Summary
The Switch has been a major win for Nintendo these past few years, with a large part of that being thanks to theNintendo Switch Onlinesubscription service. The most notable perk to signing up is being granted access to a solid library ofNintendo’s many classic games, ranging from the NES all the way to the N64. This gives older gamers a chance to relive childhood favorites while also introducing new players to a treasure trove of iconic hits.
However, as appealing asNintendo Switch Onlinemay be, there is always room for improvement. For starters, Nintendo’s output of these classic titles has been a slow drip-feed process, with some obvious inclusions taking years to be implemented. Even with persistent fan outcry for this addition, Nintendo still has yet to pull the trigger and finally add this final piece to make the service feel complete.
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GameCube Games Being Added To Switch Online
It’s been repeated numerous times in online discourse, but the GameCube’s extensive lineup of quality games should be brought to Nintendo Switch Online. Physical copies of many of these titles have become rare and expensive, so accessibility is an issue for any modern players wanting to dive back into the past.Metroid PrimeandSuper Mario Sunshineare already playable thanks to a remaster and an inclusion in a rare3D All-Starstitle, respectively, demonstrating how difficult it is to find classics from that era on Switch nowadays.
Cult classics such asEternal Darkness: Sanity’s RequiemorBilly Hatcher and the Giant Eggwould find new life on the service, being discovered by an entirely new generation of players. Adding GameCube games would also elevate the value of the service even further, creating a greater deal of incentive for potential consumers. It would be a win-win for all parties involved, both for gamers receiving access to new content and for Nintendo having an avenue to increase its user base even more.
Adding GameCube titles would require one notable title to lead the pack. After all, Nintendo tends to like to space out batches of additions to its online service, in which there is usually one standout inclusion. WithMetroid PrimeandSuper Mario Sunshinealready available on Switchvia other means—withPrime’s original remaining on GameCube andSunshine’s means being extremely limited now—this means another option will need to serve as the first big heavy hitter for the GameCube lineup.
For this reason, attention turns toPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, widely considered the best in the series as well as making it on rankings of the bestMariogames of all time. The first installment of the franchise has already been added to the N64 selection of games, so bringing the sequel onboard next only makes sense for those curious as to what happened next. This is without even mentioning how thePaper Mariofranchisehas a dedicated fanbase, so any bit of love Nintendo shows for the IP would certainly result in goodwill from players.
It’s a shame that it has even taken this long forGameCube games to be added to Nintendo Switch Onlineand there isn’t even any confirmation that it will actually happen. All the same, players clearly want it to happen, and it would open the door for a plethora of new titles for Nintendo to add to its service.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorendures as a beloved classic by those who played it years ago, and still holds up as a solid, whimsically enjoyable RPG to experience. If any game were to be chosen as the first heavy hitter of a GameCube lineup onNintendo Switch Online, this iconic Mario adventure should be right at the top of Nintendo’s priorities.
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