I share your somewhat unpopular opinion that FF2 is better than FF3. Got it for my 14th bday in '92 along with ALTTP and an AsciiPad turbo controller. Helluva nice bday! I've played FF2 from start to finish somewhere around 50-70 times, and managed to get the Pink Tail twice ever without cheats. In 1994 or so I got Rydia to Level 70 before Leviatan (sic) attacks you on the ship to Baron. Once she got the Virus spell (~Lvl 35 or so?) I killed off the rest of the party and grinded her up to 70 with no problem except for the fact that it took around 80 hours... Never managed to get all of the random call magics in the same save file though. Right now I'm playing through a QOL hack that has new items, areas, and bosses. It also allows hits over 9999 (think it's 14999) and even allows you to change party members once you find the Big Whale! Haven't beat Zeromus on that one yet but when I do it'll be with Cecil, Yang, Palom, Porom, and either Tellah or Rosa (probably Rosa- gotta bring the GF if you're gonna save the world, right?) Kain can even cast some minor spells. I've finished FF3 a couple dozen times too and it's a beautiful game- just not as good as FF2. Despite this, unfortunately I've never finished Chrono Trigger. Got close to the end a couple of times but then I got distracted by life and forgot what to do next when I came back to it. Conversely, I can jump into any random save of FF2 and know what to do within a few minutes of adventuring.
Recently played it again while scrolling through my SNES collection and holy crap does it hold up. Still looks amazing and the sense of speed is unlike anything from that generation. Absolutely a 5 star game.
@@bobbybobbatunday9959 Ya know, I must admit,...I never did play Rock n' Roll Racing. I remember reading about it in Nintendo Power, hearing nothing but positive from GamePro mag, and I recall seeing it at my local ma/pa video store for rent. You know what it was, it was one of those 'I see it every time I'm here, looks cool enough, I'll rent it next time...' and yet 'next time' never came. Heh! But! I do have Snesx9 on my 'puter here + all the corresponding ROMs, so maybe later this week, I'll get down on my emulator & give it a go.
We would spend countless hours playing Mario Kart and battling it out with our group of friends over the weekends. It just had so much play and replay value.
The lost Vikings was an all-timer for me. I thought the ingenuity to make a puzzler actually fun and exciting waa amazing. The mechanics worked seamlessly and the level design was unique and rarely redundant. Story was typically 90s over the top wacky but had a few laughs as well. Definitely a hidden gem
Out of all the retro TH-camrs, Riggs is the one I'd want to just hang out and play games with more than anyone else. Easily the best retro channel and personality on the site.
I'm going avgn. Want to see if I can drink more rolling rocks than him and show him how easy some of the games are that he thinks are excruciating hard.
Yes, the library holds up well. On my RetroPie I loaded up all the systems and games I enjoy. Most of the time I come back to super Nintendo and Sega Genesis.
Yay Demons Crest. I love that game. Another game that I personally rate 5 stars is Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals, I would love to see more people try that wonderful JRPG.
Even though I was a Sega kid. But my sister owned a SNES. I got to play all the best games during the infamous console wars. FF2, FF3, Contra 3, TMNT, Super Mario World, Sim City, Mario Paint, Zelda Link to The Past and etc. All amazing games. Best time of my childhood.
I got my first job out of college in 1996 when my local Kay-bee's and Toy's R Us was clearing out there SNES games. Every two weeks I would stop in and pick up two or three games for around 60 bucks. I remember picking up the Mega Man X Trilogy for 10 or 15 bucks each and Earthbound and E.V.O. for $5 bucks each.
Mario Paint still is pretty fun today. I definitely like the music making and flyswatter mini game! Great music too!! As far as presentation goes: 5 Stars!!
A friend in school and I would trade our copies of Mario Paint every day or so to see what the other drew. Always tried to top each other. Sometimes we would alter a pic the other drew like add stuff or change things. I think I still have his cartridge lol
Zombies Ate My Neighbors is an awesome game. Sometimes referred to as "Goofy Gauntlet" by my daughter and myself, this is such an awesome one or two player game. Colorful, cartoony and '50s driven in my opinion. It's like playing a comic book almost. Great choice. ...but Axelay? yeesh..
F-Zero was the first game I bought with my own money when I was a kid because I didn't have enough money for Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy III. This was around 1995. I ended up loving the game and there was even a little comic in the instruction manual. The gameplay and music were way better than what I was expecting.
My main missing 6-star from the guidebook would be Illusion of Gaia. So underrated! Other ones I find missing would be Flashback, Secret of Mana, and Kirby Super Star.
Good job! UN Squadron is so legendary I not only beat it on the super Nintendo I went out of my way to beat it in the arcade as there was a small video game dealer at the flea market that had it in his booth. I love this game so much, just like Axelay & demons crest! You smashed it hard on this video ✊ 🥇🏆🎮
Yup, yup! UN Squadron I remember buying with that years b-day & x-mas money. My birthday is in November, so..ya know,...after the holidays I got a little cash stash. I remember seeing it featured in a few pages of Nintendo Power, I watched my neighbor play it at his house like once or twice, but pretty much went out and bought it on impulse. That was one impulse buy that worked out! That game quickly became a favorite of mine as a teen,...even if I had trouble getting past stage 2 and 3... Ha!
I came here to give props to Riggs for including this one. It was such a challenge but there was so much fun in upgrading your plane and your cannon. Once I finally got the Efreet I felt like a God. UN Squadron is one of those games I've come back to my whole life. There was even a point a few years ago that I got into speedrunning it. I wish more people were aware of how great it is.
Honestly amazed neither you or pat put kirby superstar up as a 5 star i know it can be easy but so much fun whetheryour playing single or co-op. I go back and play it a lot even now so many memories with my brother and friends playing it easily she be up there. Also think Soulblazer or Illusion of Gaia could be up there to really solid games.
