Video: Digital Foundry Looks At How Certain Wii U Games Might Run On The Nintendo Switch

Wonderful 101, Fatal Frame 5, Mario 3D World, Xenoblade Chronicles X .... Zelda TP, Zelda WW, Tokyo Mirage Sessions, Star Fox Zero, Nintendoland, Pikmin 3, are still missing.

And the ones that already were ported: Mario Kart 8, NSMBU, Bayonetta 1&2, Pokken, Yoshi Wolly World, Hyrule Warriors, DKCTP

Damn, so many good games on the WiiU for the machine that couldn’t.

No wonder the Switch is a success ... it carries the spirit of the WiiU

@fafonio Yoshi's woolly world hasn't been ported

I think Star Fox Zero is the one that could benefit as a Switch port with more SANE controls and a graphical overhaul. Fatal Frame would be cool too.

@fafonio
Uh, Tokyo Mirage is coming next week you do realize right? It was confirmed months ago and this article says so right there. XD

But yes. All very good games that came out on a bad, underperforming system which in turn lost lots of money for the developers hard work. Here's hoping TMS#FE sells well. The singing is so great along with addictive combat that deserves recognition.

@graysoncharles I felt the graphics too basic because of the 120fps gameplay they were aiming to. Not bad but very bland.

Yup. 😀
Please port ALL 1st party W ii U games to Switch and enhance with new gameplay style that fit for Switch.
Man... I can retire my Wii U if all the 1st party Wii U games on Nintendo Switch with better features. 😅

Bigleys Revenge port when?

@DK-Fan
I guess plenty of 3DS owners have been swindled into buying a non-existent game:
https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/poochy-and-yoshis-woolly-world-3ds/

A Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2, two games for the price of of one is an instant buy for me.

Honestly, I've been wanting to retire my Wii U permanently to storage, so I'm open to more ports of the remaining Wii U gems. I just wish the pricing of Wii U ports was more appropriate. If Nintendo re-introduces a player's choice line at bargain prices, these would be day 1 double-dips for me. I mean, on PS4 there are GOTY-tier games like Spiderman and Horizon Zero Dawn, that include all their respective dlc, for a grand total price of $15-20 each. Not to mention generously priced compilations like the Uncharted Collection or Kingdom Hearts The Story So Far.

I wish Nintendo did more compilations. The last big one I remember is the Kirby Dream Collection on Wii in 2012, and that was a fantastic package.

Am I the only one who like a free to play Nintendo Land port/1.5 that emphasizes multiple switch gameplay? Including new levels for Chase Mii, Luigis Mansion, Animal Crossing and Metroid as well as brand new attractions to represent Splatoon, Arms, Kirby, Yoshi and Fire Emblem.

Just. Port. Everything.

Would be too soon for Xenoblade Chronicles X considering OG Xeno is being redone for Switch.

Graphics don't matter. Only gameplay.

If another Direct goes by without a 3D World port, I'm deleting my account. (This is a joke, pls don't take this seriously)

EDIT: Now that people mentioned it, the Galaxy titles would be great on Switch too.

@ChameleonBros
I get you but you have to understand just how poorly the Wii U sold and just how much money was lost making these amazing games only for them to fail due to being released on dead hardware. Almost nobody played the original releases because the install base was just so small. They have every right to make up their money especially when you consider they often improve the original games and don't charge ridiculously extra amounts of times like OTHER companies do.

A Pikmin game is definitely coming this year. The Joycon is built for this game, picking the plants with motion control and HD rumble will feel so satisfying.

They absolutely have to bring the HD Zelda games over to the Switch. And Skyward Sword HD would be a great addition.

At the moment the Wii U is the best console for Zelda fans. You can play almost all of them on there. Shouldn’t be too hard to get those games onto Switch.

@JR150 yeah but it hasn’t released yet. That’s what I mean.

@DK-Fan it was ported to the 3DS ... but yeah doesn’t fit in my argument.

@fafonio Nintendoland isn’t ever happening. The entire point of that game was to showcase asymmetrical gameplay with a separate Gamepad screen, which the Switch doesn’t have.

SM3DW Is what I want most

@TheAwesomeBowser yep I’m with you on that one

I'm still surprised nintendo somehow prefered to port new super mario bros u instead of 3d world, so I'd go with that. And while not technically wiiu games the hd remasters of zelda alongside skyward sword and both mario galaxy games are all I'd beg for

I really thought we would have had 3D World by now. I finally started replaying the Wii U version because I'm tired of waiting. It will still be a day one purchase for me. It has the best multiplayer in a Mario game, by far.

I also really want the HD Zelda games, Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101 and Star Fox ported over. Just bring over every exclusive Wii U title, Nintendo. I don't have enough time to play on tethered consoles anymore.

