The 10 Best Superhero Video Games For The SNES

Before Injustice 2, Batman: Arkham Knight and Insomniac's upcoming Spider-Man, it was a different time for comic book-loving gamers. We didn't have many superhero video games to choose from, but we still managed to get by and play the hell out of our SNES cartridges. Well, retro's in fashion again and everything's made a comeback, except for Bill and Ted (sad face). And fresh off the news that Nintendo will be releasing the SNES Classic Edition in September, I've dusted off my old gaming collection and picked out some of the true gems from the box labeled 'Kickass Games. Don't Throw Away.' I even found a copy of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial for the Atari and proceeded to do the right thing by burning it beyond recognition. How in the world did that garbage get into my box? So, let's get right into it and have a look at the 10 best superhero video games for the SNES. Of course, this list isn't definitive by any means and is only a matter of opinion. If you find that you agree or disagree with the games listed here, please do leave your thoughts in the comments section. The Adventures Of Batman And Robin Interesting story: I originally bought The Adventures of Batman and Robin for my Sega Mega Drive based on the screenshots for the SNES version. While I enjoyed the game thoroughly, I eventually caved in and bought this title for the Nintendo console, never once looking back or regretting my decision. As a side-scrolling platformer, it captured the heart and soul of Batman: The Animated Series through its clever level and puzzle designs, as well as by harnessing and maximizing the console's graphic power. Even to this day, the game still looks good in comparison to others from that era, and you could easily get lost in its world for hours. It might not be the juggernaut that the Arkham series is today, but this was definitely many people's favorite Batman game for a long time, including mine. I mean, you got to battle Catwoman while falling down from the rooftops. If that's not awesome, I don't know what is. Maximum Carnage In the 90s, Spider-Man and Venom were two of the most popular characters around. Naturally, when a video game starring the two Web-Heads came out, the comic book and video game communities lost their collective mind. Playing as Spidey and Venom in a gaming adaption of Maximum Carnage? TAKE MY MONEY! As a side-scrolling beat 'em up, you'd have the chance to play as either character at certain points in the game while attempting to stop Carnage's killing spree. Additionally, other characters from the Marvel universe were made available for you to use as power-ups. So, not only could you beat the pulp out of bad guys, but you could summon the likes of Cloak and Dagger to clean the villains' clocks as well. Cool, right? Lest we forget, the bad-to-the-bone soundtrack came to us courtesy of the alternative rock band Green Jellÿ, who recorded the greatest song in the history of mankind, "Three Little Pigs." No, this isn't up for debate: it's the greatest song and that's final. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles In Time Originally released for the arcades and ported to the console, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time is not only the best Turtles game around, but possibly the best side-scroller as well. Many friendships and bonds were cemented through the co-op mode, where you and your bestie would take on the Shredder's numerous challenges and Foot Soldiers. While the first arcade game might be remembered more fondly due to it being released at the height of TMNT-mania, this sequel took the scenery and action to the next level. No longer were you confined to the streets of New York, but the adventures reached further and wider. Unfortunately, many people still think this game was an adaptation of the horrendous 1993 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, which also involved the Turtles going back in time to battle who-knows-what, but they really have nothing in common apart from the time-travel element. Trust me here, skip the film and play the game instead. It's far more rewarding. The Death And Return Of Superman I briefly touched upon this title in another article about underrated video games, but it must be reiterated that The Death and Return of Superman is, hands down, the best Man of Steel game around. Don't believe me? Give it a bash and then we'll talk. Taking inspiration from the legendary Dan Jurgens tale where our boy in blue meets his maker (for a short while at least), this bruising beat 'em up lets you play as Superman, Superboy, Steel, Cyborg, the Eradicator or even Doomsday. Sure, the difficulty level was harder than finding appreciation for Superman 64, but there was something so rewarding about finishing a level in this beastly, unforgiving title. Creating a good Superman game isn't rocket science – and The Death and Return of Superman proves it's entirely possible. All you have to do is let us experience all of Supes' greatest powers and qualities. It's that simple, folks. