SNES celebrates 20th birthday in UK
Eurogamer blows out the candles, dust.
1992 was the year Bill Clinton became US President, Charles and Di split and, on the 11th April, when Nintendo launched its new console in the UK. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System cost £150.
UK Nintendo fans had been waiting nearly a year-and-a-half for the console's launch (nothing unusual at the time) ever since the Super Famicom first released in Japan in November 1990.
The SNES would go on to sell over 49 million units: less than its predecessor, but enough to make it the clear winner of the generation. The Sega Mega Drive, its main competitor, sold 39 million, the TurboGrafx-16 sold 10 million.
The SNES provided a fine home for some of Nintendo's much-loved classics, with the developer's most high-profile franchise represented from the off in the excellent Super Mario World.
But the SNES would also become a birthing ground for other standout series. Futuristic racer F-Zero quickly flew the flag for new Nintendo franchises, while Pilotwings, Star Fox and Super Mario Kart followed.
Nintendo also stunned with strong continuations to existing series, such as Super Metroid and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
It was a system that saw plenty of success from non-Nintendo developers too. Capcom's various Street Fighter 2 versions sold over 10 million combined units, Killer Instinct helped put an increasingly-impressive British developer named Rare on the map, while Japanese RPG powerhouse Square was busy pumping out classics such as Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana.
It was Rare that would provide one of the SNES' best-loved and graphically most stunning titles in the console's autumn years: Donkey Kong Country. It had the looks of 32-bit and CD-ROM based consoles and the second-best sales of any SNES game, behind only Mario himself.
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Comments (105) Latest comment 20 hours ago
kinky_mong #1 2 days ago
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joelstinton #2 2 days ago
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Architect_z #3 2 days ago
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JawzPause #4 2 days ago
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cw- #5 2 days ago
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kirinnokoshin #6 2 days ago
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Seconded
Goodfella #7 2 days ago
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I think I can safely rate the SNES as possibly my favourite console (gaming era) of all, with the PS1 a very close second.
FuzzyDuck #8 2 days ago
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Swapped my PS1 for a SNES in 1999 (played on my cousin's console a lot circa 1992 - 1995), still have it, probably the best console ever!
kirinnokoshin #9 2 days ago
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HerrQwerty #10 2 days ago
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gav_and_the_gavster #11 2 days ago
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EvilAspirin #12 2 days ago
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First console that was properly just mine rather than one I shared. Other than a Master System we've got kicking about it's one of the few still working from that era. It has continued to work when Gameboys, PlayStations from all 3 generations, a Xbox and Xbox 360, several PCs and a few other handhelds have all given up the ghost.
It's true that they just don't make them like they used to.
Er-El #13 2 days ago
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CrispyXUK #14 2 days ago
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famous_roy #15 2 days ago
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roquey Verified Lead Quality Assurance Tester and Compliance Specialist, Universally Speaking #16 2 days ago
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Ryze #17 2 days ago
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I absolutely LOVED playing my cousin's SNES with Super Mario World, Street Fighter II and Mario Kart.
I remember getting my hands on SFII in Virgin Megastore Manchester for some of my first plays of it back in the day. Also - playing Super Soccer in there against Dominic Diamond, and Killer Instinct against MCFC players.
Fantastic stuff. Mortal Kombat looked and sounded like the Arcade game, sans blood. Lovely conversion courtesy of Sculptured Software.
Basically - the list goes on. Fantastic achievement from Nintendo and Krazy Ken Kuturagi.
Super Star Wars
F-Zero
Pilotwings
Street Racer...
arcam #18 2 days ago
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Ryze #19 2 days ago
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Yeah - he absolutely slaughtered me.
peterfll #20 2 days ago
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spacewarrior #21 2 days ago
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FuzzyDuck #22 2 days ago
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Pure gaming joy! \o/
Edit - @spacewarrior You do know gaming is about the games? And the fact that so many people cite the SNES as their all time favourite console? Of course the tech moves forward (and i'm sure everyone posting here has moved with it, otherwise they wouldn't be registered users on a current gaming site), but the fact is the SNES meant a lot of things to a lot of people and some of the games are still tops (although the graphics aren't modern, you can't deny the art style and craftmanship of some of the games and the sheer playability - for example, Super Mario Kart is still the best in the series).
