Topping Up My SNES Classic... Suggestions?

[Sarge]

Hmm... not sure what's going down, then. Is it having trouble connecting to the PC for the hack in the first place? I'd suspect OS/antivirus/other shenanigans to be involved if it's never been hacked before and legit.

Also, not sure what USB cable you're using, but I know the one packaged with the Genesis mini only carries power, so make sure you're using one that carries data as well. The one that comes with it should be fine. I just run into issues keeping all my cabling straight since I have like five of these mini systems...

 

[q 3]

"I never thought the tigers would fart in MY face," sobs gamer who plays tiger-farting-in-face fan translations

 

[ArugulaZ]

I keep around an old iPega controller cable just for the purpose of hacking my minis.

 

[Becksworth]

Seriously though, “f@#$* like a tiger” would be like what? Loud and uncomfortably?

 

[Phantoon]

While eating a raw gazelle

 

[Beowulf]

Seriously though, “f@#$* like a tiger” would be like what? Loud and uncomfortably?

I think they were looking for "cougar."

 

[ArugulaZ]

I don't think cats actually enjoy sex. The males are barbed down there, see. "Ribbed for her displeasure," you might call it.

 

[Vaeran]

This thread used to be so nice.

 

[Sarge]

I'm so sorry for bringing that line up.

 

[ArugulaZ]

Okay, enough talk about cats in coitus. I've got a much more painful subject to discuss... namely, ActRaiser 2. Everyone sings the praises of Quintet, but I sure as hell hope this was their output on a bad day, because it suuuuuuuuuucks. Do you like sluggish combat, more slowdown than a UNIVAC mining Bitcoin, cheap hits from mooks, even cheaper bosses, pompous headache inducing sound fonts, and a complete absence of the world building scenes that made the original so novel? Then boy do I have a torture device game for you! I came in expecting the loss of the world building elements, but thought the action segments, which were merely average in the first game, would be improved. Heh, nope.

 

[Octopus Prime]

Looks nice though

 

[Phantoon]

Looks nice though

Yep. Really nice.

They did surgically remove any reason an Actraiser fan would have for wanting to play it but it's really pretty

 

[Pombar]

I'm so sorry for bringing that line up.

I'm sorry for alluding to it!

 

[Peklo]

ActRaiser 2 is excellent. I wish there were more games like it.

 

[Lokii]

Aw geeze, Actraiser 2 doesn't suck. It's very hard and particular and requires a very specific approach for sure. But as a challenge-platformer it sings once you start aligning with its wavelength.

 

[Beowulf]

I suspect one's opinion of Actraiser 2 is strongly influenced by whether you played Actraiser for the platforming bits or the simulation bits. I tolerated the platforming because I love the sim bits; ergo, I put Actraiser 2 at the bottom of the Quintet catalogue. My mixed opinion of SolSeraph was for exactly the same reason: The platforming was solidly in-line with Actraiser, but the sim sections were generally inferior.

 

[Phantoon]

Yeah, I'm sure if you're into that sort of thing Actraiser 2 might even be good. But Actraiser 1 was a fun and unique chimaera of not overly difficult platforming with fun light sim bits. There are plenty of annoyingly difficult platformers out there, I didn't want another one.

 

[MetManMas]

On the subject of scoring stuff from like a page ago (mostly relating to Yoshi's Island), man I seriously miss the days when platformers didn't have a pile of rubbish you had to collect just to see everything available.

I really liked how Super Mario World's longevity system was just based on finding alternate exits. Like, just find another exit gate or a place to shove a key and you can most likely visit a new level (or levels) and maybe even the Star Road which will net you access to more levels...and with some work, a way to fast travel and a gate right to Bowser's back door. There are 96 exits, but catching 'em all is just for the bragging rights. Have fun exploring.

And the secret world had its own secret world, with the Super Famicom logo and eight stages to play through. Finish that, and the world map's colors would go all weird and Koopa Troopas would start wearing Mario masks and Piranha Plants would be pumpkins and stuff. It was a really cool reward for digging deeper into a hidden world.

