Brett Weiss shines a light on Nintendo’s 16-bit superstar
Few consoles in the history of video games pack quite the legacy of the Super Nintendo. Released in 1990 in Japan, the Big N’s 16-bit successor to the hugely successful Nintendo Entertainment System was nothing short of a game changer. Its added processing power and supercharged visuals delivered beefy sprites, colorful worlds, and some unforgettable soundscapes that helped shape some of the most iconic video games of the 1990s.
Written by author (The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987, Classic Home Video Games) and journalist Brett Weiss, The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A-M) is the first book in a two-part series exploring the console’s entire 700+ game library. Published by Schiffer Publishing, this glossy tome clocks in at a staggering 416 pages. The book features in-depth reviews, retrospectives, and insider commentary from journalists, Youtube stars, and other industry luminaries. Additionally, the pages are brimming with over 2,000 gorgeous screenshots from some of the finest games to grace the Super Nintendo.
The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A-M) is far from a dry and stuffy analysis of the SNES’ library. It’s an entertaining and illuminating celebration of Nintendo’s 16-bit powerhouse featuring detailed write-ups of such celebrated gems as Earthbound, Contra III: The Alien Wars, Final Fantasy III, Chrono Trigger, and more, along with some of the console’s more infamous stinkers like the abysmal Bebe’s Kids and Lester The Unlikely.
Now You’re Reading With Power – Super Power!
Each page features glossy screenshots, box art, and promotional materials that crank the nostalgia dial to 11.
My absolute favorite part of the book is the “notable quotables”. These highlight impressions of the games – both from vintage and current publications. Such notable names as Retronauts host and former 1up (gone but not forgotten) EIC Jeremy Parish and video game designer Steve Woita, just to name a couple, offer lots of clever insights and nostalgic anecdotes that will have you eager to fire up your dusty console and party like it’s 1993. I also really enjoyed the fun little tidbits like old magazine ads and box art that litter every page of the book.
As far as its construction goes, The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A-M) is one seriously good-looking book. Measuring at a whopping 9″ x 12″, this encyclopedic gaming grimoire could easily be used to bludgeon any Sega acolytes who doubt the power of Mode 7 processing. The front cover features a glossy dust jacket emblazoned with a SNES controller against the console’s vibrant black, red, and white theme, while the back of the tome tempts you with tantalizing box art from Castlevania: Dracula X, Donkey Kong Country, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, and more. If you’re looking for an attractive piece for your bookshelf or coffee table, look no further.
The Perfect Coffee Table Compendium For A Retro Gamer
If this retro-centric art doesn’t make you feel all tingly inside, then you’re already dead.
While it isn’t cheap — the book retails for $50 — The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A-M) is an absolute no-brainer for fans of the SNES. Author Brett Weiss has done a masterful job of crafting a book that’s equal parts informative and exciting. It’s well-written, gorgeous, and perfectly captures the spirit of the era the console reigned over. If you’re a retro-gamer with a love for Nintendo’s 16-bit juggernaut, you simply need this book in your library. Now bring on volume 2!
So, interested in adding this book to your collection? If so, you can buy your copy here.
Final Verdict: 5/5
The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A-M) , written by Brett Weiss, is published by Schiffer Publishing. It is available now. MSRP: $49.99.
Full Disclosure: This review is based on a retail copy of The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A-M) provided by the book’s publisher.
