Greetings fellow gaming friend! This month Nintendo gave retro enthusiasts several new reasons to keep their Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) memberships active. A trio of gaming classics new and old just joined the ranks of over 200 NES, SNES, Nintendo 64 and Genesis titles included with subscription plans.
Shall we take a tour and see what recently warped into the NSO pipelines?
A Quick Recap on Nintendo Switch Online Offerings
First, let‘s rewind and review exactly what features Nintendo Switch Online bundles together. The service launched alongside Nintendo‘s breakout hybrid console in 2018 to enable online multiplayer gaming. This functionality represents the bare minimum expectation for a modern gaming platform‘s user experience.
Over time, Nintendo augmented the $20 yearly membership with additional perks like:
- Cloud saving – preserve your precious game progress!
- Special offers – snag member-exclusive discounts
- Smartphone app – chat with friends and access game info on the go
But the main attraction lies in access to libraries of classic NES and SNES games, which gradually expanded after launch.
Then last October, Nintendo introduced a new Expansion Pack tier costing $50 annually. It retains everything in the base membership while tacking on some meaty extras:
| Membership Type | Base NSO | Expansion Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $20/year | $50/year |
| NES & SNES Games | Yes | Yes |
| Nintendo 64 Games | No | Yes |
| Genesis Games | No | Yes |
| DLC Perks | No | Yes |
The DLC perks refer to two substantial add-ons bundled with Expansion Pack but sold separately otherwise:
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass
That‘s already quite the stacked gaming library for your dollar. But Nintendo consistently spices the recipe month to month with new N64 and Genesis game migrations. Let‘s see what fresh retro goodness just got served!
Pilotwings 64 Takes Flight
This month‘s headliner N64 game transporting players back to 1996 is Pilotwings 64, a charming flight simulation and scoring challenge. As a launch title for the Nintendo 64 alongside Super Mario 64, it showcased the new console‘s ahead-of-its-time 3D visuals and analog control.
Let‘s learn more about this pioneere of aviation that inspired many simulation titles to come.
A Technical Marvel in 1996
Developer Paradigm Simulation tasked its creative leads with pushing N64 hardware to enable smooth fully 3D aerial navigation. Prior home consoles utilized flat 2D sprites that acted more like gliding puppets on sticks.
By constructing intricate polygon-based island geography and vehicles, then implementing an advanced physics system, Pilotwings 64 sold early adopters on what their new console could accomplish.
Critics praised its huge draw distances and variety of interactive elements absent from earlier 16-bit titles. Players could freely soar and dive limited only by horizons stretching far into the distance.
Gameplay – Master the Skies!
The heart of Pilotwings 64 challenges aviators to master three primary vehicles:
Hang Glider – Players tilt the analog stick to steer smoothly through the breeze and hold A+B to brake for landings. Finding updrafts to gain altitude becomes instinctual over time even as the courses grow trickier.
Rocket Belt – While challenging to control precisely, this jumbo jetpack enables speedy aerial dashes. Tapping A provides strong boosts while B offers weaker propulsion. Learning when to burst ahead versus delicately maneuver becomes key.
Gyrocopter – Nintendo 64‘s chunky controller somehow feels fitting for piloting this lumbering whirlybird. The A button climbs while B button descends, just try not tilting too far! With practice, players develop an intuition for keeping her steady.
There are six playable characters belonging to different weight classes – lighter pilots handle gliders and belts better while bulky heavyweights can keep gyrocopters stable.
Mastering each vehicle to achieve new high scores proves essential since that unlocks harder events set on different islands. These range from serene paradises to a towering metropolis. There‘s always another aerial challenge waiting around the clouds!
An eventual free flight exploration mode also rewards devotion by removing all objectives, timers and limits – just unwind and let inspiration lead the way through the skies.
Why Play It On Nintendo Switch?
Beyond mere nostalgia, Paradigm‘s ingeniously simple and soothing gameplay holds up wonderfully. Crisp HD visuals make its puffy clouds and charming islands pop brightly on Nintendo Switch screens.
Immerse yourself in this milestone simulation that pioneered key concepts adopted by many acclaimed flight titles since. It may play quaint and casual, but honing skill progression to access tougher trials can occupy hours.
Don‘t overlook this high-flying history lesson only available via Nintendo Switch Online!
