Ms. Pac-Man

Ms. Pac-Man

Introduction Ms. Pac-Man was published by Williams under license from Nintendo, released for the SNES in 1996 as a home conversion of the classic 1982 arcade sequel to the original Pac-Man. Players once again guide Ms. Pac-Man through a maze, eating dots and fruit while avoiding four uniquely behaving ghosts, Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Sue,…

Tetris Attack

Tetris Attack

Introduction Tetris Attack, released in Japan as Panel de Pon, was developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo, produced by Game Boy creator Gunpei Yokoi, released for the SNES in Japan in October 1995 and internationally the following year. The Japanese version featured an original cast of fairy characters in a mythical fantasy setting,…

Tetris & Dr. Mario

Tetris & Dr. Mario

Introduction Tetris & Dr. Mario was published by Nintendo, released for the SNES in 1994 as a two-in-one compilation cartridge bundling enhanced remakes of both Tetris and Dr. Mario onto a single cart. Each game received a genuine visual and mechanical refresh over their earlier NES and Game Boy incarnations, with the Tetris side offering…

Front Mission

Front Mission

Introduction Front Mission was developed by G-Craft and published by Square, released for the Super Famicom in Japan on February 24, 1995, as a tactical role-playing game built around squad-based battles fought using large piloted mechs called wanzers. Players command a customizable squad of wanzers across grid-based battle maps, with each unit’s individual body parts,…

Star Ocean

Star Ocean

Introduction Star Ocean was developed by tri-Ace and published by Enix, released for the Super Famicom in Japan in July 1996 as an ambitious science-fantasy role-playing game that blended traditional medieval RPG trappings with a broader space-opera setting revealed as the story progressed. Players control Ratix Farrence and a growing party of companions investigating a…

Mega Man X3

Mega Man X3

Introduction Mega Man X3 was developed by Minakuchi Engineering and published by Capcom, released for the SNES in Japan in December 1995 as the third entry in the Mega Man X sub-series. The game expanded on its predecessors’ formula by introducing a second playable character, Zero, who could be controlled for a limited portion of…

Kirby’s Dream Land 3

Kirby’s Dream Land 3

Introduction Kirby’s Dream Land 3 was developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo, released for the SNES in Japan in March 1997 as one of the console’s final major first-party releases, arriving well into the Nintendo 64 era. The game returned to Kirby’s original Dream Land setting with a distinctly softer, pastel, crayon-drawn art…

Star Fox

Star Fox

Introduction Star Fox was developed by Nintendo in collaboration with the British studio Argonaut Software, released on the SNES in Japan in February 1993 as one of the first console games built around real-time 3D polygonal graphics, made possible by the custom Super FX chip embedded directly in the game cartridge. Players pilot Fox McCloud’s…

Secret of Mana

Secret of Mana

Introduction Secret of Mana was developed and published by Square, released on the SNES in Japan in August 1993 as an action role-playing game that broke from the turn-based combat common to most Japanese RPGs of the era in favor of real-time, direct-control action battles. Up to three players could join simultaneously, controlling the hero…

F-Zero

F-Zero

Introduction F-Zero was developed and published by Nintendo, released in Japan in November 1990 as one of the SNES’s launch titles, reaching North America the following August. The game puts players behind the wheel of a futuristic anti-gravity racing craft, competing across four selectable vehicles with different speed, acceleration, and handling characteristics through high-speed circuits…