In case you'd forgotten, today sees that time of the month when Nintendo boosts the Switch's NES game catalogue with a handful of new games. Three new titles have appeared today, and as has become tradition, we've also be treated to a couple of SP versions of old favourites, too.
The three main additions this month are Adventures of Lolo, Ninja Gaiden, and Wario’s Woods, the final three games that were promised from Nintendo when Switch Online first launched. A video has been shared to give us a quick glimpse at each title.
Joining the previously released SP versions of The Legend of Zelda and Gradius, this month sees the introduction of new ways to play Metroid and Dr. Mario. The special version of Metroid throws you right into the battle against Ridley with all equipment already unlocked, and Dr. Mario puts players into a rare scene that occurs after beating the game on level 20 at Hi speed.
Nintendo has revealed that more NES games will be added to the service next year starting in January, but specific details have not been shared.
Which games would you like to see appear next year? Will you be trying out any of the new games today? Let us know in the comments.
Comments (89)
Awesome,pretty decent value considering there are 30 games for only £18.00 per year.
£1.50 per month,and I think on average NES titles were around £5-6 each when they were on the Wii U virtual console,plus you get your online service as well.
Cool, but still waiting for those SNES games. NES games just did not age as well for the most part.
Will check these out though but come on Nintendo. You're better than this.
@Yosher Today NL has published an article with statements of Reggie Fils-Aimé, who says they're not planning on putting games beyond NES.
It's good to keep receiving games, but titles for the first quarter of 2019 have not been announced yet. Weird.
Nes. More yes games
That's ridiculous, the SP version of Dr Mario puts you directly to the game's ending without having to play?
That scene is your reward for beating level 20 on high speed, which is a tough feat.
Can we have a version of Metroid that allows Samus to kneel?
Actually, that’s Zero Mission. Should re-hook my Wii U as my GBA Micro is in the workshop.
@Yosher In the same boat. I skipped on the NES Classic as I feel like few NES games have aged well. I do predict that SNES games will eventually come to Nintendo Online but the wait might be a little longer.
I expected the SP version to be Metroid, but not Dr Mario. I think the SP versions will need their own separate catalogue soon.
No info on the next three months yet? It's worrying. Dangle that carrot a bit, Nintendo, I want to know when Kirby's Adventure is coming. The NES games are pretty much the only thing I am using Online for.
Most likely play these once and never again...
@IHateTombs
You may rest assured that Nintendo know precisely what their fans want. They simply decide not to give it to them... at this time! Which spoilt generation do you hail from that you expect to always get anything you want? In my experience it's really not how the world works.
And inb4 anybody saying "Hey, but I want to at least get what I am paying for": You do. You're paying for "Online Services". Not for a VC service. It's never been called that for good reason, and it seems many people just don't get it. The NES games are supposed to be additional incentive - free of additional charge, as I see it - to sweeten the deal, but they're not front and center. Want to play online? Get the Online Service, and you'll already get what you pay for: the ability to connect to other players and play online together. Don't want to play online, and not interested in NES games either? Don't get Online Service. Simple as that, kiddos. The deal is very clear and aptly named. Don't cry because your cereal box doesn't contain the exact stickers you want. You don't buy it for the stickers - or do you? Then it's your own fault for getting it despite the stickers not being the ones you want. Otherwise just enjoy the cereal!
The Switch desperately needs a virtual console... GB, GBC, GBA, GC, N64 and SNES games would be perfect for this system. If they don’t implant one soon, I may hack my system.
@johnvboy don't come in here with your rational arguments and comments based on reason! You should know by now that kind of crazy talk ain't welcome!
@AhabSpampurse,
Reason is allowed on here,but it is frowned upon.
@ElectricGhost so are you saying that unless Nintendo give you everything you want, you'll have no choice but to modify their hardware and steal from them? Sounds fair, I suppose.
I have no nostalgia for NES games since my first Nintendo console was the SNES.
One word. Gash
@Moroboshi876 We likely to have a Direct any time soon? What exactly is there to look forward to in Q1 2019?
@Moroboshi876 to be fair, 2019 looks decent. We have Marvel Ultimate 3, Mortal Kombat, No More Heroes, Mario Bros U, Luigi's Mansion, Daemon X Machina, Bayonetta 3, Crystal Chronicles, Trials Rising, Yoshi...