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles V: Tournament Fighters To quote Bebop: "it's those pesky Toitles again!" At a time when fighting games normally contained the names of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, Konami did something risky and released a fighter based purely on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. As per the title and cover's promise, you could pick any member of the Heroes in a Half Shell and several other well-known characters from the universe, and pit them against each other in battle. To boot, the title contained quite a unique concept at this point in gaming history where the combatants could break the walls of Rat King's stage and expand the arena. While it's a common occurrence in all fighters now, this was an achievement for the time and technology available. Considering the shocking quality of TMNT video games of recent years, one would think that the developers would revisit the successful format of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles V: Tournament Fighters. After all, it's the Turtles; all we want to do is pummel other guys and do cool ninja moves. Marvel Super Heroes In War Of Gems Before Marvel vs. Capcom, there was an Avengers-themed video game titled Marvel Super Heroes In War of Gems, which was released exclusively for the SNES. Inspired by the "Infinity Gauntlet" storyline, you could play as Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, and Wolverine as they searched Earth and space for this prestigious item and wiped out many villains along the way. Each character had his own specific attributes, which made replay value a real thing. Ultimately, choosing powerhouses or speed demons could impact your gameplay (and progress) significantly, so you'd need to pick carefully or go for a nice midrange superhero. Unfortunately, this game lacked a co-op mode, so that was one sucky point. But for only children, such as myself, it didn't really matter because our imaginary friends could sit down and watch us play quietly. Spider-Man And The X-Men In Arcade's Revenge What's this? A Spider-Man and X-Men game that doesn't include Green Goblin or Magneto as the main villain? Indeed. The 90s were a simpler time when developers actually valued creativity and tried different things, hence this radical team-up existing. While the controls were frustrating and the puzzles confusing, Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade's Revenge had the uncanny ability to keep you entertained for hours on end. Being able to play as the different characters changed things up, and you'd never be limited to being just one character through the levels. Speaking of the main antagonist, Arcade was Marvel's answer to the Joker and Riddler, but the character has been pretty absent in recent years. The question is, why? Maybe it's time that Stan Lee and his people bring back this puzzle-happy villain - not just to the comic books, but the video games as well. Batman Returns If you've ever wanted to know how Batman in Final Fight would turn out, here's your answer. Similar in both graphics and gameplay, Batman Returns is almost a copy-and-paste clone of the popular side-scrolling beat 'em up - and that's not a criticism. Taking influences from the popular Tim Burton film, you played as the Dark Knight through seven stages, battling against members of the Red Triangle Circus Gang and various bosses. Naturally, you were equipped with Batman's fighting prowess and gadgets in your quests; therefore, ensuring that no fight was just a matter of gentlemanly fisticuffs. Excitingly, Batman Returns also allowed you to drive around in the Batmobile – and it was much more fun and less frustrating than Arkham Knight's donkey cart. If you're seeking a game that encapsulates what it's truly like to be the Caped Crusader, look no further than this one. It's dynamite! Wolverine: Adamantium Rage By 1994, Wolverine had emerged as the most popular X-Men character. Capitalizing on the love for the grizzly grump, a video game was released, focusing purely on him. Best part about it, though? It actually explored his history which had been a bit of a mystery up until that point. As far as gameplay goes, Wolverine: Adamantium Rage was a multi-platform brawler, which relied more on brute strength than finesse. His claws did come in handy, though, when you needed to climb walls or ceilings, but they were mostly there for the stabbing. Furthermore, this was one of the first titles to feature a recharging health system, a relative novelty in an era where you snoozed, you died. Weirdly enough, Sabretooth was missing from the SNES version, which is quite puzzling considering how important the character is to the mythos. Despite the lack of him, though, Wolverine: Adamantium Rage remains the definitive game about the ol' Canucklehead. The Incredible Hulk With solid gameplay and gorgeous graphics, The Incredible Hulk ended up being one of the sleeper hits of 1994. It might've been all about the mean, green machine, but underneath the toughness, it was a well-developed side-scrolling action game. While there were only five levels, you did get the opportunity to inflict the pain on enemies from cities to alien locations; thus giving you a true comic book-inspired experience. After all, if you aren't fighting aliens, is it even a video game? Sure, a major draw of this game was to smash and bash things (and people), but there was an intelligent depth to the story that kept you coming back for more. Now, if only Marvel Studios could do the same for a standalone Hulk film… Tell us, which are your favorite superhero video games for the SNES? Let us know in the comments section.