I didn't know the WiiU had all these awesome exclusives. Hard to believe it failed so hard Nintendo felt obligated to release a new console

Leave them where they are, please. The Switch has more than enough games already. I want to plug in my Wii U in a few years and still think that it was a great console with some unique games

@sixrings Why can't Nintendo do both (graphic and gameplay matter)?

@DK-Fan SF Zero was 50-60fps.

I just want Xenoblade X.

@TheAwesomeBowser since i never had a wii u, i also wish they will announce a 3D world port sooner than later ... i was really upset, when they've announced new super mario bros U deluxe instead last year .. that game is mediocre and not worth 60bucks, more like 20. but 3D-world .... i would buy it day 1 (the 3DS Version was awesome)

Since my experience with the WiiU is limited to trying the NSMBU demo in-store, I'd probably be most interested in Xenoblade X, it looks so cool.

Naturally I'd also have to say Sonic Lost World, but since it got a PC port, though it will never have the Zelda and Yoshi stages.

@JR150 : Most Nintendo-published Wii U games would have been profitable, except perhaps Xenoblade X (not sure how that one sold), Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, Fatal Frame, Devil's Third (lol), and perhaps also Game & Wario, which seemed more like a proof-of-concept/tech demo than a full-priced retail game (though I did enjoy it a lot).

The attach rate was surprisingly high given the negligible install base, but I certainly don't blame Nintendo for giving most of the Wii U library a new lease on life. Third parties would have certainly struggled, but the frequent lack of parity (FIFA 12 sold as "FIFA 13") didn't help.

Sorry not sorry, all I want is house of the dead 3, with the 4th bonus !!

It would be nice to get these Wii U ports for people who didn't own the console. I don't think that I would buy them though as I have them all on the Wii U and with the huge amount of Wii U/Wii/VC games that I've got for it I'm not retiring it anytime soon.

I double dipped on Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 but they're a special case.

Eye want 89p rezultion marlo glaxy

Star Fox Zero with an overhaul on the controls would be my most anticipated Wii U port because I literally gave up playing it on my Wii U.

I dont think it'll come anytime soon though. Yoshi's Wooly World and Star Fox Zero feel like ports that would happen late into Switch cycle, so 2021/2022 - if they happen at all.

I want Meme Run!!

Nintendoland, Starfox Zero, Game&Wario ZombiU and maybe some more wouldn't even work on Switch.
But I gladly would take Super Mario 3D World, Yoshi's Wooly World, Wii Sports Resort/Club, Paper Mario Color Splash, The Last Story, The Wonderful 101, Red Steel 1+2, Metroid Prime Trilogy,...

If you want to play these games play them on your Wii U. If you sold it buy a second hand one and a bunch of Wii U games and play them now.

If we are just getting a straight port of a Wi u game then it should have a lower price point.

There is obviously a market for these games since most Switch owners never owned a Wii U.

No more Wii U ports please. Stop being lazy Nintendo and develop some new IP

@Kaori-chan
Of course you could port every game from Wii U. And of course, by saying "it wouldn't work" I meant there would be missing something essential, like the slight (or great) panic when you are looking in your backpack in ZombiU. 🙂

@USWITCH64
Unlike most others, Nintendo isn't making the same game basically, swapping out the characters and story and call it a new IP. Mostly, they make a new IP if it fits a new gameplay/-style.

I wonder how much work Starfox would need to fix the gameplay and get the graphics up to scratch. Might not be worth it.

Mario 3D World, Pikmin 3 and a double pack of the Zelda ports would be great though.

@DK-Fan DEFINITELY FATAL FRAME (any or all)!!!

@USWITCH64

Or they could do both. Like they have been doing.

@Kaori-chan
I'm a little bit lost at what you're saying, because I already said Nintendoland wouldn't work, as it would lose most of its appeal. But you could still port it (but you would need two Switch consoles for certain mini-games).

I still can't believe they havent ported the recent Zelda games, would pay good money to have them on the Switch.

@Kr96 probably so they could have a 2d mario on the system a d not rival mario odyssey

Port all of them but please don't price them as new games. I'm not paying $40-60 for something from an older system.

I don't see Starfox Zero, Project Zero, Nintendo Land, Game & Wario, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, or Xenoblade X being good choices for Switch. They will be likely worse than on Wii U.

They could port games that don't use the second screen, like Super Mario 3D World and Yoshi's Woolly World. I think those are the only good Wii U games they can port without cuts (except the obvious Miiverse comments and Miiverse stamps removal).

Examples:
The Switch versions of New Super Mario Bros. U and Rayman Legends are missing the fun 5-player-mode. They're better on Wii U.
The Switch version of Hyrule Warriors is missing Two-Screen-Multiplayer. Better on Wii U.
The Switch version of Captain Toad is missing Touch+TV-Gameplay. Better on Wii U.
The Switch version of Mario Kart 8 is missing all battle races and Mario Kart TV. Better on Wii U.