Admittedly a few of those have no firm dates but I'd like to think they will all release at some point in 2019. But then again there's still no HUGE Nintendo IP's there are there?
@Scottwood101 I meant the next batch of NES games. They announced the games for several months when the service started, but we haven't had any update about the first months of 2019's releases.
@IHateTombs
There's over 1000 games on Switch right now for you to play. No need at all to restrict yourself to the free (!) NES games that come with the Online Service. You did read my comment to the end, didn't you? You'll get what I mean...
And I apologize for the bit that you had to take personal due to the wording. I didn't mean anything by it. Just trying to make a point that we do not always get what we want... and more importantly: that it is absolutely fine! Especially if you concerntrate more on what you (can) have instead what you can't have (at the moment).
I think for what you pay for the online service what you get is fair, however I would be happy to pay more for a much more comprehensive library access. Nintendo have such a wealth of back catalogue across multiple systems but dont want seem to want to give people access to it through the switch. It's a shame really. when the switch first came out I thought they would definitely have a virtual console library on there with even some gamecube titles but nothing yet. they need to do something like gamepass on xbox which is very good value. I do love my switch but also love other systems as well.
@johnvboy people just love to complain.
I think Super NES games will come. Someone data mined the Switch and found the SNES controller icon.
@JunkRabbit
They are not free though they cost $20. As I've said before I'm not into online gaming the only part of the service that does interest me us the classic games. However I'd rather have the old VC that I enjoyed on 3ds and just transfer titles from it to my switch since my account is linked to my 3ds similar to how psone games and other digital titles I bought on psp could be redownload on vita at no charge since it was under the same account. That way I'd never have to see tecmo bowl ever soil my screen or any other sports game or ridiculous puzzle game. Again I reiterate you rent these games you don't own them and I am not paying for a glorified rental service compared to owning the game.
@Scottwood101 Yeah another DEVOTEE !
@Cobalt Always an honour when you stumble across another devotee isn't it? One of the biggest bands in the world and yet we're like rocking horse sh*t.
@Scottwood101 you forgot Animal Crossing and Pokemon. Also, I'm still holding out on the chances of Metroid potentially making some sort of appearance. We can all dream. Maybe if we all sacrifice a goat the old gods will bless us.
@NintendoFan4Lyf
My perspective on the "free" online period before the paid Online Services is different though. From my point of view - and statements from Nintendo and earlier experiences support that - they didn't charge for online from the start just because they weren't ready to provide an infra structure and solid experience to justify charging for it. Instead they said "Here's what we'll do: We'll start charging you only after we've made sure that we have a solid concept and the infra structure necessary. Until then, please enjoy it for free!"
This makes these reactions and the whining seem really ungrateful in my eyes. As an early adopter I consider myself blessed to have been able to play online for free for an even longer period that originally planned by Nintendo. Now I pay about one Euro a month (shared) for playing online, and once in a while enjoy the freebies that come with it (NES games at this point).
@GameOtaku
That's where you're wrong, I fear. By design and name (!) it's an Online Service, not a VC service, as I've stated above (and I do get that you're missing some other way to play VC games on the Switch, but at this time it's simply not available, and it doesn't have to be...). That's what Nintendo called it. For a reason. That you personally are not interested in online play (which is a perfectly fine opinion and I do not dispute that) doesn't make the service something else. To stick with the cereal example: If you're not interested in the cereal but only in the stickers or toys that come with it, the product on offer is still the cereal. The stickers and toys are still the free giveaway. If you decide that you want the giveaway so much that you're willing to part with money for it, it's still the cereal you have to buy. And that's what you pay for even if you decide to discard it. That is your choice and freedom. And again: it's fine. But it doesn't make the stickers the product you've paid for. They're still the freebies that came along with the cereal to give you added value.
@Scottwood101
101% agree with you !
"It’s too late to change events
It’s time to face the consequence
For delivering the proof
In the policy of truth"
@JunkRabbit
But unlike the cereal you keep the stickers, nso you only get the benefit one time and they take it away from you if you don't buy the cereal every month.
