As Nintendo continues to add an ever-increasing number of classic games from the company’s past to theNintendo Switch Onlineservice, one console that’s yet to get its moment in the spotlight is the Nintendo DS. Nintendo’s unique handheld played home to countless games that would go on to become hits with fans and critics alike, but the dual-screened design has made adapting DS titles for traditional screens a challenge at times. If Nintendo wants to add the Nintendo DS toSwitch Onlinein the way it has with its other consoles, one way to deal with this problem could be to look to a console from the company’s past.
Released in 2012 as a follow-up to the wildly successful Nintendo Wii, the Wii U featured a massive GamePad with a touchscreen embedded in the center that supplemented the TV screen. Although this unusual control scheme ultimately proved unwieldy in many titles, some developers used the unique layout to great effect. As Nintendo considers bringing Nintendo DS titles to Switch Online, a roadmap for successfully translating games to the single-screen Switch may be found by examining the clever way multiple screens were handled inPlatinumGames’ beloved brawlerThe Wonderful101on Nintendo’s Wii U.
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The Wonderful 101’s Multiple Display Options Can Be a Template for Nintendo DS Ports
Some developers leaned hard into the Wii U’s dual-screen functionality, forcing gamers to awkwardly split their attention between the TV and the GamePad. This led to frustration from gamers and developers alike, withThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wilddirector Eiji Aonuma stating thatthe Wii U GamePad disrupts gameplayin a 2016 interview. One title that took a more nuanced approach to incorporating the Wii U’s unique functionality while still giving players the option to have a more traditional experience was PlatinumGames’ stylish superhero gameThe Wonderful 101.
Rather than locking players into using theGamePad’s screen to controlThe Wonderful 101, PlatinumGames presented players with multiple ways to control the titular heroes and their Unite Morph abilities. Players could choose from drawing the patterns that activated Unite Morphs on the GamePad, entering them with a control stick and ignoring the second screen for most gameplay, or even placing both the Unite Morph and main game screen on the GamePad at once. This flexibility in display setups can serve as a template for how Nintendo should handle Nintendo DS games for Switch Online.
Nintendo should follow the lessons ofThe Wonderful 101on Wii U and give players the freedom to choose the screen layout that works for them for Nintendo DS titles on Switch Online. For some games, this may mean eliminating second-screen inputs altogether and translating those actions to traditional button presses or joystick movements. For titles likeNintendo’s popular puppy simulatorNintendogswhere the second screen displayed options for interacting with the digital dogs, this info could be moved to a submenu or be accessible by swiping the touchscreen.
Updated DS Games on the Switch Could Have Quality of Life Improvements
In addition to finding novel ways to retool or remove second-screen functionality for Nintendo DS ports destined for Switch Online, Nintendo could also add quality-of-life improvements to the ports. These could range from integrating formerly second-screen inputs onto the Switch’s screen to letting players switch to a side-by-side split-screen view forgames likeThe Legend of Zelda: Spirit Trackswhere both screens are integral to the experience.
WithSwitch remasters of Nintendo DS classics likeGhost Trick: Phantom Detectivetaking center stage at the latest Nintendo Direct, it’s clear that there’s still a market for DS titles. By followingThe Wonderful 101’s lead and giving players flexibility when it comes to handling dual screens for DS titles onSwitch Online, Nintendo can let gamers choose what works best for them and ensure that these beloved games will hold their appeal for years to come.
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