Here in South Africa, the 16 bit console wars didn’t really happen. Nintendo had close to zero presence, meaning the Super Nintendo was never released here to compete head to head with the Sega Mega Drive (Or Sega Genesis, if you’re from the Americas.) It means that locally, the 16 bit console fanboy drivel remained uncontested – so Sonic’s more popular than Mario, Streets of Rage stirs up more nostalgia than Final Fight and Mortal Kombat is favoured over Street Fighter.
I’m not here to pit them against each other; each system had its pros and cons – and I know that here, the Mega Drive would win hands down. The SNES could display more colours on screen, while the Mega Drive and its “blast processing” actually mean more on-screen action and less slowdown. Instead, let’s celebrate the 16 bit era.
Tell us what the best 16 bit games were (And why some of the comments are completely and absolutely wrong). For me, I was mostly in the SNES camp thanks to a superb version of Street Fighter II, the brilliance of Super Mario World and one of my very favourite games ever, Chrono Trigger. That said, Sega’s system had its wealth of gems too. Gunstar Heroes is still one of my favourite action games, and the world really does need a new Shinobi.
Last Updated: July 8, 2016
Original Heretic
July 8, 2016 at 10:33
Chrono Trigger was amazing. Only got to play it years later, but it still had that same magic to it. Aren’t they planning a remake? Think I read something to that effect somewhere.
Ottokie
July 8, 2016 at 10:35
16 bit era? I am still playing 16 bit games xD
Dutch Matrix
July 8, 2016 at 10:37
But you are a two bit human being!
😛 Kidding!
Ottokie
July 8, 2016 at 10:38
https://media.giphy.com/media/Ug311TxWyULTi/giphy.gif
Captain JJ off track
July 8, 2016 at 11:09
Same here. 😀
Dutch Matrix
July 8, 2016 at 10:35
Mortal Kombat II. Seriously. When I first played it and heard that announcer go FIGHT! I wept.
Oh. And Street Fighter what was it called again? Cannot remember. It introduced Dee-Jay, Fei Long, T-Hawk and Cammy? Those were awesome.
Oh, and Quackshot featuring Donald Duck too. Sadly, I missed out on Maui Mallard.
The Lion King. Aladdin. Beautiful animation! Great games to play too.
Then MK3 when it was released. And my tears of sadness when no Scorpion!
JacoZAB
July 8, 2016 at 10:38
Don’t forget Jurassic Park. Man it was awesome playing as the raptor
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:38
YES!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:38
That intro with the T-Rex
JacoZAB
July 8, 2016 at 10:40
SEGA!!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:42
I lolled, friggin Trex shouting Sega XD
Dutch Matrix
July 8, 2016 at 10:39
I missed that one too. Sadly my Butcher’s Cashier salary did not pay that well…
JacoZAB
July 8, 2016 at 10:42
Don’t worry, I played on the neighbours Sega. I was hopelessly too poor. LOL!
Ottokie
July 8, 2016 at 10:43
My SEGA dieded on me the otherday 🙁
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:44
Here you go
http://www.musica.co.za/products/view/sega-wireless-console-with-mk_8578470033870
Ottokie
July 8, 2016 at 10:44
(?°?°??? ???
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:43
If we got one game a year we were lucky (all depending on school marks) Luckily we could trade with friends or rent from the store
Ottokie
July 8, 2016 at 10:44
I forgot about going to blockbusters on a Friday and renting PS1 games for the weekend xD
Captain JJ off track
July 8, 2016 at 11:10
Primal Rage
Dutch Matrix
July 8, 2016 at 11:32
No. That game was so difficult I would rather have my tongue put through a grinder than try and beat that game.
Ottokie
July 8, 2016 at 10:36
But to be honest all the games on the Famicom. I only got a SEGA and N64 much much later.
Umar
July 8, 2016 at 10:37
While most of the games I love during that era come from the SNES, the Genesis was a bitchin system! So many great games on there like Phantasy Star, Shining Force, Rocket Knight, Eternal Champions and one of my fav entries in the series
Ottokie
July 8, 2016 at 10:37
^this
Catlevania games were awesome!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:38
Eternal Champions was hard as hell but so purdy. Never got to play Castlevania
Umar
July 8, 2016 at 10:40
So good. I loved the characters in that game. Xavier was awesome.
