With the Mini SNES Classic announced with a line up of 20 classic SNES games and one unreleased title in Star Fox 2, the whole thing looks like Nintendo will have another sell out hit on their hands (Let’s be honest, their claims of producing more consoles than the Mini NES Classic to meet demand is going to only have them sell out more). However, while the lineup is full of smash hits to the point where they Googled “Top SNES Games” and used the first 5 results to decide what to put in, I think they are missing a LOT of key games that should be in the lineup as extras. So I’m going to list them below… But I want to start with a couple of games that need to be replaced in the official line up.
Replacement 1 – Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (IN) / Super Mario World (OUT)
While we do have the original Mario trilogy in the Mini NES Classic’s line up and are getting Super Mario World in the Mini SNES Classic lineup, I think the decision to exclude Super Mario All-Stars or the update that included Super Mario World too was a bit of a mistake. My reasoning behind this is because there was no attempt outside of Japan to include what we in the west know as Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels (Or Super Mario Bros 2 in Japan) in the Mini NES Classic; and also because the SNES version of the original Super Mario Bros had a graphical upgrade that makes things look and play a lot better than the NES originals. I know this would be triple dipping (As this version was released on the Wii a few years back) but it would be a nice bonus for those of us who missed out on the Mini NES Classic.
Replacement 2 – Super Street Fighter II (IN) / Street Fighter II Turbo (OUT)
I can hear the fighting game fanboys crying out “But Street Fighter II Turbo is the superior console port as it played faster”; and they are right. However, if you are going to go for any Street Fighter II game you might as well go with the one with the most improvements overall. While Super Street Fighter II is not the faster game, it was the base for all the HD ports that have come on the PS3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Switch, so it should mean something. I just think having the larger roster and better-detailed sprites is worth the speed sacrifice.
10 – Super International Cricket
“Cricket? Cricket? We don’t know what Cricket is!” Come the cry about the number 10 spot. Well for those of you who might not have played this hidden sports gem on the original SNES in its hay day, you’re missing out a lot. Super International Cricket was one of the best selling SNES games for the European and Australian territories, so yes there is a bit of home country bias showing through here. For me, this game was a great one for playing a few quick games in the afternoon with friends that would always lead to rage quitting because someone was stuck on the bowling side for 4 hours.
9 – Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim has had quite a few ports over the years, but there is something about playing the SNES version that just feels right. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that we were all swept up in Earthworm Jim mania at the time thanks to this game and the excellent animated cartoon with it’s catchy as all hell theme song that plays right into our nostalgic hearts. Plus this was the era where games were still hard as all fuck and Earthworm Jim was one of those gems that knew when to be nice and when to punish the living shit out of you for the smallest mistake… That’s real video games for you kids.
8 – Spider-Man & Venom: Maximum Carnage
While Spider-Man games have had their fair share of ups and downs, there was nothing like playing through the excellent comic book saga known as “Maximum Carnage”. This brawler is one of the few LJN licensed titles that wasn’t too bad all things considered (LJN has a history of making some of the crappiest licensed video games in history). The ability to play as either Venom or Spider-Man was pretty cool, plus you could call in other heroes to act as screen clearing assist moves was also a big draw… Not to mention that blood red cartridge it came on really completed the package to Marvel perfection.
7 – Chrono Trigger
I’ll admit that Final Fantasy III (or Final Fantasy VI as it was really meant to be called… Stupid weird naming issues in the 90s.) is probably one of the best Final Fantasy games ever made, but when it comes to second place for best RPG of all time you really cannot look past Chrono Trigger. Again this is a game that has had numerous ports from Playstation to Nintendo DS and I think even PC, but this is one of those games that just belongs on a classics edition console like the Mini SNES Classic.
6 – Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat is one of those titles that you just had to have on your consoles once the game came out… However, the SNES version was censored to hell. So instead of the original head ripping classic, let’s go with the far superior and NEVER outdone follow up: Mortal Kombat II. Mortal Kombat II might not have had the biggest roster, the biggest fatality and extras list, or even the best cheats (Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 on SNES had the best cheats) but it was the most difficult game in the series and the closest thing we had to Arcade port perfection at the time. So why not include Street Fighter’s top rival on the console that was known for giving us just what we wanted.
5 – NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
BOOMSHAKALAKA!! That sound just rings in your ears as you throw down a massive backboard breaking slam from half court. NBA Jam is one of those games that just cannot be replicated, and they have tried to replicate it. I don’t think there was anyone who actually played many of the NBA Live titles that came out from 1995 onwards because almost everyone had the home edition of NBA Jam or NBA Jam: Tournament Edition in their homes. I think the only thing holding this game back is the lack of a 4 player adapter for the Mini SNES classic to truly replicate that home game feel we all used to love.
4 – Rock ‘n Roll Racing
Featuring probably the best midi-tune renditions of “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf in existence, Rock n Roll Racing was one of the games that put Interplay, later known as Blizzard Entertainment, on the map. This easy to play but difficult to master gameplay combined with one of the best 80s soundtracks makes Rock n Roll Racing one of the best SNES games out there. I know Blizzard has it out for free via their digital store, but it would be nice to see it back home on the console that made it a well-known title.
3 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
When people talk perfect ports from the Arcade to the SNES, Turtles in Time will always come up in that conversation. Not only was this one of the best arcades to console ports of its era but it even went above and beyond by including new enemies and stages that even the arcade version did not have. During the era when Konami actually gave a shit about making video games and not pachinko machines, Turtles in Time remains to this day one of the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games ever produced.
2 – Super Star Wars
Talk about a game that came out of nowhere to be absolutely awesome! Super Star Wars used mode 7 graphics to bring a different feel to the somewhat dated Star Wars formula. Probably some of the best lightsaber fights ever put into a video game. Hell, I want to put the whole trilogy on here but since it’s one game per franchise it seems, so we’ll go with the first game… Even if Sony re-released it recently on Playstation Network… fuck’em!
1 – Zombies Ate My Neighbours
The biggest exclusion from the list of the 21 Mini SNES Classic games is the extremely fun and entertaining Zombies Ate My Neighbours. The fact that this co-op zombie shooter with its Jason-style big chainsaw guys, giant baby bosses and other assorted insanity isn’t on the original list is the biggest injustice to all of gaming. With copies of this game going for nothing short of a small fortune online (excluding cheap knock off carts from Malaysia) and a huge cult following, Zombies Ate My Neighbours is THE biggest missing game from the Mini SNES Classic list.
