Super Nintendo Entertainment System (20th Anniversary)

[ECInc2XXX]

Eric Corp Gamer's RU Exclusive Review 30
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
1991 - 2011 (20)

NOTE: Sorry for the huge delay, I had some issues occurring during that time.

Yay! My 30th review on this site, and as a treat, I will make the next review of my new Console Anniversary series and next Nintendo's fourth-generation console, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and it's also the system's 20th anniversary coming up in North America (August 23, 1991 - August 23, 2011)

My Console Anniversary Review Series (as of April 2011):
NES 25th Anniversary Review:http://retrouprising.com/video-games.../t10202/?ltr=N

History:

I couldn't find any video on the history on the system, but I found the next best thing:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwAIFOHEFfA"]YouTube - The Gaming Historian - SNES 2[/ame]

Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

REVIEW

Console Average:

Original SNES model: A
For a fourth-gen console, this is a pretty big one though not to the extent of the NES "toaster" model. However, this is the first system created by Nintendo to be a top loader which is a wise choice. The console design is nice and a interesting choice of using the colors white, gray, and purple which may seem odd at first, but it works well. The cartridge insert functions without much problems even after a lot of use (or Game Genie for that matter). The picture when it comes on the TV looks great, especially using RGB cables, though composite and S-Video also looks good though not as sharp as RGB, and RF is probably the worst of them all, but it's okay at best. However, there's a feature I found weird on a console that uses cartridges is the EJECT button which obviously ejects the game like I always thought: why is that necessary when you can just pull the cart out instead? Well enough nitpicking, but overall it is great and durable to use and it is recommended if you want to play the SNES.

SNES 2: A
Like the NES 2, it is a smaller version of the SNES-001 with a couple of omissions. I'll give the system credit for its portability but also keeps most of the original SNES features without any reduced compatability. The omissions include the lack of a RGB, and S-Video output, as only composite video is available, though RGB and S-Video support is still in there, here's a website that tells you how to get RGB output on the SNES 2 if you want the best video quality on your TV:
av:snes2rgb [NFG Games + GameSX].
Also, is that there is no EJECT button which I think is for the best. Overall, I highly recommended this version for its portability and could even be of normal use.


Graphics: A+
The system graphical capabilities is just amazing especially when compared to the TurboGrafx-16 and the Sega Genesis. Even as of 2011, the graphics are still awesome as they were back in the 1990s. Many of the games on the system are really colorful and astonishing barely without any notable graininess. Another interesting feature of the system is the Mode 7 capability that makes flat 3D backgrounds in some of the games like Super Mario Kart, which is quite innovative for a 16-bit console. Also, the system is the first to show off its 3D graphics and many other graphical enhancements through the Super FX chip series (Super FX 12), with the most well-known being Star Fox, DOOM, and Super Mario World 2 (or Yoshi's Island) (The Genesis would follow foot with the Sega Virtua Processor one year after with Virtua Racing) There's not much to say about it, but it still amazing even as of the seventh generation era. and




Sound: A+
Like the graphical capabilities, the sound is quite remarkable on the system. Many of these games really use the sound qualities at its best, and created many of these classic soundtracks like Contra III, Super Mario World, Final Fantasy IV (or II in North America), Zombies Ate My Neighbors, and Super Metroid, for example. Like I said many times, you really have to hear it to understand how awesome it sounds so, judge it for yourself.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YZt_aSAx9c"]YouTube - Nintendo Super NES/SFC Music Medley - Classics (1/5)[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlJlvaBfufw&feature=related"]YouTube - Nintendo Super NES/SFC Music Medley - Classics (2/5)[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl0pYisz3bY&feature=related"]YouTube - Nintendo Super NES/SFC Music Medley - Classics (3/5)[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BWzV45jzuk&feature=related"]YouTube - Nintendo Super NES/SFC Music Medley - Classics (4/5)[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnHsidaR9q0&feature=related"]YouTube - Nintendo Super NES/SFC Music Medley - Classics (5/5)[/ame]

Controller: A+
The controller used in both models are great. It features a D-pad, A, B, X, Y, L and R buttons, Start and Select, it may seem complicated at first glance, but the way Nintendo created these controllers help simplify it for us with each handle having their own set of buttons. It would later inspire the NES 2 controllers with a similar style though the handles are more popping out looking more like a dog-bone. To conclude here, it's a great functional controller that feels comfortable in the palm of your hands.

