Summary
TheSNESmight be one of the most beloved retro consoles of all time. Many of its games have been ported, remastered, or remade, allowing fans to relive them or introducing them to a younger generation of gamers. With fundamentally sound game design, many SNES games, with just a few tweaks and patches, become easily accessible to modern players.
Some developers go a step further by remaking classic SNES titles from the ground up, adding so much content that the game feels entirely new. Especially with RPGs, the SNES is a gold mine for developers seeking to create high-quality remakes.
10Mega Man Maverick Hunter X
Mega Man Maverick Hunter X allows for more diverse movements compared to the original 8-bit Mega Man games. You can dash, wall jump, and double jump, perfectly capturing the feel of a “new” Mega Man. Unlike later Mega Man X games, Mega Man Maverick Hunter X is free of severe glitches or unfair gameplay.
The original Mega Man X games were light on plot, but Mega Man Maverick Hunter X expands the dialogue and exposition, making the lore more engaging for fans of the later titles. It also lets you play as Vile, X’s main rival, who can shoot missiles at different angles and drop bombs while jumping.
The Kirby series is all about variety, and Kirby Super Star Ultra offers multiple scenarios, each bringing its own style of platforming. It feels like you’re playing 11 different games in one. Some scenarios are remakes of the original Kirby, others feature Metroidvania-style exploration, and a few focus on exciting boss battles with King Dedede or Meta Knight.
In addition to a graphical overhaul, Kirby Super Star Ultra adds four new modes. One standout is Helper to Hero, where you play as one of the helper characters. Many of the new modes are harder versions of older ones, addressing the common criticism of the series' low difficulty. Kirby Super Star Ultra gives seasoned players a challenge that better tests their skills.
8Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
Super Street Fighter II Turbo,the best fighting game on SNES, single-handedly brought arcades back into relevance and redefined the fighting game genre in the 90s.
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix focuses heavily on fundamentals like spacing, zoning, and escaping grappling or fireball traps. It avoids complex meter systems, defensive mechanisms, and lengthy combos, encouraging a return to the basics of the genre.
The HD Remix version also features redrawn sprites in a large, anime-inspired style. It introduces two new characters, Evil Ryu and Violent Ken, along with a rebalanced roster, adding fresh elements to the classic formula.
Super Mario RPGon the SNES stood out for its quirky aesthetic and the use of a platforming icon in an RPG setting. Unlike other SNES RPGs, Super Mario RPG offered more interactive gameplay, with timed button presses to enhance attacks. Despite its small roster, the game features memorable characters, like a humanoid cloud who thinks he’s a frog.
The Switch remake introduces a different visual style, though it allows players to revert to the original 16-bit look. Additionally, it offers the ability to tag inactive party members during battle, adding more strategical depth and more engagement with your roster than the original version.
6Ys: The Oath In Felghana
Ys III: Wanderers From Ys shifted from the series' traditional 2D overhead view to a 2D platforming perspective, similar to Zelda 2. This decision was controversial at the time, but despite the change, the game retained the melee-heavy focus that the Ys series was known for.
Ys: The Oath in Felghana switches to a 3D perspective and rewrites the plot to add more complexity, moving away from the simplistic writing typical of 80s RPGs. The Oath in Felghana delivers fast-paced action and establishes the definitive canon plot of Ys III, offering an updated experience while staying true to the series’ core elements.
One of the most unique games of its time,Live a Liveoffered six different stories to choose from, each serving as a commentary or play on popular tropes in gaming and pop culture of the 90s. These stories range from a mini Street Fighter-like game to a mech-oriented opera.
While Live a Live may lack in customization, exploration, and complex gameplay, it excels in ambitious writing and an unpredictable plot. The original game featured small, undetailed sprites, which have been remade with a bolder and cleaner aesthetic.
Ofall the 2D Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy 4 offers the best balance in terms of story. Prior to Final Fantasy 4, the series' plots were often too archaic, lacking substantial narrative depth. Post-Final Fantasy 4, the stories tended to become convoluted due to multiple plot threads. Final Fantasy 4 features simple yet powerful characters with distinct traits, making the story both memorable and emotionally engaging.
While there is a 3D remake that updates the graphics and alters the dialogue, the PSP version remains true to the original while addressing its shortcomings, such as the inability to change your party and the limited number of side quests. Additionally, the PSP remake includes a sequel story, Final Fantasy 4: The After Years.
Likely the most expansive JRPG of the SNES era,Final Fantasy 6crafted a vast steampunk world with a diverse cast and a plot full of twists and turns. More than any of its predecessors, Final Fantasy 6 Pixel Remaster delivers an epic journey that leaves you feeling accomplished when you reach the credits.
The Pixel Remaster introduces quality-of-life improvements that appeal to modern players, such as increased experience and money gains, and the option to set commands to automatic, which speeds up grinding and battles.
The remastered version also includes a fully recreated legendary soundtrack and key cut scenes, and perhaps the biggest enhancement over the SNES version is the accurate English translation, allowing you to enjoy Final Fantasty 6’s greatest strength, its story.
Most games in theDragon Questseries stick closely to their original formula, which contributes to their consistent good scores but seldom wows non-fans. However, Dragon Quest V introduced the innovation of catching and training monsters you encounter,paving the way for the popular monster-collecting serieslike Dragon Quest Monsters,Digimon, andPokemon.
Dragon Quest V expands your party from three to four members and adds thirty new monsters to catch and train. The game also includes a marriage and breeding component that influences the plot and your party. In the remake, players have the additional option of choosing Debora Briscoletti as a spouse.
A tactics RPG that surpasses Final Fantasy Tactics in both complexity and choices, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together is collosal in scope. It offers numerous paths through dialogue, giving its mature plot substantial replay value.
Even a single playthrough can last up to 100 hours. The PSP remake introduces a “World Tarot” feature, allowing players to revisit and alter previous choices to explore different outcomes. Gameplay improvements include more items similar to Phoenix Downs and a three-turn timer to rescue dying teammates during battles.
Additionally, the remake enhances the visuals, addressing the blurry and clumsy aesthetics of the SNES version.
