The Super NES is my favourite console of all time. You knew that already, right? For my money, it was the most perfect combination of hardware and software in gaming history. Nintendo's first-party exclusives are - mostly - beyond compare, but the system brought out the best in others too. Even the worst SNES games usually had a graphical boldness about them which somehow set them apart.
For gamers in the UK, we also have the knowledge that we had the best version of the SNES. Yes, alright, it might've run slightly slower on our PAL TVs than those elsewhere in the world, but we had the rainbow joypad buttons! We had the bouncy curves! The American SNES was austere and unwelcoming in comparison.
Just because some idiot can run fast doesn't mean you'd want to go for a drink with them.
Regardless of whatever territory you were in, the Super NES had the best software line-up that has ever been made available - and Nintendo clearly knows it.
Having learned from the mistakes of last year's NES Classic Mini - too few to go around, and then abruptly yanked from stores - this time the company has seemingly ensured there's enough stock of its successor to meet demand. Well, almost. The point is, mine arrived on release day, and that's really all that matters.
And now? And now is my review of this thing which I am mentioning. Hello!
For gamers in the UK, we also have the knowledge that we had the best version of the SNES. Yes, alright, it might've run slightly slower on our PAL TVs than those elsewhere in the world, but we had the rainbow joypad buttons! We had the bouncy curves! The American SNES was austere and unwelcoming in comparison.
Just because some idiot can run fast doesn't mean you'd want to go for a drink with them.
Regardless of whatever territory you were in, the Super NES had the best software line-up that has ever been made available - and Nintendo clearly knows it.
Having learned from the mistakes of last year's NES Classic Mini - too few to go around, and then abruptly yanked from stores - this time the company has seemingly ensured there's enough stock of its successor to meet demand. Well, almost. The point is, mine arrived on release day, and that's really all that matters.
And now? And now is my review of this thing which I am mentioning. Hello!
STUFFED
You probably know by now that the Super NES Classic Mini comes stuffed with 20 of the best SNES games ever released, and one that never was: the lost "classic" Star Fox 2.
Over the years, the sequel to Star Fox - Star Wing in the UK - has become mythologised to the point that it could never live up to its legend. And, frankly, it doesn't. There are some nice ideas in there - some of which were borrowed for the N64 instalment of the series - but it suffers the same problems as its predecessor.
To wit: Star Fox has not aged well. The polygons are ugly, the frame rate is appalling, and - while it's easy enough to appreciate that these games might've once pointed towards the future - they're mired in the past in a way that is ungainly and unappealing.
You remember how celebrities who dressed in glitter and shiny jumpsuits were once considered consummate entertainers, who appeared on prime time BBC1 shows, but upon reflection are no longer the sort of people you'd want your children hanging out with? Yeah, it's a bit like that.
Somewhat ironically, the two Star Foxes are the games which have dated the worst among this selection. Everything else on the SNES Classic is a sprite-fest, or makes use of the console's then-groundbreaking Mode 7 3D effect.
Consequently, they're prettier to look at and nicer to play.
You probably know by now that the Super NES Classic Mini comes stuffed with 20 of the best SNES games ever released, and one that never was: the lost "classic" Star Fox 2.
Over the years, the sequel to Star Fox - Star Wing in the UK - has become mythologised to the point that it could never live up to its legend. And, frankly, it doesn't. There are some nice ideas in there - some of which were borrowed for the N64 instalment of the series - but it suffers the same problems as its predecessor.
To wit: Star Fox has not aged well. The polygons are ugly, the frame rate is appalling, and - while it's easy enough to appreciate that these games might've once pointed towards the future - they're mired in the past in a way that is ungainly and unappealing.
You remember how celebrities who dressed in glitter and shiny jumpsuits were once considered consummate entertainers, who appeared on prime time BBC1 shows, but upon reflection are no longer the sort of people you'd want your children hanging out with? Yeah, it's a bit like that.
Somewhat ironically, the two Star Foxes are the games which have dated the worst among this selection. Everything else on the SNES Classic is a sprite-fest, or makes use of the console's then-groundbreaking Mode 7 3D effect.
Consequently, they're prettier to look at and nicer to play.
OBVIOUSLY WHAT?
Obviously, the first thing I did when booting up this beautiful little replica of the SNES - which, unlike the NES Classic, comes with two joypads featuring leads that are almost long enough - was play the games I was already familiar with.
Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, F-Zero, Mario Kart, Super Punch-Out, Super Ghouls and Ghosts, Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Secret of Mana... and they haven't disappointed.
Indeed, some of the games I prefer to their more modern instalments. Street Fighter II is something I remain actually quite good at, whereas the series - and the genre - lost me long ago, as the games became overly complex and more about pyrotechnics. Similarly, Donkey Kong Country is a game I felt was overrated at the time, but holds up remarkably well. It's no Yoshi's Island though - for me the high watermark of the Super NES, a perfect balance of gameplay ideas and visuals.
