ~~MASS…~~ MAGAZINES
Sunday, July 23, 2006 @ High Noon

That's a nutty day I'll never forget! — That’s a nutty day I’ll never forget!

Looking back on it all, I definitely wouldn’t do that today. I think it had a lot to do with being young and dumb. I was a lot bolder then, willing to drive long distances and meet God knows who in the name of immortalizing my childhood. It was just the excitement of getting back in the fandom, getting out there and reclaiming bits and pieces of my childhood. Safety was not a priority — getting the goods was. Like I said, there was an energy and buzz to those early hunting days that will never be replicated, and I’m glad those days are over with. I’m so happy to be retired from collecting video games. I got back at a good time too, when things were still cheap and affordable. Prices these days are outrageous!

Here are some of the magazines and guides the guy sold me:

He wrote one of my favorite childhood books!

Ah, good times — Of all places, my dad bought me that book here!

Back in the late ’80s to early-mid ’90s, Suncoast was a staple of my childhood. It was always the first store I visited whenever my mom or dad took me to the local mall. It was en route to other classics such as SOFTWARE ETC., Walden Books, B. Dalton, Sam Goody, and of course, the awesome CYBERSTATION arcade hall on the upstairs wing.

This was THE place to be on a Saturday night back then — This was *THE* place to be on a Saturday night back then

Upon hitting Suncoast, I would raid their vast horror and Sci-Fi section, drooling over the mesmerizing horror movie boxes and reading the back of every Godzilla VHS box I could find. There was a definite sense of idyllic innocence to those olden days that a small part of me still misses to this day. Jeff Rovin’s Monsters book was one that my friends and I devoured each time they visited my house. Fun times

We probably memorized the book word for word!

So many cool vintage ads. It blew our little minds

Can't beat this stuff, no sir — Can’t beat this stuff, no sir

The seller and I flipped through each guide as we reminisced about the good old days. We exchanged shared memories and the like. It was an incredible stroll down memory lane. The final guide at the bottom of the box was Chrono Trigger. He flipped his lid when he saw it, admiring it for what felt like an eternity.

“A whole decade ago,” he started. “A whole summer bro. Summer of ’96… was totally devoted to this game. This guide helped me like you wouldn’t believe. Have you played Chrono Trigger before?”

“Not yet…”

“WHAT?! Oh man, are you in for a treat. Damn. I’m jealous. I wish I could play this again for the very first time. You’re gonna have a blast with it.”

We stood there further recollecting past gaming memories, and how fast the years go on by. Finally, the discussion of price came up.

“I tell you what, you can have everything for twenty five bucks.”

Twenty five dollars?! Nice.

“Wow, that’s a great deal. Thank you bro.”

“Ah don’t worry about that. I know they’re going to a good home, and that’s all I could ever ask for them,” he smiled. “Someone who will love ‘em as much as I once did. That’s what it’s all about.”

Hell! The Chrono Trigger guide, which I was looking for at the time, one ended at $40 on eBay a few weeks earlier! He helped me carry the two boxes to my trunk, which included the crapload of Nintendo Power magazines from their glory 16-Bit days (not shown).

We chatted for another minute before I told him to enjoy the surprise birthday party later tonight which he had mentioned during our conversation earlier. He told me to take care of the guides. It was another great Craigslist story.

I cannot begin to describe what it was like driving home that day. It wasn’t just the incredible deal he gave me… it was the sheer experience itself. You definitely can’t get that human connection through online purchasing. Oh, and I finally did play Chrono Trigger not that long after. What a game indeed…

6. THE GREAT EGM SCORE
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 @ 4 PM

This was it. The final Craigslist transaction of my career (or so it was for 12+ years). I owned all the EGM issues from 1992-1994 but was missing much of 1995. Randomly one night I decided to browse Craigslist. As luck would have it, I found a guy selling off his old EGM issues, all of which were mint and even still had the wrapper. He sold me 16 issues for $29. I was happy and at this point in mid 2007, I was pretty much done with my collection. It was a good way to go out.

EGM’s quality started to decline in 1995, but they were still a decent read. I actually thought they were decent up through 2003. But I digress. I bought this lot mainly for the ’95 issues, but I didn’t mind the mint ’94 doubles.

7. THE REUNION
Thursday, January 30, 2020 @ 4:30 PM

As readers may know, I’ve been on a major book binge as of late. I’ve always loved books as a kid and last year, I rekindled that love. So one night I decided to hit Craigslist randomly to see what books I might find. I found someone selling the Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs. It’s a popular series for middle grade readers. We agreed to meet outside a local post office.

She was a nice lady and the transaction took all of 15 seconds. We greeted briefly, I handed her a 20 and we thanked each other. It was a crazy day because my girlfriend JUST moved in last night. I wanted to get home to make sure she was adjusting OK but she told me to take my sweet time and do what I need to do. There was a local bookstore nearby that I hadn’t visited yet, and it advertised used books for cheap. I spent about an hour there and by the time I drove back in town it was dark already. I decided to buy pizza for me and my girlfriend. Getting out of the car, I saw a lady in her mid 30s disciplining her son, who looked to be 7 or 8 years old. She was laying into him pretty harshly, and I remember thinking to myself, “DAMN. I wonder what that kid did to deserve that!”

I head into the store and the cashier tells me my pizza is about 5 minutes away. Then the door opens and in walks the same lady who was yelling at her son just half a minute ago. She looked oddly familiar, and the pizza place has a screen where their patrons’ names are listed. She was listed as “Judy.” Oh my gosh, could it be? Judy from high school?! My biggest crush senior year!?

I looked at her. “Judy??”

She looked back. “Yeah… hey! Oh my God, Steve!?”

What followed was a lot of life updates and reminiscing for the next 5 minutes that we both waited for our pizzas. It was our first time seeing each other in damn near 20 years! She married her high school sweetheart, has two kids and the whole nine. I was so happy for her, and she was so happy for me that my girlfriend just moved in last night. What a random and crazy experience! What a way to close out my Craigslist career. You really can’t top that one!

Thanks for the memories, Craigslist.

And glad you didn’t kill me

Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES)

***Pub & Dev: Square | October 1992 | 4 MEGS***

Before there was Final Fantasy III (AKA Final Fantasy VI)… following Final Fantasy II (AKA Final Fantasy IV)… was Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest. It was a sidestep in the beloved franchise, being an entry level based RPG aimed toward a younger crowd (and those new to the genre). It has been deemed by some as the black sheep of the Final Fantasy family; some go as far as to call it an albatross and a waste of cartridge space. But surely, being from Square during their hey day, it can’t be THAT bad, can it?

I wonder if they were fans of Mystic Quest? [Probably not -Ed.] — Were they fans of *Mystic Quest*? *[Probably not -Ed.]*

Of course, as it often is the case, with one extreme you have the flip side. There are many Mystic Quest defenders who not only proclaim that this game isn’t bad but rather it’s actually pretty good. As it is with many things in life, there’s only one way you can find out for certain: by experiencing it yourself. And way back 12 years ago, during the Christmas season of 2007, I set out to do just that.

RPG: REAL POOR GAMES?

Growing up I was a huge fan of any game that granted instant explicit gratification from the moment I pressed start. Fighting and action games were my main go-to genres when it came to video games back in the ’90s. My brother, on the other hand, was obsessed with RPGs. I never could understand why as a kid. Why would anyone want to spend all day conversing with boring townsfolk, or engage in slow, plodding turn-based combat? What the heck is SO appealing about that, my 10 year old brain at the time wondered. I couldn’t figure it out. As far as I was concerned 25 years ago, the acronym “RPG” might as well stand for “Real Poor Games.” But in late 2003, SEGA SATURN MAGAZINE’s constant championing of RPGs slowly but surely opened up my eyes. Suddenly, and for the first time in my life, I began to see RPGs in a new light. It didn’t take me long to procure all the Sega Saturn RPGs, from Albert Odyssey to Panzer Dragoon Saga. Sadly, I never got around to playing any of them thoroughly. Flash forward to January 2006. Upon rediscovering my childhood love, the Super Nintendo, I was determined to finally beat my first RPG. Super Mario RPG perhaps? EarthBound? Chrono Trigger? None of those, actually. I knew in my heart my first RPG could only be… FINAL FANTASY: MYSTIC QUEST.

Sure I had read some negative opinions on it and heard through the grapevine it wasn’t worth playing, but that didn’t sway me one bit. Ever since I first laid eyes on the Mystic Quest blurb in EGM issue #43 (February 1993), part of me was always a bit curious about it, despite my disdain of RPGs even back then. There was just something about Mystic Quest that appealed to me and stood out from other RPGs. I guess part of it was the whole training wheels approach. I’d decided that if I were to ever play RPGs, Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest would be the very first. Besides, it’s not a bad idea to start at the “bottom” and work your way up. This whole SNES resurgence of mine was another chance at gaming redemption and fulfilling the wavering fantasies of my youth. In December of 2007, I decided it was time to finally quell a near 15 year curiosity. Having experienced the likes of Brandish, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Soul Blazer (and enjoying those adventures immensely), the time had come to ‘level up’ and conquer my very first RPG. All things considered, I can’t think of a more “perfect” RPG to begin with.

THE STORY GOES…

For centuries the Focus Tower stood at the very heart of the World. It had been a center for trade and knowledge, and the people of the World met there to peacefully settle their differences. But on one warm summer day, the Tower was suddenly transformed into a symbol of the purest evil. For on that day, vile monsters battled their way into the Tower, stole the four Crystals of the Earth, and took off with the magical Coins that had kept the Tower’s doors unlocked.

With the Tower doors sealed behind them, the monsters relaxed their guard and turned their attention to the Crystals. As they basked in the radiant glow of the Crystals, the monsters grew stronger and even more wicked than they already were. The more light the monsters consumed, the more the World was drained of its warmth and color. Tremors soon shook the land. The sky grew cloudy and dark. The seasons went berserk. Monsters then appeared everywhere and terrorized the people. The World was thrown into total chaos. Something had to be done. A hero was much needed…

Enter Benjamin, the most normal youngster you could imagine. Like most responsible villagers his age, he arose at the crack of dawn to lead his family’s livestock to the upper meadow to graze. Other kids teased him because he read while tending his herd, and because a village Elder had taken him in as a promising student. Although he seemed mature beyond his years, he still dreamed of being more than he was: faster, stronger and more daring.

USE YOUR HEAD, SON

RPGs require a little extra thought than other genres — RPGs require a *little extra* thought than other genres

In battle mode you can attack with your weapon or by conjuring a variety of magic spells. Spells are usually stronger but eat up magic points. Also, some enemies are immune to certain spells, further adding to the strategy. Gotta use your noggin’ a little bit!