I wish there was a way to hide the stupid text at the bottom of the screen in this app (the text that tells you how to pause the game). It ruins the immersion for me.
@johnvboy
Why not throw in a load of pictures of mario valued at £2 each as well! I don't know anyone who actually plays any of these games (yes I am sure there are some) so you can tell me that there are 30 games with a £5-6 value but when almost nobody would buy them at all then that value is precisely £0 to us.
There is a reason most people aren't happy with Nintendo online and its because its borderline insulting. They are tagging on crap games that the vast majority of people don't want so that they (and people like you) can claim that its good value. If you want good value look at Sonys offering. Actual properly conceived online, good discounts on games, proper friends system, chat system etc. All for about ~£35/year.
Most of us are paying £18/year for online backups and the privilege of P2P communication between consoles we have paid for. Please stop trying to convince us this is value for money and not Nintendo being ****.
You have Gonorrhoea after that fun night out? Who are you going to call? Dr Mario!
Just before my birthday! Lets go!
@GameOtaku
Semantics. You know what I mean. Or if it pleases you more: I recently bought some cereal that didn't have any toys or stickers but a 50%-Off Coupon for Disney World valid for about six months.
...fill this in with my allegory and it might be a better fit for your tastes. (Hint: I did not buy the cereal for the coupon... and I greatly enjoy eating it)
Being able to back up games like Zelda, Smash Bros (but not Pokemon?!) is defo worth £20 a year...
It’s kinda cool jumping from Mario Odessy to Super Mario Bros.... and BACK pretty quickly!
I did enjoy completing the original Zelda (before the SP was released damn it!)
Why would they add SNES games when the SNES mini is still on sale? Maybe next year (end of)?
@IHateTombs you shouldn't be happy, it's up to you. Just like it's up to you to buy the subscription or not. Just like it's up to you to buy a Switch (or sell the one you've bought and move on to greener pastures) or not. As a consumer, you're entitled to consuming the product/service or keeping your wallet zipped until a more satisfying product/service comes your way.
Official interviews like yesterday's are recurring and clear indications that Nintendo isn't deaf towards complaints like yours - they're consciously choosing to address or ignore them. And they can apparently afford to do so, just like they can afford not releasing a mainstream AMD box even after their previous console could never reach 15 million sales mark.
They "pride themselves in doing things differently" and they weren't born yesterday, so chances are they always know the market cost of this pride. They may change in the future, but the present leaves one remaining choice with you, not with them. To buy or not to buy. Wallet voting still has SOME effect in such things, limited but civil. Redundant online fan rants have none, except for reminding everyone of fanship-infested and consumer-centric entitlement.
And such entitlement lies not in wanting more or wanting things different. It lies in not acknowledging the other party's right to do what we don't want.
@mctrials23,
The value of something will be a very personal thing,to you there is little or no value to the service,others that have subscribed will feel the servie is value for money.
It's down to personal opinion at the end of the day.
Let's do some math.
The switch will probably not last more than 8 years from when online launched so let's pretend that you will be using online for 8 years to get an upper limit so that's $160 divide that by 30 and you get $5.33 per nes game, that seems perfectly valid.
FWIW... I'm loving Ninja Gaiden
@JunkRabbit
But the coupon is yours. You do t have to buy it again, but you still choose to.
I've over 80 VC titles on 3ds and while you could say I could just play it there the fact of the matter is with the account system now in place they have no excuse not to allow us to redownload VC content. Yet they start over from square one with every iteration of the service. Why not build off of the groundwork already done?
I’d say save time and write articles about relevant game stories. Nintendo’s online “free games” don’t deserve coverage.
@nhSnork Can I raise your clone children?
@SARankDirector
You do not own the games though! You can own on VC for less than that!
@Simonmoskovits the NES classic is still on sale too.
Ninja Gaiden!
@NESlover85 you’re right, mind you that’s two years old? I was trying to hazard a guess, it seems ridiculous we can’t have anything that vaguely resembles a virtual console! I’m old enough to have had a NES complete with ROB and Zapper... actually Duck Hunt with a joycon could be fun!
I don’t know why it took 18 months for Switch Online... if we had had a month free when we bought our Switches and then had to pay we would all be used to it! Ultimately it’s an additional service that costs money, they have to charge something for it?!
