What You Were Playing When SNES Launched in 1991 

Every launch title for Game Boy and the rest fo the games for 1989 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AB2ATBS9hPM.html

The f in f zero probably stands for formula. Considering the highest formula racing car is formula 1. Numbers higher denote less advanced vehicles so it's stands to reason that a 0 being before 1 would be more advanced than an f1 facing car

Easily my favorite console of all time. The quality of the majority of games on this system is legendary.

Definitely Super Mario World!!!! I remember it being on the SNES demo displays at all the department stores, toys r us, and kay bee. I was only 6 years old... good times.

U.N. Squadron is the jam!

That flow would leave Michael Bolton in tears, Bruh!

Formula One is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. So I would guess that F(ormula) Zero is the highest class of INTERGALACTIC racing for single-seater formula racing cars.

Me and my best friend used to dump our entire allowances into Final Fight every weekend at the bowling alley. It was the first game I got with my Super Nintendo for my birthday at the time. We hooked it up asap, plugged into two controllers, and franticly tried to figure out how to get the 2nd player to work. We were heartbroken when we saw that it was only one player. Something I'll never forget.

Genesis was my first console and I absolutely loved it but as a “gamer” I bought the SNES and enjoyed it the same. To me it wasn’t what console was better because both had their advantages and I would make game buying choices based on that.

The greatest console. Gaming never really got better. The balance of simplicity and great games has never really been beaten for me.

I was so eager to play Final Fight in my home when I got the SNES. And it's astonishing how F-Zero throws you to the title screen right off the bat without any further presentation or explanation. Besides, its soundtrack remains dope after all those years. Mute City, Big Blue, Silence and especially Port Town theme are so urgent, upbeat but still atmospheric to the game. Even the records screen has got a fine keyboard theme!

SNES is the greatest console. Fight me. 👊🏽✊🏽🗡️

Always thought the “F” in F-zero stood for formula, like formula zero instead of formula one.

FF2 is my favorite RPG of all time. The nostalgia factor definitely plays a role and it was my introduction to RPGs also. It made such an impact that I play RPGs more than any other type of game.

I honestly never noticed that Final Fight wasn't 2player compatible on SNES. As an only child and not having many friends that lived near me, I played almost everything back in the day in single player. Cool video, John!!😎

SimCity was my original love. I remember riding my bike all over to the video rental places to scope videos or games for a while, and then have the snes running full blast on my city, to come back and hope it went to a Megalopolis, only to find out that the donut trick sucks, and other things like when a plane crashes... Half the damn city has collapsed to a spreading plane fire... 😂 Good times.

F-Zero had a really good soundtrack! Especially the Death Wind track.

I was only born in '91 and you still do SUCH a great job with the nostalgia factor. Like I feel like i'm in a KB Toys seeing the Super Nintendo display

I was late to the SNES party since I was born in 1989. My mom bought me for my 4th birthday the SNES with Mario World and Mario Kart. I played Mario Kart so much, I absolutely loved it as a kid and never got sick of it. Never had F-Zero as a kid, but would have loved that one as well.

I never buy a system right away when it's released I wait a year or two. But I played at a friend's house. We played Clay Fighter, Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts, Super Mario and Super R-Type. The one we played the most was Ghouls 'N Ghosts. Cool video John!👍

Truly an amazing launch year. I ended up playing and enjoying the majority of these games (although it took years to acquire them since I was too young for a part-time job back then and could only manage to get a limited number of games per year). I never realized that Lagoon was released that early since I didn't even play it until a good two or three years later when one of my friends got it out of nowhere.

My best friend opened up a Super Nintendo in October 1992 as a surprise for his birthday and also got Final Fight. I would stay over at his house and we used to play it together and take turns swapping the controller every time one of us lost a life. Awesome time!

I got mine in early '92 for my 13th birthday. I had the choice of the SNES or Genesis, and I chose the SNES. I didn't regret the choice, although there were some Genesis exclusives that i felt like I missed out on.

"Populous" was the type of game I would buy in the early 90s on the Amiga because I liked the idea of playing a 'serious' game. After 15 minutes of being confused, I'd pop 'Sensible Soccer' back in.

I'm in complete agreement on ActRaiser. I'm sure a lot of it is nostalgia for me, but that's one of the few games that I go back and play almost every year.

