The SNES is the greatest console of all time

Say hello to the world's best console

(Credit: Wikipedia)

Over the past few months, I decided to go back in time and relive the days of old. Instead of wasting my day doing things that just weren't productive, I decided to get all of my old consoles out (NES, Genesis, SNES, 3DO, 32X, Sega CD, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Playstation 1 and 2 and the Nintendo 64) to finally make the decision on which console is truly the best of all-time (so far).

And while the decision was a difficult one -- it's tough to beat Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros. -- it seemed almost too simple to declare the SNES the greatest console of all-time.

When it comes to gaming, most people will claim (and rightfully so) that Nintendo has been a trailblazer in the industry. Without the company having the courage to bring video games back to the states in the '80s, the chances of us enjoying this multi-billion dollar industry would be slim.

Why not the NES?

And although the NES was a groundbreaking platform that reignited the world's passion for video games, sold over 60 million units and had an outstanding library of games that was led by Super Mario Bros. and Contra (Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start) to just name a few, it couldn't quite stack up to the SNES' ability to bring third-part development, games and overall quality to the industry.

Why not the Genesis?

The Genesis is one of those platforms that most people look back on fondly, but for some reason, it always takes a backseat to the SNES. Let's face it -- the Genesis was a great console that, with the help of Sonic, created the industry's best console war to date. Who can forget the old slogan "Genesis does what Nintendon't" or its backward compatibility with Sega's Master System?

But in the end, the Genesis was rife with peripheral inconsistencies (do I really need the 32X add-on?) and couldn't stack up to the SNES in sheer library size and enjoyment. And although I enjoyed my games on the Genesis and sports games never looked so good to that point, it couldn't quite meet the challenge presented by Nintendo.

Why not the Playstation?

To be quite honest, the only reason I'm even mentioning the Playstation in this discussion is because I know that at least a handful of Sony fanboys will cry foul if I didn't. But the sad truth is, Sony's Playstation is not the greatest console of all time and if I were to rank it, I don't even think it would make the top three.

Let's face it -- when you think about the greatest consoles of all time, you generally remember the times you were forced to leave your SNES running for fear of losing your progress because you could only save at the end of levels or the moments when innovation was truly king in the industry. Call me old-fashioned, but the Playstation simply wasn't the groundbreaking device that the SNES was. Suffice it to say, the Playstation was great in its own right, but it was a product of its time -- a moment in video game history where innovation was losing ground to copycats and graphics meant more than anything else.

So what's so great about the SNES?

Perhaps even more than the games or the hardware, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System did everything you would expect from a follow-up to a wildly popular video game console. In essence, the NES was the building block of American gaming in the '80s and the SNES was first console to be drastically different (and better) than its predecessor.

Beyond that, the SNES was popular well into the 32-bit era of gaming and stood its ground against the Playstation even though the latter was released almost five years later. And although it didn't quite sell nearly as many units as the NES, games like Super Mario World, Super Mario Kart, Donkey Kong Country, Street Fighter II, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and even Mortal Kombat made it a must-buy for gamers all over the world.

But perhaps most importantly, think of the world the SNES spawned. Instead of releasing a veiled copy of the NES to get in on the fight with Sega earlier, Nintendo created a follow-up that was worthy of the 'Super' moniker and gave developers the license they needed to create the legendary titles that we still play today.

And after playing through some of the classics from well over ten years ago, today's gaming just doesn't compare. In fact, I would gladly give up the beauty of Gears of War for just 15 minutes of Donkey Kong Country. Who else is with me?

[sting7k]

N64 is the best. All those games mentioned on SNES are great and will never die. But really their N64 brothers are even better. Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Donky Kong 64, Golden eye, Perfect Dark, 2 Legend of Zeldas that have yet to be surpassed (IMO), and all that with at least a billion other 3rd party titles many which were awesome. I have more games for my N64 than any other console. Donky Kong 64 has to be my fav. of all time, rareware was at the top of their game on this one.

[C_Miner]

I agree with this. While the N64 had its fun/great games, there were really only a few. Didn't come close to the SNES, and neither has much else. The SNES was made in a time where graphics were good enough that you could tell what was going on, but they weren't the main point of the game; Plot and gameplay were.

Even beyond the classics mentioned in the article, there's Megaman, Star Fox, Lufia, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Tales of Phantasia, and of course Chrono Trigger. Many of the games in that time, and many today even, focused so much on graphics that gameplay and storytelling fell by the wayside.

[cyde01]

I'm with you!!!! SNES was the best. Everything else after that just seems like incremental improvements, although I've wondered whether I feel that way simply because I grew up in that era. Many current major franchises got their start on the SNES and many others who started earlier with the NES achieved their current cult status with their SNES versions. The first Mario Kart, DK Country, FF IV-VI, SNES Zelda, the list goes on and on. There hasn't been that much of a leap since then, besides the 3D revolution that followed in the 32 bit era. For the most part, games have only improved with graphics, while gameplay is only marginally improved or sometimes worse than before.

[worddoctor36]

SNES was my first and last console, and I fondly recall Civilization, Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy (which I rented), and many others.

