Better game library: GBA or SNES?

[16-Bit Guy]

Hmm....all the GBA is really missing is Super Mario RPG, Chrono Trigger, and Super Metroid. Do those 3 titles keep the snes on top or do the numerous other "GBA only" titles give it the edge?

[fishsandwich]

Hmm....all the GBA is really missing is Super Mario RPG, Chrono Trigger, and Super Metroid. Do those 3 titles keep the snes on top or do the numerous other "GBA only" titles give it the edge?


I'd probrably go GBA. Games on the go AND the ability to play them on the TV via the Gamecube add-on thingie. GBA has more power (but less musical talent.) There are certainly some SNES games that just didn't turn out as good on the GBA but overall I'd vote the GBA wins.

Add a poll.

[64Bits]

And Golden Sun...mmmm...Golden Sun.

[heybtbm]

Games on the go AND the ability to play them on the TV via the Gamecube add-on thingie.

Realistically, most GBA games displayed on the Game Boy Player look terrible on a TV screen. Even in 480p (little known fact that a large amount of GBA titles are progressive scan compatible).

Anyway:

If I had to pick one, it would be the SNES. It still is the "King of Consoles" IMO, even when taking nostalgia out of the equation. I didn't buy one until late '92 (I had been a Genesis guy since 1989). I quickly amassed a respectable collection and still have those games to this day. Great times for gaming.

OK...maybe nostalgia is playing a small part here. SNES FTW!

[diskoboy]

Personally, I've liked the SNES library more than the GBA.

To me - until the DS was released, the GB line was basically a dumping ground for kiddie games and craptacular disney movie/tv show liscenses. It does have alot of gems, don't get me wrong... The SNES had more games aimed at a mature audience than the GBA.

[LiquidPolicenaut]

While there are inded a lot of good games on the GBA, the SNES has a hell of a library and a lot of those titles were never remade into ports for the SNES. Personal favs like Actraiser, Secret of Mana, Batman Returns, TMNT IV, Super Mario RPG, etc....

[sirhansirhan]

I love the GBA, but the reason why I love it is because it is more or less a portable SNES, and the games that were made for it reminded me of the SNES days. In other words, the SNES is better.

[c0ldb33r]

I'd have to say SNES. All the Square games, we had original Mario games, Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Mortal Kombat II, Street fighter II, etc... - an incredible library really. The only downside was the price of the carts :(

Most of the great GBA games are just rehashes of SNES games. This isn't the case with 100% of GBAs gems, but many of them came from SNES.

edit: this thread should have a poll :)

[poloplayr]

SNES. Still untouchable and will remain so forever.

[bangtango]

Most arcade ports obviously play better on the Super NES than on the GBA. If you enjoy decent arcade ports, you can't tell me it is cooler to play a Street Fighter or NBA Jam-style game on the GBA than it is the SNES. Not to mention other arcade games like Mortal Kombat II, Combatribes, some of the SNK ports, etc.

I may be missing a few games but really, the only arcade port I can think of right this second that might have been better on the GBA was Final Fight One. Yet if the SNES version had simply included Guy, the missing level and two-player action out of the box, then obviously that would have been the version of choice, no matter how good the GBA version eventually turned out. End of story there.

You may have difficulty convincing a person with an arcade stick and a bunch of SNES arcade ports that a GBA is "better" than his Super NES.

[DigitalSpace]

The SNES. Here's a few personal reasons:

-Original Mario titles like Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island. Sure, the Mario advance ports weren't bad, but I would have liked to see at least one new Mario game on the GBA.
-More original RPGs. At least the GBA had Mario & Luigi, Golden Sun and some Atlus offerings.
-Better shmup selection - Space Megaforce, Gradius III, Super R-Type, R-Type III (it's a shame about the bad GBA port), Axelay, Raiden Trad. The GBA had Gradius Galaxies and Strike Force Hydra was decent, but that was about it.
-The SNES had better sports titles as well. While the GBA got Madden every year (I think) and some decent baseball and hockey titles, its basketball offerings were lame. NBA Jam 2002? Street Jam basketball? Pass.

[ShenmueFan]

Well, seeing as how GBA games are usually rereleases of SNES games, I'd have to go with the original - the SNES.

Seriously, is there any competition to the SNES? I love the Dreamcast to death, but even I wouldn't say it is better than the SNES...it has most of the best games ever on it!

[MrRoboto19XX]

The GBA could have won if not for the one edge that the SNES has on it.

The X and Y buttons.

If the GBA had been given four face buttons, then it would have won for the good number of games that would have been given a great boon due to them. But alas, the big N decided it only needed an A and a B, and therefore the SNES reigns supreme.

[Richter Belmount]

Never speak against the snes , evar!

[Technosis]

Well I'll go with the SNES, however I haven't experienced any GBA games yet that had that incredibly annoying slowdown that plagued many SNES games (maybe they exist and I haven't played them)

[8bitnesfan]

The ports on the GBA are great, and portable gaming is a must BUT the SNES Library ROCKS!!! If there were only a portable SNES like the nomad

[GuyinGA]

I would say the SNES.....even some of the titles that aren't supposed to good aren't that bad. Heck, even Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball is fun.

I feel that the GBA is now just a kiddie system....it started out really good with fun games like Iridion and Pinobee and was almost like "SNES Handheld" for awhile. It tried to have more variety than "2 in 1 games" or "the latest Disney movie game" or "teach an animal/bug how to live" games. Now the latter is all Game Boy Advanced has.

[exit]

I'll have to go with SNES. Super Metroid, Disney games that were actually good, Earthbound, Final Fantasy 6, Mario RPG, Link to the Past...need I go on?

The GBA does have some great games tho, Golden Sun was an instant classic, the Castlevania games were fun, Ninja Five-0 anyone? But the ports were lacking. I'm sorry, I didn't need the annoying voices in the Mario ports and Zelda, I also can't forget the extremely dissapointing Metroid Zero.

[AMG]

The SNES gets my vote. It has one of the two greatest overall game libraries of all time IMO.

[Ed Oscuro]

GBA is low frame rate FPS movie-franchise tie-in heaven.

SNES all the way. There's a a large number of great titles on both systems, but I think the best games on the SNES are better than those on the GBA - well, in the more classic genres, anyway. There wasn't really anything like Advance Wars on the SNES (on the SFC, that's another story).

[RCM]

GBA baby.

Gunstar Super Heroes
Astro Boy
Sonic Advance series
Hajime No Ippo
Bit Generations
some faithful SNES ports

...the list goes on. Plus, during the GBA's reign it was pretty much the only place for high powered 2D experiences. As with every system library, not every game is a gem, but GBA holds a special place in my heart. SNES is great, but GBA is "better."

EDIT: Shit, forgot about Warioware too. Nintendo's most exciting franchise baby!