23rd August 2021 marks the SNES’ 30th anniversary and it is important to take a look back at what the vaunted system has meant to the industry. There are not too many consoles that have left such a legacy and imprint on the lives of gamers. Legendary mascots such as Mario and Link have arisen from SNES games, continuing their popularity generations later.
The SNES’ 30th Anniversary: A Legendary Mark in The Gaming Industry
Birth of a Legacy
Released on August 13th, 1991 in North America due to the success of its predecessor the NES, the SNES showed off the improved sound and graphic capabilities. Infamous series was now reimagined such as; Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Super Mario Brothers. I can remember the joy of being able to experience games better due to the SNES’ 16-bit processor. While the original had great multiplayer titles, the upgraded successor’s capabilities just made them more appealing and enjoyable.
The clamour for SNES games has been strong, which is why we see them ported to the Nintendo Wii and Switch stores. While they may barely hold up to its’ predecessor’s technological upgrades, having such an impact on people’s childhoods has kept them alive throughout. Who doesn’t want to sit down and replay some old classics that take you back to a time when things were simpler and more fun? This has spawned online ROM hacks and ROMs that replicate the console’s games on PC. While Nintendo has been in a constant legal battle to put a legal halt to these hacks, these represent the unwavering popularity that the SNES still has on gamers today.
Awards and Nominations
GameTrailers.com had named the SNES the second-best console of all time, and the best Nintendo console of all time. GamingExcellence.com named it the best console of all time, while IGN rated it fourth. GameDaily.com rated it fifth all time. Two Zelda and two Super Mario sequels have been ranked in the top ten of best selling games of all time. The advancements on which the console brought was able to push forward both series graphically and allow for more complexity in game design.