Resident Evil item management this ain't — *Resident Evil* item management this ain’t

Well you don't hafta, but I like knowing my stats — Well you don’t have to, but I like knowing my stats

Very nice. You're given every chance to succeed — Very nice. You’re given every chance to succeed

MAP QUEST

Starting out at the Focus Tower, before all is said and done you’ll travel to 29 regions, ranging from ice pyramids to volcano mines. Unoriginal but hey, all the classic themes are represented.

Having the novice RPG player in mind, your movement on the overworld map has been simplified. You’re quite restricted but at least you’ll never get lost.

THE CAST

Your party can only contain two members at any one time, and not by your choice. Along the journey various characters will join you for different reasons. Discover many items, weapons, magic spells and armor. It’s nowhere as extensive as other RPGs, but again, this was made with the novice in mind. Let the journey begin!

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

In the words of Van Halen... — In the words of Van Halen… ***JUMP!***

Follow the old geezer and leap safely to the other mountain before the one you’re on crumbles. Unlike many other RPGs, you can jump in Mystic Quest. Jumping serves a very handy purpose.

“Look over there. That’s the Focus Tower, once the heart of the World. An old Prophecy says, “The vile four will steal the Power, and divide the World behind four doors. At that time the Knight will appear!” The Prophecy has now come true. Four monsters have locked the doors of the Focus Tower and escaped with the keys. They’re draining the light from the 4 Crystals of the Earth, and the World is in chaos. The people are in extreme desperate need of help. STEVE, only you can save the Crystals and the World, AND ONLY YOU.”

But before the Old Man and Steve can chat some more, BEHEMOTH shows up! The screen shakes and roars. It’s time for Steve to prove his worth…

You have the option to attack, use an item or spell, or defend yourself.

After your choice of command is selected, a big yellow square appears on-screen. Place it over any enemy, yourself or your traveling companion, in case of using the Cure spell, f’rinstance.

Behemoth strikes first with Atrocious Morning Breath! — Behemoth strikes first with *Atrocious Morning Breath*!

The Swift Sword takes off 25 health points

Occasionally, a critical hit occurs, accompanied by a flash. Triple damage!

BEHEMOTH vanishes after that final critical blow. — BEHEMOTH vanishes after that final critical blow

Well, actually it was more of a guess... -Old Man — *Well, actually it was more of a guess…* -Old Man

Ah, the infamous heroic shrug of our main chap! It adds an enjoyable and quirky touch to the festivities. Any time that Steve is confused [Oh boy -Ed.], he’ll look at you and give a stumped shrug of the shoulders.

“That depends. What do I get out of it, gramps?”

“… Something more valuable than your eyes will ever believe!”

“Soooo, nothing.”

“Precisely. No! I mean uhhh… something beyond your wildest dreams!”

“I’m just fuckin’ with ya. My pleasure! Step aside.”

"I'm a man of my word. Here ya go, TAKE THIS!" — *“I’m a man of my word. Here ya go, TAKE THIS!”*

“A withered piece of wood… gee… thanks…”

“Silly kid. Open your eyes, and open your heart. Then find the young girl in Foresta. The rest is up to you, son…”

*vanishes*

“Okaaaaay. That was not creepy at all.”

Treasure chests are littered across the land. Items actually regenerate, so you can abuse the system if you so desire. Cures are invaluable [You don’t say -Ed.]

Speaking of cures, there’s a certain bed in a certain town that won’t cost you a dime and will fully recuperate our hero. Judging by the look of ecstasy on his face, I think he did more than take a nap, if ya know what I mean.

Well, you heard the old fart — off to Foresta with the Tree Wither in hand.

"Right sure, now listen. Where can I find a cheesesteak?" — *“Right sure, now listen. Where can I find a pizza?”*

No cryptic clues in Mystic Quest — No cryptic clues in *Mystic Quest*

"Sure thing granny, that's what they all say..." — *“Sure thing granny, that’s what they all say…”*

Some folks give you a valuable clue to progress the story while others simply add to the atmosphere of the town, and ultimately, the game itself.

You'll meet up with Kaeli here — You’ll meet up with Kaeli here

“KAELI! Don’t you dare storm off with this stranger! You DO remember what happened last time, don’t you?”

“Awww, mom. Look, I have to do this. I hope you’ll understand some day.”

Your first traveling companion — Woot woot

"OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH!" — *“OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH!”*

“Yes yes, down a little more, Steve. You’re doing very well my son!”

“No, up some more now. Up up, THERE ya go.”

“On second thought, it’d look real nice to the right…”

"MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MIND! ARRRRRRGH!!!!" — *“MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MIND! ARRRRRRGH!!!!”*

One thing I hated about RPGs as a kid whenever I watched my brother play were the insane amount of random enemy encounters. Sometimes it seems like you can’t take 3 steps without the screen flashing into battle. In Mystic Quest however, there are no surprises since all enemies are shown on-screen. In the words of Borat, “IZZ NICE!!”

Speaking of cool touches, here’s another one. This is a typical enemy screen in any RPG, no? Sure but…

Wait, what’s that? Yep, enemies show wear and tear as the battle progresses. Some of the weakened states are rather amusing to behold, such as the band-aid this goof sports. What a git!

[Oh... where to even begin? -Ed.] — *[Oh… where to even begin? -Ed.]*

One of the most vital Man Laws to live by, folks

Unfortunately for our diplomatic hero and lovely heroine, their moment is shattered by the appearance of a most vile creature.

The gradual deterioration is a thing of beauty, folks — The gradual deterioration is a thing of beauty

After a brutal battle with the Minotaur, Kaeli faints

Much like jumping, it's another cool feature — Much like jumping, it’s another cool feature

Though optional, it's wise to clear all battlefields — Though optional, it’s wise to clear all battlefields

Adventurers never return from these hellholes... — Adventurers never return from these hellholes…

Scattered across the land are battlefields. These regions host monsters dwelling deep below the surface. Not only do you gain experience points from killing the monsters, but you may win key items as well. You don’t have to fight them all at once, so make sure you heal up when your health runs low before reengaging in battle.

Hey who's that new guy? Find out soon — Hey who’s that new guy…

See the importance of clearing out the battlefields? Here you’ve won the Charm Necklace, which protects you against *drum roll* charm attacks. Don’t be a sorry wimp, kill ‘em all — courage and bravado pays off!

Tell me about it. Where have I seen this before?

“I just wish I knew what was inside that temple…”

“YOU ARE INSIDE IT! IT IS THE PLACE OF LOST SOULS. ALL NEW SPIRITS MUST PASS THROUGH THERE…”

“But we’re not dead!”

“OOPS. WELL, NOBODY’S PERFECT YA KNOW. OH, AND BY THE WAY, NO ONE STILL ALIVE HAS EVER COME OUTTA THERE IN ONE PIECE!”

Ah, Ghostbusters. What a big fun part of my childhood you were.

Not looking so tough now ARE YA?! Hmph — Not looking so tough now ***ARE YA?!*** Hmph

TRISTAM TEAMS UP!

As Steve is confused and perplexed [what else is new -Ed.], a strange fella appears seemingly out of nowhere. Who is he, and what are his motives?

"I'll sell you some for, say, 90,000 GP. Well?" — *“I’ll sell you some for, say, 90,000 GP. Well?”*

"But my allowance is only 2 GP a month!" — *“But my allowance is only 2 GP a month!”*

[HA! I smell what that guy's cooking, and I like it! -Ed.] — *[HA! I smell what that guy’s cooking, and I like it! -Ed.]*

It would be loads of fun if you could hack the enemies there, but an action RPG this ain’t! If you’re in the mood for one of those, might I recommend any of the following: Soul Blazer, Illusion of Gaia, Terranigma, Secret of Mana, Seiken Densetsu 3 (AKA Secret of Mana 2) or the criminally underrated Gunman’s Proof.

Personally, I enjoy taking my time and not rushing to the exit or end of a game. Taking side trips to stock up on items and such makes the game easier not to mention more enjoyable for me. I like taking my time and exploring the game’s world!

Plus you could use the EXP points before the first boss — Plus ya could use the EXP points before the first boss

This ugly Sand Worm (Beetlejuice, anybody?) is basic yet effective at conveying the kind of nasties you’ll be up against. Just wait until you see some of the boss characters. The graphics won’t blow anyone away, but they get the job done.

Loading up on Tristam’s ninja stars is your reward for taking this little road trip. I find it most gratifying to take your time and really feel the ‘pulse’ of a game rather than rushing for the exit.

You’ll come to an entrance blocked by a ton of rocks. Never fear, for Tristam shows off his handy bomb attack. He will then offer to sell you 50 bombs for 30 GP. Buy it!

Let's check out the bomb in action — Let’s check out the bomb in action

Connects on all and is quite powerful to boot. Nice!

HE-MAAAN! [Don't EVEN start -Ed.] — ***HE-MAAAN!*** *[Don’t EVEN start -Ed.]*

"IMPOSTER! DOWN WITH YOU, YOU VILE SWINE!" — *“IMPOSTOR! DOWN WITH YOU, YOU VILE SWINE!”*

Use your bombs to blast that rib cage to pieces — Use your bombs to reveal the open path

"Sounds like a good pla -- HEY WAIT A SECOND!" — *“Sounds like a good pla — HEY WAIT A SECOND!”*

Aw bummer, I thought you meant the first person shooter.

At the far northern region of the Bone Dungeon lies the final skull cage. What horrible creatures lurk beyond these realms?

"I HAVE THE POWER OF THE CRYSTAL OF EARTH!" — *“I HAVE THE POWER OF THE CRYSTAL OF EARTH!”*

Easier said than done. Naw, it's easy :P — Easier said than done. Naw, it’s easy :P

The best thing about ol’ Rex is seeing his sorry sack of bones deteriorate bit by bit. Mystic Quest is no visual tour de force, but this is a great touch you don’t see in many other RPGs.

“I’LL NEVER DIE!”

“Well, I hate to break it to ya bud but you’re breaking up.”

“WE SHALL SEE ABOUT THAT!”

Rex battles to his grave. You gotta admire that about him.

Slaying my first RPG boss. I know it sounds corny but you never forget your first time.

“WHOA, take a look at this, kid!”

“!!”

“NOW THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ABOUT!”

"Uh Tristam, I think you better look at this instead" — *“Uh Tristam, I think you better look at this instead!”*

"I've already seen the Kingdom of Crystal Skull, kid!" — *“I’ve already seen the Kingdom of Crystal Skull, kid!”*

“Now this Dragon Claw on the other hand… now THIS is something to gawk at! Check out the reach on this baby!”

“Yeah, that’s pretty good.”

“Oh yeah kid, don’t forget our deal now ya hear.”

