The Nintendo Switch Online service has provided a large number of classic games. While the service is far from perfect, one cannot deny how convenient it is to boot it up and play some awesome retro games. Many would think of critically acclaimed classics like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time or Super Metroid when discussing the best of them, but several others on Nintendo Switch Online deserve shout-outs too.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit is Pure Freedom
This Gameboy Advance Mario Kart game often goes overlooked due to its focus on single-player content and its hardware restrictions, but put some time into it and you may find it’s just as fun as the best of the series. It takes a different approach to most Mario Kart games by using less restrictive controls. These controls will likely feel too slippery at first, but once mastered they become some of the most fun controls in the kart racing genre. This game wants the player to experiment with its physics and find crazy shortcuts everywhere. Going off a ramp with a mushroom in this game means flying in your desired direction, allowing for incredible freedom of expression in movement.
This results in the most skill-based Mario Kart game- Fitting given its single-player focus. The developers clearly wanted the players to experiment with the game’s physics, given that some maps have out-of-bounds ramps that can make additional shortcuts possible if you’re good enough to land on them. The Nintendo Switch Online release of the game also adds online and local wireless multiplayer, making it the most accessible way to play the game with friends. This is far simpler than its Gameboy Advance counterpart, which required link cables and multiple cartridges for the full multiplayer experience.
Endless Charm in Crusader of Centy
Nintendo Switch Online’s SEGA Genesis library has many great games, but only one can fill the void of a Zelda-like. The first remarkable trait of Crusader of Centy is its art style; its cartoony graphics have held up wonderfully. Once the game’s story starts up and its protagonist is cursed to be unable to speak to people (while instead learning the language of animals), the experience becomes all about exploring a whimsical world and battling strange monsters with your weapon and animal companions. This goofy and fun game never fails to deliver its charming fun.
There are a few problems that may turn off some players, though. First, the translation is very rough. This is to be expected of a game of its era, and the Nintendo Switch Online version does not update the translation in any notable way. This is also one of a few reasons why the game’s progression can be fairly cryptic- It is not always clear what you want to do. If these ideas put you off, you may wish to look into the same developer’s later game for the SEGA Saturn, Linkle Liver Story, instead. If you’re okay with a little old jank, though, Crusader of Centy is a must-play classic.
Killer Instinct is a Legendary Fighter
Of the fighting games on Nintendo Switch Online, Rare’s Killer Instinct immensely stands out. While it is only the SNES version (rather than the Arcade version), it still has some of the best fighting game gameplay of its era. Its combo system is incredibly fun, and its pre-rendered character models still look great if you apply Nintendo Switch Online’s CRT filter. Killer Instinct’s graphics impressed Nintendo so much that they gave Rare the license to make the Donkey Kong Country series- A feat that would make any game developer jealous.
In addition, it can be played online as well. Unlike other Nintendo Switch Online platforms, the SNES library operates on rollback netcode, enabling a smooth-as-butter experience. One would not be wrong to argue that the Xbox release of the game is better thanks to using the superior arcade release, but having Killer Instinct as part of a package of an incredible number of classic games is a huge boon regardless of which version it is.
Nintendo Switch Online’s Future
Many have rightfully criticized the Nintendo Switch Online service for various flaws. Its library is nowhere near as comprehensive as the Wii Virtual Console’s was, and some of the Nintendo 64 games feature major issues, like the recently released Perfect Dark. Even so, Nintendo has been working to fix those issues, and it can’t be denied that having so many retro games available is a great way for new audiences to check them out. It will be unfortunate if this service ends or if games are delisted but for now, NSO provides an easy way for old and new fans alike to enjoy these great games.
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