That and games that look as great as Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island too please :(
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That and games that look as great as Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island too please :(
I've never played Sid Meier's Pirates, so I'm not sure. I should probably check it out.
Marvelous: Mouhitotsu no Takarajima (Another Treasure Island) is another one to look out for. It's a strange mix between a Zelda-style adventure game and a point a click adventure game, with the aesthetic of A Link to the Past. It was Eiji Aonuma's directorial debut, and you can see a lot of his influences on the Zelda series in this. You control three kids with their own abilities and items, and Lost Vikings your way to solve the problem of each island. It's got a lot of cool ideas and strong themeing to each chapter. It starts relatively slowly, but it's definitely one of the more interesting games on the system if you can read Japanese or have the ability to patch games.
This is a fun game that is part of my SNES Twitch rotation. I'm somewhere in chapter 3 right now and having a lot of fun!
I should probably check this one out - I suppose it's not part of any "remastered" thing of a somewhat recent release?
Sort of - it's a little more sim than JRPG, I'd say. A lot of the focus is trade and exploration - piracy (in my limited experience trying it) can be pretty risky because the target country will start sending armadas after you. It does have the opportunity for massive profit since you can capture ships through boarding, though.
Fewer minigames than Pirates!, too. I found Uncharted Waters a lot more accessible.
It's playable on the Wii U VC, if you have one.
/Edit: If you do pick it up, each character has a primary focus:
Joao, Pietro, Ernst do lots of exploration and may have to do some trading to cover expenses early. I actually don't recommend Ernst; his quest is pretty boring and he starts in kind of a rough place to start exploring.
Catalina and Otto are more fighting focused.
Ali does lots of trading, although arguably the best quick trading route in the game is given to him early so his quest can be pretty boring too.
Each character can do pretty much anything, although IIRC Catalina and Otto start with rough relations with some pretty powerful countries.
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Does this mean there was an attempt at an official localisation back in the day?
It's pretty much just the 7th saga 2, although purists will tell you it's incorrect to refer to it as such. It really, super duper is 7th saga 2.
This is an amazing sandbox rpg. I've spent SO MUCH time with this game. You're making me want to play it all over again.Uncharted Waters New Horizons - Open world strategy rpg. When I say strategy RPG, I don't mean something like Fire Emblem. The strategy in this RPG is economics. You have to strategically manage your funds in order to set sail and explore the world. Customize your ships for either trading, exploration, or piracy. You have 6 different characters to play from, each with their own story, though a lot of them intertwine. This isn't like Seiken Densetsu 3 where you start at different places but still follow the same basic path. It's 6 unique stories. Even though you explore the same world every time, the game sets a random number of discoveries, so just cause you found a discovery this time doesn't mean the same discovery will show up the next time. Trading is very deep and there are 120 ports in the world. Manipulate the economy and earn your cash! Cause without money, you can't sail the world.
There's a treasure trove of japan-only turn based rpgs, even ignoring square, atlus and enix's output during that time. Some of them have gotten fan-translations.
Magical Land of Wozz
Dual Orb 2
Emerald Dragon
Eternal Filena
Adventures of Hourai High
Angel's Poem
Last two are the Sacred Age Odysselya games, which recently got fully fan-translated and should be out hopefully soon. They look like intriguing rpgs set somewhere between mythology and real history - they span prehistory, circa 500BC Ancient Greece and late Ancient Egypt, among other real locations (Canaan and India?). First game was supposed to receive an official US version named 'Lost Mission', Nintendo Power even gave a terse preview, but I guess things fell through.
Magical Land of Wozz
Dual Orb 2
Emerald Dragon
Eternal Filena
Adventures of Hourai High
Angel's Poem
Last two are the Sacred Age Odysselya games, which recently got fully fan-translated and should be out hopefully soon. They look like intriguing rpgs set somewhere between mythology and real history - they span prehistory, circa 500BC Ancient Greece and late Ancient Egypt, among other real locations (Canaan and India?). First game was supposed to receive an official US version named 'Lost Mission', Nintendo Power even gave a terse preview, but I guess things fell through.
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The SNES/SFC is the gift that keeps on giving. You could spend a lifetime playing through all of the hidden gems.
While not necessarily hidden, Rocky Rodent is a fantastic 16-bit platformer that doesn't get the credit it deserves and thus is not talked about very much.