JumpinJackFlash #23 2 days ago
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HerrQwerty #24 2 days ago
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The N64 just didnt have the quantity of games. The PS2/Xbox/GC all had issues. The 360 may be advanced but it has RROD and the PS3 has the underused Cell chip. I know this may sound like nitpicking but (and this is just my opinion) the SNES was the most complete gaming experience I have ever had. The games, the console, the graphics, everything was just how I wanted it at that point in time. Each of us measures the greatness of our consoles in different ways.
photoboy #25 2 days ago
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It seems like just yesterday I was lifting the lid on its multi-coloured box and trying to find a telly in the house with a SCART socket...
DrStrangelove #26 2 days ago
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Wonder why that is...
EndlessSolitude #27 2 days ago
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Developing for SNES in 2012
flattie #28 2 days ago
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Great console, if only for the two games I mentioned above. I know and appreciate that it hosted many classics, but I never played those, I only played Mario and Donkey Kong - and I had no need to play anything else.
brigadier #29 2 days ago
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My childhood in just four simple letters. <3
spacewarrior #30 2 days ago
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yeah and people also claim the dreamcast is the best console ever when it clearly isn't. i'm just saying as technology advances so does graphics, sound and yes gameplay.
HerrQwerty "the SNES was the most complete gaming experience I have ever had. The games, the console, the graphics, everything was just how I wanted it at that point in time. Each of us measures the greatness of our consoles in different ways."
if thats the case then clearly games aren't interesting you any longer if you still think a console from decades ago is simply the best in fact Sony, MS and Nintendo should stop making consoles as clearly they can't top the SNES right ?
imho the PS2 was the best. it had the right balance of gameplay, graphics and most importantly the games which most still stand up to the test of time even today.
jimlufc #31 2 days ago
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Yoshi's Island
Chrono Trigger
Best three games of the all time in my opinion.
I actually miss the days where a new game was something to save up for. Something you would replay again and again because you were busy saving up for the next one.
Maybe I'm getting old and grumpy early but it doesn't seem the same with the kids these days, who are happy just to play COD ad infinitum.
lolercopter #32 2 days ago
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Happy birthday, SNES! /runs off to play some F-Zero on his cousin's console.
richardiox #33 2 days ago
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I was blown away but the colours in MarioWorld, those huge Bullet enemies, the translucent water (wow!) and the audio (echos in the underground levels). I also remember being amazed by the Mode 7 trickery of F Zero and Pilotwings.
The next day I had my own - turns out my Dad and his Dad (who both sold electronics) imported 500 of them. A guy who worked for my Dad got them running in Pal. My Dad even had an advert in the back of Mean Machines selling them.
That was the start of my relationship with my all time fave console. I kept my Super Famicom for 4 years before getting a SNES and still have them both at my parents.
Mario Kart, Pilotwings, MarioWorld, Super Tennis, Actraiser, Donkey Kong Country, Street Fighter 2, Secret of Mana, Lemmings, Zelda, Stunt Race FX, Zombies Ate my Neighbours, Smash TV, Yoshis Island, Mario Allstars, Rock N Roll racing, F Zero, NBA Jam, Batman Returns, Final Fight, UN Squadren, Parodius, Super Ghosts n Goblins, Adams Family, Starwing, Goeman mystical ninja.....it was gaming bliss in my early teens.
I remember needing a 'super adaptor' to play NTSC games I could pick up for £50 (!) at my local Indie (pre high street game stores). .
