SNES How do we feel about the U.S. SNES design?

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I actually never knew this was a contentious topic until just today! For the record, the U.S. design was handled by the same designer behind the later N64, and it’s clear he had a knack for bizarre hardware designs that were still functional.

While I think the controller on the U.S. console is worse, the main system itself is my favorite among all of Nintendo’s 16 bit models. The JP SFC doesn’t do it for me, being too boring. And the Jr. redesign is even MORE boring, and totally sucks.

But that’s just me. What’s all you guys’ opinion?
(Please keep it civil. It’s a game system from 30 years ago, so it’s really not worth all that.)

 

[Faust03]

I like the colorful buttons that everyone else got more tbh

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I like the colorful buttons that everyone else got more tbh View attachment 72074

100% agree. I think it’s no contest which controller is better, but the system itself? My ideal is a U.S. console with a European controller.

 

[valosagutas]

I'll sound like a smartass, despite I don't really intent so, but "U.S. SNES" really confusing as if there are other type of SNES. There is only the Super Famicom that Americans know as "SNES".

So, thus clearing the possible confusion and lefting it behind us, design-wise I think SNES has no clear way on where to insert the game. It looks so confusing. I'm not sure if these purple things are a button and if so how it works. What kind of button design is that? Trying to make it seem like some alien technology, making it seem unnecessarily hard to use instead of making it look cool.

But I liked its gamepad design, Super Famicom's gamepad buttons strike my eyes very violently lol.

 

[ciro64 ciro64]

I like the USA design. It's very 1990 looking, unique and aesthetically pleasing.

 

[χKai]

I'll sound like a smartass, despite I don't really intent so, but "U.S. SNES" really confusing as if there are other type of SNES. There is only the Super Famicom that Americans know as "SNES".

We always called it a Super Nintendo where I'm from!

 

[Required Username]

Hard disagree on the controller. The SNES controller having X/Y be concave and A/B convex was a brilliant move. I'll admit the colors on the Super Famicom controller look better, but if they were already committed to the purple/grey color scheme then the change makes sense.

 

[valosagutas]

We always called it a Super Nintendo where I'm from!

I can imagine. Sometimes I heard people calling NES just Nintendo so it makes sense lol.

 

[Pearly]

Personally, I love the EU design as it's just the japanese one but with super nintendo on it. I loved the mini too as I no longer have a regular super nintendo. (I don't really have the room for all my old machines anymore and I didn't really bother hooking them up, I play everything between my ps3, switch, modded vita and modded 2ds).

Personally I hate the americans design, I don't have nostalgia for it and it looks like an unnecessary redesign for what the designers believed the american audience expected. I also dont like the buttons being concaved on the controller either.

The eu and jap design is one of the most pleasing console designs of all time, if not the most pleasing.

 

[χKai]

I can imagine. Sometimes I heard people calling NES just Nintendo so it makes sense lol.

That's lots of people, as far as I know; but I guess not everyone did that. Some people also called it the Nintendo Entertainment System, saying the whole thing. I didn't start hearing 'Nes' or 'Snes' being pronounced that way until sometime after the year 2000s, maybe closer to 2010.

 

[CaesariusMagnum]

The US design of the console itself is peak. The controller on the other hand ain't it.

 

[Dakarus]

Mines yellow :-)

 

[Esidemoken]

I much prefer the Japanese designs of both the NES and SNES, and yet I have nostalgia for the American SNES because it was the first console I knew in my life.

 

[ThePeon]

Well I grew up with the PAL version more rounded and more colorful buttons. If I had grown up with the NA version I might have had nostalgia for it.

But even so as an adult I would say it´s lame and boring nostalgia or not. Square with even square buttons and purple. I don´t think nostalgia would make me like it.

 

[solidbatman]

i had this version of the snes and i love it to this day. it was small and tidy looking. its just sleek. never been a fan of the old nes or original snes block designs.

 

[deh]

I think it's good and also fits.

 

[Glossy Cat]

For years I didn't know there was another design to the U.S. model. After seeing the EU model, I prefer the U.S. design. I still have mine even though it is yellowing a bit.

 

[Strategist's icon Strategist Strategist]

I like both designs but I have to agree the US controller is better. Concave and convex buttons helped the player place their hand without looking at the controller with tactile feedback.

I did like that it looked more sleek and grown up when compared to the NES. I'm not huge on colorful designs, I prefer simplicity and elegance.

 

[Onionstarz]

I think it's very ugly but im from the UK so we had Japanese style snes's.

 

[valosagutas]

That's lots of people, as far as I know; but I guess not everyone did that. Some people also called it the Nintendo Entertainment System, saying the whole thing. I didn't start hearing 'Nes' or 'Snes' being pronounced that way until sometime after the year 2000s, maybe closer to 2010.

Wow they must be really die hard fans. As a SEGA fanboi I relate, I always say "SEEEEGAAAA Genesis" instead lololol.

 

[ciro64 ciro64]

Wow they must be really die hard fans. As a SEGA fanboi I relate, I always say "SEEEEGAAAA Genesis" instead lololol.

From on now I'm going to start to say <mario's voice> NINTEEENDOO <normal voice> 64

 

[Frickinfrik]

I don’t mind it. But man, I sure do like colored buttons. For some reason, Nintendo of America always usually chose purple for when Nintendo’s next console comes to the U.S for a time.

 

[Daughter of Janus]

(Serious):

I actually prefer the design of the Super Famicom myself.
It's not that dissimilar from the SNES, but I just think the Famicom version is rather sleek and slick-looking in comparison to its U.S. counterpart.

But that's a personal preference. The SNES was a part of my childhood, after all, and I do love the old girl. But honestly, if I had seen both on a shelf as a child, I would most likely have gone for the Famicom version.

 

[jon2]

It's not a misnomer to call it the US SNES, as the Euro version was closer to the Super Famicom than anything else

I didn't start hearing 'Nes' or 'Snes' being pronounced that way until sometime after the year 2000s, maybe closer to 2010.

Back in 1996 in my country, we already called the SNES the "S-Ness" while the NES was the Famicom; go figure

OTOH, I rather like the US SNES setup than the Super Famicom's due to the reset button; when I encountered a classmate's Euro SNES back in 1997 (my family already had the US SNES back then) the reset button was depressed and really sensitive due to constant use and gravity effects on the springs (?)

When I taught them the soft reset for some games (L+R+Select+Start), they were like "wow"; they were mashing the poor reset button every time they didn't get what they want then reload...

 

[Haruki]

I got one super famicom last year and... I think its not great, its looks like a natural evolution from the famicom, meaning its a toy for kids 10+, and the snes is just a shoe box with purple, I dont understand the choice but I like the purple.