WhenNintendo Switch Onlinelaunched its Expansion Pack in late 2021, it was viewed as a way for Nintendo to finally compete with Xbox Game Pass. Sony, Stadia, and even Apple have tried to build out their own subscription services, but none of them have come anywhere close to the success of Game Pass. However,Switch Onlinehas one thing that the other platforms can’t offer.
While Sony and Microsoft have plenty of old titles that gamers love, Nintendo’s breadth of retro options is completely unmatched. Switch Online and the Expansion Pack already contain a wide variety of options, but the games are still limited to NES, SNES, and Nintendo 64. For fans of the GameBoy and GameBoy Advance, Switch owners still don’t have a way to access old titles they love. Nintendo already introduced theWii U Virtual Console, so it has the ability, it just needs to bring it over to the Expansion Pack. When that finally happens, here are the top titles that Nintendo should include.
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Pokemon Emerald
While Game Freak now releasesPokemongames as pairs, it used to make three versions for each new release.Pokemon Emerald, the upgraded version ofPokemon RubyandSapphire, premiered two years after its original editions.Emeraldintroduced new story elements in the Hoenn region, expanded the number of Pokemon available, and introduced the popular Battle Frontier after conquering the Elite Four.
The main draw ofPokemon Emeraldwas its expanded story. In the originalRubyandSapphire, players have to stop eitherGroudon or Kyogre, ancient elemental Pokemon, from destroying the continent. InEmerald, gamers had the chance to catch both instead of just the one, while also introducing Rayquaza as a foil to both legendaries.
Generation 3wasn’t loved by allPokemonfans, as it was the first game to feature a hard reset from previous generations, making the story feel a little more disconnected from the franchise overall. However, others lauded its new story, puzzles, and monsters that could be found throughout the game’s diverse landscapes.
Golden Sun
While it may not have gotten the attention of other GBA titles,Golden Sunstands out as a revolutionary RPG for its time. It perfected the long-lasting role-playing formula while introducing players to a unique world full of power and possibility. The story was captivating, and the characters were compelling. The hit 2001 game took advantage of the main characters’ elemental Psynergy power in both battle and world exploration, allowing players to do anything from throw boulders to read NPCs’ minds.
The sequel,Golden Sun: The Lost Age, came out a year later in 2002. While they are technically two separate games, most fans view them as chapters in the same story.Golden Sunabruptly ends in what appears to be the middle of the story, andThe Lost Agepicks up in the immediate aftermath of the first game.The Lost Agecompletes the saga, bringing back all the popular elements from the original game, and introducing new characters before uniting the team in a final climactic battle to save their world. There have been rumors of anewGolden Sungamefor quite some time, but bringing back the two classic games is a good way to placate fans in the meantime.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Retro players know how important Link was to early gaming, and withBreath of the Wild, interest inThe Legend of Zeldahas reached an all-time high. New fans would be remiss to skipThe Minish Cap. While it’s certainly not as good asOcarina of Time, this GBA entry in the franchise felt like a traditionalZeldagame in the best way possible.The Minish Capbuilt on the success of the earlier games like dungeon design and sword techniques. However, it also introduced a new shrinking ability for Link, bringing a new element to puzzles to keep the game feeling fresh. No GBA games are as beautiful asBreath of the Wild, one of thebest-selling Switch games ever, butThe Minish Capis one of the best handheldZeldagames available. As such, it would be a worthy addition toNintendo Switch Online.
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