[photographboy]

I've got my Super Famicom plugged in at the moment as I've been replaying some old favourites just recently. I completely agree that it's the best console ever. A close second would be the Dreamcast, but with Super Mario World, Metroid 3, Zelda III, Actraiser, Axelay, Mario Kart, Turtles in Time, Pilotwings, FF6, etc, etc the Super Famicom is impossible to beat.

[kornsterking]

this is by far the WORST and most BIAS game article i've ever read.

the entire article is full of subjective terms like "i", "remember", "i think", "you generally remember". all these terms are used over and over again, a strong sign or a weak article.

you don't go into any facts. you claim the SNES had an great library but never touched on the fact that the PS2 had the LARGEST library in game history.

you clam the SNES to be revolutionary, but left out the fact that the PSX was the FIRST 3D CONSOLE TO MAKE IT.

you claim the SNES deserve best console ever because it succeeded the NES. but never went into the fact that the PS2 succeeded the PSX (which sold more units than the NES) and is the birth child of what is the closest thing to a universal game console.

you haven't brought up any resources, any objective information. your entire article is just about YOUR OPINION based on YOUR memories as a child, nostalgia is one of the worst biases.

i know i sound like a sony fan boy but im not. i don't own a PSX, i got the PS2 when the 360 was launch, i play more 360 and DS than any thing else. i just know my games. i know the history and the culture around games. i can think about game culture on an objective level. you you sir.... obviously can not.

[Trufforce]

in my view N64 and SNES are equal in top place, the only thing that would put SNES ahead is Super Metroid.

[ReyBrujo]

With Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, Terranigma and Lufia 2, and being myself a RPG specialist, there is no doubt the SNES was the best one.

Now I find kornsterking's comment funny. Not because of his rant, but because I said that you were obviously Sony biased (at http://blogs.cnet.com/8601-13506_1-9853559.html?communityId=2017&messageId=300356&pageNum=2#300356 - in another article). No matter what you say, you will always find detractors

[solidsnake2006]

Sorry, but this review is mega bias.

SNES isn't the best console of all time. Just NO.
PS2 has that honor. I am not a Sony fanboy, far from it, I love all consoles.

But PS2 has the biggest and best library of all time with games that rival blockbuster movies in depth, storyline and experience.
You got games such as Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 which are interactive blockbuster movies. Great storyline, allot of heat and gameplay to match it.
RPG's there is Kingom Hearts, Xenosaga, FFX, Dark Cloud 2
Action titles you got Devil May Cry, RE4, God of War
Quirky titles such as Guitaroo Man, Mr.Mosqito,We Love Katamari
FPS well we got Timesplitters, Black,
Scary titles such as Silent Hill
Platformers got Rachet and Clank, Sly Cooper and Jak which all give Mario a run for his money

The PS2 has the most diverse library of all time and includes most of the great classics of old that can be put on the system other than stuff like Metroid,Zelda, Mario all due to being Nintendo property.

But for the PS1 not bringing anything to gaming. PS1 made console gaming mainstream, accepted. It was the first console to really succeed with using disc format (notable exception would be PC Engine CD-Rom). PS1 brought us huge worlds to explore, voice acting unseen before, brought us Hollywood Style epics that are still loved such as FFVII, MGS. PS1 brought gaming into true 3-D, not just blocky graphics along with other such merits. To say PS1 played no significance in gaming is bias, and unprofessional.

[sivartrenrag]

Yeah, mega-bias. I could just as easily say "I'd give up Donkey Kong for 15 minutes of Shenmue" and claim the DC to be the best console ever.

I would claim the DC to be the best console anyway, but that's because I'm a fanboy.

And because it's the best! =D

[darkdreamr]

sorry korn.. but your wrong.. 3d gaming lived on consoles long before the playstation. systems like SNES and 32x utilized 3d engines. althou primitive. still were 3d.

startfox and the other handful of FX chip games brought 3d into console. (unless you count wolfenstein 3d which also was on SNES)

the only thing playstation brought to the table was the mainstreaming of CD consoles. it took what sega and other systems did..and improved on it..

but even 3d platforming wasnt good until n64 came alone with mario 64.

SNES is the most ground breaking system nuff said.

[irulealot]

Two words: Street Fighter II. Oh wait, that's three. DAMN IT!

[nsdjoe]

Retards, of course there is a bias. This is what's known as an EDITORIAL. Jesus.

[TheLastMaster]

Mortal Kombat for the sega genesis is the best video game ever!

[bigbobpop]

you guys are all crazy. the colecovision was the best console ever.

[LocalToast]

I pretty much have to agree with this. The N64 and NES had legendary games, but for me, there's just something about that old system that makes me want to play it the most.

Plus, don't forget the peripherals! Super Scope anyone? 5-player Bomberman? Gameboy games? :P

[skipdog172]

agreed!! SNES=win

[matt187andee]

i would put Neo Geo in the first place seat

[bender77]

For all you PS fan boys please remember that psx was originally Nintendo's development.
SNES is my all time favorite,then the N64.

[nashy008]

I agree with the article being biased, these people must be in there high 20s early 30s and remember it from their childhood...

I think it is the PS2.. It had graphics, decent game collection that continues on even though there is next gen consoles around... The way the console went from opening game to next gen titles was impressive. What impressed me is the fact it has unique games like singstar (cant stand it) guitar hero... They are amazing party games..

Btw.. I owned the Xbox... And sega master system and snes...