Super Famicom recommendations?

[louisg]

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for Super Famicom-exclusive games-- games that didn't come out in North America. Recently, I started checking them out on eBay and they surprisingly weren't as expensive as I thought they were. I like action games and racing games, and can't read any Japanese. So far, here are the ones I know about that I think I might dig:

Umihara
Cosmo Gang: The Video
Pop'n Twinbee
Super Drift Out
Syvalion
Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie
SD F-1 Grand Prix
Jaki Crush (I know it's not up to the PCE ones, but I like that style)
Rainbow Bell Adventure
Cotton 100%
Magical Pop'n
Super F1 Circus

and of course the ports of various arcade shmups like Parodius. But is there anything else I should have my eye out for?

[Ed Oscuro]

Just a nitpick, but Syvallion isn't actually SFC exclusive, even discounting the arcade release it got a X68000 port. Probably ported to the PS2 with the later Taito collections as well. It might as well be an exclusive, though

Super Ninja Kun looks like good fun. This thread also reminds me that Lode Runner Twin needs a play also - I'm not sure that's an exclusive but it's probably worth a look for Lode grabbers. It's pink and green and stuff.

[louisg]

Just a nitpick, but Syvallion isn't actually SFC exclusive, even discounting the arcade release it got a X68000 port. Probably ported to the PS2 with the later Taito collections as well. It might as well be an exclusive, though

Super Ninja Kun looks like good fun. This thread also reminds me that Lode Runner Twin needs a play also - I'm not sure that's an exclusive but it's probably worth a look for Lode grabbers. It's pink and green and stuff.

Oh yeah, I've played Syvalion on X68000. Excellent port. SNES is the one version I could possibly track down and own I think though I guess I mean exclusive as in "didn't come out in the US on Super Nintendo". I'll check out Lode Runner Twin.

[louisg]

That Super Ninja Kun looks awesome! Deadtech recently introduced me to the Famicom games in the series. While I think I prefer the super oldschool arcade style, this looks really fast and fun.

[zinger]

I think Syvalion was developed with a trackball controller in mind, at least that was how HEY had it set up at one point when I was there. Very cool game, wish I could try it again. SFC version is also pretty cool though, since it has a completely new and interesting soundtrack.

I was never much in to the Rockman games, but I can really recommend Rockman & Forte (there's also a GBA version, but it's not as good from what I can remember). Great action, and a great atmosphere that feels very different from the other Rockman games. The music is catchy as hell with a cool jazzy vibe to it, and graphics are among the best in the series.

By the way, Ican also tell you that Cotton 100%, Umihara Kawase and Rainbow Bell Adventure were huge disappointments for me (especially RBA).

[blackoak]

Yeah, Rockman and Forte is really great. One of the very best in the whole series imo. By endgame it still ends up being slightly broken thanks to the shop, but iirc, they got rid of energy tanks and--this is the key--actually designed the game around that fact. I also remember there being fewer or no "cheese" weapons for boss fights... you actually have to learn boss patterns. At first the game feels way too hard if you're used to Mega Man EZ Mode (aka most every other MM), but after you get used to it, it's actually quite well-balanced.

I will second the great music too. I remember reading a lot of reviews to the contrary, so I guess there's no accounting for taste!

[BrianC]

Doh. I didn't realize Syvalion was JP/EU only since it was reviewed in magazines back in the day. Looks like it was close to getting a release and even had US box art.

[drauch]

greg also put together this little video here: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... er+famicom

There was some good talk in the SFC/SNES thread awhile back about the SFC exclusive Zenki (Kishin Douji Zenki: Battle Raiden) as well. Showed some friends the other night and they all loved it as well. A good deal of dialog, but all easily skippable at a decent enough pace to keep things moving.

[pegboy]

Rendering Ranger R2.

[Leader Bee]

Super Famicom Wars is amazing but I don't think there was a cart for this; I'm sure it was originally distributed by satellaview.

[Perikles]

Ghost Sweeper Mikami: Joreishi wa Nice Body is a very solid action-platformer. Definitely not as great as some of the other Natsume titles, good fun nonetheless (the lack of Dr. Chaos & Maria is a shame, though!).

Melfand Stories is an interesting little game. It does have its flaws, for sure, but I'd say the good things (especially some of the enemies' AI) outweigh the more irksome traits.


Some games are not SFC exclusive yet preferable over their SNES counterparts due to some irritating changes in the west. Kidou Soukou Dion for example features a lot more enemies, an entirely different fourth weapon, other tracks and more background details in the first two stages than the US version Imperium. The western soundtrack to BioMetal is just awful, whereas the original tunes evoke a great solemn/melancholic atmosphere. The Ninja Warriors Again has one more enemy type than the censored western Ninja Warriors. ActRaiser 2 is quite a bit easier compared to the US version but significantly harder than the PAL version etc. pp.

...SFC Acrobat Mission is the greatest guilty pleasure in regards to shmups that I can think of.

[BrianC]

Super Famicom Wars is amazing but I don't think there was a cart for this; I'm sure it was originally distributed by satellaview.

As far as I know, it was on those Nintendo Power (not to be confused with the US magazine) re-flashable carts, but not on standard cart. Too bad it's nowhere near as easy to find as the original Famicom game.

[Obiwanshinobi]

If Hyper Iria can be found cheap, you could do worse than pick it up.

[Squire Grooktook]

I'm in denial that a usa version of Biometal exists.

[Pretas]

Along with Syvalion, both the Twinbee games also had EU releases.

