Steven's Obscure Super Famicom Impressions Thread (Top 50 countdown + closing remarks)

[Steven]

Down to the final five!

50: Battle Cross
49: Mickey Tokyo Disneyland
48: Little Magic
47: Rendering Ranger: R2
46: Violinist of Hamelin
45: Super Back to the Future II
44: Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun
43: Keeper
42: Ghost Sweeper Mikami
41: Go Go Ackman
40: Poko Nyan!
39: Araiguma Rascal
38: Super Tekkyu Fight!
37: Ganbare Daiku no Gensan
36: Power Soukoban
35: The Firemen
34: Super Genjin 2
33: Super Bomberman Panic Bomber World
32: BS Shockman
31: Majyuuou
30: Mickey and Donald: Magical Adventure 3
29: Ghost Chaser Densei
28: Magical Pop'n
27: Pop'n Twinbee Rainbow Bell Adventures
26: Pop'n Smash
25: Sanrio World Smash Ball!
24: Spark World
23: Super Bomberman 5
22: SD F-1 Grand Prix
21: Dossun! Ganseki Battle
20: Puzzle'n Desu!
19: Sutte Hakkun
18: Gundam Wing: Endless Duel
17: Pro Yakyuu Star
16: BS Zelda
15: Deae Tonosama Appare Ichiban
14: Umihara Kawase
13: Clock Tower
12: Rockman & Forte
11: Super Soukoban
10: Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium
9: Godzilla: Kaijuu Daikessen
8: Otoboke Ninja Colosseum
7: DoReMi Fantasy
6: Zen Nippon Pro Wrestling 2: 3-4 Budokan

#5: TSUYOSHI SHIKKARI SHINASAI TAISEN PUZZLE-DAMA



In the early 2000s I bought a rare Saturn puzzle game by the name of Chibi Maruko Chan No Taisen Pazurudama. It became one of my instant favorites. The bright colors, the whimsical atmosphere and the charming characters really brought that puzzle game to life for me. So when I found out in 2006 that Konami made its "prequel" for the Super Famicom, I knew I had to see if the first game had the magic touch as well. I dare call Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinasai Taisen Puzzle-dama Konami's best kept SNES secret. It plays like an early beta version of Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. Select from one of 10 characters, each with their own block patterns, and duel it out to the death. The combos can get rather insane. It's not uncommon to pull off (near) double digit chain reactions. Match 3 (or more) like color faces to make a connection. Think Puyo Puyo but much more forgiving since it's 3 to match rather than 4. It's also made more forgiving because debris come in the form of imprisoned pieces. When you make a match next to an imprisoned block, it releases whatever piece is inside. You can thereby imagine the insane domino effect this may achieve. Sure, some may say it's way too easy to fall into big combos rather than skillfully and masterfully crafting them, but it also makes the battles a bit unpredictable. Skill still wins out (most of the time) but there's a certain luck and timing factor that plays a role too, and I like that actually.



Unlike many of the other games on this countdown, Tsuyoshi is going for peanuts even in 2016. Literally. I see two copies selling on eBay for a BIN price of $2 as of this writing. Two freaking bucks! It's definitely worth that and more. However, the game isn't without a few blemishes. One, it's a bit weak in the graphical department. Now I know puzzle games aren't known for their impressive visuals generally speaking, but the somewhat drab looking green background seen here isn't all that appealing. Thankfully though, the character animations in the background help to negate this negative somewhat. You feel their emotions when they're celebrating a big combo as well as when they're wincing in pain and anguish. Secondly, the pieces aren't as operational as in other puzzle games. You know how when you have two pieces going down a narrow column you can usually switch them, right? But in this game, once you go down a column where you're sandwiched in-between blocks on either side there is no more switching allowed. This may annoy puzzle fans who are used to a little more operational freedom with their blocks. However, it's not a deal breaker for me (obviously since I have it ranked this high). It's still an awesome puzzle game despite these two small blemishes. And in my book it's one of the best SNES puzzle games ever made. It's probably not a stretch to suggest that this is arguably the best Konami SNES game hardly anyone ever talks about.


The even superior "sequel" on the Sega Saturn

[Steven]

FINAL FOUR! I'll list the top 3 later this week -- either Thursday-Saturday or Friday-Sunday.