Games: A
Like the NES, this system has thousands of classic games in its library. Many of the franchises that started on the NES and/or the Game Boy like Mario, Contra, Final Fantasy, and Mega Man continue to make some of the best games on the system. There is so many classics here, I can't even name it all including Breath of Fire 1 & 2, Chrono Trigger, Donkey Kong Country 1-3, Final Fantasy IV-VI, Gradius III, Mega Man X 1-3, NBA Jam (T.E.), Secret of Mana, Star Fox, Super Castlevania IV, Super Mario All-Stars (+ World), Super Metroid, and Super Punch-Out!!When some of the games released on the system are also released on the Sega Genesis, the Super Nintendo wins 15:3 due to the games being much better developed on it. The only downside with some of the games is the fact it has a slower clock rate than the Genesis which can lead to more cases of slowdown than on its competitor, which can make some sports games like NHL, Madden, and PGA Golf on the system aren't as fun as on the Genesis. Also during the early days of the SNES, Nintendo had a censorship policy which cut off the bad stuff off the games on the console, most notably Mortal Kombat, which generally received some backlash from some critics and gamers, as many people preferred the Genesis version for its inclusion of blood through a secret code, despite the SNES version's better graphics and sound. Despite that, this has the best library of all the fourth generation consoles and it's truly recommended that will remain down in history forever and ever.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YxRb4bKbMI"]YouTube - Super Mario World Snes Walkthrough Part 1[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE1fW6iCNN8"]YouTube - Super Metroid - 100% Walkthrough - Part 1 of 14[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyKORqSWMPI"]YouTube - Final Fantasy IV (SNES) - 01 Mist Dragon[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP1VJWygGx0"]YouTube - Chrono Trigger (SNES)[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmRfYnoHBSo"]YouTube - Gradius 3 SNES[/ame]

Overall: A+
As I said in my previous NES review, do I need to say more? While the NES started many of these franchises, the SNES is known for perfect many of them and are generally considered some of the best games of all time. While it didn't sell as well as the NES (SNES = 49 million, NES = 60 million), it expanded on the fun and appeal of video games, whether it is a single or a multi-player experience. Once again, kudos for Nintendo for really calling their shots on this one and the effort really showed here even today. Remember what the commercials used to say: Now You're Playing With Power...Super Power!

If you wish to play the SNES on Retro Uprising:
Retro Uprising - Arcade

2011 Eric Corp Incorporated

EDIT: Here's a little bonus video I found of a SNES promo of Street Fighter II:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_e9eOVct6w"]YouTube - Street Fighter 2 Turbo Promo[/ame]

Members of Retro Uprising:
Like my previous NES review, members can comment me some additional information I could use to put in my review to make it better if you wish. Thank you for contributing.

[jim5cents]

I think you should specify the policy of Nintendo at the time concerning non-violence.
I know that I never played Mortal Kombat on the SNES because of this policy.

You were right...it seems sports games on Sega were more fun. Games from the EA libary (Madden, NBA Live, NHL), plus other games like NBA Jam.

[joz]

Sports games were superior for the Sega, but SNES dominated in the RPG and adventure genres which I highly preferred. Street Fighter was also better to play since the controller had 6 buttons as opposed to the Sega's 3 button controller.

[alohaex]

This was my first real console. When I got my NES it was already dieing out to make way for the SNES. I remember playing Super Mario rpg, Chrono Trigger, and many others on it ah fond memories of good times. I can't believe it has only been 20 years feel like it has been around forever

[Dudebro]

MK on genesis had blood and gore but it was ugly and stiff looking compared to the snes version. I played both pretty regularly and I preferred the snes one because some fake blood isn't a big deal and the arcade is better than both anyways.

[Mareeps]

I still have a snes that I have had forever, and only recently stopped working due to one of the cords being messed up.

[joz]

Originally Posted by brawlmaster12344

I still have a snes that I have had forever, and only recently stopped working due to one of the cords being messed up.

What's wrong with the cord?

[Mareeps]

Its the power cord, only works when it wants to, which makes it a huge pain to play, due to the risk of it shutting off. Doesn't matter anymore though, because I got a FC Twin, and it plays both snes and nes games.

[joz]

Why don't you just buy one on ebay?

[Mareeps]

Because I got a new power cord, but I got it about a day before I found the FC Twin in some store, so there's really not much point in using the snes.

[RU Joe]

Nice review EC, I love my Super Nintendo, and it's the console my older daughter grew up on.
Good memories, great games, great console.

[StarfoxFan2009]

i've played a few games on SNES over the years including perennial favorites Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World aand Donkey Kong Country. wish i owned one right now