This is the first time I've ever watched one of your multiple game reviews videos and agreed with you from top to bottom. You always do good work, friend. Game on 🤘
Love the list! I would definitely include Secret of Mana on there for the gorgeous world, insanely good OST, and three player co-op. Even if the battle system wasn't perfect its strengths more than make up for it!
Too bad we didn’t get the sequel in the west. An upgrade in every category except sound track. Secret of Mana has just a slighter better selection of songs.
i'm 39 and i find your channel to be extremely entertaining and nostalgic and comforting. thank you for curating this magical time in history for the modern world. keep up the great work!
I also prefer FFIV to FFVI, the N64 Mystical Ninja Goemon was outstanding I loved the SNES one too! Lufia & the Fortress of Doom is a well deserved 5 star imo, an underrated rpg.
I agree with most of those, and played a lot of them growing up. So nice to see a channel like this do some nostalgic looks back at my gaming childhood.
My phone's ringtone is actually the briefing music from Pilotwings. There's something so incredibly nostalgic about it. Reminds me of staying over at a friend's house back in the real early 90s playing SNES late into the night.
What I used to do in MarioPaint to make myself laugh irrationally was go into the music mode and select the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star song, then change all the stars to cats and turn the speed up. I was easily amused.
I cannot tell you how many hours i sunk into mariopaint after school and on weekends. That game is so underrated!! Glad to see it get some love. As well as UN Squadron!
Your list is spot on John. I especially agree with Pilot Wings being a 5 star game. That game entertained my brother and I for hours on end back in the day. Now I enjoy playing Pilot Wings with my kids
Final Fantasy II was my introduction into RPGs back in the mid 90s. I was taken with the turn-based combat, optimizing equipment, the characters, the world, the bosses... It sparked a fascination and enjoyment of RPGs that carries on to this day. It's my favorite Final Fantasy.
Glad you made this follow up video John! For me, Metal Warriors and Battle Toads / Double Dragon are 5-Star SNES games. Also, did Killer Instinct, Mortal Kombat, and Primal Rage make it on the original 5-Star list? Also, the original Donkey Kong Country is 5-stars in my book!
Mystical Ninja, UN Squadron, Turtles In Time and Zombies are among my all time favorite games, glad to see they getting their deserved 5 stars. I would certainly add Secret of Mana and possibly Super Turrican (it even got a perfect score by Gamepro at the time, and displayed it proudly in the box)
Absolutely agree with E.V.O. The Legend of The Mystical Ninja, Mario Paint, Super Mario Kart, and Zombies Ate My Neighbours. While I’m going to be completely bias by throwing Illusion of Gaia onto the list.
Lufia 2, 7th Saga, Final Fantasy Tactics, Robotrek, Lagoon are underrated games that should be 5 stars. The story lines, graphics and soundtracks always brings back those 90s nostalgic experiences that will never be the same no matter how many games are made today. Classic games are best today games are just too computerized and not as much fun. I enjoy your channel is a great channel to enjoy the classics 4 life.
Zombies ate my neighbours came late in the life of the snes and it was absolutely a super fun game, and very high rated by most magazines at the time. Basically your whole top trn was what i played back then, added by some super Metroid ofcourse. And some other hidden gems. Like Unirallye or Uniracers outside of Europe... Now THAT was a 5+ star game you never hear about anymore. And it holds up today. Great game.
Good call on TMNT4, UN Squadron, and Final Fantasy IV (II) which I prefer over 6 (3) bc story and that in 6 everyone becomes a mage and the abilities don’t matter as much.
Zombies ate my neighbors is one of my all time favorites, I need to play it again, I never beat it when I was younger I always played it with my sister, brings back so many memories. Joe and mac was also a great game
Hi Jonh!! Just dropping by to let you know that I started collecting after watching you talking about Evo. Still have not played it, but Im sure the time Will come!! Big hug to you from México City!
You never saw Turtles in Time in the arcade?!? I used to choose which arcades to go to based on whether or not they had this game. This game was a NECESSITY for my birthday parties!
So glad you did this addendum list, and even more profoundly appreciative of including Final Fantasy II. It is still to this day my favorite game, full stop. Greatest characters, music, story, and greatest game ending ever. F-Zero definitely deserved this honor as well; it was the first and most dedicated game to show off the SNES Mode 7 graphics, it is pulse pounding and the music is so insanely gripping. I think if Street Fighter II Turbo deserved 5 stars as an incredible arcade adaptation, then Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time absolutely deserves it. Ridiculously well done and at the peak of Turtle Popularity it was a gem to play at home. One you briefly mentioned was Super Ghouls N Ghosts, and if Super Castlevania IV earns the honor, Super Ghouls and Ghosts certainly deserves it as well. Another one of those early runs of SNES games that were so beautiful to look at and listen to, it made the difficulty easier to swallow. Contra 3 falls into that same consideration. The game was sci fi shooting action at its finest with a soundtrack that was bonkers. And the giant T-800 exoskeleton boss was just a mind screw first time you played it! Finally, Starfox deserves the 5 star too as another one of those titles that bent the technology as far as it would go without breaking.
Definitely agree on Zombies Ate My Neighbors - One of my SNES Favorites!! I use to rent it every summer on vacation at the beach as a kid. Local video store in my home town didn't have it as an option. Will always hold a special place in my heart.
Definitely F-Zero FFII Super Mario Kart and Legend of Mystical Ninja.. I played all 4 to death back in the day. Never got to play super mario RPG.. Wish I had.
Very glad to see F-Zero, Super Mario Kart, Pilotwings, & TMNT IV make the list. I would still add Gradius III & Star Fox. I know Gradius III wouldn't be a lot of people's first choice, but it was one of the first launch title shmup's that came out with the SNES & notwithstanding that, it was awesome!! Yes there are "better" shmup's on the system, especially for a lot of "shmup snobs" lol but without a doubt, Gradius III was what "wet everyone's whistle" for shmup's in the first place & why almost every software developer released one of their own.