50: Battle Cross
49: Mickey Tokyo Disneyland
48: Little Magic
47: Rendering Ranger: R2
46: Violinist of Hamelin
45: Super Back to the Future II
44: Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun
43: Keeper
42: Ghost Sweeper Mikami
41: Go Go Ackman
40: Poko Nyan!
39: Araiguma Rascal
38: Super Tekkyu Fight!
37: Ganbare Daiku no Gensan
36: Power Soukoban
35: The Firemen
34: Super Genjin 2
33: Super Bomberman Panic Bomber World
32: BS Shockman
31: Majyuuou
30: Mickey and Donald: Magical Adventure 3
29: Ghost Chaser Densei
28: Magical Pop'n
27: Pop'n Twinbee Rainbow Bell Adventures
26: Pop'n Smash
25: Sanrio World Smash Ball!
24: Spark World
23: Super Bomberman 5
22: SD F-1 Grand Prix
21: Dossun! Ganseki Battle
20: Puzzle'n Desu!
19: Sutte Hakkun
18: Gundam Wing: Endless Duel
17: Pro Yakyuu Star
16: BS Zelda
15: Deae Tonosama Appare Ichiban
14: Umihara Kawase
13: Clock Tower
12: Rockman & Forte
11: Super Soukoban
10: Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium
9: Godzilla: Kaijuu Daikessen
8: Otoboke Ninja Colosseum
7: DoReMi Fantasy
6: Zen Nippon Pro Wrestling 2: 3-4 Budokan
5: Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinasai Taisen Puzzle-dama

#4: TETRIS BATTLE GAIDEN



Released on Christmas Eve of 1993, Tetris Battle Gaiden is the best Super Famicom puzzle game never to hit North American shores. If it did back in 1994, there's no doubt in my mind this game today would have been more fondly remembered and heralded as one of the system's finest two player games. It's Tetris with a quirky twist. Choose from one of eight characters. Each one has four different skills and abilities. These skills are activated when you acquire points and decide to "cash in." To acquire said points, you must clear a line containing a crystal. Some blocks contain a flashing crystal. Each cleared crystal grants you one point, and up to four can be held at any one time. The skills and powers range from defensive measures to offensive attacks. Another interesting feature: players share pieces from one queue rather than two. That means you can "steal" a piece your opponent may desperately need. This makes paying attention 3-4 moves in advance all the more critical. Few things are as satisfying as "blockblocking" your opponent. To snatch that long tetris piece right before they can is a true thing of beauty. Well, maybe that's second only to sabotaging the competition with one of your special attacks!



To top the package off, there are two other modes available: classic Tetris with none of that crystal business (for the purists out there who prefer their Tetris sans gimmick) and Rensa. Rensa is where gravity is taken into account and pieces fall if suspended in mid-air (except crystal pieces). This can produce some nice chain reactions. These three game modes are unique enough to make it feel like three games in one. Throw in the eight characters and a total of 32 skills and powers... and what you have is an amazing game bursting with insane replay value. To further enhance the overall appeal of the game, the visuals are impressive for a puzzle game. Bright, bold and rich colors along with some amazing art work makes it one slick looking puzzler. The music is pretty catchy as well and there are a few tunes I'm particularly fond of.



How do you make Tetris, a proven classic formula, even better? Bullet Proof Software showed us how. Give us the original Tetris mode but then throw in two drastically different modes, toss in eight playable characters with their own unique special skills and of course round everything off with a dash of that impeccable Japanese charm. While I love me some classic Tetris, the "Battlis" mode here really makes for some entertaining contests that breathes new life into the Tetris brand. If you for whatever reason have yet to play this and you enjoy Tetris in the least, it's a no brainer to try. I can't guarantee you'll like it as much as I do -- I know a few folks who just couldn't connect with either the Battlis or Rensa modes. But hey, there's always the classic Tetris mode if you're more into a no frills kind of Tetris. Myself, I love the added crazy gimmicks of Battlis/Rensa. And it's nice to know I'll always have the original mode in my back pocket for those days I'm feeling super old school. Tetris Battle Gaiden, as far as puzzle games on the Super Famicom go, is the cream of the crop and in a class all its own.


Super Play loved it, ranking it #24 on their Top 100 SNES games list

[celerystalker]

Pretty sure I can figure out most of the rest from having read your site and what hasn't popped up yet... there's good stuff coming either way!

I'd have to disagree about this being the best non-US puzzler, though... I love me some Super Nazo Puyo!

[Steven]

Pretty sure I can figure out most of the rest from having read your site and what hasn't popped up yet... there's good stuff coming either way!

I'd have to disagree about this being the best non-US puzzler, though... I love me some Super Nazo Puyo!

