One of the true console greats!
We're going to show the Super Nintendo console some love each Friday.
You might remember that we recently gave some love to Nintendo's Game Boy system in our Game Boy 20th Anniversary Special. Well the feature went over so well that we've decided to do another one and this time we're going to be showering some attention on another legendary Nintendo console you might have heard of.
After the mammoth success of the Nintendo Entertainment System, gamers were anxiously awaiting the release of its successor and Nintendo certainly didn't disappoint. Although the Super Nintendo console was widely criticized for its slow processor, it's unique Mode 7 scaling and rotation effects and amazing library of games made it a huge hit with gamers and set its place in stone as one of the all-time great video game consoles.
Soul Blazer
While the console features a wide variety of game genres, it was the console's fantastic platformers and RPGs that's made it such a popular console among retro gamers, who still clamor for the console on online auction sites.
Some offices have casual Friday, but we here at Nintendo Life decided to have a Super Nintendo Review Friday instead. So starting this Friday, we'll be featuring a Super Nintendo game review each Friday from now until December 25th. That's 15 Super Nintendo reviews for you to enjoy. Many of the best games have already seen a release on the Virtual Console service, but we've put together an interesting and varied list of a few games that are still awaiting a release on the service and should make perfect candidates for retro reviews.
This Friday we'll kick things off with a review of an outstanding, albeit somewhat overlooked, action-RPG called Soul Blazer. As for the other games on the list, you'll just have to wait in suspense and find out on Thursday when we'll be posting a hint topic in the forums where you can make your guesses as to what the game that will be reviewed the following day will be.
We'd also like to hear about games you guys would like to see reviewed. Who knows, we might even choose a few of them. 
1. Supermarioman
15 Sep 2009, 02:08 BST
Well this is great!
2. Panda
15 Sep 2009, 02:17 BST
Do you not like retro Nintendo video game reviews? 'Cause I gotta tell ya, I think you're in the wrong place if you don't.
3. WolfRamHeart
15 Sep 2009, 02:20 BST
Amazing! When I saw this article just now the very first game that popped into my mind was Soul Blazer! Way to read my mind Corbie!
I am really looking forward to this, it should be good!
4. ReZon
15 Sep 2009, 02:24 BST
Great idea.. and a great game to kick it off with. Soul Blazer is awesome! I've beaten the Japanese version several times... I'm still waiting for it to get released on the VC so I can find out what it's actually about..
5. Maniac
15 Sep 2009, 02:34 BST
I'd love to see reviews on Maximum Carnage, King of Dragons, Super Double Dragon (yes, I love beat-em-ups) and King Arthur's World!
6. Blue Protoman
15 Sep 2009, 02:36 BST
Review Earthbound. Enough said.
7. VGP
15 Sep 2009, 02:36 BST
Awesome I can't wait for it! NL Rocks
8. Koto
15 Sep 2009, 02:37 BST
best system ever
9. ReZon
15 Sep 2009, 02:43 BST
Also, reviews that I'd like to see:
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Mario Paint
Mega Man X
Secret of Evermore
Sunset Riders
Killer Instinct
Drakkhen
TMNT Tournament Fighters
TMNT Turtles in Time
10. PhoenixSage
15 Sep 2009, 02:54 BST
Oh heck yes. Now these are the kinds of retro reviews I can get into.
I love the SNES so much; it'll be cool to see some gems I missed along the way and (hopefully) a couple of games to take me back down memory lane.
And just so that I have one game I can wax nostalgic about, I'd love to see either Mega Man X or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time, if at all possible.
11. Jiakasuma
15 Sep 2009, 03:10 BST
Awesome!
12. Strofan7
15 Sep 2009, 03:14 BST
Paperboy 2!
13. StarBoy91
15 Sep 2009, 03:20 BST
YAY!!!! My favorite console Ever!!
I can't wait to see reviews like SoulBlazer and Chrono Trigger and ActRaiser 2 (if at all) and Mr. Nutz (highly unlikely) as well as licensed titles too (if at all they will be reviewed). Not that I'm requesting anything, just sharing what reviews I'd like to see is all. Congrats on your 20th, SNES. I should probably get Hook by tomorrow. Awesome!!!!! 
14. StarBoy91
15 Sep 2009, 03:23 BST
Oh, I didn't read the bottom print. Apparently the titles I mentioned were requests (except ActRaiser 2). Will we see a Turtles in Time review? That was a childhood favorite of mine, and I still have fun with my cousins playing it today.
