World 1-13: Super Mario World

Super Mario World
~SNES


Original Completion Date: October 14th, 2008

Super Mario World, yet another SNES classic. Once again, Nintendo nails every aspect of a great game: smooth game play, awesome replay value, catchy music, and even some innovative features, such as the switch palaces. Switch palaces enhance certain levels, allowing players to reach new heights (for all you completionists out there like me). Another great aspect of this game is that it was fairly long for a platformer. To finish the game with every secret takes about 3 hours!


Also new to the Mario series is our dinosaur pal Yoshi, who is introduced in Super Mario World. Yoshi allows you to blow through levels faster, take an extra hit without losing your own powers, or even dive off last minute for the ultimate betrayal in friendship: leaving your best friend to die while you dive off to safety. As an added little bonus, a sweet drum beat plays with the level music while you ride him. 

World 1-12: Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3
~SNES (Via Super Mario All-Stars)


Original Completion Date: October 23rd, 2008

Super Mario Bros. 3 - what a perfect game. It is widely known as one of the top selling video games of all time, having sold over 18 million copies on the original console. It also managed to sell another million copies 20 years after it's original release, after coming out on the Wii's Virtual Console for download - and not without reason. After two decades, the game play is a definite rival for current classics. Divinely smooth with an array of level themes and music to match each scene, the difficulty level is fairly well rounded as well; the bosses are ridiculously easy (three consecutive jumps timed right will leave him totally stunned until you finish him off), and yet the secrets are hard to find as a first time player. You can also collect flutes to skip worlds whenever you feel like it, but make sure you don't skip past World 5-3, for the game's only appearance of Kuribo's Shoe, more commonly known as that awesome boot thing you can ride in!

World 1-11: Super Mario Bros. 2

 Super Mario Bros. 2
~SNES (Via Super Mario All-Stars)


Original Completion Date: October 23rd, 2008

Another sweet Super Mario Bros. game. For those of you who don't know, Super Mario Bros. 2 is actually not an original Mario game, but rather a port with a slight redesign of the Japanese Famicom game Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic. And while the original SMB2 game was released in Japan, it was deemed to difficult for North Americans (Ouch! That hurts Nintendo), and so this is what they came up with. Even so, SMB2 turned out to have some difficult parts of its own, especially when using the wrong characters for each level. I tend to use Peach most because she can float for hours with her dress (talk about a cheap win), but I do like to change up the difficulty now and then by, say, using Luigi. Just look at those legs, how is anybody supposed to control THAT? I remember imitating that jump as a kid on trampolines, but just try killing a giant frog-thing spewing bubbles at you with that kind of instability! Classic. 

World 1-10: Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
~SNES (Via Super Mario All-Stars)


Original Completion Date: October 16th, 2008

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. It's hard. It's classic Mario. Everybody knows the iconic music and style of these games. Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels is a direct sequel to the original Super Mario Bros. game, and once again Bowser has kidnapped the princess, so it is up to you, my fat plumber friend, to trudge through another eight worlds of hell - only this time, hell is on steroids. So let's get Goomba squashing and Koopa stomping; only a few hours of torture and running into that stupid Toad telling you "Our princess is in another castle!" will bring you to destination Princess-cheek-kiss! (What a cop-out). 

World 1-8: Super Bomberman

Super Bomberman
~SNES

Original Completion Date: October 14th, 2008

Super Bomberman is a puzzle game where you blow up walls strategically to kill enemies and find the exit to the next level. It's cute, fun, easy to learn, and endlessly addicting. I think I beat this particular version 3 times last year, just because it's so mindlessly enjoyable. There's no real storyline, and that's okay. Who doesn't enjoy a simple game now and then?

World 1-7: Mega Man X2

Mega Man X2
~SNES

Original Completion Date: October 14th, 2008

I could write all day about how awesome Mega Man X2 is, considering it's one of my favourite games ever. The music is totally bad ass, character control is seriously slick, and while the bosses are a piece of cake (that may be my 1000 times killing them talking), there's nothing in this game not worth loving. As far as the storyline goes, there isn't really much to it. But let's be realistic, this is the 90s when all you had to do was run around shooting shit until it died, occasionally figuring out the bosses movement patterns. I mean seriously, what kind of threat does a Wire Sponge really pose? Absolutely zilch. And that's why this game is awesome.