“I know I know. I keep everything. Well thanks… for everything!”

“HA HA HA, nice try, kid!”

*SHRUG*

“Here ya go. Your very own bottle of Elixir. But the Dragon Claw, I KEEP.”

“Aw gee, THANKS. I’m overwhelmed by your generosity, really I am.”

Back to a party of one [Story of your life -Ed.]

Oooh, things are back to being alive and lush

"Hard to believe this but I've been called strange!" — *“Hard to believe but I too have been called strange!”*

Give her a sip of your magic juice -- the elixir that is! — Give her a sip of your magic juice — the elixir that is!

But you WANT to, right? ... Hello? Hello? — But you **WANT** to, right? … Hello? Hello?

"Sorry, I swung it by AXE-cident..." — *“Sorry, I swung it by AXE-cident…”*

The non-battle scenes are much appreciated

Before you go charging into battle, be sure to switch out the Cat Claw to your bombs — bombs are far more effective. Don’t take my word for it, just look at the difference in the ATTACK ratings above. Also, because you can see enemies on the map, you’ll know when to switch. You can also switch on the main screen without having to flip to this menu.

I get up in the evening, and I ain’t got nothing to say.
I come home in the morning.
I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain’t nothing but tired.
Man I’m just tired and bored with myself.
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help.

You can’t start a fire.
You can’t start a fire without a spark.
This gun’s for hire.
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark. Even if we’re just dancing in the dark. DAAAAANCIN —

[Ahem. THIS boss says you’re fired, again -Ed.]

Actually, the Centaur is on fire, hahaha…. ahem, I’ll go pack my bags now.

Work your way through. At the end, Squidite awaits — Work your way through. Squidite awaits at the end

"THAT WORKS FOR ME!" — *“THAT WORKS FOR ME!”*

An eyeful of arrows is not a fun way to spend a Tuesday night, or any other night for that matter. Quite a strong mini boss this one is. Well, looks like squid soup for dinner!

You gotta use your head a little bit, knowing when to attack and when to heal.

“Well STEVE-O, let’s see what we win for slaying that stupid squid, shall we?”

“I wonder what’s inside that chest?”

“Only one way to find out…”

“Uhhh, you first, Phoebe. After all, ladies first!”

“Alright, just stay behind me….. !! STEVE!”

“Yes?”

“That better be a flashlight!”

Can you revive the frozen town of Aquaria?

But before traveling to the Ice Pyramid you must pass Falls Basin. Push ice pillars to solve puzzles and slay the evildoers that stand in your way.

The enemies get bigger, badder and a whole lot uglier!

Such a smooth cat, that Steve [In his dreams -Ed.] — Such a smooth cat, that Steve *[… in his dreams -Ed.]*

"I got the ugly one!" "Er, which one is that?" — *“I got the ugly one!”*
*“Er, which one is that?”*

Always equip yourself properly before a boss fight

Beat him and earn the River Coin for your troubles

[No worries, Steve knows a thing or two about weird -Ed.] — *[All good, Steve knows a thing or two about weird -Ed.]*

"Yeah, that's him. Said his names Barry or something..." — *“Yeah, that’s him. Said his name’s Barry or something…”*

"IVE GOT ANOTHER CONFESSION TO MAKE!" — *“I’VE GOT ANOTHER CONFESSION TO MAKE!”*

“Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, THE BEST OF YOU?”

This is the mine [How much am I paying you again? -Ed.] — It’s the mine *[How much am I paying you again? -Ed.]*

BEWARE OF DOG JINN — BEWARE OF ~~DOG~~ JINN

"Great, look who let the Jinnie out of the bottle!" — Great, who let the Jinnie out of the bottle?

Jinn is actually nothing to make fun of. Jinn refers to a form of demon. Back during my college days, I met a pretty interesting friend who knew a lot about the supernatural. He emailed me about the Jinn once. Here’s what he wrote:

So who are the jinns?

The jinns have long accompanied the fantasy and magical world of the human imagination for centuries. They compromise the world of fairies, genies, wish masters, aliens, ghosts, demons, and other supernatural beings. Humanity has long been interested with the jinn and has placed them into films, stories, legends, and even beliefs. We have all seen Aladdin with his genie that would spring out of the lamp, we have all seen Alice and her dreamy “wonderland,” and other such tales. In Christianity, when they warn against doing salvation or having trust in SPIRITS besides THE HOLY SPIRIT, they are talking about these dudes.

Ultimately, the jinns are mortal, carnal, lower spirits that dwell in the lower heavens and on earth amongst mankind. Rather than regarding them solely as demons, Islam regards them as a race or life form that dwells in a world parallel or maybe even perpendicular to that of mankind. This world called “The World of the Jinn” is also referred to as the SUPERNATURAL WORLD.

The word jinn in Arabic means “the unseen.” Therefore, we cannot see the jinn. The light that illuminates off their forms have different wavelengths from visible light (they’re either infrared or ultraviolet).

When a jinn possesses the living, it can make them ill both physically and mentally. That’s why possessed people act crazy. They can also tempt or convince them to do things to other people or themselves that may be bad for them.

Because they are mortal, jinns like humans copulate, consume and drink. They need to survive just like human beings.

They have their own customs, languages, rules, and beliefs. Their ways are different, however they can learn and follow our customs, languages, rules, and beliefs. They can follow our ways because they can see, hear and sense our presences, but we can’t do the same to them. HOWEVER, they can make their presences known to us by taking on the forms, voices and smells of things familiar to us. Never do they ever show their true faces; nevertheless, so forever they remain the UNSEEN [I see, or not, rather -Ed.]

Because they can hear, they can learn and speak our languages and religions. Jinns that dwell in England can speak English, those that live in China can speak Chinese, etc. There are jinn families, boyfriend and girlfriend jinn, young and old fart jinn, nerd and jock jinn, etc.

These spirits are also associated with curses. They dwell in places that are filthy, old, dark and abandoned (public baths, public bathrooms, caverns, deserts, historic ruins, sewers, garbage disposals, shit tanks, etc.). People should avoid entering such places where they dwell for it can harm their well being. In fact, most jinns don’t like it when humans enter their dwellings and can hurt or even kill those folks who trespass into their lairs! People in the past especially archeologists have died soon after picking up cursed ancient artifacts.

[Who is this guy?! Your friend huh? ‘SPLAINS A LOT! -Ed.]

At any rate, when I fought Jinn in Mystic Quest I immediately thought back to that email my college buddy sent me so many years ago. Pretty cool to see folklore make its way into the enemy roster.

Speaking of folklore, up this hill awaits Medusa

This is a good time to stock up, refill, take a leak, do whatever you gotta do. Being able to see where enemies and bosses are on the map is extremely helpful to RPG virgins who detest random battles. So before tackling Medusa or any other (sub)boss, make sure you’re at maximum power.

Sure, she doesn’t look too hideous here, but wait ’til you see her second and third forms — ugh!

Aw see, that Tristam cat ain't all bad — Aw see, that Tristam cat ain’t all bad

Dare you find out what lies behind that door?

Not exactly a brand new Corvette is it?

Reminds me of King Ghidorah. Well, minus a head

“So Steve, you want my magic potion do ya?”

“Of course!”

“Well… you can’t have it.”

“What? Why not?”

“My tree friends, you’ve chopped them down!”

“Oh THAAAAT… haha… yeah my bad.”

Doesn't the head on the far left remind you a lot of... — Doesn’t the head on the far left remind you a lot of…

King Ghidorah? Yes, again) — King Ghidorah? (Yes, again)

Nice to see a game not take itself too seriously — Nice to see a game not take itself ***too*** seriously

Looks like the time has come... — Looks like the time has come…

Not a bad statue, if youre going for that Duplex look — Not a bad statue, if you’re going for that Duplex look

So cute and cuddly... — So cute and cuddly…

Play times over. Youre in the Dark Kings backyard — *Play time’s over*. Welcome to the Dark King’s backyard

The Dark King is easily the strongest foe in Mystic Quest and it’ll take much healing to get through this one. Oh and fair warning… if you hate spiders, you’ll love his later forms…

A guy can get used to this captain business, cant he? — A guy can get used to this captain business

M*AD*NESS

They don't make 'em like they used to — They sure don’t make ‘em like they used to

Who could forget these strange Mystic Quest ads back in late 1992? It caught my eye back then and has stuck with me ever since!

Fun looking back on vintage stuff like this

USA VS. JAPAN

Speaks for itself... — Speaks for itself…

FINAL FANTASY: LINK TO THE MYSTIC PAST?

The manual art for Mystic Quest is impressive

In fact, its highly reminiscent of Link to the Past — In fact, it’s highly reminiscent of *Link to the Past*

Link uncovers a treasure chest... — Link uncovers a treasure chest…

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Mystic Quest fared well with the critics. EGM gave it scores of 8, 7, 7 and 7 while Super Play rated it 79%.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is one of those divisive games that has as many supporters as it does detractors. Myself, I quite enjoyed it. I’ll always remember it my first official RPG playthrough. And as an RPG starter kit sort of game, it does its job rather well. Enemies can be seen on screen. There aren’t a load of characters or items to tinker with. It’s about as bare bones as a 16-bit RPG can be, and for me at least there’s a certain amount of charm to that. Mystic Quest isn’t your typical epic RPG… if you want something along those lines then try Final Fantasy III, Chrono Trigger or EarthBound. But for those seeking a basic beginner’s RPG, look no further. Mystic Quest is a good “gateway” game for those new or unfamiliar to the genre.

Graphically, it won’t blow anyone away. Yet the visuals get the job done. Our protagonists are small but adequately detailed, and things such as the !! bubble and shrug add a nice touch. The monsters are well detailed, particularly the giant bosses. I was in awe the first time I laid eyes on the first boss, Flamerus Rex. Speaking of bad guys, you can see the physical deterioration on them as battles progress. Some bosses display as many as four different health status stances, and some of them are very cool. A perfect example being the Ice Golem, who almost melts but hangs on by a feeble grasp of what remains of his once giant hand. It’s a superb touch that adds to the fun of dismantling all the nasties found within. The game’s music is flat out terrific. Battle themes are appropriately intense while towns have a more subdued theme, adding to the adventurous atmosphere of the game.

In terms of difficulty, Mystic Quest is a cake walk. The plot is simple and moves along at a brisk pace. Sure, it doesn’t have the most elaborate plot in the world and granted, the character development isn’t as in-depth as what’s found in other RPGs, but I ask you this… what other 16-bit RPG allows you to see all your enemies on screen, jump, move pillars, or chop down trees as you’re walking about town? Don’t forget about the ability to hook on to platforms high above with the grappling hook either. There’s plenty to do in the short time the game lasts, which is roughly 8-12 hours depending on your play style. If you can ignore the lofty Final Fantasy label and take the game for what it intended to be, you just might enjoy it as well.