Only Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze and Bayonetta 1&2 were logical, complete, and therefore good Wii U-to-Switch ports.

I’ve always wanted to play Wonderful 101. Hope it does come to the Switch eventually.

@SKTTR '
So you're ignoring that the Switch version of HW bundles in all the previous paid DLC and includes 3DS scenarios, because it doesn't include the multi screen multiplayer that no one used and ran terribly on the Wii U?

No ports thank you. I already owned a Wii u and played to death all the games I wanted to on there. If I was to buy any ports the only ones I can think of I would be interested in from Nintendo platforms would be Chibi robo original (or even collection of that and park patrol!) remastered if possible. Or Rush 2 (N64). Again, remastered and/or brought up to date with modern graphics, or RR64. As above. Oh, also a massive long shot but Auto modellista (GameCube)

@ChameleonBros why not sell it? What do you mean storafe

@SKTTR mario kart 8 is better on wii u though because battle is more fleshed out

@PickledKong64 I just generally don't sell my consoles, particularly Nintendo ones. If anything, I might give it to a friend down the road sometime. But it's nice to have a physical backup of some Wii U <-> Switch games in case something goes wrong in the future, particularly with digital games. But the whole Wii U setup+menu navigation is just too slow and clunky for me to use regularly nowadays, especially when I want to play in short 5-10 minute bursts.

Just give me xenoblade chronicles x

at some point we have got to get mario galaxy i'ts a missed opportunity not having it on a Nintendo console when it's on nvidia sheild.

surely whatever deal the gave nvidia must be up now ( i'm just assuming btw )

also wouldn't mind mario 3d world and donkey kong country returns

@ChameleonBros oh gotcha.

@electrolite77 Yeah I can't see them bothering with Star Fox. Me personally I really enjoyed it, I know a lot of people didn't though, it was definitely a Marmite game which sold really badly. Who knows - a revamp with gyro aiming might go down a storm.

Wind Waker would be great, I've got it on the WiiU but you can't beat being able to play amazing games on your lunch break at work or on the plane.

Super Mario 3D Land would be welcome too

@WiltonRoots

Yeah I couldn’t get into it at all. I’m not sure they’ll bother for what isn’t historically a huge selling franchise (apart from the first). If it’s too much work they may as well make a new game or just not bother.

The video has really got me in the mood more some Super Mario Galaxy.
Twilight Princess and Wind Waker HD would be better for me on Switch as you don't have to use the Gamepad or Wii U Pro Controller.

@TechaNinja No. I need this to happen. Best game in the series. I actually liked x better than 2. I'm hoping I don't have to wait another 1-2 years for this gem.

"Port them all, please"

Good lord. No matter where you are on thinking Wii U ports are a good thing or not, I think anyone should be able to understand that at some point you have to realize that if you didn't buy the Wii U, you are not entitled to its games, especially not ALL of its games.

Some of us here are people that stuck with Nintendo during the Wii U years and want NEW games on the Switch. This port begging has gone far beyond excessive. If you think the Wii U had all of these great games that you're dying to play but you didn't buy the Wii U to play them, that's on you.

I wish they'd just make the Switch backwards compatible with the Wii U...

@Harmonie I want to see them all ported. Games should be available on as many platforms as possible to allow new gamers to experience the brilliance of the likes of Super Mario 3D world, the best 3D Mario in existence. Most PC gamers are already enjoying the likes of Super Mario 3D World in 1080p and more

It's not a costly process, it'll be relatively quick and the profit funds new games development.

@ChameleonBros The Wii U menu isn't clunky or slow that's just a stereotype of the launch window before Nintendo cleaned it up. It's Nintendo design philosphy to a tee. It's colourful, quirky and different.

I think what you mean is the Wii U menu is too different.

Metroid Prime Trilogy HD, Skyward Sword HD/Twilight Princess HD, Mario 3d World, Star Fox Zero - WHEN?!

Instead of Pikmin 3 it really should be a Pikmin trilogy.

@Chibi For most people the games are new - the number of Switch owners eclipses the number of Wii U owners so much that virtually any game ported to the Switch will sell better than it sold on the Wii U. Unless the port is difficult to make for some reason or another, it usually makes business sense to port games from the Wii U to the Switch.

I also think the fears of ports being done instead of new games is largely unfounded: Nintendo seems to be doing a great job of developing new games even though they’ve also ported over a good number of Wii U games. They have enough resources to make ports without hurting development of their new titles.

@CobraA1
I perfectly understand that. I’m just speaking from a personal perspective. I don’t begrudge others buying Wii u ports but not for me personally. Unless they had substantial content added and were priced as budget games but in all reality we know the latter hasn’t been the case so far.

Devil's Third!!!!!!

I would definitely like to see Super Mario Galaxy on the Switch because of the fact that it is the first Mario game to have motion controls.