I'm personally divided on whether it's good, but it's definitely interesting:
Inindo: Way of the Ninja is a historical fantasy JRPG where you play as a ninja whose village was burned by Oda Nobunaga. You're sent across Japan to complete your training and attempt to assassinate him (naturally, he's some kind of demon lord figure). As you continue your journey, dozens of other heroes of various flavors are also doing their own thing and can be met at tea houses; some will join you (giving you up to two companions, which might be ronin, magicians, monks etc), others may try to attack you as you have a bounty on your head.
Along the way you can (and typically must, in the late game) join in large-scale battles the daimyo fight against each other, in order to weaken Nobunaga's position and reach his fortress - these battles happen with or without you, so in addition to this "other heroes do their own thing" mechanic (which feels like a better realized 7th Saga), there's also a strategy layer you can influence.
That said, the battle system feels pretty clunky and runs really slow, so it's not exactly a game I'd recommend unless you're totally down for the experience above.
Inindo: Way of the Ninja is a historical fantasy JRPG where you play as a ninja whose village was burned by Oda Nobunaga. You're sent across Japan to complete your training and attempt to assassinate him (naturally, he's some kind of demon lord figure). As you continue your journey, dozens of other heroes of various flavors are also doing their own thing and can be met at tea houses; some will join you (giving you up to two companions, which might be ronin, magicians, monks etc), others may try to attack you as you have a bounty on your head.
Along the way you can (and typically must, in the late game) join in large-scale battles the daimyo fight against each other, in order to weaken Nobunaga's position and reach his fortress - these battles happen with or without you, so in addition to this "other heroes do their own thing" mechanic (which feels like a better realized 7th Saga), there's also a strategy layer you can influence.
That said, the battle system feels pretty clunky and runs really slow, so it's not exactly a game I'd recommend unless you're totally down for the experience above.
Marvelous: Mouhitotsu no Takarajima (Another Treasure Island) is another one to look out for. It's a strange mix between a Zelda-style adventure game and a point a click adventure game, with the aesthetic of A Link to the Past. It was Eiji Aonuma's directorial debut, and you can see a lot of his influences on the Zelda series in this. You control three kids with their own abilities and items, and Lost Vikings your way to solve the problem of each island. It's got a lot of cool ideas and strong themeing to each chapter. It starts relatively slowly, but it's definitely one of the more interesting games on the system if you can read Japanese or have the ability to patch games.
I remember the Nintendo Power coverage for this one and it sounded fascinating.
Lots of good mentions here. Front Mission Gun Hazard, Gundam Wing Endless Duel, E.V.O., and Brain Lord are some favourites of mine. Inindo is rough, but I'd love to see a remake modernizing the idea of an RPG set inside of an ongoing strategy game that you aren't playing.
Super Gachapon World: SD Gundam X was ported to the Switch as a bonus for one of the G Generation games. I don't think I'd heard about it until then.
It's very similar to Advance Wars (or Daisenryaku I suppose), but generally simpler. It has some action-based combat where you move around the area and throw out attacks, you can take control of colony lasers and devastate anything they point at, you can move between space and planet maps, and you can pick between several factions with their own units. The main issue is that it lacks a campaign.
Super Gachapon World: SD Gundam X was ported to the Switch as a bonus for one of the G Generation games. I don't think I'd heard about it until then.
It's very similar to Advance Wars (or Daisenryaku I suppose), but generally simpler. It has some action-based combat where you move around the area and throw out attacks, you can take control of colony lasers and devastate anything they point at, you can move between space and planet maps, and you can pick between several factions with their own units. The main issue is that it lacks a campaign.
Yeah, I think it would click for just about anyone willing to give animal mascot platforms beyond Sonic a chance.
Totally agree. Great soundtrack and sprite style too. Some of those tracks have really stuck in my brain even after all these years.
i think the Magical Quest series is kind of overshadowed by the Illusion games/Quackshot on Genesis but they're very fine platformers. Kind of like an easier GnG.
I don't remember if I posted in this thread before, shmup heads talk about it, but I really love the Macross shmup on Super Famicom.
Is...that a Legend of Valkyrie game?!
I had no clue about this one. May need to pick it up now.
Absolutely, such an excellent fun little game. Tons of fun to play.
X-Zone looks the business. Will need to try this one out soon.
X-Zone is super scope only afaik, which makes it tough to play nowadays. I wish could spare the space for a CRT to use old lightguns.
