Getting an SNES

Realizing that there are many, many classic games for the SNES, and having looked at the prices on used ones (which are staggeringly low, to me, so as to be affordable within a matter of a couple of weeks at the earliest), I've decided that I want one.

I'm not sure if buying one makes sense, though. I know about the emulators, and I have some of the GBA ports. But, damn it, it just looks like fun.

The new game systems coming out look less and less appealing to me as I learn more about them. Funny, that.

What are your thoughts on my getting an SNES, especially considering that Nintendo has officially discontinued servicing the unit?

I already know what games I'd try to get for it, at least initially.

I've been thinking about getting one, they only cost $25 here. Only reason I haven't is because the game selection at the store where they sell SNES isn't very impressive; it's large, but not impressive.

Yes, get one. Don't even think about it, just do it.

The SNES is a classic console, arguably the best of the 16-Bit generation, and easily the one with the most appeal if you like a wide variety of genres and a lot of games in each genre—more RP Gs, fighters, racers, platformers and anything else you can name came out for the SNES than either of its competitors.

Don't believe the myth that "all of the best games got ported to the GBA" because one, that isn't true. Gradius III? The SNES version is not like the arcade one and is therefore unique. R-Type III? The GBA version was a Porting Disaster. In general many of the GBA ports had to reconfigure the controls to account for the GBA having less buttons than the SNES controller, and they didn't always do a good job of it.

Oh, and good games that are SNES exclusives? Demon's Crest? Arcana? Battletoads in Battlemaniacs? Pocky and Rocky 1 and 2? Lagoon? Illusion of Gaia? Super Bomberman 1-3? Earthbound? Castlevania IV? Secret of Mana? Super Metroid? Shadowrun (not the same as the Genesis version)? The list goes on and on. Even if some of these are available thru other means, the difference between playing them on the original hardware and via a port or an emulator, is the difference between reading a novel and seeing its popular hollywood adaptation.

So, once again, yes yes YES get an SNES. Even if you can't find games now, you'll at least have the access for when you do find games.

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Everything Moe Dantes just said. Holy damn, man.

ALL CREATURE WILL DIE AND ALL THE THINGS WILL BE BROKEN. THAT'S THE LAW OF SAMURAI.

Schitzo, you get a cookie just for that avatar. Best one I've seen yet!

*Hands Schitzo a cookie*

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I think this video says it all.

Welcome to th:|

I'd argue that the difference between playing on an emulator and playing on the original hardware is closer to the difference between reading a novel on an e-book and reading it on paper rather than adaptation vs. original. Only if the emulator is configured to be as close to the original output as possible, of course. It's even closer if you use a retro gamepad.

They're called emulators rather than adaptors, after all. You're right about ports, though.

edited 16th Nov '11 7:31:29 PM by Recon5

There are 'fake' (not made by Nintendo) SNES's out there, dunno if they're a better or worse option than getting one of the originals, but it might be something to keep in mind.

Except [condescending response follows]. Because [sarcasm here]. You do understand [snark], right? POTHOLE TO SARCASM MODE

Getting a SNES would be pretty appealing, but I have no idea how to get one. Also, I certainly don't want to get an American one and not just because I'm European *

.

If you have means to get one, get it. Especially if it's an European one.

edited 16th Nov '11 11:04:27 PM by Nyarly

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.

Thank ye, Dantes ^-^

ALL CREATURE WILL DIE AND ALL THE THINGS WILL BE BROKEN. THAT'S THE LAW OF SAMURAI.

Meh, the Mega Drive game was better.

What the hell, Moe Dantes? I know the list isn't meant to be exhaustive, but if you already mention Illusion of Gaia...

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.

Oh yeah, one thing that bears mentioning: The SNES Tales of Phantasia was an awesome game that never got an English translation outside of the butchered GBA version. The only way to play the original in English is through an emulator. The same goes for the first Star Ocean and Secret of Mana 2.

Really, although there are a good many excellent SNES games with an English translation, many of those that earned the system its reputation as the king of RP Gs never made it out of Japan and are only widely known through translated RO Ms.

God, don't remind me of the TOP fan "translation"...

Seriously, whoever thought that it could be improved by unfunny sex jokes deserves to shot.

edited 17th Nov '11 2:49:42 AM by Nyarly

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.

^^^ It may be because it wasn't released in the US. I do agree that it is an awesome game, however.

Also, it's called a SNES.

edited 17th Nov '11 3:41:48 AM by Lemurian

Join us in our quest to play all RPG video games! Moving on to disc 2 of Grandia!

I've never played Terranigma, since until the introduction of Repro carts it required either an emulator or the ability to play PAL games (or read Japanese).

Someone above is saying they should get a European SNES. While aesthetics are nice and all I'm not sure if a Euro one is even usable on an American TV, so if you're in America you're better off getting the American model (which, by the way, can play Japanese games just fine if you remove two tabs in the cartridge slot).

I've never played with any of those clone systems that have been coming out but I've heard that the hardware used sometimes causes small glitches*

and that some games don't work with them. Sometimes they do have an advantage of being multiconsole and/or playing imports without the need to remove anything from the cartridge slot, but that's not hard to do in the first place.

But actual, official SNE Ses are so easy to come by that you might as well just grab the real thing. You might want to post this or something like it at Digitpress since they're experts on the classic gaming scene and can tell you pretty much anything you wanna know.

Erm what? The SNES earned its reputation mostly for the sheer number of RP Gs that were released stateside, in contrast to its nearest competitors, the Genesis/Mega Drive and the PC-Engine/TurboGrafx. The former had only about twenty RP Gs released stateside and the latter, only like a dozen or so, while the SNES had like seventy that got full-blown U.S. releases.

Also, games like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy IV and VI, the first Secret of Mana, the two Soul Blazer games, Breath of Fire 1 and 2, Arcana, Lagoon, Lufia I and II, Robotrek, Earthbound etc. are among games that give the SNES its reputation, and all of those were released officially in English.

edited 17th Nov '11 6:47:59 AM by MoeDantes

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I'm sure that it can be used on American TVs (it uses a NTSC connection but there is a PAL adapter included, like pretty much every console even nowadays), but I just read that the European cartridges are like the Japanese one (not surprisingly, since the European SNES is modeled after the Super Famicom, which is also why it doesn't look so awful), so it's probably rather impractical (although the alterations you mentioned should be possible).

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.

If its modeled after the Super Famicom, then I'd be surprised if American games would even fit in the cartridge slot—Japanese and Euro game carts are a bit smaller than American carts.

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As Moe Dantes said, as I'm in America, and real models appear to be easy to come by, I'll just get an American system. Aesthetics really don't matter to me.

I'm planning on getting games like Earthbound, Bio Metal, Ninja Gaiden I, Street Fighter II, Secrets of Mana, Breath of Fire I, and so on. Largely RP Gs, most likely, but given the huge roster of games across all genres, I intend to branch out into things like Contra, Blackthorne, and Doom. I have Chrono Trigger for DS, and I absolutely love it.