Heyyyy John! Now those are definitely some 5 stars games too, for sure! I even have some of those in the list, like Demon's Crest, Turtles in time and F-zero... I'd love to have others such as EVO and Mario RPG, though... I thought I'd see Sunset Riders in that list too... That was also an amazing port by Konami... Anyways, great video, man! Gotta luv the SNES, it brings back so many good memories... Cheers, man!
That's a good list. I'm really surprised TMNT and Legend of the Mystical Ninja didn't get 5 stars in the original. They seem like no brainers all time classics.
Thank you John, it feels so similar the way you grew up with these games at the same time I did. Your videos keep getting better and better so keep it up! Tmnt wasn't originally 5 stars, unbelievable. I agree with every entry here.
I'll go further because Super Fam had even more Rpg's that were 5 star we never got. Like Star Ocean, Live a Live, Treasure of Rudras, and Terranigma. All worthy of 5 star's. HD-2D I would love for Square to do finally translate those games and give them the treatment Live a Live got. Now many have wanted Chrono Trigger to get that make over, I actually don't want it to get the HD-2D make over. It would mess with a game that doesn't need it, it's in a master class of it's own. I can't believe the Switch still has not gotten a port with Quality of Life that's all it needs. Just to run without slow load times, like Chrono Cross it doesn't need anything really.
There were so many missing from the previous list. Demon's Crest was the biggest missing game. This one I still play all the way through occasionally. The graphics are still amazing in the detail. When fighting Grewon (the wolf in the ice stage), if you fly too high for him to hit you, he'll roar in frustration. The gremlins shooting arrows near the end will laugh at you if they hit you, and stomp their feet if they miss. That and the soundtrack make slower playthroughs enjoyable. There were so many details, on top of all the different crests and powers to collect. I could stroll through levels just soaking in the atmosphere. Super Mario Kart needed to be here. I can't think of a more fun SNES racer. Super Mario RPG definitely needs to be there too. Many RPGs don't appeal to me that much due to the fights being boring. Usually, you just select attack and repeat until you win. If it's a tougher fight, then it select magic attacks. It sill gets repetitive over time. There is no control, and you rely entirely on the RNG to determine how much damage you do, or even if you hit or not. Mario RPG, with timed attacks, gave more control over combat. TMNT IV also is a must add. It is easily one of the top brawlers, and another I can play through over and over. You have a lot more moves to use (attack, special attack, slide attack, shoulder ram, jumping front kick, dive kick, flying forward kick, rapid jump attack, and two different throws), and needed to use different tactics to defeat different enemies. You couldn't just move to the right and hit attack. I never felt bored or that it got repetitive. I would add Secret Of Evermore. It was the most humorous console game I played, due in large part to it being written in English (so no jokes lost in translation). The 4 main settings were all detailed and creative, and there was a lot to explore. One of the most charming, and overall fun action RPGs. Batman Returns is overlooked as an awesome brawler. You have a lot of moves at your disposal (punch, jump kick, dive splash, jumping high kick, double head smash, toss, throw against the background, and gadgets like the baterang)... something I loved about TMNT, and this keeps combat more interesting. The side scrolling sections weren't as developed as Batman on NES, but were a good addition to vary things up, and offered new gameplay. The driving section also was enjoyable. It's a game I can always have fun with if I don't know what I want to play. I could put all the Donkey Kong Country games here. Maybe the 2nd is the best, but that doesn't detract from the other 2.
I’d add the SNES port of Civilization. The game is fantastic even to this day, and unlike the Super Nintendo port of SimCity(which is still awesome), Civilization has SNES Mouse support.
Great list! I was shocked Mario RPG wasn’t on the initial list. There’s a few missing from both: Illusion of Gaia, Ogre Battle, Killer Instinct, Secret of Mana are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
Illusion of Gaia has a much stronger, more mature story than most contemporaries. The gameplay was also deep, with plenty of different actions. The exploration made it always feel you were on a big adventure. Killer Instinct was the most advanced fighting game for the SNES, and far beyond Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat (both also excellent game series).
@@Shrapnel82 the Killer Instinct combo formula was so advanced nobody fully wrapped their head around it among the kids I played games with at the time, and therefore I think it suffers in the nostalgia marketplace now.
ALWAYS a fun time to hear what is the best of the best on one of my favorite systems!! Super Mario RPG, TMNT 4, Final Fantasy 2m Super Mario Kart for sure belong on the list. IMO WWF Raw, Donkey Kong Country 3 should be on the list too
Mortal Kobat II took all my allowance each weekend at the arcade. Coming to snes saved me so much 💰. Friends and I played it to sun up on many many weekends. 5 star keeping us out of trouble and keeping quarters in our pockets.
Hammerlock can be pretty fun. And Natsume Championship Wrestling is AJPW and totally decent. I would give Fire Pro Wrestling X a 5-star but that's super famicom.
@@JohnRiggs there’s a couple good ones for sure. And there were a few that weren’t great but still playable like wwf raw and wrestle mania: the arcade game. But none that were anywhere near 5 star. My biggest miss on both lists is Ken Griffey jr. Presents MLB. Just my personal preference but it’s by far the snes game I played the most except maybe Mario Kart which I’m glad to see you included.
This is a great list. Some of these games have also aged extremely well. Super Mario RPG, for example, is still worth playing today. It is an extremely well polished RPG with a good/ fun story and narrative, with an art style that's aged well, excellent sound design and music, which also blends a variety of exploration, platforming, and puzzle solving into it as well.