Thought of a few more games:
Power Soukoban
One of the last Nintendo-published games for the Super Famicom (in 1999!), neat twist on the pushing puzzle-mechanic of other Soukoban titles, since the whole game is now more like a large, Zelda-like dungeon, with puzzles in each room, and enemies to defeat.
Nichibutsu Arcade Classics 2: Heiankyo Alien
Not a lot of people know that Heiankyo Alien got a port to the Super Famicom, with updated graphics as well as a two-player versus mode.
Power Soukoban
One of the last Nintendo-published games for the Super Famicom (in 1999!), neat twist on the pushing puzzle-mechanic of other Soukoban titles, since the whole game is now more like a large, Zelda-like dungeon, with puzzles in each room, and enemies to defeat.
Nichibutsu Arcade Classics 2: Heiankyo Alien
Not a lot of people know that Heiankyo Alien got a port to the Super Famicom, with updated graphics as well as a two-player versus mode.
I'll toss something in here.
Aerobiz (1/2) was a great small series of airline management sims. Also, shoutouts to Koei for making it have bangers for BGM for no reason? lol
This is crazy, I've seen this before, years ago. I don't know where, though, haha. Thanks for posting~
Aerobiz (1/2) was a great small series of airline management sims. Also, shoutouts to Koei for making it have bangers for BGM for no reason? lol
This is crazy, I've seen this before, years ago. I don't know where, though, haha. Thanks for posting~
Alright, this is exactly what I came here to post. King Arthur's World definitely had some issues, but combining Lemmings and RTS style design was really unique and fun. I need to pick up a copy and play it again.King Arthurs World is a game I remember fondly but hardy see mentioned. It's kind of a fusion of Lemmings and an RTS where you have to guide troops with different specialisations through a level. It's by Argonaut of Starfox fame.
I remember it gaining some media coverage back in the day due to having some sort of basic surround sound implantation.
Similarly (maybe I just really like puzzle games), I never see Krusty's Super Fun House come up. It's like a lite-Lemmings where you move boxes to navigate surly rats through Krusty's house to the level's rat-extermination machine.
Not unique to the Super Nintendo, but I've never seen anyone mention it, and as far as I'm concerned it's the only good Simpsons game from that period.
I don't think they're all worth searching out, but like The Great Battle earlier, there are a lot of games on the Super Famicom associated with Compatiheroes and Super Robot Wars. If nothing else, they're interesting for just being prolific early crossover games:
Battle Robot Retsuden. This one is by Winkysoft, the developers of the original Super Robot Wars. It's a very similar turn based strategy game - immediately visible differences are that it only features Super Robot series, it uses close-ups of the robots instead of SD proportions, it has an isometric view, and it's placed on a hex grid instead of a square grid.
Battle Commander. This is by Arc System Works. It's a real time strategy game rather than turn based. I haven't really explored it, but it looks like there's training and equipment involved.
Battle Pinball.
Battle Pachinko.
Battle Dodgeball. Notice the proud claim of this having RPG mode. Camelot, eat your heart out.
Battle Dodgeball 2. Pretty sure this one is canon. There's a third one too, although that's way later on the PSP.
Battle Soccer. Godzilla's in this one!
Battle Soccer 2.
Battle Racers. This uses Mode7 a la Super Mario Kart or F-Zero.
Hero Senki: Project Olympus. This is a turn based RPG with a bit of a comedy tone. This is also by Winkysoft, and it's the first to establish that Super Robot Wars canon is a multiverse.
Gaia Saver. This is a turn based RPG, essentially a sequel to Hero Senki, although this one's by Arc System Works.
Super Tekyuu Fight. It's kind of an oldschool arcade title; think Bomberman. You fight enemies with an eye ball on a chain and there are giant bosses. It's actually the sequel to a platformer on the Gameboy.
Just to reiterate, this list isn't including the Super Robot Wars or Great Battle series, both of which ran for around five titles on the Super Famicom.
Battle Robot Retsuden. This one is by Winkysoft, the developers of the original Super Robot Wars. It's a very similar turn based strategy game - immediately visible differences are that it only features Super Robot series, it uses close-ups of the robots instead of SD proportions, it has an isometric view, and it's placed on a hex grid instead of a square grid.