So glad the UK got the Japanese design console as the US one looked awful!
blacksea #34 2 days ago
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Sure the Snes was great, and feautre some great games. The Sega Saturn was always the better console.
Neppy #35 2 days ago
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Probably my favourite gen overall since both Nintendo and Sega (and Squaresoft) were at the top of their game, but the NES and Saturn/ps1 are very close behind.
jimlufc #36 2 days ago
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HerrQwerty #37 2 days ago
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richardiox #38 2 days ago
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I'm guessing you were too young for gaming when the SNES came out in 92 and PS2 is your fave console as that's the one that you grew up with?
Im 32 and I guess many other EGers in their early 30s share the same sense of nostalgia as myself.
nad2dare #39 2 days ago
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NeonStorm #40 2 days ago
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EvilAspirin #41 2 days ago
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Never had a Dreamcast, but I've played some of the games from it recently. I must admit I wasn't that impressed, but that was around the early days of 3D gaming. The difference with the SNES though is that this was the pinnacle of 2D Gaming. The very greatest games that near 20 years of progress produced. The reason why we go back to Super Mario World and the like is because they are graphically quite competent (sprite art is coming back in - especially in the Indie scene) and gameplay is about as good as it gets on a 2D plane. The control you have over your character is damn near perfect.
We don't look back at a lot of the early 3D games from the PS1 era to around midway through the PS2 era as fondly because they don't look great, the controls are often a mess and the cameras generally are terrible. You could argue that the late PS2 era into this generation is the equivalent of the SNES era for 3D games. Developers have mastered the art again and are now looking to the next challenge.
BellyFullOfHell #42 2 days ago
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Gojiratron #43 2 days ago
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I also added this Zelda modded SNES to Wishwall the other day: http://www.wishwall.me/c/custom-modded-zelda-snes-4f7f6f9ebc45767e2f027d9c
Raiko101 #44 2 days ago
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gorf #45 2 days ago
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Castlevaia 4, Parodius, Gradius, Axelay, Goeman. Happy Days
spacewarrior #46 2 days ago
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i don't know what your talking about. i still play current gen consoles mixed with some good old PS2 gaming and the good games have aged pretty well.
Kingdom Hearts, The Warriors, Okami, Tekken 5 etc look better than some current gen games imo.
PS2 for me did everything right. it wasn't as powerful than Xbox or gamecube but thats only because it released 2 years earlier. God of War, MGS, GTA, Gran Turismo etc you name it the PS2 had the games and in spades.
golem09 #47 2 days ago
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richardiox #48 2 days ago
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How old are you dude / when did you start gaming? I suspect you missed out in the 16bit Gen hence not being able to comprehend why many hold it in such high regard.
-cerberus- #49 2 days ago
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Toothball #50 2 days ago
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Gojiratron #51 2 days ago
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For all the technical polish of modern software I find a lot of it to be sterile and lacking in heart, something which SNES titles have in spades.
spidermanalf #52 2 days ago
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But since saw the error of my ways, and have a SNES that I play on with my daughter, we are playing through Mario and Link To The Past, she needs to know the history of games!
Anyone remember this ad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsON9PJRR4g
spacewarrior #53 2 days ago
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20 years old so i've played the megadrive, PS1, PS2, gamecube, PS3, 360 etc.
and don't think i have no clue about consoles created in 16 etc as i have a few retro collections on the PS2 and some of the so called "best of 16 bit" and guess what ? i go back to playing Tekken 5.
NeonStorm #54 2 days ago
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spacewarrior #55 2 days ago
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what's that supposed to mean ? a good game is a good game and i don't see any "spacemarines" in God of War.
spacewarrior #56 2 days ago
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well not for me they won't. like i said i have a few retro collections for example Capcom's classic classic and Activision anthology and i am not impressed and then change the disc to a good old PS2 game.