And then Super Mario Advance 2 had to go and make finding all 96 exits mandatory to turn the world weird.

Granted, it did add a few more enemy alterations, but making a cosmetic reward's requirements steeper really says everything about the changes in platformer design ethos over the years. It's not just about having fun, it's about keeping the player engaging with menial rubbish tasks for as long as possible with the promise that they might eventually unlock more fun to be had down the line if they don't drop the game for something else first.

Oh well, at least the Yoshi Coins in Advance 2 only unlocked a Princess Coins reskin. No "You need this many coins to continue" gates here.

 

[Beta Metroid]

I understand where those complaints are coming from, but I also don't like the idea of all platforming collecting being labeled rubbish and menial. Some of the trick shots required to grab certain flowers are some of my favorite aspects of Yoshi's Island, for instance. Or some flowers are tucked in secret rooms with super rare or unique enemies, and they're only found through clever exploration. They can be just as satisfying and stoke that sense of discovery and game mastery as hidden exits, sometimes more. And while I personally feel rewarded just for the act of doing these things, I can certainly sympathize with people who would feel unsatisfied if they collected a bunch of things and got nothing for it.

But then everyone has different ideas of what's acceptable content to include as a reward and not automatically offer to players. I personally think something cosmetic like SMW is the perfect "100% completion" prize: providing clear recognition to the player's accomplishment, but not fundamentally changing the experience. But as MetManMas points out, some players aren't fond of that setup. I would think that locking a "true ending" or something like that behind completionism isn't cool, but a lot of gamers don't care at all about platformers' plots, and nothing of value would be lost to them if they didn't get the 100% needed for a full ending.

I don't think there's a perfect solution here, which is part of my point. There are different styles of platformer for different people. I also don't mean to refute or question your own tastes, MetManMas. I've just seen it treated as a given for years that a lot of my favorite games are inherently flawed because they're "collectathons," (often it's people who even acknowledge games like YI are good, but in spite of that pesky collecting) and I just want to offer up a dissenting opinion once in a while.

 

[Sarge]

Aw geeze, Actraiser 2 doesn't suck. It's very hard and particular and requires a very specific approach for sure. But as a challenge-platformer it sings once you start aligning with its wavelength.

Yeah. If you come in expecting more of the original, it's very disappointing. Recontextualized as a game in the vein of Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts, it's a really good, gorgeous, and technical platformer. Heck, if nothing else, I recommend save-stating through it just to see everything. Once it clicked, I went back and gunned for that legit beat.

 

[Torzelbaum]

It seems to me that ActRaiser 2 is one of the many games which might have been more well received if it wasn't presented as a sequel to a popular game but as its own thing (or a spinoff).

 

[RT-55J]

Whatever the particular merits of Actraiser 2 are, I will agree that it feels fundamentally misnamed. The game is all Action, no Raiser.

 

[Octopus Prime]

Whatever the particular merits of Actraiser 2 are, I will agree that it feels fundamentally misnamed. The game is all Action, no Raiser.

You just blew my mind

 

[ArugulaZ]

For those interested, I reviewed a few of the games you guys recommended I install on the Super NES Classic:

A Super Little Something Extra

Nintendo and Sega went in opposite directions with their respective micro consoles. Eager to cover as much of the system's history as possib...

kiblitzing.blogspot.com

I'm holding off on ActRaiser 2 for the moment... I was going to write an absolutely savage review of it, but it seems the game has its share of defenders, so it might have charms I failed to notice when I played it the first couple of times. (It would help if your avenging angel weren't SO. FRIGGIN'. SLOW.)

 

[Peklo]

I left the commentary at "hey the game is good" earlier because I already linked to my Quintet thread where I've said what I'll probably have to say about ActRaiser 2 for the foreseeable future, so that's always there for a positive counterpoint.