I remember quite fondly going through stores when Super Nintendo was coming out. The displays in the electronic centers that would have Super Mario World cued up. I was blown away by how just the opening title screen menu was so lively, colorful and sounded great. The console was just saying “forget everything you knew about Nintendo!” And sure ‘nuff my 8th Christmas had a SNES under the tree. Still the SNES stays near the top of my own all time personal favorite consoles.

1991 was a great launch year. I didn't realize that there were this many classics released that early in the SNES life cycle.

I agree %100 on Final Fantasy 2. Had to add it to my snes mini and played through it again during quarantine.

Man I played the hell out of Gradius 3. The energy swell lasers with the free-moving Options were OP. Also, I remember being dog-tired staying up for two-day stretches without sleep because i couldn't stop playing FF2.

I was a die hard Genesis/Sega guy, but SNES had some great game and was the superior console in terms of specs(which makes sense since it came out 2 years later in Japan and US). This really was the golden age of video games with the 16 bit wars

From 1991 until Xmas 1994, I only got to play SNES at Target, Toys R Us, and occasionally renting one at the start of summer vacation. I dreamed about SNES, finally obtaining the dream on 12/25/94 along with DKC & Super Punch Out. Memories 😔

So many great memories! I got Pilotwings, Drakhen, Populous & Gradius all when they came out in 1991. I have beaten Pilotwings so many times, & I've NEVER seen those bonus stages, with the flying chicken! Crazy! I still have my copy of Gradius III I got for Christmas of 1991 complete in box, manual & everything, I absolutely LOVE that game, just incredible! Drakhen was weird I first got it as a gift for Easter I think, they would would all just randomly whack their weapons around, with *BLAH BLAH* sound effects would crack me up every time. Never beat it, just started playing it again not too long ago. Me & my best friend would always rent UN Squadron all the time, & he was way better at it than me & he had F-Zero too. With Populous I think the objective of the game was to appease your God, convert citizens to your God, & then defend or attack against other tribes God(s) & if you didn't appease your God he would send plagues on your city a weird but fun game, I enjoyed it! Never played Lagoon before, & I've had it for years, it looks a lot like Illusion of Gaia(another favorite I had growing up)so I'm going to have to give that a try now! Awesome video, so much gaming nostalgia!

I have memories of going to my friend Andy's house and watching him and his neighbor playing FF2 going into the underworld and then up into space. That nostalgia is probably why I like 2 more than 3(4 more than 6) I just got my SNES from highschool back but not all the games I had. FF2 and 3 are on my list of games to get to play on it again.

Drakkhen John...that was special. That was my introduction to a PC medieval kind of game. The first person view exploration, the creepy atmosphere and awesome dungeons...UNFORGETTABLE DUDE!!

You've been spoiling us with so many videos lately. Thank you.

Your videos are the best, Riggs. Since you're like the only person that asks me how I'm feeling on a daily basis, I'm gonna subscribe now.

My friend Tim had an SNES back then. He had Super Mario World and F-Zero. I was terrible at F-Zero, but I loved it. Thanks Riggs. It's nice to go back to simpler times. Keep up the great work buddy.

I wasn't alive in 1991 but still love the SNES and many of it's games.

I'm pretty sure the 'F' in F-zero stands for 'formula' (like Formula 1 racing), and the 'zero' stands for zero gravity (because the cars float in the air)...what Formula 1 eventually evolves into in the future. Also, i loved this video and fondly remember playing most of these launch year titles when they were released (and play some of them even to this day, on my hacked SNES Classic).

One of my favorite consoles of all time and one of my most cherished collections in my VG collection.

In 1991 I was playing these gems- the SNES was, in my opinion (and many others) THE GREATEST game console ever made. The NES is right up there but the SNES had just enough technical power to scratch that itch. I’d love to go back in time to ‘91 & experience all this for the first time. The world was a hell of a lot better off back then too 👍🏼

I played on our Amiga that year, Another World was amazing on that machine in 91 the Snes didn't impress me until 92 with Super Star Wars, i bought the Snes and that era with the Amiga and the Snes was the best gaming time of my life.

I was still playing on Nintendo back in '91,I didn't get my SNES until '94 with Street Fighter 2..But Donkey Kong country one was my favorite game at time when it came out in '94 Great memories!🎮📺🕹️

Guy wasn't the only thing removed from Final Fight- they removed the entire Industrial Area level and its boss Rolento, and also modified the enemies Poison and Roxy into Billy and Sid.