BJ_Crackers #57 2 days ago
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RawNinjaKid #58 2 days ago
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For me the SNES wins though, because of the controller - a layout that's still used today. High grade Nintendo software and strong 3rd party support and the specs were not bad for the time either.
NeonStorm #59 2 days ago
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On the other hand, Nintendo's output on the SNES was phenomenal. I played Super Metroid for the first time through Virtual Console not too long ago, and it's better than most of the games I've played this gen. If you've got a Wii, you could do a lot worse than trying out Mario World etc.
FenderMaster #60 2 days ago
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I never actually owned very many games for it... Bubsy which I was too stupid and young to realise sucked, S.T.G an excellent, if easy vertical scrolling shoot em up, Street Fighter 2 Turbo, and Super Mario World. I don't think I ever heard or an RPG back then, but I rented Star Wing and Super Mario Kart all the time, and played Super Mario World religiously.
richardiox #61 2 days ago
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You kinda proved my point - you weren't even born when the megadrive / SNES came out in Japan!!. Of course you won't share the same view of them as people who grew up playing them. It's exactly what I said, PS2 is YOUR fave console as its the one you grew up with, SNES was the one a lot of us grew up with.
Also you're stating as fact that it doesn't have as a good a library of games as the PS2 and then acknowledge you've never actually played any of the games?! Seriously, I'd be interested to know what titles in the SNES top ten you've actually played?
I can't help but feel gamers who have played and owned consoles from the 8/16/32/64 bit eras are better placed to make a critical judgement than someone who wasn't born in the 16bit gen and was only 7 when the PS1 launched.
8bitMofo #62 2 days ago
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God, I miss those days.
KujiGhost #63 2 days ago
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Time to blow the dust off my Starwing cap I won at one of Nintendo's UK-wide competitions when the game came out!
Highlight of my gaming career
FuzzyDuck #64 2 days ago
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You've kinda piddled on your own chips there mate. Find me a retro anthology that contains the buzz of playing Super Mario World, ISS, Zelda, Super Mario Kart, Earthworm Jim, Probotector, Cybernator, Chrono Trigger, Yoshi's Island, Starfox/wing, the definitive home versions of Street Fighter 2 (and as much as i don't like it, Mortal Kombat 2), Metroid and Donkey Kong Country. Now magnify that by playing them for the first time as a kid/young teenager 20 odd years ago. It really doesn't compare.
The SNES was (and still is) 2D gaming's finest hour, and it even helped to birth credible 3D gaming at home.
blacksea #65 2 days ago
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scouserfuller9 #66 2 days ago
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Acrid #67 2 days ago
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These days I concede the SNES was better than the Mega Drive in every department and now my yellowish little chum sits happily alongside it's younger brother Wii and good friend PS3.
Happy Birthday buddy you truly are the greatest of all time x
trevalev #68 2 days ago
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anyone got good recommendations apart from eBay for shopping games?
Badassbab #69 2 days ago
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Chazmeister #70 2 days ago
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Great games and great memories.
StooMonster #71 2 days ago
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Was eight months before European release, was seriously cheaper, was 60Hz not 50Hz, allowed me to play US release date games...
...but was a weird purple boxy shape thing instead of the lovely curvy European/Japanese case.
FenderMaster #72 2 days ago
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ghuk #73 2 days ago
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I loved the incredible manuals that came with the Jap games, heck I couldnt understand the text but the artwork was amazing. Then America got their version of the Super Famicom which resembled a brick & looked absolutely hideous, then the SNES arrived in the UK about a year later and the games had huge borders and ran signifcantly slower.
I can see why some people may not have warmed to the UK machine but if you were one of the lucky few who had a Jap import it was an amazing experience, definitely for me the Super Famicom represented the 'golden age' of video games. It was certainly not like today where everyone seems to be obsessed with the latest call of duty dull recycled rubbish.
