November 26th 2023.
Yoshi's Island - a true 16-bit classic. This week's Hot Topic sparked a discussion amongst readers about their favorite fourth generation video games, ranging from Dungeon Keeper to Gunstar Heroes. From the Mega Drive, SNES, PC Engine, Neo Geo, Atari ST, and Amiga, to the coin-ops released between 1987 and 1993, the suggestions were numerous and varied. Zelda: A Link To The Past, Mario, Sonic, and Shadowrun were all mentioned a lot.
For me, the 16-bit era was all about the SNES and the peak of Nintendo magic was none other than Yoshi's Island. The 'baby Mario mechanic' where taking a hit trapped him in a bubble and you had to retrieve him, was a stroke of genius. Throwing eggs felt precise and the morphing abilities broke up the action. The graphics were beautiful with a hand-drawn aesthetic and the sound effects and music were gorgeous. To top it off, the final Bowser boss was amazing with a crazy atmosphere. Aside from Super Mario Galaxy, it's probably my favorite Mario game.
Having played games from the Commodore 64 onwards, the 16-bit era was a really exciting time. Early games were filled with potential, but then the hardware advanced to become more polished and impressive. Stand out titles for me were Hunter, Syndicate, and Moonstone on the Amiga, and Blackthorne and Shadowrun on the SNES. Hunter was the first time I'd seen an open world and Moonstone was so gory but impressively animated with a good variety of moves. Shadowrun and Syndicate were so pleasingly gritty and exciting that they felt like grown-up games compared to the more cartoony offerings.
For me, the biggest leap I ever saw in what was possible in graphics and gameplay between console/computer generations was Dungeon Master on the Atari ST. The sense of isolation and dread from the moment the dungeon gate slowly raised to let you in, was palpable. There was no map so I had to map the levels out myself. Dark Souls often reminded me of Dungeon Master, as there was no pause and you could still be attacked at any time. You had to be careful with torches and food, as it was always in short supply. Every monster was capable of killing you, and you could become better with weapons and spells the more you used them.
Finally, there's no denying that Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past is possibly the best fourth generation game. I played it on my little brother's DS several years back and it was at the very least 9 out of 10 material. Gunstar Heroes for the Mega Drive is also excellent to this day, with set pieces arguably superior to the likes of Uncharted. Rocket Knight Adventures deserves a mention too, as the robot boxing boss is one of the best bosses in history.
The 16-bit era was an incredible time for gaming and one that shaped the games we know and love today. From Yoshi's Island to Dungeon Master, the fourth generation of video games had a lot to offer and for many of us, will remain a fond memory.
Yoshi's Island - a true 16-bit classic. This week's Hot Topic asked readers to discuss their favorite fourth-generation video games from Dungeon Keeper to Gunstar Heroes. With the plethora of suggestions for titles released between 1987 and 1993 on consoles such as the Mega Drive, SNES, PC Engine, Neo Geo, as well as the Atari ST and Amiga, the list was endless. Zelda: A Link To The Past was one of the games mentioned most often, alongside Mario, Sonic, and the unexpected Shadowrun.
For me, the 16-bit era was all about the SNES. It was when Nintendo magic was at its peak with the release of Yoshi's Island. The concept of baby Mario trapped in a bubble after taking a hit was really inspired, and the throwing of eggs was precise. The graphics were stunning, with a hand-drawn aesthetic that was a real treat for the eyes. The sound effects and music were gorgeous too, and the final Bowser boss was incredible with a truly wild atmosphere. Aside from Super Mario Galaxy, Yoshi's Island is probably my favorite Mario game.
Having gamed from the Commodore 64 onwards, the 16-bit era was a thrilling time for me. The potential of early games was obvious, and the hardware allowed for a much more polished and impressive product. Hunter, Syndicate, and Moonstone on the Amiga and Blackthorne and Shadowrun on the SNES were some of the titles that felt particularly innovative and ahead of their time. Hunter was the first game I'd seen with an open world, and Moonstone had a great variety of moves with a particularly gory animation. Shadowrun and Syndicate were thrilling, with a gritty and grim atmosphere that made them feel very grown-up compared to the more cartoony offerings. Blackthorne was also enjoyable, I liked that I could turn around and shoot an orc in the face without looking.
For me, Dungeon Master on the Atari ST was a quantum leap in graphics and gameplay compared to the console and computer games before it. I remember the dungeon gate slowly rising to let me in, and the sense of dread and isolation as I ventured round the dungeon. There was no map, so I had to chart it out myself, and I was always running low on food and torches. Dark Souls reminded me of Dungeon Master in the way that you were never safe, even when pausing to sort out your party and inventory. I liked the way that you got better with weapons and spells as you used them.
Finally, I have to mention the possibly best fourth-generation game: Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past. I played it on my brother's DS a few years back, and it was easily a 9/10, if not more. It was pretty unfortunate that the console was faulty and one of the shoulder buttons no longer worked, so I couldn't capture any fairies. But even so, the set pieces were superior even to the likes of Uncharted. Gunstar Heroes on the Mega Drive is also an absolute classic. The Seven Force boss is iconic, and the final gauntlet of bosses on the moon is amazing. There are some minor issues with the game, but overall it deserves full marks even today. Rocket Knight Adventures also deserves a shout out - it was a real shame it didn't make it onto the Classic Mini SNESes and Mega Drives.
The 16-bit era was an exciting and innovative period, with titles that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in graphics and gameplay. Dungeon Master, Gunstar Heroes, and A Link To The Past were all ahead of their time in their own ways, and are still great to play today. Do you agree? Let us know what your favorite fourth-generation games are!
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