In this video we test and review the Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition, discuss the features and see how it stacks up against the NES Classic and the original Super NES 16-bit system.
Perhaps one of the worst kept secrets after last year's wildly popular NES Classic Edition was that Nintendo would eventually give the same "Mini" treatment to the successor, the 16-Bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The SNES was an amazing machine when it was originally released, from the audio chip designed by Sony of all companies, Mode 7 Graphics, an amazingly designed controller (which, if you didn't realize is STILL the inspiration to the latest PS4 controller) the SNES was perhaps the best experience in home console gaming ever. Cramming that into a small package is no easy task, but Nintendo has set out to do just that with the 2017 Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition.
Like the NES Classic the year before the SNES Classic comes preloaded with 21 games from a variety of genres. From perhaps the greatest platformer of all time in Super Mario World, the run-and-gun classic Contra 3, the best Castlevania game ever in Super Castlevania IV and the best action adventure game in The Legend of Zelda - a Link to the Past, the games lineup is extremely good, if a bit limited.
The SNES Classic has everything you need to get hooked up and playing right in the box. Two controllers, that's right, 2 controllers come with the system and are perfect clones of their OG counterparts. Learning from one of the biggest criticisms of the NES Classic the controller cord length is longer, however it's still not as long as it could/should be. The good news is that the connector is the same as the NES Classic so if you have any of the extension cables from that machine you can repurpose them with the SNES Classic.
Once connected to your TV setup is simple. You progress through the basic setup menus, select your language, etc and are delivered to the main menu. From here you can see all 20 games you can play immediately, however Star Fox 2 cannot be played right away. Don't worry, all you need to do is complete the first level of the first Star Fox and Star Fox 2 becomes playable.
Bouncing around from one game to the next to the next is a bit of a chore due to the lack of a home button or any button press shortcut. If you press L/R/Start/Select you reset the current game you are playing however you need to go to the console itself and flick the reset button to get back to the main menu. So let me get this straight , I can reset with a button combo but not get back to the main menu? That's a fail. Wait, no, that's a Phail.
Game emulation feels great, just like the NES Classic. I need to play more to see if there is a latency issue like the NES Classic had, my initial feeling is there is as I don't remember being as bad at Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo as I ended up being. Audio is spot on, and between CRT, Pixel Perfect and 4:3 ratios the video looks spot on.
I'm a little underwhelmed by the games lineup as there are some notable titles missing. First of all there isn't a single sports title on the system, and no, Super Punch Out is NOT a sports game. The NES Classic had Tecmo Bowl, an amazing game, but no Madden, NBA Jam, nothing. Sure, the Genesis was THE home for sports games in the 16-bit era but there were some great titles.
I'm also a bit shocked that other titles are absent. Chrono Trigger is a well-regarded title and it is missing. Pilotwings, a launch title and cult classic is not here. Earthworm Jim, Turtles in Time, UN Squadron, Mortal Kombat, Super R-Type, Gradius 3, Harvest Moon, Dr. Mario/Tetris, Killer Instinct, Super Star Wars, I could go on but you get the point. I know these games take up more space than an NES game storage-wise but as an act of contrition for screwing up the NES Classic availability having more games would have been a nice start from Nintendo.
I'll admit, I do love this little machine, however there was potential to be so much more. I think the lineup of games is good, not great but good. I think the molding and design is spot-on. The controllers feel great, with albeit short cords, the system itself looks spot-on and the software is proven. There are ways it can be improved, and I hope Hackchi2 and 8BitDo have solutions at the ready to make this good system great.
Why it RoX:
- Increased supply means you can actually get one!
- SNES Games in HD with HDMI Output
- Molding is spot on
- 2 Controllers
- Emulation is very good
- While limited the games here are classics
- Cheaper than buying the games individually
- You can play an official release of Star Fox 2
What could be improved:
- No way to get back to the home screen from the controller
- The controller door is way too difficult to open
- Only 21 games
- Controller Cord is still too short
- Star Fox 2 really doesn't seem that good IMO
- Some lag/latency felt initially
- Lack of sports games
- Some games feel like filler if you're not fans of certain genres (RPGs, I have no use for them)
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