I think one is pretty obvious but the other two are shocking choices. You can call them bracket busters, heh. As for Super Nazo Puyo, I like that one too and can easily see how you prefer it above all other SFC puzzlers. For me though, it's not too far different from Kirby's Avalanche (which I enjoy a good deal). I tend to prefer the more "unique" SFC titles. There's nothing like Tetris Battle Gaiden on NA SNES so that scores extra brownie points with me. If there were no Kirby's Avalanche then Super Nazo Puyo would have easily made this list.

[celerystalker]

I think one is pretty obvious but the other two are shocking choices. You can call them bracket busters, heh. As for Super Nazo Puyo, I like that one too and can easily see how you prefer it above all other SFC puzzlers. For me though, it's not too far different from Kirby's Avalanche (which I enjoy a good deal). I tend to prefer the more "unique" SFC titles. There's nothing like Tetris Battle Gaiden on NA SNES so that scores extra brownie points with me. If there were no Kirby's Avalanche then Super Nazo Puyo would have easily made this list.

The thing for me about Super Nazo Puyo is the hundreds of unique puzzle setups and adventure mode. It's actually a really similar format to Battlis... classic Puyo Puyo with all new modes that really switch it up. Both are great, though. Looking forward to those bracket busters... curious if they'll be ones I have. SNES is my favorite as well, and it's always fun to see what games other big fans enjoy, and I've enjoyed your content for years.

[Steven]

#3 is a true "bracket buster." By the way, this post is dedicated to the memory of Craig Sager. He passed away yesterday at the age of 65. The basketball world lost a legendary sideline reporter who touched lives everywhere he went with his infectious smile, positive vibes and outlandish wardrobe. Rest in Peace, Sages.



50: Battle Cross
49: Mickey Tokyo Disneyland
48: Little Magic
47: Rendering Ranger: R2
46: Violinist of Hamelin
45: Super Back to the Future II
44: Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun
43: Keeper
42: Ghost Sweeper Mikami
41: Go Go Ackman
40: Poko Nyan!
39: Araiguma Rascal
38: Super Tekkyu Fight!
37: Ganbare Daiku no Gensan
36: Power Soukoban
35: The Firemen
34: Super Genjin 2
33: Super Bomberman Panic Bomber World
32: BS Shockman
31: Majyuuou
30: Mickey and Donald: Magical Adventure 3
29: Ghost Chaser Densei
28: Magical Pop'n
27: Pop'n Twinbee Rainbow Bell Adventures
26: Pop'n Smash
25: Sanrio World Smash Ball!
24: Spark World
23: Super Bomberman 5
22: SD F-1 Grand Prix
21: Dossun! Ganseki Battle
20: Puzzle'n Desu!
19: Sutte Hakkun
18: Gundam Wing: Endless Duel
17: Pro Yakyuu Star
16: BS Zelda
15: Deae Tonosama Appare Ichiban
14: Umihara Kawase
13: Clock Tower
12: Rockman & Forte
11: Super Soukoban
10: Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium
9: Godzilla: Kaijuu Daikessen
8: Otoboke Ninja Colosseum
7: DoReMi Fantasy
6: Zen Nippon Pro Wrestling 2: 3-4 Budokan
5: Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinasai Taisen Puzzle-dama
4: Tetris Battle Gaiden

#3: DREAM BASKETBALL: DUNK & HOOP



In October of 1994, EGM ran a preview on a Super Famicom street ball title by the name of Dream Basket Dunk & Hoop. It very well might have been my first exposure to Engrish. I just know the funky title immediately caught my eye as did the game pictures (blurry as they were... God were things different back in 1994, lol). I remember thinking I couldn't wait to play it as soon as it hits North American shores. But of course it never did. And then I eventually fell out of favor with the SNES before donating it to my cousin circa late 1998 / early 1999. Years later, 2006 to be precise, I experienced a massive SNES resurrection. I was on the hunt for all my old favorite games, as well as ones I never got to play but always wanted to. One evening my mind recalled Dream Basket Dunk & Hoop. The rest is history. So, what is it that I like so much about this game?



