Introduction

There exists an entire generation of adults whose most formative years were defined by Nintendo’s contributions to 16-bit gaming. To them, the Super NES wasn’t just a console. F-Zero wasn’t just a game. Zelda wasn’t just a character. Being a Nintendo fan was a lifestyle that extended far beyond the reach of the console’s iconic dogbone controller.

When asked to reflect back on these foundational years, super fans echo similar stories. The specific game or character may vary, but universal waves of nostalgia wash over them as they share.

How many times did A Link to the Past inspire youth to seek out adventure in their very backyards, searching for secret doors and hidden treasure?

How many teens looked to Ness and saw themselves reflected in an unassuming child, knowing that they too could be capable of greatness?

How many young women looked to Samus and felt ready to take on the world or—better yet—the galaxy?

This 16-bit generation learned lessons about friendship and loyalty through RPGs, established their social skills through co-op play, and drew strength from iconic characters. Powerful memories were cemented by sharing these moments with loved ones, sitting side by side in the darkness, gently illuminated by the brilliant landscape of some foreign realm.

Then there were the worlds beyond the television, the ones forged by fans themselves, who found friendship at local game stores, through message boards, and on fansites. It may seem odd that strangers from all walks of life were brought together by a mutual admiration for a tie-wearing gorilla, but the context makes those connections no less real.

Further still, how many found their careers thanks to those 16-bit synapses still firing? Inspired by the sights and sounds of their childhood, fans went on to carve out their place in the industry, hoping to provide today’s gamers with an experience as remarkable as the ones they were afforded.

The Super NES ushered in a golden era of games—a perfect storm of vision, technology, and one-of-a-kind characters that matured alongside their audience. It’s no wonder that so many gamers look back on the Super NES with such fondness, and choose to keep the dream alive through their own creative efforts today. Nintendo’ grasp on a generation of imaginations holds to this day, and in the following pages, you can see how fans have chosen to give back.