Mario kart 2 player battle blew my mind how fun it was back then was crazy fun for that time period super easy you could ask anyone to play even old people and they would become obsessed playing it
Loved these games and the other lists games such amazing memories in the 1990s with SNES I’m happy and blessed to have seen all of gaming from 1980 to Now what a wild ride it’s been thanks John Riggs
I agree with all the games on your list, I would all so recommend for 5 star consideration, Knights of The Round and Boogerman, just my opinion of course
I'm so happy to see that Demon's Crest is in the 5-Star SNES Games list. Because that game aside from Super Metroid another childhood favorite of mine, Demon's crest is one of my favorite snes titles and it was my snes second game right after Super Metroid when I got my Super Nintendo in my case the Snes Jr that was the console that I got when I was a child which I still own it to this day. It is always a joy to play that game and the music is just glorious,Majestic,nostalgic I love it. I will check out the previous video and keep it up ;-)
Demon's Crest was the last big box retail store (Walmart) purchase for the SNES! I only paid $10 for it because this was already deep into N64 being out.
Here's one that's missing! TMNT Tournament Fighters. It always puts a smile on my face, and I was thrilled to pieces when it was included in the Cowabunga Collection. Also Q*Bert 3! It's the ultimate evolution of Q*Bert, in my humble opinion.
I agree on F-Zero. I am not a big racing game fan... but F-Zero was awesome... probably my favorite racing game of all time. Final Fantasy 2 was awesome... definitely 5 star! Mario Kary - Yes! Super Mario RPG - 5 stars! Turtles in Time! UN Squadron was great!
Legend of the mystical Ninja soundtrack to me is top five on the system. It's got such a eclectic mix of Japanese sounding songs and everything is catchy. I can still hum a lot of it today 30 years later.
Great list. I'll totally check EVO and keep FF2 in mind. One little detail probably others have mentioned, Turtles in Time isn't really a direct port of the arcade version. The SNES one is improved with more stages, different bosses, and other features like choosing art style or 2 player versus. Throwing enemies at screen is also new I think. That's (maybe) why we didn't see the arcade version as a kid, since it wasn't that great, who knows.
Thank you! I had watched that other "5 stars SNES games" video, and I kept thinking, where's Mario RPG, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, and yes even Final Fantasy II or IV, lol. I don't know if I can think of any others, most of these are really darn good, but possibly Castlevania Dracula X. I've actually played Rondo Of Blood more than Dracula X, but both are still solid titles that I feel like get overshadowed by IV, Symphony Of The Night and even III.
This covers the games I thought were missing, namely Mystical Ninja, TMNT4 and "Final Fantasy 2" but I would also add a couple of Kirby games that I only played much later in life: Super Star and Dream Course.
And after they are all made, then a 5+ GOAT episode with the best games of all time (theoretically selections from the 5 star series but across all platforms that you include in the series!!!
I loved Zombies Ate My Neighbors but I remember it getting so hard and frustrating in latter stages. I THINK I was pretty good at it, but I could never beat it.
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
The 5-Star SNES Games according to the Ultimate Guide SNES book - th-cam.com/video/r6oiBNRImNQ/w-d-xo.html
Thanks John it's been a difficult day.
I share your somewhat unpopular opinion that FF2 is better than FF3. Got it for my 14th bday in '92 along with ALTTP and an AsciiPad turbo controller. Helluva nice bday!
I've played FF2 from start to finish somewhere around 50-70 times, and managed to get the Pink Tail twice ever without cheats. In 1994 or so I got Rydia to Level 70 before Leviatan (sic) attacks you on the ship to Baron. Once she got the Virus spell (~Lvl 35 or so?) I killed off the rest of the party and grinded her up to 70 with no problem except for the fact that it took around 80 hours...
Never managed to get all of the random call magics in the same save file though.
Right now I'm playing through a QOL hack that has new items, areas, and bosses. It also allows hits over 9999 (think it's 14999) and even allows you to change party members once you find the Big Whale! Haven't beat Zeromus on that one yet but when I do it'll be with Cecil, Yang, Palom, Porom, and either Tellah or Rosa (probably Rosa- gotta bring the GF if you're gonna save the world, right?) Kain can even cast some minor spells.
I've finished FF3 a couple dozen times too and it's a beautiful game- just not as good as FF2.
Despite this, unfortunately I've never finished Chrono Trigger. Got close to the end a couple of times but then I got distracted by life and forgot what to do next when I came back to it. Conversely, I can jump into any random save of FF2 and know what to do within a few minutes of adventuring.
FFIV is my favourite game of all time
John Riggs is Five Star!
He’s the GOATIEST GOAT n shit. 🐐
"I, 'Pleasure Doll Dennis Reynolds', hereby certify John Riggs as an official Five Star Man"
4.8/5 - Riggs mode 7 graphics are a little off
@@frod79 "RIGGS IS A FIVE STAR MAN! IVE RATED HIM AND ILL RATE YOU TOO... OVER AND OVER" lol hope you all get the reference
@@lizardking2407 no
F-Zero is absolutely a 5-star. A 5-star classic! I too was never very big on racing games, but another one I really enjoyed was Extreme G on N64.
seconded
Recently played it again while scrolling through my SNES collection and holy crap does it hold up. Still looks amazing and the sense of speed is unlike anything from that generation. Absolutely a 5 star game.
Agreed, but I have to add Rock and Roll racing to this. My favorite non Mario kart race game of all time.
@@bobbybobbatunday9959 Ya know, I must admit,...I never did play Rock n' Roll Racing. I remember reading about it in Nintendo Power, hearing nothing but positive from GamePro mag, and I recall seeing it at my local ma/pa video store for rent. You know what it was, it was one of those 'I see it every time I'm here, looks cool enough, I'll rent it next time...' and yet 'next time' never came. Heh! But! I do have Snesx9 on my 'puter here + all the corresponding ROMs, so maybe later this week, I'll get down on my emulator & give it a go.
F-Zero is the definition to a 5 star game. The racing combined with the richness if game play was off the charts.
I never got to play these games growing up but your love for them is infectious! Now I want to play them all
There's still time.
