Nintendo’s Super Nintendo Entertainment System was released in 1991 in North America as a follow-up to their NES, which was the most popular home console ever released at that point. The SNES was home to 717 games in North America, with many becoming fan favorites for decades to come. This list goes over just a few of them, and what makes them great.
Super Mario Kart
In 1992, history was made in the gaming industry when Nintendo released the first game in the popular racing series: Super Mario Kart. It quickly became a favorite among Nintendo fans. It was produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and directed by Tadashi Sugiyama and Hideki Konno. Despite the game’s early release on the system, it displays pseudo-3D through Mode 7 graphics. Due to their popularity, Super Mario Kart games have continued to be released throughout the years, the latest release being released in October 2020.
The gameplay for Super Mario Kart is simple but classic. It features several modes, including variations for single-player and multiplayer. In the game, players choose one of 8 Mario franchise fan favorites. Players then drive karts through Mario franchise-themed tracks. The game has been a fan favorite for years, and despite its age, is still immensely popular.
Donkey Kong Country
In 1994, the hit platform game “Donkey Kong Country” was developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for SNES. The game was a reset of Nintendo’s popular “Donkey Kong” franchise and follows the titular Donkey Kong as well as his newly-introduced nephew Diddy Kong. It features both multiplayer, and single-player options.
The game follows Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong as they travel to reclaim their stolen goods. In 40 exhilarating levels, the player of the game goes through many tasks, including collecting important items, defeating strong enemies and bosses, and uncovering hidden secrets. In the multiplayer modes of this hit game, the two players can either work together or race against each other until the end of the thrilling competition.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to The Past
In 1991, the third game in the Legend of Zelda series was released in Japan, and a year later in America and Europe. The game is an action-adventure game, popular due to its thrilling content. In A Link to The Past, the storyline takes place many years before the first two Zelda games. It’s an exhilarating single-player game that continues to entertain fans. The game was produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and published by Nintendo.
Both the gameplay and graphics for A Link to The Past are more advanced than its predecessors. The game created history for Nintendo, as it’s considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time. Throughout the years, more games of the Zelda game series have continued to be released. A Link to The Past was a landmark game for Nintendo and was very successful with video game fans. As of 2004, this fan-favorite sold 6.5 million copies across all platforms it was used on.
Super Mario World
In 1991, this riveting game in the Nintendo world was released in America. Super Mario World is a 2D platform game, released as a sequel to Super Mario Bros. 3. Despite the success of the latter game, it still produced a large variety of new gameplay mechanics. This game was released into best-selling status on the SNES. Super Mario World has been seen by critics as one of Nintendo’s best games of all time. The game was developed by Nintendo EAD.
The simple 2D graphics of this game gives nostalgia for the earlier days of Nintendo. Although these simple graphics provide nostalgia, they also provide easier view and gameplay. The gameplay of Super Mario World, however, is not so simple. The point of the game is to collect gold stars and coins. The collection of these items not only help the player advance but also gives a rewarding feeling, further motivating the player to continue the game. The gameplay becomes more complex as it is played, and remains a best-seller decades after it was created.
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