Yay, SoulBlazer's coming Friday, one of my favorites ever. I actually like it more than Chrono Trigger, but that's just me.
15. SmaMan
15 Sep 2009, 03:35 BST
If you do Soul Blazer and you've done Terranigma, I guess you gotta do Illusio of Gaia to round it all out. Definitely E.V.O. Search for Eden as well, though it's only kinda-sorta in that series.
My other requests:
Another World
Breath of Fire
Feda - The Emblem of Justice (If you're doing import SNES games, but this one has been translated)
Jaki Crush
KILLER INSTINCT!!!
The Lawnmower Man
NBA Jam
Stunt Race FX
And if you want to do unreleased games, definitely do Star Fox 2
16. StarBoy91
15 Sep 2009, 03:39 BST
Yes, Breath of Fire, another great game. Though I wish I had played it on the SNES, because the GBA version altered the battle system.
I would not have had a problem with the original battle system, thank you very much, Capcom! Oh, and Mega Man X, why isn't Mega Man X on there yet? It's my favorite Mega Man game of all time. 
<3 <3
17. PopeReal
15 Sep 2009, 03:43 BST
NCAA Basketball
Tecmo Super Bowl
NBA Jam Tournament Edition
Stunt Race FX
Uniracers
18. JJ
15 Sep 2009, 03:59 BST
X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse
Super Mario All-Stars
Terranigma
Goof Troop
I will think of more later
19. Hyper Luigi
15 Sep 2009, 04:01 BST
Awesome news! I would like to see reviews of Teengae Mutant Ninja Turtles IV:Turtles in Time and Mega Man X.
20. Aenaida
15 Sep 2009, 04:05 BST
Sounds awesome!
Here are some games that I'm curious about:
The 7th Saga
Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind
Demon's Crest
E.V.O.: Search for Eden
Eye of the Beholder
Illusion of Gaia
Jurassic Park
Lemmings
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I
Lufia & the Fortress of Doom
Mario Is Missing!
Mario's Time Machine
Mortal Kombat
Plok
Power Instinct
Q*bert 3
The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots!
Revolution X
Robotrek
Shaq Fu
Spider-Man: The Animated Series
Tin Star
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
21. Ski Deuce
15 Sep 2009, 04:21 BST
This is great news. I wish NintendoLife would hire me back. It's not like I'm the one who quit! Ah well. There are pros and cons to everything. I have more time to read reviews than to make them at least.
22. donth8theplaya69
15 Sep 2009, 04:33 BST
Don't forget Chrono Trigger and FFVI
23. Bulbasaurus Rex
15 Sep 2009, 05:02 BST
Just review TMNT IV: Turtles in Time, and I'll be happy.
I hope you do this for the Sega Genesis sometime.
24. Corbie
15 Sep 2009, 05:04 BST
We probably won't be doing a Sega Genesis special since this is Nintendo Life and we don't have a Genesis retro section.
25. Adam
15 Sep 2009, 05:18 BST
Sonic the Hedgehog.
26. Corbie
15 Sep 2009, 05:43 BST
Sorry, but that's just a hack of Speedy Gonzales: Los Gatos Bandidos. But we might review the Speedy Gonzales game.
27. SmaMan
15 Sep 2009, 06:20 BST
SONEEEK! SONEEEK!!
28. RadioShadow
15 Sep 2009, 08:00 BST
But it's the Mega Drive's 20th Anniversary are you are not going to review games for that system instead? SHAME ON YOU NINTENDO LIFE! SHAME ON YOU!
Hope you review Panel De Pon!
29. Damo
15 Sep 2009, 09:01 BST
Soul Blazer: YES YES YES YES
30. LEGEND MARIOID
15 Sep 2009, 10:03 BST
Online Fridays just got 10x more interesting!
31. super-nintendo
15 Sep 2009, 10:16 BST
Can't wait till Friday. Gotta luv Friday...
32. Fuzzy
15 Sep 2009, 10:32 BST
Reviews for games on the best console ever? Yes please. I second the review of Illusion of Gaia to complete the trilogy!
33. Shiryu
15 Sep 2009, 10:57 BST
Great pick for first review, one of my all time Quintet favs!
34. JamieO
15 Sep 2009, 11:30 BST
Oh yeah, Nintendo Life 'Super Nintendo Review Friday' is a great idea, we are in for a treat all the way up until Christmas
@Maniac (comment 5) I was always mad for side scrolling beat 'em ups in their early '90s heyday too. 'Super Double Dragon' was underrated, its block and cheeky repeated slap moves were cool. Trouble is, it was so slow, even when played as NTSC 60 htz.
