10 most memorable SNES attract sequences

Though not as common on home systems as in the arcades, a skillfully-crafted attract sequence can sell a game, showcase the system's hardware, and get the user fired up to start playing. Here are what we've judged to be the 10 most memorable attract sequences in Super Nintendo history:


10. Kirby Super Star (Nintendo, 1995)

This is a quick and pointless little 18 second blip which dazzles you with Mode 7 effects and an incredibly catchy jingle. It caught my attention at the time, and I still enjoy watching the silly thing today.





9. Mega Man X (Capcom, 1994)

This sequence doesn't really do a whole lot more than scroll text, but it does an outstanding job of engaging the player in the debut of the "new" incarnation of Mega Man. At the time, the 16-bit makeover of Mega Man was quite an exciting development in the gaming world, and this intro does well to milk the anticipation right up until you hit the start button.





8. Final Fight (Capcom, 1991)

An adaptation of the arcade game's intro, with a little censorship involving Jessica. This was epic at the time to see on your shiny new Super NES. Though simple, it effectively sets the tone for the Deathwish-with-fists atmosphere that the game projects.





7. Axelay (Konami, 1992)

A classic shoot-em-up attract sequence. The succession of imagery unspools, depicting a man who has lost his family, an alien invasion, and then a determination to exact revenge. Together with the typically excellent Konami soundtrack, it leads you into a racing Mode 7 finish as your character's ship blasts off for battle.





6. Sunset Riders (Konami, 1993)

While actually a scaled-down version of the arcade game's intro, this was none too shabby for a Super NES game. This sequence introduces us to each member of the game's heroic foursome, with them riding off together at the end into a beautiful sunset.





5. Hagane (Hudson Soft, 1995)

An action-packed side-scroller about a robotic samurai, Hagane sets the stage with a graphically-impressive montage of the main character preparing for action.





4. Jurassic Park II: The Chaos Continues (Ocean, 1994)

Jurassic Park II sported one of the Super Nintendo's most technically impressive intros, with colorful(though limited) cartoon animation, Mode 7 effects, transparency, and speech. This was the sort of thing you would just watch over and over in amazement rather than playing the game itself.





3. Ninja Warriors (Taito, 1994)

Surprise! Another game about robot martial artists. This was an original game based off the mid-80's Taito coin-op. The premise of robots trained in the arts of the ninja is frankly bad-ass, and it's a shame more games weren't made in this series. This sequence is very cool between the robot ninja gearing up, the driving music, and then the dramatic fade to the title screen. It really gets you pumped up to start playing.





2. Nosferatu (Seta, 1995)

This game seemed like it was in development for years, and it finally came out in the twilight of the Super Nintendo's life. Though few people played Nosferatu, it was well worth the wait, if only for the fantastic intro, which featured superb animation and atmosphere.





1. UN Squadron (Capcom, 1991)

Far and away the most memorable opening in Super Nintendo history. The music itself announces that greatness is about to take place, and the exchange of images and text leading up to the Mode 7 crescendo is as good as it gets in this era of video games. The effect is completed by the Area 88 unicorn-on-fire logo fading to the title screen. My only gripe is the censorship of the intro text("This mission is like shaking hands with the devil") from the original arcade game.