Sure it's got your standard 5 on 5 mode, but what really drew me to the EGM preview was the blurry screenshot of a 3 on 3 street ball mode. At that time I was just beginning my fascination with the sport of basketball (a hobby I would explore deeper in my teenage and early college years). I was always fascinated by the idea of a 3 on 3 street basketball game. This game did not disappoint. While it's got its fair share of flaws (too easy to steal the ball, block shots, hell you can even legally goaltend, and the music isn't too hot), this game is simply mad fun. I've never played a basketball game before where making a shot was so based on timing. Being that it's from Human, go figure, right? If you release the ball at the very peak of your jump, your odds of swishing the shot go up significantly. Likewise, any other deviation from the absolute peak of your jump often times result in a brick (or it may rattle the rim for a bit before going through the hoop). It's a satisfying feeling to time it just right and see and hear that SWISH. Incredibly satisfying. To boot, there are stats and fun energy bars done in a Marvel 1991 trading card style that really connects with me. It never gets old flipping through the players to see how they stack up!



The 3 on 3 mode is truly where it's at. In this mode you can play on two different courts, but Human even threw in some little tricks. On one court if you enter SUNSET or YONAKA (Japanese for midnight) then you can unlock exactly that. There's a simple yet elegant gorgeousness to these settings that speak to my soul in ways I cannot explain. Maybe it's because it brings back memories of playing ball with my buddies late at midnight, or even getting up early in the morning playing ball right as the sun breaks over the horizon... those old school memories wrapped up in this old mind... it touches a sweet spot and takes me back to the days where I was balling with my friends without a single care in the world.



But Human didn't stop there. At the versus screen if you press on the d-pad it will change the color of the courts. Not only can you do up, down, left or right, but in typical Human fashion (think Fire Pro and all its combinations) you can even do up-left, up-right, or down-left or down-right to select all sorts of different colors. Also, you can pick from four different basketball colors. It's just colors we're talking here but it's these little touches that add up to make this one of my all time favorite games, period. Yeah, call me crazy but we all have that one game that clicks deep in our soul for one reason or another that won't click with the masses. It's our special game. Our... spirit animal in video game form, if you will. The NBA Jams and NBA Lives of the world are technically far superior basketball games, but for outright fun I'll take this game over any other bball title on the SNES. That's what I love about video games. There are so many games out there -- you never know when a game that's largely been forgotten and hardly ever talked about grabs your heart by the strings and refuses to let go. It's been 10 years since I bought Dream Basketball: Dunk & Hoop, and I still find myself playing it frequently. Did so again last night in honor of Craig Sager. It never gets old for me. And that's why this completely unexpected "bracket buster" (har har) ranks #3 in my personal book.

[FieryReign]

Damn, didn't know Sages died. He wore the craziest pimp suits. This cancer junk is getting crazy. It's gotta be something they're putting in food, air, etc.

I remember that egm preview. Never knew the game was any good.

[Steven]

Speaking of bRACKET busters...

50: Battle Cross
49: Mickey Tokyo Disneyland
48: Little Magic
47: Rendering Ranger: R2
46: Violinist of Hamelin
45: Super Back to the Future II
44: Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun
43: Keeper
42: Ghost Sweeper Mikami
41: Go Go Ackman
40: Poko Nyan!
39: Araiguma Rascal
38: Super Tekkyu Fight!
37: Ganbare Daiku no Gensan
36: Power Soukoban
35: The Firemen
34: Super Genjin 2
33: Super Bomberman Panic Bomber World
32: BS Shockman
31: Majyuuou
30: Mickey and Donald: Magical Adventure 3
29: Ghost Chaser Densei
28: Magical Pop'n
27: Pop'n Twinbee Rainbow Bell Adventures
26: Pop'n Smash
25: Sanrio World Smash Ball!
24: Spark World
23: Super Bomberman 5
22: SD F-1 Grand Prix
21: Dossun! Ganseki Battle
20: Puzzle'n Desu!
19: Sutte Hakkun
18: Gundam Wing: Endless Duel
17: Pro Yakyuu Star
16: BS Zelda
15: Deae Tonosama Appare Ichiban
14: Umihara Kawase
13: Clock Tower
12: Rockman & Forte
11: Super Soukoban
10: Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium
9: Godzilla: Kaijuu Daikessen
8: Otoboke Ninja Colosseum
7: DoReMi Fantasy
6: Zen Nippon Pro Wrestling 2: 3-4 Budokan
5: Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinasai Taisen Puzzle-dama
4: Tetris Battle Gaiden
3: Dream Basketball: Dunk & Hoop