[mamboFoxtrot]

Sutte Hakkun is a fantastic puzzle game. It ain't cheap, though, so I've only played it via emulator.

It is apparently available on Japanese Wii VC. Why they won't bring to the west is beyond me. I mean, yeah, there's Japanese text all over the place, but its not like you need to actually read any of it: The tutorials use pictures of buttons and video demonstrations, and I figured out what the pause menu options were through simple trail-and-error.

[Despatche]

I understand everyone completely adores the Alien and Devil Crush music, but Jaki Crush is not a bad game at all.

Stuff I sorta know:

-Mario no Super Picross
-Arabian Nights: Sabaku no Seirei Ou
-Aryol
-Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei
-The whole F-1 Grand Prix series really, especially if you like F1 Circus
-Alcahest (it's like Illusion of Gaia except even more arcade-like)
-Ys V: Ushinawareta Suna no Miyako Kefin (idk I like it, kinda wish Falcom made another game like it)
-Ys IV: Mask of the Sun (may as well)
-Super Tetris 3
-Keeper (I truly do not understand why this game makes me feel so happy)
-Wrecking Crew '98 (very surprised this isn't an NP exclusive)
-All those Japan-only Ganbare Goemons
-Lennus (yeah yeah first one was released as "Paladin's Quest" whatever)
-Kidou Senshi Gundams as follows: Cross Dimension 0079, Away to the Newtype, and Formula Senki 0122

[BrianC]

I understand everyone completely adores the Alien and Devil Crush music, but Jaki Crush is not a bad game at all.

I don't get the wording here. Jaki Crush also has incredible music. I like the game quite a bit too.

[louisg]

There are some great recommendations here! I really appreciate it.

Some of them are a nice price, too. I always expect everything to be super expensive, and am always pleasantly surprised when something like Wrecking Crew '98 or Cosmo Gang The Video are only $20ish. Then, on the other hand, I only just discovered Undercover Cops and then found out it was $300

Zinger, good info about Syvalion. The controls make a lot more sense now.

[TransatlanticFoe]

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for Super Famicom-exclusive games-- games that didn't come out in North America.

PAL regions would like a word with you!

Rainbow Bell Adventures isn't a Super Famicom exclusive, it got a PAL release. Unless you're lumping us in because we got the same console design as they did!

[zinger]

Gotta confirm Despatche's Alcahest recommendation. Just got it today and I absolutely love it! Definitely a must have, and I got it for no more than two bucks CIB.

[louisg]

Gotta confirm Despatche's Alcahest recommendation. Just got it today and I absolutely love it! Definitely a must have, and I got it for no more than two bucks CIB.

I had never heard of this. It looks like a better version of Arcus Odyssey!

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for Super Famicom-exclusive games-- games that didn't come out in North America.

PAL regions would like a word with you!

Rainbow Bell Adventures isn't a Super Famicom exclusive, it got a PAL release. Unless you're lumping us in because we got the same console design as they did!

LOL sorry! I get confused because you got the good SNES and we got a butt redesign. I'm just hunting around for any titles that came out either in PAL or Japan regions, because I never really looked into those.

[louisg]

What do people here think of Cosmo Gang: The Video? On normal mode, it's obviously much too easy, but on very hard mode it seems to put up a decent fight. Do you think any decent shmupper would still blow through it too fast after they learn a couple tricks, or is it still reasonably challenging even after a few hours have been spent with it?

[evil_ash_xero]

JP games that didn't come out over here?

Hrmm....I'm sure what I'm going to list, will have been mentioned before (I didn't read the other posts...I'm lazy), but I'll throw in my 2 cents. (I did read your post, so the first few are kind of like "yes, you should play these".


- Magical Pop'n - A cute, buy very well done platformer. One of the best platformers that didn't make it here.
- DoReMi Fantasy - About the same as the previous recommendation. Cute, but really good. Some say it's too easy, but I think it's difficulty is fine. I die a lot. Not everything has to be I Wanna Be The Guy. Also, both of these games are late in the system's life, so they look and sound really good.
- Umihara Kawase - This game is weird. Just weird. From playthroughs I thought it looked like the most boring thing ever. But there's something to it. Not for everyone, but man it can become an addictive game.
- Seiken Densetsu 3 - This is Secret of Mana 2. It's great, and should have been released here. You can find translated versions all over the place. If you only use real hardware, I'd recommend using an EverDrive. It's a lost Square classic. Not perfect, but really damn good.

That's about it, for games that didn't make it here, from me. I'm always on the lookout, but I haven't been charmed by anything else, that hasn't come out here. Which is odd, since usually there are so many games that don't make it here, that are great. I'll probably have to look into the other posts, and see if I can find anything I've never heard of/played.

Hope that sorta helps.

[louisg]

How about Genocide 2? Yay or nay? I've played the 68k one and it's awesome. I wouldn't think the Super Fami one would live up to that one, but so far it seems pretty decent.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Is the original Panel de Pon considered outclassed by its later versions?

[BIL]

Asked the same myself a few months back. Picked up a copy and have been loving it.

[louisg]

Watched more videos of Genocide 2 and it looks like a pretty heavily gutted version. That's a shame; the X68000 version is awesome. At least us SNES owners got Cybernator and Metal Warriors so I guess I shouldn't complain

[Captain]

rendering ranger

[mvsfan]

macross scrambled valkyrie.

Gundam wing endless duel is easily one of the best looking games on the snes.

To me i looks more like a saturn fighter than snes.