@SuperSonic1990 (comment 19), @PhoenixSage (comment 10) and @BulbasaurusRex (comment 23) I am a fan of 'Turtles in Time', too. It was a simple brawler, but packed colour, fun animations, mode 7 enemy launching and was worth a blast in multiplayer. I think that I will download the "fresh lick of paint" version off PSN soon.
I would really love to see a 'Ninja Warriors Again' review, I would even lend Nintendo Life my Japanese cartridge if it meant that it got included, although I am sure that they will already have it in their collection. lol
That would make for a cool feature; 'Nintendo Life: Staff Gaming Collections'.
Anyways, roll on this Friday.
35. Ender
15 Sep 2009, 11:35 BST
I'd like to see the Bubsy games reviewed.
36. MrPinguy
15 Sep 2009, 11:47 BST
Yay Super Nintendo!!!
...
And no Mega Drive love? shakesfistangrly Damn you NINTENDO LIFE... oh right....
Want a EarthBound review, but not from Corbie for obvious reasons.
And Final Fantasy IV and VI, and V too if you also include Famicom exclusives.
37. ganondwarf16
15 Sep 2009, 11:47 BST
how about final fantasy and super mario kart since they may get a vc release
38. ganondwarf16
15 Sep 2009, 11:49 BST
@Ender
yes I loved the bubsy games they were hilarious
39. Ryuuga
15 Sep 2009, 12:31 BST
Super Mario All-Stars, Donkey Kong Country, Street Fighter II and Final Fantasy IV should be on the list
40. Stuffgamer1
15 Sep 2009, 12:45 BST
@StarBoy91: What are you talking about with a changed battle system for Breath of Fire? I've played both versions, and the only difference is a very welcome menu tweak to make it look nicer.
I love the screen shot for Soul Blazer in this article. Working to level 50 is such a pain in the butt, and the last three levels aren't even worth anything! But I've done it...once. Love that game.
41. redflicky
15 Sep 2009, 12:53 BST
Wasn't Sonic the Hedgehog on the Super Nintendo?
42. JamieO
15 Sep 2009, 13:01 BST
Ha, ha @redflicky your comment 41 made me laugh.
Wasn't Super Mario on C64, dressed up as a lady?
43. Betagam7
15 Sep 2009, 13:51 BST
Actually Mario did appear on the C64 as Mario Bros was released for it.
44. JamieO
15 Sep 2009, 14:03 BST
@Betagam7 If you know about the original C64 Mario Bros then I'm guessing that you also know that I meant the time when he put on a fetching yellow wig, transformed into a punk rock chick, looked like he had bust his face up falling through the ugly tree for the 'Rainbow Arts' cassette art,.....
....oh and he changed his name to 'Giana'.
45. redflicky
15 Sep 2009, 14:17 BST
@42: I'm a boy. And I'm saying that wasn't Sonic the Hedgehog on the SNES?
46. JamieO
15 Sep 2009, 14:31 BST
@redflicky I can't tell if I am confusing people left right and centre, if you're are making jokes or if I am missing the point and you are asking a real question. There is hardly any inference or gage of expression on a comments board, so I'll stop acting daft for a minute.
I thought you were joking, so I was joining in by making silly references to a Commodore 64 'Super Mario Bros' rip off called 'The Great Giana Sisters', a game in which Nintendo's legal might put an end to, because it was so similar in gameplay to their title. It merely replaced Mario with a blonde haired female character.
No, Sonic the Hedgehog was not on the SNES. The closest game available was one which was similar in gameplay. This was Konami's 'Sparkster', which is still a nice little fast paced SNES platformer.
I hope that this does not come across as patronising.
47. Hyper Luigi
15 Sep 2009, 15:22 BST
@JamieO-I downloaded and played Turtles in Time Re-Shelled on PSN, and it is awesome.
48. Mayhem
15 Sep 2009, 15:38 BST
Oh there are ideas... plenty of ideas abounding heh
49. HeikeKagero
15 Sep 2009, 18:43 BST
Super Nintendo Entertainment System is undoubtedly the greatest system of all time.
50. SmaMan
15 Sep 2009, 19:01 BST
@JamieO @Redflicky @anyone else who's confused
The Sonic the Hedgehog on SNES was a pirated game not made or endorsed by Nintendo or Sega. It was a shameless hack of Speedy Gonzales: Los Gatos Bandidos, but they just replaced him with Sonic and put Mario in the cages instead of other the other mice. (at least I think that's what was in there.)