We would spend countless hours playing Mario Kart and battling it out with our group of friends over the weekends. It just had so much play and replay value.
The lost Vikings was an all-timer for me. I thought the ingenuity to make a puzzler actually fun and exciting waa amazing. The mechanics worked seamlessly and the level design was unique and rarely redundant. Story was typically 90s over the top wacky but had a few laughs as well. Definitely a hidden gem
Plus! A reference to Evil Dead (or The Day the Earth Stood Still)
Out of all the retro TH-camrs, Riggs is the one I'd want to just hang out and play games with more than anyone else. Easily the best retro channel and personality on the site.
agreed!!
I'm going avgn. Want to see if I can drink more rolling rocks than him and show him how easy some of the games are that he thinks are excruciating hard.
I'd trust JohnRiggs with my life.
MK 3, Super Punchout, Killer Instinct, Illusion of Gaia, Secret of Mana. Probably a few more, snes was absolutely loaded.
Yes, the library holds up well. On my RetroPie I loaded up all the systems and games I enjoy.
Most of the time I come back to super Nintendo and Sega Genesis.
Can't believe he overlooked Killer Instinct. It was the perfect marriage of MK and SF, yet created it's own unique game.
Yay Demons Crest. I love that game. Another game that I personally rate 5 stars is Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals, I would love to see more people try that wonderful JRPG.
Even though I was a Sega kid. But my sister owned a SNES. I got to play all the best games during the infamous console wars. FF2, FF3, Contra 3, TMNT, Super Mario World, Sim City, Mario Paint, Zelda Link to The Past and etc. All amazing games. Best time of my childhood.
I got my first job out of college in 1996 when my local Kay-bee's and Toy's R Us was clearing out there SNES games. Every two weeks I would stop in and pick up two or three games for around 60 bucks. I remember picking up the Mega Man X Trilogy for 10 or 15 bucks each and Earthbound and E.V.O. for $5 bucks each.
Mario Paint still is pretty fun today.
I definitely like the music making and flyswatter mini game!
Great music too!! As far as presentation goes: 5 Stars!!
A friend in school and I would trade our copies of Mario Paint every day or so to see what the other drew. Always tried to top each other. Sometimes we would alter a pic the other drew like add stuff or change things. I think I still have his cartridge lol
Zombies Ate My Neighbors is an awesome game. Sometimes referred to as "Goofy Gauntlet" by my daughter and myself, this is such an awesome one or two player game. Colorful, cartoony and '50s driven in my opinion. It's like playing a comic book almost. Great choice.
...but Axelay? yeesh..
I completely agree with everything said.
F-Zero was the first game I bought with my own money when I was a kid because I didn't have enough money for Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy III. This was around 1995. I ended up loving the game and there was even a little comic in the instruction manual. The gameplay and music were way better than what I was expecting.
My main missing 6-star from the guidebook would be Illusion of Gaia. So underrated! Other ones I find missing would be Flashback, Secret of Mana, and Kirby Super Star.
Pilotwings for both snes and n64 have always been underrated. In my opinion. Superb games.
Good job! UN Squadron is so legendary I not only beat it on the super Nintendo I went out of my way to beat it in the arcade as there was a small video game dealer at the flea market that had it in his booth. I love this game so much, just like Axelay & demons crest! You smashed it hard on this video ✊
🥇🏆🎮
Yup, yup! UN Squadron I remember buying with that years b-day & x-mas money. My birthday is in November, so..ya know,...after the holidays I got a little cash stash. I remember seeing it featured in a few pages of Nintendo Power, I watched my neighbor play it at his house like once or twice, but pretty much went out and bought it on impulse. That was one impulse buy that worked out! That game quickly became a favorite of mine as a teen,...even if I had trouble getting past stage 2 and 3... Ha!
I came here to give props to Riggs for including this one. It was such a challenge but there was so much fun in upgrading your plane and your cannon. Once I finally got the Efreet I felt like a God. UN Squadron is one of those games I've come back to my whole life. There was even a point a few years ago that I got into speedrunning it. I wish more people were aware of how great it is.
Absolutely, and don't forget the music in UN Squadron! Even the stage select music is so damn good.
@@Frigidevil I concur!
Honestly amazed neither you or pat put kirby superstar up as a 5 star i know it can be easy but so much fun whetheryour playing single or co-op. I go back and play it a lot even now so many memories with my brother and friends playing it easily she be up there. Also think Soulblazer or Illusion of Gaia could be up there to really solid games.
This is the first time I've ever watched one of your multiple game reviews videos and agreed with you from top to bottom. You always do good work, friend. Game on 🤘
Love the list! I would definitely include Secret of Mana on there for the gorgeous world, insanely good OST, and three player co-op. Even if the battle system wasn't perfect its strengths more than make up for it!
Too bad we didn’t get the sequel in the west. An upgrade in every category except sound track. Secret of Mana has just a slighter better selection of songs.
This is the biggest travesty with this list. Secret of mana is the GOAT.
Yeah, Secret of Mana definitely wins the OST battle between those two.
Great list! Thanks for all the videos. Only game I would’ve added was Contra 3.
i'm 39 and i find your channel to be extremely entertaining and nostalgic and comforting. thank you for curating this magical time in history for the modern world. keep up the great work!
100% agree with UN Squadron. Glad to see that game get some appreciation
I also prefer FFIV to FFVI, the N64 Mystical Ninja Goemon was outstanding I loved the SNES one too! Lufia & the Fortress of Doom is a well deserved 5 star imo, an underrated rpg.
I agree with most of those, and played a lot of them growing up. So nice to see a channel like this do some nostalgic looks back at my gaming childhood.
There's no shortage of them.
My phone's ringtone is actually the briefing music from Pilotwings. There's something so incredibly nostalgic about it. Reminds me of staying over at a friend's house back in the real early 90s playing SNES late into the night.
