Super ZSNES can also replace the original audio samples with uncompressed versions (“restored” versions of SNES game soundtracks that claim to use uncompressed versions of the original audio samples are a whole thing), and can add actual 3D to games that use the Mode 7 effect rather than just upscaling it. These enhancements don’t directly modify the ROM files, nor do they include data from ROMs, insulating the project from legal action.
An overview video by Modern Vintage Gamer shows many of these new updates in action, and they can definitely give old SNES games a dramatically different look and sound. They likely won’t do much for the kinds of retro-game purists who spend their time looking for the perfect CRT filter, but they can give you something new to look at and listen to while you work on your 17th playthrough of Super Mario World.
These enhancements need to be created on a per-game basis, and the initial Super ZSNES release only includes enhancements for seven “popular games”: F-Zero, Gradius 3, the first Mega Man X, Super Castlevania 4, Super Ghouls & Ghosts, Super Mario World, and Super Metroid. The creators plan to add support for more games in the future, and players will also be able to create their own enhancements for individual games using tools built into the emulator.
The initial Super ZSNES release supports Windows, Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, Linux, and Android, with an iOS release “coming soon.” Future releases will include general bug fixes and performance optimizations, support for popular enhancement chips like the DSP-1 and SuperFX, “more types of enhancements,” online netplay, and more.