Graphics: 6.5
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 7
Longevity: 6.5

Overall: 7.0

FINAL STATS

Level 37
HP: 1480
Attack: 230
Defense: 128
Speed: 90
Magic: 51
Accuracy: 93
Evade: 46
GP: 22,288
EXP: 762,582
Time: 17 hours, 5 minutes*

*Most people finished it a lot faster, but I typically enjoy taking my sweet time

Thunder Spirits (SNES)

***Pub: Seika | Dev: Toshiba Emi | June 1992 | 8 MEGS***

As a kid growing up in the early ’90s I can remember dreaming about the Genesis games that I wanted to see “souped-up” on my SNES. Thunder Force III was one of them. I would have given an arm and leg for a Super Nintendo version of Thunder Force III, figuratively speaking of course. I was blown away when I first played Thunder Force III on the Genesis in 1990. It was totally badass. SNES owners received Thunder Spirits in the summer of ’92. It was more or less Thunder Force III. Sadly, less… but I digress. First, let us take a trip down memory lane.

RAINING GHOULS ‘N GHOSTS

Geddit? Sorry, Ill see myself out — Geddit? Sorry, I’ll see myself out

In early 2006 the SNES bug bit me hard and I began reclaiming bits and pieces of my childhood. It started out innocently enough with a mighty comeback to the SNES on January 17, 2006. Not before long I found myself repurchasing all things 8-bit NES and Sega Genesis as well. On March 31, 2006, I met up with a stranger outside a local grocery store. I remember it well. It was 3 PM on a Friday afternoon, and it was raining cats and dogs (or ghouls and ghosts, if you will). I met Kevin in the parking lot, a guy I had been communicating with off Craigslist. He waved over to me sitting in his red Toyota pick-up. I suppose he could tell who I was based on my nostalgic (and searching) eyes. Standing outside, umbrella in hand, I watched as he spoke fondly of the games he was selling to me, mentioning how they had been sitting up in his attic for years and years now, and how they were all purchased brand new back in the day. A small cute beagle stood on the passenger seat, its head tilted as it looked at me quizzically. I got all five games for $20. Thunder Force III was a game I used to watch and play all the time back at Tommy and Denny’s, way back in good old 1990. The game was mind-blowing and really brought home the arcade experience that a home system had yet to deliver at that point in time. I had always wanted to play the SNES version that went by the name of Thunder Spirits, but never did back in the ’90s. Less than a month then into my SNES resurrection, I picked up a copy.

THE STORY

The cybernetic computer that controls the planet Orn has long held a disdain for humans. It has surrounded itself with a formidable automated defense system consisting of four planets: Hydra, Gorgon, Saline, and Ellis. Motivated by its fear of the Commonwealth of Humanoid Planets, the computer has initiated a systematic plan to destroy the Commonwealth and enslave its members. The only hope for the Commonwealth is to intervene quickly and destroy the cybernetic computer at the Orn-Core!

The Commonwealth has pooled its resources to develop its most technologically advanced fighter, the Vrax. This ship’s diminutive size coupled with advanced stealth technology make it difficult to detect. Equipped with some of the most powerful weaponry ever to be deployed, it is easily the equal of ships many times its size.

OPTIONS

Be sure to turn rapid fire on. Its a life saver — Be sure to turn rapid fire on. It’s a life saver

FIREPOWER

Love that cool voiceover "SHIELD!" — Love that cool voice-over effect of ***“SHIELD!”***

Be sure to blast these red ships. They carry new weapons, shields and the CLAW, a special and extremely valuable weapon. It attaches two orbiting drones to your ship which can intercept enemy attack. In addition, these drones will fire the same weapons as your ship, increasing the effectiveness of any gun you use. Sweet! As for the rest of your weaponry, discover them on your own

THE MISSION

I nearly crapped my pants the first time I saw him — I *nearly* crapped my pants the first time I saw him

I sure do. It was a great time to be a carefree kid

... too bad the same quality didnt transfer over here — Too bad the same quality didn’t transfer over here

Youll see BIGGER twins soon... — You’ll see way BIGGER twins soon…

Saline is one of my favorite levels of the 8

[Actually theres three -Ed.] — *[Actually there’s three -Ed.]*

Its up to you to save the galaxy! — It’s up to you to save the galaxy!

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

For a Thunder Force game hitting the SNES, Thunder Spirits shockingly received very little fanfare. EGM gave it lackluster ratings of 5, 5 and 4. Super Play scored it 73%. On the internet, everyone highly prefers Thunder Force III. Though to be fair and more accurate, Thunder Spirits is technically a port of Thunder Force AC rather than Thunder Force III. Thunder Force AC was released in the arcades after Thunder Force III, and is largely based upon said game. Therefore, players expecting a magical carbon copy of Thunder Force III with SNES trimmings are likely to be quite disappointed.

Here’s a handy cheat to help maximize enjoyment of Thunder Spirits: during the game pause and press select 10 times followed by L, R, R, select. Now you can press Y to add a shield, X to add a Claw, and A to add and upgrade weapons. Try beating the game on Maniac mode with these cheats to help even up the odds!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Still damn impressive to this day I say!

For nearly 20 years I wondered if this was *THE* ultimate Thunder Force game… a dream game which would combine one of my favorite Genesis titles with the souped-up capabilities of the almighty SNES. So much for that dream. When I finally played Thunder Spirits in the fall of 2011, I was sorely disappointed. The graphics and sound fail to meet SNES standards, and it pales in comparison to Thunder Force III which came out two years earlier. Then again, keep in mind that Toshiba Emi programmed the SNES version, not TechnoSoft (who did the Genesis game). Maybe the quality would have been vastly different in their hands. At any rate, the bosses here don’t look nearly as impressive or intimidating as they did in the Genesis version. The music is actually somewhat solid, but slightly tarnished by the weak sound effects that accompany it. I really like the first three stages, but the rest leave something to be desired… with too many similar space stages.

Still, at its core, it is Thunder Force. That alone is enough to carry some merit. The game does suffer from the sporadic spot of slowdown here and there, but it’s certainly playable and has its moments. It’s pretty cool being able to switch weapons and ship speed with the shoulder buttons (as well as during the pause screen). It also presents a fairly stiff challenge, especially on the Maniac difficulty level. Unfortunately, you can’t help but feel this was a rushed programming job, and certainly one that was handled with a lack of expertise and knowledge of the Super Nintendo’s inner workings. Thunder Spirits should have been an awesome shooter. Instead, it’s rarely mentioned whenever folks talk about the best SNES shooting games. It doesn’t do anything special. Even worse, you know the game didn’t live up to its potential. There are too many moments where you just fly around waiting for enemies to show up. It’s not the frenetic in-your-face shooter that, say, Space Megaforce is. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy Thunder Spirits. It’s just difficult to hide my disappointment that this game didn’t knock it out of the park. But hey, can’t win ‘em all!

Graphics: 6.5
Sound: 6.5
Gameplay: 6.5
Longevity: 6.5

Overall: 6.5

Um, yeeeah. No comment... — *Um, yeeeah*. No comment…

Aladdin (SNES)

***Pub & Dev: Capcom | November 1993 | 10 MEGS***

Last week my girlfriend and I caught the live movie adaptation of Aladdin in theaters. We enjoyed it, although both of us prefer the animated film. Seeing Aladdin on the big screen instantly brought to mind the time when Capcom, over 25 years ago, released Aladdin on the Super Nintendo. “Oh no, not another licensed video game!” Some might think from the outset. And really, history would have your back as many licensed games were seemingly more miss than hit more than a quarter of a century ago. Thankfully, Capcom incubated Aladdin with nearly as much maternal care as Disney bestowed upon their animated film. That means top notch animation, plenty of humor to keep things lighthearted and entertaining, and backed it all up with an incredibly authentic Middle Eastern atmosphere. Thus, what you have here is a strong example of the platforming genre based off 1992’s most successful film.

Will Smith as the Genie... it worked! — Will Smith as the Genie… it worked!

NEVER HAD A FRIEND LIKE ME

Aladdin roared into theaters the day before Thanksgiving ’92 (November 25, 1992 for those keeping score at home) and grossed over 500 million worldwide! It was met with undying fanfare. The song “A Whole New World” won an Oscar at the 1993 Academy Awards. The end credits boast a whopping 513 people! It was the first Disney film to show a belly button. Aladdin was based, believe it or not, on a cross between Michael J. Fox and Tom Cruise. Also, did you know that Aladdin once killed 40 thieves? [That was Ali Baba, you fool -Ed.]

[Hmmm, those facts sound oddly familiar... -Ed.] — *[Hmmm, those facts sound oddly familiar… -Ed.]*

Hey now, I *like* that song — Hey now, I ***like*** that song

Aladdin was such a smash hit that he had his own animated series as part of the classic Disney Afternoon lineup back during the early mid ’90s. I was a pretty big fan of the TV series. If you don’t remember the Disney Afternoon, it was essentially the cartoon version of TGIF. The Disney Afternoon aired Mondays through Fridays from 3 to 5 PM. Perfect for veggin’ out right after school for a couple blissful hours. Oh they don’t make them like how they used to, that’s fer damn sure! Needless to say, Capcom had a lot to live up to when they set their sights on adapting Aladdin to the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. But if anyone could pull it off back in those days, it was the Big C.

THE ADVENTURES OF ABU

THE STORY GOES…

It's the Cave of Wonders! — It’s the Cave of Wonders!

One whose worth lies deep within ... THE DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH! — *One whose worth lies deep within*
***… THE DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH!***

... this diamond in the rough... — … this diamond in the rough…

Not all movie games suck ;) — Not all movie games suck

THE BASICS

THE MARKETPLACE

The game begins In the dusty streets of Agrabah — The game begins in the dusty streets of Agrabah

Fun bouncing on the guy's head — Fun bouncing on the guy’s head

Sprinting across the tops — high above the heads of enemies — looks great, but Aladdin’s movement has a certain herky jerkiness. It’s not a big issue but it does take a second to adjust to.

Aimed properly, you can bounce off a bad guy’s head and in one seamless motion stick the landing on a nearby platform. Pretty satisfying it is.

Press down to fall on the villain’s head and vanquish him. There is a sort of Prince of Persia feel to this game.

More fun than a barrel [snip -Ed.] — And these fools, too

*[I always knew the monkey was smarter -Ed.]*

*[Truly, the brains of the operation -Ed.]*

He's pissed off now! — He’s pissed off now!

Never skip arm day — Why you never skip arm day

A satisfying means of dispatching the opposition

Apples don't hurt him, not even down there — Apples don’t hurt him, not even down there

When did Abu become so cynical? :P — When did Abu become so cynical?