Lots of people complain about stability - I’ve got fairly fast fibre optic broadband and no issues whatsoever! (35-40mbps).
So Tetris SP was hitter this year.
Honestly after playing Smash online it’s better then other fighting games in terms of lag. Online Street Fighter matches are infuriating. At least in Smash I feel I was beaten fairly lol. I grew up with the NES so I can’t complain about the free games. SNES would be nice though.
Personally, I prefer the Wave Beam when fighting Ridley.
@AhabSpampurse I can mod and hack as much as I please. Grow up, kid.
@johnvboy
It is personal what value you get from the service but when you create a service that you know most of your customers will not appreciate I find it hard to muster anything but contempt for the company that does it. They have put online play and save backup behind a paywall. Something that we have had for free because it costs them the square route of FA to provide.
Do you know what, I would probably accept it more if they were simply honest and made the service £10 and gave us nothing but save backups. The NES roms are almost worthless and cost them nothing. They are tacking them on as something to point at and say "there is your value".
To put it another way, how many people here would pay £18/year for the current system vs a few £'s a year simply for cloud backup. I think the answer to this question will tell you what sort of value Nintendo is giving with the NES games.
I don’t want any of this. I played NES back in the day and have revisited the good games enough times. Also, the vast majority of kids today couldn’t care less about old games. Honestly, I would hardly play SNES games either.
@mctrials23,
I still can only see you looking at this from your own point of view,Nintendo will look at their subscriptions and then decide what to tweak.
@johnvboy
Do you think that the majority of Nintendo fans like the online?
Do you think the majority of Nintendo fans think this is better than the VC on Wii U?
Do you think that Nintendo are doing this because they think its the best value for people wanting online play?
I don't know how anyone can genuinely think Nintendo have structured the online service the way they have for the fans benefit. I don't know if all the people I have spoken to just happen to be of the same opinion but no one I know has bought it for any reason other than to play online and have their saves backed up.
Tell me I have to punch myself in the face every morning at work or I will be fired and I will do it. That doesn't mean that you can assume that I like doing simply because I take part in the act every day. Nintendo have people over a barrel with their online service.
@Wesker,
You could argue that point for any retro console content,but I feel Nintendo did not feel a virtual console service was a big enough draw anymore,outside of the core audience I mean,so they think the best way is to release their classic content via a subscription service.
Now one good thing with this is you will always have your content for as long as the Online service is running,which could be pretty good as you move from generation to generation.
You have to look at this long term.
So Dr. Mario SP is just something I can watch on YouTube? Lame
Besides... I have beaten Dr. mario already.
@mctrials23,
You use the term Nintendo fan as if it's everybody that buys a Switch,I don't feel that the masses are up in arms about the whole situation as you think.
They aren't because lets be honest, most people just think "thats a **** service but I need it" or "thats a **** service I don't" and they either buy it or they don't.
You clearly think its a good service and value for money and I don't. I doubt either is going to change their mind so we should probably just leave it at that.
@ElectricGhost no one is saying you can't hack or mod. What I asked is whether you felt that Nintendo not giving you a complete access to their entire back catalogue was justification enough to warrant you modifying their hardware, just to suit your whims. Read the wordy-words before you answer, child. Otherwise you run the inherent risk of looking like a total pleb.
Now I love these SP versions as much as the other guys but can we put them on a separate menu Nintendo so they don't clutter the original versions on the regular one.
@ElectricGhost,
I think if Nintendo could make a lot of money from a switch virtual console service it would be there,but I don't feel their is much call for it outside of the core audience.
@mctrials23,
Most people??
Where are you getting you figures from?,because at the moment all you are doing is stating your and the core fans concerns over the service,then you are somhow trying to say this reflects every Switch owner.
By the way I do not think the Online service is perfect,but I think it's decent value for what it is.
@Simonmoskovits I would be down for some Joycon Duck Hunt!
@johnvboy I would just like to be able to import my VC games. I think that’s fair. Honestly, when I bought them on the Wii, I thought they would continue to be accessible on future Nintendo hardware. I don’t want Nintendo curating what VC games I have access to, then for them to disappear if my subscription lapses or the service is discontinued for whatever reason.
