SNES Classic Edition is Officially a Thing

Rumors are nothing but rumors until concrete evidence can prove them otherwise. Months ago, rumors were going around that Nintendo had an SNES version of the NES Classic Edition, the SNES Classic Edition in the works. Yesterday, Nintendo came out and revealed that the little SNES box was indeed a reality. On September 29th, 2017, the SNES Classic Edition will release.

The SNES Classic Edition much like it's 8-bit brother is a minature edition of the SNES but instead of 30 built in games, the SNES Classic Edition has 21 built in titles. The games on the SNES Classic Edition are as follows:

Super Mario World
Super Mario Kart
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
F-Zero
Super Metroid
Street Fighter II: Turbo
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Castlevania IV
Donkey Kong Country
Mega Man X
Kirby Super Star
Final Fantasy III (aka Final Fantasy VI)
Kirby's Dream Course
Star Fox
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Contra III: The Alien Wars
Secret of Mana
EarthBound
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Star Fox 2 (first time being officially released)

I gotta say, that is quite the impressive line up. Unlike the NES Classic Edition, there isn't a single stinker on that list. Those are some of the best games out of the SNES's incredible library and having them all packed into one box is undeniably cool. Of the three Mega Man X SNES titles, Mega Man X is without question, the pinnacle of the lot. Star Fox and Yoshi's Island (the SNES version) have never been re-released because of FX chip reasons so it is pretty sweet that these two games are getting some time in the sun again. Still, I do have some concerns.

That $80 price tag is too much. That's $20 more than the NES Classic Edition and that came with 30 games as opposed to the SNES Classic Edition's 21. I suppose you could make the argument that the games in the SNES Classic trumps the NES Classic, but despite the amazing list of games, $80 is still a tough pill to swallow. My heart goes out to all my Australian gamers. The number of titles on the SNES Classic brings me to my next criticism.

I had assumed that if Nintendo did do an SNES Classic that the number of games would be 30 or more but it turns out to be less than the NES Classic. Anyone that picks up the SNES Classic is gonna get access to some of the best of the best in gaming. There's no arguing that point. However, some of the greatest SNES greats have also been left out in the cold. No Chrono Trigger, no Final Fantasy II, no Donkey Kong Country 2, no Axelay. Those are games I just listed off the top of my head. We know Nintendo could have easily included those games because space is not an issue.

Finally, there's the availability of the SNES Classic Edition. You had better chances of achieving world peace or ending hunger than you did finding an NES Classic Eidtion. Nintendo supplied stores with such diminutive shipments and many of those that did get purchased up were flipped for many times the MSRP on Amazon and eBay. Scalpers have already caught word that the SNES will release at the end of September and they are licking their lips, staring at their prey from a distance ready to pounce. I want to believe that Nintendo will make enough SNES Classic systems to meet demand, but considering how they botched the NES Classic, I don't want to get my hopes up. Heck, getting a Switch is still difficult because despite Nintendo's claims that the system wouldn't be tough to nab like the NES Classic Edition, surprise, surprise, the dang thing never stays on the shelves.