Note: Though no one knew it at the time, 1995 was the beginning of a major change in the video game industry. Once dominated by Nintendo and Sega, 1995 saw the release of the Sony PlayStation. Nintendo and Sega still dominated the conversation for much of the year, but change was coming.
Note (2): I realized today (11/13/2024) that the list I use to pull these games had placed Secret of Evermore in 1996 when it actually launched in the US in 1995. As a result, I initially omitted it from this list. I’ve now revised the list, placing Secret of Evermore in its proper place.
Honorable Mentions:
– Arcade: Marvel Super Heroes
– Sega Genesis / Super NES: Primal Rage, Spider-Man
– Sega Saturn / Sega CD: Panzer Dragoon, Lunar: Eternal Blue
– PlayStation: Gex, Rayman
– Super NES / Super Famicom: Breath of Fire II, C2: Judgment Clay, Earthbound, Secret of the Stars, Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand
8. Kirby’s Dream Land 2 (Gameboy)(Tie)
Building off of the original Gameboy title as well the NES classic, Kirby’s Adventure, Kirby’s Dream Land 2 offers excellent platforming levels along with an array of powers for Kirby to take advantage of. Complimenting these powers are three new animal friends that Kirby can ride, with each offering their own take on Kirby’s acquired power(s). Kirby’s Dream Land 2 is also compatible with the Super Gameboy adapter for the Super NES, meaning the title would have it’s own color scheme and border when played via said adapter.
8. Super Adventure Island 2 (Super NES)(Tie)
You can read more about this title in my previous twoentries covering the Adventure Island franchise, but in summation, Super Adventure Island 2 throws out most of what you knew about the series in favor of gameplay more in line with the latter Wonder Boy titles. This title is far more open world than previous entries and sees Captain Higgins armed with a sword and sporting a suit of armor. Levels will need to be revisited (via an overworld map) as you find new abilities. I’m a fan of both the Adventure Island and Wonder Boy series, and this title pulls positive elements for both.
8. Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety (Super NES)(Sega Genesis)(Tie)
The sequel to Maximum Carnage had some big shoes to fill, and while Separation Anxiety falls short of its predecessor, it is still plenty of fun to play through, due in no small part to the fact that you can now pick to play as either Venom or Spider-Man, or play along with a friend, utilizing both. Separation Anxiety brings back the hero cameos from Maximum Carnage, but reduces the variety by a bit. While this is disappointing, an entirely new array of enemies shake things up. My brother and I spent countless joyful hours playing through this and beat it a number of times.
7. Mega Man 7 (Super NES)
Oddly enough, Mega Man 7 almost didn’t see the light of day. Finished in 1994, it was shelved in favor of the Mega Man X series, and was only released after backlash from fans of the series. This is made more baffling by the fact that Mega Man 7 received largely positive reviews. While it wasn’t compared favorably to the X series, it was compared favorably to previous entries in the Mega Man series. Mega Man 7 also includes numerous secrets to discover, including the Rush Adapter introduced in Mega Man 6, an upgrade that, in my opinion, completely changes the game for the better once it is acquired. Mega Man 7 is also the first time Bass and Treble are seen in the series.
6. Castlevania: Dracula X (Super NES)
Dracula X for the Super NES is an odd title. While not a direct port of the TurboGrafx-16 title, Rondo of Blood, it does share some levels and has a near identical plot. It doesn’t include all of the levels from Rondo, but does add levels that are new to Dracula X. This was done due to the limitation of the Super NES compared to the TG-16 as well as licensing agreements involving Rondo of Blood. While Dracula X is an enjoyable title, I’ve never felt that the controls were as tight as they could have been, and some of the level design left me cold. Still, this is a traditional, level based Castlevania title, and it does play as such. Even with a few shortcomings, it is well worth your time to give it a chance, especially if you’ve never had the opportunity to do so before.
5. Chrono Trigger (Super NES)
Let’s get this out of the way right here. While I genuinely like this game, I never got out of it what many others have. I’ve never been sure why given my love of this genre. It may be due to the fact that I didn’t get to play this until it was re-released on the PlayStation some years later. Regardless, this is yet another classic RPG on the Super NES. Plot heavy with many numerous characters, Chrono Triggers sees you jumping through time to stop an upcoming calamity. Chrono Trigger is unique in that, at a certain point, you are able to challenge the final boss at a time of your choosing, allowing for a dozen different endings. Chrono Trigger remains a popular game even today, and is one I should truly revisit myself.
4. Addams Family Values (Super NES)
If you’ve been following my blog journey through the years, then you know I’ll occasionally pick a game that most people would never mention. For 1995, this is that title. While most people probably considered this a cash-in on the movie, a write-up in Nintendo Power convinced me to try this game, and it is far better than it has any right to be. While the plot of the game is similar to the film, it is vastly expanded upon. Addams Family Values tasks you, as Uncle Fester, with tracking down baby Pubert, who is being held somewhere on the Addams estate by Debbie Jelinsky. Addams Family Values plays almost identically to A Link to the Past, with a vast overworld, multiple “dungeons,” numerous items to find, and secrets aplenty. Truly, the only downside of this game is the use of a password system, given to you by a family member that is not always easily found. In the age of emulation and save states, this has become a moot point (even when using the original cart on a system such as the Retron5).
3. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (Super NES)
With Yoshi’s Island, Nintendo showed that they were not afraid to play with their most famous franchise. Instead of simply offering a direct gameplay sequel to Super Mario World, Yoshi’s Island instead puts you in the role of one of a number of Yoshis, trying to get Baby Mario to an imprisoned Baby Luigi, who is being held by Kamek and Baby Bowser. Yoshi’s Island is wildly imaginative in its level design, and uses a pastel and chalk aesthetic that have allowed the visuals to age extremely well. While I don’t prefer this title to Super Mario World (though it seems most gamers do), it is still an excellent game with ageless level design.
2. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (Super NES)
As good as Donkey Kong Country is, I think that Diddy’s Kong Quest is actually a superior experience. In this title, Donkey Kong has been captured and it is up to Diddy and Dixie Kong to rescue him. Diddy and Dixie play very similarly. Both are small, quick, and extremely agile. The primary (and maybe only) difference is that Dixie can float down slowly by spinning her hair, a lifesaver in a game with some very tight platforming sections. DKC 2 adds a few new gimmicks to the levels while pulling some from DKC. It also brings back the animal crates that were so crucial to surviving in DKC. It takes true genius to top Nintendo’s in-house games, and Rare was up to the challenge with DKC 2.
1. Secret or Evermore (Super NES)
I’ve written about this game a couple of times now because it is a game I adore. I originally purchased Evermore because I came across it for $20.00 at Wal-Mart and it looked intriguing. I had no clue at the time that I was buying a game that I would complete numerous times and would still go back to play nearly thirty years later. Evermore is an action RPG title that plays much like Secret of Mana, though I feel that Evermore controls a bit better. You, as the main character, along with your dog (also controllable) are pulled into a fantasy world by an odd machine you encounter in an abandoned mansion. After initially landing at a space station, you are ejected to a jungle area and are off to determine what has happened to you and to find a way to return to your own land. Evermore is a sprawling game that sends you through multiple themed areas. Weapons, items, and magic (called Alchemy in Evermore) are all present, as you would expect of a game in this genre. I love this game. Again, it’s one of those games that I come back to every couple of years because it gives me joy in a way that many games can’t. Anytime I can put a spotlight on it anywhere, I jump at the chance, and I’m happy to do so here (again) by making it my #1 game of 1995.
