What Should Beginners Know About The SNES?

[racketboy]

To continue in the RetroGaming 101 Series, I would like to know what you think beginners should know about the SNES.
You can look at my Dreamcast 101 piece to get an idea of what I'm looking for.
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2007/02/ ... guide.html

I'm not a big SNES expert, so there are probably some of you that know some little tidbits that I'm kinda fuzzy on.

Let me know what you think.

Feel free to contribute sentences or paragraphs -- anything is greatly appreciated!

[metaleggman]

Not much I think that needs to be said.

Best video connection possible:
S-video (if in america)
RGB (if in Europe)

Modding an American SNES to play Japanese Super Famicom games is really easy, just get rid of the tabs inside the cartridge slot. This can be done with clippers or you can melt it with a soldering iron (just make sure not to breath in the fumes!). You may have to open it depending on how you want to get rid of them.

[racketboy]

Not much I think that needs to be said.

Well it can be pretty basic stuff...

[extrarice]

Not much I think that needs to be said.

Best video connection possible:
S-video (if in america)
RGB (if in Europe)

Modding an American SNES to play Japanese Super Famicom games is really easy, just get rid of the tabs inside the cartridge slot.

Modding for imports should definitely be covered since it's so easy.
Also worth noting is that the revised SNES model, "SNES Jr.", does not output S-video.

More colors and better sound than Genesis, but has a much slower clock speed, leading to lots of slow-down when lots of things are happening on screen (*ahem* Gradius 3).

CD attachment planned, but was cancelled (and was reborn later as the Sony PlayStation).

I believe it was the first console with shoulder-buttons on the control pads.

Super Gameboy adapter to play Gameboy games on TV.

Home to many great RPGs and platformers.

[racketboy]

Not much I think that needs to be said.

Best video connection possible:
S-video (if in america)
RGB (if in Europe)

Modding an American SNES to play Japanese Super Famicom games is really easy, just get rid of the tabs inside the cartridge slot.

Modding for imports should definitely be covered since it's so easy.
Also worth noting is that the revised SNES model, "SNES Jr.", does not output S-video.

More colors and better sound than Genesis, but has a much slower clock speed, leading to lots of slow-down when lots of things are happening on screen (*ahem* Gradius 3).

CD attachment planned, but was cancelled (and was reborn later as the Sony PlayStation).

I believe it was the first console with shoulder-buttons on the control pads.

Super Gameboy adapter to play Gameboy games on TV.

Home to many great RPGs and platformers.

Wow! Very nice roundup of stuff I probably would have overlooked.
Excellent first post! Welcome to the forum

[Intangir]

The emulation scene runs strong with this one. Not to forget the fan translated ROMs made availiable over the years (including translating an un-lobotomized, English version of FFIV).

The thing I remember best about the SNES was the sheer amount of strong titles it had. Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Super Mario Kart, Final Fantasy II, III, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Street Fighter 2, Super Metroid, Killer Instinct, Donkey Kong Country(s), Link to the Past, Star Fox, Mega Man X (etc), Terranigma, Act Raiser, Soul Blazer, Breath of Fire, Lufia, Shadowrun, and so on. That's quite a list, and there's still more unmentioned. Certainly no dearth of quality games for that one is all I'm saying.

The SNES discoloration mystery solved.

[metaleggman]

Oh and there is a flash cart that plays nearly all of the games.
http://www.tototek.com/

[Pullmyfinger]

SNES controllers can be rewired to work on a NES

[racketboy]

SNES controllers can be rewired to work on a NES

Do you happen to have a guide/link for that?

[Pullmyfinger]

I guess I can write one up later