Battle Commander. This is by Arc System Works. It's a real time strategy game rather than turn based. I haven't really explored it, but it looks like there's training and equipment involved.
Battle Pinball.
Battle Pachinko.
Battle Dodgeball. Notice the proud claim of this having RPG mode. Camelot, eat your heart out.
Battle Dodgeball 2. Pretty sure this one is canon. There's a third one too, although that's way later on the PSP.
Battle Soccer. Godzilla's in this one!
Battle Soccer 2.
Battle Racers. This uses Mode7 a la Super Mario Kart or F-Zero.
Hero Senki: Project Olympus. This is a turn based RPG with a bit of a comedy tone. This is also by Winkysoft, and it's the first to establish that Super Robot Wars canon is a multiverse.
Gaia Saver. This is a turn based RPG, essentially a sequel to Hero Senki, although this one's by Arc System Works.
Super Tekyuu Fight. It's kind of an oldschool arcade title; think Bomberman. You fight enemies with an eye ball on a chain and there are giant bosses. It's actually the sequel to a platformer on the Gameboy.
Just to reiterate, this list isn't including the Super Robot Wars or Great Battle series, both of which ran for around five titles on the Super Famicom.
Alright, this is exactly what I came here to post. King Arthur's World definitely had some issues, but combining Lemmings and RTS style design was really unique and fun. I need to pick up a copy and play it again.
Similarly (maybe I just really like puzzle games), I never see Krusty's Super Fun House come up. It's like a lite-Lemmings where you move boxes to navigate surly rats through Krusty's house to the level's rat-extermination machine.
Not unique to the Super Nintendo, but I've never seen anyone mention it, and as far as I'm concerned it's the only good Simpsons game from that period.
Nah, that would be The Simpsons Arcade. Krusty's Fun House is alright at best though.
I keep forgetting this and Ignition Factor are completely different games.Not sure how obscure it is but I only heard about The Firemen a few months ago. Cool action game if you wanna spray with your hose.
I have to say, I wish there were more firefighting games. I feel as though a good firefighting game could be an incredible game to showcase fire and water tech (not to mention physics in general) on modern platforms. Furthermore, I can't help but think it'd be nice if maybe there were more shooting games that didn't involve you just riddling people with bullets. A firefighting game could, hypothetically, play very similarly to a shooter, and I feel as though it could allow for some really tense moments.
Looks like we're totally opposite on this one; I think Krusty's Super Fun House is a unique and interesting puzzler, but that Simpsons Arcade is a generic brawler that doesn't offer anything new, and would've been forgotten long ago if it didn't have the Simpsons IP.
Actually, looking it up now, Banpresto also released a game with a similar aesthetic to Compatiheroes/Super Robot Wars called Chibi Chara Wars ("wars" is written differently here). It doesn't seem to be considered part of the same line though.
If this cover is not lying to me, that is Kekko Kamen and Violence Jack in a goddamn SNES game.
This is by Almanic. Their other games include E.V.O. Search for Eden (both versions), Mazin Saga: Mutant Fighter, Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka / River City Girls Zero, and the Wonder Project J games.
If this cover is not lying to me, that is Kekko Kamen and Violence Jack in a goddamn SNES game.
This is by Almanic. Their other games include E.V.O. Search for Eden (both versions), Mazin Saga: Mutant Fighter, Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka / River City Girls Zero, and the Wonder Project J games.
I was really impressed with Pop'n Twinbee when I played it on NSO last year, excellent game with a superb soundtrack, barely any slowdown and great graphics, I was honestly a little dissapointed with it's arcade "brother" Detana Twinbee because it wasn't as good imo.
Hello, my name is Tavernade and The Great Circus Mystery is my favorite game of all time. Every musical track and sound effect is burned into my mind. I think I beat it thirty times as a kid, the multiplayer is phenomenal.
They're all characters and series created by Go Nagai, that's the connective tissue there.Actually, looking it up now, Banpresto also released a game with a similar aesthetic to Compatiheroes/Super Robot Wars called Chibi Chara Wars ("wars" is written differently here). It doesn't seem to be considered part of the same line though.
If this cover is not lying to me, that is Kekko Kamen and Violence Jack in a goddamn SNES game.
Camel Try was largely possible on the Megadrive.
Full screen rotations weren't an issue and weren't limited to how poorly mode 7 was doing them
And surprisingly laid back and pleasant as far as mascot platformers usually went.
