Thought about making this thread since I have been enjoying the SNES Classic Mini so much. It's a tough one for me since I love both systems, but I think I would have to give the edge to the SNES because it has a bigger selection of classics. I still enjoyed the Sonic games more than any of the 2D platformers on the SNES, though.
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SNES vs. Genesis/Mega Drive: Which 16-bit console do you prefer?
- Thread starter Doosi
- Start date
Jack The Nipper
Banned
Genesis has more games for my tastes , especially if you don't like turned based rpgs. SNES has less good games overall IMO while the top 10 on each sort of equal out or may give the edge to SNES in that respect though.
Good games - genesis is the ps1 of the early 90s
Top games - snes has the edge for me with fzero, world, Mario kart
But games like shibobi, splattrhouse etc have no equal on snes
Good games - genesis is the ps1 of the early 90s
Top games - snes has the edge for me with fzero, world, Mario kart
But games like shibobi, splattrhouse etc have no equal on snes
SolidChamp
Banned
Ah so this is the 16-bit console wars thread for October? Ill bite.
SNES, and its not even close for me. I think SNES had an vastly superior library and I prefer the 16-bit aesthetic of Nintendos console to anything I saw on Genesis. The sound chip in the SNES was also superior.
SNES, and its not even close for me. I think SNES had an vastly superior library and I prefer the 16-bit aesthetic of Nintendos console to anything I saw on Genesis. The sound chip in the SNES was also superior.
Cucurbitacée
Member
Another vote for SNES, I enjoy a many games for the Megadrive but not as many as for the SNES.
SNES will always have the upperhand because I was a complete Nintendo fanboy as a kid (and I was 11 when it released), plus I just liked more games on the SNES. The NES had me locked in and by the time the SNES came out it might as well have been gospel. But schoolyard shit aside I never hated the Genesis. Sure, I'd talk shit about the colors or sound while I played some games at friend's houses but I never denied that I was having fun. As I got older and revisited the library I found a ton of amazing games on the Genesis. I was surprised by how good their 3rd party games were. We were force-fed so much info about SEGA developed/published games and games that were multiplat that looked/sounded better on SNES that a lot of great 3rd party games that weren't on SNES slipped through the cracks.
Tl;Dr, I had way more fun with the SNES but this post is my apology for discrediting the Genesis as a kid. It was a lot better than I was willing to admit and I can absolutely see why someone would pick it as their favorite.
Tl;Dr, I had way more fun with the SNES but this post is my apology for discrediting the Genesis as a kid. It was a lot better than I was willing to admit and I can absolutely see why someone would pick it as their favorite.
Sgt. Kabukiman
Banned
The SNES has several all-time Nintendo classics that defined videogames plus an incredible collection of RPGs. And yet, I'll always prefer the Megadrive. I had neither of them as a kid but I have explored their libraries extensively over the years. I played (and beat!) both Contra 3 and Hard Corps this week. And... There's just something about Hard Corps, the way it looks and sounds and how merciless the difficulty is, I just prefer it to 3 and both games really perfectly represent their respective systems. Contra 3 is extremely well designed and polished but feels a bit safe. Hard Corps is just bonkers froms start to finish.
Plus, I'm not a huge fan of Mode 7 (sorry!) and I love the Megadrive sound. I blame Yuzo Koshiro.
So yeah, I'm clearly in the Megadrive camp but both systems are legendary.
Plus, I'm not a huge fan of Mode 7 (sorry!) and I love the Megadrive sound. I blame Yuzo Koshiro.
So yeah, I'm clearly in the Megadrive camp but both systems are legendary.
CouchMaster
Member
Mega Drive because I never owned SNES.
Megadrive , no doubts , and i still play these two systems up until these days. , the snes is just a cheat system with its overclocked NES chip and addon chips on every cart , our megadrive demo OverDrive 2 totally obliterates the snes on every level , graphics, effects, sound and 3d. Until today, the fading active snes community has not found an answer for it, to beat it or match it.
this is a semi satirical joke spam post nevertheless, i love both systems, but only one of these systems has GUNSTAR HEROES , and a way better selection of different shmups , Megadrive for the win!!
Mega Drive for me, it has that arcade feel that I like better than the SNES. I also liked Sega lineup better than Nintendo. Still has the GOAT beat em up with Streets of Rage 2, for example. Sega also made up with some shortcomings of the console, like creating the better Disney games, or RPG classics like PS IV.
Japanese third support probably wasn't as big as with the SNES but when it happened they could do magic...RKA is one of the best 16-bits game and far better than the SNES sequel.
Japanese third support probably wasn't as big as with the SNES but when it happened they could do magic...RKA is one of the best 16-bits game and far better than the SNES sequel.
I don't like turn based RPGs and I think the SNES library has more to offer. Europe got significantly less turn based RPGs for the SNES, but we did get action RPGs and those are my favorites. I also don't like sports and racing games, so that might put a huge dent into the Mega Drive library for me.
My vote goes to SNES. My childhood console full of games that shaped my taste in games.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
They're both my babies. But being that I've had it longer and played it more, I have a bit more affection for the Genesis.
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Snes is a candidate for greatest console software library ever.
Mega drive is great, but it's not at the same level.
Mega drive is great, but it's not at the same level.
Soodanim
Gold Member
Touched on every point I was going to make.
StarPlatinumTheWorld
Member
I had the Mega Drive so always said MD > SNES but really I'd never played on a SNES so I wouldn't have known. Having played both consoles later in life I'd say SNES without a doubt.