What I used to do in MarioPaint to make myself laugh irrationally was go into the music mode and select the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star song, then change all the stars to cats and turn the speed up. I was easily amused.
I cannot tell you how many hours i sunk into mariopaint after school and on weekends. That game is so underrated!! Glad to see it get some love.
As well as UN Squadron!
Your list is spot on John. I especially agree with Pilot Wings being a 5 star game. That game entertained my brother and I for hours on end back in the day. Now I enjoy playing Pilot Wings with my kids
Mario kart SNES still to this day is legendary, and the Vs mode is hyper intense,
Final Fantasy II was my introduction into RPGs back in the mid 90s. I was taken with the turn-based combat, optimizing equipment, the characters, the world, the bosses... It sparked a fascination and enjoyment of RPGs that carries on to this day. It's my favorite Final Fantasy.
Man... this list is so much better. Some great classics on here with hours of fun with each title.
I can't wait to see your Genesis and Master System 1 and 5 star videos.
You included FFIV. I love you, good sir.
I am team FF2 for sure!
Acolytes of Fusoya, Fall In!!
Agreed, FFIV is a much better game than FFVI IMO.
Aah, I see you've played Knifey-Spoony Bard before, then!
Glad you made this follow up video John! For me, Metal Warriors and Battle Toads / Double Dragon are 5-Star SNES games. Also, did Killer Instinct, Mortal Kombat, and Primal Rage make it on the original 5-Star list? Also, the original Donkey Kong Country is 5-stars in my book!
mystical ninja is a super sleeper 5 star. I remember being amazed that you could go to the arcade and emulate NES games at the time
As a kid I could never quite beat that Gradius level in Mystical Ninja.
Mystical Ninja 64 absolutely blew me away, an all timer for me
We all missed out on the subsequent goemon games on SFC... Those were really fun
I agree completely about Final Fantasy 2. I played through that game at least 3 or 4 times growing up.
Mystical Ninja, UN Squadron, Turtles In Time and Zombies are among my all time favorite games, glad to see they getting their deserved 5 stars. I would certainly add Secret of Mana and possibly Super Turrican (it even got a perfect score by Gamepro at the time, and displayed it proudly in the box)
UN Squadron is a game I could loose myself in for hours. One of the best arcade ports ever to the system.
a Few of my own
1.the 7th saga
2.brainlord
3.rock and roll racing
4.robotrex
5.lufia
Rock and roll racing rules! May have to get the snes out and play it lol my fav racing game tbh
@@jarredkrum9894 one of the best man and kicking tunes from black sabbath how could ya go wrong!
Been watching your channel religiously lately. Awesome work man! Keep ‘em coming.
Absolutely agree with E.V.O. The Legend of The Mystical Ninja, Mario Paint, Super Mario Kart, and Zombies Ate My Neighbours. While I’m going to be completely bias by throwing Illusion of Gaia onto the list.
Great Follow up Video, very necessary based on how many over looked games there were.
Ff IV/2 is the one Square seems to give the most love to, and I think that’s for good reasons.
Lufia 2, 7th Saga, Final Fantasy Tactics, Robotrek, Lagoon are underrated games that should be 5 stars. The story lines, graphics and soundtracks always brings back those 90s nostalgic experiences that will never be the same no matter how many games are made today. Classic games are best today games are just too computerized and not as much fun. I enjoy your channel is a great channel to enjoy the classics 4 life.
Glad to see Demon's Crest and U.N. Squadron get some love. Both are 5-stars, for sure.
Love to see a new PilotWings. PilotWings 64 was my jam and I was so happy when it turned up on NSO.
Great add-on list. SNES catalog was incredible!
Riggs, I have been down with pneumonia for 4 days and I have watched so much of your content homie. Thank you!!!!
Zombies ate my neighbours came late in the life of the snes and it was absolutely a super fun game, and very high rated by most magazines at the time. Basically your whole top trn was what i played back then, added by some super Metroid ofcourse. And some other hidden gems. Like Unirallye or Uniracers outside of Europe... Now THAT was a 5+ star game you never hear about anymore. And it holds up today. Great game.
Good call on TMNT4, UN Squadron, and Final Fantasy IV (II) which I prefer over 6 (3) bc story and that in 6 everyone becomes a mage and the abilities don’t matter as much.
The beginning and end of the video were laugh out loud funny moments! I love your sense of humor :)
John Riggs deserves a 10 star for these awesome videos🤟
Zombies ate my neighbors is one of my all time favorites, I need to play it again, I never beat it when I was younger I always played it with my sister, brings back so many memories. Joe and mac was also a great game
Hi Jonh!! Just dropping by to let you know that I started collecting after watching you talking about Evo. Still have not played it, but Im sure the time Will come!! Big hug to you from México City!
You never saw Turtles in Time in the arcade?!? I used to choose which arcades to go to based on whether or not they had this game. This game was a NECESSITY for my birthday parties!
So glad you did this addendum list, and even more profoundly appreciative of including Final Fantasy II. It is still to this day my favorite game, full stop. Greatest characters, music, story, and greatest game ending ever.
F-Zero definitely deserved this honor as well; it was the first and most dedicated game to show off the SNES Mode 7 graphics, it is pulse pounding and the music is so insanely gripping.
I think if Street Fighter II Turbo deserved 5 stars as an incredible arcade adaptation, then Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time absolutely deserves it. Ridiculously well done and at the peak of Turtle Popularity it was a gem to play at home.
One you briefly mentioned was Super Ghouls N Ghosts, and if Super Castlevania IV earns the honor, Super Ghouls and Ghosts certainly deserves it as well. Another one of those early runs of SNES games that were so beautiful to look at and listen to, it made the difficulty easier to swallow.
Contra 3 falls into that same consideration. The game was sci fi shooting action at its finest with a soundtrack that was bonkers. And the giant T-800 exoskeleton boss was just a mind screw first time you played it!