 

[Vaeran]

After what feels like a 10 day fever dream I think I finally have all the titles I want on my poor abused SNES Classic, a total of 66. (It's not even half full yet!) The list, if anyone's interested:

Spoiler: Now You're Playing With Crime Power

ActRaiser
Aero Fighters
Arcana
Arkanoid: Doh It Again
Axelay
Bahamut Lagoon
Breath of Fire
Breath of Fire 2
Choplifter III: Rescue Survive
Chrono Trigger
Cybernator
Darius Twin
Demon's Crest
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
E.V.O.: Search for Eden
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Ganbare Goemon 2: Kiteretsu Shougun Magginesu
Ganbare Goemon 3: Shishijurokube no Karakuri Manji Gatame
Ganbare Goemon 4: Kirakira Douchuu
Gradius III
Gundam Wing: Endless Duel
Illusion of Gaia
Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius
Joe & Mac
Kirby's Dream Land 3
The Legend of the Mystical Ninja
Live A Live
Lufia & the Fortress of Doom
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie
Mega Man 7
Mega Man X2
Mega Man X3
The Ninja Warriors
Ogre Battle
Parodius Da! Shinwa kara Owarai e
Pilotwings
Rockman & Forte
Rock 'N Roll Racing
R-Type III
Rudra no Hihou
Run Saber
Secret of Evermore
SimCity
Smart Ball
Soul Blazer
Star Ocean
Sunset Riders
Super Bomberman 2
Super Buster Bros.
Super Mario All-Stars
Super Smash TV
Super R-Type
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
Terranigma
Tetris & Dr. Mario
Tetris Attack
Tetris Battle Gaiden
Top Gear
U.N. Squadron
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons
Wild Guns

It would be 67, but I can't seem to get Tales of Phantasia to work. (Naturally now that's all I want to play, solely because I can't. My white whale!!) It seems it has known issues in the hacking community and there are patches for it, so I'll tinker around with those at some point and see if I can't get it up and running somehow. I also thought about putting the gorgeous SFC port of Dragon Quest III on there, but maybe I'll just wait for the Switch remake. Regardless, that is a killer library any way you slice it, and I'm excited to spend time with old favorites and catching up on some titles that passed me by.

 

[Sarge]

In general, for games that don't work I make sure RA is on there with SNES9x. You won't need it for many games (sluffy did a lot of work with patching games for Nintendo's canoe emulator), but there are a few that can be problematic as you've discovered. You can still use the SNES Classic menu for save states with RA, too. No rewind, but better than nothing!

I'd leave some extra space on there, anyway - save states will chew through your storage pretty fast, even with the save compression mod (or the later versions of Hakchi 2 CE, which have it included). When I've completely finished up a game, I delete all save states except for one, assuming it's one I want to keep. I do usually like to keep those endgame save states around.

 

[ArugulaZ]

Show and tell, huh? I'll bite.

Spoiler: Gaming Goodness Ahead!

ActRaiser
ActRaiser 2
Arcade's Greatest Hits Atari
Axelay
Choujikuu Yousai Macross Scrambled Valkyrie
Chrono Trigger
Demon's Crest
EVO Search for Eden
Fatal Fury Special
Fighter's History
Final Fantasy II (aka IV)
Final Fantasy V
Final Fight 3
Firepower 2000
Front Mission Gun Hazard
Goof Troop
Gunman's Proof
Hagane The Final Conflict
Hook
Illusion of Gaia
Legend of the Mystical Ninja
Mortal Kombat 3
Mortal Kombat II
Mr. Do!
Ninja Warriors
Pocky and Rocky
Q*Bert 3
R-Type III
Skyblazer
Space Megaforce (presented by Toho!)
Sparkster
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Super Adventure Island II
Super Buster Bros
Super Mario All-Stars
Super Ninja Boy
Super R-Type
Super Smash TV
Super Street Fighter II
Super Turrican
TMNT: Tournament Fighters
TMNT IV: Turtles in Time
Terranigma
Twisted Tales of Spike McFang
Umihara Kawase
Violinist of Hamelin
WeaponLord
Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits
World Heroes 2

Some of these are repeats from Vaeran's list, but I went pretty light on the RPGs and pretty heavy on the arcade style games, particularly fighting games. Pick up and play experiences are pretty important to me... they always have been, honestly. If it takes me more than fifteen minutes to get into a game, my mind is already wandering elsewhere.