I take back every nice thing I just said about the Genesis. I tried to be an adult but here you go with the bullshit.
nice demo showing mindblowing effects or whatever. pretty good for a genesis I guess 
JohnSpartanLee
Member
SNES for me. Still great that the SNES Classic Mini can emulate Thunder Force IV, Castlevania Bloodlines, Contra Hard Corps and the Sonic series perfectly. Best of both worlds.
Scully Scully Scoo
Member
It really comes down to this,
Which has the better library? Genesis
Which had blast processing? Genesis
Which had the rock n roll sound chip? Genesis
Which is better, sonic trilogy or floaty Mario? Sonic
To summarise, Sega does what nintendo't
Which has the better library? Genesis
Which had blast processing? Genesis
Which had the rock n roll sound chip? Genesis
Which is better, sonic trilogy or floaty Mario? Sonic
To summarise, Sega does what nintendo't
Augemitbutter
Member
Shining Force is on Mega Drive, so yea. also enjoying the shooters on MD.
but i like them both.
but i like them both.
veryslowhand
Banned
Mega drive/Genesis is still the best looking machine ever. Plus better sound and games.
McBradders
NeoGAF: my new HOME
Listen, one has Streets of Rage 2 AND Gunstar Heroes on it. Its not really a fair contest.
I tried to think of every genesis equivalent to every well loved snes game. I did have a genesis as a kid and didn't have some of these imports growing up but after having played all of these games without the nostalgia as an adult it's pretty close to me.
Contra 3, Contra Hard Corps
Earthbound, Phantasy Star II/Shadowrun
F-Zero, Out-Run
Secret of Mana, Crusader of Centy
Super CV4, CV Bloodlines
Final Fantasy 2, Shining Force
Final Fantasy 3, Shining Force 2
Yoshi's Island, Rocket Knight Adventures
Final Fight, Streets of Rage
Turtles in Time, Streets of Rage 2
Final Fight 3, Bare Knuckle 3
DKC, Shinobi 2
DKC2, Shinobi 3
DKC3, Shadow Dancer
Star Fox, Panorama Cotton
Mega Man X, Pulse Man
Mega Man X2, Gunstar Heroes
Mega Man X3, Alien Soldier
Super Mario RPG, Landstalker
Kirby Superstar, Ristar
Kirby's Dreamland 3, Dynamite Headdy
Super Mario World, Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Chrono Trigger, Phantasy Star IV
Super Metroid, Monster World III/ Monster World IV
Super Mario Kart, Yu Yu Hakusho: Makyo Toitsusen
Link to The Past, Beyond the Oasis
Not all these games are that similar or even in the same genre but I do love every closest approximate on one console as much as the other. The only glaring weakness to me on the genesis side is racing due to Sega's best racers being in arcades at the time. I'll always slightly prefer genesis of course.
Edit: On second thought I might stack Comix Zone next to F-Zero despite their genre difference. Both banked a lot on their visual style and were pretty difficult games.
Contra 3, Contra Hard Corps
Earthbound, Phantasy Star II/Shadowrun
F-Zero, Out-Run
Secret of Mana, Crusader of Centy
Super CV4, CV Bloodlines
Final Fantasy 2, Shining Force
Final Fantasy 3, Shining Force 2
Yoshi's Island, Rocket Knight Adventures
Final Fight, Streets of Rage
Turtles in Time, Streets of Rage 2
Final Fight 3, Bare Knuckle 3
DKC, Shinobi 2
DKC2, Shinobi 3
DKC3, Shadow Dancer
Star Fox, Panorama Cotton
Mega Man X, Pulse Man
Mega Man X2, Gunstar Heroes
Mega Man X3, Alien Soldier
Super Mario RPG, Landstalker
Kirby Superstar, Ristar
Kirby's Dreamland 3, Dynamite Headdy
Super Mario World, Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Chrono Trigger, Phantasy Star IV
Super Metroid, Monster World III/ Monster World IV
Super Mario Kart, Yu Yu Hakusho: Makyo Toitsusen
Link to The Past, Beyond the Oasis
Not all these games are that similar or even in the same genre but I do love every closest approximate on one console as much as the other. The only glaring weakness to me on the genesis side is racing due to Sega's best racers being in arcades at the time. I'll always slightly prefer genesis of course.
Edit: On second thought I might stack Comix Zone next to F-Zero despite their genre difference. Both banked a lot on their visual style and were pretty difficult games.
Lord British
Member
Genesis. Multi-platform games were usually superior on it (with exceptions ofc). Prefer most of the exclusives. Like the pad better. Like the aesthetic better. Like that raw sound.
8-Bit Sunset
Banned
ResidentDante
Member
I used to be camp Mega Drive in the 90's. Even though I enjoyed hours and hours on both systems. These days I find both their library's of exclusive games fantastic and I can't really put one over the other.
daninthemix
Member
I think if we're being honest, gaming would look a lot different now if the SNES never existed, whereas the Mega Drive had much less of an impact.
However, I'm very glad both exist, and that both were so distinct from one another.
However, I'm very glad both exist, and that both were so distinct from one another.
Hah, I was actually going to say that those saying Sega are the Americans brainwashed by Sega's aggressive marketing and buzzwords.
I'm genuinely curious if there's a significant geographical difference here though.
I'm European, and to me the SNES is a million times better; it's not even a contest.
How so? the SNES didn't do much that the Mega Drive couldn't in terms of shaping gaming if you ask me.
Btw, I find weird how we are now in the "graphics doesn't matter I'll rather smooth games" while the talking is totally the oposite when talking about SNES and MD, where the SNES had better graphics but the MD had smoother gameplay in a lot of games.
Dreamwriter
Member
Turbografx-16!