Super Nes-Super Famicom A Visual Compendium

by Bitmap Books

SNES/Super a visual compendium It would be a massive understatement to say that the Super Nintendo had a formidable act to follow when it arrived at the dawn of the 1990s. Nintendo's previous console the NES (or Famicom as it was known in its native Japan) enjoyed seven years of almost unrivalled dominance following its initial launch in Japan in 1983 and had almost single-handedly rehabilitated the home video game market, turning Nintendo into a household name across the globe. Focussing on the Super Famicom in Japan and the SNES across North America and Europe, SNES/Super a visual compendium offers a visual snapshot of the best games, developers, box art and product design from across these territories. As the name suggests, the book is mainly visual; it won't be a super-detailed insight into the SNES/Super Famicom, but more a visual companion designed to stir up excitement and nostalgia for this fantastic machine and its legacy of classic games. The book measures 170mm x 230mm and is printed lithographically to the highest standards. This ensures that colours in the book are really vibrant and pages have a high-quality, luxurious feel to them. As standard, all visual compendiums now come with a spot varnished cover and a spot varnished protective dust jacket. The binding is 'thread sewn' which means that the book can lie flat so the imagery can be fully enjoyed. The binding does not use glue which can crack over time and result in loose pages. Thread sewn binding is the best available. SNES/Super a visual compendium comes as a hardback edition and 500+ pages long. It also comes with four Super Famicom coloured bookmark ribbons and a 3mm protective board slipcase which has a lenticular fascia and is shrink-wrapped. Book 536 pages, 170mm x 230mm, Hardback,3mm protective board slipcase with lenticular fascia, Lithographic print, Sewn binding, Spot varnish cover, Spot varnish dust jacket

Genres: Video Games, Gaming, Nonfiction, Games, Art, Reference

536 pages, Hardcover

Published September 21, 2017

Reviews

[Justin Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I expected this to just be a nice SNES art book, it turns out to be really information dense, with in-depth articles on the development of several games I played as a kid, including Donkey Kong Country and Star Fox. Each game covered includes either a brief review or commentary from someone who worked on that game. The latter are the most interesting parts, with music composers talking about how they achieved certain sounds or effects, and programmers revealing information about the game's development process that might otherwise be unknown.

The book's only downside is a noticeably large number of typos and grammatical errors. That's not to say it's poorly written. Generally it's great, but it's distracting to see an error every 10-15 pages or so. Hopefully these issues are resolved with a second printing. That aside, it's probably the most beautiful, information-packed history of significant games from a classic console out there.

[Spiros Kakouris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's got some very nice info, some indifferent, some ok, it's got lots of visuals and it's a nice book to have in your library (must-have if you grew with it, like me). My biggest disappointment is that no care seems to have been given on which screenshots present each game... It's easy to pick an iconic scene with only a bit research (and even easier when you have actually played them), but it doesn't seem to have been done for the majority of the games in here.

[Mansour S منصور السدحان · Rating 5 out of 5]

…a walk down memory lane…
(The world was apart those days and news about such things don’t reach where I live easily) It was a rumor. A new NINTENDO that can play both NTSC and PAL, NES and Famicon cartridges! Wasn’t interested. Some even say it’s not even real!
But one day, on a routine visit to the only shop that properly sells video games, we stumbled upon something beyond my wildest dreams! I couldn’t believe my eyes! The game that blew my mind to smithereens (and every quarter$ Jingling in my pocket!) Street Fighter 2 is playing HERE in my city? On a home console?!! Oh God have mercy on my soul!
The Super Nintendo is REAL, I tell a lie, beyond real! So the next day, me, my brother and my sister gathered all the money we have saved and with a little bit help from my parents had enough cash to buy one. The rest is history. Anyway.
Wonderful book, full of charming pixel art from the SNES, and some interesting facts which sometimes from a person who worked on the game. The book has four book markers so I guess I might choose four if my favorite games: Zelda ALTTP, maybe my all time favorite game. Super Mario World,…forgot it, it’s so tough to choose !

نزهة في ذكريات الماضي...
(كان العالم منعزلاً في تلك الأيام، وأخبار مثل هذه الأمور لا تصل بسهولة إلى حيث أعيش) كانت إشاعة. جهاز نينتندو جديد يدعم تشغيل NTSC وPAL، واشرطة ننتندو امريكي، واشرطة فاميكوم اليابانية او المقرصنة! لم أكن مهتمًا. حتى أن البعض يقول إنه ليس حقيقيًا!
ولكن في أحد الأيام، أثناء زيارة روتينية للمتجر الوحيد في مدينتي الذي يبيع ألعاب الفيديو بشكل صحيح، عثرنا على شيء فاق أحلامي! لم أصدق عيني! اللعبة التي صعقتني (والتهمت كل ربع دولار يرن في جيبي!) ستريت فايتر 2 (كنت العبها على اجهزة الاركيد في امريكا) تُلعب هنا في مدينتي؟ على جهاز منزلي؟!! يا الله ارحمني!
السوبر نينتندو كان حقيقي، أكذب، يفوق الحقيقة! لذا في اليوم التالي، جمعت أنا وأخي وأختي كل ما وفرناه، وبمساعدة بسيطة من والديّ، كان لدينا ما يكفي من المال لشراء واحد. والباقي تاريخ. على أي حال، كتاب رائع، مليء برسومات البكسل الساحرة من جهاز السوبر ننتندو، وبعض الحقائق الشيقة، والتي قد تكون من شخص من فريق تطوير اللعبة. يحتوي الكتاب على أربع علامات، لذا أعتقد أنني سأختار أربعًا من ألعابي المفضلة: Zelda ALTTP، ربما لعبتي المفضلة على الإطلاق. Super Mario World،... الغي الفكرة ، الاختيار صعب جدًا!

[Elon · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some repeats of facts and texts and a few odd errors, but overall it's an interesting dive into the vast game library that the SNES offered, helping to find old gems previously missed.

[Tommie Haag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Splendid trip down memory lane!

[Edgar Guevara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for those of us who grew up with the SNES console, it is full of pixel art and interviews with some of the developers of the time. Screenshots of 16-bit classics unlock memories. The luxury binding and details such as the integrated divider with the colors of the Super Famicom or the lenticular print cover art attest to the attention to detail that the publisher puts into it.