#2: SUPER FAMILY TENNIS



Unlike Dream Basketball: Dunk & Hoop, I don't have much of a history with this next game. It was never a game I saw previewed in a magazine that I wondered about for 12 years. I bought it as part of a large lot from JapanGameStock back in late 2006 because it was super cheap. I never played it until about two years ago. We always hear about how great Super Tennis is, and how it's the best tennis title on the Super Nintendo. Super Family Tennis doesn't get much props. So I was completely caught off guard by how AWESOME this game turned out to be! I think it's even better than Super Tennis. Let's see, the control is smooth as hell, a four player option is included and some of the court designs are completely bonkers, filled with amusing gimmicks and sight gags. Plus it has that inexplicable Japanese charm to it. Look no further than knocking the ball into a tranquil pond in front of a Japanese Shinto shrine (complete with a traditional Torii gate). Or smashing the ball so hard against a coconut tree that it drops a coconut on a bystander's head, completely taking the poor sap out. It's these quirky details that I always enjoy seeing in a video game. It doesn't make a game, but it certainly puts a nice finishing touch on things that leaves you with a positive lasting impression.



The best thing about Super Family Tennis though is how fun it is, and how it doesn't take things too seriously. Anyone can pick this up and play. It's a lot more forgiving than Super Tennis. When you mess up, you know it's on you and not the controls. It's a total blast with four players, and it packs a ton of non/casual gamer appeal. It's something that your friends or significant other can easily pick up and play with you, even if video games typically aren't "their thing." There are 20 characters to choose from, all with varying skills and abilities. Nothing's better than making a clutch last second diving save and having the ball sail over the head of your opponent while just BARELY staying in bounds. Let the trash talking commence!




It should be noted that this game really doesn't have any music. Instead, it relies on ambient sound effects. And it works. From the soothing crashing waves of the ocean to the echo chamber sounds of the mountain stage, there is sort of a surreal feel to this game that wouldn't be the same had there been music to boot. And as an aside, this game was released in Europe as "Smash Tennis." All in all, Super Family Tennis quickly became one of my all time favorites after I finally played it about two years ago. At first I thought, "Nah, it's probably just the initial rush of discovering an "obscure gem" this late into my fandom." So I played it some more. And more. After a couple months passed and I found myself constantly playing it with a smile on my face, it reaffirmed to me that this was no flash in the pan. Rather, this is the kind of game (God willing) that I'll probably still play (and love) 10, 20 years from now. It's that good, and it's that damn fun. Its wacky sense of humor, outrageous court designs, super smooth control, 20 different characters and surreal sound makes Super Family Tennis a definite smash hit for the whole family.

[celerystalker]

I remember having a brief exchange on here about this game here in a thread about hidden modes, as I had brought up Super Family Tennis having its drama story mode. Have you messed with it yet?

[Steven]

I remember having a brief exchange on here about this game here in a thread about hidden modes, as I had brought up Super Family Tennis having its drama story mode. Have you messed with it yet?

Not yet, but I need to try it soon. It'll probably make me love the game even more than I already do

[celerystalker]

Not yet, but I need to try it soon. It'll probably make me love the game even more than I already do

Here's a link to the posts with the code to access that mode. I thought I'd remembered talking to you about it before! I'd love to hear what you think when you do!

[Steven]

Here's a link to the posts with the code to access that mode. I thought I'd remembered talking to you about it before! I'd love to hear what you think when you do!

Thanks man. Hey look, you were the reason/inspiration for me to finally play Super Family Tennis!

Huh! I had no idea such an intriguing code existed, lol. Do you know what the code is exactly?
Also, is it basically unenjoyable to play this mode if one does not read Japanese? Or is there little to no text in this graphic novel mode?

I bought SFT like 9 years ago. Still haven't gotten around to playing it but you might have just inspired me to pick it up soon

That was written October 2015. I played SFT soon thereafter for the first time ever and fell in love with it so much that I forgot to try out the drama mode code, lol. Oops, I said "about two years ago" in my entry post above but it's been more like one year ago... feels like two though

Dude, thanks for getting me off my butt to finally play it! It quickly rose the ranks and is now one of my absolute favorites on the system. Who knew a silly little tennis title could be so much fun? And yeah, I'll definitely let you know my thoughts on the drama mode once I get around to it. Probably will after I finish this list off tomorrow (er, later today now, lol).

[celerystalker]

As much as you've helped other folks find new stuff to try, I'm happy to have been able to give you a nudge on one you had. I agree that it's criminally underrated, along with its Turbografx cousin, World Court Tennis, that has the crazy Dragon Warrior-style RPG mode. Namco made the heck out of some of the most interesting and underrated tennis games...

[goldenband]

Namco made the heck out of some of the most interesting and underrated tennis games...

