New Game Plus

Many enterprising ROM hackers have created total conversion hacks of games that don’t simply change a few things but completely overhaul the experience. Here are six of the best

The Legend Of Zelda: Parallel Remodel

A Link To The Past has been hacked to bits at this point, but the most impressive unofficial offspring is the remodelled version of SePH and Euclid’s popular Parallel Worlds. It tones down the difficulty and rejigs the dungeon designs, making it a must-play for any Zelda fan, even if it still lacks some of the magic of the Nintendo original. SePH is currently working on a sequel, Parallel

Universes, which links Zelda to a multitude of other game franchises.

Super Mario Star Road

It takes immense skill to complete Star Road’s 30-odd areas, but the variety on offer makes up for the excessive challenge. The creative level design pushes

Mario 64’ s engine to its limits, while some of developer Skelux’s touches even feel worthy of Nintendo itself. A DS version is in development, to be followed by a sequel.

Mario Kart R

For those who insist that

Mario Kart peaked at the first entry, R is a godsend. It overhauls all the graphics – menus included – and modifies all the original courses, primarily by adding alternative paths and more shortcuts. It also replaces the maligned Toad with Kirby.

Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes/ Flames Of Eternity

Both Crimson Echoes and its illegitimate spawn

Flames Of Eternity offer fascinating glimpses of what a direct Chrono

Trigger sequel could have been. These games also represent a portal for those who have long desired more than a peek into life during each epoch.

The S Factor: Sonia and Silver

Nintendo systems get the lion’s share of attention in the ROM hacking scene, but we’d be remiss to leave out this fantastic Sonic hack, which pairs Sonic’s Underground-spawned sister, Sonia, and time traveller Silver in a familiar quest to stop Eggman Nega from destroying the world.

Mario Adventure

Super Mario Bros 3 gets much more than just a fresh coat of paint in this adventure, which features modified graphics, well-designed new levels, four new power-ups, random weather patterns, infinite lives and more. One Mario Adventure follow-up was left unfinished, but a third one is in development.