How Nintendo Switch Online Made Me Stop Pining For Virtual Console

The Switch Online Classic Games Catalog featuring NES games was the first time that Nintendo introduced it. I begrumbled about the poor content delivery system. We were not only asked to use a significantly smaller selection of games than the Wii U or Wii U. I was also denied the opportunity to purchase those games. Instead we received a very limited selection of games for a single console. There was no way to either carry over any entitlements from past purchases, or even own the old games. I felt Nintendo Switch Online was a worse service in every way, even as Nintendo expanded the offerings to include a robust NES and SNES library.

In 2020 something happened. Many of my social activities were put on the back burner and I was able to spend more time at home. This time I spent mainly watching movies and TV. As part of that, I dove deeper into the classic game offerings on Nintendo Switch Online – after all, I was paying for the whole suite, not just Super Mario World, as my playing habits could have led you to believe. It was amazing to discover a variety of games I hadn’t heard of or played in my youth. 

Amazing is the ability to access old favourites like Super Mario Bros. 3: The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong Country, and The Legend of Zelda. but I had a surprising amount of fun digging into the titles I would never have if I had to pay for each title individually. These previously unknown gems are largely available in the NES catalogue, having been a child with an SNES and Genesis. My childhood NES collection was a lot. I never had it at home unless my friend brought one. Because of this, my choices were limited to the games that my friends had. I initially missed out on titles like NES Open Tournament Golf, Rygar,  StarTropics, and I relish the opportunity to go back in time to games like Gradius, Ice Hockey, and Super Dodge Ball – titles I played at friends’ houses but never owned. It also lets me play SNES games that I haven’t tried yet (Super Punch-Out!, Donkey Kong Country 3 and Pilotwings). You don’t need to pay extra for it.

It also adds additional features that make it even more appealing. While save states and rewind are common features in retro games today, Nintendo has also included online multiplayer for many titles from its various libraries. However, I most appreciate the special versions of select games Nintendo has added over the years, like a version of Super Mario World with Special World cleared and the various twists that come with that, or a version of Super Metroid with Samus fully upgraded. These special editions are a great way to get access to the coveted unlocks.

The Switch Online Expansion pack was introduced by Nintendo in 2021. It gives players online access to N64 games and Genesis games as well as premium expansions such Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The Nintendo 64, which I loved back then, was what I most enjoyed about this subscription level. Although it was not the ideal experience it promised, thanks to N64 controllers for Switch, continued release of titles and better emulation, the Nintendo 64 delivered the same results for me that other catalogs. It was a great success. This gave me the opportunity to revisit some of my favorite games and play new ones that I had forgotten about when I was younger.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean Nintendo Switch Online has a better selection of classic games than Virtual Consoles of Wii U and Wii U. It is far from the official Nintendo Switch Online method for playing classic Nintendo titles on current Nintendo hardware. One, I believe content ownership in the age of Spotify and Netflix is something we underestimate. While these services are great for bang-for-buck, it’s not uncommon to fire up Netflix and find the movie or show isn’t available on their service. At least with movies, TV shows, music, and most game-subscription services, I have the option to purchase the content digitally on modern hardware, whereas with retro Nintendo games, my only official option on modern hardware is the route of non-ownership through this subscription service.

Some of these games (Nintendo 64) had terrible emulation when downloaded from the Switch Online Library. This could occur regardless of whether it is Switch Online or Virtual Console. However, some games aren’t as good as 25 years ago. The Nintendo 64 library was a major selling point for the Expansion Pack. Since the launch of the catalog, Nintendo’s N64 emulator has been improved.

Although I wish I had the chance to own some of my favourite retro games, I am a convert from a Virtual Console fan and I love the variety offered by Nintendo Switch Online. There are many ways Nintendo Switch Online can improve its retro-game offering, but that’s enough for me. Like I sacrificed movies and music for the sake of convenience and access to vast amounts of content, so I can do it (to some extent) with services such as Game Pass, PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online. 

Now, if only we could cut down on the vast number of subscription services, but that’s a conversation for another time.

Brian talks more about Nintendo on All Things Nintendo. He hosts a weekly podcast that covers the latest news from Nintendo. You can learn more about Nintendo Switch Online’s various games by clicking here.