Absolutely agreed. Family Tennis is the best tennis game on the Famicom by far, and World Court Tennis on the TG-16 uses the same engine and is a blast to play. Namco's PlayStation games seem to be head and shoulders better than most of the tennis offerings on that system.

I haven't tried Super Family Tennis yet (other than a brief 5-minute play session some time ago) but look forward to doing so! How often does the game let you save/give you a password? Does the PAL version translate the drama story mode?

It wouldn't surprise me at all if Super Family Tennis is the best tennis game on the Super Famicom. The Jimmy Connors game is OK but monotonous, David Crane's is actually pretty good in a quirky way but has no bells or whistles to speak of, and Andre Agassi Tennis is a joke.

Super Tennis is fun for a while but I hate the way you constantly have to rein in your shots -- you can never really "hit out" in that game -- and once you learn the patterns it's just too easy. International Tour Tennis drags on and on; I liked the Genesis version (Davis Cup Tennis) but the SNES release doesn't seem to play as well -- it's the only SNES tennis game released in NA that I haven't beaten.

As for the SFC exclusives, I played Ace wo Nerae! a bit -- the first-person view is bizarre, but the "regular" view is far more playable. Haven't played the Kimiko Date game, Super Final Match Tennis, or Final Set Tennis. I think that's all of 'em on the SNES/SFC?

[Steven]

As for the SFC exclusives, I played Ace wo Nerae! a bit -- the first-person view is bizarre, but the "regular" view is far more playable. Haven't played the Kimiko Date game, Super Final Match Tennis, or Final Set Tennis. I think that's all of 'em on the SNES/SFC?

I was a bit disappointed by Super Final Match Tennis. It's made by Human and I got 3 of their SFC games in my top 13, so I had high hopes for SFMT. The controls simply feel a bit off. And for a tennis title, that is the kiss of death. Don't get me wrong, I like a lot of things about it, such as the presentation and stats, but the gameplay isn't the best and that's disappointing coming from Human.

I think you'll definitely enjoy Super Family Tennis once you get around to trying it!

---

Well guys, this is it. We've finally come to number one. I'll post a few honorable mentions tomorrow and wrap it all up with a few final thoughts then, but for now, let's take a look at what I consider my all time favorite Super Famicom obscure exclusive.

50: Battle Cross
49: Mickey Tokyo Disneyland
48: Little Magic
47: Rendering Ranger: R2
46: Violinist of Hamelin
45: Super Back to the Future II
44: Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun
43: Keeper
42: Ghost Sweeper Mikami
41: Go Go Ackman
40: Poko Nyan!
39: Araiguma Rascal
38: Super Tekkyu Fight!
37: Ganbare Daiku no Gensan
36: Power Soukoban
35: The Firemen
34: Super Genjin 2
33: Super Bomberman Panic Bomber World
32: BS Shockman
31: Majyuuou
30: Mickey and Donald: Magical Adventure 3
29: Ghost Chaser Densei
28: Magical Pop'n
27: Pop'n Twinbee Rainbow Bell Adventures
26: Pop'n Smash
25: Sanrio World Smash Ball!
24: Spark World
23: Super Bomberman 5
22: SD F-1 Grand Prix
21: Dossun! Ganseki Battle
20: Puzzle'n Desu!
19: Sutte Hakkun
18: Gundam Wing: Endless Duel
17: Pro Yakyuu Star
16: BS Zelda
15: Deae Tonosama Appare Ichiban
14: Umihara Kawase
13: Clock Tower
12: Rockman & Forte
11: Super Soukoban
10: Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium
9: Godzilla: Kaijuu Daikessen
8: Otoboke Ninja Colosseum
7: DoReMi Fantasy
6: Zen Nippon Pro Wrestling 2: 3-4 Budokan
5: Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinasai Taisen Puzzle-dama
4: Tetris Battle Gaiden
3: Dream Basketball: Dunk & Hoop
2: Super Family Tennis



#1: BS OUT OF BOUNDS GOLF



My favorite Super Famicom exclusive game of all time is BS Out of Bounds Golf. Ever since I saw EGM's preview of it back in 1994 I have been curious about it. In 2006 I got back into the SNES scene and went hunting for a copy. Much to my chagrin it turns out the game was cancelled and never released on a physical cartridge. Alas, it did come out via the Satellaview Broadcast device... a Japan downloading service in the late '90s. Thanks to the modern wonders of technology, it's possible to experience this fine gem on a real TV using your real SNES. As if it came out on cartridge all those years ago. Ah, technology. So what makes BS Out of Bounds Golf so awesome? The fact that it allows up to four players to compete and you even have the ability to knock your opponent's ball out of bounds (hence the name of the game). Of course, knocking them out of bounds will cost them precious stroke points. Or even just blocking their path is wicked fun. The battles get competitive and cutthroat like few other SNES multiplayer games can match. Also, because one player plays at a time, it's a more methodical multiplayer experience, but I find it works refreshingly well. There is a ton of strategy, scouting and sabotaging involved here. It's Schadenfreude at its finest (or worst...)