Finally, Starfox deserves the 5 star too as another one of those titles that bent the technology as far as it would go without breaking.
Definitely agree on Zombies Ate My Neighbors - One of my SNES Favorites!! I use to rent it every summer on vacation at the beach as a kid. Local video store in my home town didn't have it as an option. Will always hold a special place in my heart.
Definitely F-Zero FFII Super Mario Kart and Legend of Mystical Ninja.. I played all 4 to death back in the day. Never got to play super mario RPG.. Wish I had.
Very glad to see F-Zero, Super Mario Kart, Pilotwings, & TMNT IV make the list. I would still add Gradius III & Star Fox. I know Gradius III wouldn't be a lot of people's first choice, but it was one of the first launch title shmup's that came out with the SNES & notwithstanding that, it was awesome!! Yes there are "better" shmup's on the system, especially for a lot of "shmup snobs" lol but without a doubt, Gradius III was what "wet everyone's whistle" for shmup's in the first place & why almost every software developer released one of their own.
Heyyyy John!
Now those are definitely some 5 stars games too, for sure!
I even have some of those in the list, like Demon's Crest, Turtles in time and F-zero... I'd love to have others such as EVO and Mario RPG, though...
I thought I'd see Sunset Riders in that list too... That was also an amazing port by Konami...
Anyways, great video, man! Gotta luv the SNES, it brings back so many good memories...
Cheers, man!
That's a good list. I'm really surprised TMNT and Legend of the Mystical Ninja didn't get 5 stars in the original. They seem like no brainers all time classics.
I always thought it was overshadowed by FF but Breath of Fire was incredible, definitely 5 star in my book
Thank you John, it feels so similar the way you grew up with these games at the same time I did. Your videos keep getting better and better so keep it up! Tmnt wasn't originally 5 stars, unbelievable. I agree with every entry here.
I'll go further because Super Fam had even more Rpg's that were 5 star we never got. Like Star Ocean, Live a Live, Treasure of Rudras, and Terranigma. All worthy of 5 star's. HD-2D I would love for Square to do finally translate those games and give them the treatment Live a Live got. Now many have wanted Chrono Trigger to get that make over, I actually don't want it to get the HD-2D make over. It would mess with a game that doesn't need it, it's in a master class of it's own. I can't believe the Switch still has not gotten a port with Quality of Life that's all it needs. Just to run without slow load times, like Chrono Cross it doesn't need anything really.
Your last two nailed both my missing 5 star games - UN Squadron and Zombies Ate My Neighbors are certainly both 5 star games! Good call on those ones!
There were so many missing from the previous list. Demon's Crest was the biggest missing game. This one I still play all the way through occasionally. The graphics are still amazing in the detail. When fighting Grewon (the wolf in the ice stage), if you fly too high for him to hit you, he'll roar in frustration. The gremlins shooting arrows near the end will laugh at you if they hit you, and stomp their feet if they miss. That and the soundtrack make slower playthroughs enjoyable. There were so many details, on top of all the different crests and powers to collect. I could stroll through levels just soaking in the atmosphere.
Super Mario Kart needed to be here. I can't think of a more fun SNES racer.
Super Mario RPG definitely needs to be there too. Many RPGs don't appeal to me that much due to the fights being boring. Usually, you just select attack and repeat until you win. If it's a tougher fight, then it select magic attacks. It sill gets repetitive over time. There is no control, and you rely entirely on the RNG to determine how much damage you do, or even if you hit or not. Mario RPG, with timed attacks, gave more control over combat.
TMNT IV also is a must add. It is easily one of the top brawlers, and another I can play through over and over. You have a lot more moves to use (attack, special attack, slide attack, shoulder ram, jumping front kick, dive kick, flying forward kick, rapid jump attack, and two different throws), and needed to use different tactics to defeat different enemies. You couldn't just move to the right and hit attack. I never felt bored or that it got repetitive.
I would add Secret Of Evermore. It was the most humorous console game I played, due in large part to it being written in English (so no jokes lost in translation). The 4 main settings were all detailed and creative, and there was a lot to explore. One of the most charming, and overall fun action RPGs.
Batman Returns is overlooked as an awesome brawler. You have a lot of moves at your disposal (punch, jump kick, dive splash, jumping high kick, double head smash, toss, throw against the background, and gadgets like the baterang)... something I loved about TMNT, and this keeps combat more interesting. The side scrolling sections weren't as developed as Batman on NES, but were a good addition to vary things up, and offered new gameplay. The driving section also was enjoyable. It's a game I can always have fun with if I don't know what I want to play.
I could put all the Donkey Kong Country games here. Maybe the 2nd is the best, but that doesn't detract from the other 2.
I’d add the SNES port of Civilization. The game is fantastic even to this day, and unlike the Super Nintendo port of SimCity(which is still awesome), Civilization has SNES Mouse support.
UN Squadron! Yeahhhh! Hit and away is my style!
Great list! I was shocked Mario RPG wasn’t on the initial list. There’s a few missing from both: Illusion of Gaia, Ogre Battle, Killer Instinct, Secret of Mana are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
Illusion of Gaia has a much stronger, more mature story than most contemporaries. The gameplay was also deep, with plenty of different actions. The exploration made it always feel you were on a big adventure.
Killer Instinct was the most advanced fighting game for the SNES, and far beyond Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat (both also excellent game series).
@@Shrapnel82 the Killer Instinct combo formula was so advanced nobody fully wrapped their head around it among the kids I played games with at the time, and therefore I think it suffers in the nostalgia marketplace now.
ALWAYS a fun time to hear what is the best of the best on one of my favorite systems!! Super Mario RPG, TMNT 4, Final Fantasy 2m Super Mario Kart for sure belong on the list. IMO WWF Raw, Donkey Kong Country 3 should be on the list too
This is what I'm talking about! A JohnRiggs five stars list, great vídeo as always, greetings from Chile!