Sorry old pal — Sorry about that, old pal

*[You and me both, Abu. You and me both -Ed.]*

But peace doesn't last long — Of course, peace is short lived…

THE CAVE OF WONDERS

I rather like this stage quite a bit. Use your athletic acrobatics to maneuver your way across spiky pits and such. Good stuff.

Use apples to send pesky bats away. And what the hell is a delectable piece of meat such as that doing out in the wide open? It’ll spoil! Guess you better gobble it up then before it does!

Leaping off enemies and platforms doesn’t always go as you intend it to. Thankfully, it’s mostly a case of something you did that went awry, as opposed to flat out poor controls.

I swear Abu, this had better be good... — I swear Abu, this had **better** be good…

But I swear, if this hits the fan... — Man, if this hits the fan…

If you manage to survive this, you’ll run into a rather magical friend.

Abu's expression says it all — Abu’s expression says it all

Yo Carpet, it's like that huh — **Yo Carpet, it’s like that huh**

Carpet, in theory, could whisk you to safety, but where’s the fun in that? Nope, you must brave through this auto scrolling stage on your own.

Don't hang on too long or else — Don’t hang on too long or else

Pull it to rise the barrier — Pull the rope to raise the barrier

Yeah, sure, whatever ya say... — Yeah, sure, whatever ya say…

Good shit from Capcom — That’s me at 5 stealing my mom’s cookies from the jar

DON'T TOUCH THAT, ABU! — **DON’T TOUCH THAT, ABU!**

Carpet tries its damndest — Carpet tries its damnedest

Yet another force scrolling stage — Yet another auto scrolling stage

ANOTHER auto scroller — ANOTHER auto scrolling stage

But at least Carpet's with you — But at least Carpet’s with you this time!

After a couple head scratching stages where you’re forced to travel over murky waters and skin scorching lava without the aid of Magic Carpet, it finally decides to lend a hand, er, corner? Hey, better late than never!

Arguably the game’s most adrenaline-fueled level, nothing quickens the pulse quite like riding on Magic Carpet with your girl while doing your best to evade the sizzling molten lava that’s right on your tail!

INSIDE THE GENIE’S LAMP

"Little ol' me?" Yes, little ol' you! — *“Little ol’ me?”* **Yes, little ol’ you!**

Genie’s stage takes you to a cloud-filled universe that’s well out of this world. How befitting of a genie! You suddenly find yourself doing pull ups on cloudy wisps in a strange land that’s NOT AT ALL egotistical…

In classic Capcom fashion, landing on those Genie platforms will make the Big G frown for as long as you’re on it. Otherwise, the blue bastard’s full of cheesy grins.

I've never had a friend like you... — Patience and precision is key here

Things get more and more bizarre — Things get more and more *bizarre*

Man, I sure as hell ain't never had a friend like you — Man, I sure as hell ain’t never had a friend like you

Use his makeshift parachute to glide to safety

THE PYRAMID

I like how they disintegrate when you jump on them

The shifting sands makes it difficult to navigate safely — The shifting sand makes it difficult to navigate safely

Er, yeeeeah. You're on your own on this one, Al... — Err, *yeeeeah*. You’re on your own on this one, Al…

BONUS LEVEL: MAGIC CARPET RIDE

For my money, this is by far and away the greatest moment in the entire game. The sights and sounds — perfection personified. Based on the classic scene from the movie, it even replicates the “A Whole New World” song! Sans lyrics of course, but it’s a near perfect rendition otherwise. The whole damn thing is almost enough to make even the most hardened warrior feel all warm and tingly inside. Don’t take my word for it, watch it and listen to it here!

A WHOLE NEW WORLD! [Don't you dare... -Ed.] — **A WHOLE NEW WORLD!** *[Don’t you dare… -Ed.]*

JAFAR’S PALACE

Wouldn't be Aladdin without a street rat reference — Wouldn’t be *Aladdin* without a street rat reference

Repeat this pattern for good health and prosperity

Uh oh, Jafar is pissed now... — Uh oh, Jafar is pissed now…

Use the parachute or else you'll get singed! — Use the parachute or else you’ll get fried

Shout out to those who get this reference!

Early-mid '90s was such a great time for games — Early-mid ’90s was *such* a great time to be a gamer

It's got a simple pattern. Do yer thang, Big Al! — It’s got a simple pattern. Do yer thang, Big Al!

YEAH, TELL 'IM, AL! — **YEAH YOU TELL ‘IM, AL!**

Man fuck this shit :P — ***Man fuck this shit***

Who're you... SHREDDER?! — Who’re you… SHREDDER?!

R.I.P. James Avery AKA Uncle Phil, voice of Shredder — One of my favorite lines of all time

Is it? Find out for yourself... — Is it? Find out for yourself…

GENIE!

On the whole, Aladdin is a pretty easy game. It’s got a few tough spots, but with a password system in place and plenty of extra lives to be had, it’s something that the average gamer should be able to polish off without too much hardship.

Capcom’s classic continue screens, er, continue with Aladdin. Pull the yes one and Genie will flash you a satisfied grin.

But yank on the no one and watch the poor sap sulk and frown.

Not as crazy as the one in Final Fight though :P — Not as crazy as the one in *Final Fight* though

GENNY!

For ages now, even to this day more than 25 years later, there has been a debate amongst gamers on which version is superior: the Genesis or Super Nintendo rendition of Aladdin. Both games are significantly different from one another, as Capcom developed the SNES one while Virgin Interactive did the Genesis one. The Genesis version emphasizes more action than platforming. Both games were highly praised in their own right, but consensus seems to favor the Genesis game slightly. Regardless of which version you think is better, you can’t go wrong with either one.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Aladdin was well received by the critics. EGM gave it scores of 9, 8, 8 and 8. EGM’s sister publication, Super NES Buyer’s Guide, scored it 89, 86 and 85%. GameFan gave it ratings of 90, 90, 89 and 87%. Super Play rated it 81%. Most agreed on it being a fun and colorful platforming game by the ever trustworthy Capcom, who infused Aladdin with an admirable amount of care and respect to the source material. It’s not the most outstanding example of the genre on the SNES, but it’s certainly one of the better ones in the catalog.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Aladdin is a quality platformer, but its two biggest flaws are that it’s too short and it teeters a bit too much on the easy side. Similar to Skyblazer, the levels are over right as I’m ready to sink my teeth into ‘em. The lack of enemies, not to mention the lack of enemy diversity, was also something of a disappointment. You can easily finish this game before you finish watching the animated movie! However, with a busy schedule that may include juggling relationships, kids and work, those two “flaws” aren’t the biggest indictments in the gaming world. I suppose that’s one way to look at it.

The graphics are splendid; they’re filled to the brim with detail, colors and parallax scrolling that seems to stretch on forever. The sound is pretty good, especially the renditions of the movie’s various themes. The SNES version of A Whole New World is my personal favorite and hits me in the feels every single time I hear its lovely jingle. Gameplay consists of your classic basics, sprinkled with a little Prince of Persia feel to it, complete with hanging from ledges with your pinkie fingers.

The control is generally solid but I do have a few gripes. Whenever you press left or right Aladdin will take a step (or two) in that direction. On small platforms this could cause him to slip every now and then, so be thankful for that hanging-on-the-ledge-with-your-pinkie business! Some handspring bounces off obstacles and enemies are also a bit tough to implement properly, particularly when it comes to needing several bounces in succession. Thankfully, such parts are few and far between. Mostly you’re just bouncing off one enemy or object at a time so it doesn’t adversely impact gameplay as much as one might fear. The control is definitely far from perfect but nothing you won’t quickly adjust to and manage. Those few niggles, however, are worth noting.

All in all, Aladdin is a fine platformer that deserves a spot in any SNES library. It does its source material a great deal of respect and is plain fun to play. It won’t last you long, or challenge you terribly much, but depending on one’s schedule and tolerance level, those things may be blessings or curses. Capcom could almost do no wrong back in the early-mid ’90s, and Aladdin is another solid example of such. Definitely and easily one of the better license games from the vaunted 16-bit era!

Graphics: 9
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 8
Longevity: 5.5

Overall: 8.0
Silver Award

Final Fantasy II (SNES)

***Pub & Dev: Square | November 1991 | 8 MEGS***

As a kid I had almost zero interest in RPGs. My brother loved them but I had the ignorant opinion that they were slow and boring. Now opinions are opinions and I would never call someone who dislikes the genre “ignorant.” However, I say ignorant for myself only because I judged an entire genre without giving it a chance. Ironically, I now love RPGs as much as any other gaming genre. My first foray into the RPG realm came courtesy of Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (December 2007). Although certainly a flawed game, I had one hell of a good time. Naturally, it made too much sense to have my second RPG experience be Final Fantasy II. In some ways you could say that Final Fantasy II marked my first “real” RPG (if you don’t count Mystic Quest as a legit RPG which some folks do not). Final Fantasy II was a sweeping and grand adventure; what follows below will be some thoughts and memories. Fair warning: some spoilers lie ahead so play it first before you continue on! Besides, if you haven’t already played it, you probably should.

THE STORY GOES…

Crew: Captain Cecil! We’re about to land.

Cecil: At long last!

Crew Guy 1: Pray tell, Cap, why are we stealing the crystals from innocent folk?

Crew Guy 2: That’s what we’ve been summoned to do. And that’s that.

Crew Guy 1: Do we really have to keep doing this? Captain?

Cecil: …

Crew Guy 3: Prepare for landing!

Elder: Take the crystal if you must.

Cecil: Could have saved yourself the trouble by saying that earlier.

Elder: But consider this. Why would the King of Baron do this? Why do you pursue the crystals so eagerly?

Cecil: …

Crew Guy 2: SHUT UP old man, or I’ll shut you up myself!

Crew Guy 1: Captain, I don’t know if we can keep doing this.

Cecil: Possessing the crystal is essential to our prosperity. More importantly, His Majesty has deemed that the Mysidians know too much about the crystal’s secrets. We are the Red Wings, the air force of the Kingdom Baron! The Royal Command is absolute.

Crew Guy 3: You sure?

Cecil: …

Baigan: About time, Cecil! I see you have the Crystal of Water. Well done.

Cecil: Indeed. But… the Mysidians were so helpless.

Baigan: What are you trying to say?

Cecil: Well… it’s just…

Baigan: Don’t get soft on me now. You did what you had to do. Don’t overthink it, for your own sake.

Cecil: …

Baigan: Follow me…

Baigan: Your Majesty, I’m afraid Cecil has developed a conscience and a rebellious air. I don’t think we can trust him going forward.

King: I have no room for backstabbers. I’ll take care of him swiftly.