I remember seeing the store demo of Super Mario World and as a Genesis kid, I absolutely lost my mind! I do have all of the Castlevania games on my bucket list, and plan on going thru those here sometime soon.

I have a copy of Populous. It’s a really fun game. For the most part you develop lots of flat land to try to increase your kingdom. As you grow you gain power ups such as a knight, or sabotaging the enemy with a volcano. Once you feel your army is big enough you can try to wipe out the enemy by either invading, or flooding them or whatever other means you have. It helps if you either have the manual or watch a how to video of what all the icons at the bottom mean.

I remember seeing the Paul Rudd commercial where he is playing the Super NES at an abandoned drive-in, and we FINALLY got a glimpse of Zelda 3. I lost my mind waiting for that game to come out. Once it did, the neighborhood didn't see me outside for a solid week.

Ah man, terrific memories. Mario World, Final Fight were my first two games. Then I got Pilotwings, F-Zero, Castlevania 4, even NBAA basketball all that same year.

Damn you really undersold super castlevania 4. I got that Christmas of 91 and that game was a revelation. Played it over and over and it’s still one of my favorite games of all time.

Love this series John, keep up the good work!!

F-Zero was supposed to mean it was like an upgrade to F-1 but it does take place in the future.

Never realized I missed “mode 7” so much. Got the same shiver from the original HBO movie opening. Thanks Rock on

This was my 1st console, got in for Christmas what a great Xmas that was.

Pilot wings was really fun. It most defintitely grows on people

Let's see, in 1991 I began kindergarten but my father bought me and my brother a snes. And I remember playing Super Mario world day one and absolutely being fascinated with the game. And it still holds up to this very day. A true immortal classic.

SNES was pure glory whren it was released in 1992 in germany. Over 200 games in my SNES collection and I I (almost) love them all.

I love hyperzone. I still best it every once in a while. Game has cool music.

This console had arguably the best launch window of any console before or since.

My favorite system. Put soooooo much time into it then and still do to this day. The Sim City start screen theme song is absolutely god tier. But I will say Actraiser really blew my mind at the time. Everything about it. I have the vinyl for it hanging on my wall and still hum those tracks (along with most of Chrono Trigger as Schala's Theme stays in my head). My friend and I would play SMBW together by calling each other and keeping the phones on speaker so we could talk the whole time through and freak out about each new little moment or level.

That Super Mario World intro played so often on the TV of my local Service Merchandise (hey, 1991 here) that the title letters eventually burned itself into the monitor when they at last switched out to a different game.

I thought the same, "this is too much", like I remember being scared and excited at the same time. When I finally did get a SNES it was magic!

I love these videos man, great job!

My friends and I loved Populous! I played it so much I couldn't look at the ocean without wanting to raise land under it.

Thanks for bringing me back to my high school freshman year! I bought the SNES shortly after its launch and I remember passing by the video game store every week to check out the new releases in that first year! And yes, FFII is my fave FF! The complexity of the plot blew me away!

The original SNES was my first home gaming console. The first three SNES games i remember playing were SMW, F-Zero and Zelda A Link to the Past. Back when i was in elementary school my teacher allowed a student to bring in an SNES and a copy of DKC to use as a math lesson since you had to collect bananas and that banana counter was on screen, the lesson was very brief but still interesting. Great topic for a video.

I really like this serries so far, can't wait for the rest!

Love mode 7 stuff!!! I got Pilotwings for my 5th birthday in 1992 after renting it.

You are a GIFT to the Retro Gaming Community!

Super Mario World, F-ZERO, Castlevania IV - loved the music, the colors and the memories made along the way!

I used to play UN Squadron with a friend whom lived down stairs from me where i live in some apartments at one point as a kid. Adam, he and i would play Super Nintendo a lot. Most of my friends over the years were short lived friendships... have not had friends in years.. But when i did, there were games involved.

I remember we got a SNES for Christmas one year, best day ever!!!! :D

Super Mario World…Just can’t go wrong with this classic of classics!

I remember our family going to my next door neighbor’s house for dinner right after the SNES came out. They had gotten one and we played FZero and Pilotwings. Sadly, they moved away the next week. Another friend had Populous and I loved it (still do).

We were definitely wow'd by this system. Better sound than anything SEGA had.