Not all of these games are masterpieces, but most are good enough that I haven't gotten around to deleting them. Super Ninja Boy blows rather mightily, though. It runs like it's ankle deep in mud in all of its various modes, and nothing it has to offer is particularly inspired. Also, someone at Culture Brain should have toned down the enemy encounters, because sheesh.

I should add more games. I've downloaded the SFROM pack; it's not like I don't have more to include.

 

[Vaeran]

I was able to get Tales of Phantasia and Dragon Quest III working tonight! If anyone else is having rom trouble, the SNES Classic hacking subreddit is incredibly helpful. I was able to find step-by-step guides for patching both games that even a dingbat like me could follow. Recommended!

 

[Sarge]

Very nice!

To get in on these lineups, here's what's currently on mine. It's, uh, a lot.

Spoiler

The 7th Saga
ActRaiser 1/2
Aladdin
Alcahest
Arabian Nights
Arcana
Axelay
Bahamut Lagoon (should probably swap out for Near's version)
Batman Returns
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (don't really recommend, honestly)
Brain Lord
Breath of Fire 1/2 (retranslation for second)
Bust-A-Move
Castlevania: Dracula X (yes, I like it)
Chou Mahou Tariku WOZZ
Demon's Crest
Donkey Kong Country 2/3
Dragon View (great, great game!)
Dual Orb II
E.V.O.
Energy Breaker
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Final Fantasy II
Final Fight 2/3
Front Mission: Gun Hazard (so good)
G.O.D.
Ganbare Goemon 2/3/4
Great Battle IV/V
Hagane
Glory of Heracles III/IV
Hyper Iria
Illusion of Gaia
Indiana Jones Greatest Adventures
Joe & Mac 2
Killer Instinct
King of Dragons
Kirby's Dream Land 3
Knights of the Round
Shin Seikoku La Wares (awful, awful RPG, do not play)
Last Bible III
Legend of the Mystical Ninja
Lennus 2
Live A Live
Lost Vikings
Lufia I/II (second game is amazing)
Mickey Magical Quest series (1-3)
Magna Braban
Marvel's War of the Gems
Marvelous
Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow
Mega Man & Bass
Mega Man 7
Mega Man X2/X3
Mystic Ark
NBA Jam TE
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons
Ninja Warriors
Nosferatu (needs a fix or run in RA)
Ogre Battle
Operation Logic Bomb
Plok
Pocky & Rocky 1/2
Prince of Persia
Return of Double Dragon
Robotrek
Rock 'N' Roll Racing
Treasure of the Rudras
Run Saber
Saturday Night Slammasters
Secret of Evermore
Seiken Densetsu 3
Shadowrun
Silva Saga II
Skyblazer
Sonic Blast Man 2
Soul Blazer
Space Megaforce
Sparkster
Star Ocean
Sunset Riders
Super Adventure Island 2
Super Bonk
Super Genjin 2 (i.e. Bonk)
Super Double Dragon (don't really need it with RoDD)
Super Mario All-Stars
Super Street Fighter II
Super Turrican 1/2
Secret of the Stars (don't judge me)
Tecmo Super Bowl III
TMNT IV
TMNT: Tournament Fighters
Terranigma
Top Gear 1/2
True Lies
Twisted Tales of Spike McFang
UN Squadron
Violinist of Hameln
Wild Guns
X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse

Whew! Some notable omissions (like Dragon Quest III) because I finished those not terribly long ago. The above is a sort of mix of evergreen titles for me and games I want to eventually play, especially some of the fan translations.