*MOMENTS LATER*

Cecil: You called, Sir?

King: Yes! Good job, Cecil. Hand me the crystal.

Cecil: Sir, are we doing the right thing?

King: You dare question me, YOUR KING?!?

Cecil: I just want to know what’s going on.

King: Let’s cut the bullshit. I know of your discontent, Cecil. Since you no longer trust me, you cannot be commander of the Red Wings. You are dismissed from your post!

Cecil: What?!

King: Take this package, and venture to Village Mist. Just remember this one thing. A man digs his own grave. Guards, get this maggot outta my sight!

LATER THAT NIGHT... — ***LATER THAT NIGHT…***

Rosa: Cecil! What’s wrong? You haven’t been yourself lately.

Cecil: We had to rob the innocent folks in Mysidia.

Rosa: Oh dear…

Cecil: I’m just a Dark Knight with no courage to disobey His Majesty.

Rosa: Hmph! The real Cecil I know would never whimper like this!

Cecil: Rosa, about tomorrow…

Rosa: I know. I know. Get some rest, for tomorrow is a big day… for all of us…

No genre does atmospheric late night musings like RPGs — *No genre does atmospheric late night chats like RPGs*

Really part IV in Japan but part II in North America

In typical RPG fashion, you trek through the land in an overhead view. It’s simplistic but therein lies the beauty.

Enemies randomly crop up, taking you to this battle screen. Growing up I thought RPGs were lame and boring, but now I can’t get enough of it. Go figure!

Gotta love magic attacks that strike all of the enemies — Gotta love magic attacks that strikes all enemies

Maybe Namingway should change his own name... — Maybe Namingway should change his own name…

Early on in the game, Cecil fulfills a life long dream when he legally changes his name to Steve. Hey, can you blame him? [Shush you -Ed.]

Chatting up the locals is all part of the storytelling fun — Chattin’ up the locals is all part of the storytelling fun

Oooh, the plot thickens. Who is this strange old man? — Ooh, the plot thickens. Who is this strange old man?

Hmm. I reckon this can't be too good... — Hmm. I reckon this can’t be too good…

What a guy, that Steve [It should be Cecil... -Ed.] — What a guy, that Steve [It should be Cecil… -Ed.]

Antlion doesn't sound like the name of sumthin' tame... — *Antlion doesn’t sound like the name of sumthin’ tame..*.

Old Guy: Let's see what kind of game Steve has... — Old Guy: *Let’s see what kind of game Steve has…*

Rosa: Thank you for being here with me... Steve: Alright... well... yeah, get some sleep. Old Guy: Ugh... no game at all! — Rosa: *Thank you for being here with me…*
Steve: *Alright… well… yeah, get some sleep.*
Old Guy: ***Ugh… NO game at all!***

Steve: Say whaaaa?! Um, no she doesn't... Old Guy: YOU FOOL. I'm blind and EVEN I can see! — Steve: *Say whaaaa?! Um, no she doesn’t…*
Old Guy: YOU FOOL. I’m blind and **EVEN I can see!**

Rydia: You always get me, Steve... — Rydia: *You always get me, Steve…*

Everyone plays a vital role in the journey

Edward: DO IT FOR ANNA! Rydia: Playing the dead girlfriend card?! Oh my... — Edward: **DO IT FOR ANNA!**
Rydia: *Playing the dead girlfriend card?! Oh my…*

Steve: Hey, no! Wait, no it isn't what it looks like... Yang: Suuuuure... mmm hmm. — Steve: *Hey, no! Wait, no it isn’t what it looks like…*
Yang: *Suuuuure… mmm hmm. Riiight…*

Steve: Um... hi there... PS- no thanks on PPS — Steve: *Um… hi there… PS- no thanks on PPS*

The twins, Palom and Porom, are comic relief characters to the nth degree.

Old Guy: What, was there no decaf this morning? — Old Guy: *What, was there no decaf this morning?*

*[Lord knows ONE Steve is more than enough! -Ed.]*

[Keep heading toward that light, Steve... -Ed.] — *[Keep heading toward that light, Steve… -Ed.]*

Plenty of story twists abound in FINAL FANTASY II — Plenty of story twists abound in *FINAL FANTASY II*

"Ooooooooh... ahhhhhh..." — *“Ooooooooh… ahhhhhh…”*

Old Guy: Hey I'm old and blind, cut me some slack. Listen again! — Old Guy: *Hey I’m old and blind, cut me some slack!*

This part cracks me up because we all know a nostalgic person like this in our lives who can’t shut up about their old war stories or the “good old days” [Pot, kettle, black -Ed.]

Such a sad scene this was... *SNIFF* — Such a sad scene ***SNIFF***

Final Fantasy II featured an intricate plot full of twists and turns that will tug at your heartstrings. You latched onto the characters; you connected with them and believed in them. There’s a certain synergy about this game that makes playing it akin to reading a really good book.

JACKPOT! Finding a bevy of treasure chests just lying around is always exciting. Your eyes just light up as you make your way around each box. Classic RPG gaming at its best.

An epic battle wages between Golbez and Tellah. Tellah has a devastating magic spell up his sleeve known simply as Meteo. It inflicts a shit ton of damage — 9,999 HP reduction to be precise. But at what cost?

Forgiving someone can do wonders for ones own spirit — Forgiving someone can do wonders for your spirit…

In life sometimes we have to learn how to forgive those who have harmed us. We’re only hurting ourselves if we don’t. It’s more about what it does for you than it does to the person you’re forgiving. A good lesson I’ve learned over the years!

What's an RPG without an innocent perverse moment? — What’s an RPG without an innocent pervy moment?

It's prudent to heed the wisdom of your elders... — It’s prudent to heed the wisdom of your elders…

But not this one. D'oh! Love Square's sense of humor — But not this one, d’oh! Love Square’s sense of humor

Edge the ninja is a pretty bad-ass dude — Edge the ninja is a pretty badass dude

One of the many things I love about RPGs is the relationship dynamic between the group members. I particularly like it when there’s some degree of inner turmoil among the party members. It just makes things more interesting when there’s little moments of in-house bickering. They add charm to the game and are always a hoot to read. Nothing like a little good old fashioned tension among the ranks to break up the monotony of the trip.

Edge is 1337! How appropriate... — Edge is 1337! How appropriate…

Door #1, #2, or #3? Which door shall it be? Hmmm

Of course, Nintendo of America didn't allow "PRAY" — Of course, Nintendo of America didn’t allow “PRAY”

"For me WHAT?! What 'cha say? Damn, maybe I should have been listening" — *“For me WHAT?! What ‘cha say?*
*Damn, maybe I should have been listening!”*

Plenty of intense drag-'em-out boss fights await — Plenty of intense drag ‘em out boss fights await

*[Oh so you mean like basically the rest of eternity -Ed.]*

Will he finally say it at last... — Will he finally say it at last…

Who needs fancy 3D graphics when you have THIS? — Who needs fancy 3D graphics when you have ***THIS?***

Final Fantasy II proves gameplay trumps graphics — *Final Fantasy II* proves gameplay trumps graphics

But the visuals certainly aren't half bad for their time — But the visuals certainly aren’t half bad for their time

Steve: "But naw, it was just my stomach growling" — *“But naw, it was just my stomach growling”*

In the end, a grand celebration is held and many old faces rejoin the fray for one big reunion bash.

To the right, to the right, to the right, to the right To the left, to the left, to the left, to the left Now kick, now kick, now kick, now kick Now walk it by yourself, now walk it by yourself — **To the right, to the right, to the right, to the right**
**To the left, to the left, to the left, to the left**
**Now kick, now kick, now kick, now kick**
**Now walk it by yourself, now walk it by yourself**

From the previous owner's save slot. He went nuts... — From the previous owner’s save slot. He went nuts…

I love how stupid high the numbers get in this game. HP of 5611? Why not! My final stats:

Steve L55 3699 HP 222 MP
Rydia L51 1704 HP 449 MP
Edge L52 2614 HP 168 MP
Rosa L53 2654 HP 440 MP
Kain L54 3373 HP

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Final Fantasy II was very well received by the critics. EGM gave it the Game of the Month honors, earning scores of 7, 8, 8 and 9. Super Play Magazine rated it 90%. You can’t go wrong with this game, and there’s even a small spattering of fans who prefer it to the almighty Final Fantasy III. Final Fantasy II is a well paced, story driven RPG no SNES fan can afford to miss. If you’ve somehow missed it all these years, be sure to bump it up to the top of your queue.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest eased me into the genre, which I blindly disliked as a kid, but it was Final Fantasy II that cemented me as an RPG fan for life. I discovered, in my mid 20s, just how satisfying RPGs can be. The action may not come at you fast and furious, but the great storytelling and character dynamics make for a hell of a ride no other genre can provide. From romantic subplots to betrayal to even death, Final Fantasy II is a breathing and organic piece of art that sucks you in and doesn’t let go until the very last magic spell. You can’t ask for much more from a video game than that.

The effectiveness of its characters can often times either make or break an RPG. Thankfully, Final Fantasy II is graced from top to bottom with plenty of memorable characters. Yang, the wacky twins, Cid and Edge — just to name some — are the sort you’ll grow attached to as you go about the journey. Although Cecil is the main star here, it’s more akin to an assemble cast. Sure, the formula’s a bit simple and basic, but that’s also part of its charm. You traverse from town to town, talking with the locals, picking up clues, buying supplies, leveling up in the nearby forests and caves, and then battle a boss before moving onto the next region. It’s the storytelling aspect of these games that I admire so much. When an RPG is done right, like this one is, it sweeps you away to a far away land full of wonder and danger. It’s video game escapism at its best. Long day at work? Long holiday weekend? Nothing like popping in a quality RPG to get away from it all for a few moments. Although Final Fantasy II may be linear, doesn’t have many side quests and may even seem rather basic to more seasoned veterans of the genre, there’s an undeniable charm to the game. The story moves along at a brisk pace, the characters are endearing and it’s backed by a stellar soundtrack. If you haven’t played this game yet, you’re missing out on one of the best SNES RPGs.

Graphics: 7
Sound: 9.5
Gameplay: 9
Longevity: 8

Overall: 9.0
Gold Award

Sure. As we know, nothing is final with Final Fantasy :P — Sure. As we know, *nothing’s final with* *Final Fantasy*

Fatal Fury 2 (SNES)

***Pub: Takara | Dev: SNK | April 1994 | 20 MEGS***

In April of 1994 — 25 years ago in fact — Takara released the SNES port of Fatal Fury 2. Being one of the Neo Geo’s most popular fighting games, the original version made its debut in the arcade in 1992 and weighed in at a hefty 106 megs. The Super Nintendo conversion clocked in at 20 robust megs, arriving (arguably) right around the peak of the golden age of both fighting games and 16-bit gaming. Fatal Fury 2 proved to be a prime example of how to nail down a sequel properly, featuring more playable fighters, more special moves and enhancing virtually everything that the first Fatal Fury had to offer.

