Slowly but surely, Switch Online is becoming a very interesting service. Even if it’s true that there was a moment when it seemed like they had forgotten about it, Nintendo seems to want to add value to the Switch for the finale of the console’s life cycle. With more constant and interesting updates, it’s adding value with classic games from its older consoles. That’s something that’s always worth celebrating.
This time they’ve decided to go all out. With no less than seven titles entering the service directly, we don’t find any great classics, but all seven are great games from the company’s first console, the NES, which are definitely worth revisiting.
Perhaps two of the most remembered games do not come from Nintendo itself, but from RARE. On the one hand, we have Cobra Triangle, a 1989 vehicle action game that was very popular at the time, and additionally, Solar Jetman, a 1990 shooter that became the third installment of the Jetman saga, earning an amazing reception both among critics and the public at the time. Even if today it’s not among the most remembered games when we talk about the NES.
Among the curiosities, because it’s also a game that would never be released outside of Japan, is The Mystery of Atlantis. Published by Sunsoft, this platform adventure takes us around the world trying to discover, well, the titular Atlantis. With some very ingenious ideas at the time of its release, 1986, and what seems to be obvious inspiration from titles like The Tower of Druaga (brought into the context of a platform game), it’s one of those hidden gems that is fascinating to remember and reclaim.
But the bulk of the games belong to Nintendo. And that’s where the meat is. Donkey Kong Jr. Math is a classic Donkey Kong game where players must do, indeed, mathematics. Golf is a classic golf game programmed by Satoru Iwata and is still wildly fun today. Mach Rider is a quite intriguing combat game with vehicles from HAL Laboratory. And the jewel in the crown is Urban Champion. It’s a 2D fighting game, now forgotten, released in 1984 and incidentally the first fighting game Nintendo would make. A fascinating curiosity that would take years to repeat.
All to compile a fascinating collection of titles, truly excellent, where everyone has something to nibble on. Whether it’s for nostalgia, to better understand the medium, or to discover hidden gems from the past, there’s something here for everyone.