51. Tony
15 Sep 2009, 19:12 BST
I would suggest for review to do Super Double Dragon (never played it) and Super Mario All-stars( so you can talk about how great the graphics are).
52. JamieO
15 Sep 2009, 20:51 BST
@SuperSonic1990 Cheers to you for helping me to decide that my "Friday, just finished a tough week" game will be 'Turtles in Time Re-Shelled' on PSN.
@SmaMan Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I did not know there was a hacked Sonic type cart. You learn something new every day!
@Tony I'm glad that other gamers shout out for Super Double Dragon/ Return of Double Dragon, it was little bit neglected back in the day, but I still somehow managed to end up with two carts (Pal and Japanese). There was one stage where they cranked up the original Double Dragon music and I was brimming with 1987 nostalgia, even in 1992!
53. redflicky
15 Sep 2009, 20:57 BST
PIRATED GAMES SUCK!!!
Real games for ever!
54. JamieO
15 Sep 2009, 21:17 BST
I am with @redflicky on that one, pirated games completely suck. The developers have put their work and creativity into building all these virtual worlds, so I pay to play. If I can't afford brand new titles, then I wait and buy on discount or second hand. Modding your consoles with 60 htz switches and the ability to be region free is cool, but chipping to play copied games sucks, too.
It is interesting the lengths that pirates must have gone to have Sonic's little red sneakers running on the SNES, though. It was a big deal in the playgrounds of the time, that MD had Sonic and SNES had Mario and each fanboy at the time secretly wanted to be able to play their mates exclusive "system seller" on their own console.
Ah, the wonders of choice the multi-format 'Virtual Console' enables.
55. StarBoy91
15 Sep 2009, 23:58 BST
What I meant about GBA Breath of Fire is that the battle system was changed to that of Breath of Fire II's battle system (for understandable reasons [cough*small screen resolution*cough]). I looked up that the original SNES game had a complicated battle system. Of course, that's just me nitpicking again. Great game, either way.
56. StarBoy91
16 Sep 2009, 00:07 BST
I'm also considering Arcana, but the problem is: I feel it will score below average here (considering it's a fun game). (At least, that's what it seems like to me) So, for the time being, I'll go against my consideration here.
57. StarBoy91
16 Sep 2009, 00:47 BST
Oh, and I love SoulBlazer so much!!! Does any know how to make an emoticon with a big heart out there? Just to show how I feel? <3 :3 <3 :3
58. Angelic Lapras King
16 Sep 2009, 01:03 BST
Review Super Godzilla
59. SmaMan
16 Sep 2009, 01:35 BST
@JamieO
If you think software piracy on the SNES/MD is bad, wait till you see some of the pirated crap you'll find on the NES! Some of it makes me almost puke, like Somari... and Pokemon Gold... uuuggghhh.
60. KnucklesSonic8
18 Sep 2009, 02:32 BST
Fantastic! Here are some of my suggestions:
The Lost Vikings
Bust-a-Move
Troddlers
Wrecking Crew 98
Mario is Missing
Micro Machines
Bubsy
Pac-Man 2
Hyper Zone
Pocky and Rocky
Secret of Evermore
Space Megaforce
Goof Troop
61. JamieO
18 Sep 2009, 07:42 BST
Yay, today is Friday, (18th Sept, 7.45am to be specific). When I get back from a bit of volunteering work, I'm going to check straight in to Nintendo Life and read all about 'Soul Blazer'. Cheers @Corbie
62. Ricardo91
18 Sep 2009, 22:46 BST
All I can say is... Awesome! The SNES has one of the greatest libraries of any game system to date, and it would be great to see some lesser-known titles a chance to shine. I really wish I owned one.
63. StarBoy91
18 Sep 2009, 22:59 BST
[I feel ashamed for having posted my " If I Were To..." topic long ago
I should not have implied something like that]
[ <3 ]
Still, I can't wait to read SoulBlazer; my second favorite Action RPG, with my first one being Zelda 3
64. StarBoy91
18 Sep 2009, 23:00 BST
Oops, I meant "read SoulBlazer review".
65. Tony
22 Sep 2009, 15:06 BST
"We probably won't be doing a Sega Genesis special since this is Nintendo Life and we don't have a Genesis retro section. "
Well sorta
The Virtual Console section will provide a lot of Sega Genesis reviews
66. luigiman2
24 Sep 2009, 13:44 BST
I like the name Super Nintendo Console.
Leave A Comment
Please login to post a comment.