Every generation has an opinion on when the golden era of video game consoles happened. It could be when the PlayStation and Xbox were released, or when the PS2 and XBOX 360 came out, maybe when the Wii U hit store shelves, or you can go way back in the day with the NES. For my childhood, it was when the SNES and SEGA Genesis were released! Those were some fun times being able to play games that today are classics and some of those franchises still going strong (Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog).
The amazing people over at Bitmap Books on the other side of the pond in the UK created this fabulous work of art called The SNES Pixel Book. They generally cover retro games and consoles or the history of various game companies. Some are full of interviews and reviews, while others are purely dedicated to the artwork in video games.
When I discovered them—I believe on Twitter—I was in shock that I had not seen found them before. Immediately I wanted to buy at least 5 of their books, so I had to slow down and try to pick the one I wanted most first. The SNES Pixel Book is where I landed and I’m glad I chose it! Let’s dive right in and take a look at this tome of retro goodness.
The book is sectioned into categories of games, from platformers, RPGs, Action, Fighting, Shooting and more. Each game is carefully written about and screenshots or artwork from the game itself are displayed to show it off. Some of my favorite games were highlighted here, like Chrono Trigger, Street Fighter, Star Fox, Breath Of Fire, Super Mario, Mega Man X, Super Metroid, Turtles in Time and many more. There were several games I had never heard of, which I enjoyed learning more about. I think you will find a few that you too haven’t played or seen before either!
Did I mention the high quality of paper that this book is made of? Well, it’s worth bringing up because you certainly get what you pay for! Bitmap Books didn’t hold back in creating a top-tier product. It also arrives quicker than you would think if your in the USA in very sturdy packaging, so don’t worry about the long trip it’s taking to your doorstep. The glossy pages, especially the large poster-style pixelated artwork from a few games, stood out and looks fantastic.
The SNES is a classic of its era, and there were so many breakthrough titles that have influenced games to this day. The JRPG and platformer genres were fully formed on this console, and many of these games are still fun to play today. As you turn the pages, the games pop out to the reader and you want to read more about each gem. It would have been great to have some original interviews or commentary, even if it was from older publications, for some of the games to get insight into what the creators had in mind but it isn’t necessary.
Below is my short video review on Instagram so if you would like to see the inside of the book, feel free to watch! Let me know if you own any of these books or what gaming books do you recommend? Definitely be sure to pick up a copy of the SNES Pixel Book if it’s in stock.
Be sure to visit Bitmap Books and pick up your copy of The SNES Pixel Book, or check out another one that interests you. They are releasing new ones all the time.