There are three modes to select from, as well as 12 characters. Among these 12 characters include two felines. That right away tells you the developer (NCS, who also made Cybernator) didn't take themselves too seriously, which is nice as back in the mid '90s golf games tended to be a little too dull. This one was full of personality and I'm positive had it been released in the US back in 1994 that today we would see it on more SNES recommendation lists.



After selecting your character you get to pick your theme. There are six themed worlds in all, with each world home to 8 courses. There are 48 courses total, and they range from a beach setting to even outer space. What makes this game so much fun is the amount of options you have. Just look at the process of hitting the ball. First, you get to select from a power meter of 1 to 100. This becomes oddly compelling in its own right. Do you use 47 or 52? 77 or 79? 91 or 95? Sometimes one point off can prove to be the difference between glorious victory and crushing defeat. It's a thrill to see your ball barely crawl into the hole. On the flip side, nothing is more embarrassing than misjudging the power meter by one point and seeing your ball a mere centimeter shy of the goal! After selecting your power, you then get to choose from one of 17 (!) different strike points on the ball. Much like pool, these strike points will determine the trajectory of your shot. While you'll be using the dead center shot most of the time, there will be instances where using the trajectory shots skillfully is essential to winning. It's kind of like a game-within-a-game. You're not only battling three rivals, but you're battling yourself. And it works like absolute gangbusters!



Check this out. One spot. But there are four ways to make the shot. First way: straight ahead shot.



Second way: curving to the right.



Third way: curving to the left.



Fourth way: trick shot city -- off the plate bumper ricochet into the cup. Beautiful!

There are even weather effects and power ups. Gift boxes are strewn across the courses. Touch one and get a random power up. There are at least 11, ranging from being able to control your ball after hitting it to randomly switching all the balls in play. That means you could possibly swap places with a rival who is near the cup and send them way back to the beginning of a course! Like I said earlier, sabotage is the name of the game. It gives it a Super Mario Kart-esque feel. Also, each of the 48 courses have four different cup destinations. These are randomly generated so you can't master a course simply by memorizing a certain "playbook" so to speak. It speaks to the game's brilliance that there are nearly 200 possible scenarios here. Add in the 17 strike points, the power meter and the power ups and you get a game that feels slightly different each time you play it. Oh, and don't even get me started on some of the short cuts on some of the courses. More shades of Super Mario Kart, which is never a bad thing



Not much else needs to be said about BS Out of Bounds Golf. I absolutely love it and find it to be a total riot with three friends in tow. Expect a lot of cursing, laughing, cheering and taunting. It brings out the best and worst in people and it's kind of amusing to see individual personalities come out in their truest forms. There's no other game quite like this on the SNES. By the way, a fan translation recently came out (February 2016) so what little Japanese there was is now all in English. The game is entitled "I Love Golf" which I find to be highly appropriate. I love BS Out of Bounds Golf, and if you haven't played it yet, I think there's a good chance you will, too.

[celerystalker]

Great countdown, Steve! I especially enjoyed your story about watching the NBA at Radio Shack. Those kinds of memories really are what sets your stuff apart from the average reviewer. Awesome! Also, I appreciate that you aren't afraid to embrace sports games. I figured BS Out of Bounds would be in your top 5, as it's one I've seen you tout in the past, but there were a lot of surprises to be sure! So many folks now have turned on sports games, even including myself to an extent, but I still love several classic sports titles.

Just on the chance you haven't tried them, as I haven't seen you cover these yet, here are a couple of personal favorites I think you may enjoy yet that meet your criteria for this list (no RPGs, etc.).

Psycho Dream- an action platformer from Telenet that feels like a spiritual successor to Valis. Plays like Valis III with SNES flair.

Super Gussun Oyoyo- I could have sworn I've seen you talk about this before, but maybe I'm just wrong. It's an awesome action puzzle game where you have to save kiddos while guiding your character to the exit by placing falling blocks. Has a cool 2 player mode as well.

