Castlevania: Dracula X

Castlevania: Dracula X

Introduction Konami released Castlevania: Dracula X for the Super Nintendo in 1995, a cartridge reimagining of Rondo of Blood, the Japanese PC Engine CD game. Richter Belmont sets out to rescue his beloved Annette and her younger sister Maria after Dracula is resurrected, and the game keeps many of the same story beats, though its…

Super Double Dragon

Super Double Dragon

Introduction Super Double Dragon was developed by Technos Japan and released for the Super Nintendo in 1992, published by Tradewest in North America, as the first entry in the series built for 16-bit hardware. Billy and Jimmy Lee once again take to the streets against the Shadow Warriors gang, fighting through city blocks, casinos, airports…

Super Conflict

Super Conflict

Introduction Super Conflict is a turn-based military wargame developed by Manley & Associates and published by Vic Tokai, released in North America in March 1993 as the 16-bit successor to the earlier NES game Conflict. Play takes place on hex maps where each side fields infantry, armour, artillery, helicopters, aircraft and naval vessels, and every…

A.S.P. Air Strike Patrol SNES box art

A.S.P. Air Strike Patrol

Introduction A.S.P. Air Strike Patrol was developed and published by Naxat Soft, released for the SNES in 1994 as a helicopter combat shooter with an overhead perspective, tasking players with flying attack helicopter missions against ground and air targets across a series of increasingly difficult stages. Players manage a limited but upgradeable arsenal of missiles…

Bahamut Lagoon SNES box art

Bahamut Lagoon

Introduction Bahamut Lagoon was developed and published by Square, released for the SNES in 1996 as a tactical RPG combining grid-based strategy battles with dragon-taming mechanics, released late in the console’s life just as Square was shifting its major RPG output toward the PlayStation. Players command a squad of soldiers each paired with a tamed…

Aero Fighters SNES box art

Aero Fighters

Introduction Aero Fighters was developed by Video System, ported to the SNES in 1993 from its arcade original, a vertically scrolling shoot ’em up letting players choose from a roster of pilots and aircraft from different countries, each with distinct stats and a unique special weapon. Its stages take players across real-world locations rendered in…

Aero the Acro-Bat 2 SNES box art

Aero the Acro-Bat 2

Introduction Aero the Acro-Bat 2 was developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Sunsoft, released for the SNES in 1994 as a direct sequel continuing the acrobatic bat mascot’s adventures, this time facing off against a new villain plotting to take over Aero’s circus for a criminal scheme. It refines the original’s tail-spin and glide-based…

Animaniacs SNES box art

Animaniacs

Introduction Animaniacs was developed and published by Konami, released for the SNES in 1995 as a platformer based on the Warner Bros. animated series, starring the Warner siblings Yakko, Wakko, and Dot as they explore the Warner Bros. studio lot searching for hidden items across cartoon-themed stages. Players can switch between the three siblings at…