@IHateTombs sarcasm at its highest, I love it my friend!
@Wesker,
I am with you on this fella,but let's just see how this service pans out,but I will say that it's better to lose something that's free and tied to a subscription of an ongoing online service,rather than buying tonnes of games and then losing them each generation.
@JunkRabbit well said!
Besides we have virtual console everywhere from namco museum, aca neo games, arcade archives, Sega Genesis classics, snk 40th ann. And the forthcoming hopefully they will finally get here Atari flashback collection.
@Rhaoulos same here, my nostalgia starts at SNES.
Tick tock Nintendo on the clock. 9 more months on my subscription and I see no reason to renew as of now.
I want Zelda II!
@RupeeClock It's a 600 year old game, does it really matter at this point? Besides which, and this point can't be stressed enough, you very much retain the option to not play it.
The nes collection is alright, but they need to get more consoles on there. nes is not enough.
Seems weird to include an SP version of Metroid seeing as you can use passwords to create almost any situation you'd want.
I do wish that the app would let you "stack" SP versions with the vanilla game, just to avoid clogging up the selection screen with duplicates.
@Wesker totally agree with you and have a;ways thought this. I spent £100s on vc and wiiware games only to find they are either stuck there or on a Wii u after a laborious transfer system.
The online service was free. Then they introduced an £18 charge and gave me some NES games. I really do feel like I’m being charged £18 a year for NES games I’ll never play, but I haven’t got a choice if I want to play online. For me, this is a pretty crummy deal
@AhabSpampurse only plebs Call others plebs... weirdo.
@johnvboy agreed.
I'll probabaly give metroid sp a nod.. other than that. Maybe a couple minutes of Lolo and gaiden. Like many others, my attention span is getting shorter and shorter with nes games and I grew up with those games! I should be the target audience but if I'm saying it's a little boring, Nintendo needs to step it up. Love all the nes games really I Do, but 2018 leaves me wanting more retro options.
It blows my mind that people honestly throw their money away on rental services such as Netflix and this sorry excuse of nes game rental service. At least with VC you could play the games anytime you wanted with no time limit, you bought and paid for them afterall they are yours just line if you had bought the game out in the wild. With VC you would t have games clogging up the works that you would never play of the games so far I would only play maybe 8 of the games thus far, that's 12 games that would never be played. An account system is in place, why not have a unified VC across Wii, WiiU, 3ds and switch? Buy one and it's done it shows up on your account no sub required. It certainly would save you from paying for the same games year after year. You thought VC was bad? You are literally rebuying the same games every year with the subscription! Let that sink in! $20 you get 20 games, next year you renew again but have to pay another $20 for those games and those released next year, and then again the next! Pure waste of money. End of story.
Now that Ninja Gaiden is on there, I’m hoping for some Contra/Super C. Those have stood the test of time and are ideal for some co-op.
@GameOtaku,
The only limit being you lost all of your games each and every generation,does not sound such a great deal when you put it that way fella.
Lost all of my virtual console content when I moved from the Wii to Wii U,but wait Nintendo sorted that out surely for the next time I moved to my new console the Switch...er hang on,no they didn't...
They were never going to have me for a third time fellas.
Though I am against SP versions. I was curious. Metroid’s starts you off at Ridley with full gear. So. I killed him. “Hur hur look kids this is whar the space dragon is from on Smash cuz you’ll never get here yourself! Hell, you wondered why Metroid can’t crawl!” And then I went to the bridge. Kraid was dead. Killed Mother Brain, and sure enough you get the good ending. Didn’t know you could push start at The End and start over without armor with all your power ups. Thought you needed the code. Anyway. There ya go. NL news story. Lol jk
it will be great to have games like Contra, my all time favorite
@AhabSpampurse it is his system. He is allowed to modify it however he wants. Nintendo is in their right to then block it from receiving their services.
@Trajan I totally agree. I haven't said he can't do anything; I haven't made any statements. I asked him a question and he ended up being pissy with me... seemed a bit defensive if you ask me. Maybe he just needs a hug <shrugs>
Fun, now when will they let us play the games without any borders on the bottom and sides, so it fills a 4:3 section, or allow for REWIND with L ::fingers crossed::
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