The Super Famicom, commonly known as the Super Famicom, has undergone major changes. Games have blossomed from being relatively simple with just a few pixels on the screen to something truly epic. Most of Nintendo’s major game series have had great sequels, and while I chose new releases based on criteria other than cool box art, those cardboard boxes and manuals felt like a wonderful part of my childhood.
I previously listed my favorites for the PC version, and also listed my favorites for the Xbox version. Now it’s time to share with you my top 10 favorite Super Nintendo games. I’d also like to add that SNES games came in cardboard boxes and degraded over time, so some games are hard to find in good condition or even with high enough resolution images. So sometimes I have to “cheat” on the American version and someone takes a photo of the scanned (slightly worn) box. I just have to make do with what I find.
10. The Legend of Zelda: Triforce to the Past
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At first glance, this may seem like a rather boring choice. Also, it may seem like I chose it simply because I love Zelda, but I think this is one of the best games in the world. Certainly, that’s a factor. Still, I absolutely love the golden case with the game title and a cool shield and sword emblazoned on it. It’s a story that, at the very best, “the title speaks for itself” draws you in, keeps everything mysterious, and trusts to create grand expectations. If I had made this list based solely on personal connections, I’m sure it would have been higher up, but the most important thing is that it’s included.
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9. F-Zero
What I like most about this game is the logo. Then look at the big city and hovercraft in the background and gradually the style choices become clear. It feels a bit like a purely artistic thing, a painting. Without giving away the game’s massive speed or grainy pixelated graphics, you get a sense of what promises to be something special as a futuristic racing game.
8. Lemmings
When I started making this list, I didn’t want to just pick games that I had a personal connection to. That said, I played Lemmings a lot, and I don’t think I’ll look back on it. Like many of the other covers on this list, I particularly like the game titles, as the designs are very playful and the cute little lemmings climbing and playing are charming. And the image itself is very suggestive, as it looks like the lemmings will jump to their deaths if they aren’t helped. It’s humorous and fitting.
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7. Mario Kart
You will feel happy when you see all the characters on this cover. Each one is unique, and bringing together some of gaming’s most famous and unique characters in one bright cover is sure to bring a smile to your face. I also like the addition of coins, banana peels, shells for Bowser, and other items, and aside from Yoshi’s slightly unnatural angle, I really like the expressions of the characters. There’s a lot of energy and joy here, and it’s definitely a cover that hints at the entertainment value the game has to offer.
6. Donkey Kong Country
This was a difficult problem. I don’t find the 3D rendered Donkey and Diddy particularly appealing. Looks like plastic. But at the same time, it’s also very fitting for the visual design that Rare later recreated in the game. I also like the details, like the snake that crawls outside the box and the inclusion of many characters and environments. It’s understandable to pick up this cover and be curious to see what the game is like, and the cover itself to live up to expectations.
5. Mario Paint
I understand that from a marketing standpoint, they wanted to do something to show that it comes with a mouse and mouse pad. That’s the only thing I don’t like about this cover. But Mario and his canvas are perfect. Colors convey what’s in the game, and so do musical notes. Above all, this cover accomplishes one thing. It shows the creativity that the game has to offer. For those of us who sat down to draw, make music, and utilize various tools, Mario Paint was a truly great thing in the 1990s. It was completely different from any previous game, with no goal (except perhaps to complete a piece of work) and one that brought out your instincts as a painter or musician. Even if it’s a relatively simple tool. I feel really happy every time I see this cover.
4. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
Like most of the covers on this list, I’m not sure why I like it so much. Well, I like Yoshi, I like Baby Mario, and I like the big blue monster. I like how the backgrounds follow the same visual style as the main adventure. Although there are no major events, it has a fast-paced and exciting feel. It offers the charm that Nintendo games often have, and is important in its own right, as the cover serves to complement and explain the game.
3. The secret of mana
There was also a cover that I stared at for a long time when I was a kid. This was one of them. Characters in the foreground. Huge tree in the background. It doesn’t take much to create magic if you do it right. This cover is primarily written in one color scheme, so both the title and the characters stand out. What’s also appealing is that the background trees and the entire forest environment are very well done. This cover invites the imagination and dreams in many ways, the exact emotion associated with Secret of Mana.
2. Axley
It is difficult to choose an option at the top of the ranking. Depending on your mood, the ranking of the top three may vary greatly, but as visually appealing as this shooter is, the cover is just as appealing. The title cuts straight to spaceships and fire monsters. The composition is perfect, the detail is amazing, and this is definitely the cover you want to buy. Like most SNES covers, I wish they utilized the entire surface. Instead, different logos and cluttered black areas appear. But if you focus on the image itself, I love it.
1. Super Castlevania IV
No matter what list you make, it’s difficult to be number one. As I wrote about the cover above, it wouldn’t be strange if Secret of Mana, Axelay, or this work were replaced. But you have to choose. The Super Castlevania IV cover is really cool. This is also one of those covers that makes you want to buy the game just by looking at it. The title could have been a little more stylish, but the image itself is almost perfect. The monsters and gothic style are very well expressed. I especially like the double dragon head and the skeleton standing over Simon, and I also like how the color stands out from the blue-gray cover. If I were to see something like this today (and I didn’t know anything about the series), I would have expected an almost epic open world game. It’s really amazing.