Then there are the games I either missed or never spent enough time with. Contra III I've played since, but missed it first time around. It's alright, but rather unforgiving. Final Fantasy III has surprised me - and reminded me why I lost touch with the franchise, as it tried to grow up and lost its charm.
Mega Man X I'm enjoying far more than I did the first time around. As a young man, it irritated me that Mega Man couldn't duck. Now... such things somehow matter less.
Earthbound I never played before, but I can see why it's regarded so highly, while Super Mario RPG is fun, but a bit laborious.
And then there are two Kirby games... which are fine for what they are.
Obviously, the first thing I did when booting up this beautiful little replica of the SNES - which, unlike the NES Classic, comes with two joypads featuring leads that are almost long enough - was play the games I was already familiar with.
Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, F-Zero, Mario Kart, Super Punch-Out, Super Ghouls and Ghosts, Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Secret of Mana... and they haven't disappointed.
Indeed, some of the games I prefer to their more modern instalments. Street Fighter II is something I remain actually quite good at, whereas the series - and the genre - lost me long ago, as the games became overly complex and more about pyrotechnics. Similarly, Donkey Kong Country is a game I felt was overrated at the time, but holds up remarkably well. It's no Yoshi's Island though - for me the high watermark of the Super NES, a perfect balance of gameplay ideas and visuals.
Then there are the games I either missed or never spent enough time with. Contra III I've played since, but missed it first time around. It's alright, but rather unforgiving. Final Fantasy III has surprised me - and reminded me why I lost touch with the franchise, as it tried to grow up and lost its charm.
Mega Man X I'm enjoying far more than I did the first time around. As a young man, it irritated me that Mega Man couldn't duck. Now... such things somehow matter less.
Earthbound I never played before, but I can see why it's regarded so highly, while Super Mario RPG is fun, but a bit laborious.
And then there are two Kirby games... which are fine for what they are.
AUTHENTICITY
Being able to play in authentic retro-o-vision, record gameplay footage, and save your games at any point are all welcome bonus features of the SNES Classic. I still wish there was a way to return to the menu from the joypad, but at least I've got long legs and can use my toes to press the reset button on the console.
Ultimately, there's little to grumble about here.
I do wish we'd got Legend of the Mystical Ninja (available on the Japanese edition), Pilotwings and Super Tennis - three of my other all-time favourite games - but it's virtually impossible to argue with the line-up that they have made available. For me it's a good mix of classics that I'm already familiar with and am happy to play through again, classics I've never played, and a handful of curios.
Furthermore, the vast bulk of these games have stood the test of time. They're representative of an era where games were about the gameplay, not obsessed with telling some sub-Hollywood or wannabe Tolkien plot. It's easy to dismiss these as the nostalgic ramblings of a dried-up old man, but it also highlights for me how Nintendo has stuck to its guns.
It's not about nostalgia when modern Nintendo games like Arms, Breath of the Wild and Splatoon demonstrate the exact same philosophy of accessibility, warmth, and economy, and - as far as I'm concerned - are all the better for it.
Shame about Star Fox 2, but at least it made the effort to come to the party. Even if it did pull down its pants and do a big blow-off in the punchbowl.
SCORE: ALL THE NOSTALGIA-OUT-OF-10
Being able to play in authentic retro-o-vision, record gameplay footage, and save your games at any point are all welcome bonus features of the SNES Classic. I still wish there was a way to return to the menu from the joypad, but at least I've got long legs and can use my toes to press the reset button on the console.
Ultimately, there's little to grumble about here.
I do wish we'd got Legend of the Mystical Ninja (available on the Japanese edition), Pilotwings and Super Tennis - three of my other all-time favourite games - but it's virtually impossible to argue with the line-up that they have made available. For me it's a good mix of classics that I'm already familiar with and am happy to play through again, classics I've never played, and a handful of curios.
Furthermore, the vast bulk of these games have stood the test of time. They're representative of an era where games were about the gameplay, not obsessed with telling some sub-Hollywood or wannabe Tolkien plot. It's easy to dismiss these as the nostalgic ramblings of a dried-up old man, but it also highlights for me how Nintendo has stuck to its guns.
It's not about nostalgia when modern Nintendo games like Arms, Breath of the Wild and Splatoon demonstrate the exact same philosophy of accessibility, warmth, and economy, and - as far as I'm concerned - are all the better for it.
Shame about Star Fox 2, but at least it made the effort to come to the party. Even if it did pull down its pants and do a big blow-off in the punchbowl.
SCORE: ALL THE NOSTALGIA-OUT-OF-10
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