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Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life

Award-winning specialist publisher Bitmap Books has just announced an English-language version of Robert Bannert and Christine Bauer's Unofficial SNES Pixel Book – and you can order it today.

Translated from the original German in collaboration with Elektrospieler, this 272-page tome is packed full of lovely SNES artwork as well as loads of written content covering some of the console's most beloved titles, like Super Mario World, Street Fighter II, Axelay, Zelda: Link to the Past and Super Castlevania IV.

There are tens of thousands of screenshots included here, all captured exclusively for the book, comprising of single shots, sprites, massive montages and even evocative level maps which recall some of the most memorable moments in our favourite SNES releases. Despite the advances of technology, there's certainly an argument for claiming that the 16-bit era holds some of the best 2D video game artwork of all time – and this book proves that brilliantly.

We've been lucky enough to leaf through a preview copy of the book, and can confirm it definitely hits the spot. The writing is enthusiastic and engaging, while the design allows the amazing pixel art to do the rest of the talking. The book is thoughtfully broken up into relevant sections, so games of the same genre are placed together.

The book is protected by a spot-varnished protective slipcase and costs £29.99. If you're looking for the perfect gift for a gaming-obsessed friend or relative, then this fits the bill – failing that, you could subtly ask someone to get it for you instead. Ahem.

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Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life