Out of interest who here remembers the Super Wild Card? That certainly was an interesting product
RGeefe #74 2 days ago
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StooMonster #75 2 days ago
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Never understood why the American one was this way, I assumed it was the same aesthetic that make American cars of the 70s and 80s boxy too, like this.
septimus #76 2 days ago
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Never play it sadly due to time but nice to have.
Sharzam #77 2 days ago
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For me that time period was mostly about the Game Boy with Donkey Kong Country. Now thats a damm fine console and a whole lot older than the SNES.
feeg86 #78 2 days ago
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It'll last another 20 years. Greatest console ever made. Crazy to think games cost 50 quid back then!
richardiox #79 2 days ago
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BonzoBanana #80 2 days ago
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Sylpharion #81 2 days ago
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Absolutely amazing console. Right up there with the Dreamcast and N64 as one of my favourite consoles of all time.
Happy 20th!
kinky_mong #82 2 days ago
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PAAHAHAHA!
smelly #83 2 days ago
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Cean #84 2 days ago
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Alestes #85 2 days ago
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Many of the Nintendo franchises are the best on the SNES too as far as I'm concerned. Link to the Past is the best Zelda game, Super Mario World is the best Mario game, Super Metroid is the best Metroid game, F-Zero is the best F-Zero, Super Mario Kart is the best Mario Kart and so on. Heck, even FF6 (which sadly wasn't released here in Europe during the SNES days) is the best FF. Not to mention other excellent JRPGs like Chrono Trigger. Super Castlevania IV is "only" second best though, after Symphony of the Night for the PS1.
up_the_ante #86 2 days ago
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marccarran #87 2 days ago
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The Mega Drive got one over the NES, and Nintendo just did the job proper with the SNES.
Those extra buttons, that extra power, that longer wait and those killer games were all worth it
up_the_ante #88 2 days ago
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werewolf_poo #89 2 days ago
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Don't remember what the year was but I remember getting the snes bundled with Street Fighter II turbo. I remember being overcome with excitement seeing the box with street fighter emblazoned on it.
There was a footy game out at the time aswell which I got for xmas simply because my friend had it and it was great. All I can remember is that u could play indoors with the ball bouncing off the walls. I want to say Actua Soccer but I'm pretty sure that was PS1
Anybody know which xmas this would have been???
VonHype #90 2 days ago
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How i miss the days of playing super mario world with my sister trying to beat each others speedrun's.
FuzzyDuck #91 2 days ago
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I know the footy game you're on about and it's name escapes me, but it's not Actua Soccer (that was a PS1 game indeed).
If memory serves the Christmas was 1993 - i recall practically wetting myself with excitement seeing the SNES bundles and the Megadrive version of SFII (the one i got) in my local game shop.
I'm almost teary eyed reading this comments section!
djronz. #92 1 day ago
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Was a megadrive kid myself!
But now admit the snes was a better machine
gamzino #93 1 day ago
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Gumersindo #94 1 day ago
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I've played all FF since then. But I only remember all charas from those two.
electrolite #95 1 day ago
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I think it was Striker
electrolite #96 1 day ago
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http://www.mobygames.com/game/snes/striker/screenshots
Ring any bells?
I think it was Christmas 1993 BTW, my mate got that pack along with Mario All Stars.
ronecvan_is_here #97 1 day ago
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Sonic_D #98 1 day ago
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Best console with the best games ever.
heavymetalparadroid #99 24 hours ago
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heavymetalparadroid #100 23 hours ago
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heavymetalparadroid #101 23 hours ago
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Ryze #102 22 hours ago
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Ryze #103 22 hours ago
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You just don't get it. See ya later.
AgentCool #104 21 hours ago
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It's also a reminder to the deluded souls who want a one-console future that quality only comes when there's competition.
In fact, the PS2's near-monopoly on its generation in sales terms is the reason why the years when it was at its most dominant were also easily the worst for decent releases in the last 20 years.
DAN.E.B #105 20 hours ago
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I did get it before it was released in Japan tho