FATAL FURY ORIGINS

The Neo Geo MVS was a gorgeous sight in those days

March 1991. A one on one fighting game revolutionized the gaming world. STREET FIGHTER II became nothing short of a phenomenon and a household name. At the time I was only 7 years old, but I can still remember it so vividly. You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing the Street Fighter II arcade cab. Whether it was 7-11, video rental stores, Pizza Huts or trading card shops, people lined up in droves to play it. Fatal Fury came out roughly 8 months later in November of 1991. I remember encountering Fatal Fury for the first time on a Neo Geo MVS cab. These powerhouse machines could hold up to four games, giving players the ultimate choice. The cab stood out in a crowd with its bright red exterior and four mini game posters up top. It immediately caught your eye and it was always fun to look up and see which four games were featured. Occasionally, old games got filtered out and were replaced by newer ones. There was always an element of Russian Roulette with Neo Geo MVS cabs that I loved. If you were in the arcade scene back in the early ’90s, then I know you know damn full well what I mean.

In retrospect, that time period was truly special. There was a certain magic to it. Just standing in front of an MVS cab gazing up at the four titles and watching the game demos switch on the screen before you, each game making a convincing bid for your precious quarter, was epic beyond words. Maybe part of it had to do with being young… but I really believe in my heart of hearts that that was simply a magical time in gaming that will never be duplicated ever again, period.

Fatal Fury was often wrongly accused of being a Street Fighter II clone as it came out 8 months later. Back in the day it was easy to claim that. But years later I discovered a shocking fact. The sort that debunks the gaming theories of one’s youth. The creator of Fatal Fury, Takashi Nishiyama, also created the very first Street Fighter (1987). After gaining recognition for his talents following Street Fighter, he was sought out by SNK. Nishiyama, along with many members of the development crew for the first Street Fighter, made the jump to SNK. Fatal Fury was the follow-up title in November 1991. In an interview conducted by 1UP, Nishiyama was quoted, “Fatal Fury was my Street Fighter II.” Wow. As it turns out, Fatal Fury was never a Street Fighter II wannabe. In Nishiyama’s mind, Fatal Fury WAS Street Fighter II. My bad, Mr. Nishiyama. Forgive me for the sins of my youth.

So much for Fatal Fury being a Street Fighter II clone, eh? Fatal Fury was actually in development at the same time as Street Fighter II. Fatal Fury has a special place in my gaming heart. I fondly remember it best for its 2 player co-op mode, where you and a friend can team up to fight the thugs at the same time. This gave it a unique atmosphere, almost as if it were an old kung fu flick. I have so many memories of my brother and me battling South Town’s most corrupt and dangerous villains. From the ageless Tung Fu Rue, who could morph into a muscular monster, to the enigmatic dancing Duck King. With incredibly lush and vibrant visuals, it made for a damn fine alternative whenever the Street Fighter II line went past the entrance. In some ways I even liked Fatal Fury more than Street Fighter II as a kid.

This was mind blowing back in 1991! — This was **mind blowing** back in 1991!

It was so cool how the levels you fought on would change from round to round. At first it’s sunny but then evening would befall the battle tested warriors. Tung Fu Rue’s stage haunts me to this day, even nearly 30 years later. The second my brother and I saw those heavy raindrops falling from the sky, complete with ominous thunder and lightning, we didn’t know whether to wind our watches or crap our pants. I remember standing there at Safeway completely frozen in awe. To this day it remains one of my fondest gaming memories. Another night I recall fondly occurred either in late ’91 or early ’92. Fatal Fury just came out and my uncle took us to a mom and pop rental shop. We rented WWF Survivor Series 1991. My brother and I were so hyped to see the championship match pitting the Immortal Hulk Hogan against the impervious Undertaker. But instead of rushing home as we normally would following a WWF tape rental, we found ourselves fixated on tag teaming against Tung Fu Rue as the arcade screen rained cats and dogs.

Our uncle, being the awesome uncle that he was, stood by the arcade cab cheering us on. Not many games could put Hulkamania on hold, but there was something special about Fatal Fury that resonated with me. Those colorful backgrounds and their wondrous transitions haunt me to this very day!

While flawed, Fatal Fury was a fun game in its own right. While Street Fighter II featured smoother gameplay and placed an emphasis on combos, Fatal Fury (from Nishiyama’s own words) “focused more on storytelling and special moves.” Although Fatal Fury lacked a combo system, it did feature some amazing special moves. Since there were no combos, you had to rely on pulling off your special moves at just the right time in order to gain the upper hand. Special moves are the lifeblood of Fatal Fury. Fatal Fury also had a pretty good story. You play as one of the Bogard brothers (Terry and Andy) or Joe Higashi. Your goal: avenge your father’s death. The man responsible: South Town’s crime lord, Geese Howard! Sure it sounds simple, but there is much beauty in simplicity.

I was so hyped seeing this in EGM circa January 1993

As was the case back in those days, one could only dream of owning the mega expensive Neo Geo system. Therefore, most of us mere mortals had to rely on sized down 16-bit conversions that were either hit or miss (often times seemingly more miss than hit). Sadly, Fatal Fury was a massive miss. My brother and I were ecstatic seeing it previewed in the vaunted pages of EGM in early 1993, but a small part of our childhood died when we finally played it months later. I won’t even bother to review it. It’s a super disappointing conversion, eliminating the 2-on-1 game mode that made the original so damn fun and appealing.

Sure it looks nice but... — Sure it looks nice but…

At first glance, it looks promising. Although obviously scaled down visually, it looks pretty damn good for a 1993 Super Nintendo game. It captures the lush and vibrant colors of the arcade. F’rinstance, Andy’s massive energy wave looks fairly on point. But beyond excluding the 2-on-1 mode, the gameplay suffered due to its terrible control. The sound quality was poor as well. It was a far cry from the arcade original and that made me very sad as a kid.

What a missed opportunity... — What a missed opportunity

ROUND 2… FIGHT!!

One of the best quotes in fighting game history

Following the “death” of Geese Howard at the end of the first tournament, a new leader stepped in. And not just any Average Joe [Higashi -Ed.], it was actually Geese’s half-brother, the vile Wolfgang Krauser! Talk about keeping it in the family…

**MORE FIGHTERS! MORE MOVES! 20 MEGS! YEEEAH!!**

HIDING IN PLANE SIGHT

Two planes let you escape the action for a strategic bit — 2 planes let you escape the action for a strategic bit

The first Fatal Fury didn’t allow you to manually switch planes. But here you can, and it’s much better this way. It added in a wrinkle and made battles more strategic.

Just another reason why I love the SNES controller :) — Just another reason why I love the SNES controller

The six buttons on the SNES controller was fully utilized. Instead of pressing two buttons to switch planes like in the arcade, all you had to do here was push R. Nice! So while the arcade original is obviously superior, little tweaks like this made the SNES port easier to play in some ways.

Projectiles are much easier to avoid, and thus a bit devalued as a result.

You can even smack them into the next plane!

You can also attack from one plane over. Sweet

Jubei's stage is the best for plane jumping ;) — Jubei’s stage is the best for plane jumping

Jump kicking through paper screens is rather satisfying — Jump kicking through paper screens is *quite satisfying*

A few stages have their own unique gimmick. On one stage you can shatter paper screens or “hide” behind them, making you feel like you’re in a Bruce Lee film. There are other stages where you can even send your rival into various hazards in the background, causing extra harm. More on that later…

It never gets old :D — It never gets old

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Everyone can jump back to avoid attacks. Also, anyone can crouch while moving forward at the same time. Not just for the more agile fighters but everyone, including Big Bear. There are also counterattacks. All of this made Fatal Fury 2 a much deeper game than its predecessor.

You can also taunt... if you're the scoundrel type — You can also taunt… if you’re the scoundrel type

They always come crawling back... or forward — They always come crawling back… or forward

Although home ports could never match the faithfulness of its arcade original, home bonuses such as the Elimination Mode was always a welcome sight.

LET THE TOURNAMENT BEGIN

If you're gonna steal some ideas then take from the best — If you’re gonna steal some ideas then take the best

Andy was my guy. Terry for my brother. Art imitates life — Andy was MY GUY. Terry for my bro. Art imitates life

THE KING OF FIGHTERS

It’s nowhere near as iconic as Ryu’s dojo rooftop but it’s memorable in its own right. Battling on a roaring railroad train, the passing scenery is majestic but the action is brutal and barbaric. Few landmarks scream AMERICANA more than Mount Rushmore, which you can catch a glimpse of in all its sweet glory.

Overlooking the exquisite sights of Italy, combatants wage war on a boat that’s anything but the Love Boat. As stated earlier, Andy’s always been my guy [Who are you, Woody? -Ed.] when it comes to the Fatal Fury franchise. He’s got the coolest special moves in (South) town…

Set in a quaint Thailand village, the hardworking women look on as they cheer their local champ who is anything but an ordinary Joe [You just had to, didn’t you? -Ed.]

Japan is well known for its bustling night life but Mai prefers to whup your ass on this private wooden raft. Gorgeous waterfalls and exotic statues grace the background.

Proud of his Korean roots, Kim shows off his skills in a busy part of town that showcases Korea’s rich sense of culture and tradition while also embracing modern sensibilities. Best of all, this stage is home to a hilarious sight gag. Timed precisely, you can knock the elderly off their bikes! Talk about some dark humor…

I love how Jubei kicks off his wooden clogs right before each fight, and how big they appear as they fly into the screen. Speaking of screen, his stage is one of my favorites because of all the paper screens. They’re irresistibly fun to mess around with, whether you’re “hiding” behind one or busting through one!

Hong Kong makes for a gorgeous backdrop. The skyline is absolutely breathtaking, and it’s awesome to see it transition from early evening to late evening between rounds.

The big Aussie, proud of his digs, wrestles all foolish challengers in the Australian outback. Having earned a large following, a small legion of his most fervent fans cheer on the big man as he attempts to rip apart his latest victim. All about branding, Big Bear even has his own personal big rig on full display. Raiden who?

DESPERATION SUPER SPECIAL MOVES

C'mon Nintendo Power. Seriously?! — C’mon Nintendo Power. Seriously?!

Fatal Fury 2 introduced desperation moves. These super moves, often featuring a complicated command, can only be performed once your energy bar is low and flashing. They are powerful and hard to pull off.

“YOU AIN’T THE BOSS OF ME!”
[OH YES I AM, ACTUALLY -ED.]