World 1-5: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers
~SNES

Original Completion Date: October 14th, 2008

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers just another standard side scrolling beat 'em up for Super Nintendo, but I like it anyways. There was a bit of lazy programming; they could have used a female power ranger body, as Kimberly and Trini's small female frames morph into the same super buff muscle machine the male characters morph into. However, the game is good for a few laughs as Billy looks like a nerdy farmer and Zack's break dance at the end is pretty hilarious. I made sure to test out every character just to be fair, but Trini definitely hauls the most ass during game play, and you can totally blow through the game just flipping around and kicking enemies with her super long legs.

        

World 1-4: Uniracers

Uniracers
~SNES

Original Completion Date: October 14th, 2008

Also known in the PAL region as "Unirally", Uniracers is an exceptionally wicked game. While there isn't much variation in the original "race your unicycle against the computer to win a medal" concept, the game gets really exciting (Read: IMPOSSIBLE) on the last tour, where the computer can summon track and unicycle effects against you to throw you completely out of loop. He can make the track invisible, reverse your controls, and screw up the background to the point where it's probably the first video game to make anybody puke.

Oh, and in response to the picture, it was my signature character - Yellow unicycle named Gogeta, which I have used since I was a kid.

  

World 1-3: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

~SNES

Original Completion Date: October 14th, 2008

I always thought this game was called "Diddy Kong's Quest", but since he's on a quest to save Donkey Kong, "Diddy's Kong Quest" sort of makes sense too.

Anyways, DKC2:DKQ was a great follow up to the original Donkey Kong Country game. It features all sorts of crazy new level themes, such as monkeys riding on skull roller coasters, and climbing walls of honey. It also includes the same smooth game play that made the original so enjoyable. Once again, the music matches the themes perfectly, leaving an incredible sensation with the players as they travel through many foreign worlds to save Diddy's best pal, Donkey. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is without question an amazing game, and quite possibly surpasses it's predecessor in enjoyment and originality. 

        

World 1-2: Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong Country
~SNES

Original Completion Date: October 14, 2008

Donkey Kong Country was the first SNES game to use pre-rendered textures and 3D models - which, for those of you who aren't up with the lingo of graphics, means it was a huge step forward for the SNES graphically. Along with it's revolutionary graphics, the music (done by David Wise) is also extremely well composed. Each song is perfect for every situation, and it's also super catchy. I often find myself humming area themes in my day-to-day life.

Donkey Kong Country also boasts an incredibly high replay value. Over my entire gaming career, I have always come back to Donkey Kong Country for a quick gaming fix. With such memorable characters as that cranky old bat (aptly named Cranky Kong) taunting you throughout the game; the sultry Candy Kong (who is obviously hooking up with Funky Kong); and that crazy crocodile, King K. Rool (who for some reason wants all your bananas) following you throughout the game, Donkey Kong Country is a game that has earned it's way into the hearts of many gamers since it's release in 1994.

My personal best record lies somewhere under an hour (not 101% completion rate). Over the years, I have developed a certain pattern for playing this game, and I have found that one of the best general ways to improve your time is by using strategic suicides in bonus levels. This means that while you don't lose a life and will spawn further in the level once you exit the bonus, you also don't get to reap the rewards. With enough skill however, it becomes unnecessary to stockpile lives anyways.

World 1-1: Super Metroid

Super Metroid
~SNES

Original Completion Date: January 24th, 2009

I finished this time around with a total of 63%, which isn't too great, but for what it's worth I thoroughly enjoyed all 63% of the game that I completed!

Super Metroid is one of the biggest classics that anybody who calls themselves a gamer should have beaten at least once in their gaming career. It's one of the most fluid side scrolling platformers I have ever played, and better yet, the mood for each area is captured perfectly. I am not ashamed to admit that to this day, I am still afraid to play this game solo. Everything from the music, weapons, monsters, sound effects, and scenery were put together in such a way that this game could not possibly have been any better. All in all, with the great atmosphere of the game and the incredibly memorable character styles, Super Metroid is one unforgettable game that I enjoyed so much, I actually got a tattoo of it. Hit the jump for a bonus pic of my Metroid tattoo!