Shin Nekketsu Kouha Kunio: Tachi no Banka- great beat 'em up with levels that inspired Super Mad Champ.

Super Variable Geo- one on one fighter about waitress battles with tight controls and great graphics.

Bastard!- totally unique 1 on 1 anime-based fighter. Once you get a habdle on its strange magic controls, it's awesome.

Choaniki Bakaretsu Rantouden- insane fighting game where everyone flies... plus there's men's beams firing everywhere.

Hashire Hebereke- fun little isometric racer with Hebereke characters running about.

Sugoi Hebereke- 4 player top-down fighter featuring the Hebereke cast.

Popoitto Hebereke- like an update to Dr Mario where the viruses can move.

Donald Duck: Mahou no Boshi- solid Disney platformer that's Barcode Battler compatible for some Game Genie-esque effects.

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon- solid brawler that plays better on Genesis, but at least has co-op on SFC.

Battle Dodgeball 1 & 2- dodgeball offshoot of the Super Robot Wars series that also has Ultra Man and Kamen Rider characters. Also has a crazy RPG mode that's pretty awesome. There's a soccer game as well.

Anyway, those are just a handful I think you may dig if you aren't already familiar with them. Again, awesome countdown, I always love your stuff! Keep it up!

[FieryReign]

3 sports games at the top of your list. Back when sports games were fun and not just overly animated yearly updates. Even EAs output was great at the time, aside from their baseball games.

[MachineGex]

Love this choice!
I remember when we offered a bounty for someone to fix this game so it would load on the PowerPak. I still play this with my son. I have tried a few times to get someone to make me a cart for this, but no one seems to know how. You ever get this on a cart?

[Steven]

Hey everyone, first of all I want to say sorry for not following up. After listing my #1 "obscure" Super Famicom exclusive game on December 19, I said I'd follow up with some honorable mentions and closing remarks. Well truth be told, this project was quite exhausting (as much as I had fun making it). So I just needed some time to mentally decompress. I mean, the top 50 list ran for over 3 months! I needed a few weeks to just unwind.

I didn't list any of the Parodius games because honestly I'm not the biggest fan of it. They're good, but never been my cup of tea.

My 5 honorable mentions:

Flying Hero
Iron Commando
Jaki Crush
Ranma ½: Chougi Rambu Hen
Undercover Cops

Great countdown, Steve! I especially enjoyed your story about watching the NBA at Radio Shack. Those kinds of memories really are what sets your stuff apart from the average reviewer. Awesome! Also, I appreciate that you aren't afraid to embrace sports games. I figured BS Out of Bounds would be in your top 5, as it's one I've seen you tout in the past, but there were a lot of surprises to be sure! So many folks now have turned on sports games, even including myself to an extent, but I still love several classic sports titles.

Thank you, Celery. Those are very kind words and I appreciate them! I haven't played some of those games you listed, but I'm aware of them and some of them definitely look appealing. Thanks for posting those titles for me and others to check out!

3 sports games at the top of your list. Back when sports games were fun and not just overly animated yearly updates. Even EAs output was great at the time, aside from their baseball games.

Right?! I find sports games get a bit of a bad rep, even certain 16-bit titles. When done right, they're extremely replay-able, and that's one of the big reasons why my top 3 are sports games -- I can and do play them often and at the drop of a random hat.

Love this choice!
I remember when we offered a bounty for someone to fix this game so it would load on the PowerPak. I still play this with my son. I have tried a few times to get someone to make me a cart for this, but no one seems to know how. You ever get this on a cart?

Haha, I do too! Those were some good community times! It was kiddo who patched it up for us, and yeah I remember us PayPaling him like $10 each! I never got it on a cartridge although it got fan translated last year. I remember the stories about your son playing BS Golf, too. Good times.


RVG turns 10 years old today!

It's crazy that this thread was started over 10 years ago. As some of you may recall, this topic was responsible for me launching my SNES-dedicated fansite, RVGFanatic. I launched my site back on January 7, 2007. Yes, today marks the 10 year anniversary. Time flies, and I can hardly believe it. To celebrate, I just published a huge in-depth article that walks you through my SNES collection with commentary and pictures galore. Warning: it's a beast. For the curious, check out

MY SNES COLLECTION. (It only features my American games, though).

In closing I want to say thanks for all the love over the years. It's been fun sharing my thoughts with the community. Feel free to leave a comment on my site or even bookmark it if you like -- I'm looking to be fairly active in 2017 with updates. Here's to 10 more years