For fighting games back in the early to mid ’90s, the inherent thrill of a home port was undoubtedly the strong possibility of a boss code. The very idea of playing as the boss characters at home — you know, the same ones that kicked your ass in the arcade — was titillating. Sure, home ports back then could never dream to approach the lofty standards set by their arcade original, but the really good ports were able to capture the spirit of the arcade while providing you with some awesome home bonuses. Look no further than Fatal Fury 2 which has a handy code allowing players to use any of the 4 bosses, expanding the roster from 8 to 12. Talk about a fantastic Easter egg!

Lets check out those bosses shall we! — Let’s check out those bosses shall we!

An ominous fog permeates in the background. Watch out for those massive cogwheels — Billy Kane can smack you into them causing extra damage. Of course, this means you can do the same to him…

Balrog, you say? Never! At any rate, Axel Hawk (what a name) is a mean sucker who uses his environment to his advantage. He can pound you into the electric ropes, zapping you of whatever will remains in your bruised and battered body. But similar to Billy Kane, you can do the same…

Those stampeding bulls don’t discriminate. In the words of Richard Vernon (played by Paul Gleason), “Don’t mess with the bull — you’ll get the horns.”

Wolfgang’s elegance and refined taste is on full display here. This is the only boss stage without a background hazard. It’s actually quite fitting and symbolic. Just like Heisenberg, Wolfgang Krauser is the danger and the one who knocks.

When you finally dethrone the bastard, he goes out in dramatic fashion á la The Nature Boy, Ric Flair!

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY

Knocking em into the giant gears is so damn gratifying — *So damn gratifying* knocking ‘em into the giant gears

Exhibit A: Well-timed duck, bravo! Exhibit B: Someones been skipping Squat Day — Exhibit A: Well-timed duck, bravo!
Exhibit B: Someone’s been skipping Squat Day

Axel Hawk reminds me of King Hippo from Punch-Out — Axel Hawk reminds me of King Hippo from *Punch-Out*

Ah, such sweet sadistic memories :P — Ah, such sweet sadistic memories

Make that 25 YEARS now! And counting — Make that **25 YEARS** now! And counting

I like how it borrowed inspiration from World Heroes — I like how it borrowed inspiration from *World Heroes*

Talk about a hilarious sight gag — Tung Fu Rue: ***“I’M TOO OLD FOR THIS SHIT!”***

BONUS QUESTION

Besides the boss code, what was a guaranteed staple of fighting games from the early ’90s? If you said the obligatory bonus stage, bingo! Fatal Fury 2 has two. The first appears after Round 4 and the second after Round 8.

Would have been ho-hum without the plane system — Would have been *meh* without the two planes

Second one is similar, just swapped out with bricks

Its not Capcoms car, but its not too shabby — It’s not Capcom’s car, but it’s not too shabby

GHOST STORIES, DEBAUCHERY AND MORE

In the wrestling biz that's known as great selling — In the wrestling biz that’s known as great selling

Ouch, I guess no Little Bears will be running around

I love a good ghost story. When I was a kid my uncle would regale us with his tales of terror and all things that go bump in the night. He spoke in a way that evoked haunting images in my soul, sending a wave of shivers up and down my spine. You’ve probably heard various stories about the Boogeyman or the Wendigo, but have you ever heard the story of The Lady With No Feet?

Beware of The Woman With No Feet... — Beware of The Lady With No Feet…

In Korea there is an infamous legend of a ghost woman and her two young ghost children wandering the streets in desperate search of the woman’s husband. Thousands of eye witnesses over the years have claimed to see them passing by on dark cold nights. The legend goes, the mom has walked so much that her feet fell off!

One anonymous man had this to say, “One night I was walking home per usual. Suddenly I felt a blast of cold air devouring me. I gazed up and there she was. I asked if she needed help but then I looked down and saw she had no feet. Frozen in terror, I watched in horror as she proceeded to float right through me. As she passed by I heard the awful wailing of “WHERE ARE YOU, MY LOVE?” Her two children skipped around me singing a lullaby, emotionless. By the time I turned around they were all gone. Vanished. Without a trace. And ever since that night I have never walked that path again… the Lady With No Feet is still out there… somewhere in the darkness. She’s watching… waiting… right behind you…”

WHOA... maybe Kim is the missing father!? — WHOA… maybe Kim is the missing father!?

Missing his foot, too! Is this how the missing dad died?! — Missing his foot too! *Is this how the missing dad died?*

Paper screens in Jubei's stage offers plenty of hi-jinx — Paper screens in Jubei’s stage offers plenty of hi-jinx

Hard to believe that film was almost 20 years ago!

WHAT?! I would *never* do anything juvenile — WHAT?! I would ***never*** do anything juvenile

[Of course. Jubei... more like Pee-wee M I RITE -Ed.] — *[Of course. Jubei… more like Pee-wee M I RITE -Ed.]*

Press X, A, R -- oops... Ryo was in Fatal Fury Special — Hmm, where have I seen and heard this before?

ACTION FIGURE-O-RAMA!

Instead of your standard gaming advertisement to promote Fatal Fury 2, Takara ran a rather clever promo. They offered free miniature one inch Fatal Fury 2 action figures. It was a brilliant piece of business. Or maybe it was just Takara’s little way of saying sorry for the first Fatal Fury port. At any rate, I absolutely ate this up as a 10 year old kid at the time. I waited 2-4 weeks for my random action figure to arrive. In the meantime I was even more hyped for the pending arrival of Fatal Fury 2. So it worked like gangbusters. Genius marketing by Takara!

Those 2-4 weeks were also spent wondering who Id get — Those 2-4 weeks were also spent wondering who I’d get

You didn’t know which of the 12 fighters you were going to get so that added to the excitement. To this day I wonder how many of these little bastards were made and how many are in homes today — relics kept from one’s childhood. I’m curious to see what the rest of the figures look like. From the four I’ve seen, the detail on these small figures were actually quite phenomenal especially considering they were free (more or less, not counting the two 29 cent stamps required).

Stamps in 2019: 55 cents. Stamps in 1994: 29 cents

I wanted Andy Bogard of course. My brother said if I got Terry that it would be his to keep. What a punk. It turned out to be a moot point in the end as a blue Wolfgang Krauser greeted me in my mailbox roughly a month later. I had the little guy for the next 7 years until I traded him away in a package deal along with Golden Axe: The Duel for the rights to Street Fighter Collection (Sega Saturn) via GameTZ on December 31, 2001. Damn, that was eons ago. I kind of wish now that I had kept the little blue guy. Oh well.

One day before 2002. Damn, feels like a lifetime ago

Good times we shared. Bubble baths, long walks, ah [Im not one to judge but er... -Ed.] — Good times we shared. Bubble baths, long walks, ah
*[I’m not one to judge but errr… -Ed.]*

GREAT JOB WIL OVERTON!

Wil Overton designed the amazing Super Play covers

Wil's attention to detail was IMPECCABLE — Wil’s attention to detail was ***IMPECCABLE***

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Fatal Fury 2 did well with the critics. It earned EGM’s Game of the Month honor in issue #58 (May 1994). EGM gave it scores of 9, 8, 8 and 8. Super Play rated it a respectable 79%. It was arguably the first Neo Geo port on the SNES that garnered praise and recognition for being a faithful and solid translation.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

After seeing Fatal Fury 2 earn EGM Game of the Month honors, my brother gave me the go ahead to rent it as soon as possible. As my brother and I booted it up, I could feel a certain unspoken level of trepidation between the both of us. I think part of us, despite the rave review from EGM, still expected the worst. That’s how bad the first Fatal Fury port was — we were scarred. But I’m very happy to say the sequel passed with flying colors. SNES owners finally had a Fatal Fury worth playing on their Super Nintendo.

25 years ago I viewed Fatal Fury 2 highly. 25 years later I still think it holds its own quite well. Graphically it captured the essence of its arcade brethren. Visuals are lush, vibrant and colorful. Some desperation moves, such as Joe Higashi’s towering tornado which goes from top to bottom, are a sight to behold. Control wise, while it doesn’t have the perfect control of Street Fighter II, it’s fairly precise. Sure, the music and sound could be a bit better but it plays well, thus making combat easy and fun to play. The boss code is the icing on an already well made cake. Adding 4 new fighters to the fray made Fatal Fury 2 a serious contender and one that fighting game fans could truly sink their teeth into.

With 12 fighters to pick from, a unique two plane battle system, memorable backgrounds, and plenty of cool special moves and devastating super specials, Fatal Fury 2 is quite the package. I liked it a lot back then and I still like it now. Although long gone are the days where one had to rely on the Super Nintendo for their Neo Geo fix, it doesn’t change the fact that this was a very competent port for its time. Fatal Fury 2 proved that not all hope was lost when these arcade monsters were ported over to the SNES, and that the possibility of capturing the essence and spirit of the arcade original was feasible.

I still throw Fatal Fury 2 in my SNES for a few rounds every now and again. The SNES controller’s six button layout allows me to experience the game in a way different from the arcade, which earns the SNES port major cookie points with me. You also had some awesome home bonuses like the Elimination Mode, handicap levels and of course the boss code, which made it feel more like Fatal Fury 2½. It’s just a great effort all around, and one that made me forgive TAKARA for the atrocity that was the first Fatal Fury port. And that’s saying a lot!

Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 7
Gameplay: 8.5
Longevity: 8.5

Overall: 8.5

Over the years you might have noticed that I always list the meg count of every SNES game I review. There’s a good reason for that. Ever since I was a kid I’ve been fascinated by MEG count. The Neo Geo had some ridiculous 100+ meg games, and as a kid it was always fun to see how big a certain SNES game was. The meg count varied on the Super Nintendo from 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32 and 48. For sure, the size of a game does NOT indicate how good it is. Some of the best SNES games are only 4 megs. Some still look great for their lack of megs while others boast a much higher meg count but look far worse. It was just part of the fun back in those days.

20 megs was my favorite of the lot. 20 is a nice round number, and there weren’t many SNES games that were 20 megs. Less than 10. Speaking of 10, 10 MEG games are a close second favorite. There were only a small handful of them. I remember when Final Fight 2 first came out, my friends and I wondered to ourselves, “How many megs? 8 or 16?” Then you read in EGM or GameFan only to find out it was neither. Instead it was 10 MEGS. You couldn’t help but chuckle as 10 was a very uncommon meg count. In homage of those good old days, I make it a point to cite the meg count of each game off the bat! It’s just something I love to do, and I feel it’s all part of preserving the history of the Super Nintendo.

Fatal Fury franchise belongs on Neo Geos Mt. Rushmore — *Fatal Fury* series belongs on Neo Geo’s Mt. Rushmore