Also, this Castlevania is very underrated though.
Ottokie
July 8, 2016 at 10:39
Castlevania symphony of the night on PS1. Fun times!
Umar
July 8, 2016 at 10:40
One of the best games on the PS1 imo. What a gem.
Umar
July 8, 2016 at 10:41
And the music…Oh the music….
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:37
HHHHHHNNNNNNNGGGGHHH memories flooding back, not having the SNES but a Genesis in no particular order:
Sonic 3
Earth Worm Jim 2
Streets of Rage 3
Comix Zone
Contra Hard Corps
Jungle Strike (Urban was okay)
SF2 Championship Edition
Ghouls ‘n Ghosts (Never finished it)
Mortal Kombat 1 and 2
sigh…. and many many more
Dutch Matrix
July 8, 2016 at 10:41
I only got Streets of Rage because I had a crush on Blaze. And Comix Zone was a brilliant game, but it handed my my ass on the panel you had to cross whilst hanging from a tight rope and excuse me I am going to go cry again…
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:42
LOL!
JacoZAB
July 8, 2016 at 10:45
Yes! Earthworm Jim. Nostalgia overload!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:46
The second one was waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy easier that the first
Original Heretic
July 8, 2016 at 10:52
Yes to all of the above! The Strike games (desert, jungle, urban), loved them all. Ghouls ‘n’ Ghosts for sure. Comix Zone, hells yeah.
Skyblue
July 8, 2016 at 11:48
BLASPHEMY!!! Streets of Rage 2 was MUCH better than those Nancy’s in SoR3. Check out http://www.soronline.net/sorr.htm if you want some of that retro action with a bit of a mash up.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 13:03
Nice!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:45
Also Jonty Rhodes Cricket. Spend weekends and weekends playing 5 day test matches
Ir0nseraph
July 8, 2016 at 10:46
O wow that brings back the memories.
ElimiNathan
July 8, 2016 at 10:46
MoonWalker, come on….
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:47
Yes! Always found it silly that your dance moves used health but when you catch that shooting star o/
ElimiNathan
July 8, 2016 at 10:59
In hind-site the fact that you were saving little kids is kinda disturbing
ElimiNathan
July 8, 2016 at 10:59
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/9/93770/2371226-genesis_moonwalker.jpg
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 8, 2016 at 10:48
Console peasants. Arcade Machine master race!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:49
Not all of us lived in mansions with garages fully stocked with arcade machines
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 8, 2016 at 10:53
As if! Arcade machines in dodgy Porra corner cafes was where all the action happened, on the streets, all hardcore like!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:59
XD SNK games
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 8, 2016 at 11:02
Used to love that stuff as a kid. Would use my bus fare for games & walk home instead.
Skyblue
July 8, 2016 at 11:50
Trying to finish a Robocop playthrough with one eye on the door waiting for the Leb’s to arrive and antagonize me… #eastrandproblemsinthe80s
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 8, 2016 at 11:55
haha – or waiting for the older high school kids to arrive & try to break whoever’s playing concentration by burning them with ciggies.
Skyblue
July 8, 2016 at 11:59
Lol yeah!
Ottokie
July 8, 2016 at 10:49
Have you been in arcades recently? I walked in the other day and there was a Flappy Bird game… nope nope nope
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 10:50
I walked in there, shouted You Damn Kids! and left
HvR
July 8, 2016 at 10:53
Pfft while the peasant children was playing with their 16-bit monkeys, plumbers and yelling forward forward forward at KTV presenters I was enjoying the wonders of Wolfenstein, Doom, Dune, Dune 2, SimGames and the golden era of LucusArts quest/adventure games,
Umar
July 8, 2016 at 10:54
Shame….I’m sorry you missed out on so many great console games 🙁
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 8, 2016 at 10:56
MAME roms.