Mortal Kobat II took all my allowance each weekend at the arcade. Coming to snes saved me so much 💰. Friends and I played it to sun up on many many weekends. 5 star keeping us out of trouble and keeping quarters in our pockets.
You got me with the last one, john. kinda sad that they didnt make a 5 star wrestling game for the snes
Hammerlock can be pretty fun. And Natsume Championship Wrestling is AJPW and totally decent. I would give Fire Pro Wrestling X a 5-star but that's super famicom.
@@JohnRiggs there’s a couple good ones for sure. And there were a few that weren’t great but still playable like wwf raw and wrestle mania: the arcade game. But none that were anywhere near 5 star.
My biggest miss on both lists is Ken Griffey jr. Presents MLB. Just my personal preference but it’s by far the snes game I played the most except maybe Mario Kart which I’m glad to see you included.
My personal 5 star games were Top Gear, Ken Griffey Jr. MLB, Mortal Kombat 2, Killer Instinct, Super Bomberman and Joe and Mac
This is a great list. Some of these games have also aged extremely well. Super Mario RPG, for example, is still worth playing today. It is an extremely well polished RPG with a good/ fun story and narrative, with an art style that's aged well, excellent sound design and music, which also blends a variety of exploration, platforming, and puzzle solving into it as well.
More 5-Star games: Seiken Densetsu 3, Romancing SaGa 3, Live A Live, Famicom Detective Club Part II: The Girl Who Stands Behind, Psycho Dream, Bahamut Lagoon, International Superstar Soccer Deluxe, Clock Tower, Terranigma, Ihatovo Monogatari, Rendering Ranger R2, Shin Megami Tensei, Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka.
I absolutely agree with you about Clock Tower, Shin Megami Tensei, Terranigma, and Famicom Detective Club Part II.
Mario kart 2 player battle blew my mind how fun it was back then was crazy fun for that time period super easy you could ask anyone to play even old people and they would become obsessed playing it
Oh John, you say the darndess things about all the games.😂🤣 15:41
Zombies ate my Neighbors is in my Mt Rushmore of Coop games. Love it and it still holds up in my opinion.
Loved these games and the other lists games such amazing memories in the 1990s with SNES I’m happy and blessed to have seen all of gaming from 1980 to Now what a wild ride it’s been thanks John Riggs
I agree with all the games on your list, I would all so recommend for 5 star consideration, Knights of The Round and Boogerman, just my opinion of course
I'm so happy to see that Demon's Crest is in the 5-Star SNES Games list. Because that game aside from Super Metroid another childhood favorite of mine, Demon's crest is one of my favorite snes titles and it was my snes second game right after Super Metroid when I got my Super Nintendo in my case the Snes Jr that was the console that I got when I was a child which I still own it to this day. It is always a joy to play that game and the music is just glorious,Majestic,nostalgic I love it. I will check out the previous video and keep it up ;-)
Demon's Crest was the last big box retail store (Walmart) purchase for the SNES! I only paid $10 for it because this was already deep into N64 being out.
I've spent so many hours playing so many of these games. This is a great list.
I totally agree with your view on Final Fantasy 2. I also think King of Dragons was 5 star. Great beat em up. Very close to the arcade version.
Here's one that's missing! TMNT Tournament Fighters. It always puts a smile on my face, and I was thrilled to pieces when it was included in the Cowabunga Collection. Also Q*Bert 3! It's the ultimate evolution of Q*Bert, in my humble opinion.
I agree on F-Zero. I am not a big racing game fan... but F-Zero was awesome... probably my favorite racing game of all time. Final Fantasy 2 was awesome... definitely 5 star! Mario Kary - Yes! Super Mario RPG - 5 stars! Turtles in Time! UN Squadron was great!
Legend of the mystical Ninja soundtrack to me is top five on the system. It's got such a eclectic mix of Japanese sounding songs and everything is catchy. I can still hum a lot of it today 30 years later.
Another great video John. What Games for the Sega consoles, PlayStations, and Older Nintendo aged the best?
Great list. I'll totally check EVO and keep FF2 in mind.
One little detail probably others have mentioned, Turtles in Time isn't really a direct port of the arcade version. The SNES one is improved with more stages, different bosses, and other features like choosing art style or 2 player versus. Throwing enemies at screen is also new I think. That's (maybe) why we didn't see the arcade version as a kid, since it wasn't that great, who knows.
Thank you! I had watched that other "5 stars SNES games" video, and I kept thinking, where's Mario RPG, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, and yes even Final Fantasy II or IV, lol. I don't know if I can think of any others, most of these are really darn good, but possibly Castlevania Dracula X. I've actually played Rondo Of Blood more than Dracula X, but both are still solid titles that I feel like get overshadowed by IV, Symphony Of The Night and even III.
This covers the games I thought were missing, namely Mystical Ninja, TMNT4 and "Final Fantasy 2" but I would also add a couple of Kirby games that I only played much later in life: Super Star and Dream Course.
Great work man! Especially U.N. squadron. If I added a game Illusion of Gaia has to be up there as a five star game in my opinion.
Hell yeah! Couldn't agree more.
Thanks for posting this…I like “the ‘real’ 5 star” concept. Maybe we will see Riggs 5 star episodes as a series?
And after they are all made, then a 5+ GOAT episode with the best games of all time (theoretically selections from the 5 star series but across all platforms that you include in the series!!!
I think Prince of Persia should be a five-star game great graphics great music great puzzles and great movement mechanics
I loved Zombies Ate My Neighbors but I remember it getting so hard and frustrating in latter stages. I THINK I was pretty good at it, but I could never beat it.
You and that book video both left out Contra 3, and Donkey Kong Country, and that’s just off the top of my head.
awesome picks! you picked all the games i felt were missing from the other list. well done