Pac-Man and Tetris Embrace Battle Royale Trends
Beyond the N64 headliner, Nintendo added two unexpected arcade classic twists in October:
Pac-Man 99 reinvents Namco‘s iconic dot-gobbler as a last-man-standing competition. With stylized visuals and fast incremental difficulty, surviving longer than 99 other Pac-persons is surprisingly tense.
Tetris 99 likewise pits 100 online puzzle masters against each other in block-stacking battles. Carefully using "garbage" attacks to bury other players beneath piles of clutter introduces ruthless strategy.
Who expected battle royale to infect retro arcade icons so fiercely? Yet these frantic mashups retain gameplay purity while accomodating modern gaming appetites. Nintendo‘s releases smartly counter programmed the spooky season with quick pick-up-and-play fun.
Their mass simultaneous player counts call back esports phenomenon Twitch Plays Pokémon. There‘s something joyous about hundreds collectively achieving high scores or slamming down game-ending tetrominos.
Both titles support online tournaments and game modes variant as well. If you enjoy the core action of either classic, their fierce competitive makeovers warrant exploration for sure!
What Came Before: September 2022 Additions
Last month brought a handful of Genesis gems over:
- Alisia Dragoon – character swapping side-scroller with magic attacks
- Beyond Oasis – top-down action RPG akin to Zelda
- Earthworm Jim – run & gun platforming wildness
This example demonstrates Nintendo continuing to nurture its Sega Genesis library as well. More niche favorites help expand member value beyond predictable staples.
Review the hundreds of retro goodies playable for one subscription fee here.
How Does Nintendo Switch Online Stack Up?
Nintendo Switch Online debuted alongside Sony and Microsoft‘s competing services but with a noticeably different approach. Rather than focus on recent blockbusters or cloud streaming, Nintendo emphasized its uniqueness – tens of millions grew up playing NES and SNES as their first consoles.
Access to gaming‘s past represents a competitive advantage over Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus in Nintendo‘s eyes. Their drip feed of classics and occasional Expansion Pack sizzlers keeps retro subscribers hooked month to month.
Let‘s compare Nintendo‘s offering against the industry giants:
| Platform | Price/Year | Top Perks | Size of Library |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch Online | $20 | 200+ retro games | 250+ games |
| PlayStation Plus Premium | $120 | 400+ modern & retro games, cloud streaming | 700+ games |
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | $180 | 100+ downloadable games, cloud streaming | 500+ games |
From a pure cost perspective, Nintendo Switch Online provides wonderful value. No competitors can match its breadth and quality of legacy content.
However, Xbox and PlayStation tempt players with convenient access to recent hits and streaming. Nintendo avoids the complex licensing required for those features currently. Their laser focus on delivering cherished retro libraries persists as a savvy differentiator though.
Reviewing the steady expansion of included NES, SNES and Nintendo 64 games shows smart long-term planning:
What Classic Gaming Goodies Come Next?
Nintendo plays their pending classic game additions close to the chest, so not much gets confirmed before the weekly Nintendo Download announcements.
But based on datamining of NSO app code and trademark filings, rumors swirl around several anticipated Nintendo 64 favorites like:
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora‘s Mask – direct creepy sequel to Ocarina of Time
- F-Zero X – fast-paced hovercraft racing insanity
- Banjo-Kazooie – Rare‘s collectathon platformer starring a bear & bird duo
Additionally, trademarks for Game Boy and Game Boy Color hint at entire early handheld libraries someday usable on the Switch. Playing authentic portable classics on Nintendo latest system would create splendid symmetry!
For now, the steady N64 and Genesis reveals continue along with occasional curveballs like this month‘s arcade pairings.
Should You Subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online?
If you frequently enjoy playing Switch games online with friends, the basic membership pays for itself. But for retro enthusiasts, snagging the Expansion Pack tier with bundled DLC totally merits the upgrade cost.
Accessing 200+ curated classics from childhoods past becomes priceless entertainment. And newcomers can experience gaming‘s early masterworks that all modern titles build upon.
Nintendo may slowly drip feed extras month-to-month, but for legacy fans it‘s already an overflowing bounty in 2022. Savor this ever-growing gift as my generation only wishes we could‘ve had such abundance on-demand!
What do you think? Are you enjoying these Nintendo Switch Online game updates and stories as much as me? Let your friendly neighborhood gaming fan know! See you next time.