Umar
July 8, 2016 at 10:59
Did you have fun playing MAME while taking money from developers?
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 11:00
Where can we buy arcade machines? Would love me some Punisher or Cadillac and Dinosaurs
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 8, 2016 at 11:00
Awesome fun! I have a bunch of old 20c pieces they’re welcome to.
Umar
July 8, 2016 at 11:02
No wonder places like THQ closed down. :O Sies
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 8, 2016 at 11:03
Must be why it’s taken TLG so long to develop too. I feel bad now.
Umar
July 8, 2016 at 11:04
That’s not your fault. Masterpieces take time.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 8, 2016 at 11:04
HL3 CONFIRMED!
Umar
July 8, 2016 at 11:08
Game of forever edition confirmed
HvR
July 8, 2016 at 11:00
Nah had enough friends with MegaDrives if I wanted to have brainless fun.
Original Heretic
July 8, 2016 at 10:54
Jeez, reading through all the comments below, seriously brings back some memories. I was too poor to afford the Sega Megadrive/Genesis, so I’d always end up hiring it from Ye Olde Video Store.
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 8, 2016 at 11:00
Sonic 3 and Knuckles
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 8, 2016 at 11:02
All the brownie points
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 8, 2016 at 11:11
You had Sonic 3, amazing game, THEN YOU HAVE THIS MAGIC PIECE OF TECH THAT TRANSFORMED THE GAME FOR ROUND 2!!!
Amazing.
AND, you could mod Sonic 2.
Tech wizard!
Captain JJ off track
July 8, 2016 at 11:09
Steam indie games means that there are always new 16bit games around, and great ones too.
Jac7
July 8, 2016 at 11:11
Ah man those were the days. Earthworm Jim 1 & 2, MKII, Boogerman, Primal Rage, Comix Zone, Ecco the Dolphin, Desert Strike, Streets of rage…
Captain JJ off track
July 8, 2016 at 11:12
Comix Zone. Man that game deserves more mention.
Jac7
July 8, 2016 at 11:13
Agreed. Flippen classic.
Captain JJ off track
July 8, 2016 at 11:16
I have it on Steam and it’s one of my most played classics. I’d love a new take on that.
Jac7
July 8, 2016 at 11:18
I could totally get behind that. If someone should ever do a sequel or remake it they should keep it is difficult as the original.
Captain JJ off track
July 8, 2016 at 11:19
Yes. Man, it’s a tough game compared to modern standards.
ElimiNathan
July 8, 2016 at 11:19
Who remembers Paperboy ?
Captain JJ off track
July 8, 2016 at 11:20
I had to google to see pictures to jog my memory, but damn, I do. That was super fun.
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 8, 2016 at 11:28
Wasn’t that 8bit?
ElimiNathan
July 8, 2016 at 11:31
It could have been ye
dawid22
July 8, 2016 at 11:27
Oh gawd, you entice me to jump the border with this post? I’d go for your feature image – Gunstar Heroes. Treasure at the top of their game.
Deceased
July 8, 2016 at 11:28
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 8, 2016 at 11:28
^^^
Deceased
July 8, 2016 at 11:46
For those looking for something to listen whilst slinging code / working:
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 8, 2016 at 15:09
UPVOTES!!!
Skyblue
July 8, 2016 at 11:45
So many and the SNES titles I only got to play years later
Megadrive/Genesis
Super Street Fighter 2
Earthworm Jim
Streets of Rage 2
Jungle Strike
Road Rash 2
Flashback
Red Zone
Virtua Racing (Paid for it with a kidney back then)
Shadowrun
SNES
Super Metroid
F-Zero
Alien 3
Donkey Kong Country
Dane
July 8, 2016 at 12:53
Oh shit, I just realized that you guys are old as f*ck!
miaau
July 8, 2016 at 13:58
Um, how old, exactly is that? I cannot find a conversion chart online for “gamer age” to “old as f*ck”.
miaau
July 8, 2016 at 14:00
And the answer, of course, is Pirates! on the the two bootable 360k floppies! best 16 bit game