5 For Friday: Most Wanted SNES Virtual Console Titles
The Wii’s Virtual Console has quite an extensive list of available games, but there are numerous noteworthy games still missing. Here’s my 5 most wanted SNES titles that have not already been announced (such as Earthbound) or are unlikely given rights issues:
5) Aerobiz Supersonic - 1994
Aerobiz Supersonic is a pretty simple strategy game that’s got a ton of replayability and strategy. You’re put in charge of a brand new airline (in one of 4 given time frames from the 1960s to the 2000s (which was the future then)), and you have to deal with opening routes, securing terminal space, building hotels and other amenities in the nearby cities, and occurrences such as the Olympics and tourist booms to certain citiies as well as war and civil unrest which can cause problems for your airline. The goal of the game is to become the top airline in 5 of the 7 continents over a 20 year period. The game includes 5 levels of difficulty (and the top 2 are ridiculously tough), but even casual strategy fans can get really involved with the easy-to-learn/difficult-to-master premise. Supersonic is a sequel of the original “Aerobiz” which also was found out the SNES (and Genesis), and while both are welcome additions, the inclusion of more cities and more depth gives Supersonic the edge on this list.
4) Super Mario RPG - 1996
Super Mario RPG is at the top of many “most wanted” lists, but I don’t find the game aged as well as many people think. However, the game still stands among the best games released on the SNES, despite coming at the end of its lifespan. Mario RPG takes the famous Mario characters we know and love and throw them into a very quirky, fun RPG, the likes of which has been copied into the Paper Mario series recently. Overall, Super Mario RPG provides a great taste of nostalgia for gamers who played it before, and would easily be highly recommended at $8 for gamers who missed out on this classic. There have been rumors over the past year that the game was close to release by being rated by the ESRB, however that rating has since been removed. Hopefully, this game will be back in gamers’ hands sooner rather than later.
3) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time - 1992
The Ninja Turtles were always popular in the 1990s, starting with their cartoon and successful NES and arcade video games that had children fighting over who got to be Dontello (he was always the best, by the way). The turtles landed again in arcades with Turtles in Time in 1991, and was ported to the SNES in 1992. Turtles in Time was a favorite in my household growing up. The game wasn’t overly difficult, but it was challenging at points, and the co-op is top knotch. Unfortunately, the SNES version can only handle 2 players at a time, not the 4 of the arcades, but the game is extremely fun nonetheless. The SNES version added Time Trials, a vs. mode, and some bonus levels which sort-of made up for the deficiency. Turtles in Time is just an all-around fun multiplayer beat-em-up, and would be a first day purchase for me.
2) Zombies Ate My Neighbors - 1993
Zombies Ate My Neighbors. I mean, just read that title, how could this game be bad? It’s not. Zombies Ate My Neighbor became a cult classic in the early 1990s when it was released for the SNES and Genesis. Basically, your run around 50+ levels of zombies trying to save your neighbors before they get eaten. The game features both extremely fun co-op play, as well as some ridiculous weapons (squirt guns, bazookas, etc) and finally hilarious spoofs of famous horror films. This game would be a superb addition the VC, and would be a smash hit given the hype about it online.
1) Super Mario Kart - 1992
In 1992, my family spent more time playing Mario Kart than doing anything else. I can pretty much guarantee it. Battle Mode, Vs., 2 player Grand Prix. We played them all, and we played them all a lot. I could probably play Rainbow Road with my eyes closed (OK, probably not, that Rainbow Road was tough). Despite being 2D, this Mario Kart, may in fact be the greatest of the series. The music was phenomenal, the tracks were brilliant, and the gameplay was superb. Super Mario Kart is an absolutely no-brainer to go on the Virtual Console, and would probably be a day-one purchase for most gamers who were old enough to remember playing this awesome game, and would bring in a whole new generation of gamers to see how great Super Mario Kart really was.
Filed under: Video Games | Tagged: Wii, Virtual Console, Nintendo, Video Games, VC, Nintendo Wii, Mario Kart, Mario Kart Wii, Super Mario Kart, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Aerobiz, Aerobiz Supersonic, Shop Channel, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, Turtles in Time, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TMNT, ZAMN, Super Mario RPG, SMRPG