It really was a stellar launch line-up for the most part and through the year. Almost entirely great games all round, and some that we still consider up their with the greatest of all time. Getting Super Mario World bundled in the box was just amazing at the time.

SimCity - rented it so much, my parents ended up buying it for me. I remember getting the Megalopolis on map 061 (or 063?) finally after discovering that you can undercut buildings.

I got a SNES for Christmas in '91. Games I got at the time were Super Mario World, F-Zero, Super Castlevania IV and Populous

Visiting you from the Future, my parents weren't rich by any means, but I was blessed enough to wake up Christmas morning (1992) to my Super Nintendo and A Link to the Past. When the SEARS catalog was more holy before Christmas to a kid than the Bible. Just to see the ads was incredible.

I have fond memories of playing UN Squadron not on the SNES, but in the arcade at the pizza joint in the student triangle at Keesler AFB; it was in 1990 when, I was doing my Air Force technical training. The anime/Area 88 style caught my eye & the game ate many, many quarters. It's still one of my all time favorite games to play on whatever platform I play it on :)

I was there on launch day when I was a teen, of course I had the Zelda and Mario titles, and my Super Gameboy of course ;) My parents went from rich to poor around that time, so I began working my 1st job at Dairy Queen at the age of 14 to save up for the SNES and the few games I did have, they had to count since I couldn't afford more at the time. Thx for the fun video!

I was a couple years behind getting the SNES. Got mine in ‘93. I was playing NES up to that point. I didn’t have many games. I had SMW, Mortal Kombat, and Plalanx.

Thank you for sharing! I hear ya on Final Fantasy II/IV, especially since I had finished the first one on NES not too long before playing - felt very familiar.

Super Mario World and FZero were two of the 1st games I played on the SNES. Loved Simcity.

Final Fantasy 2 was the main reason why I got an SNES! I played it at a friend's house and I just fell in love with the music. I had played the first one on the Nintendo, but this one just captured my attention forever. My nine-year-old and I are playing through it again :-) and she loves it

I got my SNES Christmas of 1993. It came packed with Super Mario World and Super Mario All Stars. Great console.

I was lucky enough to work in small computer shop in the early 90s.The shop was an official Nintendo stockest in the UK so I got to take one home on day of release to play test all the new games. I was amazed by mario and f zero . Played sim City for hours.. Later that year super ghouls and ghosts made me buy one

D-Force was one of my favorite SNES games and has one of the catchiest soundtracks

Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 was the game we played at my friends house as a kid a lot in 91 and 92. Noticeably missing from your list! Was a Christmas time release in 91 if memory serves me right.

Had no idea that final fight was single player on console... At least we had streets of rage on sega!

I... was not born yet. Had another 2 years to go before I existed. If I was playing SNES at launch, it would definitely be Super Mario World. When I was introduced to SNES, it became my favorite Mario game and I still get ★96 to this day.

I'll never forget seeing the SNES in action for the first time. It was hooked up to a TV in Walmart electronics, dozens of kids sitting around taking turns, blown away at the new graphics of Super Mario World. Unforgettable for an 11 year old.

I love F-Zero! I always thought it was a play on F-1 racing. Thanks for the video!

I have a huge emotional attachment to final fantasy 2. My grandfather passed away the day before valentine's day but got the game for me before he had passed. I used to play ff, zelda, and Ultima with him. He is the reason I game. And still, final fantasy 3 is not only a better RPG, it's my personal favorite game of all time.

that paralax in flying game looks super cool - gotta remind others there weren't really 3d games back then ( especially for snes )

I was a Genesis person as a kid, around 1993 or so. I only got into SNES with the Classic Edition a couple of years ago. Even then, I've only played Super Punchout.

In 1991 I was playing Zelda A Link to the Past. It is a game that stands alone. Along with Super Metroid which was released several years later

@JohnRiggs, i loved this video, my favorite release from 1991 was Super Mario World. Also i would like to part with some knowledge, the 'f' in F Zero means formula, just like in F1 or Formula One. You can see this information on the original manual of the game where the mega corporations wanted to make a race like the F1 centuries ago.

I actually bought the SNES for Sim City. I loved that game on my friend's PC, but was too poor at the time to buy my own PC.

I remember 1991. I had a Sega mega drive, a super Nintendo and a commodore Amiga A500. Oooh, those were happy days 👍

I spent so much time with Populous and Populous II on the Atari ST. Incredible god-games!