Video game consoles used to come packed in with games at launch. The NES was successful thanks toSuper Mario Bros.andDuck Huntgetting added. Similarly,Super Mario Worlddid well on the SNES through bundles and there were even vouchers to mail in for a free game.Super Mario All-Starswas a collection of remakes from the NES era starring Mario.
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Those two games alone would have had platformer fans set for life on theSNES, but the console has so much more to offer than justMariotitles. Unfortunately, not all the games got the love they deserved in the 90s.
8Congo’s Caper
The 80s and 90s were lousy withprehistoric and caveman-inspired platformers. This might have been a bleed-over effect from developers growing up withThe Flintstonescartoon.
EvenSuper Mario Worldhas some caveman aesthetics to it as Yoshi is a dinosaur. Of the baby out there,Congo’s Caperis one of the better caveman platformers thanks to the gameplay, visuals, and catchy music. The game stars a monkey that gets transformed into a human and he is trying to save his girlfriend.
7Demon’s Crest
Demon’s Crestis a spinoff from theGhosts ’n Goblinsseries starring one of the main antagonists, Firebrand.This gargoyle demonwent on to star in many platformer action RPGs and they could be considered to be even better than the main games.
Players would progress through 2D levels and gain powers along the way. There was an overworld map that allowed players to explore through stunning faux 3D visuals at the time.Ghosts ’n Goblinsgot a new game in 2021, soDemon’s Crestshould be next.
6Ganbare Goemon 2: Kiteretsu Shogun Magginesu
Ganbare Goemon 2: Kiteretsu Shogun Magginesuis a sequel toThe Legend of the Mystical Ninja. This sequel did not release in the West if that title did not make it clear. The first game on SNES was a hybrid of top-down action and 2D platforming but this sequel, and the two others in SNES, are more straight 2D action platformers.
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There are still some RPG elements though like shops to boost defense through gear. It’s a shame so many oftheGoemongameslike this were never released in the West, but thankfully curious players can find an English fan patch online.
5The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse
The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouseis the first game in theMagical Questseries. There was alsoThe Great Circus Mystery Starring Mickey & Minnieand a third game,Disney’s Magical Quest 3 Starring Mickey & Donald, but it did not get released in the West until a Game Boy Advance port was made.
All of them feature fantastic platforming action from the masters at Capcom. Thebig hook was that Mickey, and his companions, could dress in costumes which gave them various powers. For example, there was a firefighter suit that allowed players to squirt water.
4Michael Jordan: Chaos In The Windy City
Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy Cityis one of the wildest games on the SNES. It was released at a time when Michael Jordan transcended basketball. He was everywhere and there was no escaping his gravity.
He even got this action platformer wherein he used magical basketballs to fight mutants. It is not the greatest platformer on the system by a long shot. However, the pure oddity of it makes it a must-play.
3Plok
Plokwas likeRaymanbefore his series started.The titular Plokhad a blocky body and his arms and feet could shoot off. Unlike Rayman though, Plok received a plethora of power-ups in levels and could dress up like a boxer or grab a flamethrower as just two examples.
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Plok had a goal reminiscent of Mario trying to save the princess as he walked from stage to looking for his family flag. At each pole, he realized his flag was in another area, again, like how Toads teased Mario about the princess being elsewhere.
2Sparkster
Sparksteris the sequel toRocket Knight Adventureswhich was a Sega Genesis exclusive. This sequel was then exclusive to the SNES, but the Sega Genesis wasn’t hurting. In this same month in Japan, theSega Genesis hadSparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2.
It’s a confusing release timeline but all three games play the same. Players are an opossum who inhabit a rocket-powered suit of armor. They can jump, dash, fly, and fight enemies with a sword. Of all the mascot platformers of this era, this series should have moved on to 3D.
1Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Looseis a tie-in game tothe Looney Tunes franchise. That could sometimes be bad during this generation, but Konami was behind the development. Like Capcom’s work with Disney, Konami knew what they were doing. It’s a hard-as-nails platformer that was almost like a clone ofSonic the Hedgehogbut for the SNES.
It may be challenging, but it’s a game hard not to love as it graphically matched the cartoon as best it could in its 16-Bit rendition.
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